tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76572151931725811062024-03-13T09:13:32.578-07:00Many other hands...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13940690420715977167noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657215193172581106.post-37809703144424209512016-12-12T13:08:00.000-08:002016-12-12T13:08:12.056-08:00Religion offers you salvation to a problem that didn't exist until it created it.I heard these <a href="http://ohnopodcast.com/investigations/2011/8/1/ross-and-carrie-go-mormon-part-2-what-no-underwear.html">ideas in a podcast</a> and they struck a chord.<br />
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It was not clear how much of his suffering was due to genuine stuff that people go through that you have no control over and how much was imposed by his own guilt.<br />
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There is a vicious cycle where you feel guilt & shame because of the doctrine of the church and then you feel you can't get over the guilt except with the doctrine of the church. So now the church becomes your saviour when the church actually created the problem in the first place. <br /><br />Religion offers you salvation to a problem that didn't exist until it created it.<br />
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An illustration of this is simply illustrated with this Book of Mormon teaching that creates both the problem and the solution in a single verse:<br /><i><br />For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.</i><br />
<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/3.19?lang=eng">Mosiah 3:19</a><br />
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There's a religious perspectives that says: this life is miserable, everything is out there to tear you down it does nothing for us. I remember having my eyes so set on heaven, that things around me did seem really bad here. I think that was creating itself. I had this vision that perfection looks a certain way, so anything less than it would look inadequate. When I let that go, life looked a lot nicer.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13940690420715977167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657215193172581106.post-41298091892596688162016-10-08T02:47:00.000-07:002016-10-08T02:58:02.635-07:00Where will you go...?M. Russell Ballard asked a <a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/10/to-whom-shall-we-go?lang=eng">series of questions last weekend</a>. I've decided to offer an answer of where I’ve gone, since leaving Mormonism.<br />
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Some of you might ask, if I’m so happy out of the church, why am I even aware of what was said last weekend? You might be inclined to share the <a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1996/04/becometh-as-a-child?lang=eng">old saying</a>, “you can leave the church, but you can’t leave it alone.”<br />
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Even though I rarely make any posts or comments about Mormonism in the public arena, I’ll try to explain why I’m still culturally connected to Mormonism by using an illustration of national identity:<br />
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I was born in the UK. I have been raised in its culture, its language, and its traditions for over 30 years. Imagine if I decided to immigrate to Australia. Perhaps the political climate in UK or the plans to leave Europe was the key influence. Suppose I contemplated staying in UK to influence change, but decided, all things considered, it would be better for me and my family to move away. Imagine that after several years, I gave up my UK passport and took on Australian citizenship. My family and I might develop local accents, traditions and my grandkids might consider themselves entirely Australian and be unaware of anything more than a distant historical connection to the UK. Over time, I might eventually feel entirely Australian.<br />
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In that scenario, would it be reasonable for me to continue being interested in events back in the UK? Given friends and family were still there, would it be fair if I kept an eye and ear on the latest British news and perhaps even passed comment on some positive or negative event occasionally? If I did so, would people tell me that I “could leave the UK, but I couldn’t leave it alone?” Or would they understand that I still felt a cultural link to something that was a part of my life for so long and that was still of interest to me, given the role it had in some of my friends’ and family’s lives?<br />
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That’s the scale of the decision, when considering the question: “where will you go.” It’s daunting and sometimes troubling to make a transition that is so significant. Leaving Mormonism was a bigger decision for me than any emigration would be. Mormonism felt as inherently a part of who I was as my Britishness. The difference about my Britishness is that the scope to campaign for change from within is far greater. I disagree with the current leadership of Britain and the direction they are taking the country. If I campaign for change in UK culture and direction, that is seen as a reasonable course of action. No-one would call me an unfaithful Brit if I did that. But given Mormonism’s leaders are considered god’s mouthpiece, instead of the voice of the people, there is no room for a “<a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/04/opposition-in-all-things?lang=eng">loyal opposition</a>.”<br />
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Russel Ballard asked, “If you choose to leave… the church… where will go? What will you do?”<br />
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Where have I gone? What have I done? I’ve taken myself to a place of personal independence. I’ve connected with my local community. I’ve joined groups that provide the opportunity to serve, uplift and develop talents but without any religious agenda or dogma. I’ve found delight in developing talents through drama and choir. I’ve made more time for my family. We go out together and have adventures and discoveries together. We enjoy life’s simple things and each other’s company.<br />
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I have joined a council group which gives me deep, thought provoking and peace-inducing experiences. It’s a group where there is openness, honesty and support; a group that shows deference for nature, our surroundings and our ancestors. All this without the need to have perspectives shaped and directed by the cultural preferences of a group of men who call themselves prophets.<br />
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Russell Ballard warns that the decision to “walk no more” with church leaders “…will have a long-term impact that cannot always be seen right now.” I agree with the statement, but not his intended meaning. It has taken time to start seeing the impact of walking “no more” in the path they define. After over two years on this new path, I am seeing the positive long-term impact of doing so. I’m embracing life. I’m finding peace and happiness that is deep and genuine. When faced with questions about morality and societal change, I’m glad to be able to ask myself: what do I think about that, instead of aligning with the church’s stance is on it. I’m even more pleased to be able to support my children in allowing them to consider the same questions and reach their own conclusions.<br />
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I have never pushed my reasons for reaching the conclusions I hold about Mormonism on others and don’t intend to here. You’re always welcome to ask. Suffice it to say that over the course of several years of study and contemplation, I reached the conclusion that Mormonism’s leaders are not what I believed them to be. I consider them to be no more god’s mouthpiece than the pope, the Dalai Lama or you or I.<br />
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I’ve briefly met Russell Ballard; I consider him to be a good man. I believe he is sincere in his questions and doesn’t intend to use fear or emotional manipulation. I can understand why he would ask. When I was fully engaged in the church I couldn’t contemplate anything other than Mormonism as the way to live. I probably asked people similar kinds of questions and know that I asked them with integrity and sincerity. For those still sailing through life’s waters under the Mormon flag of the “<a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/stay-in-the-boat-and-hold-on?lang=eng">old ship Zion</a>,” I celebrate and appreciate the good that it does for you and your families, even if I sometimes oppose some of the leadership's <a href="https://www.lds.org/ensign/2016/10/young-adults/stand-as-true-millennials?lang=eng">views and priorities</a>. Having explored a wide range of the world’s geographies, spiritualties, philosophies and societies I’ve reached the conclusion that the answer to “where will you go” is far more exciting and fulfilling than he warns. “Spiritual emigration” is not the abandonment of safety, nor is it spiritually destructive. It’s the start of a new and fulfilling adventure on the same seas of life, but under a different banner.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13940690420715977167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657215193172581106.post-35360903027068315162016-08-27T08:43:00.001-07:002016-08-27T08:43:08.899-07:00Baby and bath waterI saw a question posted online recently, asking whether Mormonism could ever change enough to entice me back. <div><br></div><div><div>My answer was no, nothing at all. I've spent 4 years working out what was "baby" and what was "bath water."</div><div><br></div><div>The church is entirely bath water. I've thrown all of it out. I realised a while ago that anything good found in Mormonism is not unique and most of what is unique about Mormonism is not particularly good. </div><div><br></div><div>I've found new communities; I've found new ways of giving service; I've found new friends; <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I've even found new ways and environments to be be emotionally and mentally uplifted.</span></div><div><br></div><div>I recognise I'll probably never live to see it happen, but I already celebrate the day, some time in the future, when Mormonism is nothing more than a footnote in the history of the world's curiosities. </div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13940690420715977167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657215193172581106.post-55829718498430724912016-08-20T03:33:00.002-07:002016-08-20T03:33:37.831-07:00The was an old owl who lived in an oak...While on holiday in July I reread parts of the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3639658-how-god-changes-your-brain">neuroscience book</a> on how meditative or religious-type experience effects your brain.<br />
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Meditating on a specific central idea or concept is good for brain health. There is a specific neurological circuit in the brain, <a href="http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/images/application_uploads/The_Neural_Basis_of_Empathy.pdf">the anterior cingulate</a>, that is connected to empathy, compassion and peacefulness. Brain scanning has shown that the anterior cingulate can strengthened and activated by contemplative practices. This also quietens activity in the "fight or flight" (limbic) parts of the brain.<br />
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Last time, I described how a topic on fathers and fatherhood had initially triggered a negative emotional reaction. A trigger of negativity and initial anger. I had described how the group experience made it feel like the listening and sharing had made room for compassion and empathy. Having reminded myself of the neuroscience tenets, that's literally what's happening.<br />
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I have reflected on why the circle counsel has been so effective. I suppose, in my nervousness of religious practice and reluctance to move from a mormon "frying pan" to a new ageism "fire," I've been cautious about letting my guard down.<br />
<br />
Reading the book gave me the reassurance that I could rationalise a science to the experience.<br />
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There are many aspects to why it works. We start the group with a form of meditation. Smudging, for some in the group, holds <a href="http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-17875/a-sage-smudging-ritual-to-cleanse-your-aura-clear-your-space.html">deeper spiritual significance</a>. For me, I allow it to be the mental curtain between the day and the moment. I let the incense represent a sweeping away of any work or personal concerns. I clear my mind and allow it to relax. Although called a counsel, 80-90% of the evening is spent listening. By listening from the heart, but with no thought or intent to respond, the mind is again in a resting, contemplative state.<br />
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Usually, when we're in a group discussion, like a family gathering or group of people at a social event, there's a tendency to "listen to respond" or even "listen to debate/interupt/contradict." Instead of listening for the simple sake of listening.<br />
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I think that by trying hard to not think about response or to prepare my own answer, the conscious mind is able to by in a meditative state, but still subconsciously process and respond to the topics and thoughts of the others in the room. It feels like an active form of meditation on a topic.<br />
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This week, the subject was around the topic of work and finances. One person had requested the topic, with a specific concern around uncertainty of financial stability and how work becomes a defining aspect ones identity.<br />
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I felt full of admiration for the way that others in the group had turned their passions into employment. As one person put it: "I want to do work that will make my heart sing." When I spoke, I shared the former drive to by financially successful. I sought validation in my earning power. I shared the experience of being mentally ill in 2014, largely through work (though religious transition also played a part). I reflected on the week of sick leave I had taken and the decision to look for work that would give me a different life-pace.<br />
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I decided that from then on, when asked "what do you do," that I wanted the answer to be full of hobbies and family experiences. What do I do? I write! I sing! I enjoy football with one son, book games or astronomy with the other, drama with my daughter. I enjoy exploring world culture and heritage with my wife and children. Oh... you mean my job? My job is the financial facilitator that enables what I passionately do.<br />
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I felt a renewed peace with that focus. I am incredibly fortunate to have a job that is well-paid, reasonably satisfying and also not too demanding in hours and emotional attention.<br />
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One person commented that, in his work choices, he followed his heart and trusted that "the universe provides." Whatever the influence or role of the universe in where I am, I'm grateful that I've been able to follow that aspect of my heart... (or, in reality, frontal cortex!!)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13940690420715977167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657215193172581106.post-84006069642591942542016-07-14T15:00:00.000-07:002016-07-14T15:00:16.363-07:00Articulating pain frees up space in the mind or soul for gentler, kinder, more positive perspectivesIt might sound a little clichéd that a men's council group got onto talking about fathers and fatherhood within the first few gatherings, but the experience and shared stories created a deeper sense of trust and connection.<br />
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I have felt a lighter, persistent positivity in the last four weeks since joining the circle council. I feel like my mind is clearer, like I'm able to engage with greater delight in tasks, experiences and relationships.<br />
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With that in mind, I felt sudden a rattle of agitation when our council leader, after we'd checked in, invited us to share our pain or joy of father relationships. As is consistent with council circle, we were to share our own story and avoid comment on each others. He also reminded us to listen from the heart to each other and speak spontaneously when our opportunity came.<br />
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I had to work had to apply these principles during the other members first few experiences because I felt a weight of the pain that I've tended to avoid acknowledging. The pain of the past is usually dealt with through attempted ambivalence and shelving frustrations. I pushed them from my mind to give attention to the other narratives, which were a mixture of positives and negatives.<br />
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The talking stone felt a little heavier than usual as I hefted it in my hand after it had been passed to me. I spoke in a passionate rush of frustration, disappointment and distance. I shed tears and spoke vehemently.<br />
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After an emotional few minutes of tirade and anxiety that I might cause the same hurt to my own children, I finished and listened to the other stories of both proximity and distance.<br />
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After each sharing our truth, we held hands in silence, eyes closed, acknowledging each others openness and honesty. A member of the group then offered a blessing of appreciation for our fathers, and in particular a recognition that we were loved by them; that despite our disillusion, that our fathers had acted with the best of intentions and that they had done their best with the abilities and limitations they brought with them.<br />
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As I'd been listening to the stories that came after mine I had felt a space open in my mind. As people spoke of the small acts, habits and characteristics of their fathers that they appreciated, I felt myself willing to be kinder, more generous.<br />
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We are taught to avoid the word "but" in our stories. When we express a perspective or experience and then say "but" to segue into the next section, we diminish or undermine that which has been said previous to it.<br />
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Instead, we say "and..."<br />
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After our moment of unity and acknowledgment, I took the opportunity to speak further and said:<br />
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"I am a fan of the saying, 'writing crystallises thought.' Perhaps speaking spontaneously, leanly and emotionally, to a trusted ear does the same thing. Everything that I said remains a reality and a definite experience. As I articulated my pain and allowed to bubble up out of me, it felt like I was freeing a space in my mind or spirit or soul... whatever you consider that consciousness to be. As I spoke my pain, I realised how emotional space it was occupying. Sharing it released it, or at least reduced it and freed up space for compassion and appreciation and a more positive perspective.<br />
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What I shared earlier is a truth... and... expressing them has made room to notice others. Who I am and what I appreciate about myself are, in part, things I can also take time to see and appreciate in my father.<br />
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He is, in ways, not self-conscious and doesn't worry what people think of him, a characteristic I deeply appreciate in myself.<br />
He is willing to say sorry, an act I also value and can do comfortably.<br />
I love to entertain an audience, a delight I also see in my father.<br />
I have an appreciate for people, for diversity of cultures, for the earth, for nature, for art... which are all perspectives that I recognise in my father too."<br />
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As with previous weeks, I feel a deep and abiding peace.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13940690420715977167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657215193172581106.post-62650309581317523782016-07-01T00:04:00.001-07:002016-07-01T00:04:26.768-07:00Anger is a reaction to a deeper, potentially useful, feelingThe messy EU referendum results and political bickering in its wake has left me unsettled and angry. I've spent almost a week sniping and griping at any opportunity.<br />
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Yesterday, at circle council, I welcomed peace back into my mind and body. I woke this morning with that calming sense of well-being.<br />
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There was considerable talk last night about the referendum. A lot of us, myself included, expressed our anger at the result. We were angry, we felt divided from friends, family and fellow inhabitants who had voted Leave.<br />
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The campaigning has been ugly. The reaction to the vote, from some corners of society, uglier still. This wasn't about "losing" - I'm English, I'm used to losing - this was about a deeper sense of frustration.<br />
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As we took turns to listen deeply and with intent, I was reminded of a lesson I learned several years ago as I had been exploring my anger at other challenges. Anger is a reaction. We say "I feel angry" when we really mean "I am filled with anger" or "I am reacting with anger."<br />
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Instead of being the root of our emotion, anger is usually the reaction. Often we don't know what to <i>do</i> with anger, other than point it at other people. We're filled with anger, so we point it at others and try to empty ourselves of it. Unfortunately, the more we pour anger out on others, the more it seems to replenish and fill us.<br />
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As we spoke I questioned what this anger, this reaction, was being prompted by. In doing so, I identified a series of feelings:<br />
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Indignation. I'm indignant at what I perceive to be an injustice. I feel the wrong result was collectively reached by the UK. I feel indignant that people were duped into voting for something that was based on distortions and unrealistic promises. I feel indignant that certain individuals in leadership appear to have put their personal ambitions above the best interests of the people they serve.<br />
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Defensive. I'm feeling defensive of the many people who are being hurt by this decision. The fuse of racial segregation seems to have been lit. The "out" vote seems to have mobilised an ugly underbelly of racism. I want to protect those who are on the receiving end of it.<br />
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Confused. I'm confused at how so many millions of people could have reached a conclusion that seems so counter-intuitive. Given the vast volumes who voted leave, I'm sure there must be some among those voters who did so for deep, carefully-considered, well-intentioned motives. I'm sure there must be some... I just can't see them. So I'm confused at how so many could make such a wrong decision.<br />
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Having articulated those in the group, I felt a calming change of emotion. I didn't feel so angry any more. Instead I felt motivated. I don't know anything constructively to do with anger, but I do know what to do with the deeper feelings.<br />
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If I feel confused, I can seek understanding.<br />
If I feel defensive, I can reach out and defend and protect.<br />
If I feel indignant at injustice, I can work to right a wrong.<br />
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Rather than get stuck in a cycle of nonconstructive anger, I can channel the deeper feelings into "being the change" I hope for.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13940690420715977167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657215193172581106.post-38186372858113523082016-06-18T05:36:00.001-07:002016-06-18T05:36:10.415-07:00Finding peace in a new chapter in councilThis has been a quiet blog for the two years since I stopped attending Mormon services.<br />
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Thursday this week, 16th, marked exactly two years since <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_154374705"></span>I wrote to family and my religious leader<span id="goog_154374706"></span></a> informing them of my decision to stop going.<br />
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In the two years since, I've found joy and delight in getting involved in community groups like a amateur drama group, a choir and helping at my son's football training. I've delighted in these experiences. They've been healing and invigorating.<br />
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In the midst of all that, I've continued feeling a sense of longing, a lack of peace, place and purpose. I've found myself questioning what the point of it all is. Life has felt meaningless.<br />
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Not only was Thursday exactly two years since breaking a spiritual connection, it was also perhaps the first day of starting a new one.<br />
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A friend at choir had invited me to join a "men's group." I accepted, in part out of curiosity, but more so because the invite he forwarded from the organiser spoke of something of substance and depth. This wasn't going to be idle chit-chat around a pint at the pub.<br />
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Despite my expectation of something of significance, I was unprepared for the evening. It was, initially, a little unnerving to experience something very different but, eventually, strangely familiar.<br />
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A <a href="http://www.contemplativemind.org/practices/tree/council-circle">council circle</a>, I have since learned, has roots in Native American traditions. It has been lifted and adapted by, what I grew up calling, "new age hippies." In that sense, I felt like I was among friends, given my parents, along with some friends and nearby aunt and uncle were products of that culture.<br /><br />A council circle in the UK seems to take inspiration from the Native American custom, but builds in other elements of old customs of the british isles such as old folk culture and paganism as well as hints of eastern philosophy.<br />
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Paganism (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cphNpqKpKc4">tan, tan, taaaaaaan</a>) is a term, similar to "heathen," created by Abrahamic religions to act as a catch-all pejorative of "others." The Vikings were called pagans, the celts were too. In essence, it tends to mean pre-christian and usually has roots in ecological appreciation and connection with nature.<br /><br />Anyway... I digress.<br />
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As human's we are naturally unsettled by new experiences. The brain has evolved to find safety in familiarity. For me, this was initially emotionally unsettling. I struggle meeting new people at the best of times, but the addition of an alien set of cultural icons, rituals and symbols was initially disconcerting.<br /><br />I won't go into a lot of detail about what was said or done, because one of the <a href="http://www.ancienthealingways.co.uk/way-of-council/">foundations of council is confidentiality</a>. It's also the sort of experience that has value in the Instead, I might use this blog from time to time to document how I feel and think in response to the experience.<br />
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And what I have felt, since Thursday, more than anything else, and for what feels the first time since 2014... is deep and calming peace.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13940690420715977167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657215193172581106.post-52961899865147878682016-06-17T23:16:00.001-07:002016-06-17T23:16:51.646-07:00Conclusions and changes<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I wrote this letter to friends and family on 16th June 2014:<br /><br />----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />I wanted to write to let you know of a recent conclusion
I’ve reached.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’ve decided to stop attending church. I’m aware of the
sadness this will cause, and I’m sorry for being the source of pain, confusion
or discomfort. I’ve held off making this decision, in large part, because of
the effect it will have on the people, like you, who I consider to be among my
closest friends and family. I hope that our friendship can remain strong.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I want to reassure you that this isn’t a knee-jerk or
rushed decision. I’ve spent the last two years considering this question. Out
of respect for my future, my family and for my upbringing, I didn’t want to
rush into any conclusion. I wanted to explore all possibilities. I also want to
reassure you that [wife’s name] has never tried to push me into doing this. One
of the things that have made our relationship flourish and strengthen over the
last 3-4 years is that we have both tried to show complete acceptance and
respect for each other’s differing perspectives. We still do today. [Wife’s
name] has never done anything to try to change my beliefs and I love her all
the more for it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Two years ago this month I decided that I wanted to fully
explore the origins, foundation and implications of my faith. I decided to give
myself 12 months to make sure no rash choices were made.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The 12 months became 15 and I returned to UK from China
with a very different perspective on God, the world and my place and purpose
within it. In October last year I’d almost decided to stop attending but, after
the wonderful hand of friendship was extended by <a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/come-join-with-us?lang=eng">Elder Uchtdorf in conference</a> and by my branch president, I chose to give it another chance; another 6 months
of trying to find a balance between my new religious perspectives and also
being an active and positive influence in my branch.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I accepted a calling as Branch <a href="https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/english/wwlt/hasten/hastening-the-work-ward-mission-leader-eng.pdf?lang=eng">Mission Leader</a> and used it
as an opportunity to study the gospel at ‘entry level.’ A chance to remind
myself of the principles we teach our new members and children. I had hoped
that this simple reconnection with the foundational teachings of the gospel
would help me overcome my doubts and rekindle faith. Taking Elder Uchtdorf’s counsel,
I doubted my doubts. I challenged them, I questioned them, and I tried to
replace them with faith and application.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This reengagement with gospel study has been an immensely
useful experience. It has helped me to retain a belief and hope in God. It has
also helped me notice all of the things that I don’t believe any more. Week after
week, while preparing the <a href="https://www.lds.org/manual/gospel-principles?lang=eng">Gospel Principles</a> lesson, I would work through
material and have to juggle the content. Out of respect for the calling and the
reasons the class members were attending, I tried to only use the words of the
manuals, the scriptures and the prophets. In doing so I reached my current
perspectives; a universalistic perspective where Mormonism’s exclusive claims
were played down and our part in the great human family was emphasised.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In the end, it hasn’t been enough. Elder Uchtdorf’s olive
branch is a small leaf in the great forest of absolutes. I recognise that
ultimately the teachings in Mormonism depend on certain categorical claims.
Faith in the things taught in the church stands or falls on those claims and I
no longer have faith in them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
While I still have a hope in a divine influence and
creator, I have no certainties. If I were to describe my religious perspectives
today I’d probably say that I believe in collective individualism. I believe we
are unified by our diversity. If there is a God, and I hope there is, I believe
that he understands that individuality and diversity better than anyone else.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If there is a God, then I am comfortable with the idea
that the divine is found in Mormonism but no more or less than it is found in
other Christian and non-Christian faiths, philosophies and traditions. I believe
that some of Mormonism’s leaders have, at times, been inspired by that divine influence
–but not always and not any more frequently or with any more clarity than other
philosophers and religious teachers around the world.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If there is a God, then I don’t believe that Mormonism
has any stronger connection with him, nor do I believe the church is a “chosen”
or “superior” organisation compared to other faith traditions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If I had to put a label on my beliefs, I would probably
call it “universalism.” It’s based on the foundation that we all really are
“alike unto God” (2 Nep 26:33); that the most essential and fundamental
principles of truth can be found in each nation and faith tradition. It takes
the notion taught at church that many other people receive a “portion” of truth
and then recognises that even Mormonism’s position of absolutes is only a
similar, incomplete portion of divine guidance. In all of those incomplete
perspectives, in seeing constantly through a “glass, darkly” we find a simple
and consistent message: “prophecies... shall fail..., knowledge... shall vanish
away” but “charity never faileth” (1 Cor 13:8-12). I believe that any religion
or philosophy should be measured on how effectively it helps us embrace this
single important principle of charity. It is perhaps the most consistent and
divine principle that appears to permeate almost every faith tradition. All of
our teachings, commandments, principles and ceremonies should be enablers to
living against this essential teaching.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
For a while I had wanted to try to be a “Mormon Universalist;”
to live with my conclusions while still attending Mormon services. That desire
was part of why I embraced my calling. To live in a way that was both true to
my conclusions and respectful of the community and traditions of the people I associated
with.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In the end, it’s hasn’t been possible. There is too big a
gap between my perspectives and those taught in the church.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
An earlier version of this letter included the detail of
the things I no longer agree with or believe and why I started the process of
investigation and evaluation at all. I’ve decided to not impose those on you.
If you’re interested, let me know and I can send you the longer version with
the detail included.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I recognise that you, and many of my friends and family,
might worry about me being deceived or misguided.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
All I can say is that I don’t believe I am. I’ve prayed
and pondered over these conclusions and their implications. I’ve spent more
time on this question than any other in my entire life. I recognise the seriousness
of the implications of my faith transition. I realise that if Mormonism’s
absolutes are right then I’m moving away from something essential. I simply
don’t believe those absolutes. If there is a God who answers prayers, and my
past experiences encourage me to believe that there is and that he does, then
he has also answered my prayer. If my previous spiritual experiences are reasonable
a basis for making life decisions, then the experience I had earlier this year
while praying in the Celestial room at the Temple should also be an adequate basis
for making the decision to move away from full activity within Mormonism.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I know I will miss the weekly experience of meeting with
the Mormon community. I will also miss going to the Temple. I still consider
that to be a “sacred space” and to be an environment for learning about my
place in the world and my relationship with the divine. I’m sad that my conclusions
mean that I won’t be able to attend but also respect the church’s reasons for
expecting certain standards for going there.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I have no desire to shake your faith. I don’t want to
undermine the church or people’s attendance there. I have no certainties or
absolutes, so with that in mind I recognise that your beliefs might still be
right – or, at the very least, right for you. The God that I believe in, or
hope for, is one that celebrates and accepts all of humanity’s commitments and
religious dedication – as long as it leads them to be better people and to be of
service to the their fellow human beings.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Please feel free to ask me any questions you might have.
I understand that this will cause you concern. I appreciate your care and
sincerity in feeling that way. Please don’t feel like you need to rescue me or
correct my conclusions. At the same time, if you feel you’d like to share your perspectives
or express your concerns about my choices then I am willing to listen. I
recognise that this might make you feel uncomfortable or awkward around me.
Like I said at the start, I really hope we’re still able to maintain a
friendship and good relationship.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13940690420715977167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657215193172581106.post-24702425832576929982014-11-22T03:40:00.001-08:002014-11-22T03:40:09.722-08:00What is life's priority... Is it knowing or loving God... and is either really possible?<div class="tr_bq">
I recently read an <a href="http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/reason-experience-and-the-existence-of-god/">article by Dan Peterson</a>, "Reason, Experience, and the Existence of God."</div>
<br />
In the article he addresses the question of how to come to know and love God. In doing he juxtaposes two answers to the question: "what is our first duty" or "what is the greatest commandment"<br />
<br />
Is it:<br />
<br />
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."<br />
<br />
Or is our first duty to God:<br />
<br />
"Speculative reasoning which leads to knowledge of God, because He is not known intuitively or by the senses. Thus, He must be known by reflection and speculation."<br />
<br />
Who or what is God? If the first priority is to love God and if God is not currently self-evident then the first priority is to know who it is you need to love. Put another way, someone might say that in a marriage, loving your spouse is your first priority. If you're not yet married then it clearly isn't. Your first task is finding and knowing that spouse before you can love them. So too with loving God.<br />
<br />
The two questions above aren't really an either/or proposition. Clearly we need to conclude who God is before we can consider loving God. Whether through logic or intuition, religion invites us to know God. While many religions teach that God is a multifaceted being it seems people discover him/her/it/them in many ways, or rather only discover certain aspects or facets of him (for convenience, I'll stick with 'him').<br />
<br />
Whether he chooses the particular aspects of himself that he wants us to discover or whether we simply select characteristics to build gods in our own image is still a question I don't have a conclusive answer to. Ultimately, it seems that neither logic nor intuition is an effective method for knowing the "true" nature of God because the process leads to so many 1000s of contradictory definitions, certainties and conclusions. To take one simple and relatively non-confrontational example, does God a body or not? He can't have both a body and not have a body. It must be one or the other. Whichever it is, millions of sincere truth seekers have used both or either logic and to reach conclusions that are in opposition. Both methods are proven unreliable by nature of the fact that both methods lead to contradictory conclusions.<br />
<br />
Instead, it seems to me, that either logic or intuition only provide the "useful" picture or description of God. Perhaps, when we come to know and love God, we are really being guided, by ourselves or by God, to love something in or about ourselves.<br />
<br />
Some of the interesting conclusions in the book '<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Changes-Your-Brain-Neuroscientist/dp/0345503422">How God changes your brain</a>' is that how you see God activates or rewards certain parts of your brain, depending on your perception of him (or her/it/them). The authors' theory suggests to me that an influence on how we see God is from how we are predisposed to see him. In other words, the part of our brain that is most active or most seeking to be activated could be having an influence in how we ultimately perceive and then love God. Perhaps we are really learning to love an aspect of ourselves. I'm not saying that's a solely organic, internal process. It's quite possibly being guided by a divine external influence. <br /><br />Whichever it is, it seems that neither logic nor intuition ultimately take us to a state of really "knowing" and instead guides us to state of "being." Given the fruit of "being" is widely and vastly different I return to my conclusion that the exploration of "who is God," through logic or intuition leads is to that which is useful, not that which is established to be true.<br />
<br />
As such, the rest of the article seems a little redundant. It's arguing between two methods of "knowing" despite the fact that neither method can demonstrably lead to an absolute knowledge of what is absolutely true. It can lead to personal certainty, which we might describe as knowledge, but it really, at best, only leads to certainty.<br />
<br />
I don't agree with Qadi ‘Abd al-Jabbar that, "Knowledge of God can only be gained by speculation with rational argument" But I'm not sure that intuition is a more effective alternative.<br />
<br />
Talking of intuition, or revelation, as a source for knowing Dan Peterson says, "...even if we doubt that such a revelation has ever actually been received by anybody anywhere, we can easily conceive (at least in principle) of a divine self-disclosure so powerful that it would eliminate all doubt and essentially, at least for the recipient herself, render further intellectual investigation of the question of God’s existence rather frivolous."<br />
<br />
The key to this statement is: "at least for the recipient." The experience of Blaise Pascal coming to know God is beautifully articulated: "Certitude, certitude, feeling, joy, peace."<br />
<br />
This is really the crux of the matter. Coming to know God, particularly coming to know him through intuition, is not a matter of knowing, it's a matter of reaching personal certitude and personal peace.<br />
<br />
Peterson goes on to give some good arguments for intuition or spiritual revelation being a far better source of knowing God than logic and reason. If a choice has to be made between the two, I can agree that intuition is a better way of coming to an understanding or conclusion of who God is and how we should love him. Logic and reason alone don't seem to be a viable way of coming to know something or someone that is so intangible and uncertain. But that doesn't mean that God should be illogical and unreasonable.<br />
<br />
C.S. Lewis is quoted as asking, "...are we sure that He is even interested in the kind of Theism which would be a compelled logical assent to a conclusive argument?" Firstly, I would paraphrase Lewis to ask the question, "... are we sure that He is...?" If one answers "Yes," "I think so" or even "I hope so" then it would be nice to think that this conclusion of God was also logical.<br />
<br />
I agree with Peterson's conclusion that "(r)evelation... should never be detached from rationality." I don't, however, see that even the combination of these approaches leads to anything conclusive beyond a personal perspective.<br />
<br />
Peterson talks of the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Life (SETI) and the desire to receive radio signals for a third party source to prove, conclusively, that we are not alone in the universe. Receiving such a radio signal would prove the existence of extra-terrestrial life. "Just as," Peterson suggests, "an unmistakable revelation directly from God would render every debate about his existence moot."<br />
<br />
This is an unfair comparison. A radio signal could be examined and tested by multiple third parties. There would be a single transmission with multiple opportunities to evaluate it and examine it. Not so with "unmistakable revelation directly from God." There are 1000s of examples of people claiming this... and yet no-one has yet produced a revelation from God that is truly unmistakable. No-one has offered a revelation that can be evaluated and examined under consistent circumstances by a third party.<br />
<br />
Here are seven different examples of religious "radio transmissions." They are first quoted with the religious cues removed. Later they are quoted without redaction, but I think it's important to first read them without knowing the religion, scripture or deity they "know" the truth of:<br />
<blockquote>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ </blockquote>
<blockquote>
1) "I asked <DEITY NAME> for a sign to show that the <RELIGION NAME> has the whole truth...<br />One day, I was sitting under a tree, thinking deeply. I was trying to recall some <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE> verses on <DOCTRINE> and praying about a doubt that I had. Suddenly, a miracle happened to me. It was like a light that I could not exactly figure out. It shone on me and took away the doubt in my mind. It seemed that the darkness in my mind was lifted. The <DOCTRINE>, which I could not at first accept, suddenly became very clear me. I could then accept it with my mind and heart. Since that incident, each time I read the <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE>, that former opinion to oppose and the refusal to believe and accept were gone. Today I believe <DOCTRINE>.<br />...Now I know and am confident that this is the end of my search for the whole truth. I thank <DEITY NAME> for answering my prayer and giving me a sign. I have found the whole truth of my <RELIGIOUS OBJECTIVE>. Glory be given to <DEITY NAME>. <RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION>!!" </blockquote>
<blockquote>
2) "I had the feeling of waking up, as if all my previous life I had been asleep. The printed words on the page of the book seemed like the surface of a vast and fathomless ocean of truth and wisdom. Whatever it was, I knew that it was completely true and infallible. Therefore the author must also be true and infallible. The <DESCRIPTOR> book, which I still have, was <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE>." </blockquote>
<blockquote>
3) "In mid-August of 1969, I humbly knelt in the shadows behind my barracks and prayed. I told <DEITY NAME> that I had read the book that <RELIGION NAME> say is from Him. I admitted that there were some good things in it and that I wanted to know if it was true.<br />I closed my prayer in <DEITY NAME>. No sooner had I done so than I received the most powerful witness that I have ever experienced. It was not the answer I was seeking. But I had asked, and now I knew. <RELIGION NAME> was the only true church on the earth! I knew it; <RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION>."<br /><br />4) "I will never forget <RELIGIOUS PRACTICE>. At 17 I read <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE>. But not only did I read it I thought about it's beautiful teachings of <DEITY NAME>. I then prayed sincerely to <DEITY NAME>. I asked him for that confirmation that <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE> was true. I will never forget the sweet, humbling answer that came. I knew <DEITY NAME> loved me and I knew that Yes <DOCTRINE>. ...<DOCTRINE>. <DOCTRINE>, it's tangible. It's for everyone! ...My testimony is real. It's mine, I have forged it out of the fire. It makes me really happy!!" </blockquote>
<blockquote>
5) "After months of study and research I could not deny the truth anymore. I had put it off too long, but was still living the life I had before, and knew that if I became a <RELIGION NAME> I had to give all that up. One day while reading <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE>, I began to cry and fell to my knees and thanked <DEITY NAME> for guiding me to the truth. I found out that there was a <RELIGIOUS BUILDING> by my house so I went one <RELIGIOUS DAY> to see how <RELIGION NAME> prayed and conducted their service... A man got up and began to <PRAY>. When I heard it my eyes filled up with tears because it sounded so beautiful. It was all so strange at first, but seemed so right at the same time. <RELIGION NAME> is not just a religion but a way of life." </blockquote>
<blockquote>
6) "As I was skeptical of anything other than the Bible, time passed before I actually began reading <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE>... I began with <SECTION OF BOOK OF SCRIPTURE> and quickly read to where <DOCTRINE>. I was blown away. I had never heard of the things I was reading; I didn't even know that <DOCTRINE>. I already knew and loved <DESCRIPTION OF DEITY>, but through <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE> I began to fall in love with <DESCRIPTION OF DEITY>. Still, I was not convinced that <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE> was really true; I fought with my old mental tapes regarding the infallibility of the Bible - 'Thou shalt not add to...,' etc. My old beliefs were being challenged.<br />I put <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE> down for several months, and then a devastating thing happened. My father died in a truck/train accident on May 1, 1980. After the initial shock and grief, I was angry that <DEITY NAME> would take my father at this time of his life; he hadn't even been able to retire! Then I started reading <SECTION OF BOOK OF SCRIPTURE>. The peace I felt after reading them convinced me that the teachings in the book were genuine. They were too beautiful to be anything else.<br />Since then I have grown enough in understanding to realize that <DOCTRINE ABOUT DEITY NAME>. I know that my earthly father's soul <AFTERLIFE DOCTRINE>. I need not worry about his salvation. Most comforting of all, I believe that as soon as I get to <AFTERLIFE NAME> I shall see my father in person." </blockquote>
<blockquote>
7) "She told me she had come across a book that I might like, though she herself could not understand it. [the friend tells of <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE>'s divine origin] ...Something inside me knew that was true and I wrote down the name of the book... </blockquote>
<blockquote>
I found myself thinking about <DEITY NAME> and what little time I had given to learning about him. Suddenly, the room was filled with a warm and glowing light. I felt so strange, as if I had received the gift of faith right at that moment, as if I had been 'born again.'</blockquote>
<blockquote>
...I came home and had such tremendous urges - to read <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE>, to join a church, to learn everything I could. I called different churches at random, went to the library, and got some books on <RELIGIOUS LEADER>, <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE>, world religions, <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE>, even <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE>.<br />That same day I called <RELIGIOUS CONTACT> and told him how I felt. He suggested I read <RELIGIOUS SCRIPTURE> but to start with <SECTION OF BOOK OF SCRIPTURE> this time. I read for about five hours without stopping and <RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE> I knew that every word I was reading was the truth. It was exciting to finally believe in something, to have faith in <DEITY NAME>!"<br /><br />------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</blockquote>
I wonder how many people could read those and identify the religious scriptures and "radio signals" that delivered those experiences and certainties? Certain expressions, even after redacting, might sound familiar to a practiotioner of one religion or another. We naturally develop certain idioms that are recognisable. Outside of those, the overall conclusions and experiences, from multiple different religious practices, seem very consistent.<br />
<br />
Before reading on, try to compare whether the personal "radio signals" are significantly different in method or conclusion.<br />
<br />
Here are the quotes in full:<br />
<blockquote>
1) "I asked the Lord Jesus Christ for a sign to show that the True Jesus Church has the whole truth...<br />One day, I was sitting under a tree, thinking deeply. I was trying to recall some Bible verses on baptism and praying about a doubt that I had. Suddenly, a miracle happened to me. It was like a light that I could not exactly figure out. It shone on me and took away the doubt in my mind. It seemed that the darkness in my mind was lifted. The doctrine on infant baptism, which I could not at first accept, suddenly became very clear me. I could then accept it with my mind and heart. Since that incident, each time I read the Bible, that former opinion to oppose and the refusal to believe and accept were gone. Today I believe that infants must be baptized in order to be saved.<br />...Now I know and am confident that this is the end of my search for the whole truth. I thank the Lord Jesus Christ for answering my prayer and giving me a sign. I have found the whole truth of my salvation. Glory be given to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!!"<br />Religion: <b><u>True Jesus Church</u></b> (<a href="http://members.tjc.org/sites/en/my/cr/pj/USGA%20Newsletter/Testimonies/Testimonies.pdf">Source</a>) </blockquote>
<blockquote>
2)"I had the feeling of waking up, as if all my previous life I had been asleep. The printed words on the page of the book seemed like the surface of a vast and fathomless ocean of truth and wisdom. Whatever it was, I knew that it was completely true and infallible. Therefore the author must also be true and infallible. The small red book, which I still have, was The Hidden Words."<br />Religion: <b><u>Baha'i</u></b> (<a href="http://bahaihistoryuk.wordpress.com/2012/10/05/nigel-moody/">Source</a>) </blockquote>
<blockquote>
3) "In mid-August of 1969, I humbly knelt in the shadows behind my barracks and prayed. I told God that I had read the book that Latter-day Saints say is from Him. I admitted that there were some good things in it and that I wanted to know if it was true.<br />I closed my prayer in the Savior’s name. No sooner had I done so than I received the most powerful witness that I have ever experienced. It was not the answer I was seeking. But I had asked, and now I knew. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the only true church on the earth! I knew it; I dared not deny it."<br />Religion: <b><u>LDS</u></b> (<a href="https://www.lds.org/ensign/1986/08/mormon-journal">Source</a>) </blockquote>
<blockquote>
4) "I will never forget putting Moroni's challenge to the test. At 17 I read the Book of Mormon. But not only did I read it I thought about it's beautiful teachings of the Savior. I then prayed sincerely to my Heavenly Father. I asked him for that confirmation that the Book of Mormon was true. I will never forget the sweet, humbling answer that came. I knew my Heavenly Father loved me and I knew that Yes I can live with my family forever. ...I have a Savior. Forgiveness is real, it's tangible. It' for everyone! ...My testimony is real. It's mine, I have forged it out of the fire. It makes me really happy!!"<br />Religion: <b><u>LDS</u></b> (<a href="http://mormon.org/clark">Source</a>) </blockquote>
<blockquote>
5) "After months of study and research I could not deny the truth anymore. I had put it off too long, but was still living the life I had before, and knew that if I became a Muslim I had to give all that up. One day while reading the Qur'an, I began to cry and fell to my knees and thanked Allah for guiding me to the truth. I found out that there was a Mosque by my house so I went one Friday to see how Muslims prayed and conducted their service... A man got up and began to call the Adthan (call for prayer). When I heard it my eyes filled up with tears because it sounded so beautiful. It was all so strange at first, but seemed so right at the same time. Islam is not just a religion but a way of life."<br />Religion: <b><u>Islam</u></b> (<a href="http://www.thepeopleofthebook.org/islam6testimony.html">Source</a>)</blockquote>
<blockquote>
6) "As I was skeptical of anything other than the Bible, time passed before I actually began reading The Urantia Book... I began with 'The Life and Teachings of Jesus,' and quickly read to where Jesus had reached the age of 23. I was blown away. I had never heard of the things I was reading; I didn't even know that Jesus had brothers and sisters. I already knew and loved the divine Jesus, the Son of God, but through The Urantia Book I began to fall in love with the human Jesus, the Son of Man. Still, I was not convinced that The Urantia Book was really true; I fought with my old mental tapes regarding the infallibility of the Bible - 'Thou shalt not add to...,' etc. My old beliefs were being challenged.<br />I put The Urantia Book down for several months, and then a devastating thing happened. My father died in a truck/train accident on May 1, 1980. After the initial shock and grief, I was angry that God would take my father at this time of his life; he hadn't even been able to retire! Then I started reading the mansion world papers. The peace I felt after reading them convinced me that the teachings in the book were genuine. They were too beautiful to be anything else.<br />Since then I have grown enough in understanding to realize that God does not take our loved ones, that the accidents of time just happen. I know that my earthly father's soul had plenty of 'mercy credits'. I need not worry about his salvation. Most comforting of all, I believe that as soon as I get to the mansion worlds I shall see my father in person."<br />Religion: <b><u>Uranthian</u></b> (<a href="http://www.squarecircles.com/UrantiaMovementHistory/hiftub/181luann.harney.htm">Source</a>) </blockquote>
<blockquote>
7) "She told me she had come across a book that I might like, though she herself could not understand it. [the friend tells of the Urantia Book's divine origin] ...Something inside me knew that was true and I wrote down the name of the book...<br /> I found myself thinking about God and what little time I had given to learning about him. Suddenly, the room was filled with a warm and glowing light. I felt so strange, as if I had received the gift of faith right at that moment, as if I had been 'born again.'<br />...I came home and had such tremendous urges - to read The Bible, to join a church, to learn everything I could. I called different churches at random, went to the library, and got some books on Edgar Cayce, the Dead Sea Scrolls, world religions, The Koran, even The Talmud.<br />That same day I called Mr. Dychko and told him how I felt. He suggested I read The Urantia Book but to start with the Jesus section this time. I read for about five hours without stopping and my Thought Adjuster must have responded because I knew that every word I was reading was the truth. It was exciting to finally believe in something, to have faith in God!"<br />Religion: <b><u>Uranthian</u></b> (<a href="http://www.squarecircles.com/UrantiaMovementHistory/hiftub/100martha.groh.htm">Source</a>) </blockquote>
All of the above are seven of several hundred personal testimonies from dozens of different faiths collected on <a href="http://testimoniesofotherfaiths.blogspot.com/">Testimonies of Other Faiths</a>.<br />
<br />
While all of those divine "radio transmission" have lead the individual to a level of certainty, none of them are conclusive beyond the recipient. If God is the source of all of those radio transmissions, then apparently he is comfortable telling people contradictory messages. He his happy teaching truth and untruth. If some of those transmissions are correct and the others are simply personal, but not divine, experiences, then whole method is flawed. Peterson claims that "certainly an indubitable and spectacular revelation would obviate the need for secular, rational proofs." Unfortunately religion, in its entire multi-millennial history, has never produced an "indubitable" transmission. It may be that the "recipient of that revelation" feel an absolute certainty - enough to entirely remove personal doubt but it bears no resemblance to a true radio signal that can be experienced and evaluated under the same circumstances by multiple different people.<br />
<br />
In the end, knowing God and therefore loving God, becomes an entirely subjective and personal experience. Whether that understanding and therefore love of God comes through logical or intuitive methods seems immaterial.<br /><br />Perhaps the whole question of knowing and loving God becomes such a subjective and intangible pursuit that it gets in the way of the second advice in Jesus' commandment - loving ones neighbour. Perhaps it's even more difficult if that neighbour's process of reaching a conclusion about God leads to such a strongly contradictory conclusion that loving the neighbour becomes difficult. Perhaps, in the end, discovering the best way to know and love humanity has far greater merit than the unreliable pursuit of creating an intangible and often contradictory image of God.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13940690420715977167noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657215193172581106.post-36320469930898679652014-06-07T15:47:00.001-07:002014-06-07T15:47:34.780-07:00All are alike unto God - finding unity in diversity<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">When Samuel was asked to go and anoint the future
king from among Jesse’s sons he looked at them and made certain assumptions.
(Sam 16:7) <i>“But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance,
or on the height of his stature… for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man
looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”</i></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Sister Chieko Okazaki was first counselor on the
Relief Society General Presidency during the 1990s. In </span></span><a href="http://www.lds.org/ensign/1992/05/spit-and-mud-and-kigatsuku"><span style="background: white; color: #6699cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">one talk in 1992</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> she
said: </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 5.0pt;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“I’d like to teach you an important Japanese word. It’s kigatsuku. </span></i><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 5.0pt;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Kigatsuku means “an inner spirit to act without being told what to do.”
…When I was just a little girl, my mother began teaching me to be kigatsuku.
When she swept the floor, she would say, “Chieko, what would a kigatsuku girl
do now?” Then I’d run and get the dustpan… </span></i><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 5.0pt;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">(W)e can do great good when we act as an organized group… we can do
great good when we act in small, informal groups… (and) we can do great good on
our own—just as individuals who care enough to serve… It is the desire in
individual hearts that powers not only small, individual acts of service, but
also the great acts that become mass movements and even revolutions. You have
that power, too. </span></i><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 5.0pt;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Are you sitting on a mat or on a polished bench? Are you wearing a sari
or a three-piece suit? Are you hearing me in English or in Tagalog? It doesn’t
matter. Hear the words of my heart. Feel the power that can come from your own
desire to do good!</span></i></blockquote>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">There are many ways to serve. Today I would like to
talk on the service of acceptance, respect and fellowship:</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">In the </span></span><a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/print/2013/10/ye-are-no-more-strangers?lang=eng&clang=ase"><span style="background: white; color: #6699cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">October 2013 General Conference</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">,
Elder Gérald Caussé said:</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The world in which we live is going through a period of great upheaval.
Because of the increased availability of transportation, speed of
communication, and globalization of economies, the earth is becoming one large
village where people and nations meet, connect, and intermingle like never
before…</span></i><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">It is very likely that the next person converted to the gospel in your ward
will be someone who does not come from your usual circle of friends and
acquaintances. You may note this by his or her appearance, language, manner of
dress, or color of skin. This person may have grown up in another religion,
with a different background or a different lifestyle.</span></i></blockquote>
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<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin spoke, in </span><a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/04/concern-for-the-one?lang=eng"><span style="background: white; color: #6699cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">April 2008</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">,
of some people who stop attending church because they don’t feel like they have
a place or fit in.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 5.0pt;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Some are lost because they are different. They feel as though they don’t
belong.</span></i><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 5.0pt;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> Perhaps because they are different, they find themselves slipping away
from the flock. They may look, act, think, and speak differently than those
around them and that sometimes causes them to assume they don’t fit in. They
conclude that they are not needed.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 5.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Tied to this misconception is the erroneous belief that all members of
the Church should look, talk, and be alike. The Lord did not people the earth
with a vibrant orchestra of personalities only to value the piccolos of the
world. Every instrument is precious and adds to the complex beauty of the
symphony. All of Heavenly Father’s children are different in some degree, yet
each has his (or her) own beautiful sound that adds depth and richness to the
whole.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 5.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">This variety of creation itself is a testament of how the Lord values
all His children. He does not esteem one flesh above another, but He “inviteth
them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that
come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; … all are alike
unto God.”</span></i></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">Elder Uchtdorf has spoken many times about the
importance of respecting each other and accepting one another. Perhaps he does
so because he understands, because of his background and upbringing, what it
feels like to be the outsider, the one who is being side-lined.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">In </span></span><a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/you-are-my-hands?lang=eng"><span style="background: white; color: #6699cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">April 2010</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> he
said: </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 5.0pt;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Unfortunately, from time to time we also hear of Church members who
become discouraged and subsequently quit coming to and participating in our
Church meetings because they think they don’t fit in.”</span></i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">As a refugee from East Germany moving to West Germany after the second
world war he was very aware of being different. He says:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 5.0pt;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">When I was a young boy, during the aftermath of World War II, Germany
was broken and in ruins. Many people were hungry, sick, and dying. I remember
well the humanitarian shipments of food and clothing that came from the Church
in Salt Lake City. To this day, I can still remember the smell of the clothing,
and I can still taste the sweetness of the canned peaches.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">There were some who joined the Church because of the goods they received
at that time. Some members looked down on these new converts. They even called
them an offensive name: Büchsen Mormonen, or “Canned-Food Mormons.” They
resented these new members because they believed that once their temporal needs
had been met, they would fall away.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">While some did leave, many stayed—they came to church, tasted the
sweetness of the gospel, and felt the tender embrace of caring brothers and
sisters. They discovered “home.” And now, three and four generations later,
many families trace their Church membership back to these converts.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I hope that we welcome and love all of God’s children, including those
who might dress, look, speak, or just do things differently. It is not good to
make others feel as though they are deficient. Let us lift those around us. Let
us extend a welcoming hand. Let us bestow upon our brothers and sisters in the
Church a special measure of humanity, compassion, and charity so that they
feel, at long last, they have finally found home.</span></i></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 15.6pt;">We are all different. We are all individuals. I revel in the reality of
our diversity. But I also celebrate the underlying similarities of our values,
our goals and desires. Most of the people in the world, whatever their faith
tradition, want to be happy, to be comfortable, to have friendship, to better
themselves and to help better others.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">
<br />
Elder Uchtdorf also said in </span><a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/the-merciful-obtain-mercy?lang=eng"><span style="color: #6699cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">April 2012</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 5.0pt;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">This topic of judging others could actually be taught in a two-word
sermon. When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding
grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following:</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Stop it!</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">It’s that simple. We simply have to stop judging others and replace
judgmental thoughts and feelings with a heart full of love for God and His
children. God is our Father. We are His children. We are all brothers and
sisters. I don’t know exactly how to articulate this point of not judging
others with sufficient eloquence, passion, and persuasion to make it stick. I
can quote scripture, I can try to expound doctrine, and I will even quote a
bumper sticker I recently saw. It was attached to the back of a car whose
driver appeared to be a little rough around the edges, but the words on the
sticker taught an insightful lesson. It read, “Don’t judge me because I sin
differently than you.”</span></i></blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Elder Uchtdorf’s advice could also be rephrased as: </span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 15.6pt;">“Don’t judge me because I act differently than you… or because I dress
differently, speak differently, live differently, work differently, vote
differently, pray and worship differently.”</i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">
<br />
I’d like to share two experiences of learning the importance of not making
judgement. Many years ago, serving a mission in Belgium, I was walking with my
companion back to our apartment. Walking towards us in the opposite direction
was a disheveled man. He wore dirty clothes and shoes that had so many holes
they might as well have been three steps behind him. His beard and hair was
messy and stretched down below his shoulders.<br />
<br />
I felt a strong impression that I should speak to him. My instant reaction was,
“don’t be silly, he’s probably homeless and will more likely than not ask you
for money to feed his habit.” Again came the impression, as we drew closer, to
speak to him. Again I rationalised it away, “he won’t be interested, the
gospel’s not for people like him.” Finally as we were a few steps apart and
about to cross, I stopped ignoring the nagging thought to speak to him and
blurted out: “Bonjour monsieur, comment ca va?” He stopped and we started
speaking. His name was Arthur. We asked if we could visit him later that day to
share a message about Jesus Christ. He gave us his address and we went over
later that day. Arthur accepted the gospel and was baptised within 4 weeks. The
day before finishing my mission I heard that he was serving as the Branch
Mission Leader. The story has a memorable ending, but even if his response to
my initial greeting had been “non merci,” I hope it would still have reminded
me to not judge by the outward appearance.<br />
<br />
More recently, I was teaching a class at church. A man who I didn’t know sat in
the corner quietly. He was wearing jeans, trainers and a hoody. He said very
little during the lesson and I made some unreasonable assumptions.<br />
<br />
Towards the end of the lesson I asked the class how the principles of the
gospel positively affected their lives. He looked up and caught my eye so I
invited him to share his thoughts. He said: “I was in prison not long ago. I
had made some bad choices and deserved to be in there. When I got out I was
determined to make my life better and to avoid the negative influences that had
got me into bad situations the first time round. I’ve moved to another town and
have been meeting with the missionaries. When they teach me I feel hope that I
can change permanently. Coming to church helps me be with people who can be a
positive influence.”<br />
<br />
I felt humbled and a gently rebuked. This was a living example of the blessings
of the gospel. The Gospel is uplifting and healing. We should accept people
into our community and share the gospel with them whatever their background,
experiences or appearance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Elder Caussé’s advice on acceptance and welcoming the stranger </span><a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/print/2013/10/ye-are-no-more-strangers?lang=eng&clang=ase"><span style="color: #6699cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">concluded with the following</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 5.0pt;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“…reach out to anyone who appears at the doors of your Church buildings.
Welcome them with gratitude and without prejudice. If people you do not know
walk into one of your meetings, greet them warmly and invite them to sit with
you. Please make the first move to help them feel welcome and loved, rather
than waiting for them to come to you.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">…During His earthly ministry, Jesus was an example of one who went far
beyond the simple obligation of hospitality and tolerance. Those who were
excluded from society, those who were rejected and considered to be impure by
the self-righteous, were given His compassion and respect. They received an
equal part of His teachings and ministry.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 5.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">For example, the Savior went against the established customs of His time
to address the woman of Samaria, asking her for some water. He sat down to eat
with publicans and tax collectors. He didn’t hesitate to approach the leper, to
touch him and heal him. Admiring the faith of the Roman centurion, He said to
the crowd, “Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in
Israel.”</span></i><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 5.0pt;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">…I bear witness that no one is a stranger to our Heavenly Father. There
is no one whose soul is not precious to Him. With Peter, I testify that “God is
no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh
righteousness, is accepted with him.”</span></i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The Saviour set the example with his compassion. How would it feel to be
the recipient of the Saviour’s compassion, generosity, kindness and
non-judgemental attitude? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br />
In Luke 5 we read the famous story about the man with the palsy being lowered
through the roof. Because of the traditions of the day, some of the people in
the house and perhaps the man himself would have made the assumption that his
sickness was a punishment for his sins or the sins of his parents. Jesus turned
to him and said: “Son, thy sins are forgiven thee.” He showed complete
acceptance and the charity of seeing beyond the assumptions of the day.
Considering this is what motivates me to try to apply these principles more
consistently in my attitudes about others.<br />
<br />
To conclude again with the words of Nephi in 2 Nep 26:33: </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 5.0pt;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">(The Lord)… doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he
doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them
all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come
unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female… and all are alike
unto God</span></i></blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13940690420715977167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657215193172581106.post-27610667515812563182014-06-01T04:36:00.003-07:002014-06-01T04:41:09.072-07:00Believe what you like, but keep it to yourselfI read this quote today and initially I liked it. The more I consider it however, the less it seems to work.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>A member, at any given time, may not understand one point of doctrine or another, may have a misconception, or even believe something is true that in fact is false. </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>There is not much danger in that. That is an inevitable part of learning the gospel. No member of the Church should be embarrassed at the need to repent of a false notion he might have believed. Such ideas are corrected as one grows in light and knowledge. </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>It is not the belief in a false notion that is the problem; it is the teaching of it to others. In the Church we have the agency to believe whatever we want to believe about whatever we want to believe. But we are not authorized to teach it to others as truth."</i></blockquote>
Boyd K. Packer<br />
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1985/04/from-such-turn-away?lang=eng&country=gb<br />
<br />
I welcome the principle that an apostle is happy for members to "believe whatever we want to believe." But he seems to tell us to keep it to ourselves.<br />
<br />
Tow the party line, keep silent, support the consensus.<br />
<br />
I sat in testimony meeting today. I wanted to share my true beliefs about the nature of God, the nature of prophetic revelation and the role of the church within the great human family. I wanted to share the deep and meaningful experiences I'd had in coming to those conclusions. But I knew they would not be welcome. While other could teach things as principles of truth because they resonated with the attending majority, my minority perspective, that doesn't align with the correlated manuals and church teaching is not to be shared.<br />
<br />
I still got up and made only vague references. I spoke of the positive experience of <a href="http://manyotherhands.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/im-not-afraid-anymore.html">attending the temple</a>, understanding the importance of developing a personal relationship with God and receiving answers in the temple to questions and concerns whose implications I had feared but afterwards felt complete peace about. I felt the love of God and the enrichment of the Saviour's atonement.<br />
<br />
That message was welcome. People smiled and nodded and felt the affirmation of another person confirming what they were already convinced of. One or two people thanked me for my testimony after the meeting.<br />
<br />
Had I given greater detail I wonder whether the same reaction would have happened? I could have said I was grateful for temple attendance and answered prayers because doing so had led me to, what I consider, a divinely guided conclusion that the church is not the "only true church." That when most prophets speak, they do not speak as if God were speaking. That they often, but not always, speak good and inspiring words influenced by their scriptures, their culture, their environment and the words of other leaders. That they are able to receive the same type of divine guidance anyone else does, but not an exclusive or special communication channel with the heavens. They see through the same glass darkly as we all do and that their teachings are coloured by that glass.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
I could have said that I believe in a God cares how we treat each other and how we're trying to become more godlike, but does not care what we wear, what we eat and drink, what causes we give our time and money to or who we marry... as long as those chosen behaviours uplift us and others. I could have said that black or white, male or female, straight or gay are the same in God's eyes... God sees us all as equals and is happy for each to be treated as such. That there is truth found throughout cultures and philosophies and that our gospel "fullness" was only as full as our ability to be filled and that fulfillment (or full-filled-ment) could come from many sources.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
All of that are things I believe and, apparently, Elder Packer is happy for me to believe that. He just doesn't want me to share it with others, even though I believe it to be true.<br />
<br />
I tried to suggest to a Mormon friend recently that answers came to people in different ways. That some people, like my wife, could ask for Mormon answers for years and not receive a clear answer. That the Mormon description of God and life's purpose was not satisfying or useful for all of His children. That there are many answers that equally allow people to fulfill their purpose and potential. He was adamant I was wrong. He suggested that it was not the church that was lacking but that instead it was the person who was asking in the wrong way or was not living worthy to receive the answers. When I pointed out that he was describing my wife in that broad and condemning brush stroke he acknowledged he was.<br />
<br />
My heart hurts and I continue to feel the gap between Mormonism and me to widen. Sitting in church today felt like an endurance, not an enlightenment. The hours I spent yesterday with family, followed by cycling through country lanes and nature's beauty was far more inspiring and uplifting than the hour of testimony meeting.<br />
<br />
I've often talked of Mormonism being like a ship that needs gradual correction. That it's better to accept slow change, by degree in order to avoid the boat capsizing or people being people tipped over the side rails. Unfortunately the slow progress of church change, couple with the rapid pace of my shifting perspectives, means there might soon be another "man overboard." Not because of the jolt of hitting an iceberg, but voluntarily jumping to swim to another shore or passing vessel.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13940690420715977167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657215193172581106.post-36912778536568160422014-05-02T06:00:00.002-07:002014-05-02T06:03:30.637-07:00A Thoughtful Gospel Principles. Chapter 10: The Scriptures<div class="MsoNormal">
(I switched the lesson order around a little to make sure I could teach the Atonement on East Sunday)<br />
<br />
<b>God inspires people
all over the world to teach good principles</b></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Gospel Principles page
45: …From the beginning, the Lord has commanded His prophets to keep a record
of His revelations and His dealings with His children. He said: “I command all
men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and
in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto
them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every
man according to their works, according to that which is written” </i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Alma, a Book of Mormon prophet <a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/29?lang=eng">said</a> (Alma 29:7-8): </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>7 Why should I
desire that I were an angel, that I could speak unto all the ends of the earth?</i><i>8 For behold, the
Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his
word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore we
see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and
true.</i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This teaches us that God is able to communicate to all of
his children around the world, via inspired men and women. They write this down
and people consider it as scripture.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>God speaks to his children all over the world and they write
his divine communication. </b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
President James E. Faust succinctly said that: <i>“God’s inspiration is not limited to the
Latter-day Saints.”</i> (<a href="http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?locale=59&sourceId=e1e08c6a47e0c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD">First
Presidency Message, “Communion with the Holy Spirit,” Ensign, Mar 2002</a>)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Speaking in General Conference, President Howard W.
Hunter taught that: <i>“God operates among
his children in all nations, and those who seek God are entitled to further
light and knowledge, regardless of their race, nationality, or cultural
traditions.”</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(<a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/print/1991/10/the-gospel-a-global-faith?lang=eng">The
Gospel-A Global Faith, General Conference, Oct 1991</a>)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
An August 2000 Ensign Article quoted a general
authority of the church, Elder B. H. Roberts who said:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>“While the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is established for the instruction of men;
and it is one of God’s instrumentalities for making known the truth yet he is
not limited to that institution for such purposes, neither in time nor place.
God raises up wise men and prophets here and there among all the children of
men, of their own tongue and nationality, speaking to them through means that
they can comprehend. … All the great teachers are servants of God; among all
nations and in all ages. They are inspired men, appointed to instruct God’s
children according to the conditions in the midst of which he finds them.”<br />
</i>(Defense of the Faith and the Saints, 2 vols. (1907), 1:512–13, quoted in
an <a href="http://www.lds.org/ensign/2000/08/a-latter-day-saint-perspective-on-muhammad?lang=eng">Aug
2000 Ensign Article</a>)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As members of the church we should feel very comfortable
with the idea that other religions also have inspired Scriptures. Each culture
is given the divine guidance needed to lead them further along the path to
godliness.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We can evaluate whether a teaching is from God or not
depending on where it leads. Mormon taught us a simple method for discernment:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Moroni 7:13 <i>But
behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually;
wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God,
and to serve him, is inspired of God.<o:p></o:p></i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Having the
scriptures and having a "fullness" does not mean we know everything.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf put it succinctly when he
said: <i>“Yes, we do have the fulness of the
everlasting gospel, but that does not mean that we know everything. In fact,
one principle of the restored gospel is our belief that God ‘will yet reveal
many great and important things.’</i>” <br />
<a href="http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/ces-devotionals/2013/01/what-is-truth?lang=eng">What
Is Truth? CES Devotional, Jan 2013</a><br />
<br />
The 9th Article of Faith states <i>"...we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things..."</i> and D&C 93:18-20 says <i>"And it shall come to pass, that if you are faithful you shall receive the fulness of the record... therefore, I say unto you, you shall receive grace for grace."</i><br />
<br />
In the April 2014 General Conference President Uchtdorf also said: <i>Sometimes we think of the Restoration of the gospel as something that
is complete, already behind us—Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, he
received priesthood keys, the Church was organized. In reality, the Restoration
is an ongoing process; we are living in it right now. It includes “all that God
has revealed, all that He does now reveal,” and the “many great and important
things” that “He will yet reveal.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/are-you-sleeping-through-the-restoration?lang=eng">Are
you sleeping through the Restoration</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
(For class, get a jug and a small and large glass)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The “fullness” of the gospel might be compared to an almost overflowing glass
of water. The glass may be full, but there is still more water available from
the source. The water represents God’s word and principles, given to mankind.
The glass represents the current capacity of us as individuals and the church collectively
to receive principles of truth. The fullness of God’s gospel is only limited by
what the church’s collective practices and paradigms can receive. The more we
enlarge and expand our mind and spirit, the more there will be available to us.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HMRI7TvCWuI/T3lkyAjKE8I/AAAAAAAAAco/xmhyxHGKE_k/Glass%252520of%252520Water%25255B5%25255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HMRI7TvCWuI/T3lkyAjKE8I/AAAAAAAAAco/xmhyxHGKE_k/Glass%252520of%252520Water%25255B5%25255D.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This means there is more to know in future but enough to
consider and embrace today. As we become willing to open our minds and hearts
and enlarge the capacity of our spiritual “glasses” we will receive a greater “fullness.” If we are not willing to, then the pure living waters will fill our glasses to over-flowing and we will miss out on the truths and greater "fullness" available to us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWhAPc-h9_qOphdMSk_ZnKPM8wMgv1x3dGYXQ0O2lRgZZcILJ0pd7lb7dSR0S69-clehEl3TsmhKAfpYA-idUFDCEInf9rqQczfTLJDXz-RjBjTqBv1HMqpMPZIeMgSim5FQ_riZKbr0/s1600/overflowing-water-glass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWhAPc-h9_qOphdMSk_ZnKPM8wMgv1x3dGYXQ0O2lRgZZcILJ0pd7lb7dSR0S69-clehEl3TsmhKAfpYA-idUFDCEInf9rqQczfTLJDXz-RjBjTqBv1HMqpMPZIeMgSim5FQ_riZKbr0/s1600/overflowing-water-glass.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Avoid the expectation
of perfection</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The scriptures are the writings of inspired men. We can
embrace their words while feeling comfortable with their natural human
weakness. We should not expect perfection.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The prophets of the Bible, Book of Mormon and Restoration
all taught that the impact of both human fallibility and the weakness of our
language lead to limitations in our knowledge and doctrine. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Nephi’s<sub> </sub>beautiful
poetry laments the challenge: <i>“my heart
sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.”</i>
(2 Nep. 4:16)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I take great solace and encouragement from prophets being
openly and unashamedly aware of their limitations. Joseph Smith said <i>“I do not want you to think that I’m very
righteous, for I am not. There was one good man, and his name was Jesus” </i>(<a href="http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=1123">Documentary History of
the Church, 5:401</a>)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As a result, the words of prophets are influenced by
their weakness. The aforementioned Nephi said that <i>“…the words which I have written in weakness will be made strong unto
them; for it persuadeth them to do good.”</i> (2 Nephi 33:4) Nephi had been
taught this by his father Lehi, who he recorded as saying: <i>“…the weakness of their words will I make strong in their faith…”</i> (2 Nep 3:21)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We should accept and expect scripture and the words of
prophets to have mistakes. By divine design, humans are fallible.
Prophets are not exempt. Mormon declares as much in the title page of the Book
of Mormon: <i>"And now, if there are
faults they are the mistakes of men."</i> The opening section of the
Doctrine and Covenants (1:34) similarly says:
<i>"...these commandments are of
me, and were given unto my servants in their weakness, after the manner of
their language…"</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
President Uchtdorf encourages us to find peace with this
principle: </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“We simply do not know all
things—we can’t see everything. What may seem contradictory now may be
perfectly understandable as we search for and receive more trustworthy
information. Because we see through a glass darkly, we have to trust the Lord,
who sees all things clearly.” </i>(<a href="http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/ces-devotionals/2013/01/what-is-truth?lang=eng">What
Is Truth? CES Devotional, Jan 2013</a>)</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Paul’s comments on prophesy is worth revisiting: </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“…whether there be prophecies, they shall
fail… whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away… For we know in part,
and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that
which is in part shall be done away… For now we see through a glass, darkly;
but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I
am known.”</i> (1 Corinthians 13:10) </blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As President Uchtdorf points out: we still
see through a glass darkly; that which is perfect is still yet to come.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Seek learning from
inspired and inspiring texts<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While other religions have their own, inspired texts, we
embrace four volumes that we accept scripture. They are:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Bible, The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants,
The Pearl of Great Price<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(If time allows, discuss the timeline and origin of each)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We are also encouraged to search out answers and guidance
from many other sources. Article of Faith 13 says: <i>"...If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or
praiseworthy, we seek after these things."</i> Through Joseph Smith, we’re
taught to: <i>"...study and learn, and
become acquainted with all good books, and with languages, tongues, and people"
</i>(D&C 90:15) and to seek <i>“out of
the best books words of wisdom.”</i> (D&C 88:118)</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Gospel Principles page
49</i>: <i>As we read, ponder, and pray
about the scriptures and ask God for understanding, the Holy Ghost will bear
witness to us of the truth of these things. We will each know for ourselves
that these things are true. We will not be deceived (see Joseph Smith—Matthew
1:37). We can receive the same feelings Nephi expressed when he said, “My soul
delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon
the things which I have seen and heard” (2 Nephi 4:16).<o:p></o:p></i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In doing this, it enables us to enlarge our capacity to
receive the things of the Lord. As we grow the size of our “spiritual cup” we
can also increase the question we ask and the answers we gain.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
2 Nep 28:30<i> For
behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon
line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are
those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they
shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them
that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which
they have.</i></blockquote>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13940690420715977167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657215193172581106.post-35169231706898176492014-04-21T03:21:00.002-07:002014-04-21T03:21:46.543-07:00A Thoughtful Gospel Principles. Chapter 12: The Atonement<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Jesus Jesus declared he is the Messiah</div>
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Isaiah 61:1-3</div>
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<i>“…the Lord hath
anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up
the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison
to them that are bound;</i><i>To proclaim the
acceptable year of the Lord… to comfort all that mourn… to give unto them
beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the
spirit of heaviness…”</i></blockquote>
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From <a href="http://www.mormon.org/becauseofhim">www.mormon.org/becauseofhim</a></div>
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<i>The night before
His death, Jesus visited a garden called Gethsemane, just east of the walls of
Jerusalem. Leaving His Apostles at the edge of the garden, He trod through the
dewy grass and past gnarled olive trees, walking farther inward.</i><i> </i><i>He had prepared His
entire life for this moment, carefully following His Father’s commands in every
step of His life, in every breath He took. Now the time had come. Even as He
prayed, “Father, if it be thy will, remove this cup from me,” He accepted that
this was His burden, and His alone, to bear. He was the only one who could free
us from the awful consequences of our sins.</i><i> </i><i>In the coolness of
the night, He knelt and began to pray. Though we don’t fully understand how, He
willingly took upon Himself our sins and sorrows, suffering in body and spirit
for every sin, every sadness, every mistake and imperfection of every single
one of us. The pain that came was crushing, exquisite and infinite. Blood oozed
from His pores as this impossibly heavy weight caused Him to tremble with pain.</i><i> </i><i>The cruelties of
the next day have echoed throughout the ages: the cries of “Crucify Him!” as He
stood before Pilate, wrists bound like a common criminal… At the summit of
Golgotha, soldiers stretched Jesus’ arms along a wooden cross. Their hammers
clanged dully as they drove thick nails into His palms and wrists...</i><i> </i><i>Tired, sweaty,
bloodied, Jesus did only what a Redeemer could do: He forgave His murderers,
comforted the criminal suffering next to Him, and trusted in His Father. When
His sacrifice was complete, Jesus willed Himself to die as only God’s Son could
do. He gave up the ghost, but His death wasn’t an end. It was the beginning for
all of us.</i><i> </i><i>The empty tomb in
that Jerusalem garden is a reminder that when the women who so lovingly cleaned,
anointed, and wrapped his body came to observe the tomb, His body was gone, and
in His place were two angels… “He is not here: for He is risen.” </i></blockquote>
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<o:p> </o:p>The church has released a new video emphasising the effect on both the next life and this life:</div>
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We often talk of the eternal impact of Christ’s
sacrifice. We sometimes emphasise that it helps us live again with God in the
next life. I want to focus the lesson on the very real and immediate effect of
the atonement: the chance to live again today.</div>
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In John 10:10 Jesus said: <i>“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”</i></div>
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In the <a href="https://www.lds.org/ensign/2011/03/to-bind-up-the-brokenhearted?lang=eng">March
2011</a> Ensign, Geoge Bonnet, an aid worker in Burundi, Rwanda and Somalia
wrote:</div>
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<i>There’s no doubt that
the world’s conditions create many forms of despair, but none are beyond the
reach of the Redeemer to heal. All of us can have the sure hope that through
the Atonement of Christ our hearts can be bound up and made whole. With this
knowledge, I could go on in my work, knowing that His efforts always succeed.</i></blockquote>
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Elder Boyd K. Packer spoke of the importance of the
Atonement now <a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2001/04/the-touch-of-the-masters-hand?lang=eng">during
the April 2001 conference</a>:</div>
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<i>For some reason, we
think the Atonement of Christ applies only at the end of mortal life to
redemption from the Fall, from spiritual death. It is much more than that. It
is an ever-present power to call upon in everyday life. When we are racked or
harrowed up or tormented by guilt or burdened with grief, He can heal us. While
we do not fully understand how the Atonement of Christ was made, we can
experience “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding.”</i> </blockquote>
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<i>…If Christ had not
made His Atonement, the penalties for mistakes would be added one on the other.
Life would be hopeless. But He willingly sacrificed in order that we may be
redeemed. And He said, “Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is
forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.” (D&C 58:42, Hebrews 17:10)</i></blockquote>
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<o:p> </o:p>Terryl Givens, a writer for the church, taught that we
are natural products of our own choices but that through the process of choice
and change we can try and try again to be better people. He <a href="http://www.ldsmag.com/article/7616">said the following</a>:</div>
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<i>We are… the product of
our own choices. God’s role in our salvation is to maximize our opportunities
to choose… with a knowledge of what we are choosing, and the guarantee that our
choices entail predictable consequences. The atonement allows us to choose, and
then choose again, as often as we in good faith (that is, with sincere moral
purpose) persevere in reorienting our moral compass according to True North.</i></blockquote>
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The Book of Mormon tells the story of a man, Alma, who
discovered the impact of embracing the principles of the atonement in life, not
just in death (Alma 36).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Alma had an experience that made him realise the impact
of his negative behaviour on other people and on himself. He realised that sin
is the negative choices that are hurtful to ourselves, to others and to our
relationship with God.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He said “<i>I saw that
I had rebelled against God</i>.” He realised his example had led many people “<i>away unto destruction</i>.” He imagined, at
that moment, having to meet God and the thought of it “<i>did rack my soul with inexpressible horror.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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The pain of this negative behaviour on others made him
want to stop existing completely. This wasn’t a fleeting grief. He says that “for
three days and for three nights was I racked, even with the pains of a damned
soul.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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And then something changed… while he was “<i>racked with torment</i>” he suddenly
remembered a lesson taught by his father about <i>“the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of
the world.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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When he thought of this he said, in his heart, <i>“O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me,
who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting
chains of death. And now… when I thought this, I could remember my pains no
more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more. And oh, what
joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as
exceeding as was my pain!”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Alma’s reaction to this wonderful experience was to
celebrate it and share it. He worked, from that time forward, to help other
people<i> “…taste of the exceeding joy of
which I did taste; that they might also be born of God, and be filled with the
Holy Ghost… and… the Lord doth give me exceedingly great joy in the fruit of my
labors.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Like Elder Packer and many other religious writers, I
don’t understand how the atonement works, but it doesn't matter to me. I wasn't there 2000 years ago. I didn't see him die, I didn't see the empty tomb. I can't know for certain what happened and how it worked. Even though I
don’t know how it works, I know that it does work. </div>
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I also don’t know for certain what happens
after we die. I have a sincere hope that the atonement will work to enable our
eternal opportunities. What I can be sure of is the effect of applying the
principles of the atonement today. The atonement teaches us to recognise
negative behaviour and the consequences on ourselves and others; feel genuine
regret for the impact of that behaviour; make changes to rectify those impacts
on ourselves and others; seek and feel forgiveness; embrace the opportunity to
put the past behind us and keep moving forward to develop our best possible
self.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The church website shared an article with the youth by Brad
Wilcox. He spoke of embracing the atonement today <a href="https://www.lds.org/youth/article/his-grace-is-sufficient?lang=eng">when
he said</a>:</div>
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<i>When a young
pianist hits a wrong note, we don’t say he is not worthy to keep practicing. We
don’t expect him to be flawless. We just expect him to keep trying. Perfection
may be his ultimate goal, but for now we can be content with progress in the
right direction. Why is this perspective so easy to see in the context of
learning piano but so hard to see in the context of learning heaven?</i><i> </i><i>Too many are giving
up… because they are tired of constantly feeling like they are falling short.
They have tried in the past, but they continually feel like they are just not
good enough. They don’t understand grace.</i><i> </i><i>There should never
be just two options: perfection or giving up… Growth and development take time.
Learning takes time. When we understand grace, we understand that God is
long-suffering, that change is a process, and that repentance is a pattern in
our lives. When we understand grace, we understand that the blessings of
Christ’s Atonement are continuous and His strength is perfect in our weakness
(see 2 Corinthians 12:9). When we understand grace, we can, as it says in the
Doctrine and Covenants, “continue in patience until [we] are perfected”
(D&C 67:13).</i><i> </i><i>God’s grace is
sufficient. Jesus’s grace is sufficient. It is enough. It is all we need. Don’t
quit. Keep trying. Don’t look for escapes and excuses. Look for the Lord and
His perfect strength. Don’t search for someone to blame. Search for someone to
help you. Seek Christ, and, as you do, you will feel the enabling power and
divine help we call His amazing grace.</i></blockquote>
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This process is part of an ongoing elevation. Growing in this life does, ultimately, lead to a hope of being able to grow in the next life. In an <a href="http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=2060">August 2012 talk</a>,
Elder Tad R. Callister quoted the writer C. S. Lewis who said:</div>
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<i>God is not merely
mending, not simply restoring a status quo. Redeemed humanity is to be
something more glorious than unfallen humanity would have been… And this super-added glory will, with true
vicariousness, exalt all creatures… The command Be ye perfect is not idealistic
gas. Nor is it a command to do the impossible. He is going to make us into
creatures that can obey that command. He said that we were “gods” and He is
going to make good His words. . . . The process will be long and in parts very
painful; but that is what we are in for. Nothing less. He meant what He said.</i><i> </i></blockquote>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13940690420715977167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657215193172581106.post-73259032367146044322014-03-23T23:54:00.000-07:002014-03-24T00:39:55.208-07:00I’m not afraid anymore<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
For several months, there have been two things that I’ve
been afraid of missing out on if leaders at church discovered the ‘real me’ and
took away my temple recommend. I have wanted to go through an endowment session
with the new film and I’ve been looking forward to attending my sister and
brother in law’s temple sealing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Today I got to do both and now I feel a freedom to be
completely authentic. The things that matter most to me are mine to cherish.
The church can’t take those from me. I’m not afraid anymore.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I went through an endowment session for the first time in over two years. I have long-loved the temple experience and the time living in China made
attendance difficult. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The endowment I experienced today represented the
positive changes the church is trying to make while also being limited in the
extent it can evolve by its heritage and written texts.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The endowment session was bitter-sweet. It was
bitter because the script was unchanged. Eve retains the same subservience and silence in later parts
of the story as previous films. For my wonderfully independent and intelligent
wife, daughter and mother this suddenly, perhaps for the first time, upset me.
I choked up and wiped tears from my eyes a couple of times at the implicit
message the endowment script gives to the women of the church. I hope that one
day it is changed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If the endowment were written today I don’t believe it would be included. <a href="http://ldsthoughtfulquotes.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/when-god-speaks-to-people-he-does-it-in.html">Brigham
Young once said</a>, “When God speaks to the people, he does it in a manner to
suit their circumstances and capacities… I will even venture to say that if the
Book of Mormon were now to be re-written, in many instances it would materially
differ from the present translation. According as people are willing to receive
the things of God, so the heavens send forth their blessings.” There are still
things taught in our church today that don’t “suit our circumstances” and are stuck in the
past.<o:p></o:p></div>
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That’s the church’s challenge. We can’t simply throw
our passed texts and leaders away wholesale. They are our origins and
foundation. As much as I would welcome it, fast change would be too unsettling
for too many people. My desire for change does not extend to the disregard for
the spiritual welfare of my friends. Change, unfortunately, has to be slow, to
be accepted.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But change is happening and visible. Today’s endowment
session represented that and it was ‘sweet.’ One of the couples in the prayer
circle was mixed race. Less than 60 years ago, the First Presidency would have
called their marriage “<a href="https://archive.org/stream/LowryNelson1stPresidencyExchange/Lowry_Nelson_1st_Presidency_Exchange#page/n5/mode/1up">repugnant</a>”
and against the Church doctrine. The session officiator, who at times represents
God and a priesthood leader, was black. Only 36 years ago he wouldn’t have
been in the temple at all.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Beyond the participants, the portrayal of Eve in the new film is perhaps a
self-contained analogy of the church’s attempt to move forward and give women a
more positive part in the church. With no change in her words, a different
message was conveyed. Eve was an empowered and an active participant in choosing
the elevation of mortality’s opportunities and progressing out of Eden’s
limitations. More could have been changed, and I hope it will one day, to have
put her on an equal footing to Adam. Baby steps will become giant leaps when we
look with hindsight in the future.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Despite the appreciated evidence of change I also went
with a desire to reach a resolution. As I sat through the endowment, and aware
that I would see my sister sealed later in the day, I felt a deep peace. I have
felt a growing disengagement with the church structural organisation and
instead a desire to have a more meaningful connection with people I care about
and with God. During the ordinance, I considered how the endowment is symbolically
an upward trajectory. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In a <a href="http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=85">1977
devotional</a>, Ezra Taft Benson lists the covenants made in the temple as: “the
law of obedience and sacrifice, the law of the gospel, the law of chastity, and
the law of consecration.” (As an aside: I actively disagree with the politics
in the speech, but appreciate the open reference to temple covenants that are
otherwise kept excessively secret).<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was speaking to a missionary earlier this week. He said
that every lesson their president teaches revolves around obedience. I
suggested that God was not really interested in obedient children and far more
interested in optimal children. Obedience is a way of establishing good habits
which, in turn, create strong character. Obedience isn’t the end, it’s the
beginning. The same could be said in the temple. We start with obedience but
progress towards accepting the law of consecration, even if we don’t currently live it,
and in doing so commit to “building up the kingdom of God and establishing Zion
on the earth” (see <a href="http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=85">here</a>
and <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/gs/consecrate-law-of-consecration?lang=eng">here</a>).<o:p></o:p></div>
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During the endowment I felt a growing ability and
willingness to serve the God I believe by serving other people. As an <a href="https://www.lds.org/new-era/1993/04/the-temple-what-it-means-to-you?lang=eng&query=endowments">April
1993 New Era article</a> taught, “…the temple reminds us of the person we ought
to be.” I feel I am becoming the person God wants me to be. I also felt a
genuine peace with the decision to not look to a human intermediary for finding
ways to do that. I appreciate what religious leaders and thinkers can teach me,
but I don’t want to be dependent on them. Ultimately, the endowment teaches
that we can only follow the council of church leaders for a certain time. In
the end, at the end, they make way and we commune directly with God, the best source
of truth. The pamphlet, <i><a href="https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/english/pdf/language-materials/36793_eng.pdf?lang=eng">Preparing
to enter the Holy Temple</a></i>, suggests that as we progress “toward the veil”
in the temple, we are “instructed and enlightened on matters of spiritual importance.” The
endowment experience teaches that there are some things that we can only learn
from communing directly with God and that answers are not available from other
people. It teaches that we need to develop independence.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So where does that leave me? Or lead me? As I moved into
the <a href="http://mormontemples.org/eng/atlanta/interior-temple-photos">Celestial
room</a> I carried with me a resolution and sense of conclusion. For over two
years I have described myself as: “unconcluded.” I realised that the endowment
session had felt like a conclusion. President Monson was right when he said, in
<a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/the-holy-temple-a-beacon-to-the-world?lang=eng">April
2011</a>, “In this sacred sanctuary we will find peace; we will be renewed and
fortified.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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I wanted to confirm and apply my conclusion before
leaving. I found a chair in the corner of the room and, having spent two years “studying
it out in my mind,” sought confirmation. The <a href="https://www.lds.org/ensign/2014/02/get-informed-get-involved?lang=eng">February 2014 Ensign</a> suggests
that, “Once we have studied an issue thoroughly—including the scriptures and
the words of our leaders—we can then pray about our decision with confidence
that the Lord will guide us.” Regarding this process Elder S. Dilworth Young
said, in <a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/print/1976/04/the-still-small-voice?lang=eng">April
1976</a>, “…according to his wisdom, his word will come into my mind through my
thoughts, accompanied by a feeling… which cannot be described, but the nearest
word we have is ‘burn’ or ‘burning.’ Accompanying this always is a feeling of
peace.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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Sitting in the chair I offered up a prayer to seek this
simple confirmation that my conclusion was acceptable to God. My conclusion may
surprise, given the experience I’d just, had but is important to me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As I prayed, the words came naturally, the culmination of
hundreds, perhaps even hours of study and consideration. I felt complete peace
and spiritual confirmation – a burning in the bosom – as I prayed and expressed
the following: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>“The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not the only true church, but it is a
church that contains truth. It is not better than or more superior to other
religions but is a good way of working towards greater godliness. Other
religious expression is equally valid. The Church is not the kingdom of God on
earth but gives us tools and teachings to become a part of the kingdom of God.
It is not Zion, but helps us build Zion. It is not the church of the Lamb but is part of it and helps us be a follower of the Lamb… just as other churches also do.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>There have been
inspired prophets through the ages who are able to teach with clarity and
inspiring words, despite seeing through a glass darkly. I consider Joseph Smith
to have been one of them, despite his challenges and natural human limitations.
<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>The leaders today are
not teaching or talking “<a href="https://www.lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-9-prophets-of-god?lang=eng">as
if God were speaking</a>.” They are well-meaning and often give good advice but
their manner of <a href="http://ldsthoughtfulquotes.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/rb-as-world-leader-of-the-church-how.html">receiving
divine guidance</a> is very similar to the inspiration
received by the rest of the membership.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Obedience is not
the ultimate objective. Becoming our very best selves and helping other become
the same is a better one. I do not believe that what we eat and drink, what we
wear, what money we pay, which meetings we go to really matter. I believe that what
matters most is the way we treat each other. Compassion and charity matter
most. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>I also believe that
all are equal in your eyes: Male and female, black and white, gay and straight,
rich and poor, homeless and housed. Unity in and acceptance of diversity are godly
virtues.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>I recognise that
being part of the Mormon community means certain behaviours are an expectation
and help the individual be better involved the group. Compassion and
consideration should also extend to my friends and acquaintances at church. I
won’t actively impose my perspectives but will also be entirely genuine in my
own views and beliefs. A balance of respect and authenticity is important. I
want to build up, not break down.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>This conclusion
could lead me further from Mormonism as I work on a more meaningful
spirituality. I have never sought to leave the church. That’s not the
objective. I am happy to worship in this faith community and have enough
friends to feel comfortable doing so. I am uplifted by many of the perspectives
and experiences in the LDS faith. At the same time I’m not bound to it. My
covenants are with you, God, not with the church. There may be times when a
Sunday is better used for other forms of service and spiritual uplift with my
family.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>My personal
spiritual development is not dependent on membership in an earthly organisation
but on a willingness to continue pursuing the best and most positive course as
it is unveiled to me. While it may result in less frequent attendance at LDS
meetings, it isn't a forgone conclusion. I will go where I feel you want me to
go. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>For this reason,
the church organisation and leaders can’t threaten or take anything of
significance. If they now, or in future, choose to take my recommend and or
even my membership then I would miss the worship experience found in Mormon
holy places, but would still keep the things of most important to me. I retain and
respect my commitments to you, to consecrate my time to the best ways to serve
you by serving others. My home and family is the best place to start.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>I don’t feel
confused or deceived or misguided. I feel gently and genuinely guided.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>I’m not afraid anymore.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Throughout this prayer and thought process I felt a
constant peace. I felt increasing internal light.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Several years ago I experienced a “stupor of thought” during
prayer and wondered if I might feel the same mental block when praying about
something that some Mormons might consider wrong without even needing to ask.
Instead I felt clarity, not confusion. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
While praying, I felt the same spiritual witness, or
burning in the bosom, as I have felt at other significant times in my life. A
prayer of a 10-year-old about the Book of Mormon in 1988, the plea for
reconciliation with God and His approval on an Italian mountain top in 2011,
the feeling of standing on holy ground in a Buddhist cave temple in Thailand in
February 2013 and the change in prophet paradigm on a pagoda overlooking bamboo
covered Chinese mountains in <a href="http://manyotherhands.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/of-prophets-and-pagodas.html">July
2013</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I feel complete peace with my conclusions. I feel
concluded. I feel able to move on and carry on.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’m at peace and I’m not afraid any more.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13940690420715977167noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657215193172581106.post-27070681201598688492014-03-23T12:29:00.001-07:002014-03-23T12:29:45.849-07:00Of prophets and pagodasOriginally written in July 2013:<br />
<br />
Before heading back to the UK I'm doing some travelling.<br />
<br />
I spent last night at a Buddhist temple in the Chinese bamboo covered mountains.<br />
<br />
They have a simple hotel on site. The monks and guests were wonderfully welcoming. Sharing food and chatting with me in their broken English and my even worse Chinese.<br />
<br />
This is a place of peace and tranquility. There are no 'graven images' here, in a temple complex of over 100 religious statues and deities. They are expressions of the God I know too. One God with many names and faces: <i>Moses 7:35 "Behold, I am God; Man of Holiness is my name; Man of Counsel is my name; and Endless and Eternal is my name, also."</i><br />
<br />
A generous guest this morning invited me on a tour of each building and deity and explained a few principles of their worship.<br />
<br />
This temple site dates back over 1000 years. I can feel the positive presence of God.<br />
<br />
Yesterday evening I climbed to the top of the pagoda that overlooks the community, watching the sun sleepily set over the horizon. I've returned today and am typing this message from the same place. Last night I prayed and shed a tear as I finally let go. I let go of the church and prophet paradigm I was raised with and established for myself. It hurt but it also felt enriching. I felt 'inner-peace.'<br />
<br />
I choose to worship God and work to better myself within the Mormon community. I recognise it as a valid way. They are my friends, my community and where I fit. They are my tribe.<br />
<br />
I have loved developing an appreciation for other faiths while living in Asia. It has taught me a simple truth: that God is found in many places. Not as diversions or distortions of the 'one true way' to God and not as partial truths for those more limited than others, but as equally valid faith practices that each help God's creations walk the path to godliness.<br />
<br />
I believe in a God who knows us so well that he's able to create a personalised curriculum for each of his children. For some that may be devout, orthodox Mormonism. For others it may Mormonism followed by something else or the same in reverse or something completely different not even touching Christianity.<br />
<br />
Whatever your personalised curriculum I look forward to discovering and living mine to the best of my abilities while continuing my association with a diverse group of friends and faiths.<br />
<br />
God is good.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13940690420715977167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657215193172581106.post-37350750266338026302014-03-16T13:00:00.001-07:002014-03-16T13:58:06.887-07:00A Thoughtful Gospel Principles. Chapter 9: Prophets of God<i>I've not posted my GP lessons for a while. The Holy Ghost and Prayer ones were enjoyable to teach. I really appreciate the idea of personal interaction with the heavens. It resonates with my perspective of a personalised curriculum. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>As such, this was a far more challenging lesson to prepare. I had to step back from the manual a little more than usual - especially when it emphasised the "prophet will never lead you astray" and "do everything the prophet says" messages. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><a href="https://www.lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-9-prophets-of-god?lang=eng">https://www.lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-9-prophets-of-god?lang=eng</a></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<span style="background-color: white;">Gospel Principles, Chapter 9: Prophets of God</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background: white;">GP P41: <i>There have been
prophets on the earth since the days of Adam. Experiences of these great men
excite and inspire us. Moses, an Old Testament prophet, led thousands of his
people out of Egypt and slavery to the promised land. He wrote the first five
books of the Old Testament and recorded the Ten Commandments. Nephi, a Book of
Mormon prophet, journeyed from Jerusalem to the Americas 600 years before the
birth of Christ. This great leader and colonizer gave us many important
writings in the Book of Mormon. John the Baptist was chosen to prepare the
world for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Through Joseph Smith, a
latter-day prophet, the Lord restored the Church. Joseph Smith also translated
the Book of Mormon while a young man.</i> </span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="background-color: white;">Ask the class for examples
of prophets from the scriptures who inspire them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">One of the inspiring
people in the Book of Mormon is Nephi. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">I love that despite having
visions and revelations, he was still aware of his own fragility and depended
on his testimony of Jesus Christ for support:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">(Excerpts from) 2 Nephi
4:16-35</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background: white;"><i>16 Behold, my soul
delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon
the things which I have seen and heard.</i></span><span style="background: white;"><i>(17) Nevertheless… my
heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of
my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.<br /> </i></span><span style="background: white;"><i>(19)…when I desire to
rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I
have trusted.</i></span><span style="background: white;"><o:p><i> </i></o:p></span><span style="background: white;"><i>(20) My God hath been my
support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath
preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.</i></span><span style="background: white;"><o:p><i> </i></o:p></span><span style="background: white;"><i>(28) Awake, my soul! No
longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy
of my soul.</i></span><span style="background: white;"><i>(30) Rejoice, O my heart,
and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my
soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation.</i></span><span style="background: white;"><i>(34) O Lord, I have
trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in
the arm of flesh… cursed is he that putteth his trust in man...</i></span><span style="background: white;"><i>(35) Yea, I know that God
will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not
amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee,
my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up
unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God.</i></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background-color: white;">What are some of the
themes in this scripture?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white;">Bearing testimony
of Jesus Christ and his saving grace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white;">Being aware of
weakness, expressing trust in God/Jesus Christ and not in other people; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">1. Bearing testimony of
Jesus Christ:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">In 2000, to commemorate
two millennia since the birth of Christ, the leaders of the church published
their witness and testimony of the Saviour:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="background: white;">“His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He
entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing
the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths
of eternity.</span></i><i> </i><i><span style="background: white;">He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great
atoning sacrifice. He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted
to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary’s cross. He gave His life to
atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of
all who would ever live upon the earth.</span></i><i> </i><i><span style="background: white;">Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God.
He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His
Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the
path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to
come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.</span></i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background-color: white;">Revelation 19:10 says <i>“…the
testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">Prophets through the ages
have testified of Christ. That is their most important role. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">During Moses’ time, two
people taught through the spirit of prophesy, which concerned some of the other
people in the camp:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background: white;">Numbers 11:26 <i>But there remained two of the men in the
camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the
spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not
out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp.<br /><o:p></o:p></i></span><i><span style="background: white;">27 And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and
said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. And Joshua … answered and said…
Moses, forbid them. And Moses said unto
him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord’s people were
prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!</span></i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">In that sense we can all
embrace the spirit of prophecy. The </span><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/prophet"><span style="background: white;">Bible
Dictionary says</span></a><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">: <i>In a general sense a prophet is anyone who has a testimony of Jesus
Christ by the Holy Ghost</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">2. In Nephi’s ‘lament’ he
also emphasises being aware of weakness, expressing trust in God/Jesus Christ
and not in other people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">We can sustain the prophet
and learn from what he teaches. We can use the teachings of modern leaders and
prophets in the scriptures as a platform for developing our own testimony and
relationship with God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background: white;">GP39: <i>A prophet may come from various stations in life. He may be young or
old, highly educated or unschooled. He may be a farmer, a lawyer, or a teacher...<br />
<o:p></o:p></i></span><i> </i><i><span style="background: white;">Latter-day Saints sustain the First Presidency and the
Twelve Apostles as prophets. However, when we speak of “the prophet of the
Church,” we mean the President of the Church, who is President of the high
priesthood.</span></i><span style="background: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span><i><span style="background: white;">D&C 45:10 Wherefore, come ye unto it, and with him
that cometh I will reason as with men in days of old, and I will show unto you
my strong reasoning.</span></i><i><span style="background: white;">15 Wherefore, hearken and I will reason with
you, and I will speak unto you and prophesy, as unto men in days of old.</span></i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background-color: white;">In the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are frequently taught the importance of finding
our own, independent testimony of what the prophet teaches.</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="background: white;">p.42 How can we sustain the prophet? We should pray
for him. His burdens are heavy, and he needs to be strengthened by the prayers
of the Saints.</span></i><i><span style="background: white;">We should study his words. We can listen to his
conference addresses. We can also subscribe to the Ensign or Liahona so we can
read his conference addresses and other messages he gives.</span></i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background-color: white;">We can sustain the prophet
by thoughtfully reading their counsel and gaining a personal confirmation of the
truth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">President Hugh B. Brown
said:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="background: white;">“[W]hile all members should respect, support, and heed
the teachings of the authorities of the church, no one should accept a
statement and base his or her testimony upon it, no matter who makes it, until
he or she has, under mature examination, found it to be true and worthwhile;
then one’s logical deductions may be confirmed by the spirit of revelation to
his or her spirit, because real conversion must come from within.”</span></i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background-color: white;">President James E. Faust
quoted Brigham Young in <a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/print/1989/10/continuous-revelation?lang=eng">1989</a>:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="background: white;">I am more afraid that this people have so much
confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God
whether they are led by him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind
self-security, trusting their eternal destiny in the hands of their leaders
with a reckless confidence that in itself would thwart the purposes of God in
their salvation, and weaken that influence they could give to their leaders,
did they know for themselves, by the revelations of Jesus, that they are led in
the right way. Let every man and woman know, by the whispering of the Spirit of
God to themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path the Lord
dictates, or not. (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourse 9:150)</span></i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background-color: white;">A belief in prophets does not mean we are asked to stop
thinking for ourselves.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
One well-meaning member once said: <i>When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done.</i><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">In response, the president at the time, George Albert Smith <a href="http://www.fairmormon.org/perspectives/publications/when-the-prophet-speaks-is-the-thinking-done">said that this statement</a>: </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background: white;">“…<i>does not express the true position of the
Church. Even to imply that members of the Church are not to do their own
thinking is grossly to misrepresent the true ideal of the Church, which is that
every individual must obtain for himself a testimony of the truth of the
Gospel, must, through the redemption of Jesus Christ, work out his own
salvation, and is personally responsible to His Maker for his individual acts.
The Lord Himself does not attempt coercion in His desire and effort to give
peace and salvation to His children...</i></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="background: white;">The Prophet Joseph Smith once said: "I want
liberty of thinking and believing as I please." This liberty he and his
successors in the leadership of the Church have granted to every other member
thereof.</span></i><i><span style="background: white;"> On one occasion
in answer to the question by a prominent visitor how he governed his people,
the Prophet answered: "I teach them correct principles, and they govern
themselves."”</span></i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background-color: white;">Joseph Smith resisted
people trying to make out that, as a prophet, he was infallible:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">In a series of 1843
sermons Joseph Smith said:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="background: white;">“I told them [the Saints] I was but a man, and they
must not expect me to be perfect; if they expected perfection from me, I should
expect it from them; but if they would bear with my infirmities … I would
likewise bear with their infirmities. (</span></i><a href="http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=f56ad2b9ae76b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1"><i><span style="background: white;">1</span></i></a><i><span style="background: white;">)<br /><o:p></o:p></span></i><i> </i><i><span style="background: white;">Many think a prophet must be a great deal better than
anybody else... I love that man better who swears a stream as long as my arm,
yet deals justice to his neighbors and mercifully deals his substance to the
poor, than the smooth-faced hypocrite. I do not want you to think that I’m very
righteous, for I am not. There was one good man, and his name was Jesus (</span></i><a href="http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=aba167700817b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1#footnote11"><i><span style="background: white;">2</span></i></a><i><span style="background: white;">)”<o:p></o:p></span></i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="background-color: white;">Nephi also taught how
prophet’s receive guidance and how we can too:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">1 Nephi 22:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="background: white;">1 And now it came to pass
that after I, Nephi, had read these things which were engraven upon the plates
of brass, my brethren came unto me and said unto me: What meaneth these things
which ye have read? Behold, are they to be understood according to things which
are spiritual, which shall come to pass according to the spirit and not the flesh?</span><span style="background: white;">2 And I, Nephi, said unto them: Behold they were
manifest unto the prophet by the voice of the Spirit; for by the Spirit are all
things made known unto the prophets, which shall come upon the children of men
according to the flesh. </span></i></blockquote>
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">President Uchtdorf has </span><a href="http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/ces-devotionals/2013/01/what-is-truth?lang=eng"><span style="background: white;">said</span></a><span style="background: white;">: <i>"Latter-day Saints are not asked to
blindly accept everything they hear. We are encouraged to think and discover
truth for ourselves. We are expected to ponder, to search, to evaluate, and
thereby to come to a personal knowledge of the truth."<u><o:p></o:p></u></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
Having a living prophet does not mean we now know all there is to know.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Elder Uchtdorf <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rc5GyF5i3Y">said recently</a>: </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"For a worm in horseradish the world is
horseradish.</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>…We have an almost
irresistible desire to assume that the leaf of information we have in our
possession is a representation of all there is to know.”</i><i> </i><i>“Isn’t it a
remarkable feeling to belong to a Church that not only embraces truth—no matter
the source—but that teaches there is much more to come! That God “will yet
reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.”</i><i> </i><i>As a result, we are
humble about the truth we have. We understand our knowledge is a work in
progress, that the leaf we have before us is simply one microscopic
snapshot—part of an infinitely vast forest of fascinating knowledge.”</i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Last week, when talking about prayer, we learnt that,
like all of us, prophets receive guidance by praying to Heavenly Father with
questions and receive guidance through the promptings of the spirit.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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During an interview, President Gordon B. Hinkley was asked:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>As the world leader of
the the Church, how are you in touch with God? Can you explain that for me?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Gordon B Hinkley <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/compass/intervs/hinckley.htm">replied</a>: </div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>I pray. I pray to Him. Night and morning. I speak with Him. I think He
hears my prayers. As He hears the prayers of others. I think He answers them...
if a problem arises, as it does occasionally, a vexatious thing with which we
have to deal, we go to the Lord in prayer. We discuss it as a First Presidency
and as a Council of the Twelve Apostles. We pray about it and then comes the
whisperings of a still small voice. And we know the direction we should take
and we proceed accordingly.</i></blockquote>
The principle of prophets teaches us that God loves us enough to reveal his
will to his children throughout cultures and eras:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
GP41: <i>We have a
prophet living on the earth today. This prophet is the President of The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has the right to revelation for the
entire Church. He holds “the keys of the kingdom,” meaning that he has the
authority to direct the entire Church and kingdom of God on earth, including
the administration of priesthood ordinances<o:p></o:p></i></blockquote>
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<i> </i>At other times and in other places, God has inspired
people to teach the principles of the gospel.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Alma 29:8 <i>For
behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue,
to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have;
therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which
is just and true.<o:p></o:p></i></blockquote>
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<i> </i>President James E. Faust <a href="https://www.lds.org/ensign/2002/03/communion-with-the-holy-spirit?lang=eng">said</a> in 2002: </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“…we claim that God’s inspiration is not limited to the Latter-day
Saints. The First Presidency has stated: “The great religious leaders of the
world such as Mohammed, Confucius, and the Reformers, as well as philosophers
including Socrates, Plato, and others, received a portion of God’s light. Moral
truths were given to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a
higher level of understanding to individuals. … We believe that God has given
and will give to all peoples sufficient knowledge to help them on their way to
eternal salvation.”</i></blockquote>
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Elder B. H. Roberts was quoted in an Ensign <a href="http://www.lds.org/ensign/2000/08/a-latter-day-saint-perspective-on-muhammad?lang=eng">article in August 2000</a>. He said: </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“While the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is established
for the instruction of men; and it is one of God’s instrumentalities for making
known the truth yet he is not limited to that institution for such purposes,
neither in time nor place. God raises up wise men and prophets here and there
among all the children of men, of their own tongue and nationality, speaking to
them through means that they can comprehend. … All the great teachers are
servants of God; among all nations and in all ages. They are inspired men,
appointed to instruct God’s children according to the conditions in the midst
of which he finds them.”</i></blockquote>
The principle of prophets teaches me that we are not alone, that we all human and subject to the same frailties. I frequently quote prophets in my lessons because I appreciate their teachings and feel they teach me about the nature of God and my relationship with him. With that in mind, I embrace their positive messages and also try to find personal guidance and interaction with the heavens.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13940690420715977167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657215193172581106.post-91707190115948664972014-02-27T23:26:00.000-08:002014-02-27T23:32:51.925-08:00True Shepherds<br />
I had to laugh out loud when I was asked to give the following priesthood lesson after my <a href="http://manyotherhands.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/outburst-in-branch-conference.html">Home Teaching outburst</a> in January.<br />
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Apparently the lesson in January by the stake leaders was even based on the same "<a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/true-shepherds?lang=eng">True Shepherds</a>" talk from President Monson in Oct 2013.</div>
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I decided to try to focus on how how important being caring "shepherds" is and how Home Teaching provides a framework/opportunity for something we might eventually be able to do spontaneously.</div>
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I started with reference to the recent <a href="http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/why-religion-matters-longing-within">essay on religion</a> on the church newsroom:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"To this point, Rabbi David Wolpe taught that religion “can go into a world in which there is a great deal of pain and suffering and loss and bring meaning and purpose and peace.”</i></blockquote>
I like the idea of religion being most useful when it eases pain through either hands or hope. <br />
<br />
Healing through hands is not, of course, exclusive to religion. The irreligious also care for those in need. <br />
<br />
But I think a religion should be partly evaluated by how much it motivates people to heal with hands. <br />
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Hope, eternal hope, is perhaps more exclusive to religion. Hope that the pain is not meaningless. Hope that pain is part of going through the refiner's fire.<br />
<br />
President Monson spoke about being shepherds:<br />
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<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"<i>Dad would drive about 35 miles an hour all the way up to Provo Canyon or until we would come around a bend in the road and our journey would be halted by a herd of sheep. We would watch as hundreds of sheep filed past us, seemingly without a shepherd, a few dogs yapping at their heels as they moved along. Way back in the rear we could see the sheepherder on his horse... He was occasionally slouched down in the saddle dozing, since the horse knew which way to go and the yapping dogs did the work.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Contrast that to the scene which I viewed in Munich, Germany, many years ago. It was a Sunday morning, and we were en route to a missionary conference. As I looked out the window of the mission president’s automobile, I saw a shepherd with a staff in his hand, leading the sheep. They followed him wherever he went. If he moved to the left, they followed him to the left. If he moved to the right, they followed him in that direction. I made the comparison between the true shepherd who led his sheep and the sheepherder who rode casually behind his sheep.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep.” He provides for us the perfect example of what a true shepherd should be.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Brethren, as the priesthood of God we have a shepherding responsibility. The wisdom of the Lord has provided guidelines whereby we might be shepherds to the families of the Church, where we can serve, we can teach, and we can testify to them. Such is called home teaching, and it is about this that I wish to speak to you tonight.</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>From the Book of Mormon we read that Alma “consecrated all their priests and all their teachers; and none were consecrated except they were just men.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“Therefore they did watch over their people, and did nourish them with things pertaining to righteousness.”</i></blockquote>
What does the word “Nourish” mean?<br />
<br />
1. to sustain with food or nutriment; supply with what is necessary for life, health, and growth.<br />
2. to cherish, foster, keep alive, etc.<br />
3. to strengthen, build up, or promote<br />
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I especially like: "supply with what is necessary for life, health, and growth."<br />
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Definition of Necessary: "1. being essential, indispensable, or requisite"<br />
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What is necessary for each of your families? What is, right now, the most important, essential, indispensable thing? Are they always the same?<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i> "In performing our home teaching responsibilities, we are wise if we learn and understand the challenges of the members of each family, that we might be effective in teaching and in providing needed assistance."</i></blockquote>
Without mentioning any names, what are the different needs of some of your families?<br />
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(Write down in two lists, which at the end I'll label "Healing with hands" and "Healing with hope.")<br />
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Focus on three main themes (group needs if possible):<br />
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Practical help<br />
Companionship<br />
Spiritual uplift<br />
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Discuss each:<br />
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Practical Help<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i> "I do not worry about members of the Church being unresponsive when they learn of the needy as much as I worry about our being unaware of such needs. … Please, priesthood leaders, do not get so busy trying to manage Church programs that you forget about basic duties in what the Apostle James described as ‘pure religion, undefiled’ (James 1:27)." </i>Spencer W. Kimball. at a seminar for Regional Representatives in 1979</blockquote>
Read James 1:27, then read excerpts from Matthew 25:31-46:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“When the Son of man shall come in his glory… before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:<br />For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee...?<br />And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me… Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”</i></blockquote>
When considering these verses, why is the structure of Home Teaching a gift to us? (Because it gives us a structured opportunity to feed the hungry, take in the stranger, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned. In today's world we may have few locked away in actual prisons but plenty who feel shackled and imprisoned by debt, unemployment, disability or mental illness.<br />
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Companionship<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i> "To assist in our efforts, I share this wise counsel which surely applies to home teachers. It comes from Abraham Lincoln, who said, “If you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his sincere friend.” President Ezra Taft Benson urged: “Above all, be a genuine friend to the individuals and families you teach. … A friend makes more than a dutiful visit each month. A friend is more concerned about helping people than getting credit. A friend cares. A friend [shows love]. A friend listens, and a friend reaches out."</i></blockquote>
Spiritual Uplift<br />
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President Monson spoke of visiting those no longer active or strong in faith.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i> "Home teaching is more than a mechanical visit once per month. Ours is the responsibility to teach, to inspire, to motivate, and where we visit those who are not active, to bring to activity and to eventual exaltation the sons and daughters of God."</i></blockquote>
If we are to know our sheep we should first seek to understand their concerns before we seek to be understood.<br />
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<a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/come-join-with-us?lang=eng"> Elder Uchtdorf said</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i> "The search for truth has led millions of people to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, there are some who leave the Church they once loved.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>One might ask, “If the gospel is so wonderful, why would anyone leave?”</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Sometimes we assume it is because they have been offended or lazy or sinful. Actually, it is not that simple. In fact, there is not just one reason that applies to the variety of situations.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Some of our dear members struggle for years with the question whether they should separate themselves from the Church.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>In this Church that honors personal agency so strongly, that was restored by a young man who asked questions and sought answers, we respect those who honestly search for truth. It may break our hearts when their journey takes them away from the Church we love and the truth we have found, but we honor their right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own conscience, just as we claim that privilege for ourselves."</i></blockquote>
Elder Uchtdorf extended an invite which we could also take to our families or when we visit those not attending with the Elders:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i> "To those who have separated themselves from the Church, I say, my dear friends, there is yet a place for you here.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i> Come and add your talents, gifts, and energies to ours. We will all become better as a result."</i></blockquote>
The reason for sharing our invite is to offer hope and healing:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i> "Those who follow this path faithfully avoid many of the pitfalls, sorrows, and regrets of life.<br /> The poor in spirit and honest of heart find great treasures of knowledge here.<br /> Those who suffer or grieve find healing here."</i></blockquote>
President Monson said:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"Brethren, our efforts in home teaching are ongoing. The work will never be concluded until our Lord and Master says, “It is enough.” There are lives to brighten. There are hearts to touch. There are souls to save. Ours is the sacred privilege to brighten, to touch, and to save those precious souls entrusted to our care. We should do so faithfully and with hearts filled with gladness."</i></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i>"In closing I turn to one particular example to describe the type of home teachers we should be. There is one Teacher whose life overshadows all others. He taught of life and death, of duty and destiny. He lived not to be served but to serve, not to receive but to give, not to save His life but to sacrifice it for others. He described a love more beautiful than lust, a poverty richer than treasure. It was said of this Teacher that He taught with authority and not as did the scribes. His laws were not inscribed upon stone but upon human hearts.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i>I speak of the Master Teacher, even Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of all mankind. The biblical account says of Him, He “went about doing good.”</i></blockquote>
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Perhaps one day we won't need Home Teaching as a structured program. Perhaps one day we will spontaneously care for the needy around us and spiritually uplift each other. Until that time, Home Teaching is a gift and a framework. One way, among many others, of fulfilling the Lord's directive to to serve and care for each other.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13940690420715977167noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657215193172581106.post-40593151308782533782014-02-24T14:59:00.000-08:002014-02-24T14:59:06.543-08:00All are alike unto God - finding unity in diversityWhen Samuel was asked to go and anoint the future king from among Jesse’s sons he looked at them and made certain assumptions. (Sam 16:7) <i>“But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature… for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”</i><br /><br />Sister Chieko Okazaki was first counselor on the Relief Society General Presidency during the 1990s. In <a href="http://www.lds.org/ensign/1992/05/spit-and-mud-and-kigatsuku">one talk in 1992</a> she said: <br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“I’d like to teach you an important Japanese word. It’s kigatsuku. </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i> Kigatsuku means “an inner spirit to act without being told what to do.” …When I was just a little girl, my mother began teaching me to be kigatsuku. When she swept the floor, she would say, “Chieko, what would a kigatsuku girl do now?” Then I’d run and get the dustpan… </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>(W)e can do great good when we act as an organized group… we can do great good when we act in small, informal groups… (and) we can do great good on our own—just as individuals who care enough to serve… It is the desire in individual hearts that powers not only small, individual acts of service, but also the great acts that become mass movements and even revolutions. You have that power, too. </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Are you sitting on a mat or on a polished bench? Are you wearing a sari or a three-piece suit? Are you hearing me in English or in Tagalog? It doesn’t matter. Hear the words of my heart. Feel the power that can come from your own desire to do good!</i></blockquote>
There are many ways to serve. Today I would like to talk on the service of acceptance, respect and fellowship:<br /><br />In the <a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/print/2013/10/ye-are-no-more-strangers?lang=eng&clang=ase">October 2013 General Conference</a>, Elder Gérald Caussé said:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>The world in which we live is going through a period of great upheaval. Because of the increased availability of transportation, speed of communication, and globalization of economies, the earth is becoming one large village where people and nations meet, connect, and intermingle like never before…<br /> </i><i><br /></i><i>It is very likely that the next person converted to the gospel in your ward will be someone who does not come from your usual circle of friends and acquaintances. You may note this by his or her appearance, language, manner of dress, or color of skin. This person may have grown up in another religion, with a different background or a different lifestyle. </i></blockquote>
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin spoke, in <a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/04/concern-for-the-one?lang=eng">April 2008</a>, of some people who stop attending church because they don’t feel like they have a place or fit in.<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Some are lost because they are different. They feel as though they don’t belong. Perhaps because they are different, they find themselves slipping away from the flock. They may look, act, think, and speak differently than those around them and that sometimes causes them to assume they don’t fit in. They conclude that they are not needed.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i> Tied to this misconception is the erroneous belief that all members of the Church should look, talk, and be alike. The Lord did not people the earth with a vibrant orchestra of personalities only to value the piccolos of the world. Every instrument is precious and adds to the complex beauty of the symphony. All of Heavenly Father’s children are different in some degree, yet each has his (or her) own beautiful sound that adds depth and richness to the whole.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i> This variety of creation itself is a testament of how the Lord values all His children. He does not esteem one flesh above another, but He “inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; … all are alike unto God.”</i></blockquote>
<br />Elder Uchtdorf has spoken many times about the importance of respecting each other and accepting one another. Perhaps he does so because he understands, because of his background and upbringing, what it feels like to be the outsider, the one who is being side-lined.<br /><br />In <a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/you-are-my-hands?lang=eng">April 2010</a> he said: <div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“Unfortunately, from time to time we also hear of Church members who become discouraged and subsequently quit coming to and participating in our Church meetings because they think they don’t fit in.”</i></blockquote>
As a refugee from East Germany moving to West Germany after the second world war he was very aware of being different. He says: </div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>When I was a young boy, during the aftermath of World War II, Germany was broken and in ruins. Many people were hungry, sick, and dying. I remember well the humanitarian shipments of food and clothing that came from the Church in Salt Lake City. To this day, I can still remember the smell of the clothing, and I can still taste the sweetness of the canned peaches.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>There were some who joined the Church because of the goods they received at that time. Some members looked down on these new converts. They even called them an offensive name: Büchsen Mormonen, or “Canned-Food Mormons.” They resented these new members because they believed that once their temporal needs had been met, they would fall away.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>While some did leave, many stayed—they came to church, tasted the sweetness of the gospel, and felt the tender embrace of caring brothers and sisters. They discovered “home.” And now, three and four generations later, many families trace their Church membership back to these converts.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>I hope that we welcome and love all of God’s children, including those who might dress, look, speak, or just do things differently. It is not good to make others feel as though they are deficient. Let us lift those around us. Let us extend a welcoming hand. Let us bestow upon our brothers and sisters in the Church a special measure of humanity, compassion, and charity so that they feel, at long last, they have finally found home.</i></blockquote>
We are all different. We are all individuals. I revel in the reality of our diversity. But I also celebrate the underlying similarities of our values, our goals and desires. Most of the people in the world, whatever their faith tradition, want to be happy, to be comfortable, to have friendship, to better themselves and to help better others.<br /><br />Elder Uchtdorf also said in <a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/the-merciful-obtain-mercy?lang=eng">April 2012</a>:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>This topic of judging others could actually be taught in a two-word sermon. When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following:</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Stop it!</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>It’s that simple. We simply have to stop judging others and replace judgmental thoughts and feelings with a heart full of love for God and His children. God is our Father. We are His children. We are all brothers and sisters. I don’t know exactly how to articulate this point of not judging others with sufficient eloquence, passion, and persuasion to make it stick. I can quote scripture, I can try to expound doctrine, and I will even quote a bumper sticker I recently saw. It was attached to the back of a car whose driver appeared to be a little rough around the edges, but the words on the sticker taught an insightful lesson. It read, “Don’t judge me because I sin differently than you.”</i></blockquote>
Elder Uchtdorf’s advice could also be rephrased as:<br /><br /><i>“Don’t judge me because I act differently than you… or because I dress differently, speak differently, live differently, work differently, vote differently, pray and worship differently.”</i><br /><br />I’d like to share two experiences of learning the importance of not making judgement. Many years ago, serving a mission in Belgium, I was walking with my companion back to our apartment. Walking towards us in the opposite direction was a disheveled man. He wore dirty clothes and shoes that had so many holes they might as well have been three steps behind him. His beard and hair was messy and stretched down below his shoulders. <br /><br />I felt a strong impression that I should speak to him. My instant reaction was, “don’t be silly, he’s probably homeless and will more likely than not ask you for money to feed his habit.” Again came the impression, as we drew closer, to speak to him. Again I rationalised it away, “he won’t be interested, the gospel’s not for people like him.” Finally as we were a few steps apart and about to cross, I stopped ignoring the nagging thought to speak to him and blurted out: “Bonjour monsieur, comment ca va?” He stopped and we started speaking. His name was Arthur. We asked if we could visit him later that day to share a message about Jesus Christ. He gave us his address and we went over later that day. Arthur accepted the gospel and was baptised within 4 weeks. The day before finishing my mission I heard that he was serving as the Branch Mission Leader. The story has a memorable ending, but even if his response to my initial greeting had been “non merci,” I hope it would still have reminded me to not judge by the outward appearance.<br /><br />More recently, I was teaching a class at church. A man who I didn’t know sat in the corner quietly. He was wearing jeans, trainers and a hoody. He said very little during the lesson and I made some unreasonable assumptions.<br /><br />Towards the end of the lesson I asked the class how the principles of the gospel positively affected their lives. He looked up and caught my eye so I invited him to share his thoughts. He said: “I was in prison not long ago. I had made some bad choices and deserved to be in there. When I got out I was determined to make my life better and to avoid the negative influences that had got me into bad situations the first time round. I’ve moved to another town and have been meeting with the missionaries. When they teach me I feel hope that I can change permanently. Coming to church helps me be with people who can be a positive influence.”<br /><br />I felt humbled and a gently rebuked. This was a living example of the blessings of the gospel. The Gospel is uplifting and healing. We should accept people into our community and share the gospel with them whatever their background, experiences or appearance.<br /></div>
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Elder Caussé’s advice on acceptance and welcoming the stranger <a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/print/2013/10/ye-are-no-more-strangers?lang=eng&clang=ase">concluded with the following</a>:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“…reach out to anyone who appears at the doors of your Church buildings. Welcome them with gratitude and without prejudice. If people you do not know walk into one of your meetings, greet them warmly and invite them to sit with you. Please make the first move to help them feel welcome and loved, rather than waiting for them to come to you.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>…During His earthly ministry, Jesus was an example of one who went far beyond the simple obligation of hospitality and tolerance. Those who were excluded from society, those who were rejected and considered to be impure by the self-righteous, were given His compassion and respect. They received an equal part of His teachings and ministry.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>For example, the Savior went against the established customs of His time to address the woman of Samaria, asking her for some water. He sat down to eat with publicans and tax collectors. He didn’t hesitate to approach the leper, to touch him and heal him. Admiring the faith of the Roman centurion, He said to the crowd, “Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.”</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>…I bear witness that no one is a stranger to our Heavenly Father. There is no one whose soul is not precious to Him. With Peter, I testify that “God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” </i></blockquote>
The Saviour set the example with his compassion. How would it feel to be the recipient of the Saviour’s compassion, generosity, kindness and non-judgemental attitude? </div>
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<br />In Luke 5 we read the famous story about the man with the palsy being lowered through the roof. Because of the traditions of the day, some of the people in the house and perhaps the man himself would have made the assumption that his sickness was a punishment for his sins or the sins of his parents. Jesus turned to him and said: “Son, thy sins are forgiven thee.” He showed complete acceptance and the charity of seeing beyond the assumptions of the day. Considering this is what motivates me to try to apply these principles more consistently in my attitudes about others.<br /><br />To conclude again with the words of Nephi in 2 Nep 26:33: </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>(The Lord)… doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female… and all are alike unto God</i></blockquote>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13940690420715977167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657215193172581106.post-44323330322001717542014-02-16T02:13:00.001-08:002014-02-16T02:13:19.208-08:00Do you believe in God and Jesus Christ?<div style="color: rgb(59, 59, 59); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 14px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><div>In a temple recommend interview we're asked if we have a testimony of God the Father and Jesus Christ. Here's the thoughts I have in answering that question:</div><div><br></div><div>I start from the premise of thinking a creative force behind our existence is probably a more likely explanation than pure chance. I have considered Atheism and it doesn't work for me. I believe in a creator.</div></div><div style="color: rgb(59, 59, 59); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 14px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></div><div style="color: rgb(59, 59, 59); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 14px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">This leads me to ask myself some additional questions:</div><div style="color: rgb(59, 59, 59); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 14px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></div><span style="color: rgb(59, 59, 59); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 14px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Does the loving, personal, "weeping" God of Mormonism exist?</span><div style="color: rgb(59, 59, 59); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 14px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Do we have a spiritual Father and Mother who created us?</div><div style="color: rgb(59, 59, 59); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 14px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Was our elder brother, Jesus Christ, with us in the pre-mortal life?</div><div style="color: rgb(59, 59, 59); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 14px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Did he really live on earth, suffering the pain of the sins of every person who ever lived in one agonising evening?</div><div style="color: rgb(59, 59, 59); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 14px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Did he die and then come back to life after three days, thereby guaranteeing every person will live again too?</div><div style="color: rgb(59, 59, 59); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 14px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></div><div style="color: rgb(59, 59, 59); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 14px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Are all these things a reality?</div><div style="color: rgb(59, 59, 59); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 14px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></div><div style="color: rgb(59, 59, 59); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 14px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">I don't know. I hope so. </div><div style="color: rgb(59, 59, 59); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 14px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></div><div style="color: rgb(59, 59, 59); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 14px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">It's the hope that is meaningful to me. Acting on this hope makes my life better. </div><div style="color: rgb(59, 59, 59); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 14px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></div><div style="color: rgb(59, 59, 59); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 14px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">The creator doesn't seem to have left conclusive evidence of what they are really, actually like (or if they exist at all).</div><div style="color: rgb(59, 59, 59); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 14px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></div><div style="color: rgb(59, 59, 59); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 14px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">With that in mind I choose an image of the creator that works for me and that brings hope to my life. I like the description of the creator found in Mormonism. Perhaps the creator is always manifested to us in the most useful way for each of us. Perhaps we all create God in our own image. Perhaps it was designed that way. It seems that, for the majority, their personal image of God encourages them to be better people. Not always, but usually. Sometimes it's even a disbelief in God that motivates them to be a better person. If that's what is needed, it seems the creator is ok with that. </div><div style="color: rgb(59, 59, 59); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 14px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></div><div style="color: rgb(59, 59, 59); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 14px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">What of Jesus Christ? Again, I don't know for certain that he was the historical, godlike, perfect person described in the New Testament. I hope he was. That hope is enough to apply the principles of the atonement: grace, repentance (effective change), forgiving (self and others) and hope that we are eternal beings on a path towards becoming more like God. </div><div style="color: rgb(59, 59, 59); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 14px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></div><div style="color: rgb(59, 59, 59); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 14px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">I can say with confidence that this belief and behaviour has an effect. I have a testimony of hoping and acting on the hope. </div><div style="color: rgb(59, 59, 59); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 14px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></div><div style="color: rgb(59, 59, 59); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 14px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">So yes, I have a belief and even a testimony in the Mormon description of God the Father and Jesus Christ. Not because I have a conviction that this description is the way things really are but because I have the experience of the "change effect" of acting on the hope.</div><div style="color: rgb(59, 59, 59); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 14px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></div><div style="color: rgb(59, 59, 59); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 14px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Rather than giving this long answer, when it comes to the temple recommend question, I simply say "Yes."</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13940690420715977167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657215193172581106.post-27851015967881483742014-02-09T09:30:00.000-08:002014-02-09T09:30:32.790-08:00A Thoughtful Gospel Principles. Chapter 5: The CreationThe Creation.<br />
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<a href="http://www.lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-5-the-creation?lang=eng">http://www.lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-5-the-creation?lang=eng</a><br />
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Gospel Principles<i>, p.23 When we lived as spirit children with our heavenly parents, our Heavenly Father told us about His plan for us to become more like Him. We shouted for joy when we heard His plan (see Job 38:7). We were eager for new experiences. In order for these things to happen, we needed to leave our Father’s presence and receive mortal bodies. We needed another place to live where we could prepare to become like Him. Our new home was called earth.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i>We often here people talk of Religion vs Science? Should there be an opposition between the two? <br />
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Brigham Young said, in a <a href="http://journalofdiscourses.com/9/32">talk given in 1862</a>:<br />
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<i>"How gladly would we understand every principle pertaining to science and art, and become thoroughly acquainted with every intricate operation of nature… How delightful this would be, and what a boundless field of truth and power is open for us to explore! </i><br />
In an <a href="https://www.lds.org/ensign/1987/09/i-have-a-question?lang=eng">Ensign article in 1987</a>, Morris S. Petersen discussed the different, but complimentary roles of science and religion:<br />
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<i>“…the scriptures testify of Jesus Christ and how we may receive the blessings of salvation and exaltation through his atonement. They reveal why (not necessarily how) the earth was created, and what laws and principles a person must follow to obtain eternal life. The goal of science, on the other hand, is to learn how (not why) the world was made and to understand the laws and principles governing the physical world.”</i><br />
Elder James E. Talmage was invited to talk on a similar topic in the <a href="http://en.fairmormon.org/Primary_sources/Evolution/Earth_and_Man">Salt Lake Tabernacle in 1931</a>. His comments were later published in the church’s newspaper (Deseret News). They have also been quoted in other Ensign articles since them. <br />
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<i>The oldest, that is to say the earliest, rocks thus far identified in land masses reveal the fossilized remains of once living organisms, plant and animal. The coal strata, upon which the world of industry so largely depends, are essentially but highly compressed and chemically changed vegetable substance. The whole series of chalk deposits and many of our deep-sea limestones contain the skeletal remains of animals. These lived and died, age after age, while the earth was yet unfit for human habitation. </i><br />
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Reading these remind me that it is not a question of Religion vs Science, but instead a benefit of Religion <i>and</i> Science.</div>
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Gospel Principles, p.23 <i>Jesus Christ created this world and everything in it. He also created many other worlds. He did so through the power of the priesthood, under the direction of our Heavenly Father. God the Father said, “Worlds without number have I created; … and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten” (Moses 1:33). </i><br />
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Gospel Principles, p.24 <i>Under the direction of the Father, Christ formed and organized the earth. He divided light from darkness to make day and night. He formed the sun, moon, and stars. He divided the waters from the dry land to make seas, rivers, and lakes. He made the earth beautiful and productive. He made grass, trees, flowers, and other plants of all kinds. These plants contained seeds from which new plants could grow. Then He created the animals—fish, cattle, insects, and birds of all kinds. These animals had the ability to reproduce their own kind. </i><br />
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The church has no official position on how God create the earth, only why it was created. The church also has not taken a position on how long the earth took to create nor how old it is, but has instead emphasised the gospel of Jesus Christ which teaches us how to live while we have our turn on earth. Members are free to have different personal views about the age of the earth and the manner of creation. Some of the leaders of the church have also expressed their different perspectives on the matter. We don’t know everything, there is yet more to learn. </div>
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Joseph Smith taught that in the midst of as-yet unanswered questions, there’s one simply principle to focus on (also quoted by D. Todd Christofferson in <a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/the-doctrine-of-christ?lang=eng">April 2012)</a>:<br />
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<i>“The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.” </i><br />
Appreciating the beauty and gifts that the earth gives us is one way to express our gratitude for the creation. <br />
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Gospel Principles, p.24 <i>We are now living in this beautiful world. Think of the sun, which gives us warmth and light. Think of the rain, which makes plants grow and makes the world feel clean and fresh. Think of how good it is to hear a bird singing or a friend laughing. Think of how wonderful our bodies are—how we can work and play and rest. When we consider all of these creations, we begin to understand what wise, powerful, and loving beings Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father are. They have shown great love for us by providing for all of our needs.</i> <br />
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People in the scriptures are often seen spending time in nature to be closer to God. Jesus <i>“…went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.”</i> (Matt 14:23) Nephi also tells us that <i>“…after I, Nephi, had been in the land of Bountiful for the space of many days, the voice of the Lord came unto me, saying: Arise, and get thee into the mountain. And it came to pass that I arose and went up into the mountain, and cried unto the Lord.”</i> (1 Nep. 17:7) <br />
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Caring for our world – respecting the creatures that share it and the environment we live in <br />
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Gospel Principles, p.25 <i>Plant life and animal life were also made to give us joy. The Lord said, “Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart; yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul” (D&C 59:18–19). Even though God’s creations are many, He knows and loves them all. He said, “All things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them” (Moses 1:35).</i><br />
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An article in the <a href="https://www.lds.org/new-era/2000/10/all-creatures-great-and-small?lang=eng">Oct 2000</a> New Era taught the importance of respect for earth’s creatures: <br />
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<i>When God created the earth, He also created animals. These animals are ordained for our use, but we will be held accountable for how we treat them. </i><br />
D&C 104:13-17 <i>“(13)…I, the Lord… make every man accountable, as a steward over earthly blessings, which I have made and prepared for my creatures. (17) For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves." </i><br />
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Commenting on this verse, Elder Neal A. Maxwell said, <a href="https://rsc.byu.edu/archived/study-and-faith-selections-religious-educator/chapter-4-our-creators-cosmos">in 2002</a>: <br />
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<i>"The resources so necessary to sustain human life are so generously provided on this particular planet; unless they are mismanaged, we are told that there is "enough and to spare"</i> (D&C 104:17). " <br />
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Sharing a similar message, Elder Russel M. Nelson, wrote in <a href="http://www.lds.org/ensign/2000/05/the-creation">May 2000</a>: <br />
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<i>The Creation, great as it is, is not an end in itself but a means to an end. We come to the earth for a brief period of time, endure our tests and trials, and prepare to move onward and upward to a glorious homecoming. Our thoughts and deeds while here will surely be more purposeful if we understand God’s plan and are thankful for and obedient to His commandments. </i><br />
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As beneficiaries of the divine Creation, what shall we do? We should care for the earth, be wise stewards over it, and preserve it for future generations. <br />
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An August <a href="http://www.lds.org/ensign/1971/08/our-deteriorating-environment?lang=eng">1971 Ensign article</a>, commented on the need to respect the earth: <br />
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<i>Our environment has been tragically exploited and abused. Although not yet irretrievably befouled, it has deteriorated in too many ways, and a great deal of hard work and effort is required to protect it and repair the damage done by neglect, indifference, and misplaced priorities…. The gospel teaches us that this world is our home, created for us under the direction of a loving Father in heaven, whose sons and daughters we are… As such, it must not be misused or looted, for we are stewards entrusted with its care. </i><br />
The gospel teaches us there are purposes to life that transcend the acquisition of material things. We are, literally, our brother’s keeper, with responsibilities toward others. Mortal existence is part of an eternal plan designed to return us to the presence of our Creator. Its purposes are primarily spiritual and center on development of the divine potential for growth and advancement that we all have. <br />
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The gospel teaches us that we are part of the continuum of human life. We do not stand alone in our generation. We are part of a great eternal… family. We draw from the past and are obligated to give to the future. We have an obligation, therefore, to others yet unborn—an obligation to present to them a world with beauties that they too can enjoy. <br />
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In D&C 59:16-20 we are similarly taught that the earth is to be respected and not to excess or extortion: <br />
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<i>(16) “…the fulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth. (17) Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards (19) …for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul. (20) And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion. </i><br />
The church recently released a <a href="http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/environmental-stewardship-conservation">statement saying</a>: <br />
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<i>"God created the earth to provide a place for the human family to learn, progress and improve. God first created the earth and all living things spiritually, and all living things have great worth in His eyes. </i><br />
<i>The earth and all things on it should be used responsibly to sustain the human family. However, all are stewards — not owners — over this earth and its bounty and will be accountable before God for what they do with His creations. <br /><br />Approaches to the environment must be prudent, realistic, balanced and consistent with the needs of the earth and of current and future generations, rather than pursuing the immediate vindication of personal desires or avowed rights. The earth and all life upon it are much more than items to be consumed or conserved. God intends His creations to be aesthetically pleasing to enliven the mind and spirit, and some portions are to be preserved." </i></div>
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Let us enjoy and respect nature and join with it in singing praises to the heavens.<br />
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<i>St. Francis of Assisi, who was born in 1181 in what is now Italy, is credited with the lyrics to “All Creatures of Our God and King.” The lyrics are adapted from “The Canticle of the Sun” (Canticum Solis), a poem he wrote during the last year of his life. Written at a time when he was weak and struggled with periods of temporary blindness, St. Francis wished to express the unity he felt with nature and the feelings of peace he experienced as his earthly life drew to a close.</i></div>
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<i><br />Nearly 700 years after the death of St. Francis of Assisi, in 1906, music editor Ralph Vaughan Williams published the version of “All Creatures of Our God and King” that we know today.</i> <a href="http://www.mormontabernaclechoir.org/articles/all-creatures-of-our-god-and-king?lang=eng">http://www.mormontabernaclechoir.org/articles/all-creatures-of-our-god-and-king?lang=eng</a><br />
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All creatures of our God and King</div>
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Lift up your voice and with us sing</div>
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Thou burning sun with golden beam</div>
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Thou silver moon with softer gleam</div>
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Oh, praise Him</div>
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Alleluia</div>
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Thou rushing wind that art so strong</div>
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Ye clouds that sail in heav'n along</div>
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Thou rising moon in praise rejoice</div>
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Ye lights of evening find a voice</div>
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Oh, praise Him</div>
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Alleluia</div>
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Thou flowing water pure and clear</div>
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Make music for thy Lord to hear</div>
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Thou fire so masterful and bright</div>
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That gives to man both warmth and light</div>
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Oh, praise Him</div>
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Alleluia</div>
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(Next week I'll be away visiting family so will miss the Ch.6 "Adam & Eve" lesson. I'm honestly relieved).</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13940690420715977167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657215193172581106.post-51650747292400023342014-02-08T07:34:00.002-08:002014-02-08T13:29:00.042-08:00The age of the earth and the origins of humankindIt's seems increasingly popular for members to pick and choose their beliefs around Adam and Eve being parables/symbols or selected humans among other living humans. While I sit somewhere around these thoughts in my personal perspectives, the church statements on the matter seems to leave very little room for this perspective.<br />
<br />
The latest official statement by church leaders, reprinted in 2002:<br />
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<div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
It is held by some that Adam was not the first man upon this earth and that the original human being was a development from lower orders of the animal creation. These, however, are the theories of men. The word of the Lord declared that Adam was “the first man of all men” (Moses 1:34), and we are therefore in duty bound to regard him as the primal parent of our race...<br />
<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
There is nothing in this, however, to indicate that the original man, the first of our race, began life as anything less than a man, or less than the human germ or embryo that becomes a man...<br />
<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, basing its belief on divine revelation, ancient and modern, proclaims man to be the direct and lineal offspring of Deity.</div>
</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.lds.org/ensign/2002/02/the-origin-of-man?lang=eng">http://www.lds.org/ensign/2002/02/the-o ... n?lang=eng</a><br />
<br />
It states, in the face of deep contradictions from scientific perspectives, that the entire human race is descended from Adam and Eve. That they are the first parents of us and the "first of all" men and women.<br />
<br />
To extend sources to manuals/official LDS resources:<br />
<blockquote class="uncited" style="background-image: url(http://www.staylds.com/forum/styles/prosilver/theme/images/quote.gif); background-position: 6px 8px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 206); margin: 0.5em 1px 0px 25px; overflow: hidden; padding: 25px 5px 5px;">
<div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
Ponder for a moment your own relationship to Adam and Eve—your ever-so-great grandparents. Have the ensuing millennia made them seem unreal to you, like fictional characters in a novel? They are real and they are alive. Adam will return to earth prior to the Millennium to preside under Christ at the great council of Adam-ondi-Ahman (see Daniel 7; D&C 116), and he will lead the armies of the Almighty God to battle against the assembled hosts of Satan in the last great battle of the earth (see D&C 88:112–15).<br />
<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
The world would have you believe that Adam and Eve were primitive and superstitious, that they brought about the Fall through immorality, or even that they are imaginary, mythical persons. But as you read about them remember how the Lord views these two great souls. Think of what special qualities they must have possessed to have been chosen to lead the way.</div>
</blockquote>
<a href="https://www.lds.org/manual/old-testament-student-manual-genesis-2-samuel/genesis-1-2-the-creation?lang=eng">https://www.lds.org/manual/old-testamen ... n?lang=eng</a><br />
<br />
I find no support in any LDS source that Adam and Eve lived anything other than 6000 years ago. The idea that the entire human race started from two people, 6,000 years ago is frankly ludicrous. I don't believe it. Science doesn't support it. I'm happy to see them as symbolic moments in human history. They are more useful as symbolic principles representing every person's journey through the eternities. But not as the origin of the human species. I've been asked, "but what about the fall?" I fall every day. Besides, we've always <a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/a-of-f/1.2?lang=eng">believed as LDS that</a> "...men will be a punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression."<br />
<br />
Saying all that about Adam and Eve, which has little wiggle room in our published doctrine, there is more room for personal perspective when it comes to the age of the rock we stand on and the process of bringing the earth into its natural cycles:<br />
<div>
<br />
<blockquote class="uncited" style="background-image: url(http://www.staylds.com/forum/styles/prosilver/theme/images/quote.gif); background-position: 6px 8px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 206); margin: 0.5em 1px 0px 25px; overflow: hidden; padding: 25px 5px 5px;">
<div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
A third theory says that the word day refers to a period of an undetermined length of time, thus suggesting an era. The word is still used in that sense in such phrases as “in the day of the dinosaurs.” The Hebrew word for day used in the creation account can be translated as “day” in the literal sense, but it can also be used in the sense of an indeterminate length of time (see Genesis 40:4, where day is translated as “a season”; Judges 11:4, where a form of day is translated as “in the process of time”; see also Holladay, Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament, pp. 130–31). Abraham says that the Gods called the creation periods days (see Abraham 4:5, 8).<br />
<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
If this last meaning was the sense in which Moses used the word day, then the apparent conflict between the scriptures and much of the evidence seen by science as supporting a very old age for the earth is easily resolved. Each era or day of creation could have lasted for millions or even hundreds of millions of our years, and uniformitarianism could be accepted without any problem. (For an excellent discussion of this approach see Henry Eyring, “The Gospel and the Age of the Earth,” [Improvement Era, July 1965, pp. 608–9, 626, 628]. Also, most college textbooks in the natural sciences discuss the traditional dating of the earth.)<br />
<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
While it is interesting to note these various theories, officially the Church has not taken a stand on the age of the earth. For reasons best known to Himself, the Lord has not yet seen fit to formally reveal the details of the Creation. Therefore, while Latter-day Saints are commanded to learn truth from many different fields of study (see D&C 88:77–79), an attempt to establish any theory as the official position of the Church is not justifiable.</div>
</blockquote>
<a href="https://www.lds.org/manual/old-testament-student-manual-genesis-2-samuel/genesis-1-2-the-creation?lang=eng">https://www.lds.org/manual/old-testamen ... n?lang=eng</a><br />
<br />
But that leaves one problem. Can you find an LDS source supporting the idea of death before the fall? I can only find it in the other direction:<br />
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<div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
Latter-day revelation teaches that there was no death on this earth before the Fall of Adam. Indeed, death entered the world as a direct result of the Fall (2 Ne. 2:22; Moses 6:48).</div>
</blockquote>
<div>
<br /></div>
http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/death</div>
<div>
<br />
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<div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
Before the Fall, there were no sin, no death, and no children.</div>
</blockquote>
<br style="background-color: #ecf3f7; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
<br />
<a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/fall-of-adam-and-eve?lang=eng">http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/fall-o ... e?lang=eng</a><br />
<br style="background-color: #ecf3f7; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
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<div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
“There was no death in the earth before the fall of Adam. …<br />
“The gospel teaches us that if Adam and Eve had not partaken of that fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they would have remained in the Garden of Eden in that same condition prevailing before the fall. … In regard to the pre-mortal condition of Adam and the entire earth, Lehi has stated the following:<br />
<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
“‘And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end’ [2 Nephi 2:22]” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:108–9).</div>
</blockquote>
<br style="background-color: #ecf3f7; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
<a href="https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrines-of-the-gospel-student-manual/chapter-30-death-and-the-postmortal-spirit-world?lang=eng">https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrines-of ... d?lang=eng</a><br />
<br />
This is still the predominant published position of the church.<br />
<br />
I managed to find some obscure quotes from Elder James E Talmage. <br />
<br />
Elder James E. Talmage said,<br />
<blockquote class="uncited" style="background-image: url(http://www.staylds.com/forum/styles/prosilver/theme/images/quote.gif); background-position: 6px 8px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 206); margin: 0.5em 1px 0px 25px; overflow: hidden; padding: 25px 5px 5px;">
<div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
"...life and death have been in existence and operative in this earth for ages prior to [Adam]."</div>
</blockquote>
<div>
<br /></div>
Talmage to Heber Timothy, 28 Jan. 1932, Talmage Papers; cited in Richard Sherlock, "A Turbulent Spectrum: Mormon Responses to the Darwinist Legacy," Journal of Mormon History 4:? (1975): 45–69.</div>
<div>
<br />
<blockquote class="uncited" style="background-color: #ebeadd; background-image: url(http://www.staylds.com/forum/styles/prosilver/theme/images/quote.gif); background-position: 6px 8px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 206); color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.95em; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; margin: 0.5em 1px 0px 25px; overflow: hidden; padding: 25px 5px 5px;">
<div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
The oldest, that is to say the earliest, rocks thus far identified in land masses reveal the fossilized remains of once living organisms, plant and animal. The coal strata, upon which the world of industry so largely depends, are essentially but highly compressed and chemically changed vegetable substance. The whole series of chalk deposits and many of our deep-sea limestones contain the skeletal remains of animals. These lived and died, age after age, while the earth was yet unfit for human habitation.</div>
</blockquote>
<div>
<br /></div>
Address Delivered in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Utah Sunday, 9 August 1931<br />
<a href="http://en.fairmormon.org/Evolution:Primary_sources:Earth_and_Man">http://en.fairmormon.org/Evolution:Prim ... th_and_Man</a><br />
<br />
With the approval of the First Presidency, this address was given in the Tabernacle and later published in the Deseret News, as a Church pamphlet, and in The Instructor. I've managed to dig and have found the talk quoted in the Ensign/on LDS.org</div>
<div>
<br />
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<div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
Latter-day Saints share Elder James E. Talmage’s conviction that “within the gospel of Jesus Christ there is room and place for every truth thus far learned by man, or yet to be made known."<br />
<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
Foremost, the scriptures testify of Jesus Christ and how we may receive the blessings of salvation and exaltation through his atonement. They reveal why (not necessarily how) the earth was created, and what laws and principles a person must follow to obtain eternal life. The goal of science, on the other hand, is to learn how (not why) the world was made and to understand the laws and principles governing the physical world.<br />
<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
The different roles science and religion play is illustrated in a study of the dinosaurs. From the fossil record we learn that the dinosaurs were the dominant animals on earth between 225 and 67 million years ago. Some were carnivorous, others herbivorous. Some were small, while others were gigantic, weighing up to eighty tons and growing to lengths of more than ninety feet.<br />
<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
The existence of these animals is indisputable, for their remains have been found in rocks all over the earth. What eternal purpose they played in the creation and early history of the earth is unknown. The scriptures do not address the question, and it is not the realm of science to explore the issue of why they were here. We can only conclude, as Elder Talmage did, that “the whole series of chalk deposits and many of our deep-sea limestones contain the skeletal remains of animals. These lived and died, age after age, while the earth was yet unfit for human habitation.” (“The Earth and Man.”)</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<a href="https://www.lds.org/ensign/1987/09/i-have-a-question?lang=eng">https://www.lds.org/ensign/1987/09/i-ha ... n?lang=eng</a><br />
<br />
The talk was briefly referenced in a January 1998 article:<br />
<a href="http://www.lds.org/ensign/print/1998/01/in-the-beginning-a-latter-day-perspective?lang=eng&clang=eng">http://www.lds.org/ensign/print/1998/01 ... &clang=eng</a><br />
<br />
Unfortunately (some might say), Joseph Fielding Smith, followed by his son in law Bruce R. McConkie disagreed with Elder Talmage and ensured that from the 1960s onwards the "no death before the fall" message became embedded in LDS consciousness.<br />
<br />
In the end this whole thing reminds me that I have to continually lower my expectations of what doctrines a prophet can proclaim with certainty or authority. I think the only thing we should expect them to teach are the "doctrine of Christ." All of other LDS "doctrines" (and I mean all of them) seem like transient opinions based on the environment the leader has been raised in.<br />
<blockquote class="uncited" style="background-color: #ebeadd; background-image: url(http://www.staylds.com/forum/styles/prosilver/theme/images/quote.gif); background-position: 6px 8px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 206); color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.95em; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; margin: 0.5em 1px 0px 25px; overflow: hidden; padding: 25px 5px 5px;">
<div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
The Prophet Joseph Smith confirmed the Savior’s central role in our doctrine in one definitive sentence: “The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and <span style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it</span></span>.”</div>
</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/the-doctrine-of-christ?lang=eng">http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2 ... t?lang=eng</a><br />
<br />
The spirit might still teach me to live and apply the other teachings or "doctrines." But that doesn't make them God's universal reality for the whole world. Just a man-made toolkit to be applied to my life and a small minority of fellow saints. Not doctrines, simply personalised principles applicable to my circumstances.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13940690420715977167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657215193172581106.post-15840448640907546712014-02-02T08:10:00.002-08:002014-02-02T08:10:26.248-08:00A Thoughtful Gospel Principles. Chapter 4: Freedom to Choose<div>
<a href="http://www.lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-4-freedom-to-choose?lang=eng">http://www.lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-4-freedom-to-choose?lang=eng</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Start with the Viktor Frankl story (<a href="http://www.lds.org/manual/family-home-evening-resource-book/family-home-evening-lessons/lesson-eight-we-can-choose?lang=eng&query=viktor+frankl">Family Home Evening Resource Book</a>):<br /><blockquote>
<i>During World War II, Viktor Frankl was kept in a Nazi concentration camp for three years. During that time, he could make few of the choices we take for granted. He could not choose how to wear his hair; his head was shaved. He could not choose what clothes to wear; he was given a prison uniform. He could not read or write or talk freely. Someone told him when to get up and exactly what to do every minute of the day. He was treated cruelly, and if he did not work hard enough, he was in danger of being killed.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i>He later wrote this about his experiences:</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i>“We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. … They offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken away from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i>“And there were always choices to make. Every day, every hour offered the opportunity to make a decision.” (Man’s Search for Meaning, trans. Ilse Lasch, rev. ed. [New York: Simon and Schuster, 1962], p. 65.)</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i>Viktor Frankl found out that no one could force him to be bitter and angry, no matter how much they hurt him. He could still enjoy the beauties of nature; he could love and show kindness to other people.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i>...everyone uses agency each day, even if he is not aware of his choices. For example, everyone must choose his attitudes each day asViktor Frankl did. These are often very private choices that others do not notice. But it is easier to make these choices correctly when we realize that we are free to choose.</i></blockquote>
We have been given our agency since before our birth:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Gospel Principles, P.17: In our premortal life we had
moral agency. One purpose of earth life is to show what choices we will make
(see 2 Nephi 2:15–16). If we were forced to choose the right, we would not be
able to show what we would choose for ourselves. Also, we are happier doing
things when we have made our own choices.</i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You won’t find a prepared answer for every decision
you’ll make in life. Here’s an example of an apostle encouraging us to learn to
be intelligent in our decision making:</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In the <a href="http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=a41d615b01a6b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1">July
1979</a> Ensign Elder Bruce Hafen, spoke of the importance of developing the
ability to make good choices without depending on a church “rule book.”</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"We need to
develop the capacity to form judgments of our own about the value of ideas,
opportunities, or people who may come into our lives.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>We won’t always
have the security of knowing whether a certain idea is “Church approved,”
because new ideas don’t always come along with little tags attached to them
saying whether they have been reviewed at Church headquarters.</i><i> </i><i>Whether in the form
of music, books, friends, or opportunities to serve, there is much that is
lovely, of good report, and praiseworthy that is not the subject of detailed
discussion in Church manuals or courses of instruction.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Those who will not
risk exposure to experiences that are not obviously related to some Church word
or program will, I believe, live less abundant and meaningful lives than the
Lord intends.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>We must develop
sufficient independence of judgment and maturity of perspective that we are
prepared to handle the shafts and whirlwinds of adversity and contradiction
that may come to us.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i></i><i>When those times
come, we cannot be living on borrowed light. We should not be deceived by the
clear-cut labels others may use to describe circumstances that are, in fact,
not so clear.”</i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf emphasised this importance of
choice in <a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/four-titles?lang=eng">April
2013 conference</a>:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>As disciples of
Jesus Christ, we are united in our testimony of the restored gospel and our
commitment to keep God’s commandments. But we are diverse in our cultural,
social, and political preferences. The Church thrives when we take advantage of
this diversity and encourage each other to develop and use our talents to lift
and strengthen our fellow disciples.</i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p> </o:p>A video directed at the youth of the church on moral
standards, but equally valid advice for the <a href="https://www.lds.org/youth/video/chastity-what-are-the-limits?lang=eng">rest
of us said</a>:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>You can set
standards that will help you stay pure. "Firmly establish personal
standards... Decide what you will do and what you will not do to express
feelings." (Richard G. Scott)</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Pray and ask
Heavenly Father about the standards you have set for yourself. Don't let what
happened in the past define your future.</i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p> </o:p>The scriptures teach us that the agency we have in life
is for testing, improving, strengthening:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Zechariah 13:9 <i>And
I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is
refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I
will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my
God.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Proverbs 17:3 <i>The
fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the
hearts.<o:p></o:p></i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.ancientfuturefaithnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/refiners-fire-Lars-Justinen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.ancientfuturefaithnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/refiners-fire-Lars-Justinen.jpg" height="253" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
A refiner’s fire is not trying to test the metal to
breaking point. Instead it is an intense process of purification and
improvement. Life is not simply a series of hurdles of ever-increasing height.
God is not trying to trip us up or test us to breaking point. He has given us
an environment to test and improve ourselves in. He is trying to help us become
better, more refined, more pure, more like God.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>GP, p.19 When we
choose to live according to God’s plan for us, our agency is strengthened.
Right choices increase our power to make more right choices.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>As we obey each of
our Father’s commandments, we grow in wisdom and strength of character. Our
faith increases. We find it easier to make right choices.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>We began to make
choices as spirit children in our Heavenly Father’s presence. Our choices there
made us worthy to come to earth. Our Heavenly Father wants us to grow in faith,
power, knowledge, wisdom, and all other good things. If we keep His
commandments and make right choices, we will learn and understand. We will
become like Him. (See D&C 93:28.)</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>GP,p.19: We cannot
choose righteousness unless the opposites of good and evil are placed before
us. Lehi, a great Book of Mormon prophet, told his son Jacob that in order to
bring about the eternal purposes of God, there must be “an opposition in all
things. If not so, … righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither
wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad” (2 Nephi 2:11).</i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Both positive and negative outcomes in life are defined by
what might be called: “the law of natural consequences.” These natural
consequences apply to all of us. People say “What goes around comes around.”</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>GP, p.20: Imagine seeing a sign on the seashore that reads:
“Danger—whirlpool. No swimming allowed here.” We might think that is a
restriction. But is it? We still have many choices. We are free to swim
somewhere else. We are free to walk along the beach and pick up seashells. We
are free to watch the sunset. We are free to go home. We are also free to
ignore the sign and swim in the dangerous place. But once the whirlpool has us
in its grasp and we are pulled under, we have very few choices. We can try to
escape, or we can call for help, but we may drown.</i><i>Even though we are
free to choose our course of action, we are not free to choose the consequences
of our actions. The consequences, whether good or bad, follow as a natural
result of any choice we make (see Galatians 6:7; Revelation 22:12).</i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Knowing the reality of good and bad consequences we
should always ask ourselves the question of the best choice to take and not
assume that we already know:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Elder Uchtdorf said in a <a href="https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/worldwide-leadership-training/2012/01/acting-on-the-truths-of-the-gospel-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng">January
2012 leadership training talk</a>:<o:p></o:p></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"Brothers and
sisters, as good as our previous experience may be, if we stop asking
questions, stop thinking, stop pondering, we can thwart the revelations of the
Spirit. Remember, it was the questions young Joseph asked that opened the door
for the restoration of all things. We can block the growth and knowledge our Heavenly
Father intends for us. How often has the Holy Spirit tried to tell us something
we needed to know but couldn’t get past the massive iron gate of what we
thought we already knew?"</i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some years ago, a well-meaning member wrote an article
which stated: “<i>When our leaders speak,
the thinking has been done.”</i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In response the President of the Church at the time,
President George Albert Smith, <a href="http://www.fairmormon.org/perspectives/publications/when-the-prophet-speaks-is-the-thinking-done">wrote the following</a>:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“…the passage
quoted does not express the true position of the Church. Even to imply that
members of the Church are not to do their own thinking is grossly to
misrepresent the true ideal of the Church, which is that every individual… is
personally responsible to His Maker for his individual acts. The Lord Himself
does not attempt coercion in His desire and effort to give peace and salvation
to His children.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>He gives the
principles of life and true progress, but leaves every person free to choose or
to reject His teachings. This plan the Authorities of the Church try to follow.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>The Prophet Joseph
Smith once said: "I want liberty of thinking and believing as I
please." This liberty he and his successors in the leadership of the
Church have granted to every other member thereof.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>On one occasion in
answer to the question by a prominent visitor how he governed his people, the
Prophet answered: "I teach them correct principles, and they govern
themselves."</i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
President Smith concluded with the first verse of a
favourite Hymn (#240):</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/kuP1ZmX_lgI/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/kuP1ZmX_lgI&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/kuP1ZmX_lgI&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1. Know this, that ev'ry soul is free</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
To choose his life and what he'll be;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
For this eternal truth is giv'n:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That God will force no man to heav'n.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2. He'll call, persuade, direct aright,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And bless with wisdom, love, and light,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In nameless ways be good and kind,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But never force the human mind.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3. Freedom and reason make us men;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Take these away, what are we then?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Mere animals, and just as well<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The beasts may think of heav'n or hell.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4. May we no more our pow'rs abuse,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But ways of truth and goodness choose;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Our God is pleased when we improve<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
His grace and seek his perfect love.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13940690420715977167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657215193172581106.post-85596468704075825532014-01-26T08:07:00.001-08:002014-01-26T08:07:35.693-08:00Outburst in the branch conference priesthood meetingI had two outbursts in priesthood today. It's our branch conference so the stake leaders are here in force.<br />
<br />
The lesson was on home teaching.<br />
<br />
The high councillor who taught is a good man. He serves diligently, he has a generous and willing heart. He, like all of us, has a personally adapted view of the world that leads him to certain conclusions and perspectives. Knowing him fairly well means I know that his perspective drives him to serve his fellow-man in an admirable way.<br />
<br />
Having said all that, I was reminded that what motivates one person can be a bitter pill for another.<br />
<br />
While asking about what helps us be a better home teacher I shared a quote from Spencer W. Kimball. at a seminar for Regional Representatives in 1979:<br />
<br />
"I do not worry about members of the Church being unresponsive when they learn of the needy as much as I worry about our being unaware of such needs. … Please, priesthood leaders, do not get so busy trying to manage Church programs that you forget about basic duties in what the Apostle James described as ‘pure religion, undefiled’ (James 1:27)."<br />
<br />
I then made the point that there are many ways of serving others. That if you're not doing your home teaching it might not be because you're doing something bad, but because you're doing something equally good, better or best.<br />
<br />
I then mentioned Elder Dube in the recent conference, who was quoting J Reuben Clark:<br />
<br />
“...in the service of the Lord, it is not where you serve but how”<br />
<br />
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/look-ahead-and-believe?lang=eng<br />
<br />
I was trying to make the point that there are many ways to serve the Lord by serving our fellow-men. Some of us see Home Teaching as a good way of serving, but we might not see it as the better or best way.<br />
<br />
I sat quiet for the lesson which focused more on doing our duty than the joy of service. Towards the end of the lesson the teacher said, "Love is the most important aspect of home teaching. Love should motivate us" (so far so good). He then started talking about our love for our wives and said: "when I first married I didn't love my wife enough because I wouldn't stop smoking and wouldn't go to the temple to be sealed. If we love our wife we will attend our meetings to bring blessings on our family. If we love our wife we will do our home teaching."<br />
<br />
He finished and another stake leader started talking. I tried to ignore it my feelings and reaction to the implications of the previous.<br />
<br />
I suddenly interrupted the lesson and bubbled out with: "I'm sorry, but I can't let the last message go without comment. I love my wife and she loves me. She doesn't come to church at all but her love for me is neither dependent on not manifested by that decision. I support home teaching as a principle but if my wife could choose I wouldn't do it all. Some might even say that if I really loved her I wouldn't go at all. But I love her independently of any choices I make to serve other people."<br />
<br />
There was an awkward pause. Unfortunately I'd spoken passionately and probably confrontationally. I regret that. The tone of my voice will have meant that some people didn't listen to my choice of words.<br />
<br />
The stake leader then went on to start talking about home teaching not being an assignment but a responsibility. Another stake leader then said: "If you really love Jesus Christ, you'd do your home teaching."<br />
<br />
Something snapped. "This is ridiculous," I muttered. I stood up and stomped towards the door. As I got near the exit I turned back to the the silent room.<br />
<br />
"I deeply disagree with the idea that we can't say we love Jesus Christ if we're not doing our home teaching. There are people in this town who are hungry, lonely, homeless and in prison. If we read Matthew 25 then these are the people we should be serving but we do nothing. We obsess about Home Teaching because it's measured and reported. We ignore those who are truly in need because there's no statistical recognition for it."<br />
<br />
As I left the room I planned on gathering up my family and driving home. A councilor on the stake presidency, who had given me my temple recommend interview last month and was aware of some of my changed perspectives, followed me out and asked if he could speak briefly before I left.<br />
<br />
I sat down in a side room and started sobbing. "I'm sorry, I feel like I've been hanging on at church by my fingertips for the last year or two. I shouldn't have spoken like that. There are so many people we could serve in so many different ways. No-one is motivated by accusations and guilt trips." He let me finish and then reassured me that he'd also been uncomfortable in the lesson and was sorry it had taken that tone. He appreciated the way I must be feeling. "I'm aware of your challenges. I support you. Keep doing what you're doing. It's important." There was no rebuke, only compassion.<br />
<br />
When the priesthood lesson finished I went back and apologised for my outburst to the high councilor. He was bereft and in tears. He hadn't meant to point fingers, he simply meant to speak about his own motivation. That it was this was part of what drove him on to be of service, because he knew it made his wife happy and was expression of love. He hadn't meant to accuse me and was sorry if it sounded like it.<br />
<br />
It's so easy to take offence at things people say. I know that I need to work harder at listening for subtext and remember that we are all imperfect communicators. Myself included. I'm sure that there are things I say in lessons that frustrate or bother people and they are generous enough to not call me out as a 'liberal' or 'heretic.' I need to work harder at hearing the intent, not just applying my own perspective.<br />
<br />
As Brigham Young <a href="http://en.fairmormon.org/Journal_of_Discourses/8/8">once said</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"There is one principle I wish to urge upon the Saints in a way that it may remain with them—that is, to understand men and women as they are, and not understand them as you are."</i></blockquote>
Later, the same stake councilor who spoke to me after the outburst also spoke in sacrament meeting. He told us that in his home odd socks got put in a box. Once a month the family would sit together and sort through all the odd socks and re-discover several pairs (or close enough to be pairs). We are all, he said, a bit like odd socks. We don't always feel like we fit, but if we are able to find ways of working together and complimenting each other.<br />
<br />
As someone feeling like a very odd sock in church, I appreciated his support and message.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13940690420715977167noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657215193172581106.post-57525481530028303822014-01-20T03:42:00.000-08:002014-01-20T03:42:11.290-08:00A Thoughtful Gospel Principles. Chapter 3: Jesus Christ, Our Chosen Leader and Savior<div class="MsoNormal">
(Note: repeating a couple of quotes as we didn’t use them
last week in class)<br /><a href="http://www.lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-3-jesus-christ-our-chosen-leader-and-savior?lang=eng">http://www.lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-3-jesus-christ-our-chosen-leader-and-savior?lang=eng</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Neil A. Maxwell, in <a href="http://www.lds.org/ensign/1985/11/premortality-a-glorious-reality?lang=eng">Oct
1985 General Conference</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"> </span>gave examples of other
people who, throughout history, have considered this pre-life existence. </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“Everything in our
life happens as though we entered upon it with a load of obligations contracted
in a previous existence … obligations whose sanction is not of this present
life, [which] seem to belong to a different world, founded on kindness,
scruples, sacrifice, a world entirely different from this one, a world whence
we emerge to be born on this earth, before returning thither.” (Marcel Proust,
in Gabriel Marcel, Homo Viator, New York: Harper and Row, 1963, p. 8.)</i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last week we read from Elder Uchtdorf’s <a href="http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/general-young-women-meeting/2013/03/your-wonderful-journey-home?lang=eng#9-10785_000_64uchtdorf">talk</a>
on how our choices today are influenced by our choices before we were born.
(Re-cap on pre-earth spirit existence if new people attending).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>This story begins a
very long time ago, long before the earth began spinning in its orbit, long
before the sun began to reach its fiery arms into the cold of space, long
before creatures great and small had populated our planet. At the beginning of
this story, you lived in a faraway, beautiful place.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>We do not know many
details about life in that premortal sphere, but we do know some. Our Heavenly
Father has revealed to us who He is, who we are, and who we can become.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Back in that first
estate, you knew with absolute certainty that God existed because you saw and
heard Him. You knew Jesus Christ, who would become the Lamb of God. You had
faith in Him. And you knew that your destiny was not to stay in the security of
your premortal home. As much as you loved that eternal sphere, you knew you
wanted and needed to embark on a journey. You would depart from the arms of
your Father, pass through a veil of forgetfulness, receive a mortal body, and
learn and experience things that hopefully would help you grow to become more
like Father in Heaven and return to His presence.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>In that sacred place,
surrounded by those you knew and loved, the great question on your lips and in
your heart must have been “Will I return safely to my heavenly home?”</i><i>There were so many
things that would be out of your control. Mortal life would be hard at times,
filled with unexpected bends in the road: sickness, heartbreak, accidents,
conflict.</i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/general-young-women-meeting/2013/03/your-wonderful-journey-home?lang=eng#9-10785_000_64uchtdorf">http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/general-young-women-meeting/2013/03/your-wonderful-journey-home?lang=eng#9-10785_000_64uchtdorf</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the talk we’ve just read Elder Uchtdorf he refers to
several stories about journeys: Wizard of Oz; Christmas Carol; a Chinese
classic, Journey to the West and the story of Bilbo Baggins in the Hobbit. My
daughter loves Harry Potter. She relates lots of life-applicable principles
from these stories. In one scene in Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince
(p.532 in my edition) Dumbledore needs to drink a large bowl of dangerous
potion and asks Harry to make sure he completes the task. Dumbledore says:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"...this
potion... might paralyse me, cause me to forget what I am here for, create so
much pain I am distracted, or render me incapable in some other way. This being
the case, Harry, it will be your job to make sure I keep drinking... do I have
your word that you will do all in your power to make me keep drinking?"</i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Harry makes Dumbledore drink the potion, even when Dumbledore
pleads for the pain to be removed. <i>"I
don't want to... make it stop..."</i> to which Harry can only reply <i>"You've got to keep drinking, remember?
You told me you had to keep drinking."</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes in life, we’re faced with experiences where we
might think <i>“I don’t want to, make it
stop.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jesus Christ was perfect, without sin, but even he understands
what it feels like to want a difficult experience to stop, if possible. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Right before Christ’s atoning agony in the Garden of
Gethsemane followed by his death on the cross he said these very understandable
and human words:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Luke 22:42 <i>“Saying,
Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me…”<br /><o:p></o:p></i>Mark 14:35-36 <i>“And he
went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were
possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things
are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me…”<o:p></o:p></i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After Jesus expressed a desire that, if possible, he might
be able to avoid such a challenging experience to come, he used a short phrase
that we could all learn:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Luke 22:42<i> “…nevertheless
not my will, but thine, be done.”<br /><o:p></o:p></i>Mark 14:36 <i>“…nevertheless
not what I will, but what thou wilt.”</i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As we read last week, Elder Neal A. Maxwell said, in <a href="http://www.lds.org/ensign/1985/11/premortality-a-glorious-reality?lang=eng">Oct
1985 General Conference</a>,</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“We agreed to come
here and to undergo certain experiences under certain conditions.</i><i>Elder Orson Hyde said,
“We have forgotten! … But our forgetfulness cannot alter the facts.” (Journal
of Discourses, 7:315.) Yet, on occasions, there are inklings. President Joseph
F. Smith observed how “we often catch a spark from the awakened memories of the
immortal soul, which lights up our whole being as with the glory of our former
home.” (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed., Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1939, p. 14.)</i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So what have we forgotten? When Jesus said in prayer to
Heavenly Father: “not my will, but yours” he was also saying “not my will here,
but my will before.” Like all of us, Jesus Christ chose to come to earth. It
was his choice and expressed willingness to go through everything needed to
complete his purpose and role.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Moses 4:2 <i>“But,
behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning,
said unto me—Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.”<o:p></o:p></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Gospel Principles, p.13: <i>When
the plan for our salvation was presented to us in the premortal spirit world,
we were so happy that we shouted for joy (see Job 38:7).</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>We understood that we
would have to leave our heavenly home for a time. We would not live in the
presence of our Heavenly Father. While we were away from Him, all of us would
sin and some of us would lose our way. Our Heavenly Father knew and loved each
one of us. He knew we would need help, so He planned a way to help us.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i></i><i>We needed a Savior to
pay for our sins and teach us how to return to our Heavenly Father. Our Father
said, “Whom shall I send?” (Abraham 3:27). Jesus Christ, who was called
Jehovah, said, “Here am I, send me” (Abraham 3:27; see also Moses 4:1–4).</i><i>Jesus was willing to
come to the earth, give His life for us, and take upon Himself our sins. He,
like our Heavenly Father, wanted us to choose whether we would obey Heavenly
Father’s commandments. He knew we must be free to choose in order to prove
ourselves worthy of exaltation. Jesus said, “Father, thy will be done, and the
glory be thine forever” (Moses 4:2).</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i></i><i>Satan, who was called
Lucifer, also came, saying, “Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and
I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will
do it; wherefore give me thine honor” (Moses 4:1). Satan wanted to force us all
to do his will. Under his plan, we would not be allowed to choose. He would
take away the freedom of choice that our Father had given us. Satan wanted to
have all the honor for our salvation. Under his proposal, our purpose in coming
to earth would have been frustrated (see Teachings of Presidents of the Church:
David O. McKay [2003], 207).</i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are three key principles to take from this lesson
which we can discuss in turn:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">-</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Jesus chose to fulfil his role. It was not
imposed, it was not forced.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">-</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Satan wanted to remove choice and agency.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">-</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">We chose to come to earth, with all the highs
and lows it would bring. It was our choice. Not imposed, not forced.</span></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This means that every person around us was in the same
situation and also chose to follow God’s plan.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The story of the
pre-earth existence teaches us that all of humanity were once working in unity.</b></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Gospel Principles,
p.15-16: “Because our Heavenly Father chose Jesus Christ to be our Savior,
Satan became angry and rebelled. There was war in heaven. Satan and his
followers fought against Jesus Christ and His followers. The Savior’s followers
“overcame [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony”
(Revelation 12:11).</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>In this great
rebellion, Satan and all the spirits who followed him were sent away from the
presence of God and cast down from heaven. A third part of the hosts of heaven
were punished for following Satan (see D&C 29:36). They were denied the
right to receive mortal bodies.”</i></blockquote>
As we mentioned last week, from Elder Uchtdorf's <a href="http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/general-young-women-meeting/2013/03/your-wonderful-journey-home?lang=eng#9-10785_000_64uchtdorf">talk</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“…everyone
you see around you—in this meeting or at any other place, today or at any other
time—was valiant in the premortal world. Of one thing you can be certain: every
person you see—no matter the race, religion, political beliefs, body type, or
appearance—is family.”</i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Knowing that every person we meet was with us in the
pre-earth spirit world and followed the same choices we did should lead us to
greater care and unity. In the <a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/ye-are-no-more-strangers?lang=eng">Oct
2013 general conference</a> Elder Caussé said:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"Unity is not
achieved by ignoring and isolating members who seem to be different or weaker
and only associating with people who are like us. On the contrary, unity is
gained by welcoming and serving those who are new and who have particular
needs. These members are a blessing for the Church and provide us with
opportunities to serve our neighbors and thus purify our own hearts.”</i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Wirthlin similarly said, <a href="http://www.lds.org/ensign/1993/03/the-lords-side?lang=eng">in March 1993</a>:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“In the message of the gospel, the entire human race is one family descended from a single God. …</i><i> “Every person is a spiritual child of God.</i><i> “In this gospel view there is no room for a contracted, narrow, or prejudicial view. …</i><i> “There is no underlying excuse for smugness, arrogance, or pride. …</i></blockquote>
Given we would all come to earth under different conditions, with a range of challenges, environments, influences and opportunities, God ensured that every person was given enough knowledge and truth to progress on their best next step towards godliness.<br /><br />James E. Faust, <a href="http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?locale=59&sourceId=e1e08c6a47e0c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD">“Communion with the Holy Spirit,” Ensign, Mar 2002</a>, quoted a statement made by the first presidency of the church in 1978:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i> "The great religious leaders of the world such as Mohammed, Confucius, and the Reformers, as well as philosophers including Socrates, Plato, and others, received a portion of God’s light. Moral truths were given to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals. … We believe that God has given and will give to all peoples sufficient knowledge to help them on their way to eternal salvation”</i></blockquote>
We are all given the opportunity of being taught principles of truth, wherever we are in the world and whatever our conditions.<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>GP, p.16: From the beginning, Jesus Christ has revealed the gospel, which tells us what we must do to return to our Heavenly Father. At the appointed time He came to earth Himself. He taught the plan of salvation and exaltation by His word and by the way He lived.</i></blockquote>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13940690420715977167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657215193172581106.post-63085332512151262642014-01-14T11:42:00.001-08:002014-01-23T23:26:30.518-08:00Are Adam and Eve better as symbols than ancestors?In the LDS Endowment, the story of Adam and Eve is depicted. This isn't breaking temple sanctity. That's been mentioned in <a href="http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=0f5e7befabc20110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=d6371b08f338c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD">other LDS resources</a>.<br />
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The temple preparation <a href="http://www.lds.org/manual/endowed-from-on-high-temple-preparation-seminar-teachers-manual/lesson-5-learning-from-the-lord-through-symbols?lang=eng">manual states</a>:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>In a symbolic way, the teachings and rituals of the temple take us on an upward journey toward eternal life, ending with a symbolic entrance into the presence of God. <b>The characters depicted</b>, the physical setting, the clothing worn, the signs given, and all the events covered in the temple <b>are symbolic</b>. When they are understood, they will help each person recognize truth and grow spiritually.</i></blockquote>
Elder Packer <a href="https://www.lds.org/ensign/2010/10/the-holy-temple?lang=eng">stated</a> (emphasis added):<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>If you will go to the temple and remember that the <b>teaching is symbolic</b>, you will never go in the proper spirit without coming away with your vision extended, feeling a little more exalted, with your knowledge increased as to things that are spiritual. The teaching plan is superb. It is inspired. <b>The Lord Himself, the Master Teacher, taught His disciples constantly in parables—a verbal way to represent symbolically things that might otherwise be difficult to understand.</b></i></blockquote>
<div>
For me, Adam and Eve as symbols is far more important than as first ancestors.<br />
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I am not categorically saying that Adam and Eve are 'fictional parables,' but I'm saying the principles we learn from their story in church teachings are better understood as symbols for our journey through birth/innocence/aaronic p'hood and m'dek p'hood ordinances. There are so many amazing symbols for our life in Adam and Eve, that when we focus on the 'literal' aspect of their story we miss out on their message.<br />
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I sincerely love the Endowment. It is a work of inspired genius. It is far, far more than the 'cultish/masonic ceremony' that some critics make it out to be.<br />
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When I spent time in the Salt Lake and then Manti temples experiencing a <a href="http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/manti/">live acting session</a> rather than the <a href="http://www.lds.org/ensign/2008/03-ee/president-gordon-b-hinckley?lang=eng">temple film depiction</a> of the <a href="http://www.lds.org/new-era/1975/06/in-the-house-of-the-lord?lang=eng">creation and Adam and Eve experience</a> I'd always experienced before, I realised more than ever before that, like a play, this was a <a href="http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Endowment">series of lessons and symbols</a> of our life. <br />
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I believe that in trying to imagine ourselves as Adam and Eve we can also imagine them as us. It's our story, our journey. Seeing the progress of the <a href="https://www.lds.org/new-era/1975/06/in-the-house-of-the-lord?lang=eng">rooms in some of the early temples</a>, especially the <a href="https://ojs.lib.byu.edu/spc/index.php/BYUStudies/article/viewFile/6578/6227">world room in Manti temple</a> just further re-enforced how much this is a symbol of the latter days and our own lives.<br />
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I sometimes hear people talk about the Endowment/Adam and Eve story historically and technically and it seems to miss the point. I'm absolutely fine with the notion that they could also be historically 'real' people. I'm also fine if they aren't. They can be both. But I think they are more important as symbols than historical figures. If they aren't 'real' then I'm even fine with them being taught as 'real' anyway, because that gives them much greater presence in r<br /><br />eligious teaching than fictional people in parables.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here are some of the allegorical principles I take from the story:<br /><br />
<ul>
<li>Gathering matter unorganised and creating planet earth: our conception, the creation of our bodies</li>
<li>Separating water and land: my body growing in darkness, growing in the womb</li>
<li>Separating the light from the darkness: birth, coming into the light of the world</li>
<li>Initial innocence in the Garden: Spirit world and/or early innocence of childhood</li>
<li>Eve eating the apple: the active and positive choice to live a mortal life that would result in all of us (male and female) experiencing the challenges, struggles, joys and delights of life.</li>
<li>Adam eating the apple: perhaps Christ being willing to also join us on earth. Also our potential roles (both as males and females) in being leaders and teachers to other people (male and female).<br />**I can fully appreciate the concerns that some female members have about the apparent submissiveness expected in the temple. When taken as literal covenants I would also squirm if I were in your position. Given I consider them to only be symbolic I also see myself as Eve. I think we should see ourselves as Adam AND Eve.**</li>
<li>Leaving the garden: Beginning of accountability. 8-years old perhaps (or 12, or adulthood... depending on your perspective).</li>
</ul>
In life, from Baptism onwards, we start making covenants. Ezra Taft Benson <a href="http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=85">taught about some of the covenants</a> we make in the temple: "...law of obedience and sacrifice, the law of the gospel, the law of chastity, and the law of consecration."<br /><br />I see the temple covenants as symbols for life. At baptism we also make covenants of sacrifice and obedience. We sacrifice our old self, including a final sacrifice, perhaps, of the pre-mortal self we might have had a distant memory of at infancy. We make a covenant of obedience. It's one of my favourites. It's a <a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/18.8-10?lang=eng">covenant of service</a>.<br /><br />After baptism we go on to make further and ongoing covenants at the sacrament. These two covenants are Aaronic priesthood ordinances. Preparatory ordinances from a preparatory priesthood. Part of an ongoing commitment to learn and live the gospel of Jesus Christ. A gospel that is, again, centered on love and service.<br /><br />The later interactions with other priesthood figures remind me of Melchizedek priesthood ordinances and marriage commitments. The covenant of chastity relating to that marriage is one I appreciate and keep.<br />
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I take the signs and token as symbols of some of the stages of life and the priesthood ordinances that act as markers along the way. I think the symbol of not sharing them represents the idea that only I can make those covenants with God for myself. I can't make them for anyone else and no-one else can take my covenants from me. The tokens are, for me, a minor part of the bigger story of who I am. Their source was a little organic and not in the originals, so I don't get too hung up on them. They were, and perhaps in future will be, an organic, evolving, changing aspect. Just like the whole endowment.<br /><br />While discussing the Endowment:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Bro[ther] Joseph [Smith] turned to me [Brigham Young] and said: “Brother Brigham this is not arranged right, but we have done the best we could under the circumstances in which we are placed, and I wish you to take this mat[t]er in hand and organize and systematize all these ceremonies with the signs, tokens, penalties and key words.” I did so and each time I got something more; so that when we went through the Temple at Nauvoo, I understood and knew how to place them there. We had our ceremonies pretty correct."</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V20N04_35.pdf">http://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V20N04_35.pdf</a><br /><br />Eventually we have a direct interaction with God. This is also a symbol of my growing self. An initial need to have other people lead me towards God, culminating in me being able to eventually move on from that dependency. The moment at the veil is, in a way, me reaching my independent relationship with God. The temple is a parable for us growing to a stage of not needing or relying on other people to be able to interact with the heavens. That moment teaches me that eventually I will need to reach an independence from church leaders, church structure and interact with God directly.<br /><br />This is why I like the endowment, regardless of its source. This is why I see it as a parable, an allegory and I see myself in all of it.</div>
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