Monday musings

Yesterday at church we talked about character. We were discussing the Teachings of Lorenzo Snow chapter 8. There was one thought in the chapter that really stood out to me. It was that Christ desires a relationship with us, that he wants to see our success:

The Lord wishes to establish a closer and more intimate relationship between Himself and us; He wishes to elevate us in the scale of being and intelligence, and this can only be done through the medium of the everlasting Gospel which is specially prepared for this purpose.

It has taken me most of my life to understand this. To recognize that God and Universe really do want us to be happy. We are not here to suffer without relief. There should be joy, joy in our day to day lives. There are constant challenges and obstacles to our happiness, but when we do our best to find joy in our lives we usually can. Elder Eyring and others have encouraged us to make a gratitude journal and my wife is working on one now. I think it's high time I start that too.

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More thoughts on Peter

Yesterday was Father's Day, which went largely unnoticed in the household, mostly because everyone in our particular household had gotten the week wrong and we celebrated last week.

But I did spend some more time this last week considering more about the life of Peter.  I was able to get the the temple one day this week, but because of poor timing, or excellent timing, I arrived just after a session had started and I had a 30 minute wait.  I decided that since I had speculated wildly about Peter's motivations last week, maybe I should re-read some parts. 

I re-read each of the accounts in the Gospels to see what was said.  Three of the Gospels seemed to have  the feel that Peter was sorrowful and regretted denying the Savior, but I didn't see in any of them an actual statement that Peter had done wrong.  Also, I got to thinking, he was the only disciple mentioned that actually didn't flee and abandon the Savior but actually followed along and stayed as close as he could.  This was another sign of his devotion, but also the trigger for his denial.  Had Peter chosen to flee away, no one would have been questioning and badgering him about being with Christ, but because he was there at the scene people asked him.  He must have felt fear for his safety and anxiety that he would not be able to fulfill his role as leader of the church if he was taken and slain too.  Also, Peter must have been expecting and hoping that Christ was going to once again escape the hands of his tormentors and they would all continue to preach together.  When Peter denied knowing the Savior for the third time and the cock crowed, at least part of what could have gone through Peter's mind was that the fulfillment of this statement of the Savior's meant that truly the Savior's statements about his own death were also about to come to pass.  Could some of Peter's sorrow and bitterness been caused by his own recognition that he was about to see the Christ, the Savior, the Messiah die?  Was part of his sorrow and bitterness prompted by fear that what he thought was true may not be?  I don't really know, but as I ponder the meaning of this night for Peter it is clear that the depth of emotion for Peter must have been extreme.  So much was being called into question and so much was being asked of him, and he did stay as close as he could and he was there when the Savior was on the cross and he was the first of the Apostles to enter the tomb.

Another incident that I mentioned last week comes back to mind.  When the Savior walked on the water and Peter stepped out of the boat into the storm tossed seas, he did walk.  Much good can be learned from understanding that only when Peter took his focus off of the Savior did he begin to sink and perish, but read closely and you see again the character of this man.  He was walking on the water amidst all the turmoil of the storm and could he have realized, "What am I doing?  I can't possibly do this!"  Peter's realization of quite literally the gravity of his situation must have overwhelmed him.  His sudden realization that he was quite literally doing the impossible could have been just too much for him.  But, and this is a key, in this moment when he realized that what the Savior had asked him to do was beyond his own capacity, and when he realized that he was already doing it, but couldn't continue, he didn't turn back to the boat, he didn't lose hope and sink under the waves.  He called out to the Savior.  Peter knew what and who was the source of his salvation.  We would do well to remember all of Peter's example on this night.  When the storms toss us and we are asked to do miracles, when the impossibility of doing what we must do is overwhelming us and we are perishing, we can call out "Lord, save me" and the response will probably be "O, thou of little faith" but the hands will reach out and lift us up.  The scriptures mention very little about what happened after Peter called out, but I imagine him being lifted up and walking alongside Jesus back to the boat, not in failure, but in triumph because Peter knew who he trusted.

And Peter went out and wept bitterly

Peter the Apostle is an interesting figure. He is often characterized in light of his weakness and his denial of Christ on the night of Christ's capture by the Pharisees and Sadducees. There is so much more to Peter than this denial, and much more to his alleged denial than has been said.

Peter was by trade a fisherman, a man accustomed to hard physical labor and more than likely accustomed to risking his life in the face of physical dangers. He fished the Sea of Galilee and would have been accustomed to facing his problems directly by his own physical capacity and ingenuity.

Imagine this man called to be a fisher of men, called to think, to listen, to turn the other cheek, to be meek and lowly of heart. Throughout the New Testament Christ rebukes Peter, not for his hesitancy, but for his impetuosity. Even when he lacked faith he shows daring. When the Savior walked toward their ship on the water and all thought it was a ghost or a spirit, Peter upon hearing the Savior's voice cried out, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water." and he did, often more attention is paid to the very valuable and powerful message that Peter only began to sink when he took his eyes off of the Savior. But, he did walk on the water. Peter stepped out of the boat and walked several steps before, as it were the distractions of the storm he walked through pulled him down. Yes, the Savior rebuked him, but maybe in mildness rather than in frustration, O thou of little faith.

Peter's ministry with the Savior exemplified his devotion, his willingness to follow the Savior at all costs. When most were abandoning the Savior for his hard doctrines, Peter was the one who boldly stated "Where shall we go thou hast the words of eternal life"

The very evening of Christ's betrayal by Judas, the Savior had already said to Peter, "Tonight thou shalt deny me thrice." When the mob came to take Jesus Christ, Peter far from denying the Savior, he stepped forward and true to his word he prepared to give his live in defense of the man he loved, the man he had been devoted to for the previous 3 years. The Savior again had to calm the impetuous Peter. It's as if Peter was still trying to understand and the Savior was still trying to teach him. Peter, this is the mission and reason I am come into the world. Peter, you have another role and you must allow this.

I don't pretend to know better than others who have spoken or written on this subject, and these are my thoughts and my ideas, but they have given me strength. Peter, the same man who had by revelation learned that Christ was the Savior, Christ the same who had stood with the Savior on the Mount of transfiguration and received keys to the leadership of the Church, was experiencing a crisis, a crisis of faith. Peter knew the Christ was the Savior, he knew that he was called to lead the Church after Christ's death, but this was beyond him. He had a vision, a vision of himself and a vision of what the Savior would do. Peter expected one thing and this betrayal and requirement to accept Christs death was a true crisis. Peter had stood by as the Savior worked out the atonement in the Garden of Gethsemane. He had been so overcome by fatigue, likely brought on by the extreme spiritual experiences of the Last Supper, that he could not watch even one hour.

As I think of Peter, in this state. A man of action, a man who had a powerful testimony of the Savior, a man who was told he would deny knowing the Savior, a man who was devoted to the man who had called him to be a fisher of men, a man who was willing to give up his own life to protect the Savior and had proven it by stepping alone in front of an armed mob. This Peter had been told by this same man he was willing to defend and die for, "But how then shall the ^ascriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?" (Matthew 26:54") I think about what his emotional and spiritual state must have been.

This night for Peter was a true crisis, but I wonder if it was a different crisis than we often think it was. Most see this as a crisis of Peter's faith, a test of his courage, and see his response as a failure, a weakness of his faith in a moment of doubt. This is definitely, a portion of what was going on. Peter, a man of action and of faith, was watching the King of the kingdom he was so anxious to see ushered in, being betrayed, mocked, scorned and this man to whom he was so devoted had himself told him that he must suffer this and die. He knew that he had been given the keys to lead after the death of this man, who was more than a man, but he was scared, and surely his faith, his confidence in this unseen thing, was weakened. Along with that, here was this man who confronted all obstacles and challenges directly with boldness and with powerful statements of his devotion, being asked, and compelled to deny his own nature and submit to the will of God. I believe that part of Peter's crisis this night went beyond his doubts, but went on to the deep challenge of knowing he wanted to do one thing and because of his devotion to the Savior he had to do another. Peter wanted to stand and defend the Savior, he was more than willing to give his life for the Savior, but he couldn't. He had to deny his own nature. He had to humbly submit to a will that wasn't his own. Truly fear and doubt must have influenced his choice to verbally deny knowing the Savior, but what a conflict of soul must have existed for him as he had to deny his own nature to do so. He must have wrestled with his own soul. He had boldly testified of the Savior, and he had boldly promised devotion, but now, his devotion was being tested because he had to stand idly by and let tragedy take it's course. He was tired both physically and spiritually and here was his friend being abused and he could do nothing but stand by and watch it happen. He had seen the Savior escape the manipulations of the Pharisees and Saduccees before, he knew that the Savior could easily call down legions of angels to defend him. This must have been a bitter conflict for a man so willing to take action, to be called upon to deny his own nature and allow this to happen.

So, when he had verbally denied the Savior 3 times and the cock crowed, of course he would go out and weep bitterly. Much of that bitterness was probably brought about by his feeling of failure, his feeling of weakness that he couldn't save Jesus. But much of his bitterness could also have been brought about by his own recognition that he now was called upon to humble himself, to submit his will to something he didn't naturally want to do. Bitterness could have been brought about and his crisis may have included recognizing that his own nature wasn't going to save Jesus. What benefit would it have done Peter to boldly testify of the Savior, and die with him. He knew that he was called to carry on after the Savior was gone. He knew that he was called to lead the church. What a deep crisis this must have been for him to have to stand idly by, deny knowing the Savior and allow this man he loved to die. He knew that Christ was going to be resurrected, but that didn't change to grief that came from recognizing the reality that Christ was first going to suffer and die.

What a challenge for this man. This man of action to have to bridle his own nature and not confront this challenge head on. Peter was called upon to deny his own nature and allow what to him must have appeared a true tragedy, a grief that could not be born. His faith in the living Christ was based on experience and revelation, his faith in the resurrected Christ was one of hope. Of course, he would go out and weep bitterly, Undoubtedly in repentance, but also, I believe, he wept in the crisis of soul that comes when one recognizes that we can no longer pursue our own will but must submit humbly to the will and purpose of something greater.

This view of Peter helps me, when I think of my own will and my own desires, it helps to think that Peter had to be submissive, he had a crisis of faith, a crisis that I don't believe he failed in, but that he was refined by. The rest of Peter's life was full of the action he was so notable for in his discipleship. He led the church boldly and stood forth boldly to defend his testimony of the Savior. Now, his boldness was tempered by this crisis, tempered by the recognition that at times following his own heart would thwart the will of God, recognition that he must boldly do exactly what the Savior and God asked of him.

What a great man this Peter was.

The Secret Garden of the Heart

I have thought a lot about two different scriptures. The first is found in Matthew 13:1-23 the second is Alma 32. Both of these chapters are parables relating to the growth of faint likened to the growth and harvest of plants.

One of the lessons I have learned as I have read and pondered about Matthew 13 is that the soil is like our own hearts. Our hearts, our character, our personality is the place the sower is trying to get the seeds of the Gospel truth to take root and grow. Each different type of soil has it's own problems. The reality is though, soil can be emended (a word that means to correct or improve). When I was growing up, we had two big problems in our fields. We had rocks, and they reproduced somehow because every spring for 40 years that my Father farmed, we would go out and 'pick rock' we would gather all the visible rocks out of the soil and pile them in a couple of rock piles in the field. Every year we did this and yet every year there were new rocks. I know now that it was because the frost over the winter would cause the soil to heave them up to the surface from deeper bedrock, but then, I swore it was supernatural. The other evil we found in our fields were bull thistle these were huge, we could spray them in some fields, but in others the spray would kill the crop along with the weed, so we had to sharpen shovels and cut them out just below the surface to kill them and keep them from growing back.  It was a lot of work.

Our lives are like this.  We have so many things that arise to distract us, and we have to pick the rocks, and root out the weeds in order to give place for the good things to grow in our hearts.  Our hearts are like our own Secret Garden.  A place where we cultivate and root out the ideas, interests, beliefs and hopes, we feel will best bring us happiness.  Each thought, hope or dream we cultivate in our garden grows up and bears specific fruit or gives forth a specific harvest.  We plant in our hearts faith in tithing and it grows, scripture study and it grows, kindness and it grows.

Alma 32 gives more insight as to what the end result of this will be.  We have a tree of life that grows up into a true hope and salvation.  The love of Christ, Charity.

I have to remember, that the main seed I  must plant in my heart to have this tree grow is found in Alma 33: 22-23

Monday Musings: Cleave and Broken things

This morning on the bus I was listening to Elder Holland's talk titled Broken Things to Mend. A few weeks ago I decided it would be a useful thing to download all of the talks from a specific Apostle and listen to them chronologically from oldest to newest. I started with Elder Holland because I remembered that over the course of several conferences he had spoken about The Prophet Joseph Smith, the Godhead, and several other doctrines peculiar to Latter Day Saints. He had was directing his remarks toward other religions and Christian churches pointing out how we are different.

Broken Things to Mend was a wonderful talk and reminded me of the gratitude I should have for the gospel, the church, and my family. It also helped me understand the need I really have for the Savior's influence in my life.

Elder Holland mentioned how remembering what the Savior has done can help build and strengthen a marriage, which got me thinking about an odd word: cleave

It has two meanings. It can mean to cut apart or break up especially along natural lines of weakness. That is the way it is used when talking about how minerals break. But it also means to hold tight to with unwavering loyalty. It is in that sense that it is used when talking about cleaving unto our spouses. I find it ironic that the same word has such different meanings in different contexts, but I do love the word related to marriage.

NABLOPOMO Day 2: Monday Musings

Ok, I normally do my Monday Musings on Monday anyway so this isn't too challenging other than I got out of the habit.

I want to talk about an idea. An idea that my be a little different for people of other faiths, but being LDS there is a huge emphasis on being perfect. Christ gave that mandate to people and it is taken as a commandment as much as it is a vision of what is possible by many of the LDS faith. This can be tricky.

Be ye therefore perfect! But what kind of perfect. We normally think of perfection as completely without blemish, spot, error or any kind of fault. The trouble with this is none of us are perfect. None of us can be perfect. In a sense Christ's command to be perfect only makes sense if we understand that it is a command to repent and be made perfect through his atoning blood. In another sense it is a command to be perfect in a finished, whole and complete sense.

My other big thought though is that being perfect doesn't in any sense mean being better than others. I think this perspective is adopted by some people. They believe that if I am better than my neighbor or if they are more sinful than I am that make me more perfect, closer to perfection, better. This can be an extremely damaging perspective because it encourages people to find the faults in others to justify their own shortcomings.

Let's all be perfect! Perfected in Christ, complete and whole!

Forgiveness: a lesser law

I have been thinking about forgiveness lately. I am going to propose a radical concept. Something that's truly crazy. Forgiveness is actually a lower law. We talk sometimes in the LDS Church about the higher law and the lesser law. Moses when he first went on the Mount recieved a higher law. A law similar to what Christ would later reveal in the flesh. So goes LDS tradition. Christ when he came raised the stakes. He taught that it was no longer enough to obey the law "Thou shalt not kill" but raised the bar. According to Christ we are to not even get angry with our brother or call him Raca!

Don't get me wrong, forgiveness is an important and vital law. It enables us to get to the higher law I think exists. Forgiveness though, in the sense most people use it, connotes singularity. You made me made, or hurt me, or lied, or didn't do the dishes when I asked and left me with a huge mess even though I have an important Relief Society Meeting tonight. "I forgive you" It kind of feels like. You have sinned and this one time I will extend my mercy toward you.

Charity, the pure love of Christ, extends beyond a single act of mercy. It is a trait, a lifestyle and a character of compassion. It is: I know you are an idiot and forgot to do the dishes and probably will again in the future, but I see you are also good and I love and care for you. Charity to me has a much more permanent sense to it. Not an acceptance or tolerance of sin, but an acceptance and compassion for the sinner. Don't get me wrong at all. I am not saying we don't need to forgive or that forgiveness isn't divine. What I am saying is that I believe that in many of our relationships we develop something higher (or deeper) than simple, singular forgiveness a compassion that fills us with understanding and love of the people around us..warts and all as my mother always said.

Prophets

I have had a couple of conversations with some folks. It got me to thinking. What do I have to believe?

A question came up about a former Prophet and leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The particular Prophet has been accused of some things that are pretty heinous. Stuff that by almost any morality code of the modern day be worthy of imprisonment. Some in the church simply don't believe it happened at all. Others have left the Church over it. As I had this conversation I mentioned that I thought it quite likely that he had been involved, but simply wasn't acting as the Prophet. The friend I was talking to told me "Hey, wait a minute, if he said that God told him to do this and you are saying it wasn't right then you are saying you don't believe in the Church and revelation and ...."

The conclusion was that he felt that as a Mormon I am compelled to blindly accept every word that falls from the lips of the Prophet. Do I?




Brigham Young once said,

“I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security. … Let every man and woman know, by the whispering of the Spirit of God to themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path the Lord dictates, or not” (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1941], 135)

This was quoted by James Faust in the September Ensign 1998 This message is still being spoken and the message seems to be: Not everything a Prophet says is right.

But, this message is being drowned out by those quoting:

The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so He will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty. (Sixty-first Semiannual General Conference of the Church, Monday, October 6, 1890, Salt Lake City, Utah. Reported in Deseret Evening News, October 11, 1890, p. 2.)

This becomes my conondrum? What do I have to believe? Two prophets both quoted regularly one seems to be saying I am supposed to completely trust that God will never allow his leaders to lead me astray and another prophet, earlier by only a short time, telling me not to get to secure in blindly trusting my leaders in what they say, and that message being reinforced by a truly Modern Prophet reminding me of it in 1998.

It really does seem to come down to what James Faust says after quoting Brigham Young.:

Since each one of us has his free agency, the ultimate determination of what is inspired of the Lord, what is right and wrong, true or false, can be made by each of us.

Can I look back on a historical event, and state that I don't believe that a Prophet acted as a prophet when he chose a certain path, possibly. Can I say now that specific financial advice given by a General Authority during a local fireside may not be applicable in my case. I believe I can. I believe ultimately my choices are what I will be held accountable for. Will it ever be right for my to go directly contrary to the will of the Church, Gospel and God as revealed in by his Prophets, no I can't imagine that it could possibly be.

But do you see my conondrum? What is the balance between questioning, seeking, and being an independent seeker of truth and being an obedient servant in the kingdom?

p.s. and BTW- While writing this post I was looking for the Brigham Young quote above and found it here in a great post. Can't speak to any thing else, but I did like this post.

Tithing a principle with Promise

Yesterday in Sunday School we were discussing the importance of Tithing and Fasting. I heard the greatest story about tithing I have heard in a long tme.

One of the men in our Ward told us of a time when he just didn't have enough money to pay his tithing. He knew that if he paid his tithing then there wouldn't be enough for the bills and food. He decided to show his faith anyway, and he prepared his Tithing envelope, filled out the tithing donation slip, sealed up the envelope and handed it to the Bishop. Later in the week he decided to attend the Temple and as he was coming out of the temple he reached into to pocket of his slacks and found $100.00 the exact amount of his tithing. He was immediately grateful for the blessings of Tithing and of attending the temple. He used the money to take care of his bills. On Sunday at church his Bishop came up to him and said,"Thank you so much for your tithing, everything was fine except you forgot to put the money in the envelope!"

My wife pointed out during Sunday School that we all have miracles in our lives but that we forget them and forget the Lord. It's imotant to remember the lord and that all we have comes from him. He just asks that to show our devotion we give back 10% to build up his kingdom here on earth.

Monday Musings: Accepting Service

Yesterday, we had Stake Conference. A combined meeting with 8 or 10 congregations from the area. They were reorganizing our Stake and making some other changes. Well, our Stake is so big they have to do this process of conference in two separate sessions with half attending each session. This is only important because my parents and my family go to two different wards.
Well, I had been teasing my father about not getting up early and not going to the 10 a.m. session. My ward was assigned the 1 p.m. session.

At 10 a.m. I went down to check to see if Dad was ready and assuming he was still in bed. My 10 year informs me: Nope, grandpa left at 9 a.m. WHAT? Now, I need to explain, Grandpa is approaching his 80th year and while doing ok, has not had the best of health and has fallen several times. That's why he lives with us. But he got it into his head that he needed to walk the 5 blocks over the church building for Stake Conference. Well, I went and got him at the end of the meeting and we had a talk. I reminded him that he had told his mother when she was climbing ladders in her 70's that he would have to be the one to pick things up if she got hurt.

Having my folks live with me has given me a greater appreciation that old age isn't for sissies. I think I will take up motorcycle racing and paragliding when I turn 60. But this conversation with Dad also reminded me of an amazing example that Christ set for us. He allowed others to serve him. There are several examples of it through the New Testament, but the one that is always the most touching to me is found in Matthew 27:31-32

31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.

During this moment of his greatest agony and in a sense his greatest triumph he allowed someone else to help him carry the cross. This was the literal Son of God and he could have been filled with pride and arrogance and insisted that he carry his own cross, but he didn't, he recognized his own weakness, humility and need and allowed himself to be served. That's a lesson I hope I can remember when I need help.

Monday Musings: Unity vs. Conformity

Last week I posted about the questions I have about whether we have to wear a white shirt to pass the sacrament. I myself find it to be an interesting challenge to encourage unity without mandating conformity. Clearly every organization has a right to define what behavior is acceptable to remain part of that organization. I wonder though sometimes if we are substituting conformity for unity. I have thought about this a lot lately, and really haven't come to any firm conclusion, but it is interesting to me that if you look at the rebellion, it becomes the tyranny. I have written about this before, just briefly. But it keeps coming back to me that whenever a person fights against tyranny, they get others to join them, and immediately form a group that then becomes they tyranny of that group. I think it is a challenging balance to maintain our openess, trust and love of others. To be tolerant and understanding and to maintain our principles.

I am no advocate of rebellion. I am about as conformist as they come. I am a middle age guy who has made his living teaching in the public schools. Yet I see myself, and others sometimes condemned or judged for not conforming in all areas. I just have a strong idea that although the strait and narrow path is still strait and narrow, it isn't single file. Whether I keep my fruit in baskets or bottles isn't as important as whether I love and serve my fellow man.

On further thought, it really isn't about the rebellion becoming the tyranny, just the institution. And don't get me wrong, I am not about refusing to comply. For society as a whole to work and for groups to function we must all comply and agree to allow the institution to hold sway over us, but at least for me it's about the strait and narrow path being strait and narrow but not single file. It's about not condemning other when their actions are well within what the commandments allow.

BTW this is what I wore to church yesterday! (snicker, snicker)

Monday Musings:Do I have to wear a white shirt?

Yesterday at church was an excellent day! The youth in our ward were attending church at the Developmental Center and helping with the handicapped individuals there. What this means for me is that right after I got myself settled in the pew with the kids and the wife, suddenly I am asked to pass the sacrament. I actually love doing this! It's fun to get all nostalgic about my days as a 12 year old deacon. I recall when I was was the President of the Deacon's quorum, we had an elaborate system for describing where a specific Deacon was to begin passing the sacrament. FAR SIDE, MIDDLE BACK was one of the secret plays. Our Deacon's quorum had a play book as elaborate as any college football team. When I sat down in the pew for the deacons, I could vizualize the upcoming play in my mind with the best of modern quarterbacks.

Yesterday, it was not quite the choreographed elegance that we see when the Young Men in the ward fulfill their duties. But we absolutely fulfilled the principle of passing the sacrament with dignity, respect and reverence. It made me think, that we often get caught up in the minutia, and ritual without the spirit behind it. I have watched Young Men pass the sacrament to exactly the spot they are supposed to but...without any more concern for the person they are passing the sacrament too than if the were slopping hogs. My personal pet peeve. The boys that offer the sacrament two inches in front of my chin. I have to employ yoga, pilates, and several froms of Far Eastern contortionism in order to reach up and get the sacrament. A few weeks ago, in a fit of common sense I politely reached up and pushed the tray down before partaking.

Maybe part of my problem is that I honestly believe that I should partake of the sacrament. My view is that it should be passed to me. I shouldn't take the tray and then take the sacrament. I was taught that it is appropriate to take the sacrament only with the right hand and to pass it only with the right hand.

Which brings me to my title. After this very enjoyable experience of passing the sacrament, during Elder's quorum, we were discussing Elder Dallin H. Oakes Conference address:

Sacrament Meeting and the Sacrament

Elder Oakes quotes Elder Holland from a 1995 address:

“May I suggest that wherever possible a white shirt be worn by the deacons, teachers, and priests who handle the sacrament. For sacred ordinances in the Church we often use ceremonial clothing, and a white shirt could be seen as a gentle reminder of the white clothing you wore in the baptismal font and an anticipation of the white shirt you will soon wear into the temple and onto your missions” (“This Do in Remembrance of Me,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 68).

Maybe, I am the only one, but notwithstanding the role both of these men have as prophets of God and Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ do I really have to wear a white shirt? I find myself wondering sometimes, are we getting to caught up in outward ritual and not enough on the inward heart. The Pharisees were all for enforcing detailed rules about these kinds of things. Two Apostles have said it! It is good counsel! But we spent almost 15 minutes in Elder's quorum discussing how we enforce this on others. Again, maybe I am the minority in this, but I find myself torn between two extremes: Why does it matter? and Why would anyone not obey in so small a thing. Some may argue, well, what if they can't afford a white shirt, my argument is if they can afford any shirt at all they should choose a white shirt so they can follow this counsel from the apostles.

Without a doubt the Gospel is true! I just like wrestling with these ideas because we (the LDS church) were once the rebellious upstarts trying to break the back of burdensome, and foolish traditions, and I worry that we ourselves are heaping on the burden of too much tradition.

Monday Musings: A lesson about prayer!

Elder Boyd K. Packer shared a story about a lesson he learned about prayer in his book Teach Ye Diligently His son prayed that their young calf would live. Elder Packer then went off to a meeting where he shared his son's prayer and the lesson that his son would learn: Sometimes God answers prayers with a No. He then humbly recounts that when he returned to find the calf healthy and alive. It was he who learned the lesson.

I have wanted to record this story for some time because it was so important to my son and to me. When we had just moved into our current home, my nephew who is in the military asked us to watch his dog for about 9 months while he was involved in a training in Georgia. I love Naya and so I immediately accepted. We had her with us for about two weeks when tragedy struck. She got out. She ran off and the one neighbor kid who had seen her streaking off the property failed to mention it until about an hour later when we noticed she was missing. Needless to say, I did what any good husband and father would do. I shouted!! A lot. I blamed everyone but myself and then went out looking for the AWOL canine. We looked for about 2 hours and found neither hide nor hair of the beast.

As I was starting to move into the next phase in the Dad response cycle, I went to my older son, who was 5 and I asked him if he would like to pray with me. Now, the whole time I had been out looking for Naya, I was thinking about the fact that there may be no way I could find this dog and I was going to have to tell my nephew who was serving me and our whole country in Iraq that I had lost his dog. I realized that I may not be able to find the dog, but God could guide it back. I discussed this with my son and he offered a sincere, heartfelt and spiritually powerful prayer. As powerful as any I have ever heard. I felt the spirit very strongly and my 5 year old son wept openly not out of fear, but he truly felt the spirit. Within moments, my wife felt she should go open the door and in ran Naya.

I learned two things. My son's feelings, emotions and spirituality were as deep as anyones, and that though I may not be able to solve a problem God can cause things to happen that bring about our relief !

Monday Musings: God's Economy

I haven't done a Monday Musing post for a while. I have been busy and tired and worried about my job situation. I recently found that I have a pretty stable position for another year. There are some advantages to contracts and annual budgets. I am actually glad. I had applied for a job as an Educational Technology Specialist Team Lead and although I didn't get the position, I was asked to re-apply fur the position just one step down: Education Technology Specialist. I really love the job I have and the fact that I can commute on public transit, so I doubt I will be trying for a move.

With all the thoughts about jobs, economy and the recent election and President Obama's attempts to rejuvenate the economy I have given a lot of thought to what God's economy is? I took a little heat a while back for posting about Tithing. Despite that, I feel that tithing and fast offerings are a good way to provide for the churches needs and the needs of the poor among us, but what happens when we are all poor?

I have a recurring argument with my Dad. Dad regularly tells me that when Christ comes again there won't be anymore Cadillacs. We'll all be driving Ford Focus'. My argument is that I don't believe God intends us to all be poor together, but all rich together. In the Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Section 82 we read :

15 Therefore, I give unto you this commandment, that ye bind yourselves by this covenant, and it shall be done according to the laws of the Lord.

16 Behold, here is ^awisdom also in me for your good.

17 And you are to be ^aequal, or in other words, you are to have equal ^bclaims on the ^cproperties, for the benefit of ^dmanaging the concerns of your stewardships, every man according to his wants and his needs, inasmuch as his wants are just—

18 And all this for the benefit of the church of the living God, that every man may ^aimprove upon his ^btalent, that every man may ^cgain other ^dtalents, yea, even an hundred fold, to be cast into the Lord’s ^estorehouse, to become the common ^fproperty of the whole church—

19 ^aEvery man seeking the interest of his ^bneighbor, and doing all things with an ^ceye single to the glory of God.

Emphasis added

This refers to the United Order or Law of Consecration and implies that under this covenant all people would have equal claim on the resources available based on their wants. Not only the minimum needs for keeping body and spirit together, but just or fair wants. For example I want a TV for myself, it would probably not be just for me to want a 57 inch Plasma TV if my neighbors are in need of food, but if they can have their food and I can get a 32 inch CRT that may be just.

As I have been listening to some of the pundits discuss the reason Capitalism will work and how it will solve our problems, I have to agree there is a certain logic. Everyone should prosper according to their own work and effort. Those who are unwilling to work will fail. This doctrine was also taught in the scriptures Alma 30:17 :

17 And many more such things did he say unto them, telling them that there could be no atonement made for the sins of men, but every man ^afared in this life according to the management of the creature; therefore every man prospered according to his genius, and that every man conquered according to his strength; ......

The trouble with this is it was taught by an Anti-Christ, Korihor, who had been decieved and was teaching false doctrine. Alma the prophet refuted this and the other false doctrines that Korihor taught.

In contrast to this false doctrine, the People of Enoch became so righteous and so unified that they were taken directly to heaven without having tasted death. Enoch and his people are only briefly mentioned in the Bible, but in modern revelation we learn that at least one thing that made them pure enough for this:

Moses 7:18

And the Lord called his people ^aZion, because they were of ^bone heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.

They had no poor among them. In God's economy all have enough. As long as our economy is one based on scarcity, and selfishness instead of abundance and altruism it is not God's economy.

The Second Sabbath

In Luke 6:1 Reference is made to the second sabbath after the first I was taught that during this time, the Jews would count seven sabbaths and on the seventh sabbath it was a double sabbath. This reference to the second sabbath after the first was a referring to this practice.

Now, today as I was looking for references to this, I will be honest, I couldn't find it. I will look some more, but the reference has always stuck in my mind especially the first week in April and the first week in October. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints schedules their annual and semi-annual conference during these times. It gives me two days, a second sabbath after the first to reflect on who I am, what my purpose in this world is and what I can do to help others. I love this conference time and am grateful that there is a loving God who has provided for us a wonderful world for us and our Savior that helps us return to him if we will but trust in him.

This conference was particularly fun and I enjoyed it very much.

President Dieter Uchtdorf spoke a few times, I love listening to him speak, not only because he really teaches good principles to live by but because of he German accent it feels like the Terminator is teaching the gospel. "The Apostlenator" Sorry, is that bad

I also really enjoy hearing President Henry B. Eyring. If it is ok to have a favorite Apostle, then he would be mine.

If you want to know more you can check out the archives:
http://lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,49-1-1032,00.html

Monday Musings: The sacredness of the Sacrament

I feel bad that this blog has become mostly a place for me to take notes on how I felt on Sunday.  I originally wanted to be more personal with this blog....hmmmm well.  I will work on it.

I did want to make sure I got my weekly post in though.

Yesterday, I was asked to usher in the LDS Ward I attend.  My family and I attend a Spanish Speaking Ward (or congregation) in our area.  My wife was tired and one of the kids was sick so I ended up going on my own.  I got there early to fulfill my ushering duties.  It was really good and the responsibility I had to say hello, help folks find seats and to shut the doors while the sacrament was passed just really came together for a great day and experience.  I have been commenting a bunch on Goodreads about the existence of God and it has turned into a God vs. Science debate.  Yesterday reconfirmed to me something I had said on Goodreads.  Both Science and Religion make me a more fulfilled person.

Monday Musings: Leavening

So my Monday Musings today are all about micro-organisms. Bugs in our bread. Well they are supposed to be there and they aren't really bugs. They are a fungus, yeast to be exact. Yeasts that can be used for bread are a single celled organism that functions a lot like a single human cell. Yeasts are actually an amazing organism. They are what makes bread possible. At least raised breads.

When making bread there are several ways, but the one I want to mention is the one dear old mom taught me. I was taught that you create your start with flour, milk, shortening or lard and you mix up a sponge. This sponge forms the base of your bread. My mother always taught me that to have really successful bread you also have to start your yeast correctly. A little bit of sugar and your yeast in a glass of warm water. (Proportions here are essential were talking about the symbolism) When things are right the yeast will begin to grow and release carbon dioxide as a byproduct of metabolism. (Yes, the Carbon Dioxide is yeast waste and this would be the place for a joke but this is my serious blog posting for the week)

The carbon dioxide produced by the yeast does no good to anyone if the yeast stays alone. If the yeast stays in the cup there is no benefit. None. but if I put the yeast into my bread sponge I can improve the bread. The bread dough can be used without the yeast. It is still useful. I can fry the dough, or make flat breads or use other leavenings to get it to raise, but the yeast is useless until it is put in the dough. It has to be put in the dough or it really doesn't do anything. It can continue to live on it's own, but when it is combined with the dough the life in the yeast produces a product that is so much better.

In Galations 5:9 Paul teaches us:

A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

This is so significant to all of us. When we have faith in God we can be the active and activating ingredient in the world around us. We can grow on our own, but our full purpose is brought about by being mixed into the world. If we isolate ourselves we don't benefit the whole.

It is also significant that yeast needs sugar. Leavening needs nourishment. Believers must nourish their own souls. They must take in nourishment so they can activate the whole lump to use Paul's words. Let's all be like yeast!

Posted from the Bus!

Monday Musings: Commenting on GoodReads

I joined a debate group on www.goodreads.com. There are some interesting and lively debates there and one in particular sparked my verbosity. I have included my discussion posting below:

Wow this has been a lively debate! I got the email digest version of it and couldn't wait to weigh in. Many people are kind of spouting out diatribe at each other, this is a debate, back up you opinions with reasons and evidence.

Having said that, here is my diatribe *checking definition of diatribe on www.m-w.com *mm maybe that isn't quite the word, oh well, here goes anyway.

I find it interesting as a believing scientist or maybe it is as a reasoning believer that both Science and Religion have a lot in common. I know this is specificially Evolution and creation, but it's worth pointing out. Science depends on accepting certain widely held ideas as true, all other work, research and ideas essentially build on those. Authority is bestowed on some because their ideas are more widely accepted and supported and those who propose contrary ideas are often ostracized, shunned and excluded. People who don't accept the ideas of the Scientific Community are considered small minded. There are rules that one must follow to be part of the Scientific Community, and if you don't your work and life are discredited. Now go back through that and subsitute Church for Science. Essentially every system begins as a rebellion against the dominant system and then develops it's own set of rules and becomes a system itself.

I like most of all a scripture in the LDS Canon(there's a ten dollar word for ya)
Doctrine and Covenants 10:2 Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.

LDS doctrine tells you that something will both feel right and be reasonable or you can be assured it isn't true.

Juxtapose that with this quote:



“When I'm working on a problem, I never think about beauty. I think only how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong.”

Richard Buckminster Fuller

I don't know if there is a way to harmonize science and religion, evolution and creationism. I do know my life woiuld be less complete and less full without both

I honestly believe that there is a harmony to come between science and religion. A time when our moral nature, our ethics and our reason will work together to create the truly beautiful world described by Christ. There doesn't have to be enmity between the two.

Monday Musings: Marriage

I have been away from the blog for a while. I really like blogging but like so many things life interferes with living. My sweetheart took a trip to the Dominican Republic last week and just got back. It made me realize again what a wonderful system God has designed for us. I did fine without my wife home but it was sure a relief when she got back. We really do need to leave our father and mother and cleave unto our wife and none else.

Monday Musings: Symbolism of the Sacrament

It's been a while since I did one of my Monday Musings posts, but yesterday was such a good day at church that I really wanted to get back to it. First of all Sacrament Meeting was exceptional. We had 4 youth speakers who really did a fine job of explaining the importance of the commandments and how living them helps them in their lives.

I had a lot of good thoughts during sacrament meeting and it reminded me of something I have thought of before and wanted to express. I know now one is really reading this blog, but just in case I have a reader who isn't familiar with the LDS culture I am going to explain a couple of things. For my LDS reader just be patient or feel free to correct my perspective. That is another reminder I am just giving my perspective.

During Sacrament Meeting which is the full congretational meeting in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints the Aaronic Priesthood passes the sacrament. We partake of the sacrament every week. Each week as a reminder of the promises we have made at baptism and as a reminder of the promises God makes to us 3 of the Priests in the Aaronic priesthood bless the sacrament. (See Doctrine and Covenants Section 20:75-79) The Priests then distribute the Sacrement to the Deacons who pass the sacrement to the congregation.

There is a lot of symbolism in the sacrement, but the aspect that I find significant is the similarity to the way revelation and leadership occurs in the church. God has always spoken to prophets and had leasders. Peter, James and John were early leaders and made up what amounts to a Presidency of the church in earlier days. Today we have a Prophet who leads and directs the church as he is directed by Jesus Christ. Two counselors aid him in this work. The young men passing the sacreament in a sense represent this pattern of presidencies. The represent thos men designated to lead the church and they deliver the message (Christ as represented by the bread and water) to the Deacons much the way that the First Presidency delivers the message (Christ and his atonement) to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. The Deacons represent the Apostles as they carry this message to the congregation which are representative of the whole church. There is a strength that I draw from seeing this similarity of patterns between the way Christ is delivered to the church and to each individual congretation.

Fight the good Fight!