Just received the Conference Edition of the Mormon magazine. (my wife insists). Could not believe the contradictions in this address by "Elder" Claudio Costa.(General Conference October 2010. He gave a thinly veiled "keep in line" speech, disguised as 14 reasons to always follow the Prophet...

“First: The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything”

==>Nonsense. If that's the case, why have many words of past Prophets had to be "clairifed" or corrected by others? That would imply God makes mistakes.

Second fundamental: “The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works”

==>Nonsense. Once again trying to dispose of the Bible and replace it with the opinions of men.

Third fundamental: “The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet”

==>OK, then why is the whole Church formed on the words of a "prophet" who died 200 years ago?


Fourth fundamental: “The prophet will never lead the Church astray” (“Fourteen Fundamentals,” 27).

==>Nonsense. Every prophet has made serious mistakes. They are human beings. Look at the "Salamander Letters" mess, Mountain Meadows, Zion's Bank, and on and on...

Fifth fundamental: “The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time”

==>Nonsense. Can the prophet counsel on nuclear physics? ;-) Don't think so.

“Sixth: The prophet does not have to say ‘Thus saith the Lord’ to give us scripture"

==>Guess that is why the Church has now prohibited recording or transcribing any comments or speeches by a GA?

“Seventh: The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know”

==> In other words, don't think, don't question, just obey
And then President Benson quoted from 1 Nephi 16:1, 3:


Eighth fundamental: “The prophet is not limited by men’s reasoning.

==>Since anything he says is infallibe scripture (see rule 7), guess that's OK...huh?

“Ninth: The prophet can receive revelation on any matter—temporal or spiritual"

==> In other words, the Church can dictate any aspect of a member's life they choose to.

“Tenth: The prophet may be involved in civic matters"

==> This makes sense. The profit has a lot of lucrative business Boards to oversee, and shopping malls to build.

“Eleventh: The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich"

==>In other words, those who think and act for themselves

“Twelfth: The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly"

==>In other words, those who think and act for themselves

“Thirteenth: The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidency—the highest quorum in the Church. . . .

==>Here we go again with abosolute, unquestioned authority

“Fourteenth: The prophet and the presidency—the living prophet and the first presidency—follow them and be blessed; reject them and suffer”

==>If persuasion and kindness don't work...use threats!!

Stop paying and obeying them and let your wife decide if you or the cult are more important to her.

Eventually, that is always the bottom line.

and how the prophet who can hold forth on any topic and needs no education and/or training couldn't tell shit from shinola on something specifically important to the COJCOLDS.