Monthly Archives: May 2011

Introductions all around – a little gossip

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For some odd reason the Gods .  gods overlords here at M* decided to invite me to be a permablogger.  How they think they are ever going to increase readership is beyond me, but who am I to turn down a paying gig?

I have been blogging for a few years now.  My own blog,  Joel’s Monastery, mostly holds my Gospel Doctrine lessons and is gaining popularity with every weekly post.  Of course, I do have a few call me a radical anti-Christ for sharing viewpoints that are not always my own, but include views from ancient sources.

I do promise to try and offer quality blogging here, unlike another major LDS blog that today is offering a post on “skanky legs.”  No, I will not provide a link, because the blogger asked them to discuss, and like Jacob of old, I’m not interested in risking the innocence of our high class readers,  “many of whose feelings are exceedingly tender and chaste and delicate before God, which thing is pleasing unto God” (Jacob 2:7).

That said, let’s get into a topic I’ve pondered recently:

Gossiping.

I’m sure I’m not the only around who has heard a family member or friend note that he/she/it never gossips, BUT….
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The Forgotten Prohibition on Divorce

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Marriage has been a moral and political subject for a very long time, while the practice goes back to ancient history. Discussions of who and how many can join together are found all over the place. The current hot topic asks the question if Mormon marriages are supposed to be equal or patriarchal authoritative. What hasn’t been talked about much is the equally growing number of marriage dissolution. Couples have been divorcing at greater numbers each year. This isn’t just the case outside the LDS Church, but within the Mormon community. Worse yet is an ever increasing rate of Temple Marriage sealings getting dissolved. The trend has become serious enough that LDS President made mention in the April 2011 General Conference of his concerns:

Now, brethren, I turn to another subject about which I feel impressed to address you. In the three years since I was sustained as President of the Church, I believe the saddest and most discouraging responsibility I have each week is the handling of cancellations of sealings. Each one was preceded by a joyous marriage in the house of the Lord, where a loving couple was beginning a new life together and looking forward to spending the rest of eternity with each other. And then months and years go by, and for one reason or another, love dies. It may be the result of financial problems, lack of communication, uncontrolled tempers, interference from in-laws, entanglement in sin. There are any number of reasons. In most cases divorce does not have to be the outcome.

The vast majority of requests for cancellations of sealings come from women who tried desperately to make a go of the marriage but who, in the final analysis, could not overcome the problems.

The high-profile re-marriage of Marie Osmond to her first husband Stephen Craig is a small reminder of how fragile relationships seem to be for modern couples. Her choice will be commented on a bit later. Hopefully, the second time around will last for the Eternal promise made in the LDS Temple vows. Why it didn’t work out the first time is a personal issue, but the failure is far from typical for too many. This situation is particularly relevant in the context of dating over 50, where individuals often have a history of past relationships and are looking for new beginnings. Multiple divorces and marriages are no longer associated mostly with the rich and high-profile entertainers. The opinion of the Lord on this matter is not hard to find even if forgotten by the Saints. He would not be pleased.
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‘I know that stealing is true’

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So a high councilor visited our ward today and told the following story. He served as a missionary in the Brooklyn area of New York. Like all good missionaries, he would fill his backpack with Books of Mormon before leaving the house. He would usually leave his phone number in the books so contacts could call him. One day he gets the following call:

“Hey, is this an Elder?”

“Yes.”

“You gotta help me. I stole one of your books out of your backpack in the subway. It is sitting there in my apartment. Every time I pick it up it starts burning. You gotta come here and take this book out. I can’t even think about it or touch it. It is driving me crazy.”

“Ok, we’ll be right over.”

So, the missionary went to the guy’s house with his companion. He knocked on the door, and the guy yelled “come in.” The guy was sitting in a chair, and the Book of Mormon was on a coffee table in front of him.

“OK, you got to get this book out of here. I can’t touch it.”

The elder picks up the book and gently tosses it to the guy. He falls out of his chair so as not to touch the book and then sits on the floor.

The missionary then explains to the investigator that it is his conscience that is bothering him because he stole the book. The man realizes this and eventually takes the discussions and is baptized.

When he gets up to give his testimony he starts out, without any irony, “I know that stealing is true.” Eventually he gets the whole testimony thing down and ends up serving in the branch presidency in that area.

Why the left (and all people) should favor states’ rights and local empowerment

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Think of states’ rights. I bet the majority of you are conjuring up some vision of a red neck holding a Confederate flag. Or perhaps these days you are thinking about crazy people in Utah calling for more respect of the 10th amendment and the adoption of gold and silver as currency.

Well, like most political slogans, states’ rights has some baggage, perhaps an unusual amount given this country’s horrible history of race relations. But it is time to resurrect the idea that everybody is better off if we give more space to state and local governments to pass laws without federal interference.

Let me start off by addressing three areas where the left generally favors state and local rights against federal overreach.

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“The Book of Mormon” Musical is Anti-Mormon Dreck

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[ Cross Posted from Sixteens Small Stones ]

By now you’ve all heard of the The Book of Mormon Broadway Musical, created by the makers of the vulgar comedy show South Park in collaboration with one of the people behind the obscene Puppet Broadway show Avenue Q.   It’s received glowing reviews from nearly all the elites and has been nominated for 14 Tony Awards.

It’s been described as “sweet” and it’s mockery of Mormonism dismissed as a form of affectionate teasing about the goofy beliefs that Mormons have, while still recognizing their value to society. Even some so-called “Mormons” and supposedly “Active Members” of the church have lauded it and encouraged members to see it. [Clarification: i.e. even some that claim to be “faithful” to the teachings of the LDS Church have lauded it and encouraged members to see it.]

I’m here to tell you that these plaudits are a load of tripe.  The Book of Mormon Broadway Musical is pure garbage.  The fact that so many people, including members of the church, have given it such glowing reviews simply manifests how desensitized these people are to vulgarity and blasphemy, and how far their hearts are from God.

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