Grand principle of Mormonism

So, why does Joseph Smith's comment on friendship bother me? Elder Jensen continues, "Perhaps one reason the scriptures make little specific mention of the principle of friendship is because it should be manifest quite naturally as we live the gospel. In fact, if the consummate Christian attribute of charity has a first cousin, it is friendship."

And perhaps it is the word "Mormonism." Mormonism doesn't have a very good connotation. People think of Mormons as a cult & we're not. Most people still think Mormons are not Christian. Mormon is not the name of the Church, it is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The 6th Article of Faith states it better than I can:

We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

The Church of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth. AND The Book of Mormon is not our Bible. I think of the scripture in 2 Nephi 29:3, "A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible ..."

OK, I've "ranted & raved." Do I feel better? I don't know. Did I explain it to my satisfaction? I'll see.

One of tonight's quotes was a repeat. I was going to comment on it, but got sidetracked on the "grand principal of Mormonism." But here is one from President Hinckley:

"The Lord's standards have come from Him. Some of them may appear a little out-of-date in our society, but this does not detract from their validity nor diminish the virtue of their application. The subtle reasoning of men, no matter how clever, no matter how plausible it may sound, cannot abridge the declared wisdom of God."

--President Gordon B. Hinckley, "Pursue the Steady Course", Ensign, Jan. 2005, 5