I am painfully aware that I haven’t posted anything in a long time. Sigh, too much to do, not enough time to do it all. And with Sunstone coming up, I’m dashing about getting ready to make my way to Zion from sunny southern California.
There is a certain madness in this year’s trip. Something inside of me desperately wants to move from San Diego to Salt Lake City. I will be looking seriously at housing opportunities. My friends all think I’ve gone crazy. How can I leave paradise for life behind the Zion Curtain?
Here’s the odd thing — it’s the closest I can come to a “testimony” about anything. I feel as if this is really supposed to happen. I have no idea how. How do I move hundreds of books and everything else that would need to come with me? How can I find housing that will fulfill my needs? I have no idea.
But somehow I feel that there is an undeniable urge in me to relocate and spend my waning years in the shadow of the Temple.
Now, here’s the question: will I live in the shadow of the Temple, or of the Church Office Building? Quite different phenomena, you know. I can’t go into the Temple, but I can go into the Church Office Building. But I have no desire to go into the COB again — been there, done that. Eaten in the employee cafeteria, visited several offices. And, frankly, I don’t much want to go into the Temple, either.
So what do I want? Damned if I know.
What is it about Mormonism, and Mormons, that makes me want to live in the thick of things? The logic behind it escapes me. Maybe some of you who live in Mormon-land can explain it.
Here’s the other version of the story I dug up after breaking into secret Illuminati archives and comparing translations with those hidden in the depths of the Vatican library. I decoded the rest using a Knights Templar cipher wheel obtained from a street vendor selling souvenirs outside the US Capitol building. The final scripture becoming visible under the moonlight reflected off the roof of the chapel at Rennes-le-Château.
Genesis Chapter 22
God: Abraham, I want you to sacrifice your son as a burnt offering. I know he’s your only son, and it was really a huge deal for you when Isaac was born, but I command this. Take him up to the mountain, slice his throat and burn his body.
Abraham: Uhhhhhhh…. Are you sure Lord? That doesn’t sound quite right.
God: Yes. I am sure. Go do it. This is a commandment. Continue reading…
Our new news feature will present an LDS look at current events with an opportunity for our readers to interact from a Mormon viewpoint. Your thoughts are welcome–just remember we all bring a different slant to the table, and be respectful.
Hurricane season is here, with the most recent tropical storm Dolly leaving hundreds of thousands of people in South Texas without power. An estimated 236,000 people were left without food, power, or other services for several days. Retired Lt. General Russel L. Honore, who was leader of Joint Task Force Katrina before retiring, is now urging Americans to develop a culture of preparedness. Since I was in Texas for tropical storm Allison, I saw firsthand how LDS wards reacted in an emergency. One of the most impressive experiences I had during that disaster was the chance to use and share food storage items. So I was taken aback this week when a member of the Church advocated using firearms to protect our stash, stating: “That’s why the Church tells us to keep a gun with our food storage!” Continue reading…
From the earliest days of primary, latter-day saints are taught that the proper pronouns to use while praying are “thee,” “thou,” “thy,” and “thine,” and that the common “you,” “your,” etc. are disrespectful and should be avoided. When we turn to the scriptures, we see that “thee” and “thou” are used freely, and we come to associate the words with religious settings and appeals to deity. Continue reading…
While pondering the concept of spiritual poverty earlier this year, something struck me that I hadn’t considered previously quite in that way. I have believed the central principle for some time, but considering how salvation (being saved from something) applies to this life is something I have not put into words previously. Here is what struck me: Continue reading…
I have one component to my life that prompts little discussions from the lowliest church member to most recently the temple president and I really wish everyone would drop it. You see, I did the unthinkable five years ago, I married someone that is not LDS. Continue reading…
Friends in Utah and in Surrounding States — Seeing Ralph Nader speak (as a Congressional Intern) was a highlight of my life. He remains a hero of mine to this day. Our good friend Ashley Sanders is hosting a house party tonight for Mr. Nader (for those who can still make it), and if ya’ll get the chance, you definitely should consider going to hear him speak when he comes to Utah on July 31st. Information below and attached for both events. Go Nader! Go Ash!!!! And please spread the word!!!
In the past, I consumed large amounts of Mountain Dew and “energy drinks.” I’m getting older now (almost 40). My insides just can’t tolerate the sugar and chemicals. I won’t consume aspartame. It’s an awful substance. So “diet” is not an option.
I recently started drinking plain, black coffee at work. Not only do I feel better, IT’S FREE! The company I work for provides it in the break rooms. I love being thrifty. Continue reading…
A friend and I, two women of a certain age, accompanied our children to an amusement park on a weekday. The children were allowed complete freedom, with an admonition to return to the meeting place at 5 pm. My friend and I found myself with several hours to fill, and we decided to be daring. Instead of finding a shady spot and chatting, eating several hundred dollars worth of funnel cakes, we thought we would recall our youth by riding the most scary rides in the park. I had not been on one of these rides in many years and had forgotten the sensations associated with climbing 100 feet into the air with a crowd at my back. When I reached the top of the rollercoaster, my forehead was slick with sweat. I took my seat and the cars on the wooden tracks began to creak. I felt distinctly unsafe. The coaster crept to the edge of a precipice, and as it rolled off into thin air, a July Fourth sparkler exploded in my chest. This was physical fear. Continue reading…
This is why I love President Monson! He has the common touch and appears to love people.
If you watch the video linked above, you will see the news piece on Salt Lake TV. At the very end, President Monson ends the informal report by flashing a peace sign, saying “Peace!” and chuckling. I was completely enamored of him once again. Continue reading…
We’ve established that there are conservative Mormons (obviously) and there are liberal or “new order” Mormons. Taking the politico-religious rhetoric to its next logical conclusion, I’d like to make a case for moderate (or independent) Mormonism. Continue reading…
Matthew 5:3 says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
As I was pondering the phrase “poor in spirit” recently, it hit me pretty hard that, in our modern society, we so marginalize and disdain poverty that we probably miss much of the meaning embedded in the phrase “poor in spirit” as a **desirable** trait. Therefore, I started thinking about the implications of poverty – what it means not as defined in the dictionary, but rather in practical terms. Iow, what does it mean to **BE** poor – particularly in ways that can be seen as bringing blessings? Continue reading…
Last week we speculated on where the church would be today if it had not extended the priesthood to blacks thirty years ago, and now the other shoe drops:
Where will the church be thirty years from now if it continues classifying monogamous gay sex as a sin and if it rejects any state or federal legislation on gay rights, in whatever form such laws may take?
Please, let’s try to keep this discussion focused as much as possible on the actual question and not turn this into another free-for-all on homosexuality or gay marriage in general…
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lorddescended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
Matthew 28: 1-2
And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
In earthly nature, the term natural selection refers to the process that results in the survival and reproductive success of individuals or groups who adjust best to their environment.
In Mormonism, we are taught that God said, regarding his children who kept their first estate and got themselves born onto this earth, “And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them; . . . and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever” (Abraham 3:25-26). Continue reading…
A good friend from my high school and college days contacted me a couple of months ago. He told me the news that he was engaged. He and his girlfriend had finally decided to get married. They have been living together for the past 5 years, and felt they were ready to take this big step and start a family. I was excited for him! I could hear the change in him through his voice. He was really at peace with taking this step in life. He wanted to do a good thing.
Here’s the kicker: He wants *ME* to perform the wedding ceremony. I was touched. It’s a big honor. Continue reading…
I read this letter in the Salt Lake Tribune this morning, and even though I know it’s a satirical slam, I could not help but agree with the idea proposed. Is that bad?
“Marriage for all eternity is being threatened. Many male members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are married to multiple women in heaven. Even today, prominent LDS general authorities are also polygamists in heaven. I believe in the importance of eternal marriage; therefore I would like to propose a “Celestial Marriage Amendment” that would define marriage in heaven as “one man married to one woman.” This is a moral issue that certainly threatens to undermine the sanctity of heavenly unions…” Continue reading…
The following article highlights something that the Mormon Church has been criticized by some for doing for years, but it is the Southern Baptist Convention (often the most vocal criticizers of Mormonism) that is doing it in this case. Continue reading…
What does it mean to say you believe something or “believe in” something? Would a child say they believe in Santa Claus? Or would they simply act and react to situations as if Santa Claus existed? That is, if their parents took them on the Polar Express would they expect to meet Santa Claus tucked away in a cozy brick house at the North Pole checking his naughty/nice list and getting fist-bumps from Mrs. Claus before he gave rousing speeches to the elves?
Is belief as expectation the best way to understand religious belief in general? Continue reading…
It was back in the 1980’s, and she wore a pastel pantsuit to Church. It wasn’t just any pastel pantsuit, either. This was a sophisticated lady; older, silver-haired, moneyed; and what she wore was pure class. She put all of us with our floral skirts or Mormon tent-dresses to shame. Continue reading…
There is a lot being done in the medical field to help patients understand their genetic predisposition toward certain ailments. Isn’t the same true for spiritual ailments? Don’t we inherit some of these same tendencies from our parents and their parents and so on? Continue reading…
