I'm Christian, unless you're a child molester

Recently, I have seen several people share a link to a blog post titled "I'm Christian, unless you're gay."
(http://www.danoah.com/2011/11/im-christian-unless-youre-gay.html)

I finally read the post.  While the author makes an attempt to tackle a difficult issue, and promotes kindness toward others (both laudable acts), in the end, Christianity was oversimplified and misrepresented.

One of the first examples used is that of Westboro Baptist Church, the group that has become famous for outrageous protests.  The vast majority of Christians with whom I associate find this behavior distasteful at best.  Protesting at the funerals of soldiers or hypocritically condemning corporations whose products they use (http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/312445) is a poor representation of Christianity.  Fortunately, the author quickly moves from this topic.

The author makes reference to a personal friend who feels lonely and avoided because he is a homosexual.  He points out that many Christians will actively reject, ignore, avoid, and worse any that do not believe the way that they do, even to the point of courageously admitting that he once did himself because of his Christian beliefs.

The author asserts that these judgements are based on self-righteousness and that they do not represent the true roots of religion.  He says that Jesus taught "love one another" and "he that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her ("Her" being a woman who cheated on her man)."  Christ did say both of these things.

Finally after examining the teachings of several other faiths, the final conclusion made is that they all focus on love.  Not love unless a person is homosexual, but just love.  The author's point is that "The greatest spiritual leaders in history have all preached love for others as the basis for all happiness, and never did they accompany such mandates with a list of unlovable actions or deeds."

After oversimplifying religion, the author then proceeds to discuss sin.  He points out that regardless of where you live or how strongly you believe, someone else somewhere believes that you are wrong.  Ultimately the claim is as follows:

"It doesn’t matter if you or I think anything is a sin. It doesn’t matter if homosexuality is a sin or not. In fact, it doesn’t matter if anything anybody else does is a sin or not.
Because sin is a very personal thing! It always has been and it always will be!
And it has nothing to do with love."

This point is certainly popular.  It is politically correct.  As of right now, the post has been shared more than 32,000 times.  Notwithstanding the popularity of this concept, it is wrong.

To the secular observer, Christianity might be reduced to a philosophical concept of love.  It is a common misconception.  Christ certainly preached love, forgiveness, kindness, and humility.  None of these concepts represent the core of Christianity however.  The true root is Christ himself.  He is never wrong.  He is the way the truth and the life.  He is the only way men can reach their potential.  Sometimes accepting Christ means learning to love others.  Sometimes it means recognizing and avoiding evil.

Sin is not a personal thing at all.  It is universal.  It is general.  It is determined by God himself.  While there may be those that disagree on what the will of God is, or how to interpret the words of prophets, the beliefs of men do not shape right and wrong.  The tail does not wag the dog.  In the end, every person will be judged on their actions by Jesus Christ.

A fair point is to say that Christians should not demean or hate those that are guilty of sin.  An unfair point is to say that Christians should not consider politically correct activity to be sin. 

"I'm Christian, unless you're gay" is really not all that different from "I'm Christian, unless you're a child molester."

Of course there are those who will say that homosexuality is nothing like child molestation.  While it may be said these acts are different, in the end, they are both sin... as is adultery, as is murder, as is theft, as is bearing false witness, as taking the name of God in vain.  Christ taught that all of these people should be treated with kindness on an individual basis.  This says nothing about the responsibility of society as a whole, or even important judgements to be made on an individual basis.

It would be foolish for society to simply forgive child molesters and serial murderers and let them wander free.  That does not mean a Christian society should strive to draw and quarter those that are guilty of these crimes, but just punishment is appropriate.

On an individual basis, the stance of Christianity is to forgive, even those guilty of crimes so awful as child molestation.  This does not mean that Christians should hire them as babysitters for their kids.  We should not feel forced into accepting the incorrect choices of others in the name of kindness.  Avoiding those that openly propagate wrong is not always unjustly cruel, even if it is perceived as such.

It is possible to love the sinner and hate the sin, but finding the line that divides mercy and acceptance of sin is not easy.  How does a person express kindness and simultaneously make it understood that they cannot condone wrongdoing?  That is the real question. 

Certainly there are many Christians that do not have it right.  I can think of many occasions where I personally have failed either by being cruel to a person I deemed sinful, or by failing to stand for what is right in an effort to fit in with the politically correct. 

Christians are not perfect... but our master is.  When he comes again to save us, it will not be to save us in our sins... it will be to save us from our sins.  He will not come to save those that demand acceptance, but those that plead for forgiveness.  He will not come with love in the form of a blanket pardon; he will come with fire and fury and he will destroy those that have maligned and abused his disciples - and he will be right in all that he does.

Christians must strive to remember that we are not Christ.  We do not know all things.  We are all guilty of sin.  We need forgiveness for our shortcomings as much as the homosexual and the child molester because sin of any kind should be avoided.  Promoting good and rejecting evil should be done carefully... standing for what is good does not have to mean being cruel... and fighting against sin does not have to mean bullying.

Declaring "I'm Christian, unless you're gay" is obviously wrong... but not just when it comes to being unkind.  It is also wrong to cast off Christianity in the name of accepting a lifestyle that is immoral.  A Christian should never accept relativistic concepts of good and evil.  A Christian believes there is one truth, one way, and one Lord for all people, and his name is Jesus Christ.

Satan Bound

"And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And case him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season." (Revelation 20:1-3)

There is a debate that exists among many Christians regarding what exactly the idea of Satan being bound means.  Latter Day Saints are not united in the interpretation of this either.  When speaking on the subject of the millennium, a member of my class commented that Satan would not literally be bound, but that this was figurative since the people that would live under the personal reign of Jesus Christ would not give place to Satan.  A citation of the following passage was added as evidence: "And because of the righteousness of his people, Satan haas no power; wherefore, he cannot be loosed for the space of many years; for he hath no power over the hearts of the people, for they dwell in righteousness, and the Holy One of Israel reigneth." (1 Nephi 22:26)

There are other passages that indicate this binding may be figurative rather than literal.  Personally however, I do not subscribe to the figurative binding for several reasons.

First, a literal binding is possible.  Satan is not just a concept, or an idea, he is a literal individual that is filled with hatred and malice toward men.  God did in reality cast him out of heaven.  God does have power to bind any individual since he is omnipotent.

Second, if it is people that are not giving into temptation, why not say that?  Why use the wording that places Satan as the direct object.  And if at the end of the thousand years people begin doing evil, why not say that they forsake God as was so frequently said of the children of Israel in the Old Testament?  Why say that Satan shall be loosed?  It makes the most sense that Satan is the direct object of binding and loosing when the binding and loosing is literal.

Finally, and particularly for LDS scriptorians, if modern revelation is the key to our understanding and the Book of Mormon tends to point to a figurative binding, why would the Doctrine and Covenants indicate a literal binding?  "For Satan shall be bound, and when he is loosed again he shall only reign for a little season, and then cometh the end of the earth." (D&C 43:31)  "And so on, until the seventh angel shall sound his trump; and he shall stand forth upon the land and upon the sea, and swear in the name of him who sitteth upon the throne, that there shall be time no longer; and Satan shall be bound, that old serpent, who is called the devil, and shall not be loosed for the space of a thousand years." (D&C 88:110)

I believe that people underestimate the power of Satan.  He has accumulated ages of experience, and he knows very well how to manipulate men.  There really is only one person that can best him every time, and that is Jesus Christ.  He is the one that redeems men that have enough faith in him from the grasp of the devil.  He is the one that saves us from Satan's power.  Because of him we pray to God for deliverance from evil.  He is not just saving us from a concept, a philosophy, or an idea... Christ saves us from a literal threat, from a real villain that plots against us with malice and disdain.  If we trust in him, he will save us all.

The Most Correct Book

News stories on every channel cover politicians, and at an accelerated pace with presidential elections coming in the next year.  Like many Americans, I have found myself disenchanted to some degree with the lot of them.  It seems as if posturing is more important than planning, and popularity is better than principles.

I do not think anyone from any persuasion is looking for someone that is able to harness the power of political correctness and over-sensitivity to lead, but boldness is dangerous in public service.

Perhaps the political climate has contributed to my interest in Christianity. The Bible is filled with bold claims.  Elijah promising no rain or dew until he declared otherwise (1 Kings 18), or Isaiah's bold prophecies about the fall of Sennacherib in the midst of a crushing siege (2 Kings 19) represented the fearlessness with which men accepted God.

In modern times, it seems that some preachers of religion are willing to make exception for many things to increase appeal among potential church-goers... but fortunately not all.  Respect is to be given to several sects for holding to their principles in spite of pressure from the secular influences of society.

For those that appreciate boldness, there is perhaps no claim more bold than that of Joseph Smith Jr. concerning the Book of Mormon.  He said "I told the brethren that the  Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book." (Book of Mormon Introduction, emphasis added)

For some, this claim is too bold.  Consider the following passage: "For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made." (Alma 34:9)  This sentence would be covered in red ink were it turned in to an English teacher.

Also consider this passage, which seems to admit flaw to the Book of Mormon: "And I said unto him: Lord, the Gentiles will mock at these things, because of our weakness in writing; for Lord thou hast made us mighty in word by faith, but thou hast not made us mighty in writing; for thou hast made all this people that they could speak much, because of the Holy Ghost which thou hast given them;" (Ether 12:23)

How can one possibly claim such a book to be the most correct of any book on earth?  Is this reckless boldness, or outrageous rhetoric?

What many fail to realize about the Book of Mormon is that Joseph Smith did not write the book.  He translated it.  In order for a translation to be correct, it does not necessarily require the original author to have used correct grammar and punctuation.  It does not require the printer to have set the type flawlessly.  It does not require that the scribe use the standardized spellings of words.  A translation is correct in its meaning.

Any work of translation requires some degree of interpreting the words to determine the intent of the author.  As fluent as a translator may be in multiple languages, interpreting the intent of the author is almost impossible.  Consider how many different interpretations there are of the wording of the Constitution in English by other English speakers in the world of politics today.

The Book of Mormon was not translated by a scholar, or a linguist.  It was translated by a prophet.  He received the interpretation from God himself... and God was there when it was first written.  He knew what was in the hearts of those ancient prophets.  He knew what they longed to say.  There is nothing lost in translation because it was translated by the power of God.  There is no other book like it.

Scholars have poured over the Bible, and men have given their lives so that its precious message could be spoken in every tongue... but try as they might, there is no one uniform translation of the Bible to rule them all.  This is not the case with the Book of Mormon.

The need for a flawless interpreted witness of Jesus is not difficult to see.  There are those who claim that the Bible represents the interpretations of some religious zealots who were close to Christ, and that the claim of his divinity is too bold.  These secular views can be dismissed by the bold, clear, and repeated witnesses of Christ in the Book of Mormon.  It proves that Peter, James, John, Paul, and all of the prophets and apostles were not exaggerating when they declared that Christ was the very son of God.

I stand by the bold claim made by Joseph Smith.  The Book of Mormon is the most correct of any book on earth.  It prophecies and testifies of Jesus Christ.  As Nephi declared, "...if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." (2 Nephi 31:20)

The parts they left out in the video you saw about Mormons

The recent accusation by one of Rick Perry's supporters indicating that Mormonism is a cult is by no means the first time the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has been called this name.  I recall several occasions where individuals attempted to tell me what I believed based on a presentation they had received or video they had seen at their own church.  Some of the doctrines attributed to the faith were incorrect.  Others obsolete.  Some were true, but portrayed in a context that made them seem bizarre.

Others have spent a long time trying to correct these misperceptions or explain the context behind confusing statements by church leaders from the 1800's.  I do not intend to present a concern resolution post today.

Although I have never personally seen a presentation on the LDS faith from an evangelical perspective, I have noted that every one of my conversations with those that have were lacking critical points regarding our religion.  Not one of them was comfortable enough with the contents of the Book of Mormon to explain who Nephi was, or Alma, or Moroni, or Mormon... the prophet for whom the book was named.  How can one claim to know what Mormons believe without greater familiarity concerning the book that Mormons believe proves the authenticity of the Bible.

Some individuals emphasized that our Prophets and Apostles require blind obedience, but I do not recall one of these accusatory conversations in which the Gift of the Holy Ghost was discussed.  The combination of personal revelation by the spirit of God and the word of God from the mouths of living prophets is found throughout the Bible and the Book of Mormon.

Others wanted to focus on more doctrinal points, such as the nature of the Godhead.  There are many who believe that the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost are simultaneously three individuals, and one individual.  Does the Mormon position that they are three separate individuals that are perfectly one in purpose and goal really make the church a cult?  Christianity is hardly united on doctrine, and accusing some one of worshipping a "different" Jesus because of a few points of scriptural understanding is by no means grounds to call a Church a cult.

Finally, the belief in Christ himself is the most aggravating target of these antagonists.  For a Christian to be accused of not being a Christian by a Christian... it is difficult to describe the frustration.  What more can I say than that we believe that Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten Son of God.  We believe that only his power is enough to help men fulfill their potential.  We believe that only by obeying everything that he has commanded can people find true peace and happiness.  He is our master, our liberator, and our King.  He lived a perfect life, and did nothing to deserve the suffering he endured.  We believe that his work is not yet finished, but that just as he himself promised, he will come again and save us all.

God Hates You And Probably Wants To Kill You

I recall a time as a high school student when I was not feeling very happy.  I was running an errand at a local Wal Mart, and some random woman stopped and asked if I was OK.  I was kind of surprised, but I said that I was fine.  Then she surprised me further by saying, "Well just remember... God loves you..."  I nodded and continued on.  I recall thinking to myself, 'so what?  God loves everyone...  That puts me in the same category as Hitler, Stalin, and Woodrow Wilson.' 

Since that time, I noticed how many times religious leaders and teachers emphasized that point.  "God loves you."  It seems a particular area of emphasis when it comes to lessons and talks directed toward women of the LDS church.  I frequently hear comments about lessons that point out subjects such as individual worth and divine nature from reports on Relief Society.

Perhaps I have a slightly different perspective for a couple of reasons. 

One session of our General Conference is dedicated to priesthood holders, which are all men.  While these subjects are mentioned to the men, it many times feels as though the emphasis is on obedience and repentance, and the tone is in the spirit of 'quit playing for the other team.'  For example, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said during his talk in the aforementioned session "You cannot travel down what Lehi called “forbidden paths” and expect to guide others to the “strait and narrow” one—it can’t be done."  It represents a contrast with the "God loves you" that is found in Relief Society talks.

Another reason comes from my own personal study of the scriptures.  I find that there is an abundance of quotation in manuals and lessons for the scriptures that emphasize the love of God, the promise of forgiveness, or the hope of mercy.  A more in-depth study of the scriptures finds that there are many scriptures of a somewhat darker tone that seem to be intentionally omitted by almost all Christian curriculum.

Some passages that portray God in a less benevolent light include the following:

"For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch."  (Malachi 4:1)

"The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.  That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,  A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.  And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.  Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land." (Zephaniah 1:14-18)

Although these passages clearly describe the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, there may be those who dismiss these verses as harsh because they come from the Old Testament.  Examine the following from the New Testament:

"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.  And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household." (Matthew 10:34-36)  (I might add these are the words of Christ himself.)

"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.  And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;  That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great." (Revelation 19:11-18)

There may be those who are quick to dismiss the intense style of ancient scripture.  Modern revelation however is not all lollipops and rainbows:

"But, behold, I say unto you that before this great day shall come the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall be turned into blood, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and there shall be greater signs in heaven above and in the earth beneath;  And there shall be weeping and wailing among the hosts of men;  And there shall be a great hailstorm sent forth to destroy the crops of the earth.  And it shall come to pass, because of the wickedness of the world, that I will take vengeance upon the wicked, for they will not repent; for the cup of mine indignation is full; for behold, my blood shall not cleanse them if they hear me not.  Wherefore, I the Lord God will send forth flies upon the face of the earth, which shall take hold of the inhabitants thereof, and shall eat their flesh, and shall cause maggots to come in upon them;  And their tongues shall be stayed that they shall not utter against me; and their flesh shall fall from off their bones, and their eyes from their sockets;  And it shall come to pass that the beasts of the forest and the fowls of the air shall devour them up." (D&C 29: 14-20)

The scriptures are indeed full of passages that promise death and destruction to the enemies of God.  Since all men are guilty of some sin or another, it might be easy to conclude that God does not love people.  In fact, it might not be unreasonable in this light to say "God hates you, and probably wants to kill you."

The truth behind this lies in context.  When we incorporate the scriptures that promise reward and mercy with those that threaten death and destruction, we begin to see more clearly the nature of the Most High. 

God does not hate us, nor does he desire our demise.  The effort he invested in creating the world, and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ are proof of this.  That having been said, it is also totally inaccurate to only emphasize the love of God and pretend that his wrath and power do not matter.  The warnings and prophecies of prophets in all generations are evidence that God is not simply there to make people feel good.  We need more than love.  We need power to overcome the problems that confront us.

In my youth, it was easy to misinterpret the phrase "God loves you".  I was thinking in terms of "God loves you" or "God loves you".  Neither of these forms are unique.  Many people love.  Some people can be very helpful, but there are some things that no other man or woman can heal with their love.  You may have significance in a small circle of influence, but in the end, there are so many people, and you are only one.

The more valuable emphasis is "God loves you".  It is not some idle sympathy of a stranger at Wal Mart... not the empathy of a friend... not even the bond or affection of a parent or sibling... it is the same one before whom thousands of people have fallen... it is the same one that sent the great plagues upon Egypt to free his chosen... it is the same one that personally defeated death and hell... There is no problem that is to difficult, no task to great, no person beyond his knowledge and strength...  If God loves you... that makes all the difference.

The Spirit of Prophecy

This past weekend, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints had its semiannual sessions of General Conference.  These meetings provide an opportunity for members of the Church to hear directly from those who are regarded as prophets of God.

To some, it might seem audacious for a Church to claim leadership that speaks on behalf of Jesus Christ himself.  Perhaps it seemed equally brash to contemporaries of Moses, Enoch, Noah, Elijah, or other famous prophets that they had messages from God.  Whether modern or ancient, almost no prophet is universally accepted.

Perhaps the prevalence of modern religious nuts contributes to the cynicism with which many bold religious leaders are viewed.  Certainly people that try and predict the time when Jesus Christ will come again, or the identity of the two witnesses in Revelation that will be resurrected before his return. (Revelation 11).

While it is appropriate to be wary of those that peddle sensationalism as prophecy, the presence of false prophets does not preclude the possibility that there are also true prophets.

The term prophecy is itself frequently misunderstood.  Many people equate prophecy with predicting the future, but prophecy is not limited to events that have not yet transpired.  Prophecy is the truth of things as they were, as they are, and as they are to come.  For this reason, the book of Revelation rightly states “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10).

A person that declares that Jesus died for our sins declares a fundamental spiritual truth.  Similarly, modern prophets and apostles spend a great deal of time talking about the present tense.  Messages such as “have faith”, “repent”, “receive the ordinances of the gospel”, “study the Bible and the Book of Mormon”, “pray always”, and “render meaningful service” were all mentioned during the conference.  These concepts represent true and timely counsel about what needs to happen right now.  Prophets in the Bible and Book of Mormon also spent most of their time preaching about needs applicable to those they taught.

Although the present may be the focus, it is never the limit of a true prophet.  Modern prophets do not hesitate to declare that Christ will come again, or that Satan will not prevail against God in the end, or that forgiveness and happiness will come to the humble and penitent.  Their confidence is more than optimism… it is prophecy.  It is the truth of things as they will be.

These methods are not new; they have been used by prophets and apostles since the dawn of time.  Their messages to us are no less pertinent than Isaiah’s prophecy that Hezekiah would be delivered from Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:20-34), or the promise of Lehi and other prophets that if Jerusalem did not repent, they would be destroyed (1 Nephi 1:4).

The presence of these prophets can be viewed as a sign from God himself that he is not content to simply sit on a throne and let events transpire as they may.  As he has always done, he sends those who can discern and tell the truth of things as they were, as they are, and as they will be.  As he has always, he longs for the sons of men to believe him.  As he has always, he generously offers his power to men, he mercifully pardons even those that have neglected or rejected him, and he continually asks his prophets to boldly declare that “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

The Highest Appeal

After being put before kings and rulers in various places for his supposed crimes against the empire, the Apostle Paul was asked whether he would go to Jerusalem to be tried by Festus.  Paul knew there was no chance of a fair trial in the place where all the enemies of Christianity had purposed to murder him.  Although he was a prisoner, he was also a Roman citizen.  As such, he had a right to bypass the requests of the local rulers' political posturing and have his case heard before the one who was supposed to look out for all Romans... Caesar himself.

In answer to Festus, Paul invoked this right.  He declared "I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.  For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them.  I appeal unto Caesar." (Acts 25:10-11)

Although Festus had hoped to win political favor with the Jews by bringing him to Jerusalem, there was only one response he could give.  After he conferred with the council he replied "Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go." (Acts 25:12)

Although Paul was eventually killed in spite of his Roman citizenship and appeal to the greatest defender of Rome, there is an important principle that can be seen here.  The concept of the highest appeal is one of the most valuable rights of any citizenship.  The ideal of having the ultimate defender of citizenship judge a case is meant to remove the impact of ambitions.  Judges in the highest court can advance no higher, and have only the law and the precedent set by judges in the same position.

While the legal implications of this policy are important, there is a spiritual application that is far more important.

The sons of men are as citizens in a great kingdom.  Most Christians believe that we are the children of God.  Paul suggested that we are not only children, but heirs. (Romans 8:17)  Elsewhere he equates sainthood as citizenship. (Ephesians 2:19)

As in earthly kingdoms and empires of old, citizenship in the Kingdom of God implies certain rights.  Perhaps one of the greatest of these is the highest appeal.  If at any time, you feel you are treated unfairly, you require counsel, you lack wisdom, or you have nowhere else to turn, it is your right as a human being to call upon and be heard by the highest judge: God himself.

There is no complicated appeals process.  There is no need for legal counsel.  There is no lengthy wait before your case can be heard.  The method is surprisingly simple given the great power it represents.  It is called prayer.

To think that at any time, any one can simply call upon the Most High God that forged the great plan of salvation, and sacrificed his only begotten son can be accessed for matters as trivial as lost keys, requests for food nourishment, and petitions for help remembering studied materials during examinations.  Of course, he also hears prayers for matters such as healing a loved one of a grievous illness, answers and comfort for those that have lost loved ones, pleading for help to overcome regretted acts, or requests on behalf of those that are in distress or despair.  No request is too large, or too small.

Not only are men able to do this, but they are encouraged to do so.  Jesus Christ taught "Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.  Or what man is there of you, whom if son ask bread, will he give him a stone?  Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"  (Matthew 7:7-11)

Let no man neglect or attempt to diminish the value of this gift of Heaven... Prayer can be more than a repetitive vocal wish list... it is the power to talk to God... it is the highest appeal.

The Name of God

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." (John 1:1-3)

There are so many titles and names that are and have been associated with God, that it is almost impossible to enumerate them all.  At different times, different names have been more popular.  Even in modern times, there are some people who prefer to call him The Lord, some Jesus, some Christ, some the Messiah, and some Jehovah.  A popular title among members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is Savior.  Some of these names and titles are less common, such as John's reference to the Word of God, the title of I AM in Exodus 3, Alpha and Omega in Revelation 22, the Amen in Revelation 3, or the Holy One of Israel in Isaiah 1.

Why there are so many names?  I cannot think of another person for whom there are as many names and titles as Jesus Christ. 

Perhaps that is the point.  There is no one like God.  There is no one word in any language that captures the magnitude of what he did, the significance of who he is, or the end of his role in our future.  Perhaps that is why he prayed to his Father saying "and this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3)  What man can truly say that they know him?  There is almost always another name, another title, or another aspect of his destiny that could be better understood.

Perhaps it is also a matter of reverence.  In the Church of Jesus Christ, there is an order of the Priesthood called after a great High Priest named Melchizedek. (Hebrews 7:17)  It is not the original name of this Priesthood.  "Before his day it was called the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God.  But out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name, they, the church, in ancient days, called that priesthood after Melchizedek, or the Melchizedek Priesthood." (D&C 107:3-4)  Thus, having many titles, and ensuring that none of them is overused or misused shows respect for the unimaginably massive investment he has made in the children of men.

Whether it is because of the great plurality of his powers, or to aid us in finding context for one who is greater than any of us, I believe that there is a right way to refer to him. 

While it is well that he is the subject of conversation, it is hardly appropriate to rattle off as many different names as come to mind.  Using many titles for the sake of using many titles is in the same school of thought as using vain repetition to be heard for much speaking. (Matthew 6:7) 

On the other hand, overuse of a single name or title can be equally thoughtless.  Being a member of the LDS faith, I personally tire of the title "Savior."  While I do not question the faith of those that use it, I find that overuse of "Savior" as a title cheapens it.  In both the Bible and the Book of Mormon, when it becomes necessary to refer to him repeatedly, the name Jesus or the title Christ appear to be most effective.  When it is necessary to address a specific role, or to emphasize an attribute or power, then another name or title becomes appropriate.

There are some titles or methods of reference that I would prefer never to be used.  Using "my" before a title such as "my Savior", "my God", or worst of all "my elder brother" seem to limit the scope of the power of Christ. 

While establishing a personal connection with God is vital, I appreciate emphasis on his universal and general power.  "King of Kings", "Master", or even "our God" resonate the fact that his gospel is not just for a few.  He is the way, the truth, and the life for all. (John 14:6).

In the end, the most important thing is not necessarily sticking to my personal preferences on this matter.  It is recognizing the importance of the one who bears these titles.  He is more than a philosopher... he is the source of all truth.  He is more than a teacher... he is as a good shepherd.  He is more than a Governor... he is the King of Kings.  He is more than an influential leader... he is the one.  Those that have gone before, those that are here now, and all those that will come hereafter... we all depend upon him.  Though he may be known by different names to different people, let no one doubt that when Jesus Christ speaks, we hear the Word of God.

The Truth Will Make You Free

"Then said Jesus to those Jews that believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32)

I loved the scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade where Indiana is teaching and tells his student that Archaeology is the search for fact... not truth.  He tells them if they want truth, Doctor Tyree's philosophy class is down the hall.

Truth is a philosophical concept.  It cannot be defined by a collection of scientifically verifiable facts.  People that believe that they should only consider that which can be seen, heard, touched, smelt, or tasted place far too much value in senses that can easily be fooled.

Consider how small the range of visible light is considering the entire electromagnetic spectrum.  Consider how many animals are capable of hearing very high frequency or very low frequency sounds that we are incapable of hearing.  Animals in many cases possess olfactory senses superior to those of humans as well.  Simply because we cannot currently detect it, does not mean it does not exist, or that it is unable to affect us.  God has wisdom beyond our perception, and greater than our accumulation of commonly accepted scientific facts.

Sterilization was not always practiced for medical instruments until people like Louis Pasteur convinced the public with his experiments showing that fermentation was caused by the growth of micro-organisms.  Far before the acceptance of scientific evidence of micro-organisms, God gave to Moses laws regarding cleanliness and hygiene that also prevented the spread of diseases (Leviticus 15).

Highlighting the differences between fact and truth, fact is specific and frequently conditional.  The truth is universal and general. 

It is a fact that the teachings of Jesus dramatically changed western civilization.  The truth is that he is the Son of God, and his importance transcends that of civilization on Earth all together. 

It is a fact that mankind is the dominant race on the planet.  The truth is that God created the Earth so that men might reach their potential. 

Birth and death are also facts of life: these events affect us all.  The truth is that we lived before we were born, and that death is not the end.  There is no shortage of people that get worked up over all the pain, the suffering, and the injustice that occurs in life.... but the truth is that after this life there is no wrong that will not be made right.  There is no wound that will not be healed and every wrong will be atoned either by the wrongdoer, or by Christ himself.  All the doubt, fear, pain, loss, or other problems in life are swallowed up by the greater truth that Jesus Christ has power to save us all.

Thine is the Kingdom

Fæder ure,
þu þe eart on heofonum,
si þin nama gehalgod.
Tobecume þin rice.
Gewurþe ðin willa on eorðan swa swa on heofonum.
Urne gedæghwamlican hlaf syle us to dæg.
And forgyf us ure gyltas, swa swa we forgyfað urum gyltendum.
And ne gelæd þu us on costnunge,
ac alys us of yfele. Soþlice.

The words here may seem unfamiliar...  This is English, but it is English as it existed a thousand years ago before William the Conqueror defeated Harold Godwinson in the Battle of Hastings.  This is the Lord's Prayer.

Modern English has done away with the old second person pronouns almost entirely.  There is little chance of hearing some one in the United States speaking to another with the words thee, thou, thy, or thine.  Exceptions to this rule includes prayer and the scriptures.

As if using the pronouns is not difficult enough, older verb conjugations are found throughout the King James Bible.  Most verbs associated with thou receive an est ending, and even those associated with the more familiar third person pronouns he, she, or it receive an eth ending. 

Reading through scriptural passages using these older forms of English can be challenging at best.  Many people have wondered why we do not move to a more easy to understand version of the Bible, or why we are not content with saying you, your, or yours in prayers... after all... don't they mean the same thing?

Even among the LDS faith, there is a common paradigm among members that God ought to be treated as a friend.  If we do not speak to our friends in middle English, why would we speak to God in such a way?  Let me assert that this philosophy is totally wrong.

It seems to me that a person who says that God is their friend is recklessly bold.  People like Moses, the sons of Mosiah, and Joseph Smith were called "servant" (Numbers 12:7, D&C 5:2) and "instruments" (Mosiah 27:36).  What man will claim he is closer to God than these men?  Perhaps there are those that think they will bump fists with Christ when he comes again... but I believe that when he appears "every knee shall bow, and every tongue swear... (Isaiah 45:23).

If I found myself before the literal throne of God, I would probably not say anything at all.  He knows every stupid thing I have ever done, and every stupid thing I have ever thought, and were I in that situation, what would be hidden from his all-seeing eye?  He, the most powerful being there is, has exerted effort to help me, and I have not always even accepted his help.  If I did find the courage to speak, I would certainly want to find words that would be uniquely suited to a conversation with the Most High...

Fortunately, the English language provides us with some archaic pronouns that can still be used to indicate a sincere and humble desire to be close to Almighty God: thou, thee, thy, and thine.  These words also help to identify the words in the Bible as more than common speech, or a philosophical view of the life of Jesus.  The language denotes that it is the word of God.  He has rightly said "for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9)

In his most powerful sermon ever, Jesus spent some time explaining that there is a right way to speak to God... and that in time, those that ask shall receive, those that seek shall find, and to those that knock, it shall be opened (Matthew 7:8)  Though we do not quote it for every prayer, there are valuable lessons in the example that he gave when he said "after this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen." (Matthew 6:9-13).

Wicked Traditions Of Our Fathers

"...therefore he sent his proclamation throughout the land unto his people, that the word of God might have no obstruction, but that it might go forth throughout all the land, that his people might be convinced concerning the wicked traditions of their fathers.." (Alma 23:3, emphasis added)

Today in Sacrament Meeting, we enjoyed the phenomenon known as "High Council Sunday."  For those unfamiliar with this day, the High Council consists of a group of 12 High Priests in an area of the church called a Stake.  These High Priests have a variety of important responsibilities.  One of the duties is to travel to each unit of the church and give a talk.  I do not recall ever meeting some one who served on a High Council of a Stake in which I lived that I found to be anything but friendly, sincere, and courteous.  These are qualities that no doubt qualify them for the most important aspects of their calling... however, these qualities do not make them good public speakers.  Some of these brethren serve for quite some time, and acquire a large amount of speaking experience... yet the number of good high council talks I have heard can be counted on one hand... and not even one with five fingers... the hand of a ninja turtle would have extra fingers...

I am not alone in my assessment.  Many people in the Mormon community refer to High Council Sunday as "Dry Council Sunday".  It is almost impressive how some of these gentlemen are able to go on and on for so long without saying anything of substance.

Today was not typical for a High Council Sunday in that I was not subjected to life stories and repetitive affirmations of affection from the Stake Presidency...  Today, our High Councilman was genuinely nervous.  That does not mean his talk was any good; it was horrible.  It just means I felt sorry for him a little bit.

I could probably go on for quite some length about this awful tradition... but the true subject of my rant is the subject which was assigned: honoring women.  Please do not misunderstand me; women are of immeasurable value, and they are worthy of praise and respect.  The subject of my rant is the wicked traditions of our fathers with respect to honoring women.  It is the wicked traditions of our fathers that teach us that what women need is a man to open the door for her, stand when she enters the room, remove our hats, purchase floral arrangements, and insist they enter buildings first.  Cries of the need for men to dawn shining armorand mount white steeds in defense of the convenience of a woman are not doctrine... in fact, they amount to a steaming pile of you-know-what.

Let me continue by making a sweeping generalization: the type of woman that demands these foolish traditions are the same femi-nazi type that represent the reason chivalry is dead.  In the days when women were encouraged to be nothing other than a teacher, a secretary, or a stewardess if they needed work, society softened the blow by offering them courtesies that we call chivalry.  When the femi-nazi's declared that women could do anything men could do better, that was the day men no longer needed to open the door, remove their hats, purchase floral arrangements, or insist that the ladies should enter buildings first.  You can't have your cake and eat it too...

Some women may honestly appreciate these gestures of stupidity.  That is fine to appreciate.  It is not fine to demand.  There is nothing quite as ironic and irritating as an angry femi-nazi rudely demanding that a man should treat them courteously.  They can open their own door.

Good women don't need the door opened for them to be good.  Their value does not diminish if a man remains seated when she enters a room.  A good woman does not require bouquets to know she is loved.  Preaching these practices as doctrine may spring from good intentions... but we all know where that road leads...

Goodness is not born of foolish traditions or demanding unearned respect.  Good women become good the same way that good men do... by following the best of us that ever lived... Jesus Christ.

Whose Children We Are

Family history means different things for different people.  For some it invokes remembrances of youth in immediate family circles.  For many in the United States, it involves immigration from distant lands.  For some in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, it centers around stories of pioneers making their way with great sacrifice to travel through Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, and end up in Utah, where after a short time, many are asked to travel great distances to create new settlements from Canada to Mexico.  I suggest that for most members of my church however, family history means a bunch of old people who think they are computer experts.

I recall "visiting" the family history library at our local meetinghouse in Southern California where some elderly people showed us how we could view census records or other types of data on a computer using a revolutionary new technology called CD-ROM.  Admittedly, CD-ROMS were a revolutionary technology in the early 1990's... but not even the excitement of cutting edge technology could generate excitement over examining lists of names and dates.

Members of the church frequently refer to enthusiasm for Family History as the "spirit of Elijah", for reasons to be enumerated later in this post.  For now, let me say that my father has the spirit of Elijah, and it does not seem to be strongly hereditary.  My dad is able to speak at length about our pioneer roots including people of such LDS fame as Isaac Morley and Parley P. Pratt.  My recalling those two names is about as far as I go.  My dad has traced some lines back to William the Conqueror or even further back.  To me, this means that filling out a chart four generations back is little more than busy work... it has already been done.  It also means that actually coming across legitimately new work would require intense research only to attach myself to someone in the dark ages when record keeping for the most part was more of what we would call "guidelines" than actual "rules."  Perhaps this contributes to my stand-offish nature with respect to Family History work.  Whatever the reason, I ought to be better than I have been.

The background behind the attachment of many in the LDS faith to family history is something I can speak on with far greater confidence.  The last two verses in the Old Testament say "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." (Malachi 4:5-6)  Thus, when the hearts of children are impressed to discover the truth of their heritage, it may be said they have the "spirit of Elijah".

Elijah lived during the reign of King Ahab in the northern kingdom of Israel.  Elijah is credited with acts of great power including sealing the heavens and preventing rain from falling for a great time, and then releasing the heavens. (1 Kings 18)  He also called down fire from heaven on several occasions, both to burn an offering (1 Kings 18:37-38) and to destroy arrogant captains sent by Ahaziah, Ahab's son (2 Kings 1).  He literally called on the power of heaven to affect earth. 

Uniting events, people, or ordinances in heaven and on earth is a fundamental aspect to the power of God, that was undoubtedly lost when the apostles were killed, and priesthood lineage was destroyed.  This is the purpose of Malachi's prophesy... that this binding power would need to be restored before the second coming of Jesus Christ.  On April 3rd, 1836 in the Kirtland Temple, Elijah appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery (D&C 110: 13-16).

The purpose for this power in modern times is not to call down fire on our enemies as Elijah did.  Jesus Christ will take care of that when he comes again.  The main purpose is to cement or seal the most precious relationships between humans on earth such that they are permanent.  One of these relationships is marriage.  The other is the bond between parents and children.  A fundamental portion of the importance of families in the LDS faith is that they need not be temporary.  Husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, children: these titles have the potential to remain even when men cease to be presidents, rulers, or magistrates.

The importance of this power is manifested in the end of Malachi's prophecy: "lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." (Malachi 4:6)  The angel Moroni quoted it slightly different but with the same effect "If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming." (D&C 2:3)  When I was younger, this idea always confused me.  I would wonder whether the Bible was telling me that unless I enjoyed searching through census data and obituaries, God intended to kill me.  Why the apparent threat?

I have since realized that the passage does not contain a threat in any version.  God sent Elijah to eliminate the threat.  God was there in the beginning, and he made great promises to the posterity of Adam.  He made promises to the sons of men after the flood, or the seed of Noah.  He made great promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and their posterity.  The sons of Aaron had unique roles in the time of Moses.  The problem is that how can anyone now be sure they are entitled to the same promises?  Even though it is safe to say that we are descended from Adam and Noah... are those bonds lasting?  Have the ties to our parents been sealed with the power of Elijah?  If not, then are we orphans? Are we legitimate?  Whose children are we?

This is the great purpose of Family History and Temple work in the fullness of times.  God intends to come again and keep every covenant he has sworn to any man since the days of Eden.  That means having a heavenly recognizable bond that unites the posterity of Adam and Eve today in an unbroken chain so that we may say in every sense of the concept that we are the children of God himself. 

As the apostle Paul put it, "...ye are not more strangers or foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God." (Ephesians 2:19)  Those in God's house that love him will be granted protection when he comes again to purge the earth of evil.  He is warning everyone via his apostles and prophets so that his house is not empty when he returns.  Christ is trying to save us.

I believe that family history is more than the elderly woman at the family history library asking if I need help with a computer.  It is more than reading through census records till my eyesight blurs.  It is more than naming a couple pioneer ancestors, or knowing that I am descended from the man that successfully invaded and conquered England.  Family history connects people.  It unites people from all over the world.  It shows the everlasting value of the bonds we share with fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, husbands, and wives.  It binds us to power that was here when the earth was young.  It by learning that our family connections stretch back to the very beginning that we can better understand we are the children of God, and that our father has not forgotten us.

The Law of Chastity

The law of chastity is a religious law that has brought increased scrutiny, and in some cases, malevolence to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Whether this comes from the misconceptions about the practice of polygamy in church history, or more recent attention to the stance of Mormons on homosexual marriage, few people outside the church understand the context behind the LDS perspective on chastity.  It does not help when those of our own membership misconstrue, misinterpret, or misunderstand the law.

For those unfamiliar with the concept, it is actually quite simple.  Sexual relationships of any kind are only permissible between a husband and wife.

Polygamy is a subject for another post perhaps... and is currently a non-issue since no member can remain in good standing with the church.

In general, chastity is perhaps one of the least popular commandments.  Men seem especially vulnerable to falling beneath its standard.  Perhaps this is because men are biologically programmed to have tremendous desire for female companionship.  Even the sight of a woman can arouse powerful feelings that impair judgement.  What man has not said something that later sounded totally stupid because they were trying to make conversation with a beautiful girl?  In the most serious case, remember King David, who had been hand-picked by God to rule over Israel, who bravely stood up to Goliath of Gath, and who killed tens of thousands of enemies of Israel, but when he saw Bath-Sheba bathing, he eventually fell so far as to arrange for the murder of her husband to claim her for himself...

God has bound intimacy to the commitment of marriage.  Because the feelings of attraction are not similarly bound, and the intensity of these feelings can cause even good men like David to do things they would never otherwise do, and because there are so many ways to violate this law, it is perhaps the greatest difficulty of men.  Compounding the frustrations of natural temptation is the prevalence of blatant disregard for the law of chastity in the form of pornography, infidelity, and homosexuality.

Even among members of the church, there are those that believe they do God a service by attacking his Apostles when they affirm the commandments prohibiting homosexual behavior and/or homosexual marriage.  Whether they are well-meaning misguided individuals caught up in the fervor of rainbow-flag-waving activism, or they are just full of crap, let me affirm my belief that just as he did in Biblical times, God reveals his will and law via his Apostles.  The stance of the church on homosexuality is not just a policy, or the opinion of a high-ranking member of the faith... it is the will of Jesus Christ himself.

One of the fundamental concepts behind the pro-homosexual movement is the devaluing of gender.  If gender does not matter, then there are no grounds for denying marriage to couples based on gender.  Apostles of Jesus Christ have declared the following on this subject: "Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose" (The Family: A Proclamation to the World)  It should not be difficult to see that gender differences are more profound than other cultural or ethnic distinctions.  The "separate but equal" methods that required blacks and whites to have separate bathrooms in some areas are widely considered unethical today, however, we do not see women's rights organizations fighting for combined bathrooms or locker rooms.  This is because the importance of gender is common sense.  Men and women are supposed to be different, and they need one another, not just for the continuation of the human race, but for the fulfilment of our individual purposes.  "Orientation" or "preference" do not override "identity" and "purpose."

Christians that oppose homosexual marriage or other violations of the law of chastity are often confronted with the "harm" argument.  The idea behind this is that in a free society, an individual should be free to do anything so long as it does not cause harm to themselves or others.  Christians might be challenged with questions such as "what did they ever do to you?" or "how do two people loving each other hurt anyone?"  The basic challenge to the belief in chastity is that breaking this law does not harm anyone so long as it is practiced by consenting adults.  In some cases, harm caused by unchastity is easy to see.  Who thinks that broken marriages, costly divorces, and custody battles are positive experiences?  Putting a child up for adoption, or the tragedy of abortion might be even more harmful for those that find themselves in such circumstances.  More difficult to see is the harm caused by pornography, although men that find themselves addicted to it find themselves dealing with more than annoying pop-ups or expensive media.  Perhaps the most elusive harm to see is that caused by the acceptance of homosexual marriage.

Having previously discussed the importance of gender, there is an opportunity cost for those that participate in homosexuality of fulfilling the purposes for which they were given their gender.

Additionally, many homosexuals misconstrue marriage as a right.  All states in the US already restrict this so-called right by a variety of other criteria.  The number of persons being married has been limited to two individuals for quite some time, effectively prohibiting polygamous unions.  There are also age restrictions, which thankfully deny pedophiles the right to have their awful crimes justified.  There are restrictions against the relationship of involved parties, so that a brother and sister, even if they feel they are truly in love, are not permitted to marry.  A person cannot marry inanimate objects, otherwise, we might have people marrying their motorcycles or their guitars.  A person cannot marry non-humans... which means that the crazy cat lady that would like to be eternally bound to her pets cannot legally call her bond a marriage.  Homosexuals would like to re-draw the line to allow them to receive marriage, but have put forth no arguments as to why this privilege should be denied to others from which both law and common sense currently protect.

The greatest harm caused by unchastity in any form, whether heterosexual or homosexual in nature, is religious.  This is often ignored by those that engage in these practices since these reasons can be seen as the forcing of beliefs on the unwilling.  Just because there are those that do not believe that God does not condone these behaviors does not mean that God has not commanded them to be chaste.  This is particularly true for those of us in America.  An important theme of the Book of Mormon is that this is the promised land.  God swore in his wrath and fierce anger that whosever should "...should serve him, the true and only God, or they should be swept off when the fulness of his wrath should come upon them. And now, we can behold the decrees of God concerning this land, that it is a land of promise; and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall serve God, or they shall be swept off when the fulness of his wrath shall come upon them. And the fulness of his wrath cometh upon them when they are ripened in iniquity.  For behold, this is a land which is choice above all other lands; wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve God or shall be swept off; for it is the everlasting decree of God. And it is not until the fulness of iniquity among the children of the land, that they are swept off." (Ether 2: 8-10)  The Book of Mormon tells the tragic stories of two groups of people that failed to heed the commandments of God, and that he destroyed.  It is a witness that God will not endlessly tolerate those that mock his servants and his laws.  On individual basis, those that openly fight against him will be cut off from spiritual blessings.  On a collective basis, those that openly fight against him invite destruction.  I plead with those that disagree with me to avoid attempts to call God's bluff... because he is not bluffing.

Finally, no one knows the harm of unchastity more than Jesus Christ himself.  Though he lead a pure and virtuous life, he paid the price for those that have not with his own blood.  The pain and anguish were so great that even the only begotten son of God plead with his Father that he might escape the torture... a torture that our sins caused.  And yet in spite of our crimes causing him pain, he begs us to come back to him... to believe in his power to heal... to believe that he can free us of our crimes if we will swear to serve him with all our hearts.  Even though our mistakes burdened him with unspeakable torment, at the last day, when our Heavenly Father looks at our mistakes, he offers us to be the one to beg the Almighty to forgive us if we have faith in him.  I submit that if no other reasons are persuasive, or if the harm of unchastisty is still inconclusive, that Christ has done more than enough to earn a "because I said so" explanation.

Opposition in All Things

The Book of Mormon features a story about a prophet named Lehi that fled Jerusalem during the reign of Zedekiah, the last king of Judah.  Some of his sons believe that he is a prophet, and that they are following God by heeding the counsel of their father.  The oldest two, Laman and Lemuel, do not.

In the wilderness, Lehi speaks to his older sons, drawing examples from his surroundings.  He tells Laman that he ought to be like a nearby river, "continually flowing into the fountain of all righteousness." (1 Nephi 2:9)  He then tells his second son, Lemuel, that he ought to be like a nearby valley that does not move at all "firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord!" (1 Nephi 2:10)

The valley and the river are both labeled as good by Lehi for possessing attributes that mutually exclude one another.  The river is good because it's always flowing and moving.  The valley is good because it never moves or changes.  I do not wish to make excuses for the attitudes and choices of Laman and Lemuel, but this does seem confusing.

There is an explanation for this apparent opposition and context from a broader understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ provides clarification.  The first principles of the gospel are faith and repentance. 

The first of these principles, faith, is a principle of never moving.  Nephi later declares that men must "press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men." (2 Nephi 31:20)  Even though this passage indicates moving forward, the unmoving part is the connection to Christ, the hope, and the love.  Faith is challenged when difficulties arise.  Hope is not as perfectly bright when pain and loss afflict men.  Love of God and all men is frequently diminished in the face of persecution.  The ideal is to prevent or at least reduce the loss of faith when these things occur.  Just as the unchanging valley weathers the elements, so to should the faithful endure without losing faith.

The second of these principles, repentance, is a principle of always moving.  Nephi asks that after we have gotten into the strait and narrow path, is all done?  He answers that it is not, and indicates the necessity of pressing forward as in the passage quoted previously.  To be continually flowing to the fountain of all righteousness means to constantly be moving closer to Jesus Christ.  A man must identify aspects of his life that separates him from God, and one at a time, as much as he is able, eliminate them.  This desire to change was exemplified in King Lamoni's father as he prayed to God after being taught by Aaron: "O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day." (Alma 22:18)  Just as the river holds back none of its water, so should the penitent withhold no aspect of themselves when striving to become as Christ.

It is consistent to say that a person should never move from their faith, but always move closer to the one in whom the faith is placed.

Mediocre Music

Music has always been a fundamental part of worship in Latter-Day Saint services.  It has the potential to greatly augment an otherwise average meeting.  The intermediate hymn is particularly welcome on High Council Sunday or when the speakers are telling their life story instead of teaching the doctrine of Christ... which is a topic for another post.

Skill is not always required for the music to be meaningful.  Just this morning (7:00 AM, which is way too early for Stake Priesthood), there was a "choir" that favored us with "Called to Serve."  There were at least two members of this choir that were singing notes that had nothing to do with the song.  Fortunately, they were accompanied by a talented pianist, which helped tremendously.  In spite of the notes, this was a welcome sound to liven up the meeting.

Skill also may not be able to redeem some songs.  The Mormon Tabernacle Choir cannot make "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go" less painful.  For those not familiar with this song, its purpose is to promote contentment with the callings, assignments, and situations which may be required by God.  This is a great message.  The leadership of the church has been known to quote its lyrics many times when preaching about improving our attitudes.  It has three verses that go over going, doing, and being what God would ask.  The problem is mostly with the tune.  The melody is so slow and repetitive, that I cannot recall singing through it myself without yawning at least twice.  I've often thought they might add a verse called "I'll sing what you want me to sing" where it would describe that even though it is a horrible horrible melody, we have been asked by whoever picked the music to sing it...

I think there are several songs of the same mediocre nature in our hymnal.  "Love at Home" causes blood to squirt from my eyes.  "Home Can Be a Heaven On Earth" was the choice for today's meeting.  It should not have been surprising to me.  In months that have a fifth Sunday, adult Priesthood and Relief Society members join in a combined meeting.  Ninety nine times out of one hundred, this results in a selection of mediocre music.  When I was in the Young Men organization, these combined meetings resulted in people asking us to stand and recite the Young Women Value pledge as well... which nearly caused me an aneurysm... but I digress.

Please do not misunderstand me; I am not one that lobbies for the presence of Christian Rock in the meetings.  The lack of brass and percussion instruments does not leave me unsatisfied.  I do not long for the presence of a swaying, clapping gospel choir.  I do however feel like there are songs that inspire confidence and faith.  "Redeemer of Israel", "The Spirit of God", "Let Zion in Her Beauty Rise", and "Hope of Israel" are examples of songs that are appropriate for LDS services, and also do not put people in a catatonic state.  I enjoy "Praise to the Man", "Onward Christian Soldiers", "Battle Hymn of the Republic", and I don't even mind putting my shoulder to the wheel on occasion.  In fact our hymnal is filled with powerful music that portrays God as a God, and not as a warm fuzzy feeling in your tummy.

The Old Testament

There are many in the world of Christianity that seem to feel the Old Testament is no longer applicable because it has been "fulfilled."  These people are wrong.

In Ecclesiastes, the preacher says "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done, is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.  Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is new?  It hath been already of old time, which was before us."  (Eccl 1:9-10)

Particularly for a member of the LDS church, the importance of the Old Testament should be clear.  When Joseph Smith was visited by the angel Moroni, the scripture passages he recollects in Joseph Smith History include those from Isaiah, Malachi, Joel, and a passage from Acts that quotes an Old Testament event involving Moses.  The Book of Mormon begins in the first year of the reign of Zedekiah, the Old Testament King of Judah.  This means the bulk of the Book of Mormon stories and teachings are Old Testament... and proves that Jesus Christ is the prophesied Messiah.

I despise the phrase "God of the Old Testament."  It is the same God that reigns today.  People get the idea that the "God of the Old Testament" was a vengeful and angry God.  I do not wish to dispute that.  I do wish to dispute the idea that he changed his views in the New Testament.  Otherwise, where were the lollipops and hugs when Ananias and Sapphira were killed for lying to the apostles?  Or, perhaps when Jesus made a whip and drove the money exchangers from the Temple, he did so in a kind voice...

The truth is, Jesus Christ has cause to be angry.  He lived a perfect life, but he suffered unspeakable pain.  His did no crime, but was killed as a criminal.  He sent his chosen apostles to teach people how he could help them, and instead of receiving the apostles teachings, they murdered them and twisted their words.  He directs his prophets today to teach people to do simple things like pray, and read his words...  Instead, more and more people only call on his name to curse bad drivers, and describe his words as being "outdated", or "fulfilled".  He is practically begging us to receive the very thing for which we should be begging him.

As many new and exciting technologies and scientific advancements as there are in the modern age, there is still truth in the words of the preacher....  The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be...  The same lust that caused King David to fall, the same stubbornness of Jonah, the same wrath with which Cain slew Abel, the same sense of loss and pain that Job felt, the same cynicism with which Pharaoh viewed Moses...  These things prevail in modern society.  And the solution to the troubles of our time is the same today as it was anciently.  In the Old Testament, Hezekiah, King of Judah, called upon God to save him from the peril of Sennacherib's forces, and found salvation.  Contemporarily, those that call upon Jesus Christ in faith can be redeemed.  The "God of the Old Testament" is not gone... he is coming to save us all.