Replies

First you cite 3 Nephi 19:6-8 (and stop there). (This is what I call typical Mormon obfuscation...but I’ll give you, Fred, the benefit of the doubt...after all, I’m sure you don’t have Mormon leaders who keep urging you to read on in 3 Nephi 19...messes up their propaganda approach)

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Thank you for bringing this up. I hoped you would because I wanted to make the point that even though the people were taught, just a little while earlier, to pray to Father by the power given to Jesus, they like Peter the Apostle, did not always get it correct the first time, even with Christ standing right there.

This is what they were taught just before they bowed down to Jesus.
(3 Nephi 19:6-8.)

6 And the twelve did teach the multitude; and behold, they did cause that the multitude should kneel down upon the face of the earth, and should pray unto the Father in the name of Jesus.

7 And the disciples did pray unto the Father also in the name of Jesus. And it came to pass that they arose and ministered unto the people.

8 And when they had ministered those same words which Jesus had spoken—nothing varying from the words which Jesus had spoken—behold, they knelt again and prayed to the Father in the name of Jesus.

Even more obfuscation. You make it sound like these Nephite disciples were doing a "no-no" FOR WHICH JESUS DISCOURAGED. He did no such thing! (Would you please re-look at Jesus' reaction to their praying? Here. I'll help you out. I'll emphasize it as much as I can)

"...he..commanded them that they should kneel down...that his disciples should kneel down upon the earth....he commanded his disciples that they should pray. And behold, they began to pray; and they did pray UNTO Jesus, calling him their Lord and their God...Father...they believe in me...and they pray UNTO ME...he came unto his disciples, and behold, they did still continue, without ceasing, to pray UNTO HIM...And it came to pass that JESUS BLESSED THEM AS THEY DID PRAY UNTO HIM; AND HIS COUNTENANCE DID SMILE UPON THEM, AND THE LIGHT OF HIS COUNTENANCE DID SHINE UPON THEM...AND JESUS SAID UNTO THEM: PRAY ON; NEVERTHELESS THEY DID NOT CEASE TO PRAY... And when Jesus had spoken these words he came again unto his disciples; and behold they did pray steadfastly, without ceasing, UNTO HIM; and HE DID SMILE UPON THEM AGAIN; and behold they were white, even as Jesus." (3 Nephi 19:16-18,22,24-26, 30)

You can't get a more "sanctioned" response from Jesus than Him blessing them AS they prayed to Jesus, from Him continually "smiling upon them," and the verse where it says: AND JESUS SAID UNTO THEM: PRAY ON; NEVERTHELESS THEY DID NOT CEASE TO PRAY...

If this was a rebukable "no-no" as McConkie did, Jesus would not have false led them on...or He would have openly corrected them for all time & eternity rather than folks getting the false impression that this was "smile-able" activity..."blessing-able" activity...directly encouraged by Jesus Himself to keep it up.