tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989586293877971034.post329161510632597353..comments2023-10-02T05:12:10.620-05:00Comments on Please Excuse Me: Elder Benson and the Birch SocietyLiz Szilagyihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17311798203171455668noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1989586293877971034.post-11670292650257553802016-03-26T17:36:30.655-05:002016-03-26T17:36:30.655-05:00Thanks for your comments. Made me rethink my opin...Thanks for your comments. Made me rethink my opinion of ETB. As you know, he said at one time that "You can't be a strong Democrat and a good member of the Church" or something akin to that. That has always stuck in my craw. Shortly thereafter Wayne Owens, a former very liberal Democratic representative from the state was called to be a mission president in Montreal Canada. I always figured that was one way of shutting him up. Spencer W. Kimball and ETB were called as apostles on the very same day, and I heard it said (don't know if this is sound or not) that ETB was scheduled to be set apart first, but was late for the appointment, so they set President Kimball apart first. Whether or not that is true, it was certainly a blessing to the church that SWK was prophet before ETB. The blacks would have had to wait much longer to have the priesthood, as I do not believe ETB would have been in tune for such a revelation. That said, I did notice a strong change in ETB when he became prophet. He no longer was the political monstrosity he had been prior to that time. He even apologized for his earlier remarks toward Democrats. I don't think her personal beliefs ever changed much however. It was quoted in the SLT that his sister voted for Bo Gritz when he ran, and I wouldn't be surprised if ETB did the same -- but then we had David O McKay who cozied up to Richard Nixon vs. John F. Kennedy and we all know there was no bigger crook to reside in the White House than RMN. Apostles do make mistakes as Elder Uchdorf has so wisely said. I believe prophets do as well (BY and his bigotry, JS and polygamy, etc.). One must look at the overall person and his her good works, and I can honestly say ETB's positive outweigh his negatives. There now you've aroused the sleeping apostate within me!!! I have to teach SS tomorrow, so I'd better start repenting NOW. Love, PaPanoreply@blogger.com