“I am fearful that some of the Latter-day Saints simply come to the leaders and listen to the servants of God, and they never study it out in their minds; they never go to the written word, and compare it with the servants of God in their doctrines and teachings, and consequently they are unable to judge righteously, and they are losing confidence. Their confidence is being shaken, and they are unable to judge, because they have not first studied it out in their minds, because, as a people, we are mentally lazy.”
– J. Golden Kimball, 1897
Very interesting.
What is he referring to, do you think, when he says Latter-day Saints are “losing confidence”? Self-confidence? As in, confidence in their own ability to perceive truth? Any thoughts would be appreciated.
David, this is from his Conference address that year, found here, where you can read it in context. J. Golden Kimball is so much more than the cartoon we have built up as the “swearing apostle,” and I think this talk illustrates that.
Thanks, Ardis. I’ll go check out the Conference address, and will swing back by here if I discover any interesting clues to the meaning of JGK’s quote above. Thanks again!
And I learned a new word: Folkscanomy. Folkscanomy. folkscanomy.
archive.org for the win!
But I was just reading elsewhere about how members of the church just blindly accept whatever tripe the “Brethren” dish out. Accordingly I reject anything that goes against my preconceived notions and accept the statements of a random internet celebrity.
That is so, quantum, that is so. In no case must you ever be seen as exercising your own discretion. You have no choice but to swallow that tripe unquestioningly, or, well, swallow that other ripe unquestioningly.