I had a great, long comment which Blogspot was kind enough to lose. Nice.
A few points:
*My favorite "But If Not" talk is Lance Wickman's from October 2002 GC. It's profound to me because just before that Conference, a gal in my ward (I was at Penn State at the time) had had a miscarriage, and hearing Elder Wickman share that story of losing his son was SO powerful to us as a ward as we tried to support this sweet family in their time of tragedy.
I think "but if not" is the ultimate statement of faith to a Christian. That, to me, is faith fully-formed. To not expect God to rescue you (reward you for your faithfulness) in very trying/dangerous circumstances. There's a song that talks about this..."Held" by Natalie Grant...which states, in part: "Who told us we'd be rescued? What has changed, and why should we be saved from the nightmare?" Sometimes, it is the strongest Christians who get the biggest 'nightmares' because the Lord knows where their faith level is at and He can trust them to make it through without 'burning up'. They have "3 Hebrews faith" (trust).
Cultural pride is a social construct. It doesn't exist if there aren't people around to feed its existence. A little of it is safe and fun (USA, USA, USA), but when it is taken to the point where we refuse to associate with (in whatever way...whether person-to-person or something more vague and general) people because of differences between us (religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, you name it)...that's when it gets dangerous. I think part of the injunction to be as little children is to blur the edges between us and not let 'the wicked traditions of our fathers' dictate our attitudes toward those from whom we're different. Being of one heart and one mind...being Zion...cannot and will not happen with such bigotries in place.
The flattening of the world is forcing us, as individuals and as a nation, to confront our bigotries head-on, which is a very good and necessary thing. Unfortunately, this forced confrontation does not force us to shape up. We must choose to abandon the ideas that hold us back. Those who do will succeed. Not to oversimplify, but that is really what this boils down to.
I also believe Mormon cultural pride needs to get knocked down several notches. I'm guilty of it...I'll admit...but the idea that your kids can't play with other kids because they're not LDS...or references to the world outside the intermountain west as "the mission field" (to name a couple practices under this umbrella)...that's garbage. This Church does not belong to Utah or the United States or any other specific entity. This Church is not the bulwark upon which civilization is founded, either. We are to be grateful for what we have, not self-righteous and exclusionary, and have genuine respect and goodwill for those who do not share our beliefs. It is a fine line to walk, yes, but find a way to walk it we must. Part of "where much is given, much is required", I guess.
Potential Topics (strikethroughs have been brushed on already)
what temple stuff we should talk about
hymns that don't rhyme proper method for passing the sacrament
church attendance Book of Mormon geography amount of meat we should consume why Mormons tend to be Republicans proper church attire EFY
questioning our leaders
paying money for scripture apps responsibility of LDS artists Mormon movies proper method for passing rolls R-rated movies (115)
the Sunday three block schedule
ward choir home teaching
examples of when the scriptures are wrong role of women
phones in sacrament meeting. first day on the mission people we don't want in the Celestial Kingdom(93) caffeine crazy pulpit stories humility fasting favorite Book of Mormon characters
Mormon urban myths Halloween Christmas movies airing of grievances Battlestar Galactica Fast and testimony jokes
rapture -- what's happening? lava-lavas and kilts vacation on Sundays loud laughter
sex seer stones limbo (121) great and spacious building activities(120) outer darkness (112) depression (119) demonic possession(124) life on other worlds (123)
new LDS scriptures
OSC gay stuff
environmentalism
abortion
definition of seeking good things
Dungeons & Dragons
Ward conference
Ghosts
I had a great, long comment which Blogspot was kind enough to lose. Nice.
ReplyDeleteA few points:
*My favorite "But If Not" talk is Lance Wickman's from October 2002 GC. It's profound to me because just before that Conference, a gal in my ward (I was at Penn State at the time) had had a miscarriage, and hearing Elder Wickman share that story of losing his son was SO powerful to us as a ward as we tried to support this sweet family in their time of tragedy.
I think "but if not" is the ultimate statement of faith to a Christian. That, to me, is faith fully-formed. To not expect God to rescue you (reward you for your faithfulness) in very trying/dangerous circumstances. There's a song that talks about this..."Held" by Natalie Grant...which states, in part: "Who told us we'd be rescued? What has changed, and why should we be saved from the nightmare?" Sometimes, it is the strongest Christians who get the biggest 'nightmares' because the Lord knows where their faith level is at and He can trust them to make it through without 'burning up'. They have "3 Hebrews faith" (trust).
Cultural pride is a social construct. It doesn't exist if there aren't people around to feed its existence. A little of it is safe and fun (USA, USA, USA), but when it is taken to the point where we refuse to associate with (in whatever way...whether person-to-person or something more vague and general) people because of differences between us (religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, you name it)...that's when it gets dangerous. I think part of the injunction to be as little children is to blur the edges between us and not let 'the wicked traditions of our fathers' dictate our attitudes toward those from whom we're different. Being of one heart and one mind...being Zion...cannot and will not happen with such bigotries in place.
The flattening of the world is forcing us, as individuals and as a nation, to confront our bigotries head-on, which is a very good and necessary thing. Unfortunately, this forced confrontation does not force us to shape up. We must choose to abandon the ideas that hold us back. Those who do will succeed. Not to oversimplify, but that is really what this boils down to.
I also believe Mormon cultural pride needs to get knocked down several notches. I'm guilty of it...I'll admit...but the idea that your kids can't play with other kids because they're not LDS...or references to the world outside the intermountain west as "the mission field" (to name a couple practices under this umbrella)...that's garbage. This Church does not belong to Utah or the United States or any other specific entity. This Church is not the bulwark upon which civilization is founded, either. We are to be grateful for what we have, not self-righteous and exclusionary, and have genuine respect and goodwill for those who do not share our beliefs. It is a fine line to walk, yes, but find a way to walk it we must. Part of "where much is given, much is required", I guess.
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