OT lesson #7 is now on my blog:
http://joelsmonastery.blogspot.com/2014/02/ot-7-abrahamic-covenant.html
Read there / Comment here.
The “Open Letter” to the Prophet of the Mormon Church
Andrew Ainsworth on his Facebook page had a link to something called “An open letter to President Thomas S. Monson: Prophet of the Mormon Church.” Andrew adds, “Hoping this will lead to positive results.”
If what Andrew is hoping for is further dialogue on the subjects the letter brings up, then I’m about to give him some (small) positive results. However, I’m going to make the case that this letter is more destructive then constructive and that Andrew is wrong to support it.
I am not going to link to the letter because, frankly, I don’t want to raise its Google ranking. But it’s easy enough to find if you’re curious. I am going to analyze this letter and ask some question and encourage comments. I am going to make the case that this letter is being specifically written from (and can only be read as) a non-believing view point and that it is primarily a stunt at anti-Mormon publicity rather than a serious attempt to resolve the problems it outlines. I will do this by outlinging the specific claims the letter makes and making brief comments. Possible extended future points for discussion will be mentioned.
Who Is Writing this Letter?
The letter claims it represents “We are a part of a community of thousands of current and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” Continue reading
Challenging biblical literalism in a conservative Mormon ward
My ward in small-town Colorado is very conservative. How conservative is it? Well, I am quite sure that less than 5 percent of ward members — and probably 0 percent — voted for Barack Obama in either the 2008 and 2012 elections. How do I know? We have a caucus system in Colorado, and I have seen a lot of people at the caucuses. In addition, they have bumper stickers on their cars. And, yes, occasionally they make political statements at church.
I have been the Gospel Doctrine teacher for more than two years. I generally avoid politics in class, but you can tell where people are coming from the types of comments people make. The legalization of marijuana in Colorado is, to many of my fellow ward members, a sign of the end times (I voted for legalization, but I don’t like contention, so when people say legal pot is a sign of the end times I mostly just smile and change the subject).
In any case, believe you me: my ward is conservative.
There are readers right now who are forming stereotypes in their minds. I can just see it. “Conservative ward, they are all probably fundamentalists, ignorant rubes, not as sophisticated as I am, etc, etc.”
Now, here’s something to ponder: most of them (perhaps all?) happily accept the idea that we do not need to take the Bible literally. They accept that Mormons are not Biblical fundamentalists. They accept that some of the Bible is perhaps allegorical. Darn them, why don’t they live up to the stereotypes liberal Mormons impose upon them?
The Decade of Delay
[This post is sixth in a series about Joseph Smith and polygamy. To read the series from the beginning, go to A Faithful Joseph]
Liberty Jail by C.C.A. Christensen
We all have excuses for avoiding an overwhelming task. Despite my mind being full of trivia supporting the possibility of a faithful Joseph, I found myself dreading laying out his decade of delay. Add arctic chill, snowfall, illness, the five jobs I have at work, and my several volunteer positions. I began to be anxious indeed. In my desire to have it all go away, I sensed the merest whisper of the dread I imagine Joseph felt–faced with an impossible commandment he honestly didn’t want to obey.
Continue reading
‘Mitt,’ the Netflix documentary
I just watched “Mitt,” the Netflix documentary. This is a very personal look at Mitt Romney and his family as he suffers through the 2008 and 2012 election losses. A few quick impressions for an LDS audience:
–You get to see Mitt praying with his family and by himself several times. I was truly touched by the faith he and his family displayed. I think LDS families will feel very at home during these moments.
–At least in this documentary, you do not see Mitt surrounded by groups of handlers and advisers. His primary advisers seem to be his sons, his wife and his brother. I found this startling.
–The Romney family is simply a good group of people. They are sincere people who really wanted to help the country.
–You have to be either 1)crazy 2)a complete megalomaniac or 3)a sincere person who deeply wants to help the country to run for president. If Mitt runs again, I am going to have to consider that he is crazy, because the garbage figuratively thrown at him during both campaigns was simply not worth it.
–Regardless of your political persuasion, I recommend taking a look at this documentary simply to see another side of the often stiff LDS politician. You will likely come away seeing a much more human side to him.
I voted for Mitt in 2012, but not enthusiastically. I disagreed with his foreign policy, and I didn’t believe he would go nearly far enough in handling our fiscal crisis. Would the country be better if Romney had been elected? In some ways, yes, and perhaps in other ways, no. The economy would be better; Obamacare would hopefully be less harmful; but we might have ended up getting involved in Syria, which would have been a disaster. So, overall, I am not a Romney cheerleader.
But I do think this documentary showed Mitt as a good, honorable man and a loving husband and father and grandfather. Take a look if you have a chance and share your impressions here.