Contract

My Personal Contract and Commitment

7 February 2018 (Day One)


Whereas I, Stephen Hunt, am starting a weblog, entitled Talk of Christ ("the blog");

Whereas the blog will be primarily for my own benefit and for the benefit of my own children;

Whereas my desire in making the blog public is "to persuade the children of God to turn to Jesus and to believe in Him and His gospel, as restored by the prophet Joseph Smith, and as found in revealed scripture and in the doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints";

Whereas the blog will contain a repository of my own opinions, statements, information, positions, insights, experiences, advertisements, advice, suggestions, etc. (collectively referred to as "opinions and suggestions"), which I openly acknowledge could potentially be incorrect, inaccurate, false, or wrong;

Whereas the blog and its content are in NO WAY affiliated with, endorsed by, recommended by, or approved by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "LDS Church" or "the Church"), whether generally or locally;

Whereas the opinions and suggestions found on the blog are not necessarily the official doctrines, policies, principles, or teachings of the LDS Church;

Whereas leaders of the Church have encouraged members to let their voices be heard and to share and explain the gospel using the internet;

Whereas I sustain the leaders of the Church, and I recognize the authority within the Church of those who hold the keys of the Priesthood;

Whereas I have no intention or desire to oppose, attack, offend, judge, or criticize the Church or its leaders or to draw, pull, or lead others out of the Church or away from its teachings or doctrines;

Whereas I believe that a person "must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel," and I openly acknowledge that I have not been called and set apart to create this blog;

Whereas I am aware of others who have published their own religious opinions and have, in some cases, subsequently been excommunicated from the Church for apostasy;

Whereas I do not want to "Act in clear, open, and deliberate public opposition to the Church or its leaders";

Whereas I do not want to "Persist in teaching as Church doctrine information that is not Church doctrine after [I] have been corrected by [my] bishop or a higher authority";

Whereas I recognize that the members and leaders of the Church, including myself, are human and fallible;

Whereas I also recognize that the leaders of the Church hold the keys of the Priesthood and the authority to govern the Church, to define and declare apostasy, and to impose Church discipline;

Whereas I am not in a position to judge others, including the actions or motives of LDS Church leaders; and

Whereas I believe that Truth is Truth "from whatever source it may come," and "Truth will always stand," regardless of what I believe, and whether or not I am allowed to share my personal beliefs; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, that if my bishop or a higher authority instructs me to either amend or remove any passage or post published by me on this blog, or to remove the entire blog from public view, I will immediately comply (for as long as that person has authority), regardless of any argument or objection I may have concerning that instruction.

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