APRIL FOOLS came early for all the BYU students and faculty. yesterdat... (even though it is only March)
Apparently BYU really didn't mean to strip out of its Honor Code a prohibition on “all forms of physical intimacy that give expression to homosexual feelings.” That is was now OK to hold hands or hug or kiss another person of the same sex, just like their heterosexual classmates were allowed to do. And Honor Code officials told them it was OK. Even a BYU Professor told hundreds of students that this change to the Honor Code was a blessing. This change of policy made National News and was reported even in the New York Post.
Boy, do we all feel dumb for thinking that this was true. Talk about Fake News.
A new letter came out yesterday reversing the reversal. Students turned out to protest the move by the hundreds, gathering in the Wilkinson Center.
This feels alot like shifting sand. In my opinion it would have been best to stay on the original foundation and not try and make changes.
I am sure this is difficult for the Church to navigate in these uncharted waters. I can only imagine that they would like to wipe the slate clean and start over..
... Kind of like what it looks like they are doing down on Temple Square. A Clean Slate around the Temple.
BYU is my alma mater. Part of my experience at attending this private Church university was to live by the strict observance of the Honor Code. No beards, wearing Church issued modest gym attire and not being able to drink caffeine. Included in the Honor Code was the specific ban on homosexual behavior, including sexual relations and “all forms of physical intimacy that give expression to homosexual feelings.”
However, this week that all changed. In the update, all references to homosexual behavior has been removed. Many national news media outlets has reported that section was deleted from the Honor Code. BYU students who were confused at the changed called the Honor Code office and they said that staff told them it meant they would no longer be disciplined for dating, holding hands with or kissing people of the same sex.
After watching the video myself, I sent the above link to family members who are currently serving in callings in the Church. I asked for them to share with me their thoughts. This was an email response I just received from one of them.
"Hmmmmm.... where are my thoughts?? For the first 3/4 of the video I have to admit, I was confused! Where is the clarification?? I was really trying to stay with him and it wasn't until he posted the one sentence bomb directly from the honor code office, "The honor code no longer prohibits that."
I use to think I was in the majority with my opinion (not that that matters) but i'm realizing that I'm slowly becoming the minority. What a helpless feeling! I'm so use to being a black and white person but now I feel I'm being asked or forced to live in the gray and what s most difficult and unsettling is this is just the tip of the iceberg!!! Soon there will be no limits, no boundaries anywhere with this issue"
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After hearing about the Honor Code change, a current BYU student sent the following letter to the President of BYU, Kevin Worthen and Members of Brigham Young University administration.
Here is a copy of that letter. It is well written and worth the read.
February 22, 2020
Dear President Worthen, and members of Brigham Young University administration,
My original intent in this writing was to bring to the administration’s attention some
teachings I fear, if left unchecked, would allow the adversary to lead BYU students and
alumni “carefully down to hell,” as Nephi warned would happen in the last days. Man made 1
philosophies, both apparent and subtle, have woven themselves into the curriculum of
many BYU courses. Not only are they contrary to gospel teachings, they cripple faith in
Christ and teach acceptance of sin.2
On Wednesday February 19th, deletions concerning homosexual behavior were made to
the honor code. As the student body reacted to these changes, I felt a more solemn
responsibility devolving upon me. I have covenanted to be a witness of God at all times, in
all things, and in all places. I feel it my duty as one who bears His priesthood to write as the
Spirit directs.
Please know that a letter of this nature is not something I take lightly, and is the result of
much prayer and fasting. Consequently, I do not write my own thoughts, but write
according to the Spirit of God which is in me.
Christ invites us to repent and come unto Him as a little child. The idea of going back to go 3
forward is a profound one, especially in light of the fact that children know nothing. Not
only do they know nothing, but they know that they know nothing. Conversely, Jacob
warns,
...When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the
counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore,
their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish. But to
be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.
(2 Nephi 9:28-29)
There is eternally a spiritual danger associated with learning: pride. Mankind has an
inclination towards it. It’s eternally a part of a pattern we call “the pride cycle.” As soon as
we get a little of something, as we suppose, we immediately begin to set ourselves up. This 4
is the nature and disposition of almost all men. This is the great barrier that dictates why
many are called, but few are chosen.
Due to this fact, we are eternally at risk of falling prey to this error. Even an angel with
authority in God’s presence was cast down because of pride. We’re never fully safe from its 5
grasp, and historical patterns suggest that it is always our inevitable downfall.
Academic institutions worldwide are guilty of setting aside His counsels. They trample the
God of Israel under their feet by setting Him at naught. We are guilty of doing the same 6
when we ignore His word, asking instead for things which we cannot understand.7
The Lord has been unequivocal in His declaration that marriage between a man and a
woman is in the image of God. There are no exceptions. I’d think this matter clear enough,
but am continually surprised by how many members (faculty and student alike) believe
this doctrine to be changeable, man made, or even contrary to God’s true character.
One class in which I am currently enrolled, Sociality of Gender, starts day one on the basis
that gender is sheerly a social construct. It leaves no room for legitimate biological
differences, or makes any attempt to support or understand the assertion laid out in The
Family: A Proclamation to the Word, that gender is an essential characteristic and part of
one’s eternal identity. While I understand the value in considering opposing viewpoints, no
effort in this class is made to consider more than one. The required text, entitled
Questioning Gender, reads in one passage the following:
“As sociologists who understand the importance of social construction, in this
textbook we’ll assume a strong social constructionist perspective. This means that
most of the time we’ll talk about gender rather than sex categorires, assuming that
both are socially constructed. We’ll talk about women and men rather than females
and males. ...
“Most theorists who argue from the strong social constructionist point of view
would say that , yes, of course we have physical bodies. The problem is that our
categories--male and female--don’t accurately describe the reality of those physical
bodies. In fact, many would argue that the diversity in our physical bodies is greater
than our categories would lead us to believe. They might go so far as to argue that
our belief in how bodies should be gets in the way of our perceiving the way bodies
actually are. Because we believe that everyone should have a penis or vagina, we
tend to ignore the repeated cases of people who have both. Because we believe that one’s biological sex category should match up with the gender one expresses, we
stigmatize transgender people, who violate these norms.”9
Later in the book, another paragraph reads,
“We began this chapter with one vision of what sexuality might look like in a world
without gender. John Stoltenberg’s (2006) vision of having sex without having a sex
is also a world where solidity of the links between sexuality and gender becomes a
little more fluid. A queer theory approach gives us another vision of what sexuality
unhooked from sex category and gender might look like. Kate Bornstein (1994) is a
transwoman, and in her book Gender Outlaw, she suggested what desire might look
like uncoupled from these other categories. Instead of basing our sexual choices on
the particualr genitalia someone does or does not posses, which is assumed under
the categories of homosexual and heterosexual, what if we chose based on the
particular type of sexual activity we prefer? Bornstein proposed a set of colored
bracelets that could be worn to indicate the type of sexual activity preferred by
individuals as well as their preferred position of dominance or passivity. An orange
bracelet would indicate “anything goes,” while a light blue bracelet would indicate a
preference for oral sex.” Surely the kinds of things one likes to do sexually are an
important component of sexual compatibility, perhaps as important as if not more
important that someone’s sex category or gender. Someone’s sex category or gender
doesn’t necessarily tell us anything about what they do or don’t like to do sexually.”
To put it mildly, it takes a good deal of study to acquire some forms of ignorance. Such
ignorance is what fills the minds of the students enrolled in these courses at BYU. In other
courses I’ve taken, like Anthropology, professors champion a postmodern reality, denying
objective reasoning while embracing the idea that our reality is socially constructed. These
teachers “teach with their learning, and deny the Holy Ghost.” As degrees multiply, so too 10
does spiritual ignorance.
Unfortunately, the effect that these teachings have on students is equally disheartening.
Following are just a few posts made by students in an online discussion assignment:
“This week it was interesting to think about the fact that everything we grow up
thinking and believing about our own gender is completely structured by the society
we live in. What we as a culture choose to accept as being good or bad or right or
wrong is then put into place. I found it so interesting that some of the rituals done in
other cultures to create masculinity were exactly the things other cultures found tolessen their masculinity. It’s all about perspective and tradition and how we 11
choose to look at things. This is why it’s important to take a class like this so that we
can broaden our horizons and understand there’s more than one answer.”
“Chapter five reading was honestly super interesting to me, especially the one
section that gives the heteronormativity questions. I’ve never thought about or
asked myself the why behind my sexual orientation. Maybe it's because of the
church’s beliefs or the way I’ve grown up or both combined. It was also interesting
to think about how heterosexual activity has never been questioned before, it’s
always been accepted as the norm. The book referenced near the beginning of the
chapter also seems like an interesting point of view to have about sexual orientation
and sexual actions. If we were to break down categories and live in a world without
these preconceived notions I think there would be less judgment about sexual
orientation.”
“I really loved reading about those things too. You do start to wonder how
heterosexual relationships just became ‘the norm’. I think the way the world is going
we are starting to recognise that there isn't just one norm.”
It saddens me to think that this is what BYU has become. We have gone from defending the
truths revealed in scripture, to tolerating sin, to living in fear of speaking truth, to teaching
these things ourselves. This brings me to the recent revisions made to the honor code.
As you know, the previous honor code stated explicitly that “[h]omosexual behavior is
inappropriate and violates the Honor Code. Homosexual behavior includes not only sexual
relations between members of the same sex, but all forms of phsycial intimacy that give
expression to homosexual feelings.”
Last week, this was removed. Whether the percpetion was intentional or not, every media
news outlet (including Deseret News) reported on BYU’s decision to permit same sex
dating. The world rejoiced.
Granted it may have been a decision that BYU’s administration was wrestling with privately
for a very long time, the only way an honor code revision of this nature could be made is by
setting aside the Lord’s counsel. The result has been an influx of homosexual behavior on
campus. If these effects were unintentional, failure to unequivocally clarify such will have
the same effect as if they were not. Such a clarification would result in disapproval from
every media outlet presently commending our “step in the right direction.”
If the effects of these changes were intentional, and the Church Education System and
Board of Trustees anticipated and planned to welcome homosexual behavior on campus,
then the God of Israel has been set at naught, period. Even if we don’t allow homosexual
relations, our tents have been pitched towards Sodom. Along our trajectory, there will be 12
a steady decline in the morality of students attending BYU. We will begin to look more and
more like any other secular university, and less and less like the light of the world, or the
salt of the earth. And when salt loses its savor, it’s “thenceforth good for nothing but to be
cast out, and trodden under foot of men.”13
"Behold, vengeance cometh speedily upon the inhabitants of the earth, a day of
wrath, a day of burning, a day of desolation, of weeping, of mourning, and of
lamentation; and as a whirlwind it shall come upon all the face of the earth, saith the
Lord. And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith
the Lord; First among those among you, saith the Lord, who have professed to know
my name and have not known me, and have blasphemed against me in the midst of
my house, saith the Lord." (D&C 112:24-26)
The Lord of the Vineyard will prune the branches that bring forth wild fruit. If BYU
continues to allow these teachings and this behavior to infiltrate its grounds, its people and
all those whom it affects will become ripe in iniquity. Then will that which Samuel
prophesied be likened unto us:
[And the author quotes: Helaman 13:5-8, 13-17, 24-29, 30-33]
The strength of Jehovah is found in those who make His arm theirs. If we fail to trust Him
and lean to our own understanding, we will be left to our own devices when these things
come. The arm of flesh cannot turn the Missouri river out of its course.14
It is not too late to avoid these calamites, but I testify by the same Spirit of revelation by
which these prophecies were given that these things will surely come to pass if we don’t
repent. I pray that the Lord’s anger be turned away from us, and that we would repent and
be saved. I know I am nothing, but I know of these things myself; my words will be
vindicated by God because I speak the truth according to the Spirit of God, the scriptures,
and all the holy prophets.
With much love,
Cameron Mayer
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1 2 Nephi 28:21 2 As opposed to teaching “an everlasting hatred against sin and iniquity.” Alma 37:32 3 3 Nephi 9:22 4 D&C 121:39 5 D&C 76:25 6 1 Nephi 19:7 7
Jacob 4:14 8 For the record, research suggests that the “repeated cases” the author references accounts for between .05%
and 1.7% of the population, depending on the study and the measure 9 Question Gender, Robyn R. Ryle 10 2 Nephi 28:4 11 Per the textbook, the initiation rituals this student is referencing deal with boys of age performing oral sex
on older men in order to initiate them in to masculinity. 12 Genesis 13:12 13 Matthew 5:13; 3 Nephi 12:13, 3 Nephi 16:10-15 14 2 Nephi 4:34, D&C 121:33. No man can prevent God’s justice, whether that be to blessing or to cursing
-------------------- Sidenote:
Good thing BYU still does not allow facial hair. That has NOT been removed from the Honor Code. HEAVEN FORBID that we look anything like the man who the University is named after.
I found it interesting to see the headlines of all the major newpapers who reported about the 100 BILLION dollars (+plus) fund that the LDS Church has amassed. Here are some examples from The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, The Washington Post, and our local Salt Lake Tribune. Then look as the positive spin on the same story in the headline from the Deseret News.
____________________________
Here was the headline in the Deseret News this week about the same story.
What is really ironic is the name of the Deseret News reporter who wrote this article for the paper. His last name is Shill. Not sure that is his pen name or his real name, either way, he might want to consider a new "pen" name. Shill is probably the worst name you could have as full time writer for the Church. The definition of "Shill" is not necessarily positive.
With headlines in all the major national newspapers, no wonder the Church wants/needs to own their own media channels to soften the negative news that has been dominating the headlines. In public relations and politics, spin is a form of propaganda, achieved through knowingly providing a biased interpretation of an event or campaigning to influence public opinion about some organization or public figure.
The church holding company, Deseret Management, owns several media subsidiaries that run the Deseret News, the largest newspaper in Utah, KSL TV station, 11 radio stations includig KSL Newsradio, a publishing and distribution company, and more. A few years ago, the church sold 17 radio stations for $505 million to better focus on Internet ventures.
The Church also owns the Bonneville International Corporation which operates and owns radio stations nationwide, Bonneville Communications, Bonneville Interactive, and Bonneville Satellite Company.
Another company the Church own is Deseret Digital Media which operates the Web sites of other Deseret Media Companies media companies, including deseretnews.com and ksl.com.
_______________________
Sidenote:
On Monday February 10th 2020, the Wall Street Journal, released a exclusive interview with Mormon Leaders regarding the Faith's amassed 100 Billion Plus in investments.
Here is one person's opinion posted publically in a comments section:
In multiple responses to having a secret $124+ Billion dollar cash fund, the LDS Church has stated how sacred their responsibility is to care for the widow's mite. Invariably, when tithing comes up in LDS context, the story of the widow's mite is trotted out.
Being raised in the LDS Church, I remember frequently being taught about the widow's mite. The context in which Church lesson manuals address the widow's mite (from Primary to Come Follow Me manuals), is all about her sacrifice and how we should always pay an honest tithe, even in our extreme poverty.
From the current Primary (children's) manual: "There are people who say they cannot afford to pay tithing because their incomes are small. … No one is ever too poor to pay tithing” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 212).
The story of the widow's mite is explicitly taught in the LDS Church as a lesson that even in our most extreme poverty, we should pay tithing to the LDS Church. I have heard this my whole life and could find innumerable additional examples where this is explicitly taught.
The problem is this is almost 180 degrees removed from what Christ is actually teaching in this exact story. The passage is a direct condemnation of (1) the rich giving a fraction of their wealth to the church and (2) allowing a widow in their midst to give her last pennies to the church.
The story is not just Mark 12: 41-44. The immediately preceding verses are:
38 ¶ And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, 39 And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: 40 Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation
Literally, the immediately preceding verse talks about the church leaders "devouring widow's houses" and receiving greater damnation. Yet every LDS Church lesson manual I can find blows past verse 40 and only addresses 41-44. Every reference to the widow's mite is an expectation and demand that impoverished members pay their tithing regardless.
What is not spoken of is that a poor member's Temple Recommend is also tied directly to paying your tithing. So when Alma speaks of the poor being cast out of the synagogues, this is literally the case in the LDS Church today. If you don't pay your tithing, you are not worthy of a recommend - which means all your temple blessings, your eternal family, and promises of the Celestial Kingdom are gone.
So, when the LDS Church invokes the widow's mite in context of their $124 Billion Dollar rainy day fund, it makes me furious. To think that "devouring widow's houses" (verse 40) to add to your secret/sacred fund is in any way endorsed by what Christ is saying here is an absolute desecration of the text and the message
If anything, the Biblical text of the widow's mite, including the condemnation of the rich and the scribes (the church leaders), condemns the LDS Church both in demanding money from the impoverished faithful, and condemnation for not using that money to raise that same widow out of her poverty.
I have nothing to say if faithful members above the poverty line pay tithing. But to teach children (current primary manuals) that the widow's mite means that you pay tithing instead of food or housing is morally wrong. To demand tithing of the impoverished in third world countries is morally wrong. To demand tithing of the poor that is directly tied to access to the temple (eternal families, heaven), is morally wrong. And to demand tithing while you are accumulating an almost unfathomable amount of wealth is morally wrong.
And to repeat, ad nauseam, that Christ taught this in the widow's mite story, is morally wrong.
And this just in.. a new Deseret News article for more damage control:
Next month BYU will be begin hosting some of the biggest events they hold on their campus all year. The first event is the National Ballroom Dance Competition. Every March, thousands and thousands of spectators, along with 26 national judges fill the Marriott Center to watch over 3,000 registered couples and teams vie for National Championship of Ballroom Dancing. The second event is the annual Women's Conference, which is largest two-day gathering of LDS women anywhere in the world.
It might surprise members of the Church to find out who BYU is allowing to participate and who are not welcome to attend.
"Nursing mothers cannot be accommodated at BYU Women's conference."
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Here is the link to the BYU website where is explicitly states that mothers are not allowed to bring their nursing babies to any of the events. What is interesting is that teenage boys 17 and older ARE allowed to attend. I don't know which one can be more disruptive.. a sleeping baby or a teenage boy playing on his cellphone.
HOWEVER: THIS IS WHAT BYU WILL ACCOMMODATE:
"BYU will allow same-sex dancing at annual competition."
The event will be historic for the conservative college, which is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. To host the coveted showcase, which it has every year since at least 1997, BYU was required to lift its ban keeping same-sex couples from competing this spring. Here is the link: https://www.sltrib.com/news/education/2020/01/21/first-time-ever-byu-will/
Yesterday I watched as almost all the trees on the south end of the Temple were cut down.
Church tradition has it that some of the other older trees on Temple Square were planted in 1893. They were grand elm trees and the seeds came from the World's Fair held in Chicago, Illinois held that year in 1893.
In fact, one of the oldest trees was located at the corner of South Temple and Main Street. This "tree of paradise" was planted in 1869 and was part of plantings that surrounded the square and extended down both sides of the street. It is one of the oldest planted trees in Utah.
While many of the trees on Temple Square will still remain, unfortunately there are more trees slated to be cut down in the coming days. They will be cut down, removed, and maybe used for firewood and burned. Trees are symbolic connections between the earth and heaven. The roots that are planted in the soil of the ground are reflected in the branches that reach up into the heavens.
In addition to the trees being cut down, it was announced today that parts of the ceremonial temple clothing is also going to be removed and changed. Here is a link to the announcement
from the First Presidency and a sample photo from the Church. In my opinion, another symbolic element (like the trees) of a connection between what is above to what is below has been cut and removed.
Some adjustments have been made to temple ceremonial clothing. These adjustments don’t reflect changes to temple symbolism or doctrine but are intended to make the temple experience more simple, comfortable, and accessible by making the clothing easier to put on, care for, and afford.
Some of these adjustments include:
A simpler design for the veil and robe.
Removing the plastic insert from the cap and the tie from the cap and veil.
Using a more durable material that is the same for the robes, cap, and sash, which helps them last longer and makes them easier to care for.
We hope these adjustments will help improve this sacred experience for you as you make temple worship a regular part of your life.
From the photo above that the Church publicly posted, many faithful Church members will see some of the elements that have been removal like the circular insert in the cap and the ties from the cap and the veil.
I am grateful for good friends who share with me their research and knowledge, one such friend writes this blog. He shared the following information to me in a personal email and with his permission I share the following.
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Regarding the removed of the circular insert:
The cap is circular when viewed from above, like the pupil of an eye. It is similar in symbolism to the Egyptian hypocephalus, which was a circular disk placed under the head (hypo = under, kephelae = head) of the mummy. It represented the Eye of Horus on earth which looked upward into the eye of eternity (source, search for "pupil"). It represents seeing eye to eye with God, having an eye single to his glory. It is the conduit through which light and life flow from heaven into the soul. For all the same reasons, it shares the same symbolism with a seer stone(s). Also, regarding the connection between the cap, seerstone, hypocephalus connection: The caps worn by the priests in their temple service served as a cushion for a crown, and stood in place for the crown itself. (Hugh Nibley, Don E. Norton, Temple and Cosmos, Deseret Book, Pg. 55)
Facsimile #2 is a drawing of a hypocephalus. Figure 3 depicts God sitting enthroned on his ark, and around/on his head is a circular "crown of eternal light".
The function of the seerstone and hypocephalus were similar, to transmit light from God to the head of the initiate. The cap symbolizes this transmission, and represents the "crown of eternal light" that shines out of those who are chosen, called up through the veil, and anointed Kings and Priests unto God.
Regarding the removed of the tie of the cap to the robe:
Our degree of fellowship with heaven is symbolized by the wearing of robes. This fellowship is "priesthood", as you know. Of the fulness of this priesthood, Joseph Smith said:
"is the channel through which all knowledge, doctrine, the plan of salvation and every important matter is revealed from heaven...It is the channel through which the Almighty commenced revealing his glory at the beginning of the creation of this earth and through which he has continued to reveal himself to the children of men to the present time and through which he will make known his purposes to the end of time." (source)
and
"And God said unto Noah the end of all flesh is before me, for the earth is filled with violence through them, and behold I will destroy them with the earth," thus we behold the Keys of this priesthood consisted in obtaining the voice of Jehovah that he talked with him in a familiar and friendly manner, that he continued to him the Keys, the Covenants, the power and the glory with which he blessed Adam at the beginning." (ibid)
The relationship with God symbolized by your robes is the channel through which he will reveal the knowledge that will save you and your family. In other words, there is an eternal link between the cap and the robe. The robe symbolizes the relationship one has with heaven, and the cap symbolizes the receipt of saving knowledge.
There is a bow on the cap, with six loops of fabric. This symbolizes the six active days of creation, which, combined with your own soul, fully redeem creation as you walk through the veil. If people will do this, the Earth will truly not be utterly wasted at the coming of Christ and the Fathers.
The epaulet on the shoulder folds three times in one direction, and four times in the other, creating twelve segmentations. These represent the twelve tribes of Israel. Aaron's priestly vestments included shoulder pieces supporting the ephod, and on each shoulder there was an onyx stone engraved with names of six of the tribes. When Aaron walked through the veil and the Lord looked down upon him, the names of his people would be engraved on the upward-facing shoulder piece of the ephod as a memorial. The people could be assured that the Lord would remember them and his covenants to their fathers (Exodus 28:9-12). We carry the same memorial through the veil on our epaulet, a silent plea to God to remember scattered Israel. Inasmuch as the blood of Israel actually flows in our veins, walking through the veil redeems Israel just as Aaron symbolically redeemed Israel by carrying them through the veil.
The link between the cap and robe (revelation and priesthood) happens between the bow and the epaulet. The result of our relationship with God (if we develop it) is to be adopted into the family of God through Israel, and to receive a knowledge of the hidden mysteries of creation in the Holy of Holies.
As a side note, there is also a complementarity between the cap/seer stone and the woman's facial veil. The following comes from an interview with Joseph Smith Sr. where he summarized the Book of Mormon as far as he was familiar (including the lost portion of the record). When King Mosiah I found the Jaredite seer stones on the ground during the Nephite exodus through the wilderness, he took them to the tabernacle. The Lord asked him “What have you got in your hand, there?” Mosiah replied that he did not know, but had come to inquire. The Lord said "Put it on your face, and put your face in a skin, and you will see what it is." Mosiah put on the spectacles and veiled himself in an animal skin, and could see everything past, present, and future." (source )
When Joseph Smith used the seer stone, he had to place his face in a hat. The only description we have of the material of Joseph's hat specifies that it was a beaver-skin hat. Don Bradley argues that "Joseph Smith did not understand himself to be looking into a hat, per se, but rather to be looking into an animal skin." (source).
The facial veil, the skin of an animal who gave its life for the purpose, is needed to mediate and filter out all unwanted ambient light. It creates space for the coherent and properly ordered transmission of knowledge through the seer stone. The veil's function is "wisdom", and the seer stone's "knowledge".
The Salt Lake City Temple is now closed until as early as 2024.
This week, dozens and dozens of moving trucks began hauling away all of the furniture, historical items, artwork, light fixtures, stain glass windows and sacred items. The Salt Lake Temple which is the epicenter for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been officially "decommissioned"
On Monday, I watched the movers carry out the contents from inside the temple into these bright orange Allied Semi-Trucks.
Once everything has been hauled off, the demolition of many of the buildings around the Temple will begin. It will be sad to see the Salt Lake Temple Chapel be torn down. I asked to take a photo inside of the chapel so I could show my children what it looked like inside and the beautiful 2 story mural of Christ ascension. Below is the photo of the outside of the chapel:
Here is the photo inside the Chapel. I am not sure if the Church has any plans to preserve this mural because I think it is painted onto the wall itself.
Another part of the demolition will be the sealing rooms that extend out from the North side of the building. One of the reasons for removing this section of the temple is that there are large cracks and separation occurring.
This is a close up of one section of the granite wall that is starting to show the cracking despite attempts to fill in the gaps with compound adhesives. They will be rebuilding this entire part of the temple with all new sealing rooms.
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In May of 2018, an article was published in the LDS Church News in the Mormon Times section stating that the Salt Lake Temple was built to last through the Millenium. Here is the link to the article.
President Brigham Young stated. "I want to see the Temple built in a manner that it will endure through the Millennium."
“Because the builders recalled President Young’s desire for this temple to stand through time, the structure was very solid. Even at their tops, the walls were six feet thick, and the granite blocks were individually and skillfully shaped to fit snugly together. Nearly a century later, Elder Mark E. Petersen (a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) attested to the soundness of the temple’s construction. He was in the temple when a rather severe earthquake hit, damaging several buildings around the Salt Lake Valley. 'As I sat there in that temple I could feel the sway of the quake and that the whole building groaned.' Afterward, he recalled, the engineers 'could not find one semblance of damage' anywhere in the temple.”
The article concludes by saying the:
"So, the finished Salt Lake Temple may be more earthquake resistant than some may believe."
I don't know of any other building that has a 14 foot granite foundation.
The Deseret News' LDS Church News of March 30, 1963, published a photographof when extensive excavations were made around the base of the Salt Lake Temple. The article listed the granite foundation as 14 feet deep.
However, a year later in the April 2019 conference, President Nelson announced that the Temple will close for 4 years for major seismic and structural renovations to help the building withstand a large earthquake. According to Brent Roberts, the church’s director of special projects, this will require placing hundreds of shock absorbers between the ground and the building’s footings and foundations. “It actually will now be the foundation of the temple, so when the earth moves, the base isolation system takes all that movement."
"It actually will now be the foundation of the temple, so when the earth moves, the base isolation system takes all that movement," Roberts said.
So in other words, the original foundation that the Temple was build on will now be replaced by a "base isolation system". Essentially the building is no longer on rock, a steadfast and firm foundation, but on rollers that can move back and forth depending on the movement of the world.
I thought I would close with one of my favorite verses from the Book of Mormon found in Helaman 5:12
"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."
Yesterday after a whistleblower claims that the LDS Church stockpiled $100 Billion in charitable donations and dodge taxes, the First Presidency released a statement.
" Over many years, a portion is methodically safeguarded through wise financial management and the building of a prudent reserve for the future. This is a sound doctrinal and financial principle taught by the Savior in the Parable of the Talents and lived by the Church and its members. All Church funds exist for no other reason than to support the Church’s divinely appointed mission.
The reason why they give for safeguarding the money was the principles taught by the Savior in the Parable of the Talents? I find it so interesting how people can interpret scripture so differently. While some could read the parable as justification to multiply what you have been given, others could read the parable as a condemnation, and teaching us of what NOT to do.
I might be wrong, but when I read the parable, the servant with the one talent (in this case maybe his talent is only money).. hides that money from everyone else. The Lord then comes and says thou wicked and slothful servant.. you oughtest to have put My money to the exchangers (banks, hedge fund managers, stock brokers) and then at my Second Coming, you think I want the interest? This unprofitable servant is cast into outer darkness. I could be completely misinterpreting this though. I do find the following verses to be really interesting... it is the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats.
I think we would do well to reread Matthew 25. Quick one line summary of the parable: The Sheep feeds the hungry, gives drink to the thirsty, takes in the stranger, clothes the naked, and visits the sick and those in prison. The Goats do not.
The Sheep are exalted and receive life eternal.
The Goats shall go away into everlasting punishment.
Maybe we can start giving some of those BILLIONS of dollars to the LEAST among us. Christ says that doing this is the same thing as giving it to Him. So maybe we don't need to wait to give him the lump sum when He comes again, but give it to the less fortunate NOW.
(and in my humble opinion, we would be even more "Profitable" servants)
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"Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me."
Matthew 25:45 -----------
Sidenote:
From the Church Newsroom (was removed but has been archived HERE) Elder Andersen said the significance of the meeting with Vice President Mohadi was to “express to him our desire to help improve Zimbabwe.” He noted that Vice President Mohadi had made a specific request for support with the development of clean-water wells in more remote areas of Zimbabwe.“We want to help in every way we can,” said Elder Andersen. “We are not a wealthy people but we are good people, and we share what we have,” he added.
In light of the recent events this past week, it is a good thing that we will be studying the Book of Mormon next year. Maybe we might take the prophesies and warnings seriously this time. The Book of Mormon warns us that there are four things that will destroy any society or institution. What are they? Wealth, Power, Popularity, and the Lusts of the Flesh. The Book of Mormon begins with Nephi's prophesy that the time will come that ALL churches which are built up to get gain and become popular in the eyes of the world and seek after the things of the world must be brought low.
"For the time speedily shall come that all churches which are built up to get gain, and all those who are built up to get power over the flesh, and those who are built up to become popular in the eyes of the world, and those who seek the lusts of the flesh and the things of the world, and to do all manner of iniquity; yea, in fine, all those who belong to the kingdom of the devil are they who need fear, and tremble, and quake; they are those who must be brought low in the dust; they are those who must be consumed as stubble; and this is according to the words of the prophet." I Nephi 22:23 (Other verses to read: 2 Nephi 9:30; Alma 4:8; Helaman 7:12; 3 Nephi 6:15; Mormon 8:28)
For those who haven't read Hugh Nibley's BYU commencement speech given on August 19, 1983 here are a few highlights. The speech is called "Leaders and Managers". The full transcript can be found here.
"Most of you are here today (BYU graduates) only because you believe that this charade will help you get ahead in the world. But in the last few years things have got out of hand; “the economy,” once the most important thing in our materialistic lives, has become the only thing. We have been swept up in a total dedication to “the economy,” which like the massive mud slides of our Wasatch Front, is rapidly engulfing and suffocating everything. If President Kimball is “frightened and appalled” by what he sees, I can do no better than to conclude with his words: “We must leave off the worship of modern-day idols and a reliance on the ‘arm of flesh,’ for the Lord has said to all the world in our day, `I will not spare any that remain in Babylon...
Moroni disappeared from the scene, the old coalition “did obtain the sole management of the government,” and immediately did “turn their backs upon the poor” (Helaman 6:39; emphasis added).. Such was the management that Moroni opposed. By all means, brethren, let us take “Captain Moroni” for our model, and never forget what he fought for—the poor, outcast, and despised; and what he fought against—pride, power, wealth, and ambition; or how he fought, as the generous, considerate, and magnanimous foe—a leader in every sense.
I sure hope this upcoming year that we don't treat the Book of Mormon lightly. Here are a few recent news items to consider that possibly the Book of Mormon is a warning to us.... and not just the rest of all of the other churches who amass wealth, power and popularity. WEALTH: $100 billion tax-exempt investment fund. See story here:
POWER:
"You can tell what’s informed the society by the size of the what the building is that’s the tallest building in the place. When you approach a medieval town, the cathedral’s the tallest thing in the place. When you approach a 17th century city, it’s the political palace that’s the tallest thing in the place. And when you approach a modern city, it’s office buildings and dwellings that are the tallest things in the place.
And if you go to Salt Lake City, you’ll see the whole thing illustrated right in front of your face. First, the temple was built. The temple was built right in the center of the city. I mean, this was the proper organization, that’s the spiritual center from which all flows in all directions. And then the capitol was built right beside the temple, and it’s bigger than the temple. And now the biggest thing is the office building that takes care of the affairs of both the temple and the political building."
Excerpt from the transcript of an interview with Joseph Campbell, an American Professor of Literature. Full transcript found here.
POPULARITY:
The social media singing star, Claire Crosby has more than 6 million followers on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram with social media video views numbering more than 1 billion. What better way to get more popularity than to create a video of yourself playing the piano while she sings and then you post it all over social media. Link to video here.
Just in case this event is glossed over.. I want to at least mention it here:
My family makes fun of me because I am a "moon" geek... sort of a "pseudo werewolf" because of my obsession at staring at the moon. I also like the symbolism of numbers. So for those symbolic "werewolfs" out there... the last full moon of this decade will take place in less than 12 hours on December 12th, and the instant that the moon is full is 12:12 a.m. (EST)..... 12/12@12:12!
I don't blame any of you for glossing over that. Super geeky.
PAVED OVER:
Over an acre of land in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City has been used for over 43 years as a community garden. However, the LDS Church will soon be shutting down the garden and paving over it with concrete. They are turning it into a parking lot. Here is the news article:
The reason for closing down the garden is because the LDS church is shuffling some of the SLC East side congregations. The Church is closing down the Douglas Ward Building due to diminishing attendance. It currently only has one congregation meeting there. Also the Church is selling another historic church building in the area to the University of Utah. So to accommodate the closing, the members will need to travel further to a new building.... and unfortunately they need more parking space. The community of gardeners who have enjoyed growing fresh vegatables for decades will need to find another way to be self-sufficient in growing their own food to make way for parked cars that will only use it for 2 hours on Sunday.
Here is a photo of the Douglas building that the LDS Church is closing down.
The Douglas Ward located on 721 S 1200 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84102
SMOOTHED OVER....
I starting writing about this months ago. However, I never posted it but thought it fit the theme of the blog title.
The BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill is regarded as one of the largest environmental disasters in American history. The disaster on April 20, 2010 killed 11 workers as the oil rig sank into the Gulf of Mexico. It took nearly three months to stop the flow of oil. By then, four million barrels of crude had contaminated the ocean and the marine wildlife. The public was outraged at the oil company. BP hired some of the best Public Relations firms to try and regain public favor. Below is one of the commercials that was aired nationally.
Here is one of their feel good public relations videos:
Damage control is always needed whenever an institution makes a bad decision and they lose public favor. I use the above example as a backdrop for the following:
In the LDS Handbook of Instructions, there has always been a policy to restrict the baptism of children of polygamist families whose parents have practiced or are practicing plural marriage, an illegal form of marriage. However until recently the LDS handbook did NOT contain any restrictions for children whose parents are living in a same-gender relationship and considered LEGAL marriage.
To avoid a potential lawsuit that restricted one type of family that is not legal (polygamy) and not the other family which is LEGAL(same-sex marriage), the below policy was quietly added on November 15, 2017 to the LDS Handbook 1 of Instructions.
Here is the actual wording of the policy: (the bold word emphasis are mine)
There was NEVER a public announcement of the policy.
However, the policy was leaked to the public and the Church had a BP-type of disaster on their hands. Not only did the Church bar the children from baby blessings and baptism, but deeming same-sex married couples as “apostates” just like those practicing polygamy. It was reported in the local paper that "Hundreds, maybe more, resigned their church membership. Even believers felt wounded and betrayed. Families were torn. Tensions erupted. Some were disciplined by the church. Some died by suicide."
What some would view as caving into social pressure, the First Presidency reversed the policy in April of 2019.
The new policy was announced by President Dallin H Oaks, at a morning leadership training session for the area presidencies and top female officials.
“Effective immediately, children of parents who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender may be baptized without First Presidency approval,” Oaks said, “if the custodial parents give permission for the baptism and understand both the doctrine that a baptized child will be taught and the covenants he or she will be expected to make. In addition, same-sex Latter-day Saint parents no longer will be seen as “apostates.” In addition, officials said, the revamped policy clears the way for babies of such couples to be “blessed” in a traditional church ceremony.
This new policy changed was received as an overwhelming positive change. However, many started to question why the first policy was claimed as "revelation" in the first place.
So in order to smooth over and minimize the need for damage control, President Nelson spoke at BYU just days before the October Conference. His talk was broadcasted worldwide.
Here are some of his comments to "smooth over" the member's concerns over the revelation claims for this policy. The first "revelation" claim in 2015 to not allow children under 18 years of age to be baptized and then the "reversal revelation" in 2019.
"The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve have continued to seek the Lord’s guidance and to plead with Him in behalf of His children who were affected by the 2015 policy. We knew that this policy created concern and confusion for some and heartache for others. That grieved us. Whenever the sons and daughters of God weep—for whatever reasons—we weep. So our supplications to the Lord continued.
We also took note of LGBT parents who sought permission from the First Presidency for their children to be baptized. In nearly every case in which the LGBT parents agreed to teach their children about—and be supportive of—the covenant of baptism, the requested exception was granted.
As a result of our continued supplication, we recently felt directed to adjust the policy such that the baptism of children of LGBT parents may be authorized by bishops without First Presidency approval, if the custodial parents request the baptism and understand that a child will be taught about sacred covenants to be made at baptism.
We also determined that LGBT parents may request that a baby be named and blessed by one who worthily holds the Melchizedek Priesthood. It is important that these parents understand that ward members will contact them periodically and that when a child who has been blessed reaches eight years of age, local leaders will recommend that the child be baptized."
It is interesting to see the downplay of using "revelation". For example the word "They felt directed" and "They determined."
On such important matters, I wonder if it is too much to ask to actually hear the Lord's voice in any of these decisions, like the "Lord directed" or "He determined."
The assigned Sunday School lesson given last week in all of the LDS wards was on the Epistles of Peter. The Prophet Joseph Smith said that “Peter penned the most sublime language of any of the apostles” (History of the Church 5:392). However, it was interesting to see what was left out from the lesson manual.
Here is a screen shot from the "Come Follow Me" Lesson Manual for 2 Peter 1:1-11.
I don't disagree with the importance to identifying the Christlike qualities and inviting others to develop them more fully, however, I was surprised to see there was no mention of the verse found in 2 Peter 1: 10 about "giving diligence to make your calling and election sure."
Through out Joseph Smith's ministry, he emphasized and taught the members about the importance of receiving your calling and election. In his sermon delivered on the Nauvoo temple grounds on Friday May 12, 1844, Joseph said,
"Oh! I beseech you to forward,go forward and make your calling and your election sure---and if any man preach any other gospel with that which I have preached, he shall be cursed, and some of you who now hear me, shall see it & know that I testify the truth concerning them".
To beseech is to beg for urgently and fervently to do something.
It is interesting to point out that Joseph Smith said that if any man preach any other gospel (meaning not about making your calling and election sure).. he shall be cursed. Are we preaching another "gospel" today by never teaching or mentioning about the doctrine on making your calling and your election sure?
Joseph Smith said: “After a person has faith in Christ, repents of his sins, is baptized for the remission of his sins, and receives the Holy Ghost (by the laying on of hands), which is the first Comforter, then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness and living by every word of God. The Lord will soon say unto him, ‘Son, thou shalt be exalted.’ When the Lord has thoroughly proved him and finds that the man is determined to serve him at all hazards, then the man will find his calling and election made sure, then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter, which the Lord hath promised the Saints, as is recorded in the testimony of St. John [KJV], in the 14th chapter, from the 12th to the 27th verses” (TPJS, 150; WJS, 5; see John 9:7–9).
That "other Comforter" is Jesus Christ. The Lord has promised the Saints that it is our privilege to receive Him after our calling and election has been made sure. Receiving the Second Comforter means you will meet Christ. You will know, without a doubt, He exists. You will know, through Him, the atonement has been provided and the scriptures that testify of Him are true. You will no longer have faith in the existence of God nor in your standing before Him but will have knowledge.
Receiving an audience with the Second Comforter is the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
