You’re very kind. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

I admire you very much for this. Thanks!

Thanks for coming by and leaving such an encouraging message.

I’m aware of some of the many contributions you’ve made to the ‘nacle.

The best to you has you go on to a new effort.

I’ll be looking forward to following your doings. I hope we can have other opportunities to discuss the things of the Spirit.

I really appreciate what you are trying to say/do.

I enjoyed your comments and kindness. Thanks for coming by.

I had already read most of the post you listed. I enjoyed them. I think there great and are certainly praise worthy.

You spoke of being narrow and contracted in ones point of view and suggested that may be what I am doing.

Actually, this is my concern with the Bloggernacle. Please try to understand where I’m coming from by reading on.

At the beginning of your comment you mentioned several reasons for not expressing things of the Spirit in the ‘nacle:

1. Shy
2. Should be done at church in Sunday School or a testimony meeting
3. Scriptural injunction against the public display of spiritual things
4. The Savior speaking in parables
5. Prophets say “but these things cannot be written”

Heavenly Father teaches the following:

1&2

But with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their mouths, but they hide the talent which I have given unto them, because of the fear of man. D&C 60:2

Behold, do men light a candle and put it under a bushel? Nay, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house
3 Nephi 12:15
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3 & 4

For it is not meet that the things which belong to the children of the kingdom should be given to them that are not worthy, or to dogs, or the pearls to be cast before swine. D&C 41:6

I don’t feel the Bloggernacle fits this definition
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5
…mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them. 2 Nephi 4:25

There are certainly things the Lord revealed to the prophets that shouldn’t be shared, but I don’t feel that includes the first principles and ordinances of the gospel. If you read my post you will note most of them deal with the very basics of the gospel.
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The point I am making is that I would like to see more testimony, more scriptures, more sharing of how the first principles and ordinances of the gospel have brought the promised blessings into the lives of Latter Day Saints. I don’t think we should be shy about acknowledging and thanking the Lord for blessings received.

I feel the most popular blogs in the Bloggernacle are too narrow, the culture that has developed in the some of these blogs restricts sharing of the things of the Spirit.

Now with that said, I am not indicting, belittling, being condescending, and the like. I am concerned.

I enjoy the Bloggernacle and feel that there are many wonderful church members here.

Thanks for commenting.

I can’t speak for anyone else, but I think it’s quite likely that I’m not the only one who doesn’t write in a style that you would find appropriately faith-affirming because I’m SHY about spiritual things, and I think they’re more appropriately spoken of in testimony meeting or (like today) in teaching my Sunday School class. I would never bear my testimony online to strangers who have no context for understanding it.

There are actually plenty of scriptural injunctions against the public display of spiritual things–how many prophets say “but these things cannot be written” or something similar? Jesus spoke in parables on many occasions when a more direct style would have been confusing or off-putting to his audience.

Maybe if we retitled some of our posts, you’d be more able to find the faith-affirming ones. Consider:

The Parable of the Plumber–http://bycommonconsent.com/2009/07/26/prayer-and-the-plumber/

The Parable of the Patient Mother–http://bycommonconsent.com/2009/08/02/for-my-son-on-his-18th-birthday/

The Parable of the Mammogram, the Cub Scout, the Laxatives, and the Chocolate Pretzels–http://bycommonconsent.com/2009/08/02/for-my-son-on-his-18th-birthday/

Epistle from Alexandria–http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2009/07/some-thoughts-on-how-to-approach-a-new-place/#more-8973

The Parable of the Pioneer Chef–http://www.feministmormonhousewives.org/?p=2597

The Parable of the Good Agnostic, Atheist, and Gay Samaritans–http://www.faithpromotingrumor.com/2009/08/the-good-samaritan-as-the-other/

Those are just a few examples of posts that have prompted reflection and spiritual renewal and growth for me, from the last couple of weeks. Is it possible that your criteria for what counts as “spiritual” are too narrow? After all, the article of faith says “if there is ANYTHING virtuous, lovely…” Those seem like pretty broad parameters. As Brigham Young said, “let us not narrow ourselves up.”

Thanks for your comment. Many things you said get to the heart of the concern I have with the Bloggernacle.

You said, “I love being in the company of people whose love for the Church and whose faith in Christ is not dependent on acting as if certain things (like polygamy, the priesthood ban, etc.) never existed, or as if the Church never encounters problems.”

I agree, at least in part, with your sentiment. I’ve enjoyed many thoughtful post in the ‘nacle that have helped me better understand some of the problems that exist in church history. However, the Lord instructs us to learn and use the doctrines contained in the Book of Mormon to draw near unto to Him. This is where the Bloggernacle is letting church members down. The gospel is not being taught or supported as it could be.

You said, “…some people lose faith when they confront such subjects. But some people only maintain their faith by avoiding such subjects…Neither of those types of people is a model for faith that I want to emulate.”

I’ve learned by experience that the best way to maintain faith is to follow the Lord’s counsel. We’re taught to read the Book of Mormon and ask the Lord in the name of Jesus Christ if it is true (Moroni 10:4-5). If we follow the Lord’s counsel we will be given a witness by the power of the Holy Ghost. This witness will do more to help us maintain our faith than anything else we can do.

I asked where are the stories that increase faith. You answered, “They are all over the place! Wonderful history (even if it’s complex or problematic), beautiful stories of everyday domestic moments or touching events within a ward or church meeting, stories of people overcoming challenging situations… missionary stories, birth stories, death stories.”

I agree, there are many beautiful things written, just as you outlined. I enjoy reading them as well.

The concern I have, is that they are generally testifying of moral and ethic principles. Moral and ethical principles are wonderful, but they are not equivalent to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Another way of saying this is to use an analogy with the three degrees of glory. The moral and ethical teachings are the equivalent of the terrestrial glory, while the doctrine of Christ is the equivalent of the celestial glory. In the language of the Lord, speaking of those who obtain the terrestrial glory instead of the celestial, “These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men.”

Lastly, you feel I was trying to stack the deck on the searches. I merely took a few key phrases from the Book of Mormon, and the term “conversion, to make a point.

Church members who are seeking the Lord diligently will have the companionship of the Holy Ghost, they will testify of their experiences with the HG. They will be filled with gratitude to the Lord for the blessings they have received. They will use the scriptures and the words of the living prophets when they speak and write. They will be familiar with the gifts of the Spirit, will seek the face of the Lord, and encourage others to do the same.

When those who possess the Spirit encounter the challenges of fallible members, church leaders, and church history they will not be confounded (D&C 49:27). They will not be deceived (D&C 46:8), but will be comforted (D&C 98:1), succored (D&C 62:1), and blessed with understanding (2 Nephi 31:3).

I am not addressing this subject from an academic point of view, but as one who has experienced the things I have written about.

Thanks again for coming by and commenting.