Recently, I was in a meetinghouse in our area for the first time. On the wall directly above the entrance to the chapel, there is a small plaque.
Monthly Archives: June 2008
Evidences and Reconciliations (6/30/08)
And when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God. And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor, every man according to his strength. Alma 1:26 And the elders or high...
Open Thread: Your experiences in church today w/ the LDS anti-gay marriage statement
Do tell….what were your experiences today w/ the LDS Church’s anti-gay marriage statement in your local ward? Feel free to share experiences of friend and family as well.
Michelangelo and Mormonism
Michelangelo, one of most prominent figures of the Renaissance’s A-List, is famous for his sculptures and his frescoes, nearly all of which depicted religious themes. The ceiling and walls of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican are possibly his most well known and celebrated works (perhaps rivaled only by The David.) Commissioned by and under the close supervision of Pope Julius II, Michelangelo was essentially acting as an agent of the Catholic Church. What I find most interesting though, is that when we carefully look at his art, we find depictions and representations of things that are *not* part...
So What is God?
The view of God’s godliness ranges from God as a Bonewits Parasite to God as the ex nilho creator who controls everything down to the direction and location of sub atomic particles. Those views of omniscience and omnipotence as to God and just what that means inside and outside of time were to be Part Three.
A letter from my sister…
Perhaps our feelings about tomorrow’s letter were abreacted in last week’s multifarious and sporadically acerbic discussion. My purpose here is to highlight some of the feelings and perspective of one who is connected to many aspects of the Church’s political action regarding gay marriage. My sister Emily is a lawyer in California, and gay (also kind, witty, and sagacious, but that is beside the point). Her journey through life has had a positive and profound impact on my family and I. I have learned a lot from her, but this issue specifically has inspired me to be more thoughtful and considerate...
Polygamy and Same Sex Marriage
Well, an FLDS update, that includes a link to an Ikea spoof. What other things that everyone seems to be taking seriously can you think of spoofing? Borrowing from Grits for Breakfast: ” here’s some recent coverage that may interest Grits readers:” Fort Worth Star Telegram: Polygamist sect fights back by emerging from isolation London Times: What next for polygamists? Salt Lake Tribune: Was FBI probe in 1980s lost chance to curbe FLDS leaders? Salt Lake Tribune: Jeffs daughter wants to ditch her attorney San Angelo Standard Times: CPS, judge threatened American foundation AP: Cost of raid tops $14...
Raising “Good” Children vs. Raising “Happy” Children
This one is for you parents and aspiring parents out there. How would you answer the following question: Is it more important to you that your child be “good,” or that he/she be “happy”? Hold on to your initial responses — I don’t think it’s such an easy question.
Mormon Coffee-Table Books?
I work with a publisher in Great Britain who is keen to do some lavish, glossy, full-color coffee-table-type books on Mormon themes (or hot-chocolate table, if that’s how you prefer it). This fine gent has asked me to shake some trees and see what topics Mormons would like to see given this kind of treatment, whether historical, cultural, or whatever. He prints ‘em cheap in China and stacks ‘em deep in places like Costco and Barnes & Noble. So take a moment to sit down on your sofa and stare down at your coffee table and try to picture...
Sin and Transgression vs. Morality
Homosexuality is a complicated topic – especially because so many people, particularly in religious discussions, over-simplify it. I want to focus narrowly today on what is “sin”, “transgression”, “moral” or “immoral” – or a combination thereof.
Common Scriptures in Review: “God Would Deliver Them”
Something I have mentioned before is that I believe many members don’t really understand what the Book of Mormon actually says about many things – just like few Christians really understand what the Bible actually says about many things. Much of my perspective on this issue stems from my belief that it is a natural reaction to accept what others say about topics with which we do not feel comfortable claiming to be experts. As long as the explanation we hear sounds good – as long as it makes sense to us – we often take it at face...
On Three Almighties, One Moral Will, and Why This Post is a Complete Waste of Time
The Match Prepare for the ultimate philosophical smack down between a David and a Goliath! In one corner we have our champ Craig L. Blomberg who I have been told is one of the foremost New Testament scholars in the world. Simply put, he’s brilliant. Our contender is my former missionary companion who was never anything but a junior companion. Craig Blomberg comes out of his corner swinging, in How Wide the Divide? His upper-cut is the logical impossibility of the Mormon concept of becoming divine and having more than one Omnipotent “being.” He says, Even simple logic should...
Which Church Activities Do You Miss?
Over the years, the church has cut back and eliminated activities that, in some cases, were long-standing traditions. Which ones do you miss the most? Speech Contests Stake Dramas and plays Talent shows Concerts Roadshow Dance Festivals Monthly ward activities Ward fund raisers Inter-church sports tournaments Know Your Religion Gold & Green Ball (Laurels coming out party?) Others I am sure that there are other activities that I have not mentioned. I also think that some wards and stakes may still do things that are on the list. What were your favorites?
White-Washing
“Whitewashing” is an accusatory term often used against the church to describe efforts to gloss over sticky points in doctrine or history. So, does the church engage in whitewashing?
Evidences and Reconciliations 06/23/08
So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the Lord God of Israel commanded. Joshua 10:40 Thou shalt not kill. Exodus 20:13 Discuss, my friends:
Our Foundation Stories Part V: The Meaning of the Book of Mormon
What does the Book of Mormon mean? Does it follow from its existence that Joseph Smith was (is?) a prophet, that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God’s only church on the earth, that Thomas Spencer Monson is the only one on the earth today that has the authority to officiate for God? Alternatively,does it mean that anthropologists are mistaken about the origins, history, and cultural practices of pre-Columbian Americans? That Latter-day Saints are in possession of the real history of the Americas?
The Bright Night of My Soul
Andrew wrote a beautiful and moving post recently – “Dark Night of the Soul“. In reading that post and the subsequent comments, I had an epiphany about my own experience with certainty and doubt. I have been thinking about how to explain the difference between my experience and Andrew’s – and, even more interesting, the similar result from such different experiences. I will not try to summarize Andrew’s post here; that would not do it proper justice. What I will post here is the epiphany that struck me as I read it and the comments about it. I have...
News Flash: LDS Church WILL Be Actively Opposing Gay Marriage in California This November
News Flash: The LDS Church WILL be actively opposing gay marriage in California this November, and is encouraging members to actively oppose gay marriage in California. They are asking all members of the church to, “do all you can to support the proposed constitutional amendment by donating of your means and time to assure that marriage in California is legally defined as being between a man and a woman.” Here’s the memo to the church, which will be read to all members in California next Sunday. Ouch.
True Discipleship: It’s DOING more than KNOWING
I recently lead a discussion in High Priests (I never call it teaching) about Discipleship, what it was and how we can become true disciples of Jesus Christ. I used several talks and articles by Elder Neal A. Maxwell. He spoke quite a bit about the concept of discipleship and he always had a manner of speech and writing that made what he said or wrote seem more important.
What kind of Mormon are you-Internet or Chapel? – James Leverich
I have to admit sadly if it came to push or shove Mormon Matter opinions and the Internet in the main override what information I would receive from a member of my congregation. Primarily because it’s a collective think tank that has looked at it from different angles and in more depth. Since Mormon Stories, Mormon Matters, For those who wonder.com and a plethora of others that have come into my view it has significantly changed my insights of what I thought was black and white dramatically.
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