Blind or Unwavering or Faith Obedience

[Portia]

Nephi's example includes some pretty clear questioning about killing Laban:
https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/4?lang=eng

Hemming and hawing about murder doesn't make it right. I'm not so sure that either Nephi or Laban were historical, but the principle is still upsetting. The justification is awfully flimsy. I've been a lot happier once I've decided to attribute evil things to human stupidity, and not because God said so.

[Portia]

What if you hurt someone else in the name of being obedient to God or to a religious leader?

Oof, that's tough. That's probably the most extreme scenario there is.

In terms of something like murder, yes, I'd say that's an extreme scenario. But in terms of, say, disowning a gay or lesbian child, I don't think that has been uncommon at all, even though the official church rhetoric is now in opposition to such behavior.

What about (essentially) disowning cohabitating straight children? That was Dallin Oaks's line as recently as October 2009, which I just found to be wildly overstepping parental bounds.

[vorpal blade]

What about (essentially) disowning cohabitating straight children? That was Dallin Oaks's line as recently as October 2009, which I just found to be wildly overstepping parental bounds.

I'm not familiar with this quote. Could you provide a reference?

[The Black Ram]

This has been a very interesting post for me to read as someone that’s always been curious about how people are so certain that their brand of faith is the right one. I’ve called myself a secular humanist, agnostic, pastafarian (Yes, I had FSM on my dog tags) mostly because I’ve always felt it takes a great deal of conceit to claim to speak for god. Secondarily because “Speaking for God” is the con man’s dream, and virtually every bible tells that man is inherently evil, so I’m unwilling to let one man’s claims trump my own experiences. I’m not sure if this is exactly the forum for me to ask my questions on the topic but this has raised some of my fundamental conflicts with organized religion so I’ll ask the mods to either allow it here or move to a more appropriate spot.
In order of reading;
Bob: At best it's a kind of lesser law to be followed until we mature enough to seek out and verify truth for ourselves.
Me: My understanding of Mormon theology is that the earthly experience is to gain knowledge, provide learning opportunities for when you are a (spirit being? Not trying to be rude by my information is limited). This doesn’t differ greatly from my own belief that I live to learn, gain experience, and understand the difference between what I’m told and what is true for my own existence. However I’ve never understood how you can do this with so many restrictions on what you can and cannot do. A few years ago I stopped using the word “mistake” with most of my earthly trials and started replacing it with “learning opportunity” as I honestly feel it is a more accurate description. I can live my entire life in a box and never make a single mistake, but what have I learned? If I’m focused on the shame of having made a mistake how am I going to learn everything I can from it?
Vorpal: "But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right."
Me: I absolutely love that it is doctrine to question the teachings and verify for yourself that it is true. In regards to things such as Prop 8, disowning gay children, and even the questions about the trans sibling, these teachings obviously do not resonate in the individual and they are then banished. How is this not an obvious conflict between doctrine and implementation?
S.A.M.: I like this. "Blind" obedience could be reflexively accepting what you are told is God's will and following it. "Faith" obedience could be consciously seeking out whether what you are told is God's will and then following it. It seems either form could be unwavering.
Me: Nothing to add directly, I appreciate the distinction and haven’t had the understanding to put it into words myself. I am curious where most people fall.

[Katya]

(Yes, I had FSM on my dog tags)

This is awesome.