So if the scriptures say that we can have up to seven quorums* of seventy, and the change from local to general seventies quorums was done, at least in part, to match prophetic guidance on the subject,** why do we now have eight quorums of seventies?
* Why do i always want to say “quora” instead of “quorums“?
** Look particularly at the text leading to note 12.
Faith Hill: Where Are You, Christmas?
11 years ago
4 comments:
You want to say quora because that's what the nominative (or accusative) plural would be if quorum were a nominative singular neuter Latin word.
other examples:
datum > data
stratum > strata
David -
You need to do a little research before assigning your own interpretation to D&C 107:96 And also other seventy, until 'seven times seventy', if the labor in the vineyard of necessity requires it.
D&C 98:40 And so on unto the second and third time; and as oft as thine enemy repenteth of the trespass wherewith he has trespassed against thee, thou shalt forgive him, until 'seventy times seven.'
The expression 'seventy times seven,' or 'seven times seventy' was used to indicate an inconceivably large number since they had no expression to indicate an infinitely large number.
Certainly, we are not to forgive another only 490 times (although that would seem sufficient) and, fortunately, we are not to be forgiven only 490 times (although that would seem insufficient).
At the time of Joseph Smith's death, there were nine Quorums of Seventy. At the time I joined the Church there was a Quorum of Seventy in each Stake, with groups in each Ward, similar to the way High Priest Groups are set up now. It doesn't appear that there was ever an intent to limit Seventies to only seven quorums.
We are entitled to have as many Quorums of Seventy as is necessary to operate the Church efficiently.
Oh, i know. The interesting thing is that various General Authorities have had differing opinions on what the Quorums of the Seventy ought to be like—how many there should be, whether they should be local authorities or general ones, how the seven presidents are chosen, even whether the seven presidents are allowed to be (not just should be) high priests.
I just find things like this—where it makes a difference, but not really a big one—rather fascinating.
(The whole Presiding Patriarch thing fits into this category, too.)
Oh—and if “seventy times seven” is to be taken completely figuratively, why do we cap membership in each quorum at seventy?
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