Uniformity?

Here is a dream worth remembering as we contemplate (or sometimes painfully experience) the recurring push for uniformity and conformity to generally accepted traditions/theories (GATTs). GATTs run the gamut through science, religion, culture, education, politics, philosophy, and so forth. It’s an endless déjà vu as seekers, questioners, innovators, et al. buck the GATTs of every age.

[Brigham Young:] Now I am going to tell a dream that I had, which I think is as applicable, to the people to-day—the 21st day of June, 1874, as when I had it. There were so many going to California, and going this way and that way, and they did not know what they wanted, and said I—"stay here, we can raise our food here, I know it is a good stock country, a good sheep country, and as good a country for raising silk as there is in the world, and we shall raise some of the best of wheat. There stands a man—Burr Frost, and there is Truman O. Angell, who were present at the time. Said I, "We can raise all we want here, do not go away, do not be discouraged." That was when the pioneers came; the next year, it was California, California, California, California. "No," said I, "stay here." After much thought and reflection, and a good deal of praying and anxiety as to whether the people would be saved after all our trouble in being driven into the wilderness, I had a dream one night, the second year after we came in here. Captain Brown had gone up to the Weber, and bought a little place belonging to Miles Goodyear. Miles Goodyear had a few goats, and I had a few sheep that I had driven into the Valley, and I wanted to get a few goats to put along with the sheep. I had seen Captain Brown and spoken to him about the goats, and he said I could have them. Just at that time I had this dream, which I will now relate, I thought I had started and gone past the Hot Springs, which is about four miles north of this city. I was going after my goats. When I had gone round the point of the mountain by the Hot Springs, and had got about half a mile on the rise of ground beyond the Spring, whom should I meet but brother Joseph Smith. He had a wagon with no bed on, with bottom boards, and tents and camp equipage piled on. Somebody sat on the wagon driving the team. Behind the team I saw a great flock of sheep. I heard their bleating, and saw some goats among them. I looked at them and thought—"This is curious, brother Joseph has been up to Captain Brown's and got my goats." There were men driving the sheep, and some of the sheep I should think were three and a half feet high, with large, fine, beautiful white fleeces, and they looked so lovely and pure; others were of moderate size, and pure and white; and in fact there were sheep of all sizes, with fleeces clean, pure and white. Then I saw some that were dark and spotted, of all colors and sizes and kinds, and their fleeces were dirty, and they looked inferior; some of these were a pretty good size, but not as large as some of the large fine clean sheep, and altogether there was a multitude of them of all sizes and kinds, and goats of all colors, sizes and kinds mixed among them. Joseph stopped the wagon, and the sheep kept rushing up until there was an immense herd. I looked in Joseph's eye, and laughed, just as I had many a time when he was alive, about some trifling thing or other, and said I—"Joseph, you have got the darndest flock of sheep I ever saw in my life; what are you going to do with them, what on earth are they for?" Joseph looked cunningly out of his eyes, just as he used to at times, and said he—"They are all good in their places." When I awoke in the morning I did not find any fault with those who wanted to go to California; I said, "If they want to go let them go, and we will do all we can to save them; I have no more fault to find, the sheep and the goats will run together, but Joseph says, "they are all good in their places."
(Journal of Discourses, 26 vols. [London: Latter-day Saints' Book Depot, 1854-1886], 18: 245-246, bold emphasis added.)

See also: New Testament Matthew 13:24-30 (parable of the wheat & the tares) and 13:47-50 (parable of the net cast into the sea with "angels from heaven" doing the severing at the end of the world).

The Forgotten Fruits?

Yesterday I came across a brief video/art exhibit by artist Jon McNaughton titled “The Forgotten Man.”* In that misguided¹ presentation and painting, I saw the recycling myopia of man—the predilection to present partial truths as if they were whole. However convinced Mr. McNaughton is of his perspective; however sincere—he exhibits the tragic, one-eyed bias of many who take sides in Pharisee v. Sadducee contests.

The science writer Sharon Begley gives insight into such “motivated reasoning”:²

If you have a strongly held belief with an emotional component, the brain defends information that reinforces those ‘priors’ and is skeptical of information that challenges them. … People who hold these hard priors filter information to support their perceptions.³ (Bold emphasis mine.)

And so, Mr. McNaughton takes the “Right” side, seemingly oblivious to the appalling Constitutional offenses and hypocrisies of many of his “good, concerned” past presidents. Just because men and women claim to serve God and love their fellowman does not mean they do the works of God⁴ or the Constitution.

Have we forgotten “by their fruits”⁵ applies to everyone? So why do we, in these contests of right v. left, pretend truth is respected when we handpick from our chosen “side” only the “good” fruits,⁶ as if in a supermarket, and give nary a thought to the corrupted fruit that is frequently wheeled to backrooms so as not to offend our selection or sensibilities? Why are we so enamored “by their words” to the point we refuse to honestly contemplate our side's corruptions—their dishonorable fruits—while we decry the corruptions of our rivals?

The offenses of BOTH the right and the left against truth, justice, and the Constitution are egregious, but what if the greater poison is the hypocrisy of claiming to be defenders and saviors of the Constitution when deeds are otherwise? Inspect the entire barrel of your chosen fruit. Read the full history. Review all the stats. Observe the incriminating pictures. Consider the consequences. Quit justifying. Quit filtering. Look within.

Have we forgotten the déjà vus of history? How many peoples and nations have claimed divine appointment and destiny, yet been the authors of ruin and self-destruction because seeing they would not see, and hearing they would not hear?

If ever there was a work of art that illustrated the points of “hard priors” and filtering, I venture we would be hard pressed to find one as blatantly imbalanced and disingenuous as “The Forgotten Man.”

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* http://www.bookofmormonevidence.org/video_player.php?id=58
1. I deliberately use strong, countering words because the painting was intended to be such a strong, condemning image of perceived offenders while lauding perceived heroes without consideration of the known facts of history. (This view applies to several of JM’s other works.)
2. We all do it, (even this writer) and without awareness of a “priors” bias, are we not all more prone to biased judgment—whether pro or con? Shouldn’t 360° honesty in dealing with all the facts help control that bias?
3. From the work of political scientist Hank Jenkins-Smith of the University of Oklahoma as quoted, in Newsweek, October 13, 2010, pp. 29-30 by science writer Sharon Begley about voter tendencies—observations that seem applicable to almost everything that requires choice or discernment.
4. New Testament Matthew 7:22-23: Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
5. New Testament Matthew 7:20: Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. [In other words, “Do their works honor truth?”]
6. (though too often invented or virtual)

Totality of Truth?

Recently I have come across some criticisms of a man whose purported “end-time” visions and experiences do not all conform to the “expected” or the norm. In reading those criticisms, I have wondered if comparison is a sufficient test for truth. Some of the criticisms remind me of the “Blind Men and an Elephant” story¹. But mostly, I thought of the prophecies that Elijah and Micaiah pronounced concerning Ahab, king of Israel:

[Elijah] ... Thus saith the LORD, In the place [by the wall of Jezreel²] where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine. (Old Testament 1 Kings 21:19)

[Micaiah] And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead [in battle]? .... (Old Testament 1 Kings 22:20)

This is how Josephus describes the set-up³:

... Zedekiah, one of those false prophets, came near, and exhorted [King Ahab] not to hearken to Micaiah, for he did not at all speak truth; as a demonstration of which he instanced in what Elijah had said, who was a better prophet in foretelling futurities than Micaiah;* for he foretold that the dogs should lick his blood in the city of Jezreel, in the field of Naboth, as they licked the blood of Naboth, who by his means was there stoned to death by the multitude; that therefore it was plain that this Micaiah was a liar, as contradicting a greater prophet than himself, and saying that he should be slain at three days' journey distance: (Josephus, Flavius, Antiquities of the Jews, p. 195, XV:4)

Then Josephus describes the fulfillment:

... [King Ahab] was sorely and mortally wounded. However, he sat in his chariot and endured the pain till sunset, and then he fainted away and died. ... they took the dead body of Ahab to Samaria, and buried it there; but when they had washed his chariot in the fountain of Jezreel, which was bloody with the dead body of the king, they acknowledged that the prophecy of Elijah was true, for the dogs licked his blood, ...; but still he died at Ramoth, as Micaiah had foretold. And as what things were foretold should happen to Ahab by the two prophets came to pass, we ought thence to have high notions of God, and every where to honor and worship him, and never to suppose that what is pleasant and agreeable is worthy of belief before what is true, and to esteem nothing more advantageous than the gift of prophecy and that foreknowledge of future events which is derived from it, since God shows men thereby what we ought to avoid. We may also guess, from what happened to this king, and have reason to consider the power of fate; that there is no way of avoiding it [except repentance], even when we know it. It creeps upon human souls, and flatters them with pleasing hopes, till it leads them about to the place where it will be too hard for them. Accordingly Ahab appears to have been deceived thereby, till he disbelieved those that foretold his defeat; but, by giving credit to such as foretold what was grateful to him, was slain; and his son Ahaziah succeeded him. (Josephus, Flavius, Antiquities of the Jews, p. 195, XV:5-6; bold emphasis added)

THUS we see that sometimes things can appear to be contradictory and incompatible, yet be reconciled in the totality of truth.

SO, if the Lord is right⁴ that:

... it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. (Old Testament Joel 2:28 - 29);

and if Joseph Smith witnessed that:

[The angel Moroni] also quoted the second chapter of Joel, from the twenty-eighth verse to the last. He also said that this was not yet fulfilled, but was soon to be. (Pearl of Great Price JS-History 1:41);

then maybe this pouring out of spirit (?) can give new perspectives. Maybe a comparison test isn’t the proper test for truth or deception. Maybe these increasing latter-day dreams and visions are to help tutor us in seeking and recognizing our most precious guide: “the voice of the spirit.”

If, like Ahab and Zedekiah (and even good Jehoshaphat, king of Judah⁵), we reject seeming contradictions out-of-hand, how shall we ever know what is true and what is false?

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1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_men_and_an_elephant
2. See 1 Kings 21:23 and Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, p. 192, XIII:8; pp. 194-5, XV:3
3. Old Testament 1 Kings 22:34-38 account: And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel [Ahab] between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded. And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot. ... So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria. And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of the LORD which he spake.
* Refers to a Josephus footnote at end of column 1, p. 195.
4. (an eternal déjà vu)
5. See Josephus footnote, end of column 1, p. 195; also, see 1 Kings, 22:43 reference to Jehoshaphat's good character.

Lesser Things?

Since reading the following (humor-intended?) comment in a discussion group, I have been thinking about the perspective prison that many of us seem to accept without question. The comment was:

“... no Internet? But wait—you may be right! 2 Nephi 13: 18, 20 does say that “In that day the Lord will take away . . . their tablets . . .” I guess if Nephi says I have to give up my iPad, then so be it. But at least he didn’t say anything about my iPhone!”

My reply was: “Perhaps the new (and everlasting[!!]) technology [of a Zion society] will surpass our tablets and iphones (D&C 130:9-10) in ways we cannot imagine, which is highly likely considering Isaiah 55:8-9.”

I wonder if our perspective prison is that we think all our mechanical/physical technology is going to be translated into the next phase (with celestial improvements, of course)? But what if OUR technology is ALL utterly telestial? What if we have become so focused on the marvels of lesser things that we have forgotten there is a “technology” vastly superior composed of light and faith? (Ref.: D&C 88 and Lectures on Faith, Lecture One.)

What if all these marvels of lesser things have tragically distracted us from the real marvel of celestial “technology” and our divine destiny*? What if:

Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made: [?] (Old Testament Isaiah 2:8)

What do our fingers make? Yes, many “good” things? But what is the preponderance? What do our fingers make appear? Words, images, music, texts, tweets, sounds, etc. etc., etc.? For what purpose?

Yes, God can and does use our lesser technology for His good purposes. At some point, His question to us will probably be: Did you?

Has there ever been a time when our hands have been so constantly in use? So continually making choices? When our eyes have been so persistently focused and refocused? On what? To edification? To the glory of God or the obsession of self?

Are we but déjà vu the children of Israel (all Twelve Tribes), and countless others who were given lesser gifts and powers because they were not prepared to (and could not) abide greater ones?**

Again, just asking (for self-reflection).

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* http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/2012/08/offspring-or-something-less.html
** (Doctrine and Covenants Section 84:23-27): Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God; But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his anger was kindled against them, swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory. Therefore, he took Moses out of their midst, and the Holy Priesthood also; And the lesser priesthood continued, which priesthood holdeth the key of the ministering of angels and the preparatory gospel; Which gospel is the gospel of repentance and of baptism, and the remission of sins, and the law of carnal commandments, which the Lord in his wrath caused to continue with the house of Aaron among the children of Israel until John, whom God raised up, being filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother's womb.
See also, (Book of Mormon Alma 12:9-11): And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying: It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him. And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full. And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell.

Bullying ~ A Family Affair?

In a recent magazine article entitled “Cyberbullying,”* a statement caught my eye and ire. The statement was: “Whereas children could traditionally find in their homes a safe haven from bullies ...”;

My mind immediately exclaimed: Traditionally??!! Safe haven?!

I suppose my consciousness-factor (and irritability) is somewhat high on this issue for three reasons:

1) a recent news report¹ of how damaging bullying WITHIN the home can be;

2) recent thoughts about the déjà vu of family bullying—beginning with Cain. How many scripture stories tell of family bullying? Cain killing Abel; young Joseph sold into Egypt by his brothers; young David and his scornful brother (1 Sam 17:28-29); Nephi persecuted by his brothers, Laman and Lemuel; the Jaredite sagas of competing and usurping sons, etc., etc. And how many historical accounts of family bullying? King Herod being a classic, tragic example; AND

3) recent awareness of a father² who is bullying his children (in part) to wreak vengeance on an ex-wife; using his teenage and adult children to send (unbelievable) texts and messages to other siblings who will not conform to his will; a father who claims his “priesthood” gives him the right (of inspiration!) to “direct” (meaning dictate)³; a father whose self-awareness approaches the negative and whose aspirations know no limit. It is unbelievably tragic—with consequences to be played out perhaps over generations.

If bullying by siblings and parents does not fall within our consciousness or articulations, how many abused kids, parents, or spouses (both male and female) are left unaware that their torment is, IN FACT, a result of bullying by a family member?

PLEASE, let us recognize: some of the most damaging bullying does not invade the home—it originates there. It is mostly NOT anonymous. It can be exacerbated by technology. And the “What to Do” of the Ensign article leaves kids (and others) with little awareness and no suggestions on how to deal with family bullies, especially when the bully is a parent or spouse, or a sibling/child egged on by such a parent.

And please, be advised: this post is not to say that all homes have bullies. Many homes are trying desperately to be safe havens, and for them the Ensign article may be helpful. It’s just that too often we seem to idealize our homes and whitewash or ignore offending realities.

When a thing is not named for what it is, both victim and perpetrator remain uncounted and unaccountable.

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* August 2013 Ensign (p. 39)
1. http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/bullying-by-siblings-as-harmful-as-schoolyard-bullying-study-1.1328875
2. Vengeful mothers can be just as guilty.
3. In complete contravention (and cognition) of D&C 121:41-43.

In the House of Our Friends?

For several years my father worked with several people who were trying to overcome alcohol addiction. Not only were these people fighting their inner demons, they were continually bombarded by “friends” to join in drinking parties. Time after time, they succumbed. The remorse was always genuine, but the strength to resist the inside/outside double-barreled assault was often not sufficient; the conspiracy of friends too overwhelming.

Recently my nephew and his family committed to abandon the western food culture of processed and packaged foods, with its heavy reliance on meat, dairy, salt, fat, and sugar. They took their own natural, nutrient-dense food to a huge church encampment and experienced both curiosity and criticism for being different and for rejecting the local church-approved/-provided menu.

I have already written about our distressing food addictions.* Despite our Word of Wisdom, too many of us perpetually dine at the tables of Babylon. And are mad as hoppers at the charge. We cling to our addictions and are offended when others comment. (Holier than thou, eh?!)

We not only feed, but love our addictions and claim that science has proven “so-called” toxic ingredients as safe, as we blissfully ignore/reject all contradictory science. We go to Church dinners & suppers, encampments, reunions, cafeterias, campuses, etc. that are meat-heavy, jello-laden, soda-loaded, and dessert-saturated. (Not to mention the bliss-points of BYU candy-central.)

How long will the food sins (and addictions) of the fathers and mothers (and other saboteurs) be passed on to unsuspecting children—so they can pass them on in turn? How déjà vu world history!

How déjà vu former days when the children of Israel (all Twelve Tribes) went after the gods of their neighbors! How déjà vu when those who become peculiar to the culture soon become men and women of strife and contention because they don’t conform. Shades of Jesus? of Jeremiah, etc.?

Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them doth curse me. (Old Testament Jeremiah 15:9-10)

How many repentant sinners have been made to feel unacceptably peculiar—becoming unintended agents of strife and contention—in the house of friends and Church family? From my observations, most of us (including myself) have become too casual about God’s justice AND mercy in our rush to satisfy addictions and to conform to the norm. What is it we don’t get about:

For I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance; (Doctrine and Covenants Section 1:31; see also Alma 45:16)?

So, if  “a man's enemies are the men [and women] of his own house,” where do we turn for support?

Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me. I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness. (Old Testament Micah 7:6-9)

So when we see contrarians to our culture, let us not be too quick to judge. Maybe they are just looking for the light that has gone dim in our own house?

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* http://www.dejavu-times.blogspot.ca/2013/03/blissful-ignorance.html

The Greatest Work?

Several years ago there was a push from Church headquarters to simplify in order to give more priority to family. Since then, it seems that local and general programming has only intensified with super-activities and entertainments that require massive time commitments and costs. I wonder if we have forgotten the words of Harold B. Lee in 1973 (40 years ago):

“The greatest work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own home.”*

As we seek to create spiritual and conversion experiences for our young people (in super-activities), I wonder if we have also forgotten a corollary of President Lee's remark:

The greatest missionary work we will ever do will be within the walls our own homes.

Mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, aunts and uncles, and siblings—is not missionary work within the family the priority portion of the call: “Every member a missionary”?

And what is the nature of that “missionary work”? Does it not go far, far beyond instruction and teaching? Doesn’t the Apostle Paul make it very clear what the vital core of that work is? See 1 Cor. 13.

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* https://www.lds.org/ensign/2002/06/father-consider-your-ways?lang=eng