We no longer just dedicate places of worship like our temples and churches, but we have our prophets, seers, and revelators dedicating banks, and law offices. It was reported in the Deseret News last week when one of the senior Apostles dedicated Utah’s biggest Law Firm. Below is a photo of the newly constructed building of the Law Office of Kirton McConkie taken at Christmastime. It is one of the new buildings located in the Church’s multibillion dollar investment of the City Creek Center. It is directly across from the Church Administration Office building for the First Presidency. It might be just me, but it almost feels like an extension of the Temple Square with all of the beautiful lights.
On the church’s website explains the following about dedication of Buildings.
Whenever The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints constructs a new building, there is a dedication ceremony held when the building is finished. The purpose of this ceremony is to set aside the building for the work of God. A Latter-day Saint dedication ceremony includes a special prayer designating the building for Church use and asking God to bless the structure and grounds. A dedication ceremony generally also includes music and talks from Church leaders. Attendance at the event is usually by invitation only and the length varies depending on the type of building being dedicated.
Mormon buildings that are dedicated include temples and meetinghouses, as well as places set aside for educational purposes, such as institutes, seminaries and buildings at Church-owned universities. Temples are always dedicated by a general authority, whereas a meetinghouse may be dedicated by a local Church leader. After a temple is dedicated, only Mormons in good standing may enter, but all other Church buildings are open to the public after they are dedicated.
Mormon buildings that are dedicated include temples and meetinghouses, as well as places set aside for educational purposes, such as institutes, seminaries and buildings at Church-owned universities. Temples are always dedicated by a general authority, whereas a meetinghouse may be dedicated by a local Church leader. After a temple is dedicated, only Mormons in good standing may enter, but all other Church buildings are open to the public after they are dedicated.
As reported in the Deseret News:
The Kirton McConkie Building, located at 50 E. South Temple, was dedicated by Elder Dallin H. Oaks on April 12. Elder Oaks, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Quorum of the Twelve, officially welcomed Kirton McConkie to City Creek Center and offered a dedicatory prayer on the firm's new building at 50 E. South Temple.
Elder Dallin H Oaks said, "Lawyers and the legal profession have served humanity ably, responsibly and effectively throughout our lifetimes and for many generations before us. The continuation of that service, which is essential to the children of God and the work of the Lord, depends on the conscientious performances of lawyers like you and law firms like Kirton McConkie," he said.
During the dedication ceremony, Elder Lance B.Wickman, emeritus general authority and general counsel for the LDS Church, praised Kirton McConkie for the work it has done for the church for nearly 17 years. "It's not really the building we're dedicating," ElderWickman said. "It's really us, in our devotion, in our service, giving the best that we have to give in our professional capacity, realizing that in doing so we are not just representing another client, but we are representing the church of Jesus Christ himself."
So, If I read this correctly. The purpose of a dedicatory ceremony is to set aside a building for the work of God. Elder Oaks dedicated a Law Office which he stated is essential to the children of God and the work of the Lord. Elder Wickman states that the lawyers are not just representing another client, but they are representing the church of Jesus Christ, HIMSELF?
Side note:
I have been reading III Nephi lately. There are some interesting history that is recorded about what happens just prior to all of the destructions prior to the Lord appearing to the People.
“even almost all the lawyers and the high priests, did gather themselves together, and unite with the kindreds of those judges who were to be tried according to the law.” III Nephi 6:27
I don't agree that "Lawyers and the legal profession . . . [are] essential to the children of God and the work of the Lord."
ReplyDeleteThere are a many professionals that are going to be unemployed in Zion. Lawyers and those in the legal profession are at the top of the list.
"Now, it was for the sole purpose to get gain, because they (judges of the law) received their wages according to their employ, therefore, they did stir up the people to riotings, and all manner of disturbances and wickedness, that they might have more employ, that they might get money according to the suits which were brought before them; therefore they did stir up the people against Alma and Amulek." Alma 11:20
When we deal justly one with another and cease our contentions, will we need lawyers?
"The people were all converted unto the Lord, upon all the face of the land, both Nephites and Lamanites, and there were no contentions and disputations among them, and every man did deal justly one with another." 4 Nephi 1:2
You are misguided in assuming that lawyers only are only necessary at times of contention.
DeleteThe real calling and purpose of a lawyer is to uphold and defend the law, they are the officers of the court which defend the fabric of society. As our society continues to move away from freedom and God's universal truth, it will be the legal profession which will largely wage the war of words and opinions to serve the children of God and protect their rights and, indeed, safegaurd the fabric of the society. As always, throughout history, the legal profession will serve a large role defending, upholding, preserving, and protecting the fabric of the society and the individual, god-given rights that fabric is designed to protect.
Are we ever going to wake up as a people and see the blasphemy in all of this? According to the D&C, we have the right to vote these people out of office. Their authority in the church comes from our votes, not from a personal appearance from Jesus, Himself. We, as a people, need to STOP worshiping these men and we need to vote them out of the hierarchy of the church and find humble men who will have the saving of souls as their top priority instead of mammon, pride and popularity; men who will search out what Joseph Smith and the scriptures REALLY teach (having one's calling and election made sure, seeing Jesus face to face, being redeemed from the fall in this life so there is a people able to endure the presence of Christ); men who will cast aside the lies that are taught regarding the "ickky" parts of our history; men who refuse to put themselves on an equal par with Joseph unless they have seen angels, Jesus, and the Father and have received commandments from God to teach and to preach (as Joseph was given).
ReplyDeleteGood points. No, unfortunately it doesn't seem like hardly anyone in the Church is going to wake up and see things as they really are.
DeleteFor that takes too much work, study, prayer and repentance.
But those who are deceived by and support errant leaders, will one day stand accountable for supporting their actions.
For Joseph Smith taught completely opposite to what is being taught and practiced in the Church today.
Today's church leaders are teaching, supporting and encouraging the very whoredoms and abominations that Christ & Joseph warned us about falling for.
But hardly no one has listened to their warnings, and thus everyone in the Church has allowed themselves to be deceived to support the vilest of evils, except a rare few.
The Book of Mormon's prophesies of a 'latter day apostasy of the Holy Church of God', has been fulfilled.
I'm the Anonymous you posted the reply to (perhaps I should have given myself an initial to discern me from the others).
DeleteI fear you are correct. As for myself, I intend to do all I can to be one who follows true prophets (the ones who point to Christ instead of to themselves), and to remove all condemnation that may be upon my own head for believing the untruths and half-truths I have been taught.
Anonymous A
I beg to disagree with you. As the lines of morality continue to blur in our society with alleged lines of legalities, you will see the Church's interests and mission to (1) proclaim the gospel and (2) perfect the saints become entirely more aligned with ethical and moral members of the legal community.
DeleteI wonder if the law office that "represents Christ, Himself", will be used to persecute the humble followers of Jesus Christ at some point in time - those who don't toe the line. Or, if the people did try to vote them out of the hierarchy, would these law firms be used against the humble followers of Christ? Arrogance, entitlement, greed, envy, all of these make for formidable opponents when they are inside people of power who perceive that their power is being challenged.
ReplyDeleteFunny you talk of persecution when you yourself choose to persecute a team of hardworking, ethical and upstanding professionals who never have apparently harmed you.
DeleteThe main calling of a lawyer is to protect and defend the laws and the fabric of society and the rights they grant to individuals. Tell me how the Church dedicating a law firm to the protection of the rights of God's children is a bad thing, especially when such dedication was given upon the request of the law firm. If the law firm wants a dedicatory prayer to help them in their highly noble profession to protect the rights of individuals, state a good reason why the Church should say no?
this is heartbreaking. When did this begin to happen? Why?
ReplyDeleteI think having more money than they know what to do with is part of it. You don't need to make smart decisions when there's money to burn.
DeleteIf they had money to burn, they should have looked to their own members; even in the United States members are losing jobs and homes. They could have used some of their property to create places to live (like all of those houses in Nauvoo no one is living in). If they "had" to buy the mall, they could have turned it into low cost apartments for the poor. The church could do tons of good with all of their excess property (church historical sites and such) and excess money.
DeleteOh, I agree there's plenty of better things FOR A CHURCH to spend money on before the Mall... and they know that, too. But these other ideas are not where they place their desires and affections. Simply put, it's not what they want, all the GenConf talks in the world notwithstanding. Actions speak louder than words. The only people I know who love the Mall are completely in love with the material things of the world. That is their god.
DeleteJust silly arguments. The Church is arguably one of the greatest forces for good in the world. Every organization needs lawyers to protect its rights. The Church operates the largest charitable educational fund and the third largest non-governmental humanitarian aid fund in the entire world. There can be nonumber placed on the amount of value in time or dollars attributed to the Church's full-time service missionary program, nor the weekly service projects of full-time ecclesiastical missionaries or the service projects of members, individuals, wards, and stakes. Mormon Helping Hands is one of the largest, hands-on, disaster and poverty aid programs worldwide, as is the releif society. Deseret Industries itself is the largest charitable distribution center in the Western Hemisphere. Not to mention the worldwide bishop storehouses and the fast offering program, which vaules cannot be calculated based on their administration and impact at the local level.
DeleteBut, there is no rational explanation to irrational hate.
So let me get this straight... those who call themselves Prophets and Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, believe that not only 'extravagant worldly malls and merchants' come way before the suffering of widows and the fatherless, but also wealthy lawyers are now to be lavished upon by a big and spacious building?
ReplyDeleteAnd we are to believe this is really what Jesus would want and something to be proud of?
By their 'spending' and how they care for the 'widows and fatherless' above all else, you will know them.
That is not what the Jesus I know would do or want.
Amen, Anonymous.
DeleteIn the prophecies about our time, it says this:
From 2 Nephi 28:
And the blood of the saints shall cry from the ground against them.
11 Yea, they have all gone out of the way; they have become corrupted.
12 Because of pride, and because of false teachers, and false doctrine, their churches have become corrupted, and their churches are lifted up; because of pride they are puffed up.
13 THEY ROB THE POOR BECAUSE OF THEIR FINE SANCTUARIES; THEY ROB THE POOR BECAUSE OF THEIR FINE CLOTHING; AND THEY PERSECUTE THE MEEK AND THE POOR IN HEART, BECAUSE IN THEIR PRIDE THEY ARE PUFFED UP.
14 They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men.
15 O the wise, and the learned, and the rich, that are puffed up in the pride of their hearts, and all those who preach false doctrines, and all those who commit whoredoms, and pervert the right way of the Lord, wo, wo, wo be unto them, saith the Lord God Almighty, for they shall be thrust down to hell!
. . .
21 AND OTHERS WILL HE PACIFY, AND LULL THEM AWAY INTO CARNAL SECURITY, THAT THEY WILL SAY: ALL IS WELL IN ZION; YEA, ZION PROSPERETH, ALL IS WELL—AND THUS THE DEVIL CHEATETH THEIR SOULS, AND LEADETH THEM AWAY CAREFULLY DOWN TO HELL.
22 And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance.
23 Yea, they are grasped with death, and hell; and death, and hell, and the devil, and all that have been seized therewith must stand before the throne of God, and be judged according to their works, from whence they must go into the place prepared for them, even a lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment.
24 Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!
25 Wo be unto him that crieth: All is well!
I have received several emails outside of this blog. Here an excerpt from one of them that I wanted to share:
ReplyDeleteThe last thing the Lord Jesus would want is an Attorney "representing" Him. What were the scathing rebukes the Lord made against the Lawyers and Pharisees and scribes? The Prophet Joseph believed that attorneys were an evil breed of power hungry aristocrats. When an attorney represents you, it is an indication that you are a fool and not capable to present yourself before "THE LAW". The word Attorn means "To Twist". Attorneys are taught to Twist the Law and the facts to whoseever benefit they please - it is usually is not for the benefit of those who are not "smart" enough to present themselves.
IN addition, Attorneys do not truly defend their clients, they are officers of the court, and sworn to uphold the Secret combination of the Court system. The word "BAR" means British accredited Registry, and attorneys are NOT licensed by the government to practice Law. THey are licensed by the private club called the BAR. There is NO government regulation of Attorneys, they operate according to the plan of the British Accreditied Registry - which is a secret combination of the highest kind of evil.
However, it is quite ironic that I can think of one man who is one of the Lord's servants who does practice law.
That whole thing about "bar" being an acronym is just a silly hoax. As much as I hate to use the term "conspiracy theory" disparagingly, this "bar" story that gets passed around is nothing but a conspiracy theory that is so easy to debunk that it's really sad that any thinking person believes in it. See sense 23 of the word "bar" in the Oxford English Dictionary, which is available online at OED.com.
Deleteteary.
ReplyDelete