I recently finished the book "Why Would Anyone Join the Mormon Church?"
The book had very good information for those wanting to explain doctrines of the Church to those that are not members of the Church. Some of the conclusions the author made were not explained well enough for me to recommend the book to directly those who are not members of the Church. I think that this is a very good resource for Church members wanting to gain scriptural resources as they try to talk to others about our beliefs.
I have often found that in my life when I have been confronted with criticisms of Church doctrines I have often gotten defensive and not opened a good dialog. I was not prepared with scripture references and other authoritative resources to use as a point of reverent discussion.
Over the years I have taken many notes from the scriptures and read many books like "Why Would Anyone Join the Mormon Church?" to better understand how to articulate our beliefs and also to better show where those beliefs were taught by the Savior, the ancient Apostles, and other ancient Christians.
Sunday, January 05, 2014
Behaving Like We Think A Bishop Should
The prophet receives God's will for the Church in general. A stake president receives God's will for the stake he presides over. A bishop receives God's will for the ward he presides over. A father receives God's will for the home he presides over.
In this example I am going to use a bishop, since they are the Church authority closest to us and we likely have the most contact with.
Often members of the Church see their bishop or a bishop with all of the faults of a man. They expect a higher standard of him because he is a bishop and is to receive revelation from God on how to lead the ward.
We aren't doing ourselves any favors by dwelling on his flaws, but it could productive to place ourselves up against the standard we have set in our minds for bishops. We are to receive revelations for our lives, which means that if there is a requirement for receiving revelation for a ward, then those standards likely apply to being able to receive revelation in our personal lives.
I think if we try to live up to the standard we have set for our bishop, we will likely appreciate and understand him more and will likely find ways to make ourselves closer to God.
Baptism Unto Repentance
Baptism Unto Repentance
Mosiah 26:22
22 For behold, this is my church; whosoever is baptized shall be baptized unto repentance. And whomsoever ye receive shall believe in my name; and him will I freely forgive.
Acts 19:1-6
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
Except in extreme circumstances we are only baptized once, nonetheless we need to repent every day. We are told frequently in the scriptures to repent and be baptized. Why are we not told to repent and be baptized and repent, since we are to repent more than just when we are baptized by water. I believe this is because repentance and baptism are always together, even though we are only baptized by water once.
Some want that experience of being baptized again to wash away their sins. When we are baptized we are baptized by water. Then we have had hands laid upon our heads and are instructed to receive the Holy Ghost. Receiving the Holy Ghost is often referred to as a baptism of fire.
While water baptism generally happens only once, the baptism of fire or of the Holy Ghost is to happen daily as a matter of our daily repentance.
The call to “repent and be baptized” is a daily event. We repent and then are baptized again by the Holy Ghost and the Holy Ghost works within us to testify of our repentance. This process is the cleansing us of our sins through repentance and baptism of the Holy Ghost, to give us access to the atonement of Jesus Christ.
It is true that when one wants to be baptized they repent before hand and then they punctuate that repentance with a covenant and the ordinance of baptism. We will likely sin after our baptism, so we also should repent daily and be baptized by the Holy Ghost daily and make our covenant again when we take the sacrament, thus becoming clean again.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
The Proper Name of the Church
I stumbled upon a book at Deseret Industries the other day called "Why Would Anyone Join the Mormon Church?" It is written by Brad Brase, who converted to the Church. It gives his conversion story and describes some of the opposition he got when he wanted to join the Church. He also tells of many misconceptions that he was confronted with. The book covers these misconceptions and gives some discussion of why they are misconceptions.
Early in the book he talks of the proper name of the church. At one point he says, "The only true and correct name of the Church is 'The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.' Since Latter-day Saints equally embrace the inspired writings of the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible, it wouldn't make any more sense to call them 'Mormons' than it would to called them 'Ezikiels,' 'Isaiahs,' Matthews,' 'Lukes,' or 'Peters' And their doctrine is no more 'Mormonism" than it is 'Jeremiahism,' Danielism,' 'Johnism,' 'Jamesism,'or 'Paulism.'"
Early in the book he talks of the proper name of the church. At one point he says, "The only true and correct name of the Church is 'The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.' Since Latter-day Saints equally embrace the inspired writings of the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible, it wouldn't make any more sense to call them 'Mormons' than it would to called them 'Ezikiels,' 'Isaiahs,' Matthews,' 'Lukes,' or 'Peters' And their doctrine is no more 'Mormonism" than it is 'Jeremiahism,' Danielism,' 'Johnism,' 'Jamesism,'or 'Paulism.'"
Saturday, September 01, 2012
Mormon in America on Rock Center with Brian Williams
Someone announced in Church last week that there was a special on NBC this week about the Church. It was on a show called Rock Center with Brian Williams and the special was titled Mormon in America.
The piece was created due to Mitt Romney running for president and some new curiosities people have about the Church because of that.
I don't think that this program gave very much information to help their audience understand The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I think that it created more misunderstandings and distrust.
The show opened with the statement, "Tonight on Rock Center: What it means to be Mormon in America?" I hardly think that in 42 minutes someone can define that. I also don't think that NBC is qualified to be able to put that story together accurately. I think it takes more than a few weeks researching that definition to be able find it.
Also in the introduction, "and some of the lesser known aspects." While reads this statement we are show an oddly lighted pictures of what appears to be a boy being given the priesthood. Then they flash to someone saying "magic underwear".
I'm so sick of sensationalism to keep people tuned in. How about just have solid content to keep people coming back to your show? While it had some good information about the Church, most it was stuff to raise eyebrows and surprise people.
The section on the Church's welfare program was titled "How the church takes car of their own." Ignoring that the Church takes care of millions who are not members of the Church.
The entire piece focused mostly on the fringe of the Church. Things like Gay Mormons, Feminist Mormons, Mormons who have left the Church, and of course Polygamy.
The piece on Mormon's in business was ok, even though the title of Mormon Inc was inflammatory. They focused on work ethic and the preparation for life that serving a mission gives.
Throughout the show they continually used the word Mormon. While many know us that way, it felt like another way to sensationalize the story and use to historically emotionally charged word to that end. They used the official name of the Church at the beginning of the piece, but I don't recall them referring the members as LDS or using the official name of the Church at any other time in the show.
I was interested to hear that the Marriott hotel chain started as a root beer stand. I will have to look at that more, since it is interesting and since everything else in the show was just for the shock factor. I will be interested to know the entire truth behind that statement.
The primary guy doing pieces on the Church made the statement "there is some sort of code there, to know that a fellow Mormon has served that mission" when asked about how being a member of the Church compares to other brotherhood bonds like firefighter and military.
One segment teaser stated, "...why some many Americans are still suspicious of the religion." They then put up a clip of a woman who left the Church saying, "I don't think they have done a good enough job of opening up. They have been very secretive." While having balanced reporting is good, this was not it. As I said before everything in the story was a tease or a flash in the pan to wow or incite people.
They sited the "polygamy based dramas" on TV, as if members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were the stars of those shows.
It was interesting that when related the story of how The Book of Mormon came to be, Brian Williams states that "...even though the Angel Moroni took the plates back..." I would've expected the phraseology to be "the alleged angel" or "the angel allegedly", just because he is not a believer. But I do appreciate him giving us the benefit of the doubt.
There was a statement by a scholar, not of the Church, that stated that some people have a hard time believe that angels came to the prophet Joseph Smith and yet they accept that Moses parted the Red Sea.and the Jesus walked on water.
Brian Williams said, "Mormons don't drink. No Caffeine, cigarettes, or swearing either." If we are talking about membership in the Church only, no one is excommunicated for swearing or drinking caffeine. Although, I agree that one would be better off and probably be stronger in their faith if they did refrain from those things.I think it misrepresented the members of the Church and our beliefs.
They site a couple of different people as members of the Church, who are members only in that they have not removed their names from the records of the Church. These are people that do not go to the LDS Church on Sundays and mostly don't live the things they defined as what it means to be a member of the Church.
They paraded out Abbey Huntsman, who is not active in the Church. They referred to her as Mormon royalty, which showing video of her with her father, the former governor and candidate for president. They then talked of her being descended from an early apostle. Neither her father being in politics nor her ancestry make her Mormon royalty, especially since there is no such thing.
She talked of the Church being black and white. She stated, "You are either in or you are out. You either live by the Mormon doctrine or you do not." How this a statement worth even airing? Obviously you live by a set of doctrines or you do not. Is she proposing that people that want to be things that Latter-day Saints are not and should still be considered Latter-day Saints. This is just more things to make drama for TV, which having worked in TV and in PR Abbey would know plenty about.
The story moved to comparing a Catholic cathedral to a LDS temple. They stated that people can freely enter a Cathedral. Comparing a cathedral to a temple is not an equal comparison. It would be more accurate to compare a cathedral to one of our chapels. Making the comparison base solely on the fact that they are both extraordinary and large religious buildings. The equivalent of mass would be our sacrament services, which are held in local meeting houses or chapels, not temples. Those chapels are freely open to the public.
I'm sure they are thinking that marriages are performed in both places, so they are equivalent. The marriages that are equivalent to cathedral marriages are performed in meeting houses. The marriages performed in temples are more sacred and not open to just anyone. There are standards to be married in the temple and there are standards to attend a wedding of two people that have chosen to live those standards. We honor the the standards the couple has set for themselves by abiding by those same standards to be at their wedding.
After the wedding there is a reception. Some even choose to have a more traditional ceremony after the temple ceremony, so that more people can attend.
They brought up the topic of temple garments. I realize that people are curious about this, but is there nothing that can be respected. This is likely one of the reasons the temples are closed off to the public. Those who haven't made the covenants and those that don't understand the covenants talk about them frivolously. It this case they are showing pictures of what are supposed to be temple garments and talking about them. Not only are these people's underwear, but they are something that is sacred to those people and here is a television program putting them up there for the whole world.
Brian Williams said in the program, "But when it was found that they were baptizing even Holocaust victims who died because they were Jews. The Church admitted the mistake and acted to stop it." I don't recall anything where the Church stated this was a mistake. They agreed to stop because the Jews asked them to. The only mistakes I have heard that the Church has spoken of on the subject of work for the dead for the Jews was when members have done work for Holocaust victims without the Church's knowledge that that is who the deceased people were. Then the Church apologized and put more checks in to prevent it and spent time training members that this was not to be done.
It almost appears to me that the actions of the Jewish nation is fulfilling the prophesy that the last shall be first and the first shall be last. The Jewish nation is demanding that the Jews not receive the blessings God has for them and thus other peoples are getting those blessings before them.
Brian Williams gave us more polarizing words, "There is another part of Mormonism in the recent past that has been late to change and that's racism. African Americans were not allowed to become full members until 1978." To label the policy of denying blacks the priesthood for a time as racism belittles what blacks have gone through. It also minimizes the efforts the Church has taken to eliminate hate against blacks and all people in our nation.
He continued gave this image of the Church of fear and unpreparedness and as if they are hiding something with, "The Mormon Church is under pressure to move fast. Faster than they'd like to open up, because they're being pushed by questions and public fascination with their religion, in no small part because a Mormon could be the next president of the United States." Is this supposed to reflect on Mitt Romney, like he is hiding something from the American people and this should implant doubts in their minds about him?
As Brian continued to bring in clips of Abbey Huntsman he referred to her as being from a prominent Mormon family. I looked up the definition of prominent. It said something about standing out. If the word is being used to say that they are famous and Mormon, then I suppose that works. But if someone takes it to say that they standout as what Mormons are, then I would say that would be the wrong perception.
Abbey made the statement that Mormons believe this is their day with Mitt Romney and the prospect that he will be president. I wish that were true for me. Unfortunately there is a large percent in the Church that are all in on Mr. Romney and I think just because her is a member of the Church. Just as many vote for the Republican candidate just because he is a Republican.
I distrust Mitt Romney for many reasons. It would be great to have a strong member of the Church that sticks up for what he believes in become President, but the things that I hear about his voting record don't convince me that is who he is.
Nonetheless, I will likely be voting for him in November for the same reason I voted for McCain last time and others I have voted for in the past. I will vote for him because he is the lesser of two bad choices. I don't think I have felt strongly that who I was voting for was a solid candidate since Ross Perot.
Here Mr. Williams tries to turn the female vote against Mitt Romney "...and those kids grow up in a Church where the two genders, male and female, are not equal." Why can't people understand that equal does not mean the same? From my understanding the President's cabinet members equal. They have an equal vote in counseling him, but they all have separate and distinct responsibilities and authority that the others do not.
Additionally, two dimes and a nickel are equal to a quarter, but you can't get gum out of a gumball machine with two dimes and a nickle.
Men and women are equal, but not the same. Their responsibilities, abilities, and authority are different.
One women interviewed an interracial couple and she asks the wife if she worries about the conforming to the uniformity in the Church. The wife kind of looked at her like she was nuts at first, since she is married to a black man. She started to respond that clearly everything is not totally uniform and then interviewer blew her off and continued with her agenda.
They interviewed a "Mormon feminist". The feminist talked of her daughter asking her why only boys pass the sacrament. The only answer she could come up with was, "This is the way things are." It is not just the way things are. God is a god of order and does things for a reason. If you step outside yourself and your agenda for a little bit and focus on what God wants you can see why it is.
The story said that the "Mormon Feminist" wondered if there could be equality in the Church if women could hold leadership positions. Has she never attended a Relief Society meeting or General Conference. Had the reporter dug deeper to get the real story instead of just trying get a shock reaction to push ratings, maybe she would've interviewed the women that do hold leadership positions in the Church. Maybe a relief society president or a primary president or a young women president. Maybe one of the teen aged girls that are presidents of their young women classes.
There are tons of women in leadership positions in the Church. They are different positions than men, but again, equal does not mean the same. The problem with the feminist movement is that they eye what they perceive to be the top of the food chain and if there is not a woman in it then they are being treated unfairly.
Women can't be fathers. Shocking, clearly they are oppressed because of that and they aren't being treated equally.
People get caught up in looking around them at other people and want to be what they are not and make themselves miserable being depressed or angry about it.
The program next brought a "Gay Mormon". The reporter used phases like "shunned by his church". They cited no examples of how the church didn't fellowship him or asked him to not come to church. I grew up in the Amish community and I saw actual shunning by a church. It is irresponsible for the spin master running this story to use a word like shun in this context.
I was impressed that they covered the struggle that we have with an increasingly sexualized world and that they talked about the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet as a guide for youth and families on setting standards for themselves. She even talked about not breaking a promise when a 17 year old girl she interviewed talked of a boyfriend wanting to get physical. They also talked about being forgiven if you do make mistakes.
I say that was positive and then they yanked the positive out of it by switching back to Abbey Huntsman and talking of how she doesn't feel forgiven. She continues to live another life, of course she doesn't feel forgiven. Brian Williams used the phrase "hauled in front of her bishop" as if someone physically dragged her kicking and screaming to the bishop.
They moved to a section of the program where they looked at the Church's welfare program. Much of it was positive. Although it was awkward that he talked about Mormon bread and Mormon honey.
It was also nice that they pointed out that one of the bishop's had his own business and did not get paid for his efforts as a bishop, even though the responsibility of a bishop is heavy. It was also nice that they mentioned that Mitt Romney was a bishop and got the experience of leadership and service through it.
The guy, Harry Smith, who did the segment on the welfare program comment about members of the Church he met, "You would not be able to distinguish these people from any other walk of life except for their total commitment to their faith."
They did a segment on the Book of Mormon musical, which I think many confuse as being something put out by members of the Church.
It was nice that the gay guy int he musical talked about the positive experience his mission was. Then he made the comment that he didn't feel that he could reach his full potential as a person as a gay guy in the Church. He removed the Church from his life, concluding that it was what was keeping him from reaching his full potential. People need to set aside their own wants and focus on their needs. The thing that was getting in the way of his full potential as a gay member of the Church was not the Church, but that he chose to pursue being gay.
He commented that when he was in the musical he felt like he was still sharing a message in the world. He said that right after he stated that the musical would probably have an R rating if it was a movie. My question is, what sort of message is he sharing with the world now.
The piece was created due to Mitt Romney running for president and some new curiosities people have about the Church because of that.
I don't think that this program gave very much information to help their audience understand The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I think that it created more misunderstandings and distrust.
The show opened with the statement, "Tonight on Rock Center: What it means to be Mormon in America?" I hardly think that in 42 minutes someone can define that. I also don't think that NBC is qualified to be able to put that story together accurately. I think it takes more than a few weeks researching that definition to be able find it.
Also in the introduction, "and some of the lesser known aspects." While reads this statement we are show an oddly lighted pictures of what appears to be a boy being given the priesthood. Then they flash to someone saying "magic underwear".
I'm so sick of sensationalism to keep people tuned in. How about just have solid content to keep people coming back to your show? While it had some good information about the Church, most it was stuff to raise eyebrows and surprise people.
The section on the Church's welfare program was titled "How the church takes car of their own." Ignoring that the Church takes care of millions who are not members of the Church.
The entire piece focused mostly on the fringe of the Church. Things like Gay Mormons, Feminist Mormons, Mormons who have left the Church, and of course Polygamy.
The piece on Mormon's in business was ok, even though the title of Mormon Inc was inflammatory. They focused on work ethic and the preparation for life that serving a mission gives.
Throughout the show they continually used the word Mormon. While many know us that way, it felt like another way to sensationalize the story and use to historically emotionally charged word to that end. They used the official name of the Church at the beginning of the piece, but I don't recall them referring the members as LDS or using the official name of the Church at any other time in the show.
I was interested to hear that the Marriott hotel chain started as a root beer stand. I will have to look at that more, since it is interesting and since everything else in the show was just for the shock factor. I will be interested to know the entire truth behind that statement.
The primary guy doing pieces on the Church made the statement "there is some sort of code there, to know that a fellow Mormon has served that mission" when asked about how being a member of the Church compares to other brotherhood bonds like firefighter and military.
One segment teaser stated, "...why some many Americans are still suspicious of the religion." They then put up a clip of a woman who left the Church saying, "I don't think they have done a good enough job of opening up. They have been very secretive." While having balanced reporting is good, this was not it. As I said before everything in the story was a tease or a flash in the pan to wow or incite people.
They sited the "polygamy based dramas" on TV, as if members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were the stars of those shows.
It was interesting that when related the story of how The Book of Mormon came to be, Brian Williams states that "...even though the Angel Moroni took the plates back..." I would've expected the phraseology to be "the alleged angel" or "the angel allegedly", just because he is not a believer. But I do appreciate him giving us the benefit of the doubt.
There was a statement by a scholar, not of the Church, that stated that some people have a hard time believe that angels came to the prophet Joseph Smith and yet they accept that Moses parted the Red Sea.and the Jesus walked on water.
Brian Williams said, "Mormons don't drink. No Caffeine, cigarettes, or swearing either." If we are talking about membership in the Church only, no one is excommunicated for swearing or drinking caffeine. Although, I agree that one would be better off and probably be stronger in their faith if they did refrain from those things.I think it misrepresented the members of the Church and our beliefs.
They site a couple of different people as members of the Church, who are members only in that they have not removed their names from the records of the Church. These are people that do not go to the LDS Church on Sundays and mostly don't live the things they defined as what it means to be a member of the Church.
They paraded out Abbey Huntsman, who is not active in the Church. They referred to her as Mormon royalty, which showing video of her with her father, the former governor and candidate for president. They then talked of her being descended from an early apostle. Neither her father being in politics nor her ancestry make her Mormon royalty, especially since there is no such thing.
She talked of the Church being black and white. She stated, "You are either in or you are out. You either live by the Mormon doctrine or you do not." How this a statement worth even airing? Obviously you live by a set of doctrines or you do not. Is she proposing that people that want to be things that Latter-day Saints are not and should still be considered Latter-day Saints. This is just more things to make drama for TV, which having worked in TV and in PR Abbey would know plenty about.
The story moved to comparing a Catholic cathedral to a LDS temple. They stated that people can freely enter a Cathedral. Comparing a cathedral to a temple is not an equal comparison. It would be more accurate to compare a cathedral to one of our chapels. Making the comparison base solely on the fact that they are both extraordinary and large religious buildings. The equivalent of mass would be our sacrament services, which are held in local meeting houses or chapels, not temples. Those chapels are freely open to the public.
I'm sure they are thinking that marriages are performed in both places, so they are equivalent. The marriages that are equivalent to cathedral marriages are performed in meeting houses. The marriages performed in temples are more sacred and not open to just anyone. There are standards to be married in the temple and there are standards to attend a wedding of two people that have chosen to live those standards. We honor the the standards the couple has set for themselves by abiding by those same standards to be at their wedding.
After the wedding there is a reception. Some even choose to have a more traditional ceremony after the temple ceremony, so that more people can attend.
They brought up the topic of temple garments. I realize that people are curious about this, but is there nothing that can be respected. This is likely one of the reasons the temples are closed off to the public. Those who haven't made the covenants and those that don't understand the covenants talk about them frivolously. It this case they are showing pictures of what are supposed to be temple garments and talking about them. Not only are these people's underwear, but they are something that is sacred to those people and here is a television program putting them up there for the whole world.
Brian Williams said in the program, "But when it was found that they were baptizing even Holocaust victims who died because they were Jews. The Church admitted the mistake and acted to stop it." I don't recall anything where the Church stated this was a mistake. They agreed to stop because the Jews asked them to. The only mistakes I have heard that the Church has spoken of on the subject of work for the dead for the Jews was when members have done work for Holocaust victims without the Church's knowledge that that is who the deceased people were. Then the Church apologized and put more checks in to prevent it and spent time training members that this was not to be done.
It almost appears to me that the actions of the Jewish nation is fulfilling the prophesy that the last shall be first and the first shall be last. The Jewish nation is demanding that the Jews not receive the blessings God has for them and thus other peoples are getting those blessings before them.
Brian Williams gave us more polarizing words, "There is another part of Mormonism in the recent past that has been late to change and that's racism. African Americans were not allowed to become full members until 1978." To label the policy of denying blacks the priesthood for a time as racism belittles what blacks have gone through. It also minimizes the efforts the Church has taken to eliminate hate against blacks and all people in our nation.
He continued gave this image of the Church of fear and unpreparedness and as if they are hiding something with, "The Mormon Church is under pressure to move fast. Faster than they'd like to open up, because they're being pushed by questions and public fascination with their religion, in no small part because a Mormon could be the next president of the United States." Is this supposed to reflect on Mitt Romney, like he is hiding something from the American people and this should implant doubts in their minds about him?
As Brian continued to bring in clips of Abbey Huntsman he referred to her as being from a prominent Mormon family. I looked up the definition of prominent. It said something about standing out. If the word is being used to say that they are famous and Mormon, then I suppose that works. But if someone takes it to say that they standout as what Mormons are, then I would say that would be the wrong perception.
Abbey made the statement that Mormons believe this is their day with Mitt Romney and the prospect that he will be president. I wish that were true for me. Unfortunately there is a large percent in the Church that are all in on Mr. Romney and I think just because her is a member of the Church. Just as many vote for the Republican candidate just because he is a Republican.
I distrust Mitt Romney for many reasons. It would be great to have a strong member of the Church that sticks up for what he believes in become President, but the things that I hear about his voting record don't convince me that is who he is.
Nonetheless, I will likely be voting for him in November for the same reason I voted for McCain last time and others I have voted for in the past. I will vote for him because he is the lesser of two bad choices. I don't think I have felt strongly that who I was voting for was a solid candidate since Ross Perot.
Here Mr. Williams tries to turn the female vote against Mitt Romney "...and those kids grow up in a Church where the two genders, male and female, are not equal." Why can't people understand that equal does not mean the same? From my understanding the President's cabinet members equal. They have an equal vote in counseling him, but they all have separate and distinct responsibilities and authority that the others do not.
Additionally, two dimes and a nickel are equal to a quarter, but you can't get gum out of a gumball machine with two dimes and a nickle.
Men and women are equal, but not the same. Their responsibilities, abilities, and authority are different.
One women interviewed an interracial couple and she asks the wife if she worries about the conforming to the uniformity in the Church. The wife kind of looked at her like she was nuts at first, since she is married to a black man. She started to respond that clearly everything is not totally uniform and then interviewer blew her off and continued with her agenda.
They interviewed a "Mormon feminist". The feminist talked of her daughter asking her why only boys pass the sacrament. The only answer she could come up with was, "This is the way things are." It is not just the way things are. God is a god of order and does things for a reason. If you step outside yourself and your agenda for a little bit and focus on what God wants you can see why it is.
The story said that the "Mormon Feminist" wondered if there could be equality in the Church if women could hold leadership positions. Has she never attended a Relief Society meeting or General Conference. Had the reporter dug deeper to get the real story instead of just trying get a shock reaction to push ratings, maybe she would've interviewed the women that do hold leadership positions in the Church. Maybe a relief society president or a primary president or a young women president. Maybe one of the teen aged girls that are presidents of their young women classes.
There are tons of women in leadership positions in the Church. They are different positions than men, but again, equal does not mean the same. The problem with the feminist movement is that they eye what they perceive to be the top of the food chain and if there is not a woman in it then they are being treated unfairly.
Women can't be fathers. Shocking, clearly they are oppressed because of that and they aren't being treated equally.
People get caught up in looking around them at other people and want to be what they are not and make themselves miserable being depressed or angry about it.
The program next brought a "Gay Mormon". The reporter used phases like "shunned by his church". They cited no examples of how the church didn't fellowship him or asked him to not come to church. I grew up in the Amish community and I saw actual shunning by a church. It is irresponsible for the spin master running this story to use a word like shun in this context.
I was impressed that they covered the struggle that we have with an increasingly sexualized world and that they talked about the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet as a guide for youth and families on setting standards for themselves. She even talked about not breaking a promise when a 17 year old girl she interviewed talked of a boyfriend wanting to get physical. They also talked about being forgiven if you do make mistakes.
I say that was positive and then they yanked the positive out of it by switching back to Abbey Huntsman and talking of how she doesn't feel forgiven. She continues to live another life, of course she doesn't feel forgiven. Brian Williams used the phrase "hauled in front of her bishop" as if someone physically dragged her kicking and screaming to the bishop.
They moved to a section of the program where they looked at the Church's welfare program. Much of it was positive. Although it was awkward that he talked about Mormon bread and Mormon honey.
It was also nice that they pointed out that one of the bishop's had his own business and did not get paid for his efforts as a bishop, even though the responsibility of a bishop is heavy. It was also nice that they mentioned that Mitt Romney was a bishop and got the experience of leadership and service through it.
The guy, Harry Smith, who did the segment on the welfare program comment about members of the Church he met, "You would not be able to distinguish these people from any other walk of life except for their total commitment to their faith."
They did a segment on the Book of Mormon musical, which I think many confuse as being something put out by members of the Church.
It was nice that the gay guy int he musical talked about the positive experience his mission was. Then he made the comment that he didn't feel that he could reach his full potential as a person as a gay guy in the Church. He removed the Church from his life, concluding that it was what was keeping him from reaching his full potential. People need to set aside their own wants and focus on their needs. The thing that was getting in the way of his full potential as a gay member of the Church was not the Church, but that he chose to pursue being gay.
He commented that when he was in the musical he felt like he was still sharing a message in the world. He said that right after he stated that the musical would probably have an R rating if it was a movie. My question is, what sort of message is he sharing with the world now.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Theater Shooting in Aurora, Colorado
Some thoughts from a friend on Facebook.
"After becoming more socially withdrawn and 'obsessed' with virtual online games, the Colorado shooter committed a great tragedy. Among other things, if only he had understood this prophetic warning three years ago about how seemingly innocent entertainment can eventually trap the mind and destroy the soul by blurring reality."
http://www.lds.org/ensign/2010/06/things-as-they-really-are?lang=eng
" I was fascinated when two young men that had been in the theater and had escaped the shooting were telling the reporters how 'It was so real... It wasn't like a video game. It was REAL!' They were amazed at the reality of it all. It is so easy now to become desensitized. And while we all need to be vigilant, it is interesting that Elder Bednar specifically addressed this particular age group...college students."
"They reported yesterday that those who knew him started noticing him withdraw some time ago and become more isolated and obsessed with the games. Although I think there were other factors as well."
Another thought I saw from someone else was that the other 65 million legal gun owners didn't kill anyone today.
"After becoming more socially withdrawn and 'obsessed' with virtual online games, the Colorado shooter committed a great tragedy. Among other things, if only he had understood this prophetic warning three years ago about how seemingly innocent entertainment can eventually trap the mind and destroy the soul by blurring reality."
http://www.lds.org/ensign/2010/06/things-as-they-really-are?lang=eng
" I was fascinated when two young men that had been in the theater and had escaped the shooting were telling the reporters how 'It was so real... It wasn't like a video game. It was REAL!' They were amazed at the reality of it all. It is so easy now to become desensitized. And while we all need to be vigilant, it is interesting that Elder Bednar specifically addressed this particular age group...college students."
"They reported yesterday that those who knew him started noticing him withdraw some time ago and become more isolated and obsessed with the games. Although I think there were other factors as well."
Another thought I saw from someone else was that the other 65 million legal gun owners didn't kill anyone today.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Elder Neal A. Maxwell - Twelve Guidelines For a Christlike Life
My dad died last year and my son has his scriptures. My son found a book mark in them and it had these twelve guidelines from Elder Neal A. Maxwell.
Elder Neal A. Maxwell has given twelve guidelines than will tell us how well we are progressing toward a more Christlike life. They are-
1.Achieving the right balance between self-contentment and ambition.
2. Following counsel as Moses followed Jethro's counsel (Exodus 18:17-24).
3. Not being too absorbed in one aspect of life, like Martha (Luke 1 0:41 -42).4. Praying for right things.
5. Having right reasons for our good behavior.
6. Taking gratefully what life brings.
7. Loving our enemies.
8. Being free from envy of those who do better than we.
9. Forgiving and forgetting
10. Using our adversities as tools to grow.
11 . Becoming more patient.
12. Becoming more willing to follow the Lord wherever he may lead us.
Sunday, February 05, 2012
Review of Black Mormons & the priesthood ban by Darrick T Evenson
Although this book had a substantial amount of typos and grammatical errors it contained many good points about racism and discrimination and how people judge the church without knowing anything about it except something they have heard from someone.
It also was good food for thought about how we often focus on our trials instead of the blessings that are being presented because of them. We often focus on revenge or "Whoa is me" rather than in doing what is necessary to partake of the blessings the Lord has for us through our trial.
Most of the content of the book can be found at http://www.angelfire.com/mo2/blackmormon/homepage.html
Sunday, January 29, 2012
The Church in Turkey
It should be noted that much of what I am about to report is second hand hearsay and I have no official documents to back up the current happening with the Church in Turkey.
I saw earlier this evening@emiliescribbles reporting on Twitter, "Found out today the LDS Church is opening its first-ever mission in Turkey. Eight missionaries will be there in two weeks."
I checked the Church's website about the Church in Turkey and found this: "In 1884, the Church established the Turkish Mission and sent Jacob Spori, born in the Swiss Alps, to preach in Turkey." http://newsroom.lds.org/country/turkey
"The Book of Mormon was translated into Turkish in 1906 and shipped to Constantinople, but it was delayed by customs and did not reach the missionaries serving in Turkey until late 1908. On 28 July 1909, Wilford Booth, president of the Turkish Mission, received word that due to increasing violence in the region, the mission should be closed. Booth and the missionaries left shortly thereafter." http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58669/Country-information-Turkey.html
I contacted a friend I work with, whose dad was, up until recently, the presiding authority in Turkey. As I understand it, the Church has been unable, until now, to get recognition from the government, which would allow the work to move forward more efficiently.
My friend told me that his father told him that he heard they are expanding a mission in Bulgaria to include Turkey and that they are sending the first four missionaries on February 14, 2012.
I saw earlier this evening
I checked the Church's website about the Church in Turkey and found this: "In 1884, the Church established the Turkish Mission and sent Jacob Spori, born in the Swiss Alps, to preach in Turkey." http://newsroom.lds.org/country/turkey
"The Book of Mormon was translated into Turkish in 1906 and shipped to Constantinople, but it was delayed by customs and did not reach the missionaries serving in Turkey until late 1908. On 28 July 1909, Wilford Booth, president of the Turkish Mission, received word that due to increasing violence in the region, the mission should be closed. Booth and the missionaries left shortly thereafter." http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58669/Country-information-Turkey.html
I contacted a friend I work with, whose dad was, up until recently, the presiding authority in Turkey. As I understand it, the Church has been unable, until now, to get recognition from the government, which would allow the work to move forward more efficiently.
My friend told me that his father told him that he heard they are expanding a mission in Bulgaria to include Turkey and that they are sending the first four missionaries on February 14, 2012.
The Church in Turkey
It should be noted that much of what I am about to report is second hand hearsay and I have no official documents to back up the current happening with the Church in Turkey.
I saw earlier this evening@emiliescribbles reporting on Twitter, "Found out today the LDS Church is opening its first-ever mission in Turkey. Eight missionaries will be there in two weeks."
I checked the Church's website about the Church in Turkey and found this: "In 1884, the Church established the Turkish Mission and sent Jacob Spori, born in the Swiss Alps, to preach in Turkey." http://newsroom.lds.org/country/turkey
"The Book of Mormon was translated into Turkish in 1906 and shipped to Constantinople, but it was delayed by customs and did not reach the missionaries serving in Turkey until late 1908. On 28 July 1909, Wilford Booth, president of the Turkish Mission, received word that due to increasing violence in the region, the mission should be closed. Booth and the missionaries left shortly thereafter." http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58669/Country-information-Turkey.html
I contacted a friend I work with, whose dad was, up until recently, the presiding authority in Turkey. As I understand it, the Church has been unable, until now, to get recognition from the government, which would allow the work to move forward more efficiently.
My friend told me that his father told him that he heard they are expanding a mission in Bulgaria to include Turkey and that they are sending the first four missionaries on February 14, 2012.
I saw earlier this evening
I checked the Church's website about the Church in Turkey and found this: "In 1884, the Church established the Turkish Mission and sent Jacob Spori, born in the Swiss Alps, to preach in Turkey." http://newsroom.lds.org/country/turkey
"The Book of Mormon was translated into Turkish in 1906 and shipped to Constantinople, but it was delayed by customs and did not reach the missionaries serving in Turkey until late 1908. On 28 July 1909, Wilford Booth, president of the Turkish Mission, received word that due to increasing violence in the region, the mission should be closed. Booth and the missionaries left shortly thereafter." http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58669/Country-information-Turkey.html
I contacted a friend I work with, whose dad was, up until recently, the presiding authority in Turkey. As I understand it, the Church has been unable, until now, to get recognition from the government, which would allow the work to move forward more efficiently.
My friend told me that his father told him that he heard they are expanding a mission in Bulgaria to include Turkey and that they are sending the first four missionaries on February 14, 2012.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Bored Without Being Employed
I am often stunned when I hear some people who are retired or are getting ready to retire speak of not knowing what they are going to do when they retire. I have heard some trying and trying to find a hobby to occupy them.
I have heard similar things from married women without children. I have heard them talk about how they had to go find a job, so they didn't sit around and watch TV all day. I admit I watch too much TV, but if I am bored with TV and have extra time, there is no shortage of things to be engaged in, especially as a member of the Church.
I recommend that when you retire or if you are a wife become self employed in doing good. Don't feel slighted or lost without corporations or career telling you where and who you need to be.
There is tons of service that needs done in this world.
People complain about the public schools. Go volunteer to help out. Yes, they will still be a bureaucratic mess and a tax dollar sink hole, but you will likely have helped several children before you are done.
There are people who want to learn whatever the predominant language is in the area in order to better themselves. You could volunteer to help them learn it.
There are often multiple languages spoken in areas and being bilingual could help you be of more service to those around you and create understanding goodwill. You could take that time to learn a second language.
There are still too many people that are illiterate. Help teach someone to read.
Babysit for a young mother that is overwhelmed or go over and assist her in some way.
Help a young couple with fix-er-upper work they don't know how to do and can't afford to hire out.
Help someone learn a trade. If you know something about nursing or computers or auto mechanics or plumbing or whatever, then guide someone else getting started in that area on how to get started, where to find resources to help them, or who they can get in contact with.
Volunteer at the temple. Step one, take your own family names or do temple names. Step two, ask about being a temple worker. Whenever I go they appear to usually be shorthanded in certain parts of the temple.
Work to perfect your home and visiting teaching. We all could do better and with extra time you could do much better.
Do missionaries work. Full time missionaries get a ton of work done. Do some of the things missionaries do during your day and bring others to Christ.
Volunteer at a family history center. You can use the resources there for your family history work and you can help others with theirs. You can also fellowship and uplift both members of the church and those who are not.
Create a blog. Share your life experience with others. Try not to "over share", as that can make people flee from you, but be a resource for people to use in their lives. Share scriptures and quotes you have found.
There is plenty to do without relying on the tv or an employer.
I have heard similar things from married women without children. I have heard them talk about how they had to go find a job, so they didn't sit around and watch TV all day. I admit I watch too much TV, but if I am bored with TV and have extra time, there is no shortage of things to be engaged in, especially as a member of the Church.
I recommend that when you retire or if you are a wife become self employed in doing good. Don't feel slighted or lost without corporations or career telling you where and who you need to be.
There is tons of service that needs done in this world.
People complain about the public schools. Go volunteer to help out. Yes, they will still be a bureaucratic mess and a tax dollar sink hole, but you will likely have helped several children before you are done.
There are people who want to learn whatever the predominant language is in the area in order to better themselves. You could volunteer to help them learn it.
There are often multiple languages spoken in areas and being bilingual could help you be of more service to those around you and create understanding goodwill. You could take that time to learn a second language.
There are still too many people that are illiterate. Help teach someone to read.
Babysit for a young mother that is overwhelmed or go over and assist her in some way.
Help a young couple with fix-er-upper work they don't know how to do and can't afford to hire out.
Help someone learn a trade. If you know something about nursing or computers or auto mechanics or plumbing or whatever, then guide someone else getting started in that area on how to get started, where to find resources to help them, or who they can get in contact with.
Volunteer at the temple. Step one, take your own family names or do temple names. Step two, ask about being a temple worker. Whenever I go they appear to usually be shorthanded in certain parts of the temple.
Work to perfect your home and visiting teaching. We all could do better and with extra time you could do much better.
Do missionaries work. Full time missionaries get a ton of work done. Do some of the things missionaries do during your day and bring others to Christ.
Volunteer at a family history center. You can use the resources there for your family history work and you can help others with theirs. You can also fellowship and uplift both members of the church and those who are not.
Create a blog. Share your life experience with others. Try not to "over share", as that can make people flee from you, but be a resource for people to use in their lives. Share scriptures and quotes you have found.
There is plenty to do without relying on the tv or an employer.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Randall Bennett
I just found out that Randall Bennett is in my ward. Ok, I didn't just find out, since we have been in the same congregation for a long time and we frequently have ward council, elders quorum, and stewardship meetings together and talk in the hall. But he told me today that he is on the TWiT network every so often. He mentioned Tech News Today, which is not one of the TWiT shows I generally watch, but I looked it up and sure enough, he is semi almost famous.
Since I am a geek, this is almost more cool than when I was in a ward with Rob Morris, defensive lineman for the Indianapolis Colts, and my wife use to go visit teach his wife each month.
Since I am a geek, this is almost more cool than when I was in a ward with Rob Morris, defensive lineman for the Indianapolis Colts, and my wife use to go visit teach his wife each month.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
The Mission Field
I heard this term "The Mission Field" used a lot by people that would come to the mid west from Utah. When I first joined the Church I suppose it didn't bother me much, but it irritates a bit more as the years go on and as I hear it frequently here in Utah.
I was pondering today as someone said it. Where is the line where the mission field begins? Is it the Utah boarder. Is there some distance I can drive down I-80 and all of a sudden I find myself in the mission field? Is Oregon in the mission field.
What is the opposite of the mission field? I am assuming that the opposite that people have in their mind is Zion. As I understand it, every stake is a stake of Zion, which means Zion is everywhere that a stake is organized.
If one is envisioning Zion being established in the tops of the mountains, then I supposed the mission field would be anything outside the Rockies.
If one is envisioning Zion as "This is the place.", then clearly Ogden is the mission field. So is Provo and Orem and Logan and Brigham City and all the rest of Utah outside of Salt Lake City.
When I served my mission the impression I got was that once I left the Missionary Training Center property I was in the mission field. When we took a trip into Provo to get some clothing we were in the mission field. When we returned to the MTC we were not. When they took us to the airport to depart to our various assignments we were in the mission field. When we were on the planes or vans or buses, we were in the mission field. When we arrived at our assigned area, we were in the mission field. Some of those I was in the MTC with went to Temple Square in Salt Lake City. Was that not the mission field? If not, why would missionaries be sent there?
The only reason I didn't consider the MTC the mission field was because it was a controlled environment where the only people we had to teach was other missionaries.
It is probably ridiculous for this to irritate me. I realize it is just an easy way to refer to places where the Church is less established than in Utah, but let's keep in mind that the mission field is white and it is everywhere, all around us, no matter where we live.
I was pondering today as someone said it. Where is the line where the mission field begins? Is it the Utah boarder. Is there some distance I can drive down I-80 and all of a sudden I find myself in the mission field? Is Oregon in the mission field.
What is the opposite of the mission field? I am assuming that the opposite that people have in their mind is Zion. As I understand it, every stake is a stake of Zion, which means Zion is everywhere that a stake is organized.
If one is envisioning Zion being established in the tops of the mountains, then I supposed the mission field would be anything outside the Rockies.
If one is envisioning Zion as "This is the place.", then clearly Ogden is the mission field. So is Provo and Orem and Logan and Brigham City and all the rest of Utah outside of Salt Lake City.
When I served my mission the impression I got was that once I left the Missionary Training Center property I was in the mission field. When we took a trip into Provo to get some clothing we were in the mission field. When we returned to the MTC we were not. When they took us to the airport to depart to our various assignments we were in the mission field. When we were on the planes or vans or buses, we were in the mission field. When we arrived at our assigned area, we were in the mission field. Some of those I was in the MTC with went to Temple Square in Salt Lake City. Was that not the mission field? If not, why would missionaries be sent there?
The only reason I didn't consider the MTC the mission field was because it was a controlled environment where the only people we had to teach was other missionaries.
It is probably ridiculous for this to irritate me. I realize it is just an easy way to refer to places where the Church is less established than in Utah, but let's keep in mind that the mission field is white and it is everywhere, all around us, no matter where we live.
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
Having Prophets and Apostles Close
This past weekend we had stake conference. The Saturday evening adult session was as usual at the stake center and the stake presidency spoke. The Sunday morning session was at the Dee Events Center and was for nine Ogden stakes. The prophet, Thomas S Monson, was there, as was Elder Neal L Anderson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. President Rosemary M. Wixom, the general primary president was also there as well as Elder Marlin K. Jensen, of the Seventy.
This was the same venue where we had come to see Elder Jeffrey R Holland speak for pioneer days in July. When we had gone to see Elder M Russell Ballard at the Browning Center on the Weber State University campus, it was not as personal of a setting as I would have liked, since I think there were three or four stakes at that as well, but I was able to pick a seat four rows in front of him and see him very well, just by arriving a half hour or early. I think we were actually an hour early, but it appeared that a half hour would’ve gotten us the same seats.In the Dee Event Center, they sit the bishops and stake presidents down on the floor where it would be possible to get a seat as good as we got at the Browning Center, but in the non VIP seats, it was difficult to get a seat less than nine rows up with having arrived an hour early.
All of this is nice history information of how things went down, but here is what I wanted to share. Every time I stand when the prophet enters the room it is very moving for me. I remember what it was like to live so far from Salt Lake City when we lived in Indiana. I hope I never forget how great it is to be in the same room with the prophet and apostles. To have the opportunity to be near 3 apostles and the prophet over the last four months has been so great.
Since my son and I also went to the priesthood session of General Conference at the beginning of this month, I should also include in this the great privilege I have had to be in the room with all of them, although in an even less intimate setting. Conference was always something to see on TV. The conference center, tabernacle, and temple square was always something almost exotic. Certainly something I imagined rarely seeing, if ever. Now every time we go down there and see the temple and the Church’s presence, it moves me. I look forward to when my other can go too and taking both my boys.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
The Joseph Smith Papers
I have been watching the video series that the Church did called The Joseph Smith Papers. It touted that it was going to chronicle the research done in preparation of publishing the Joseph Smith papers books, which are volumes of things that Joseph wrote or others wrote about his experiences.
I thought it was going to be a discussion of the methods they used to get the information and preserve the documents and all that, which it was. I was fascinated at one point where they talked of how they chose what to include. They were very careful to check sources. They classified the information they were considering into how reliable it was. I think they said they had several levels of reliability.
Additionally, the series covered the material that was in the papers. There were many episodes going through Church history and discussing what the project had found on those events.
At one point they discussed the events at Carthage jail and the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. I have been to Carthage when I was you and heard the story of the bullet being stopped by John Taylor's pocket watch and saving his life. They discussed in the program that they had recently discovered that the watch had not been struck by a bullet, but by the corner of the window. The back of the watch, I think they said, had the appearance of a bullet crushing it, but in reality was just parts of the watch that had been compacted by the window corner. I can't remember how they got on to chasing that. Perhaps they were doing a Myth Busters sort of thing and read through the papers finding no mention of this and then looked more closely at the watch. Nonetheless, it appears that John Taylor came out of the ordeal, never having been struck by any of the bullets. He just took a beating from the window.
The Joseph Smith Papers video series also discussed Emma and her family after the Saints headed West. I have always been very torn on what to think of Emma. She stood by Joseph through everything and was in key roles during the translation of the Book of Mormon and during the early days of the Church. Then to see her stay behind and not go West with the saints and to see her posterity start up this other Church with themselves as false prophets.
As I listened to the presentations I wonder if it wasn't God's will. Yes the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was not Christ's church, but perhaps it was necessary to preserve thing Church sites out East like the Kirtland temple. Perhaps it was to leave some contention behind. The project talked about times where the brethren would make a decision and some of the people would turn to Emma for what she wanted them to do. I guess there was a hymnbook she created and the brethren at one point made a hymnbook to be the official hymnbook of the Church and there was contention about not using Emma's.
Why did Emma join with her children in the other Church? Maybe she had gotten the revelation that she needed to stay behind and not go West with the saints and this other church was the closest thing she had to the truth.
There have been many generations of Joseph' descendants that were not members of the true Church of Christ and only recently have some of them joined the Church. This seems so sad and we want to say, "How can this be part of the plan?" How often do people say that a just God would not do this or that when there is pain or tragedy? He can see beyond the tears to the hope. He can see what good those tears brought forth and that would not have come forth without those tears. He can see that this life is just a blink and that death is not some vile abyss, but just part of our eternal existence. So for Him to use death for the benefit of man is reasonable. Death is not the end, just a change and our next step. All the same is true for what happened with Joseph's descendants. God has a plan for them to be saved, even though he left them in a hard situation.
I am still working my way through all of the episodes of The Joseph Smith Papers, but so far I find them very instructive and interesting, and I highly recommend them for viewing.
I thought it was going to be a discussion of the methods they used to get the information and preserve the documents and all that, which it was. I was fascinated at one point where they talked of how they chose what to include. They were very careful to check sources. They classified the information they were considering into how reliable it was. I think they said they had several levels of reliability.
Additionally, the series covered the material that was in the papers. There were many episodes going through Church history and discussing what the project had found on those events.
At one point they discussed the events at Carthage jail and the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. I have been to Carthage when I was you and heard the story of the bullet being stopped by John Taylor's pocket watch and saving his life. They discussed in the program that they had recently discovered that the watch had not been struck by a bullet, but by the corner of the window. The back of the watch, I think they said, had the appearance of a bullet crushing it, but in reality was just parts of the watch that had been compacted by the window corner. I can't remember how they got on to chasing that. Perhaps they were doing a Myth Busters sort of thing and read through the papers finding no mention of this and then looked more closely at the watch. Nonetheless, it appears that John Taylor came out of the ordeal, never having been struck by any of the bullets. He just took a beating from the window.
The Joseph Smith Papers video series also discussed Emma and her family after the Saints headed West. I have always been very torn on what to think of Emma. She stood by Joseph through everything and was in key roles during the translation of the Book of Mormon and during the early days of the Church. Then to see her stay behind and not go West with the saints and to see her posterity start up this other Church with themselves as false prophets.
As I listened to the presentations I wonder if it wasn't God's will. Yes the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was not Christ's church, but perhaps it was necessary to preserve thing Church sites out East like the Kirtland temple. Perhaps it was to leave some contention behind. The project talked about times where the brethren would make a decision and some of the people would turn to Emma for what she wanted them to do. I guess there was a hymnbook she created and the brethren at one point made a hymnbook to be the official hymnbook of the Church and there was contention about not using Emma's.
Why did Emma join with her children in the other Church? Maybe she had gotten the revelation that she needed to stay behind and not go West with the saints and this other church was the closest thing she had to the truth.
There have been many generations of Joseph' descendants that were not members of the true Church of Christ and only recently have some of them joined the Church. This seems so sad and we want to say, "How can this be part of the plan?" How often do people say that a just God would not do this or that when there is pain or tragedy? He can see beyond the tears to the hope. He can see what good those tears brought forth and that would not have come forth without those tears. He can see that this life is just a blink and that death is not some vile abyss, but just part of our eternal existence. So for Him to use death for the benefit of man is reasonable. Death is not the end, just a change and our next step. All the same is true for what happened with Joseph's descendants. God has a plan for them to be saved, even though he left them in a hard situation.
I am still working my way through all of the episodes of The Joseph Smith Papers, but so far I find them very instructive and interesting, and I highly recommend them for viewing.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Disneyland
We visited Disneyland last week and noticed that there appeared to be a lot of LDS members there.
We would walk around the park and the obvious ones were the ones wearing BYU hats or shirts. Of course there are BYU fans that aren't members, but I think they are a lot fewer.
Another thing we would notice is the way people would interact with their kids and even the people around them. Many times there was a calmness or maybe even a reverence. We would look more closely and generally find garment lines.
Another characteristic we could use to make our determination that they were members was the presence of long shorts and the lack of tattoos, extra piercings, profanity, and tank tops.
Often we tire of the same lessons on the same subjects at church, but I am convinced that even having the repetitive lesson weaves the fabric of our character and it is visible. The more we surround ourselves with those lessons and media drawn from those lessons and doctrines the more complete our tapestry of character become. We spend a lot of our times weaving the world into us through its media and such. If we let that go on too much it can obscure the picture of who we want to be.
An illustration of spotting members happened at our motel one evening. I took the kids swimming. It was getting chilly, so I only wanted to soak my feet after a long day of standing in lines. There was a family swimming there. I watched them a bit as I watched my kids. The mother was sitting on the side and she appeared to have long shorts on. The father was swimming with the kids. I keep using the word reverent, which may not exactly be the right word, but there was something like that as he interacted with his children. perhaps a better word is selfless.
There was no profanity and the kids were polite to each other. The father was very attentive to playing with the kids and keeping them safe. The father had no tattoos or piercings.
As we got up to leave I asked him where they were from. He said Provo, Utah. We talked a little bit that night and ended up meeting up with them at other times and places. We never asked them if they were members, but we noticed garment lines at some point and the conversation floated to temples we had visited on the way and to other church stuff.
We went to Huntington Beach one afternoon to swim in the ocean and get a break from amusement parks. As I was swimming with a couple of my kids I noticed a couple come into the water. The guy had a long swim suit on and had a Utah look about him, which I can't really describe. The young woman had a bikini on, which made me doubt the assessment I was starting to make, but she had shorts over it. Later she put a tank top over the top. I was still doubting due to the bikini, but neither had tattoos or piercings. There was also a little of that reverence about them. A little while later I noticed an older couple sitting behind my wife and the husband had a BYU hat on. Eventually the young couple I had been watching went and sat with them. I went and asked the older guy if he was from Utah or just a Cougar fan. He said both. I only talked to them briefly and told them it was nice to see them. I then took my kids back out to the water as my family looked at me strangely for talking to strangers.
It is just so nice to have members around me. I grew up only having members around me at church. I would go to school and work and for the most part not have the saints around me. People obviously will say that there are good people of other faiths and whatnot, but it is different. It is just different.
Indiana Jones was the first ride we went on when we got to Disneyland. We went again on our last day or so. In front of us was another young couple. He had a bit of a Utah Mormon look to him. He did have a t-shirt collar hanging out of his shirt, but I could not tell about her. She looked a little worldly, but was dressed modestly. There was more of that calmness in their interactions together.
He was noticing the teenagers making a fuss behind us. I was getting irritated, but he took the opportunity to mess with them. He seemed to have been on the ride before and knew the tricks in the cave entrance to the ride. He walked by a place when you could yank on one of the fake supports and make the cave rumble like there was a cave in happening. The teen-aged girls freaked out.
I have heard things about liberal practices creeping into Disney, so I was surprised that the Mr. Lincoln display lives on, since it speaks positively and in favor of God.
We would walk around the park and the obvious ones were the ones wearing BYU hats or shirts. Of course there are BYU fans that aren't members, but I think they are a lot fewer.
Another thing we would notice is the way people would interact with their kids and even the people around them. Many times there was a calmness or maybe even a reverence. We would look more closely and generally find garment lines.
Another characteristic we could use to make our determination that they were members was the presence of long shorts and the lack of tattoos, extra piercings, profanity, and tank tops.
Often we tire of the same lessons on the same subjects at church, but I am convinced that even having the repetitive lesson weaves the fabric of our character and it is visible. The more we surround ourselves with those lessons and media drawn from those lessons and doctrines the more complete our tapestry of character become. We spend a lot of our times weaving the world into us through its media and such. If we let that go on too much it can obscure the picture of who we want to be.
An illustration of spotting members happened at our motel one evening. I took the kids swimming. It was getting chilly, so I only wanted to soak my feet after a long day of standing in lines. There was a family swimming there. I watched them a bit as I watched my kids. The mother was sitting on the side and she appeared to have long shorts on. The father was swimming with the kids. I keep using the word reverent, which may not exactly be the right word, but there was something like that as he interacted with his children. perhaps a better word is selfless.
There was no profanity and the kids were polite to each other. The father was very attentive to playing with the kids and keeping them safe. The father had no tattoos or piercings.
As we got up to leave I asked him where they were from. He said Provo, Utah. We talked a little bit that night and ended up meeting up with them at other times and places. We never asked them if they were members, but we noticed garment lines at some point and the conversation floated to temples we had visited on the way and to other church stuff.
We went to Huntington Beach one afternoon to swim in the ocean and get a break from amusement parks. As I was swimming with a couple of my kids I noticed a couple come into the water. The guy had a long swim suit on and had a Utah look about him, which I can't really describe. The young woman had a bikini on, which made me doubt the assessment I was starting to make, but she had shorts over it. Later she put a tank top over the top. I was still doubting due to the bikini, but neither had tattoos or piercings. There was also a little of that reverence about them. A little while later I noticed an older couple sitting behind my wife and the husband had a BYU hat on. Eventually the young couple I had been watching went and sat with them. I went and asked the older guy if he was from Utah or just a Cougar fan. He said both. I only talked to them briefly and told them it was nice to see them. I then took my kids back out to the water as my family looked at me strangely for talking to strangers.
It is just so nice to have members around me. I grew up only having members around me at church. I would go to school and work and for the most part not have the saints around me. People obviously will say that there are good people of other faiths and whatnot, but it is different. It is just different.
Indiana Jones was the first ride we went on when we got to Disneyland. We went again on our last day or so. In front of us was another young couple. He had a bit of a Utah Mormon look to him. He did have a t-shirt collar hanging out of his shirt, but I could not tell about her. She looked a little worldly, but was dressed modestly. There was more of that calmness in their interactions together.
He was noticing the teenagers making a fuss behind us. I was getting irritated, but he took the opportunity to mess with them. He seemed to have been on the ride before and knew the tricks in the cave entrance to the ride. He walked by a place when you could yank on one of the fake supports and make the cave rumble like there was a cave in happening. The teen-aged girls freaked out.
I have heard things about liberal practices creeping into Disney, so I was surprised that the Mr. Lincoln display lives on, since it speaks positively and in favor of God.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Distracted
I am increasingly seeing a trend within myself where at times I am distracted and get little out of my church services at times unless the speaker or teacher really grabs me something.
One week I was completely preoccupied with something stupid I had said in priesthood opening. It consumed me the rest of the morning at church and somewhat into the afternoon at home.
Today I was excited about my son getting the priesthood and being ordained a deacon. I was also nervous about being the one to ordain him. I was hoping to do it in quorum meeting, which in our ward is first, but I found out he had to be sustained by the congregation first. Then I was sad that he wouldn't get to pass the sacrament, which he has been bugging me to do since at least the beginning of the year.
The good news is that there is a temple trip scheduled for Tuesday night. He has been looking forward to doing baptisms with me.
So between the thought of doing baptisms this week, of ordaining him after church, and the fact that we just got back from vacation at 9PM last night, my head was buzzing. I heard and absorbed many things that were said in Elders Quorum and Sunday school, even though my notes were not very good, but by the time sacrament service rolled around I was zoned out. The excitement was exhausting me.
I don't know if I need to prepare better before church or if I to do some exercises to better control my concentration, but very frequently I find that my notes are lacking due to having spaced out for periods of time.
One week I was completely preoccupied with something stupid I had said in priesthood opening. It consumed me the rest of the morning at church and somewhat into the afternoon at home.
Today I was excited about my son getting the priesthood and being ordained a deacon. I was also nervous about being the one to ordain him. I was hoping to do it in quorum meeting, which in our ward is first, but I found out he had to be sustained by the congregation first. Then I was sad that he wouldn't get to pass the sacrament, which he has been bugging me to do since at least the beginning of the year.
The good news is that there is a temple trip scheduled for Tuesday night. He has been looking forward to doing baptisms with me.
So between the thought of doing baptisms this week, of ordaining him after church, and the fact that we just got back from vacation at 9PM last night, my head was buzzing. I heard and absorbed many things that were said in Elders Quorum and Sunday school, even though my notes were not very good, but by the time sacrament service rolled around I was zoned out. The excitement was exhausting me.
I don't know if I need to prepare better before church or if I to do some exercises to better control my concentration, but very frequently I find that my notes are lacking due to having spaced out for periods of time.
Sunday, May 01, 2011
LDS Employment Services Mentor
I received a phone call today from a member of the bishopric. He wanted me to be a mentor, since I am the ward employment specialist. I was not familiar with the concept in the context of ward employment specialist. The bishopric and former ward employment specialist had no experience with mentoring in this context either.
I did some searching and found the following resources that gave a little more description of what is entailed in being a mentor to someone looking for employment. I hope these links will be of use to bishoprics and ward employments specialists to understand the concept of mentoring in the context of LDS employment services and Deseret Industries.
I did some searching and found the following resources that gave a little more description of what is entailed in being a mentor to someone looking for employment. I hope these links will be of use to bishoprics and ward employments specialists to understand the concept of mentoring in the context of LDS employment services and Deseret Industries.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Memorization
We were talking in Teacher Development class a few weeks back about always having the scriptures with us. We talked a little of more and more people having their scriptures on their phones or music devices or pocket organizers. We then talked that a better way is to have them in our minds. Mostly with a familiarization, but also to some degree through memorization.
When I was a kid I had to memorize various things for school. I didn't care for it because it was a lot of work. My dad had to memorize the Gettysburg address when he was a kid and he also did not care for it. At the time he expressed that he didn't see the value in it and I agreed.
Memorizing still takes a lot of work. Whether there is value in memorizing the Gettysburg address or other things from school, I know not, but what I do know is that memorization is a good brain exercise and brains need exercise just like muscles. I also know that the more of the scriptures and words of the prophets we have memorized, the better teachers we can be to our families, our ward, and the world at large. We will be able to more easily recall them impromptu when we are teaching or when we are answering people's questions in life.
When I was a kid I had to memorize various things for school. I didn't care for it because it was a lot of work. My dad had to memorize the Gettysburg address when he was a kid and he also did not care for it. At the time he expressed that he didn't see the value in it and I agreed.
Memorizing still takes a lot of work. Whether there is value in memorizing the Gettysburg address or other things from school, I know not, but what I do know is that memorization is a good brain exercise and brains need exercise just like muscles. I also know that the more of the scriptures and words of the prophets we have memorized, the better teachers we can be to our families, our ward, and the world at large. We will be able to more easily recall them impromptu when we are teaching or when we are answering people's questions in life.
Saturday, October 09, 2010
Breast Cancer Awareness
I have been very concerned over the years on the focus on Breast Cancer "Awareness". I think the amount of talking about it and the way it is being talked about is making people aware, but it is making them aware that they are annoyed, offended, or wearied by the conversation.
I'm not sure what raising awareness means. I think most people we very aware of breast cancer and that it kills people or make it necessary to remove a breast surgically. This is likely because it is widespread and they likely know or have heard of someone who has had it.
Because of the over publicizing of it and the vulgar way that breast cancer awareness is being promoted, I am less likely to contribute to the cause or participate in events the cause is organizing.
Perhaps everyone passionate about curing brain cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer, or cancer anywhere in the body should unite their resources, rather than having their own private battles.
Our Bodies and Sexuality are Sacred
Even if a good cause is being promoted, doing it by speaking irreverently about our body and sexuality is inappropriate.
Focusing on Our Bodies Diminishes Our Self Worth
This is likely why many are so devastated after a mastectomy. They have tied a too much of who they are to their breasts. It is also likely why many girls and women or so self conscious about their breasts being "too big" or "too small". When our "sex appeal" is what defines or is our biggest too to stay ahead in life then we are devaluing ourselves.
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