Posted on 02/17/2013 1:59:10 PM PST by Colofornian
...The Why We Stay presentation was very interesting as well. Rhonda Calister, John Dehlin...spoke about the reasons “Why We Stay” in the Church...John considers himself “still a believer in something” though he says that with some asterisks. He doesn’t like the Old Testament God, he . He also felt that a version of reform Mormonism is happening within the church, not outside of it.
...John gave another great presentation. He has recently spoken with a member of the Quorum of Twelve, and said that this person said that even in his position, it is hard to make a difference inside the church organization. ...John said that he felt that this person was very sincere in his beliefs, but felt that the person doesn’t fully understand the issue that liberal Mormons face. John asked point blank if the person wanted liberal Mormons inside the church, and the apostle emphatically said yes, and John felt welcomed.
In working on John’s Ph.D. program in psychology, a former Seventy asked if he could share John’s survey on disaffected Mormons with the general leadership of the Church. Apparently, the leaders were surprised to see so many highly educated, successful in the Church having problems. Leaders felt that they were losing the best and brightest and asked John not to release the study for a while. John said that leaders don’t know how to handle the situation because they feel that teaching honestly about Church history may infect others. John noted that...his local leaders won’t allow him to baptize his 8 year old son due to some of his remarks on a Mormon Expression podcast.
Sunstone is an annual conference geared toward these Mormons.
This article provides some needed theological "backdrop" of some of John Dehlin's beliefs...all as he -- in many cases (but FAR from all...especially on some of his social-political views) tries to bring about change from within the Mormon church.
See Dehlin's podcast Mormon stories from last weekend: 00: Top 5 Myths and Truths about Why Committed Mormons Leave the Church [Lds FAIR group critiqued]
This also overlaps another effort this very weekend from other Mormons beyond Dehlin and his fellow disaffected (& also some disassociated) Mormons' efforts to bring about "reformation" from the inside-out: For that, see: Mormon Reformation [Posting of 95 Theses on Mormon Church Doors]
In before mormonic deniers!
Some people have a life, and some don’t. It’s all in your attitude.
Some people have eternal life, and some don’t. It’s all in living trust, and where/Who that faith is placed.
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