Lesson 5, This is the Spirit of Revelation is now on my blog:
http://joelsmonastery.blogspot.com/2013/02/d-lesson-5-this-is-spirit-of-revelation.html
It discusses Oliver Cowdery’s conversion and his use of a divining rod to obtain revelation from God.
Read it there/Comment here
Unlike many, I don’t believe that a patriarchal priesthood creates a power imbalance that leads to gendered injustices, such as domestic violence. I don’t think it is necessary to give women the priesthood or adopt identical family roles. Yet, though I don’t believe they are cause-and-effect, these things do play into a power dynamic that exists independently. I believe this power dynamic can be changed if we are willing. I realize that in a few short sentences, I have managed to alienate both sides of the divide. But I think my perspective, as a woman faithful in the Church and a survivor of domestic violence, has something to add to the conversation.
My husband was not a member of the Church when I met him. I was a freshly-returned missionary, he was separated from his wife. We both worked at the same retail store. At some point, I invited him to hear the discussions in my parents’ home. During the course of his investigation, he confessed to me many problems in his past and present. Still stuck somewhat in the role of missionary, it was easy to forgive things that I would not have, had I been looking at him as a potential future mate. I think that’s why he was able to get to me.
A friend of mine on Facebook put up several quotations on Sunday (Super Bowl Sunday) from prophets reminding us what prophets have said about keeping the Sabbath Day holy. Among the quotations he cited were:
“Now I understand that my behavior on the Sabbath is my sign to the Lord of my regard for him and for the covenant under which I was born. If, on the one hand, my interests on the Sabbath were turned to pro football games or worldly movies, the sign from me to him would clearly be that my devotion would not favor the Lord. If, on the other hand, my Sabbath interests were focused on the Lord and his teachings, my family, or the sick, or the poor, and the needy, that sign would likewise be visible to God. Our activities on the Sabbath will be appropriate as we consider them to be our personal sign to him of our commitment to the Lord.” —Russell M. Nelson
It turns out that I watched part of the Super Bowl on Sunday. In fact, a family that I home teach invited me to come over, and my wife and I went and we had a nice time. I’m not that interested in professional football anymore, and we could only stay for an hour because we had to get the kids to bed, but the point is that we did indeed watch part of the Super Bowl on Sunday.
I do not feel guilty about it. I am pretty sure if I were to stand in front of the Lord tomorrow He would be OK with me watching the Super Bowl. I could always be a better person, but for the most part I feel like I am OK with the Lord. I have repented and changed my life for the better in many important ways, and I am taking steps to continue to improve myself. So, as I say, I don’t feel like watching the Super Bowl is a sign that I am on the wrong path.
I also have no problem with my friend quoting the prophets say we shouldn’t watch football on Sundays. I had never seen that quotation before, so I enjoyed reading it.
But my friend got a fair number of negative comments from people who did not like him quoting the prophets on this subject. That I do not understand.
President Monson has been the Prophet now for five years, and he wrote a nice message in the Church News that was released on Friday. I have not seen it distributed very widely, and I feel it is definitely worth reading.
Lesson 4 is on my blog. You can read it here:
http://joelsmonastery.blogspot.com/2013/02/d-lesson-4-remember-new-covenant-even.html
Read there/Comment here.