"When you enlist to serve the Lord Jesus Christ, you leave neutral ground forever, and NEVER can get back to it".

I'm curious what you understand from this or what it means to you.

I am curious as to where that quote is from. Just would like some context :)

Excuse me should've stated that.

Joseph Smith said it. He was addressing the members of the church in a general conference. He was the first prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS or Mormon).

However I think it could be true of any religion, and wondered how you interpreted it or what you think it means.

Thanks!

Well, I think it can be applied to anything. I see it as once you made a decision to do something, you have to take responsibility for your actions with regard to the thing you chose to do.

so, here's one for me: once I make a decision that I need to do all that I can to minimize my consumption of fossil fuels, I need to follow through that committement even if it means not buying the car I really want to buy.

Don't know if that makes sense. But, I see it as once you take responsibility for something you are then saying that you are responsible for your choices - whether they are easy choices or not.

From a Christian standpoint, and considering the military language used, i assume it has to do somewhat with the war between good and evil.

If you "enlist" to serve ol' JC, then you've given your life to the perpetration of Good and to serving the will of God. It means you recognize the difference between good and evil and must now always act on the side of good. You can no longer claim neutrality--you are God's warrior.

And if you should turn your back, or become traitor, then you willingly to go the side of Evil. The assumption is, I think, that once you know Jesus Christ your eyes haev been opened, and if at that point you choose anything other than the path of JEsus you are willfully working against Him and therefore on the path of evil. There is still no possibility of neutrailty for you. You know the difference and have turned your back on good. And that act of turning away from Good is in itself Evil.

It doesn't do much for me, personally, bcause I don't see myself as being at war. I am not God's soldier. I may bea lot of things, and my God may be a lot of things, but HE is not a General and I am not his private. My relationship with God is not one of coercion or violence or subterfuge. And I'm not meaning to suggest that this is the normal Christian's relationship with God--but rather that this quote, to my mind, perpetrates the idea of the Christian soldier, and I just an't get behind that.

Originally posted by fericito
"When you enlist to serve the Lord Jesus Christ, you leave neutral ground forever, and NEVER can get back to it".

I'm curious what you understand from this or what it means to you.

Okay, well I have some ideas (coming from an LDS family) on what Joseph Smith meant when he said that. I think you have to take into consideration what the LDS church was facing when he said that (persecution etc).

What it means to ME, a non-Christian, Unitarian-Universalist, in 2005? Well, first off, as a UU, I do not worship Jesus as a Lord, but instead, respect him for his teachings. And what it basically means to me is that once you care for a cause, any cause, it is hard to turn your back and forget it.

Emily

to me, it definitely explains why some people who leave our church and go with others can't seem to just leave it alone, but feel they have to bitterly fight against what we believe.

I often think the mormon's worst enemies are those who once were mormon's themselves, kwim?

I appreciate the responses - as they help me see things outside of my little realm of perception.

Originally posted by fericito
to me, it definitely explains why some people who leave our church and go with others can't seem to just leave it alone, but feel they have to bitterly fight against what we believe.

I often think the mormon's worst enemies are those who once were mormon's themselves, kwim?

I appreciate the responses - as they help me see things outside of my little realm of perception.


I personally have never "been" a Moromon. I just come from an LDS family (who have been LDS since the beginning of the LDS Church) so I have that view. I also have met many "ex-Mormons". So, I have some thoughts on what you said, but I don't think you would like to hear them but I do in general disagree with you. I think it is interesting that you feel ex-members become enemies though...

Emily

Emily - I said some and should have explained that I don't think that way about ALL ex-mormons.

I guess what I was trying to say is that the people who seem to have the worst things to say or fight harder to prove how wrong mormons are and how right they are are people who were once mormon themselves.

We get a lot more flack from ex-mormons than we do from say, Catholics, Jews, any other religion.

I did not in any way, shape or form mean to imply that I think every person who leaves the church feels that way or is an enemy.

I have a dear sister who wants absolutely nothing to do with the church, and I'd still consider her one of my best friends, we talk about everything, despite opposite views sometimes, etc. so I hope she'd never think I consider her an enemy.

As for your views I *would* like to hear them, even if I won't agree... that was the point of my original post, trying to see what other people thought.

Please forgive me if I've offended at all.

Oh, you certainly didn't offend me and I hope I didn't offend you.

Even though I personally disagree with the teachings of the LDS Church, I am not anti-LDS, and I too have met many people (often ex-members) who have very negative attitudes about the LDS Church. I am of the belief that if the LDS church meets your needs and fulfills you then embrace that. And when I have attending LDS services, I have had positive experiences myelf.

Hm, well, let me think and I will post back. Trying to think more of what others have told me (regarding their negativity) and I don't want to misrepresent that.

Emily

Originally posted by anise
The assumption is, I think, that once you know Jesus Christ your eyes haev been opened, and if at that point you choose anything other than the path of JEsus you are willfully working against Him and therefore on the path of evil. There is still no possibility of neutrailty for you. You know the difference and have turned your back on good. And that act of turning away from Good is in itself Evil.


I agree w/Anise about the meaning of this quote. I think that's exactly what it means.