Over the Thanksgiving holiday (thanks, Orbitz Worldwide, for TWO WHOLE DAYS OFF!) I read Martha Beck’s Leaving the Saints: How I Lost the Mormons and Found My Faith. It is in the same genre as Rhoda Janzen’s recent book, mennonite in a little black dress, and Miriam Toews’ a complicated kindness.

Oh my goodness! I just realized that Miriam’s book has the title in all lower case, just like Rhoda’s.  And their names are both in BLOCK CAPS. It must be the style.

Martha’s book is a memoir. She is an academic and a sociologist, a mystic and survivor of religious and sexual abuse. Like Miriam and Rhoda, she had a difficult father, someone who was rather too much in his head to be raising up children.   Martha’s father, as she describes it, starting using her as an Abrahamic sacrifice when she was five years old. She describes the process of remembering being laid on the altar and terribly mistreated, and she describes how she confronted her father about it much later. Through much personal growth work she has learned to live with memories that nobody should have. What gets her through is a Leaves in the Stream philosophy, which is kind of Be Here Now. What keeps her alive and thriving is what looks to me like a mixture of:

• pluck and perserverance
• the love of God
• love from all kinds of friends, relatives and strangers
• pure grace

I have to confess that I skipped over some of the mystical experiences. It’s hard for me to read someone else’s experience of the ineffable. Sort of like listening to another person’s dream. In our household we have a stock phrase for that, spoken mockingly, which is what my dream analyst used to say to me almost every time, as I wrapped up yet another nocturnal epic involving crystals, angels, garden rakes, ice cream, dirt, flying saucers and trips to Paris: “That’s a very important dream.”

So yes, I failed to be caught up in the visions and illuminations which she describes, but I was fascinated by the inside  look at Mormon life.  For example, I learned that Mormons wear special underwear which is supposed to give them protection.  I also learned that Mormons are very well organized to take care of own another, should that underwear protection fail. Martha paints a fair picture of a Mormon people whose theology, cosmology and ontology seem, to me, irretrievably misguided, but who nonetheless, by and large, are humans, with the ability to love and live together.

I recently listened to the founders of the “More Good” foundation, who encouraged all of us to talk about our beliefs or testimony of the Mormon faith.  I often have Gospel-oriented discussions with friends and plan to post the topics we discuss on here briefly, but for starters I thought I’d give the webverse 5 reasons why I’m glad I’m a Mormon.

5.  The Priesthood. Although I am a female and to most outsiders seem fairly excluded from the Mormon priesthood, I have been a regular beneficiary of its power and presence.  I believe in the power of priesthood blessings, and feel like sicknesses and worries have been relieved as well as feeling extra comfort from the Holy Ghost.  In my teens, it was the number one reason I held to the Mormon church, even while examining a few other faiths.  I didn’t feel like I ever saw that power elsewhere.

4. Knowledge. Having attended two Church-sponsored schools (BYU-Idaho then Ricks College and BYU), I enjoyed having a mix of religious and secular learning and I think there’s no better way to learn.  I know a lot of people see that as a constraint, but I think learning by the Spirit increases the speed at which you’re able to learn as well as comprehension.

Thanks to a Church-sponsored program called Institute, I’ve also been to continue my religious education for free.  Subjects I never would have dared broach such as understanding the Old Testament, Isaiah in particular, or the Book of Revelation, I find more fascinating thanks to Institute instructors.  The Old Testament brings the New Testament as well as Book of Mormon more vibrance than I thought could be possible.  For me they all compliment each other well and make me passionate about all Gospel texts (I include the Old and New Testaments as well as the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price).

3. Logic. If you’re all about the Nicene Creed, that’s fine, but I prefer something that appeals to me logically.  I know some may argue that point with me over Mormonism, but for me the doctrine is simple, easy to understand, and logical, while still holding great depth and intellectual stimulation.  I feel like there’s an explanation for everything–though some things take more time to understand, my faith in receiving an answer has yet to let me down.

The simplicity: God is my Father who created me with the potential to be like Him.  Among those he created was Jesus, my brother, and Lucifer, also my brother (but no worries, we’re not blood related… *wink*).  Lucifer wanted to make us all subject to him and give us no chance to become like God as well as take our free will from us.  Jesus wanted to follow our Father’s will.  And here we are, trying to do our best to become like God with the necessary aid of our brother, with that other pesky brother trying to mess things up for us.  If we follow Jesus, we win.  If we follow Lucifer, we lose.  That’s the barebones (and really not so different from what other Christian denominations believe).

I could go on and on about this part, but I’ll save those discussions for another day in another post.

2. God still speaks. Other denominations claim God stopped sending revelation after the Apostles were killed, and I just simply don’t believe that.  I believe in a living God who speaks, and I believe he still uses the same system Jesus installed while on this earth: apostles and prophets.  The LDS Church has got them, and much like the prophets of the Bible and Book of Mormon spoke plainly to the people of their time, so do these current prophets speak to our day and age.  Not replacing or lessening the power of the scriptures, but only adding to them.

1. A Testimony of Jesus Christ. Never while looking at the other religions or Christian denominations did I ever feel anything that even came close to the spiritual and testimony I have received and continually receive being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I’m truly amazed with what I continue to learn about His mission and Gospel.  I’ve recently come to understand more deeply about the healing power of the atonement.

I didn’t have much of a testimony of it before, at least not for myself.  I believed it worked for others, but when it came to myself I had a harder time believing it could work for me.

I experienced something hard in my life, and I never thought I’d be able to get over it, let alone forgive those who had hurt me.  But I prayed to have my heart changed, solely with the desire to believe, because I didn’t have enough faith of my own.  It wasn’t overnight and it was a struggle.  I often liken it to a cold, where you never think it will ever leave and then one day you wake up and it’s gone.  That was my experience.  I struggled and struggled, but kept praying, and then one day I noticed the change.  It was a night and day difference for me, but I know I owe that healing to God.

I’ve also noticed that since I’ve been more grateful to Him and acknowledged His hand in my life that my once bitter and somewhat pessimistic attitude has changed to optimism and a happier life.  The more I notice, the more I notice and I feel like the more He sends.

Well, there you have it, like it or not, believe it or not, it’s what I hold as truth.  I’m, of course, open to answering any questions and if you ever have a topic or question you want me to cover, I’ll do my best.  Otherwise, may God bless you in your search for happiness and truth.

On November 29 at By Common Consent, Aaron B. wrote a hilariously entertaining post on the differences between liberal and conservative Mormons.  Aaron strives to answer the question of which one is more annoying.  He starts out by saying,

During a recent conversation among LDS friends, I bemoaned a certain type of LDS churchmember that I find deeply “annoying.” I used this word in a very specific sense. I described as “annoying” certain right-wing Mormons who seem unable to conceptually distinguish between their own deeply-held political preferences and the doctrines of the LDS Church. I know you know the type I’m talking about.

He continues with,

given an equal number of LDS conservatives and LDS liberals, you are likely to find the annoying quality I abhor in the first group in much, much larger quantity than the second.

Granted the nature of this blog, one can conclude that I agree with his sentiment.  It is true that the most annoying aspect of LDS conservatives is their tendency to wrap their ideologies in the doctrines of the church; however, there’s another often overlooked annoyance which is exhibited by all conservatives, not just mormons.

Conservative dissent isn’t creative.

The main difference is that when conservatives protest it’s put together so lazily.  When liberals protest, they are putting on a production.  Take for instance the two videos included in this post.

Conservatives:

When I watch this video, I can’t decide if I’m at the World Cup (“U-S-A, U-S-A”) or if I’m at some strange church that requires their members to wear red, white and blue.  Not to mention, it seems that many don’t fully understand why they’re even there.  Annoyance level = Off the charts.

Liberals:

Not only do these activists put on a show that reveals a lot of thought, they make people smile.  Minute 2:26, for instance, shows a family of all ages laughing and thoroughly enjoying their chant of mockery.  Annoyance level = Low.

I am exited to explore in depth the doctrine of Charity, which is the pure love of Christ or the way Christ loves us.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Verses 1-3 tell me how important Charity (Love) is. If we spoke with the tongue of angels or had the gift of prophecy or understood all mysteries, if we don’t have charity then we are as nothing. We need to have charity more than all knowledge or all faith. We can give away everything we have to feed the poor or sacrifice our bodies to be burned but if we don’t live with charity then it is for nothing. If we have all kinds of great gifts bestowed upon us or do any number of great things we are “nothing without charity”. We can’t base our salvation on just one or two things we have to include Charity or it is all in vain.

What is charity? Charity in verse four is broken down in specific attributes so that we may fully understand what charity is.4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Verses 8-13 further illustrate how important Charity is in our lives by comparing it to other important aspects of the gospel of Jesus Christ8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 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. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Moroni 10:46-47

46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail — 47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. 48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.This additional Christian Scripture passage adds to the importance of charity and teaches us more about Charity. All things must fail but Charity will never fail. This would indicate to me that we should invest much effort and prayer into obtaining the gift of charity so that it fills our sould and heart to overflowing. Verse 47 tells us that we must pray with all the energy of hear to be filled with this love.

This passage also teaches us that Charity is the pure love of Christ and when He comes again the second time if we are filled with Charity we shall be like Him. Charity is a purifying force as well.

So what exactly is Charity that it is so important? Charity is the “Pure Love Of Christ”. So when you read the word “Charity” substitute the phrase “pure love of Christ”.

Suffereth Long
The “pure love of Christ” suffereth long.

What does “Suffereth long” mean? In short “suffereth long” means patience. Consider the verse 1 Peter 3:20 In part that verse says “when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah…” We also know that mankind was extraordinarily wicked in the days of Noah. God was very patient having Noah call them to repentance before the destruction of the flood. One of the online dictionaries defines “long-suffering” as: “patiently enduring lasting offense or hardship”. There again is the word “patience”. Part of the pure love of Christ (Charity) is patience.

This means that we need to have patience. Patience toward who? We are told to have Charity like Christ does and Christ is patient towards all mankind so that implies that we should also have patience towards all mankind and especially those close to us in our own life like our spouse and children and those people we interact with on a daily basis but not to exclude all others.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) The Lord exerts all the patience He can toward us so that we may have as much time possible to repent and turn to Him.

Is Kind

“The pure love of Christ” is kind.

The one of the online dictionaries suggest that “Kind” means: Affectionate, loving. Of a sympathetic or helpful nature. Of a forbearing nature. Gentle. Arising from or characterized by sympathy or forbearance (a kind act). To give pleasure or relief.

A good or benevolent nature or disposition. A loving person. Having, showing or proceeding from benevolence. Considerate, helpful, humane, mild, gentle, loving or affectionate.

Forbearance means “To be tolerant or patient in the face of provocation.” An abstaining from the enforcement of a right. “A creditor’s giving of indulgence after the day originally fixed for payment.” This descriptions of the word “Kind” certainly sound Christ-like. This kind of kindess is what we should be striving for, even praying for.

Envieth Not

“The pure love of Christ” envieth not.

Envy means a painful or resentful awareness of something enjoyed by someone else as well as a desire to possess the same thing the other person has. So if Charity Envieth not then we should not be resentful toward others but rather we should be happy for the things others possess and share their joy. We cannot envy someone if we have the pure love of Christ in our hearts. We need to have joy in others successes and achievements. If everyone “envieth not” think of the drop in the crime rates.

Vaunteth Not Itself

“The pure love of Christ” vaunteth not itself.

“Vaunt” means to brag or to make a vain display of one self? We should not draw undue attention to ourselves. When we brag about ourselves we are setting ourselves up to appear to be better than others. God loves us all the same. He doesn’t love whatever sin or misdeed we may be involved in but He loves us all the same. We should not seek to make ourselves appear to be better than each other.

Is Not Puffed Up

“The pure love of Christ” is not puffed up.

Puffed up means to speak or act in a scornful, conceited, or exaggerated manner. We should just be ourselves or we should be the person we are trying to be as we seek for Charity in our lives. We need to be humble (teachable) and sincere. If we are locked into Charity as a way of life then we would have no insecurities and have no need to be conceited.

Doth Not Behave Itself Unseemly

“The pure love of Christ” doth not behave itself unseemly.

Unseemly means not according with established standards of good form or taste. In other words we should be vulgar or crude.

Seeketh Not Her Own

“The pure love of Christ” seeketh not her own.
To “seek not her own” means being selfish. Anyone who has Charity or seeking Charity is not selfish. We should repent for any selfish behavior and strive to not be selfish.

Is Not Easily Provoked

“The pure love of Christ” is not easily provoked.

Is not easily made mad or one who is slow to anger. Not resentful. If we considered the life of Christ he was very slow to wrath. The only time he showed wrath was when the money changers we disrespecting the Temple. Even when Christ was be unjustly tried for made up crimes he was not provoked. When He hung from the cross, rather than be mad he ask Heavenly Father to forgive the soldiers who were torturing Him.

Thinketh No Evil

“The pure love of Christ” thinketh no evil.

Evil is the opposite of righteousness. Charity does not think of things contrary to righteousness. Ask yourself what is evil and think the opposite. Think of virtuous thoughts. Ask yourself what would Jesus think about and think likewise.

Rejoiceth Not In Iniquity But Rejoiceth In The Truth

“The pure love of Christ” rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth.

Iniquity is both sin and behavior directly in opposition to righteousness. Charity finds happiness in the truth or rejoices in the truth. Thinketh no evil and Rejoiceth Not in iniquity go hand in hand or are companion virtues. Don’t think evil thoughts and do not rejoice in inquity. Do we watch movies or read books where we find ourselves rooting for the bad guy? Is that Charity?

Beareth All Things

“The pure love of Christ” beareth all things.

What does it mean to “Bear”? Looking up the word “bear” on several online dictionaries came to the following conclusions:

To make one’s way steadily especially against resistance. Continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties.

To put up with something trying or painful.

The terms Suffereth (Suffer) and Beareth (Bear) are synonyms in parts of their meanings but they also have some differences in their definitions. From what I can ascertain The phrase “Suffereth Long” is more to do with patience. The phrase “Beareth All Things” deals mainly with faithfully overcoming trials and adversity.

Believeth All Things

“The pure love of Christ” believeth all things

This phrase “believeth all things” has to do with faith. Charity, the pure love of Christ wouldn’t teach to believe all things regardless. For instance. Do we believe the God created the earth or do we believe in junk science that the earth was created from a big bang?

Do we believe God created Man in His own image or than man evolved from apes? We don’t believe all things spiritual and worldly but rather “believeth all things” is to have firm religious faith. To accept the gospel as true, genuine or real. Furthermore it means to have assurance or faith in righteousness. Trust in God. To have a firm conviction as to the goodness, efficacy, or ability of something. If that thing doesn’t have goodness of efficacy then it is evil and not to be trifled with.

Other definitions of “Believeth all things”: To have confidence in the truth,

Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

2 Corinthians 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

Hopeth All Things

“The pure love of Christ” hopeth all things.

To look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence. For instance, to look to Christ for ones salvation. To place trust in or rely in. We need to trust in Christ that He will do what He says he will do. To look to the Gospel of Jesus Christ with confidence.

Endureth All Things

“The pure love of Christ” endureth all things. Here is what some online dictionaries defined Endure as.

To undergo a hardship without giving in. To suffer or endure a great pain. To remain firm under suffering or misfortune without yielding. To bear without resistance or with patience.

To support adverse force or influence of any kind; suffer without yielding; suffer patiently. The life of Christ is a perfect example of enduring all things.

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

i’ll write another poem instead of writing an essay for school

last night i was determined to clean my room and write a 1,000 word essay

i was going to text somebody and maybe go somewhere and do something

now i feel like i will spend the rest of my day trying to boost my self esteem enough to the point where i could clean my room and write a 1,000 word essay

i have a dvd from the library

i should have returned 4 weeks ago

it’s not a very long long walk to drop it off

why don’t i drop it off

i took out a book about artists in china

it’s like 1,000 pages and weights like 25 pounds

it has cool pictures of chinese artist’s homes

i only looked it 2 times

i was supposed to return it 3 days ago

i have nothing but free time but i ‘m failing my classes

why am i fucked

i am fucked

i should become a mormon

wait

i do not want to become a mormon

i don’t know what they believe

i don’t want 8 wives

i want a job where i can wear a suit and carry a briefcase

i want an office in a high rise building

i want to be paid really well

when i get there i want surf the internet

and listen to indie music all day

and read the most relevant blogs

and never do any ‘ actual work ‘

i know

i have to work hard

but hard work is stupid

andrew carnegie never worked hard

i am not lazy

i ‘ m just too overwhelmed to do anything of importance

Born: Blackburn, England; 29 September, 1884
Died: Wallasey, England; 19 August 1970

Known as a typical ‘wheeler dealer’ in the 1920s British film industry, Harry B. Parkinson produced many films in the short series format as well as features, including the sensational titles Trapped by the Mormons (1922) and Married to a Mormon (1922). Both of these films featured American actress Evelyn Brent as the apparent ‘victim’ of the perilous Mormons (Trapped by the Mormons is also known as The Mormon Peril).
No stranger to controversy, Parkinson later produced the feature film The Life Story of Charles Chaplin (1926) without the star’s permission. The film consists of an impersonation of Chaplin by Chick Wango against a travelogue backdrop of London as the star visits significant places from his past. Not surprisingly, Chaplin’s lawyers prevented the release of this film. Despite this setback, Parkinson’s well-produced travelogues in the Wonderful London series of 1924, according to Robert Murphy, provide ‘a startlingly varied and evocative record of London locations and merit further investigation’.
The popularity of talkies in 1929 struck the death knell in Parkinson’s film career, who produced one sound feature A Sister to Assist ‘Er (George Dewhurst, 1930), before leaving the industry to pursue a career in hotel management. His son, Roy Parkinson (born in 1916) followed his father’s footsteps into the film industry, working as a production manager at MGM-British and other studios in the post-war decades.

Still controversial, Trapped by the Mormons was remade in 2005 www.trappedbythemormons.com
View the trailer below.

For a full filmography of Harry B. Parkinson, check out the entry in the BFI database.

Bibliography: McFarlane, Brian, The Encyclopedia of British Film (London: Methuen, 2003)
Murphy, Robert, Directors in British and Irish Cinema (London: British Film Institute, 2006)

MORMON NINJA
Learn the difference, it could save your life

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Rua João de Goes, S/N – Centro (Matriz)

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“The Lord said, ‘I will hasten my work in its time’ (D&C 88:73). Surely anyone observing the recent growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is keenly aware of that hastening process. This should make us humbly grateful for the Lord’s omnipotent hand. Obstacles that seemed insurmountable have proven to be merely challenges for the faithful, for ‘with God nothing shall be impossible’ (Luke 1:37). “Inspiration has prepared the way from the beginning, when the Lord impressed the Prophet Joseph Smith to compose the twelfth article of faith: ‘We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.’ This inspired statement was surely written for our day. The Prophet knew that the gospel was ultimately to be taken to all nations regardless of their governmental differences. He knew that the ordinances of salvation and exaltation could bless the lives of people regardless of their politics. And he knew that people who were taught correct principles and who were loyal to their civil leaders and observing of their local laws would be most able to enjoy the blessings of the gospel.”

Elder Russell M. Nelson

If you love the Lord he will bless you. You choose to be  BLESSED OR CURSED. What is it going to take in these last days ? God’s presence on you will change people around you. Be blessed by the word of God not man.

I want to use this blog about movies to rant a little bit about things that are kind of unrelated to movies, but kind of totally related because movies, if you think about it, are related to everything. So lets get this shit underway:

Lately I’ve been really disappointed by my tendency towards self-censorship. I’m sitting here eating canned beets, writing a semi-crazy  anti-Mormon rant when I say to myself “this is the internet. People will read this,” and delete the whole thing. Sure, it was pretty offensive and I don’t want to make my dad cry, but it was also pretty funny and totally relevant. Because who cares that I’m eating beets? Aren’t you more interested in what I have to say about the ERA? I am!

Maybe self-censoring isn’t the problem. Maybe what you don’t say is far more interesting than what you can say, and maybe hurting peoples’ feelings just isn’t all that great. Maybe the problem is that I do it badly. Because Whitman self-censored all the time, but he still got to talk about blow jobs all he wanted (they were just hidden blow jobs!). But without all the potential literal imagery and swears, Whitman isn’t very funny.

I don’t expect Dear Jesus’s readers to be the biggest Kevin Smith fans, but you have to hand it to someone that can be so candid. Not only with his fans in Q&As and SmodCast, but in the films he’s willing to make. Can you imagine taking your mom to go see Dogma? It’s only a million times worse when you made the thing, I’m sure. There are cruder movies out there, but Smith’s films don’t pretend to be anything they aren’t. Sure, Chasing Amy’s on Criterion, but it wasn’t made with the intention of ever getting to that level of critical appeal. These movies are comedies, with poop jokes, and Smith is as honestly crude as he feels like being. I think that openness of purpose is nice. Maybe I could make something that looked as good as Clerks, but I could never be that open with it, and I respect the View Askew people for that attitude.

Marrying someone that recently left the Mormon church puts me in an interesting position. On the one hand, I have to be the mediator that calms him down when he’s screaming “burn the temple!!!” on Main Street. On the other hand, he gets me thinking about all this stuff again and it makes me angrier and angrier. And all I want to do is be candid about it with people that matter to me. Never going to happen. Not even on a blog that I’m pretty sure is safe territory as far as my immediate family is concerned. And that makes me sad…or angrier. I don’t know.

     One of the basic tenets of Mormonism is that we are on earth to be tested and to work to become worthy of life in the celestial kingdom.  The following quote from Gospel Principles is representative of this teaching.  “By following His teachings, we can inherit a place in the celestial kingdom.  He did His part to help us return to our heavenly home.  It is now up to each of us to do our part and become worthy of exaltation.”  (p. 16)

     As a result, many Mormons have scoffed at the idea of that salvation is God’s gift based completely in Christ’s work for us – that salvation is by grace, through faith, without works.  For example, an LDS prophet stated:  “One of the most fallacious doctrines originated by Satan and propounded by man is that man is saved alone by the grace of God; that belief in Jesus Christ alone is all that is needed for salvation.”  (Spencer W. Kimball)

      But there is a whole class of people that Mormonism says will be saved in the celestial kingdom without having to prove themselves.  I’m talking about small children who die.  D&C 137:10 says:  “And I also beheld that all children who die before they arrive at the years of accountability are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven.”

     This sparks a couple of questions.  If it was so important, according to Mormonism, that we had the chance to prove ourselves by wisely choosing the right, then why does God allow children to die before they have a chance to prove themselves?  And if the idea of salvation as a totally free gift is so obnoxious, why then does God give small children salvation in the celestial kingdom?

A Law!  It’s amazing to me that this whole issue can be put so succinctly;  yet, if you showed this video to any anti-marriage equality people, they still wouldn’t accept it.  Oh well, keep on keepin’ on.

Via Towleroad

Documents the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints (FLDS), a polygamist religious sect on the Utah/Arizona border headed by Warren Jeffs.

Via DocChannel

The Society for Biblical Literature (SBL) is currently holding its annual meeting in New Orleans. The meeting began November 21 and will run to November 24. Abstracts of the many sessions are available online.

Of particular note is F. Rachel Magdalene, University of Leipzig and Humboldt University Berlin, who is  presenting Retributive or Restorative Justice: Reading the Nature of God, Justice, and Humanity in the Book of Job on Monday (November 23):

The traditional understanding of the transaction between Yahweh and the Satan in the prologue to the book of Job is that this constitutes a test of Job’s faith, one which the Satan initiates but Yahweh allows as the Satan’s superior. This understanding supports the omnipotence of Yahweh, but raises several other theological questions, as well as a number of literary and legal ones. For instance, this view may well challenge both Yahweh’s omniscience and his omnibeneficience. Moreover, this reading does not readily account for the presence of the dialogues, the plethora of legal metaphors throughout the book, and the distinct nature of the Elihu speeches. This paper will argue that the Satan brings a formal legal charge against Job in the Divine Council with which Yahweh must deal juridically in order to maintain his position as the creator and maintainer of cosmic justice. God does not impose the suffering on Job nor agree with its usefulness. This is the Satan’s claim, and, once it is proven incorrect, Job’s fortunes are reinstated in a manner that does not support the idea of retributive justice, but rather God’s restorative justice. The paper concludes that a reading of the book of Job that is sensitive to the legal materials of the book reveals that the book may well represent a far different theology and theological anthropology than has previously been thought. It may, in fact, disclose a profound divine trust in humanity that foreshadows the atoning work of Christ.

Madgaline (Ph.D. University of Denver and Iliff School of Theology and J.D. University of Colorado School of Law) provides a provocative perspective to the story of Job as seen through the lens of the “divine council.”

Religioscope vient de mettre en ligne différents articles de leur cahier du mois de novembre.

On trouve ainsi une étude de Patrick Haenni sur le centenaire de la confrérie soufie Alawiyya. “Patrick Haenni analyse dans cet article l’évolution de la confrérie et en tire quelques enseignements sur des développements de de l’islam contemporain” (on peut aussi télécharger l’article en pdf).

Ce cahier “contient aussi une étude sur l’évolution d’un groupe religieux peu connu, issu du mormonisme, aujourd’hui dénommé Communauté du Christ. Rédigée par un chercheur français, Chrystal Vanel, cette étude montre comment s’est transformé au fil des ans ce mouvement comptant aujourd’hui quelque 250.000 fidèles dans le monde” (on peut aussi télécharger l’article en pdf).

Yes tah dayee…

Was Friday.  Friday I work. Friday I also go a’Bible-studying.

It’s always hard to decide which study to go to.

The more conservatively minded, smaller study… or the bigger, younger, more liberally minded study?

Last night I did both.  (The young-er’s stay up lat-er. =)

From the smaller, older:

Isaiah 63:6-7 (The contrast here is interesting.)

… Jeremiah 6:10-27 (“I am full of the furry of the Lord…”)

Ephesians 4.

and from the younger, later:

Genesis 6… and Jude. (Nephalim? Canonization?)

Crazy Love, by Francis Chan… anybody read it? 

————————————————————————————–

My sister and I stayed there and talked with everyone till 3:00 or so… =)

-Gave away some Nuggets tickets…
(My sister WON them… in a contest she didn’t even want to enter!)

-I locked a guy in the closet, and he SHOWED UP in another room!??? -plain-weirdness.

-Got to discuss Plato’s “cave analogy” yet again!  (What about colors?  What about levels?  what about relevance?)

-Pondered the word “Dramatic”.  (Does bursting out with an unintelligible scream when you remember that you’ve only 2 weeks of school left before graduation, count as “dramatic? =)

-Shared the news of a HUGE Fireball meteor!  The light of which my brother, my roommate, and I saw as if’t'were a momentary sunrise in the WEST!  a few nights back.  It was pretty cool. =) 

-Quoted some of “Inaudible Melodies” by Jack Johnson… (Goooooood music… *sigh*.)

-Thought about John Piper (Books, podcasts… due to my friend Chris’s mention of an audio book version of “Desiring God”.)

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

…my parents’ house, I slept on half of my brother’s couch… for a few hours, before two of my friends, “Elder” Call, and “Elder” Johnson showed up at the door this morning.  asking to talk to me… (I don’t even LIVE here! lol)

Anyway, I talked to them for a while… encouraged them to read Philippians, and Luke… and promised to read “Alma” 36, and 42 and “Moroni” 10 something… (which I did once they left.) 

I was soooo tired…

They are “nice” people… the first time I talked with them… Jesus broke my heart for them, and showed me how much He wanted them to know His truth from their lies… so this week they came again… and I learned from my last encounter, and encouraged them to seriously read the Bible and seek God. (The last time I kind of left it at, “Yeah, I guess if The Book of Mormon is a lie then God would show you if you asked Him.”)

I’m thinking of asking them if I can tag along with them next week… (I was their first stop this morning. =)

(They’ve never heard of Ravi Zacharias, EVEN THOUGH he talked at their Big Tabernacle place a while back. *shrug*)

It’s my mom’s birthday today! =)  She’s insane!  in a good way, mostly. =)P

I’ve no idea how she’s put up with all six of us crazy kids for so long.  But I’m glad she has. =)

We ate brownies with ice-cream, and played Taboo… my team won by 1 POINT! =)  (Not without a few disputes regarding “Jen” versus ”Gin” and whether saying “Superhero” was allowed, when “Superman” was taboo.)

…and Chic-fil-a finished the night.  I yelled Bingo while we were ordering! not realizing that an ACTUAL game of bingo was going on. =( oops! lol!   I thought it was funny. 

Then I got to play legitimately, while we ate…

and… after several, suspenseful, close calls, I filled in a whole line… so… I jumped up and yelled “Bingo!” again, right? 

 I ran up to the table with my two hoodies half-on, and my stocking cap crooked, and my crumbled, ripped bingo sheet waving… only for the man to tell me that they were playing “Blackout Bingo.” 

My brother and I were debating -upon my “shameful/depressed” return- as to whether everyone in the place was staring at me because “No way did that dude BlackOut, after only that many numbers!” or “What on earth?  A craz-ed-ly joyful freak! with his jacket falling off, just beat us at Bingo!?” 

Anyway, we had a good time the rest of the night, with our “waiter” (Whom I know from various local church-ish happenings.) saying, “My pleasure.” in response to me saying, “I’m sorry.” -tee hee hee- AND THEN!  He didn’t say, “My pleasure” when I said thankyou for something else, later on! *gasp* That’s never happened to me before… EVERY employee at Chic-fil-a ALWAYS says “My pleasure” when someone says Thank you.  They just do.   But he didn’t!

I was… stunned, shocked… surprised, caught off guard… confused… But I recovered, as he walked away apparently completely oblivious to what he had just done.

There was a cow dancing around the whole time… Once, he purposefully got his hand caught in between the two doors while two young girls were watching. Motioning for help, he tried to get them to assist in freeing him… after several minutes the girls, as a team, freed the cow!  and learned, to some degree, a valuable lesson in good will, and being a servant to all. =) 

On the way home I was thinking about my Bingo defeat… and about how important it is to know what you’re shooting for. 

So many times I feel like people “miss the mark” partly because they’re shooting for another bull’s-eye.  (Like my Mormon friends.)

And I experienced, in a very tangible way, what it’s like to think you’ve accomplished the goal, only to find in the end that you were no where close. 

I don’t want that for young Mr. Call or Mr. Johnson.

I’m sitting here tonight, typing all this out… with a bunch of little things annoying me to pieces!  WHY?!

I’ve been thinking for the past two weeks, how important it is to tell God when I’m not doing what I know I should… when something’s distracting me from Him, when I feel like I can’t let something go.  *sigh*

My brother’s birthday is tomorrow. 

and I’m expected at church in the morning… (I should probably check with my friend about giving him a ride.)

My bigger sister is clicking to, and talking at, her cat!  (It’s stuff like that that sometimes gets to me!  And I can’t figure out why it sometimes does, and sometimes doesn’t.)

My biggest sister is listening to “Oh, My God” by Jars of Clay… I like that song… so much is packed into it!

I… should sleep… I’m sooo tired… five and a half hours of sleep wasn’t exactly what I’d planned.  (But, Thank You Jesus! for something eternally-directed to invest in as soon as I awoke! =)

I

Like

Jars of Clay

and Chicken

and Moms

and the Love,  Grace, and Justice of God incarnate, Jesus Christ!

and meteors

and brothers

and praying

and Philippians

and Clementines

and Hawaiian Sweet Rolls

and… Rhyming.

*************************

And now I will leave you all… have a blessed, restful, thankful Sabbath!

Keep Smyling… Praying… Trusting…Doing…

In Christ,

-MAC <>< = )

Over the past week I have been entertained by watching the Sons of Skousen run about the state of Utah trying to figure out a way to handle the church’s support of Gay Rights.  The conservatives in Utah have begun to separate themselves into two distinct groups, both providing hours of entertainment due to unintended innuendo and blatant political absurdity.

Those Who Pursue Bigoted Agenda Despite Their Church’s Stance. 

The first group of conservatives that are forming are the hardcore bunch  of self-centered zealots.  This group can’t possibly comprehend the church doctrine, which they have wrapped around their conservative activism, has taken a stance contrary to theirs. 

The best example of this group is Jeff Reynolds of the Sutherland Institute.  As a firm believer in separating church from state, these organizations which claim divine endorsement annoy me to no end.  Needless to say, I was more than vindicated when the Salt Lake Tribune reported that

Standing in the City Council Chamber, the Sutherland Institute’s Jeff Reynolds told reporters rumors of the church’s support were both ridiculous and a glaring case of “journalistic fraud.” The church, Reynolds said, simply would proclaim nonopposition to the ordinances.

Then church spokesman Michael Otterson strode to the lectern to deliver the bombshell. Soon after, Reynolds skedaddled to write a response that showed up two hours later. Blindsided by the news, Sutherland nonetheless reiterated its call for the Legislature to kill the ordinances, which outlaw firing or eviction in Utah’s capital based on a person being gay or transgender.

As humorous as Reynold’s situation is, the second camp is just has ridiculous.

Those who are blatantly homophobic but will support Gay Rights after the LDS church sets the standard.

It has been nearly fifty years since JFK broke the glass ceiling for Catholics showing the world that one can be adherent patron of a denomination and not be susceptible to vote the way of the church.  In true American fashion, we find ourselves stepping back behind the progress we have made.  Thanks Chris Buttars.

It’s perfectly fine that Buttars wants to keep gays from “acting out” and “shoving” their homosexuality down his throat because he’s had homosexuals over for dinner.  It’ll be interesting to see if Buttars’ votes continue to mirror the churches when adoption is voted on.  If history shows anything he most certainly will.

The internet buzz this week presented two stories regarding sexual abuse and LDS bishops.  One Bishop has admitted failure in pursuing legal action of one of his patrons, the other is accussed of sexual abuse himself on three brothers.

Burrell Mohler Jr.

Mohler has been charged with 42 charges which occurred over a decade.    Many initially thought the incidents had occurred while Mohler was a member of the Community of Christ.  The church has been quick to seperate themselves for the incident. 

Mohler’s LDS bishop at the time, Paul Tonga, has admitted to Fox 4 news that the mother had come to him multiple times complaining of the sexual abuse directed at her children.  Tonga failed to pursue an investigation because no admission was made on the part of Burrell Mohler or the children.

Bill Knox

The Associated Press reports, three brothers in California are pursuing a civil suit against the Silicon Valley Boy Scouts and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for molestation which occured in the 70s and 80s.  The men’s accusations claim the church was “allowing Bill Knox to molest them while serving as a church bishop.”  It is claimed that Knox also molested the boys when he became their step father.

Day 71 – Ken here
(DEF v.1, ch.15, pp.480-490)

Modern Day Primitive Churches
Interestingly, there are modern day churches that consciously mimic the early church’s absolute equality, and independence – (ie the Independent Churches of Christ). Gibbon wouldn’t have known of them as they arose in America in the 1820’s (50 years in the future) during the Restoration Movement (2nd Great Awakening) that gave birth to so many new American protestant denominations (including the Mormon church: see Wiki -the Latter Day Saint Movement, here and here). The history of the the Independent Churches of Christ and the Mormon church show two different ways of growing a new church – and strangely, end up displaying many of the growth characteristics of the early church, 1800 years before.

Church of Christ - sign in front of the Fremont Ohio Church of Christ - note the "meets here" part of the sign - not an accident - the church of christ is not the building, but the group of people that meets there - a primitive hierarchy-free church

The Independent Churches of Christ have maintained their independence, and have the same primitive government as the 1st century church (elders, lay “preachers”, no higher hierarchy), but have fractured into literally dozens of movements over very American cultural issues (admissibility of Sunday Schools, instrumental music, etc), not unlike the hundreds of “sects” that sprouted up in the early church over doctrinal/procedural differences.

Mormon Temple, Temple Square, Salt Lake City Utah - a massive, centralized, hierarchical church

The Mormons (admittedly, with a much different set of goals in mind than just mimicking the early church) have evolved gradually over the centuries out of a primitive simplicity into a massive church hierarchy (not unlike the early church). However, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints grew out of the same 2nd Great Awakening, Primitivist Restoration Movement as the Independent Churches Of Christ (sharing baptism by immersion, a call to reclaim the “original” church – through the Bible, or the newly-translated Book of Mormon, etc). Joseph Smith’s original name for his new congregation was “Church of Christ”.

There must be some socio-psychological reason to explain human behavior repeating itself (first with the primitive church, and later for instance with the 2nd Great Awakening in America). The two modes of evolution of church government (ie fracturing into smaller and smaller pieces, or growing and accreting power into massive hierarchies/bureacracies) seem to be set patterns for us. Is it that we can only move forward and change the groups we grow – either becoming more and more individual and isolated, or more and more homogenized and unified?

Saint Francis of Assisi painting by Jusepe de Ribera from the 1600's - Francis questioned private property unfortunately at a time when the wheels (and forces) of capitalism/business were just beginning their frenetic turning again in the mercantile city states of Italy

The Development of the Church Government
Gibbon (and myself) will continue to press home the point that in the development of church government, churches (as group organizations) tend to form structures that mimic society at large (ie democracies develop more democratic churches, empires, more monolithic churches).

To test this look at the early church. It started out as a communist, egalitarian, property-less society (although St. Francis got in trouble making this point 1100 years later), but quickly mimicked the city states/senates in setting up provincial councils, and the empire in setting up bishops like governors. Eventually, the most important cities (Rome, Constantinople) assumed a religious precedence that corresponded to their political precedence. The heads of church had absolute/imperial power over the “flocks” they tended. I suppose it would be difficult to form a government out of thin air, and so it is natural that the church would mimic the state.

In the U.S., our churches look less like empires and more like federated states. Assemblies hold more power, and the groups look more like republics than empires.

This is Gibbon’s point also – another “shocker” intended to provoke complacent 18th century English readers into questioning (to a limited extent) the inevitability of the form and content of 18th century Christianity in England. Gibbon was again on the near-cutting edge when saying a portion of their Christianity was not divinely inspired, but a cultural, socio-economic growth – and therefor relative opinion, and not absolute truth. Not a very popular view I’m sure back then, and still controversial today (although we ought to know better by now).

WHY DO I ASK?

What do I ask—why do I expect?  You go a friend

Tells me to someone who is more judgmental of

You than you are of yourself.  I go, I ask, I ask, I

Listen—to a judgmental Mormon with words

Sour to match the face—the teeth a block long—

With the courage of their biting conviction—

I seek these things to know, to feel, so as not

To feel something worse.

Only sunlight frightens me now and flowery

Days in spring with the promise of election.

The apple mush is bitter, its crunch lost in

That Paradise of long before.  I cannot wash

The salt sting from my eyes nor can I shake

Loose from my ears the sound of the sea

Rushing to shore.

I have no restful place, no sleep safe from

Dreams, no dreams safe from the baby

Cry, no solitude from the baby questions

That come to me from me—questions

Posed that slice me open to perform

Their reflective surgery—no quietude

Safe from the thoughts that scourge

My soul like the voices of the strictest

Nuns in long habits floating down halls

Looking for sin in the making.

February 2009

Dan Davis, © 2009

The Manti Utah Temple (HD) – Mormon Temples

The Manti Utah Temple (formerly the Manti Temple) is the fifth constructed temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons). Located in the city of Manti, Utah, it was the third LDS temple built west of the Mississippi River after the Mormon’s great trek westward. (The St. George and Logan Utah temples preceded it.) The Manti Utah Temple was designed by William Harrison Folsom, who moved to Manti while the temple was under construction. The temple dominates the Sanpete Valley, and can be seen from many miles. Like all LDS temples, only church members in good standing may enter.

The decision to build an LDS temple in Manti was announced on June 25, 1875 by Brigham Young. The Salt Lake Temple was announced years before in 1847, but construction was still underway and not finished until 1893. The Manti Temple was built, along with the St. George and Logan temples, to satisfy the church’s immediate need for these structures. The site for the temple was the Manti Stone Quarry, a large hill immediately northeast of town. Early Mormon settlers in the area had prophesied that this would be the site of a temple. When Brigham Young announced the building of the temple, he also announced that the 27-acre (110,000 m2) plot would then be known as “Temple Hill.”

The temple was completed in 1888, and a private dedication was held on May 17, 1888, with the prayer given by Wilford Woodruff. Three public dedications were held on May 2123, 1888, and were directed by Lorenzo Snow.

During the construction of the Salt Lake Temple from 18531893, the Manti Temple was the location of the Holy of Holies.

The Manti Temple combines the Gothic Revival, French Renaissance Revival, French Second Empire, and Colonial architectural styles. The temple has 100,373 square feet (9,325.0 m2) of floor space, eight sealing rooms and four ordinance rooms. The exterior is made of fine-textured, cream-colored oolite limestone from quarries in the hill on which the temple now stands. The two towers of the temple are 179 feet (55 m) tall, and the open center spiral staircases inside the towers are marvels of pioneer ingenuity.

**This film is dedicated with love to my mother and father who were married in the Manti Temple on November 19th, 1971.**

To learn more about Mormons and Temple worship, please visit:
http://www.mormon.org