Ward Preacher Podcast Ep 146 - Cutting the strings off tithing

This week, our Come Follow Me curriculum brings us to D&C 115-120.  We discuss the name of the church, unfinished temples, and tithing.  Study with me!

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Ward Preacher Podcast Ep 97 - Alone in the Aftermath

 This week's Come Follow Me reading brings us to Mormon 7-9.  We discuss what happened to the Lamanites after they destroyed the Nephites, and Moroni's perspective on flaws in the record and in us.  Study with me!

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Ward Preacher Podcast Ep 96 - The Fall of the Nephites

 This week our Come Follow Me curriculum brings us to Mormon 1-6.  We discuss how utopia collapsed and lessons we can learn from this tragedy.  Study with me!

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Don't worry about what the New York Times (a former newspaper) says about Thomas S. Monson

"The New York Times (a former newspaper)"

I laughed probably more than I should have when I first heard Andrew Klavan brilliantly describe one of the most powerful institutions of journalism using this moniker... but I appreciated the additional insights he offered as a former journalist and writer regarding bias and narrative driving that naturally occurs in reporting.

Consider this: if you ever come across an article or feature presented by news media about which you have knowledge (whether science, history, or a specific event), it is usually not very difficult to spot problems with the way they present the information, even if the facts they chose to include may be correct.

Unfortunately, even after seeing issues with reports about these issues, we frequently take news media as reliable sources on stories about which we do not have as much knowledge.

Recently, President Thomas S. Monson passed away.  Many people remembered the numerous acts of compassionate service, the frequent and passionate pleas for people to be kinder, or the bold testimony of Jesus he devoutly demonstrated.

Having listened to many of his talks and read many of his teachings, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are familiar with what kind of person he was.

Enter the New York Times (a former newspaper).

Robert McFadden wrote an obituary regarding the President of the Church for the paper, highlighting what he thought were the most important perspectives on the life of the prophet, which seemed to be that he did not run the church the way the Robert McFadden would have.

Several paragraphs were dedicated to the lamentation that women could not be ordained to the priesthood, or that the church was still opposed to homosexuality.  The greatest positives that could be mustered included the fact that he permitted people to access historical documents that exposed polygamous relationships of early church leaders.

A small paragraph at the bottom concedes that he "embraced humanitarian causes" in connection with other faiths.  There is also a note that he visited widows and wrote personal weekly letters to servicemen while serving as a Bishop.

The name "Jesus Christ" was used only in the context of the name of the church.

I have many friends who have been, understandably, disgusted with this take on President Monson.  Some of them have circulated a petition on change.org (which I will not link), to request that the New York Times apologize or rewrite the obituary to better reflect what kind of man he was.

I believe the reason we say this is because, in spite of the fact we recognize bias and narrative-pushing when they write concerning something on which we are experts, we still irrationally think that the rest of the paper is somehow good for something more than lining a bird cage.

Even if the Times were somehow convinced that they were wrong to ignore the great service and kindness of President Monson, they are still wholly opposed to the faith over which he presided.  A correction or rewrite would be a hollow gesture, and to compel it via signature campaign would change 0 hearts to come closer to the one that President Monson spent his life serving... Jesus.

The Times is not the first mainstream organization to have a beef with a prophet.  Abinadi, Alma, Nephi, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Elijah, Elisha, and many many others have been accused of being judgmental, non-inclusive, and antagonistic.  The records that have endured from the times of these prophets are those written by people who tried to live what they taught. 

So don't worry about what the New York Times says about Thomas S. Monson... care what Thomas S. Monson said about following Jesus.

Who was Mormon?

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are frequently called "Mormons."

The nickname references our belief in the Book of Mormon.  Though there are many people that have preconceived notions about what the Book of Mormon is, the best way to learn what it says is by actually reading it. 

Of course, even among members of the church, the portions of the book that are most emphasized are not necessarily about the man Mormon, but about Nephi, Alma, Ammon, Helaman, Mosiah, Benjamin, or one of the other kings or prophets whose stories are recorded in the book.

Since members of the church are willing to be identified as "Mormons," it is unfortunate that there is only a small amount of emphasis on this incredible man.

Mormon was born into a time where society was collapsing.  To say that corruption existed is an understatement.  Preachers of religion were mocked and persecuted by society.  War and violence spread everywhere, and personal property was described as "slippery" because of the robbers that filled the land. (Mormon 1-2)

In this time of evil, a young man named Mormon was given instructions to find the records of his people.  When he had obtained these records, he spent a great amount of time making an abridgment of all the history of his society.  This abridgment is the Book of Mormon.

Certainly there are people within the church that would present the Book of Mormon as a beautiful book of scripture that shows the love and mercy of God.  To this point, there are numerous examples within the book that support this concept... however, a more accurate portrayal of the Book of Mormon is to see it from Mormon's perspective: it is a terrible tragedy.  It is a witness and a warning to those that read it.

In the process of finishing the Book of Mormon, the society in which Mormon lived became so consumed with anger and hatred that violence filled the land.  Still, he loved his people, so he reluctantly agreed to lead their armies.  Mormon knew that he was witnessing the destruction of his home and society, and rather than prolong the conflict, he arranged for a final battle.  Of the hundreds of thousands that had fought for him, only twenty four survived.  In the wake of this slaughter, the wounded Mormon could only mourn:

"O ye fair ones, how could ye have departed from the ways of the Lord! O ye fair ones, how could ye have rejected that Jesus, who stood with open arms to receive you! Behold, if ye had not done this, ye would not have fallen. But behold, ye are fallen, and I mourn your loss. O ye fair sons and daughters, ye fathers and mothers, ye husbands and wives, ye fair ones, how is it that ye could have fallen! But behold, ye are gone, and my sorrows cannot bring your return.

 "And the day soon cometh that your mortal must put on immortality, and these bodies which are now moldering in corruption must soon become incorruptible bodies; and then ye must stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, to be judged according to your works; and if it so be that ye are righteous, then are ye blessed with your fathers who have gone before you.

 "O that ye had repented before this great destruction had come upon you. But behold, ye are gone, and the Father, yea, the Eternal Father of heaven, knoweth your state; and he doeth with you -according to his justice and mercy." (Mormon 6:17-22)

Ultimately, only his son Moroni survived, as their enemies put to death everyone who believed in Jesus Christ.  (Moroni 1:2-3)

Adding to the tragedy was the fact that they had obtained records of a people that had inhabited the land previously, and that also destroyed themselves by driving faith, penitence, and the prophets that preached these principles, out of their society.  The fall of Mormon's people was worse because they should have known better.

Perhaps it seems odd, in light of the tragedies in Mormon's life, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to promote the name as an identity.  Certainly, visits to the church-run website www.mormon.org do not immediately divulge these details about Mormon; instead, they promote a positive and optimistic outlook.

I do not wish to convey the idea that the LDS church is pessimistic, or that attitudes of doom and gloom prevail in our faith... quite the opposite in fact.  I do however wish to express that the optimism and hope that typifies our worship of Jesus Christ and our efforts to give service to others are given important context with the understanding of the man Mormon.

It is not an unreasonable assessment to say that we live in an age of corruption.  Violence and greed are found across the land, and there are some regions which seem to be in perpetual war.  Disease and disaster can be found in the news headlines nearly every day.  The message of Mormon is particularly applicable to us here and now.  The faith and penitence that could have saved his people are not beyond our reach.  The warnings of a people who should have known better provide tremendous opportunity for us to avoid their mistakes.

Mormon knew that his people had rejected Christ... but he invested a tremendous amount of time and work to ensure that future generations might know that Christ is the way to prevent the tragedy through which he suffered.

Who was Mormon?  Mormon was a man who did what was right regardless of his circumstances.  Mormon was a man who worked for the good of others, even when he knew he would not live to see the results of his work.  In short, Mormon was a Christian.  The world would be a better place if more of us could be like Mormon.