Man vs. God

The discussions concerning Church history and Joseph Smith seem to have heated up in recent years with the ease of publishing and sharing of opinions. Clearly, for many seekers, God has not made faith easy to maintain. Some can’t even get to faith, because God Himself has become such an obstacle. And from a strictly human, rational, moral, and legal POV, one can hardly fault them. Many times, God manifests as an incomprehensible stumbling block.

On a diet of milk (or skimmed milk¹), God seems easy enough to accept, but when one attempts to eat meat in His house, one is almost guaranteed to experience bouts of choking because, at some point, He quits mincing it for us. Just ask Adam & Eve, Noah & Naamah, Abraham & Sarah, Moses, Job, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Nephi, Peter, Joseph & Emma Smith, and tens-of-thousands of others.

He has forewarned us about the meat in His house.

I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. (New Testament 1 Corinthians 3:2)

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (New Testament Hebrews 5:12-14)

Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: (Old Testament Isaiah 28:9-10)

For they cannot bear meat now, but milk they must receive; wherefore, they must not know these things, lest they perish. (Doctrine and Covenants Section 19:22)

Many of us study the history of God’s dealings with mankind, and know of His dealings with us and our loved ones, and when we get to the meat of life, we, like Job, often cry out:

... I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction; For it increaseth. ... (Old Testament Job 10:15-16)

God’s meat (will) is full of contradictions and contraries despite what we would prefer (and often preach). Consider:

▪ the command for Abraham to perform human sacrifice;
▪ the unmerited sufferings of “perfect” Job;
▪ the command for Isaiah² to go naked and barefoot like a slave;
▪ the command for Hosea ² to marry an infamous  “wife of whoredoms”;
▪ the counsel of an old prophet³ to a young prophet to disobey personal revelation (and the fatal consequences, I Kings 13, JST);
▪ the command for Nephi to kill Laban;
▪ Peter’s denying the Christ (as a command???⁴);
▪ the command for Joseph Smith to practice polygamy; (???)
▪ the horrible suffering and death of hundreds of prophets, saints, sages, and defenders of truth as they sealed their testimonies with their blood.

What do these few examples say about our belief in: “Thou shalt not kill”; justice and lovingkindness; the dignity of prophets; following the prophet; “Thou shalt not bear false witness”; “Thou shalt not commit adultery”; God protects and blesses His faithful; and so on?

At times, the meat of contrarieties⁵ becomes too dissonant, agonizing, overwhelming, nonsensical, shocking, irreconcilable, and on and on. For many of us, the point comes where belief runs up against information, documentation, allegation, assumption, disappointment, etc., etc., and we cry: “I know too much (to remain faithful).”

BUT WHAT IF, in the end, the final, simple question is: “Did you know enough? (—to judge Me or My thoughts and ways?")?

We already have the short answer:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Old Testament Isaiah 55:8-9)

which is perhaps the one scripture that should be written on the forehead of every seeking soul. Or perhaps:

... he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: (Old Testament Isaiah 11:3)

If we demand a rational, reasonable, logical, common sense God, then we won’t get the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; of Moses, Joshua, Hosea, Gideon, Joseph Smith, or of any of the old prophets. We seem, in this latter day, to want a telestial/terrestrial God who conforms and confines Himself to the enlightenment paradigm.

But no! we have been told time and again:

He is beyond us:

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. (New Testament Romans 11:33-36)

He has a purpose:

For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. (Pearl of Great Price Moses 1:39)

He is going to try us:

... that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. (Old Testament Exodus 16:4)

And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them; (Pearl of Great Price Abraham 3:25; bold emphasis added.)

But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, ... (Old Testament Jeremiah 11:20)

My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion; and he that will not bear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom. (Doctrine and Covenants Section 136:31; bold emphasis added.)

And HOW is He going to test/prove/try us? by NOT offending our sense of logic and reason? by always confirming our faith-based, telestial/terrestrial biases? by offering up physical evidence? by preventing contradictory, confusing evidence? by making it easy to believe?

So if God commands Abraham or Nephi or Joseph Smith (or others) do we ever know enough to cry foul? And if the civil authorities do, then is it not up to God to provide a way for their escape, or not, as He sees fit?

Each of their acts offends our sense of what is rational, logical, reasonable, legal, moral, etc. And worse yet, how are we supposed to reconcile any of this with civil law and order? How, if confronted with civil or criminal law, could any of these have justified themselves? The contraries cannot be anything but agonizing and incomprehensible.

God’s will is often like a harpoon to the heart (or the imaginations of the heart, or mind, as the case may be). Again, just ask Abraham.

And maybe, in this twenty-first century, our harpoon to the heart is to let God be transrational⁶; to let Joseph Smith be His prophet of the Restoration (or as I first mistyped it, Testoration) even when he fails our “enlightenment,” evidentiary tests. What better way to push us toward “the evidence of things not seen”⁷ than to hopelessly confound the “evidence of things seen.”

In light of Abraham 3:15, the question we will surely face regarding Joseph Smith will be: Despite all you knew or thought you knew, did you ever know enough to judge him righteously?

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The following links are expansions of several of my thoughts expressed above:
1. Skimmed milk: http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/2010/10/skimmed-milk.html
2. Isaiah/Hosea: http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/2010/11/shock-of-contrast.html
3. Old Prophet: http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/search/label/Old%20Prophet ; Ask yourself: How correlation-rational is this story?
4. Peter: http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/2011/12/in-defense-of-peter.html
5. Contradictions: http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/2009/09/agony-of-contradictions.html
6. Transrational: http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/2012/11/transrational.html
7. Faith: Hebrews 11:1

Ties that Bind?

(Recent questions from troubling observations.)

That through my providence, notwithstanding the tribulation which shall descend upon you, that the church may stand independent above all other creatures beneath the celestial world; (Doctrine and Covenants Section 78:14, bold emphasis added)

How independent are we IF:

1. we bow to Scouting rules, regulations, and policies in order to run youth programs where “inspired” callings must be vetted through secular law enforcement?

2. we team up with retail partners like Taubman Centers, Inc. as in the City Creek Center? How do we reconcile that high-end “profit” center, its ads/billboards, etc., with Isaiah, Jeremiah, the Gospels, the Book of Mormon, etc.?

3. we team up with media affiliates to fill our air time (as in KSL-TV)?¹

4. we own and/or invest in businesses and properties principally for their money-making potential?

5. we hire lobbyists to pursue advantages, favors, and prestige?

Why did God tell us to stand “independent” “notwithstanding tribulation”? Where have we seen before (deja vu?) the tragedies of church “dependence” and intermingling? What is the history of state churches? What was the condition in Christ’s day?

Do we really think we are immune from the contagion of latter-day entanglements?

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1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deseret_Management_Corporation

Blissfully Ignorant (II)?

I listened to a Sunday School class last week about the gathering of Zion. Most in the class are good people, striving to do the best they can, yet from some of the comments, I could not help but wonder if we live much of our lives in a state of blissful ignorance of our addictions in this world? of the hours we spend going to, meandering in, and coming from mega-malls? blissfully ignorant of the entertainment messages we consume daily? of the excesses we surround ourselves with? of the “why” of our food choices (and their consequences)? and on and on.

If we thought that Doctrine and Covenants 89:4 was an overstatement:

Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—

then we are blissfully ignorant of the extent of addiction of many, many, if not most, of the faithful. Watch:

http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/TV+Shows/The+National/Health/ID/2341079476/

then let us confess. Confess that the Atonement that we commemorated this week had to be infinite, because we are so infinitely compromised; and we don’t even seem to know it.

What, in our money-obsessed world, is not compromised? food, entertainment, economics, science, religion,  politics, sports, ourselves, etc., etc., etc.

Reminds me of a 10-year old, great-nephew's comment this week. His honesty was refreshing; his viewpoint  not so much. "I really like Easter," he said. "The candy part. Not all the religious stuff."

And so he celebrates, blissfully unaware that the candy part is both an addiction and a poisonous corruption of the event that gives excuse for the candy. And what is our blissful unawareness? Is it perhaps how little our words about Easter conform to our actions at Easter?

Makes one wonder sometimes if we’re not just déjà vu Rameumpton (Book of Mormon Alma 31).

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The above CBC.ca link is entitled "The Science of Addictive Foods."

Drops of God?

Recently I was introduced to a blog post entitled “Drops of Awesome.”¹ As usual, this new information triggered an avalanche of thoughts and questions.

Undoubtedly many of us need to give more recognition to the positive aspects of our lives and endeavors, instead of dwelling so much on the negative aspects of life, but (yes, here comes that ubiquitous but)—here is my question. In this world of opposites and opposition, and with our predilection toward imbalance, might these “drops of awesome” carry the substantial risk of mis-focusing us, IF we don’t maintain awareness and vigilance?

What do I mean?

Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? (Old Testament Proverbs 20:6)

It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory. (Old Testament Proverbs 25:27)

Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. (Old Testament Proverbs 27:2)

He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. (New Testament John 7:18)

For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. (New Testament 2 Corinthians 10:18)

I had been mulling this “Drops of Awesome” idea for about a week, when our Sunday School teacher requested that in the next seven days, we raise our awareness of the oft unrecognized, small graces and manifestations of God in our everyday lives. And BOING, the enlightenment intensified. If, as I have written elsewhere that “Praise is best deflected toward God,” then perhaps “Drops of God” might be the safer focus.

Now this Awesome blogger clearly gives God the overflowing credit for making-up our deficiencies with the symbolism of a pitcher of water labeled “ATONEMENT,” but (there it is again), I have been wondering if “Drops of [Our] Awesome” might be more safely phrased in terms of “Drops of [God’s] Awesome,” as in His Spirit encouraging/moving us into greater awareness, motivation, sensitivity, compassion, empathy, faith, hope, charity, growth, progression, and so forth. Yes, it is our agency that makes the choice to listen and to act, but(!) what else do the scriptures say?

Then said Jesus unto them, ... I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me (New Testament John 8:28)

For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. (New Testament Corinthians 3:9)

And so, I wonder if it might not be possible to refocus all our deeds of awesome into expressions of gratitude and praise?

NOT unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake. (Old Testament Psalms 115:1)

PRAISE ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. (Old Testament Psalms 150:1-6)

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1. http://www.daringyoungmom.com/2012/12/19/drops-of-awesome/

WHY?

In recent weeks, several families in our Ward have experienced tragedies and traumas. Then today, we had our Sunday Service and I left the meeting feeling depressed in spirit; depressed because of the words of a leader who said: "Why do bad things happen to good people? I simply don't know."

To clarify, I must say that our stake leaders are good men and women, probably doing the best they can with the time they have, and yet how can a top leader in our stake not know? With the continual cycling (and déjà vu) of "bad things"—with the prolific witness of scripture and history, how can our leaders not be able to articulate the principles of why "bad things happen to good people"?

1. The principle of agency. Children, spouses, friends, strangers, and we ourselves make choices—and choices have consequences. Many, many times those consequences are painful—sometimes so agonizing they seem unbearable, unforgivable, unending.

2. The principle of progression. The comfortable, "untroubled, blessed life," plus fame, money, power (The Three Temptations), and so forth are status-quo and distractive impediments to spiritual and eternal progression which is The Great Plan. Without some motivation to reassess priorities, perspectives, and purposes, we seem to forget that life is, at core, about eternal lives and relationships—not about transient, 3-D material and personal attachments.

3. The principles of law and necessity. Without perfecting faith, hope and charity¹ we cannot be trusted with the greater powers that accompany progression. And like so much else, increasing in faith, hope, and charity comes line upon line, choice upon choice—mostly triggered by reevaluations and recommitments wrung from out of suffering.

4. The principle of submission.²  However anything appears to us, things do not just happen randomly—without God's awareness. And furthermore, God is not asleep, nor dead, nor fickle, nor sadistic. He is a loving God who said:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Old Testament Isaiah 55:8-9)

Is He not telling us that the principle of progression (#2 above) means more than we can possibly comprehend in our 3-D world?³ That we don't know enough to judge what is best for our or another's progression? And that every "bad thing" that flows from agency (or from whatever cause) can be turned to good if we apply it to increasing our faith, hope, and charity?

5. The principle of comfort.

... I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (New Testament John 16:32-33)

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (New Testament John 14:18)

Are we open to that comfort? Are we open to the principle of submission to God? Or are we so immersed in our own sense of what is "rational and just"⁴ that comfort is rejected out of hand?

But God's witness and the witness of unnumbered sufferers is that when we remain open, even when understanding is elusive, we shall be comforted (in God's way and timing). Remember Job.⁵

Someone said: "The gospel message is to disturb the comfortable and to comfort the disturbed."

How much peace, comfort, and understanding do we deny ourselves and others when we cannot witness (in appropriate times and ways) about the why of suffering?

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The following are related posts that also address these issues (in greater depth):
1. http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/2009/09/agony-of-contradictions.html
2. http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/2011/10/will-we-ever-get-it-part-3.html
3. http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/2013/01/evolution.html
4. http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/2012/11/transrational.html
5. http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/2009/09/trauma-happens.html

Evolution?

Do Mormons believe in evolution? One would probably get a mix of answers from both the authorities and the rank and file, because there are a mix of definitions. But there is an "evolution concept" in Mormonism that consistently stirs the antagonism of many fellow Christians. And having recently begun watching "Fires of Faith: The Coming Forth of the King James Bible" one is reminded of the historical predilection toward charges of heresy when beliefs and actions do not conform to the accepted norm.

Also, while researching on the WWWeb, one is unpleasantly reminded that such a predilection is not just historical. The internet is full of pronouncements of disdain for perceived ideological opponents—not only in religious circles, but in most every field of knowledge.

How déjà vu is this (from a recent publication by Sam Harris¹)?

Some propositions are so dangerous that it may even be ethical to kill people for believing them. This may seem an extraordinary claim, but it merely enunciates an ordinary fact about the world in which we live. Certain beliefs place their adherents beyond the reach of every peaceful means of persuasion, while inspiring them to commit acts of extraordinary violence against others. There is, in fact, no talking to some people. If they cannot be captured, and they often cannot, otherwise tolerant people may be justified in killing them in self-defense. This is what the United States attempted in Afghanistan, and it is what we and other Western powers are bound to attempt, at an even greater cost to ourselves and to innocents abroad, elsewhere in the Muslim world. We will continue to spill blood in what is, at bottom, a war of ideas.

And how déjà vu is Richard Dawkins² loathing of alternative theorists?

Have we not evolved to the point where we can

claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God [or not] according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may. (Pearl of Great Price Articles of Faith 1:11)?

The militant atheists are certainly right about the many crimes perpetuated in the name of religion, but it is amazing to hear these "men of [still advancing] science" espouse "old time" solutions as they pursue an agenda to eradicate the "God delusion" (that they believe, but cannot prove).

So what do Mormons believe about evolution? Well, frankly, it seems to be evolving: as knowledge increases; as man's ability to comprehend the incomprehensible increases; as his obedience to law opens up greater vistas. But for the inquiring mind, here are four fascinating explorations:

▪ John A. Widtsoe, Rational Theology (published 1915; Free Kindle download)^[3]

▪ Robert P. Burton and Bruce F. Webster, "Some Thoughts on Higher-dimensional Realms," BYU Studies 20, no. 3 (Spring 1980): 281-296 ^[4]

▪ Eugene England, "Perfection and Progression: Two Complementary Ways to Talk about God," BYU Studies 29, no.3 (Summer 1989): 31–47^[5]

▪ James R. Harris, "Eternal Progression and the Foreknowledge of God," BYU Studies 8, no.1 (Autumn 1967)^[6]

If these ideas are heretical in your mind, how can you be sure? As sure as 16th Century England was in burning her Bible translators and smugglers? As sure as every other soul who has killed for the sake of an idea or opinion? How about live and let live!

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1) http://www.antitheists.co.uk/resources/Sam%20Harris%20-%20The%20End%20of%20Faith.pdf ; see page 28.
2) http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_dawkins_on_militant_atheism.html ; e.g.: "attack religion as a whole" and to eradicate it for its past, present (and future) crimes against humanity; find at minute 8:00 ~ "attack religion as a whole"; at 28:00 ~ "secretly despise religion as much as I do"
[3] http://www.amazon.com/Rational-Theology-Taught-Latter-day-ebook/dp/B004TSA4P0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1358191597&sr=8-2&keywords=%22rational+theology%22
[4] https://byustudies.byu.edu/showtitle.aspx?title=5426 (click "Download Article Free")
[5] http://eugeneengland.org/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/1989_e_001.pdf
[6] https://byustudies.byu.edu/showtitle.aspx?title=4754 (click "Download Article Free")

And Hear the Angels Sing

A Plea from 1849

Edmund H. Sears (1810-1876), a Unitarian minister, wrote a 5-stanza poem titled, "Peace on Earth." It became the popular carol, "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear." In his poem, he expressed a longing for the day when peace and goodwill would envelop the world. He wrote:

Verse 3
Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not
The love song which they bring;
O hush the noise, ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing!

Verse 4
And ye, beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow,
Look now, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing:
O rest beside the weary road,
And hear the angels sing!

A Call to Action ~ Christmas 2012 (and every year thereafter)

1) Perhaps flash-choirs could gather at the home of every House and Senate person in every state/province/district of their Union this Christmas Eve and peacefully sing one or two carols, ending with these two unfamiliar verses of  "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear." (Sing these two verses with some distinctive emphasis to make clear to our "men [and women] of stife" that it is time to "hush the noise" and "hear the angels sing.")

2) Incorporate more fully into Christmas-giving the ideas of Matthew 25:35-6, 40:

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. ... Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

For ideas, you can read the story, "Loving the Savior: Our Christmas Key" by Esther Jane Ward.*

An Every-Morning Devotional

Merry Christmas 1980 [Happy New Year 2013]
by Howard Thurmas

When the song of the angel is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins;

To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers,
To make music in the heart …

(Howard Thurmas, from a Quaker calendar)
(New Era, Dec. 1980, 51)**

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* "Loving the Savior: Our Christmas Key" by Esther Jane Ward, Ensign/December 1980, p. 49 (Item # 4 in the section titled "Sharing"}at http://www.lds.org/ensign/1980/12/sharing/loving-the-savior-our-christmas-key?lang=eng&query=%22esther+jane+ward%22
** http://www.lds.org/new-era/1980/12/merry-christmas-1980?lang=eng&query=%22merry+christmas+%22