This devotional address by Neal A. Maxwell was given during his time as a commissioner of the Church Educational System of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It highlights several things about orthodox saints and how they have lived their lives. These include prayer time, practicing plural marriage, and giving up their genitalia.
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Orthodox saints
It is tempting to make Orthodoxy about the hardcore. But that attitude is in opposition to the Gospel. In the Gospel, the Lord came to meet people where they were, and the Apostles and Fathers tried to lead them into the Way. But it is not the job of God to remove all obstacles, but to help those who want to follow Christ become committed to their faith. Rather than turning Orthodoxy into an elite club, Christians should be willing to work hard to become Orthodox.
Orthodoxy is not as difficult as some people might think. In contrast to other Christian communions, it involves stricter fasting and prostrations, a hierarchy, obedience to a father-confessor, more church services, and an unchanging moral teaching.
Orthodox saints prayer time
Orthodox saints are a part of the Christian faith and are often invoked during prayer time. A Christian can ask the saint of his or her name to pray for them, or he or she can ask their friends and family to pray for them. Orthodox Christians can also memorize the hymns of their favorite saints and recite them during prayer time. Alternatively, an Orthodox Christian can hang an icon of their favorite saint on their wall so they can remember to pray to it throughout the day.
Orthodox saints practice plural marriage
It’s difficult to determine whether the orthodox Saints practice plural marriage. Although most Saints are monogamous, Joseph Smith had a wide variety of women. During his life, he had as many as thirty or forty wives and children. Many of his multiple unions were platonic, while others were sexual or romantic. Nine of his first twelve polygamous marriages were with women already married to other men. Some Saints may have been attracted to the practice because it provided them with a higher status through the family ties, but Nash believes that the more compelling reason is the eternal aspect of polygamy.
Several LDS leaders had forbidden plural marriage until the early 1900s. President Wilford Woodruff, however, received a revelation that outlawed polygamy and made it illegal. Despite the prohibition, LDS members honor the sacrifices made by polygamists in the early days of the Church. Today, polygamy is not tolerated within the Church. It is against the orthodox faith.
Orthodox saints give up their genitalia
In the Orthodox Christian tradition, male and female genitalia are equal and complementary. The role of both organs is seen as part of God’s creativity and, according to the Orthodox, the union of both sexes promotes the greater good. It helps in the procreation of the human race and helps each person develop a deeper relationship with his or her spouse.
However, the Orthodox Church does not recognize homosexuality as a legitimate option or a legitimate marriage. Moreover, it is unacceptable to use one’s genitalia in an unnatural way, because this would be contrary to the will of God.
Orthodox saints believe in intercessory prayer
Intercessory prayer is the process of asking the saints to pray for us. Most Orthodox prayer is directed to God, but a small fraction is addressed to the saints. While this practice is considered quite powerful, it is not the same as praying directly to God.
The intercession of the saints is believed to be beneficial for the living. The Bible mentions the prayers of saints, although it is unclear whether these prayers are offered to God directly or indirectly. In the First Christian Church, people were encouraged to pray with their leaders.
Orthodox saints practice Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina is a form of silent prayer in which you focus your attention on the words of a prayer book. During this time, you can read the entire scripture or just a portion of it. There is no special program for doing this meditation, and it is often difficult to sustain. It requires concentration and patience, as well as a willingness to renounce modern distractions.
Lectio Divina is a simple form of prayer, but it can be very profound and yield great rewards. It can be done individually or in communities. However, today, most people practice it alone. Many books are written on Lectio Divina.