The Scream
3 weeks ago
(I) talk of Christ . . . and (I) write according to (my understanding), that (my) children (and friends) may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins. (2 Nephi 25:26)
You have authority in your position as a President. Do what you feel impressed to do - and then go to the Bishop and tell him what you did.
I have had some absolutely wonderful classes even with the correlated material.
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
"Anything that is true prophecy recorded in the scriptures doesn't come from the individual; rather, it comes from God."
Sometime that same month, the two men were discussing the fate of the apostle John—a topic of interest at the time. Joseph’s history records they differed in their opinions and “mutually agreed to settle [it] by the Urim and Thummim.” The answer came in a vision of a parchment that Joseph translated, which is now Doctrine and Covenants 7.
Oliver Cowdery lived in a culture steeped in biblical ideas, language and practices. The revelation’s reference to Moses likely resonated with him. The Old Testament account of Moses and his brother Aaron recounted several instances of using rods to manifest God’s will (see Ex. 7:9-12; Num. 17:8). Many Christians in Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery's day similarly believed in divining rods as an instrument for revelation. Cowdery was among those who believed in and used a divining rod.
The Lord recognized Oliver’s ability to use a rod: “thou hast another gift which is the gift of working with the rod.” Confirming the divinity of this gift, the revelation stated: “Behold there is no other power save God that can cause this thing of Nature to work in your hands for it is the work of God.”
I remember a few years ago watching the Chilean miners who had been underground so long being rescued. One thing struck me as I watched.
The miners were all given sunglasses to wear as they emerged from the tunnel - since they had been over 2,000 feet underground and away from sunlight for over two months. If they had come out of the ground without eye protection, the increased light would have been very damaging - and they needed to wear the sunglasses for a while until their eyes adjusted. It was important not to rush the process - to take whatever time was necessary to avoid overexposure.
That reminded me of Pres. Uchtdorf's amazing talk in General Conference a few years ago about turbulence and the need to slow down while experiencing turbulence. (It might have been around the same time that the miners were rescued, which might be why thinking about one triggered memories of the other.)
The common message is that when new views hurt old eyes, it's important to slow down, wear protective eye gear AS LONG AS NECESSARY and gradually adjust to the increased light and truth.
So, take your time. Jump in with both feet, but don't feel like you have to swim at the deep end immediately. Enjoy getting acclimated to the water once again - at whatever depth is comfortable for you as you develop your swimming muscles again.