Recently I visited a small church in old city of Barcelona that was built in 1141. This Church was unlike all of the ornate Catholic Cathedrals that we saw all through Europe. It was simple, small and unassuming. If you visit this church during the week, it is not closed unlike thousands and thousands of our chapels around the world. During the week they turn the church into a soup kitchen and a place for the homeless to sleep. The Church pew benches are rearranged and placed around portable tables. Plastic table cloths are laid down on the tables and dinner mats are used like you would see at a restaurant. The local parishioners volunteer days to come to their church to serve the homeless. Food is prepared and served to the hungry. This church is a place of refuge for the homeless, the outcast, the hungry and the needy.
Above is the photo I took of the church. You can see some of the homeless sleeping on the floor and on the benches. On one of the walls there is a beautiful painting of Christ serving the five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish.
Compare that to what is happening in Salt Lake City.
I have written a few blogposts about the growing problem of homelessness in downtown Salt Lake. The Road Home which houses over 1000 people is being shutdown. Three smaller locations are planned to be built in other areas of the city. These new facilities are planned to only accommodate 150 people each. The numbers don't add up, because without the Road Home, this will effectively reduce shelter beds by 500. One of the proposed sites is owned by the LDS Church. I posted about it here.
This week the Salt Lake Tribune published this article about the financials of the sell of this proposed site. Here is the news article.
State to pay $4.5 million to buy Deseret Industries thrift store from Mormon church for homeless shelter
" Utah will fund the purchase of a downtown thrift store owned and
operated by the Mormon church for $4.46 million following negotiations
on the final of three future homeless shelters to be opened by July 2019.
The Salt Lake County Assessor’s Office values the property at $2.7
million – $1.4 million for the land and $1.3 million for the building."
Even though the SL County Assessor's office values the property at about half of what the LDS Church is selling it for, the property was apparently appraised at about the selling price.
My purpose for even pointing this out is.. why doesn't the LDS Church just donate this to the city to build a homeless shelter. I mean we donated a mansion names after Thomas S Monson to the University of Utah. It appears that we might even be making a profit off the sell of the land especially if it was valued on the tax appraisals at almost half of the selling price.
Also, one more thing I want to point out:
Instead of helping the homeless find a place to sleep and eat, We are arresting them. It is called Operation Rio Grande. This past week alone police officers have arrested 423 people that are homeless. Below are some photos from this article. The first photo shows the brand new mobile command center. It is large hi-tech moving vehicle used to coordinate the efforts of the law enforcement. Now I understand that many of those on the streets have drug and alcohol addictions. Many have to resort to crime. I agree that arrests should be made for illegal activity and unlawful behavior. But homeless is not a crime.. and maybe it is more of a crime on our part for not helping them.
Standing in the middle of a wheat field in Eastern Idaho, just a few miles west of Salem, Idaho my family witnessed the Great American Eclipse of 2017. We were invited by our close friends to camp out near the center line of the Path of Totality. Words can't really describe the experience. Unless you saw it, no one can really explain the event to you and give it justice. A total solar eclipse is not only meant to be seen, but needs to be experienced first hand. It is not just a visual spectacle, it is an experience you feel with your entire body. It is life changing. My mouth dropped in awe. Tears fell down my wife's cheek. My confused 5 year old daughter asked us, "When is it going to be morning again Dad?"
Within a 3 minute time span , one witnesses the bright blue sky of the midday change to a dark sky of night. Stars and planets appear, temperatures plummet as the sun and moon align perfectly changing day to night then back to day in minutes.
To sum it up best would be to quote D&C 88: 47: "Any man who hath seen any or the least of these hath seen God moving in his majesty and power."
I testify that my family and I witnessed God moving in Their Majesty and Power yesterday at 11:33 AM on August 21, 2017.
Here are a few photos I took with my camera to document the event.
Taken Just a few minutes before the complete total eclipse.
Photo of the total eclipse that lasted for us for about 2 minute 18 seconds. While the moon completely covered the sun, we could watch this without any eye protection. This sign in heaven was meant to be seen with the natural eye without any protective eye gear.
Photo of the sun reappearing after the total eclipse with the moon.
The moon and the sun continuing to move apart after appearing to be exactly the same size.
This is still frame from the video I took with a wide angle lens while the eclipse was occuring.
Sidenote:
For weeks I was trying to determine where I would go to view the eclipse. There were alot of factors to consider including the weather, traffic, accommodations, and who was going to come from my family. We finally decided on Saturday and we got ready to leave early Sunday morning. It was a beautiful drive up to Idaho Falls and we continued further North to be as close to the center of path of totality. That evening some clouds began to roll in creating a beautiful sunset but causing some concern and/or doubt that maybe it might be cloudy the next day. It seems like in every important event in our life, we have "clouds" of doubt roll in and cover our skies.
Photo taken of the sunset on August 20,,2017 on the eve of the Total Eclipse in Plano, Idaho.
However the next morning, just hours before the eclipse, I woke up early to beautiful clear skies. I went into a nearby wheat field to watch the sunrise.
Standing in the middle of a wheat field. I could see the location where NASA set up their operations for the eclipse. NASA They were located on top of the plateau that you can see in the distance.
Photo taken hours on top the water irrigation tower that is located in the center of wheat field.
This is the location where my family would return to watch the eclipse.
In the distance it was possible to see the Grand Tetons in the horizon just before the sunrise.
The event was not just observed by us, but it seems like all of creation anticipated the event.
Photo of a flocks of birds heading east towards the sun in the horizon.
(Not the best photo since it is kind of blurry, but it is a photo of a night owl flying low over the wheat. It was taken in the wheat field where we watched the eclipse.
Not only have I never seen a total eclipse, I have never seen an owl fly in the wild.
Photo of a dove perched high up in blue spruce just prior to the eclipse.
Today, on the front page of the Deseret News, the LDS Church owned paper, there is an article entitled: "LDS Church issues statement of support for LGBTQ concert event". See above in highlighted yellow.
On August 26, there will be a first-time music festival called LoveLoud, an event which is aimed at supporting LGBTQ youth. It will be hosted at the Utah Valley University campus where Elder Jeffrey R Holland's son is the University President. This event now has a statement of support from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Here is the LDS statement:
“We applaud the LoveLoud Festival for LGBTQ Youth’s aim to bring people together to address teen safety and to express respect and love for all of God’s children. We join our voice with all who come together to foster a community of inclusion in which no one is mistreated because of who they are or what they believe."
“We share common beliefs, among them the pricelessness of our youth and the value of families. We earnestly hope this festival and other related efforts can build respectful communication, better understanding and civility as we all learn from each other.”
To the average member, the stances that the Church takes on these LGBTQ issues is be confusing....It is almost as if the Church is bi-polar. One the one hand the Church is supporting the LGBTQ youth, but on the other hand, if you are a straight youth with just one LGBTQ parent, you CANNOT get baptized until you are an adult and are forced to renounce your parent.
In his remarks during the 2017 Seminar for New Mission Presidents, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared a missionary account, which was published by the Church News under the headline: “Elder Holland shares 'The Missionary Speech of All Time' at Seminar for New Mission Presidents.” The article was widely read and shared. It was also reprinted in the Deseret News.
Here is the excerpt from the published story:
Elder Holland closed by relating a story — being careful to protect the privacy and anonymity of the participants — of a young man from southern Idaho. One night the young man stormed out of the house and set off to join an infamous motorcycle gang. He succeeded in that resolve and for 20 years became immersed in a culture “of temptations yielded to and degradations explored,” never contacting his parents, who feared that he was dead.
Eventually ending up in Southern California, he one day was sitting on the porch of a rented home when he saw two LDS missionaries making their way up the street.
“With a rush of memory and guilt, regret and rage, he despised the very sight of them,” Elder Holland recounted. “But he was safe, because he kept all visitors at bay by employing two Doberman Pinschers who viciously charged the gate every moment that anyone came near.”
The dogs startled the missionaries as they passed by and continued on, “our man on the porch laughing at the lovely little drama he had just witnessed, wishing only that the gate hadn’t restrained his two dogs.”
Then, the two elders stopped, looked at each other, conversed a little, “likely said a silent prayer,” then turned around and approached the gate.
“The Dobermans on cue charged the gate again, hit it, snarling, frothing, and then stopped in their tracks,” Elder Holland said. “They looked at the missionaries, dropped their heads, ambled back to the front steps and lay down.”
The man on the porch was speechless as they missionaries opened the gate, walked up the path and greeted him.
“One of the elders said, ‘Are you from this part of California?’
“The man said, ‘No. If you want to know, I’m from Pocatello, Idaho.’
“There was a pause. ‘That’s interesting,’ the elder said. ‘Do you know the [such-and-such] family in Pocatello?’
“With a stunned look, our biker paused, and then, in very measured words, said, ‘Yeah, I know them. They are my parents.’
“ ‘Well, they’re my parents too,’ the missionary said. ‘God has sent me to invite you to come home.’ ”
The younger brother had been born after the older boy had left home. The elder brother did not even know of him.
“Mom and Dad have been praying for you every morning and night for 20 years,” the younger brother said. “They were not sure you were alive, but they knew if you were, that someday you would come back to us.”
The wayward son invited the two in, and they talked for the rest of the day and some of the night. He did return home, returned to Church activity and, in March 2015, was married and sealed in the Boise Idaho Temple.
Commenting on the account, Elder Holland said, “This is a story of the role of Almighty God, the Savior of the World, and the Holy Ghost involved in the work of the ministry to which we’ve been called.
1. “The Holy Ghost prompted those parents to keep praying, to keep believing, to keep trusting. …
2. The Holy Ghost inspired that rebellious boy to come to himself like the prodigal he was and to head for California. …
3. The Holy Ghost influenced that younger son to serve a mission and be willing to accept a call to Southern California. …
4. The Holy Ghost inspired one of my brethren in the Twelve, who was on the assignment desk that Friday, to trust his impression and assign that young man for service not a great distance from his native-born state.
5. The Holy Ghost inspired that mission president to assign that young missionary to that district and that member unit.
6. The Holy Ghost led those missionaries to that street, that day, that hour, with big brother sitting on the porch waiting, and, with Doberman Pinschers notwithstanding,
7. the Holy Ghost prompted those two elders to stop, talk and in spite of their fear, to go back and present their message. …
8. “And, through the elders, the Holy Ghost taught repentance and brought true conversion to one coming back into the fold.”
Elder Holland said the young elder, without realizing it, gave the missionary speech of all time, when he said to his brother, “God has sent me here to invite you to come home.”
“We are sent by God to invite His children home,” Elder Holland concluded.
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This story was retold word for word in our Sacrament last week at a Missionary Farewell. My wife turned to me after hearing the story and said.. "as if that really happened that way". She has great discernment and apparently not everyone can recognize truth from error when they hear it.
However, in the end, truth will always prevail..
On July 31, Elder Holland released the following statement regarding the account:
"A few weeks ago when speaking to new mission presidents at the Missionary Training Center, I shared a story about two brothers, just as I heard it from individuals who knew the family and had heard it recounted by a family member. Within a few days, my office was contacted by the family, who expressed concern that some elements of that account were not accurate due to embellishing by a family member.“
As a courtesy to me the family contacted my office, wanting me to be aware of the inaccurate parts of the story and offering their help in avoiding any perpetuation of those elements in the account I heard. I am deeply touched by their humility and courage in doing so, and as an equal courtesy to them, I am withdrawing the story completely and request that it not be shared further."
Elder Holland revised the story stated that the facts were:
The older brother did indeed leave his home and his family and for many years pursued the lifestyle I described in my talk.
During these years his parents lovingly tried to maintain contact, prayed faithfully for him and even sent local leaders to seek after him.
However, at the time his younger brother was called to serve as a missionary, the older brother had already returned to Idaho.
With the help of missionaries there, he started the difficult and courageous process of changing his life.
In time, he would return to full activity and be sealed in the temple, and he would also have a son who would serve a mission.
So... no Doberman pinchers, No younger brother serving a mission who found his wayward brother. No emotional dialogue that took place.where the younger brother said "They’re my parents too,God has sent me to invite you to come home.’
I mean how do you get those details included in a story?
In the LDS Hymn Book, the first listed hymn in alphabetical order is "A Mighty Fortress is our God". This hymn was written and composed by Martin Luther. Luther wrote the words sometime between 1527 and 1529 as a paraphrase of Psalm 46, though stanza four comes directly from Luther’s own persecution experience.
This hymn is often referred to as “the battle hymn” of the Reformation. It has had a part in countless celebrations commemorating the men and events of the Reformation. It was sung by poor Protestants on their way to exile, and by martyrs at their death. The very first line is engraved on the base of Luther’s monument at Wittenberg, Germany.
There are four verses to the song, but the LDS Hymn book only contains the first verse.
Furthermore, the words we now sing in our Sacrament Meeting have been altered from the original lyrics that Martin Luther wrote.
Here are the lyrics to the song as they appear in the LDS Hymnbook:
A mighty fortress is our God, A tower of strength ne'er failing.A helper mighty is our God, O'er ills of life prevailing.He overcometh all. He saveth from the Fall.His might and pow'r are great. He all things did create.And he shall reign for evermore.
Here are the original lyrics translated into English:
A mighty Fortress is our God, A Bulwark never failing; Our Helper He amid the flood. Of mortal ills prevailing: For still our ancient foe. Doth seek to work us woe; His craft and power are great, And, armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide, Our striving would be losing; Were not the right Man on our side, The Man of God’s own choosing: Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He; Lord Sabaoth His Name, From age to age the same, And He must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled,Should threaten to undo us, We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us: The Prince of Darkness grim, We tremble not for him; His rage we can endure, For lo! his doom is sure, One little word shall fell him.
That word above all earthly powers, No thanks to them, abideth; The Spirit and the gifts are ours. Through Him who with us sideth: Let goods and kindred go, This mortal life also; The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still, His Kingdom is forever.
Sidenote:
Below are a few "man-made" fortresses that I photographed during an extended backpacking trip with my oldest daughter this past month. While impressive and magnificent, none of the works of men can compare to the mighty fortress that our Lord can provide. Unfortunately, we all to often rely on the physical fortresses we build instead depending on the Lord as our defense.
Belvedere Castle in Central Park ,New York City, NY
Photo taken on July 3, 2017
Montserrat Monastery near Barcelona, Spain Photo taken on July 6th, 2017
Charles Bridge and Old City in Prague, Czech Republic
Photo taken on July 16th, 2017
The Prague Castle above the Vitava River in Prague, Czech Republic
Photo taken on July 17, 2017.
Park Guell in Barcelona, Spain
Photo taken on July 7, 2017
View of the Duomo from the Uffizi Museum in Florence, Italy
Photo taken on July 11, 2017
Notre Dame in Paris, France
Photo taken on July 18. 2017
Vatican and St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome, Italy
Photo taken on July 9, 2017
Venice,Italy
Photo taken on July 12, 2017
Triumphant Arch in front of the Louvre Museum in Paris, France
Photo taken on July 18, 2017
Bavarian Castle outside of Munich,Germany
Photo taken on July 14th, 2017
The Salt River along side the city of Salzburg, Austria
Photo taken on July July 13th, 2017
Small village along the Swiss Alps
Photo taken on July 14th, 2017
Munich, Germany
Photo taken on July 14th, 2017
Empire State Building, New York City, NY
Photo taken from The Top of the Rock on July 3, 2017
Neuschwanstein Castle in Schwangau. Germany
Photo taken on July 15, 2017
This week was the summer solstice. Few observe these dates or recognize the significance. For those who don't know, the sun hit it's highest point in the heavens giving us the most direct and strongest sunlight for us in the Northern Hemisphere. Starting after the summer solstice, our days will begin to shorted as we decrease in the amount of sunlight we receive until the sun returns back after the Winter Solstice. Our nights will now be longer and days shorter as we receive less and less sunlight. In our personal life, much like the ebbs and flows of sun solstices which give us our seasons throughout the year, we are either increasing or decreasing in the amount of light and knowledge we are receiving. Religious organizations also are either increasing in light (receiving revelation from God) or decreasing in light (apostatizing from truth, relying on the arm of flesh). This year is the 500th year commemoration of Protestant Reformation which is marked by Martin Luther's criticism of the powerful and influential Catholic Church. Other's followed as their eye were opened to how far the Catholic Church had strayed. It is interesting to see the parallels today that other worldwide Church Institutions seems to be mirroring the Catholic Church. Below is Part 6 in a series of videos commemorating the 500 year anniversary of Protestant Reformation.
Photo taken today on Father's Day in front of our home. I recognize it as a Father's Day gift from a Father to a son.
"God talks to us through all kinds of things. There are so many things in
nature if you’ll just observe it, if you’ll just let it in. God is
speaking to all of us, more or less, all of the time. And we determine
how much of that we’re willing to see, to listen to, to let in. . Every one of us has some direct linkage to God. It’s called a gift. Every one of us has some unique gift as a way that God talks to us. Let it in. Be sensitive to it."
God is in control of everything. He is our Father. It is His work and His timing in how the work currently underway proceeds. We would do well to have faith in Him.... and not only do our part, but try not to get in His way.
This past week I was reminded that the Lord has a lot to teach us. Yet, how often we think we already have the answers and/or we stop asking questions. So, why would the Lord want to come teach us if we don't want to learn or too prideful to be corrected if we are in error.. The truth is, we really don’t know very much, and what we think we know is probably messed up. Until He comes again to teach us, we should be found loving one another and have charity for each other.
This upcoming Sunday is Father's Day. How many of us only pay tribute to our earthly father? May I suggest that each of us let our Father in Heaven know of our love from Him.
....
Sidenote:
A few months ago I watched a documentary called Gleason. It is about the professional football player Steve Gleason who was a defensive back for the New Orleans Saints. He was diagnosed with ALS,(Lou Gehrig's Disease.) and this documentary was created by him to be a video diary for his unborn son. If you have not seen it yet.. I think it is a great movie to watch this weekend as we pay tribute to Fathers.
Here is the trailer:
Here are a few great quotes from the movie:
"It is not how we act when thing are great, but how do we act when things are difficult."
"I am going to be around son until you are able to stand on your own.
"That is what Dads do.. they pass the best of themselves to their kids."
"That is all that matters. is me passing myself to you."
....
HAPPY FATHERS DAY!
......
One more thing... in addition to the above recommendation to watch this weekend.. I highly recommend reading the below blogpost:
INSTITUTIONAL SHELL SHOCK: The Lost Art of Disagreement:
Coming from a religious institution that tightly controls almost all facets of one’s life, there is little room or tolerance for disagreement or differences of opinion of any kind. In such settings, if any such differences arise, they are quickly swept under the rug and settled by a deference to an authority figure who makes a judgment call. Additionally, since decisions come from the top down, by the time the layperson could possibly have a say in the matter, "the thinking has already been done”. This system works well to keep things neat and tidy and moving forward, and the ends are more important than the means. Thus, in such institutions there is little chance to openly discuss and debate issues of real importance, unless you sit in the inner circle at the top of the hierarchy or find yourself perching on one of its mid-level echelons. Instead of a reliance on the spirit, exercising persuasion, unfeigned love, and gentleness, and viewing one another as equals, such institutions resort to a reliance on authority, rules and handbooks, knowledge, history/tradition, seniority, "unwritten orders of things", myths, and all sorts of rubrics to sort things out. It is much easier to automatize the process of decision-making, rather than to muck it up with the personalities, problems, weaknesses, opinions, and egos of real people. In such polished institutions, disagreements and differences of opinion are therefore viewed as “bad”, “contentious”, or “of the devil”, and in violation of the "unwritten order of things." If you speak up, you are at risk of being “out of line with the brethren,” which can place your very own salvation in jeopardy.
When a person exits from such a system, they often carry the institutional baggage and scars gained from their experiences therein. For example, in a new found environment, where choices do actually need to be made andopportunities for disagreement do arise, how does one share their deeply held opinions on topics of religion with another person and work through differences in point of view without deferring to an authority figure, rules and handbooks, history/tradition, etc? Or, if presented with an opinion that differs from your own, how do you maneuver through the discussion without automatically labeling such a person as “contentious”, “bad”, and “of thedevil”, or "out of line with the brethren", or violating some sort of "unwritten order of things"? Have our years inside such institutions atrophied these kinds of skills and abilities to the point where we no longer posses them, if we ever possessed them in the first place?
On the one hand, have we lost the art of how to respectfully disagree with one another and still come away as friends, even if we disagree? Do we know how to put forward an argument for our point of view in a way that is non-combative, allows room for discussion, and is more of an invitation to dialogue? And then do we know how to listen, consider, evaluate, persuade, reflect, ask questions, and respond in a sincere and respectful manner? An don the other hand, are we programmed to throw down the field flags of “contention”, “jarring”, and “strife” as soon as someone offers an opinion that differs from our own, cutting off the discussion and perhaps more significantly, cutting off the warm hand of friendship? Do we take disagreements personally, viewing them as a personal attack on our beliefs and who we are?
As individuals trying to work together towards real unity, does that mean we simply sit around smiling at one another and agree with every idea that comes out of every person's mouth when inside we might have significant disagreement? Is that charity or is that a lazy way to create a sort of false unity, or does it depend on the situation? Or, do we work towards true unity by hearing one another out, really listening and trying to understand, asking questions, and then exchanging our own point of view in a loving, kind, and open way that allows for dialogue and discussion? Can we be unified if we don't agree on every topic? Many believe that in an effort to keep the peace and “avoid contention”, the best thing to do is to simply put their head in the sand and wait for the gray clouds of possible contention to float on by. However, are opportunities for greater unity lost when we do this? Are opportunities for greater unity also lost when we dominate in conversation or use leverage to silence another's opinion, refusing to be persuaded or consider another point of view?
Are all of these perhaps some of the symptoms and manifestations of institutional shell shock that we must cure from ourselves if we are to rise above our current state and become one?
There is a scripture in the Doctrine & Covenants that describes why, in part, the early saints failed in their efforts for Zion (D&C 101:6): “Behold, I say unto you, there were jarrings, and contentions, and envyings, and strifes, and lustful and covetous desires among them; therefore by these things they polluted their inheritances.” What really are these attributes manifested by the early saints? How do we know if we are falling into the same patterns? Here are some definitions from the 1828 Webster’s Dictionary:
Contention:
1. Strife; struggle; a violent effort to obtain something, or to resist a person, claim or injury; contest; quarrel.
2. Strife in words or debate; quarrel; angry contest; controversy.
Jar (as in jarrings):
1. To strike together with a short rattle or tremulous sound; to strike untunably or harshly; to strike discordantly; asa jarring sound.
2. To clash; to interfere; to act in opposition; to be inconsistent.
3. To quarrel; to dispute; to clash in words.
Envy (as in envyings):
1. To feel uneasiness, mortification or discontent, at the sight of superior excellence, reputation or happiness enjoyed by another; to repine at another's prosperity; to fret or grieve one's self at the real or supposed superiority of another, and to hate him on that account.
2. Rivalry; competition.
3. Malice; malignity.
4. Public odium; ill repute; invidiousness.
Strife:
1. Exertion or contention for superiority; contest of emulation, either by intellectual or physical efforts.
2. Contention in anger or enmity; contest; struggle for victory; quarrel or war.
To me, collectively, these words describe an open, often public, vitriolic, mean-spirited, angry, personal, caustic, biting, ferocious interchange or quarrel that rises above the level of a disagreement or a difference of opinion.
In my profession, I am constantly engaged in debate and discussion with others. We all have different perspectives, experiences, and knowledge. Therefore, it is only natural for us to have differences of opinion, and therefore we should expect that to be the norm, not the exception. In such cases, I do not ask or expect others to share my opinions or convictions, and my goal is not to change others’ views so they accord more nearly with my own. I want to learn and share, plain and simple, and perhaps we can both come away from the exchange for the better. Any time I engage in debate and discussion with another person, for me, it is outside of who that person is, it is not personal or about them. Although any discussion has the potential to rise to the level of contention, jarrings, and strife, that is up to the people involved to regulate themselves. Therefore, discussion and debate and differences of opinion should not be feared, and on the contrary, they should be welcomed. Why? Having different perspectives on issues and challenges can be enormously helpful. They can help us to make our own thinking and ideas clearer, and most importantly of all, we ourselves might be in error. In my profession, there is a maxim that holds true for me in all of life, and it sort of goes something like this: It is not a matter of being right or wrong, it is a matter of determining the degree to which you are (or I am) wrong. In other words, I just assume I am always wrong to some degree. I lack the full picture, all the pieces of the puzzle, all the cards in the deck, etc. I lack full truth. I gather intelligence from as many sources as I can, I compare and contrast ("by proving contraries, truth is made manifest" - Joseph Smith), and then I use the mind and heart that God gave me, along with whatever degree of inspiration I can gather, to help me sort out how off I am and determine the best path forward. And with all of that, I still make plenty of mistakes and errors in judgment, huge ones sometimes, so I thank God for the atonement.
However, I try not to let disagreements become personal. I try to distinguish the person from the person’s opinion, and I try to differentiate between a healthy argument and a personal quarrel. Sometimes it is important to agree to disagree and just move on, but it is important to not fear someone who holds an opposing view. If we are comfortable with our own standards, we can be accepting and tolerant of variety and differences of opinion. As Irespect the opinions and views of others, I genuinely feel that in most cases they in turn respect and better understand my own. Often, I am pleasantly surprised by how my own views are improved by a healthy discussion with others who hold opposing views. This mutual respect can transcend a mere difference of opinion on a minor issue, but can lead to friendships with people quite different than yourself…you can truly be one with a variety of individuals without having to agree on every topic. Just because you listen to another's opinion, that does not mean you have to act on it, and of course, there may come a point, or there may be some topics, where you do not want to listen anymore for various reasons, and you have the right to walk away or discontinue the conversation.
A near Zion-like society is described in the Book of 4th Nephi the prophet says that there was no contention among them four times:
2 and there were no contentions and disputations among them, and every man did deal justly one with another.
13 And it came to pass that there was no contention among all the people, in all the land; but there were mighty miracles wrought among the disciples of Jesus.
15 And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.
18 and there was no contention in all the land.
Certainly these people were in harmony on many things, but does this also mean there were no differences of opinion or disagreements among them? Obviously their hearts were filled with the love of God, so might this mean that the people also loved their brothers and sisters so much that they learned the importance of listening to one another respectfully, considering differences of opinion, asking each other questions, and engaging in the art of respectful disagreement when needed?
There is no need to waste time hating people with whom you disagree. We can try to focus on the fruitful nature of such disagreements. How they have helped you to shape your own views of what you are doing, or who you are, or why you are doing something. We can be magnanimous and generous in accepting others’ failings. It might be the case that sources of disagreement and differences of opinion can be an important vehicle for arriving at greater unity.
A few weeks ago, I went snowshoeing early in the morning with some friends to the top of Guardsman Pass to see the sunrise. Once we reached the summit, we built a fire in the snow to keep warm. Some did not have the appropriate clothing or shoes, so the fire helped to prevent frostbite. Below are a few pictures of the fire. The interesting thing about this hike was that I was so focused on other things that I didn't see even see the cross in the distance until we were about to descend down the mountain. Once the smoke started to billow, the sharp contrast from the white of the smoke and the dark wood of the cross caught my eye.
I find that I get so distracted in life that I oftentimes forget the sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ. A recent story in the news this past week really touched me. Most of you might have heard about the young mother whose four year old daughter fell into the swift moving Provo River. Immediately the mother jumped into save her. Unable to reach her young daughter, a few bystanders tried to rescue the young girl. A man from Sandy, UT was with his wife on the banks of the river also saw the tragic situation and jumped in the river. Willing to sacrifice his own life in order to help another was second nature to him. Despite his attempt to retrieve the girl, he also drowned in his attempt to save the young child. The mother of the four year old also drowned in the river. Such acts of sacrifice are incredible examples of the type of person I would like to be. To give up one's life to save another is what being a true Christian is all about.
There have been other acts of sacrifice that have been going on for the past year. Most acts of sacrifice are not known or rarely published in the news. The sacrifices I want to mention are being offered by those who are attempting to reclaim lost truths and forgotten scripture.The sacrifice of time and effort has been mostly unheralded and actually been criticized by many people. Most people who read this are very aware of the work that has been underway in trying to put together a more accurate set of scriptural cannon. This attempt is in part to remove the condemnation that has been over the heads of all of us for taking lightly the Book of Mormon since the beginning of the Restoration of the Gospel. Part of this project has been trying to put back into the scriptures the Lectures on Faith, the Wentworth Letter and additional revelations that has never been included in the Doctrine and Covenants and/or changed over time. In addition, all of the translations that Joseph made to the New and Old Testament as well as the most accurate translation to the Book of Mormon are being considered.
Since this project has been overwhelming, a suggestion has been made to fast this weekend and pray for the Lords help to complete this work. Here is the invitation written by my friend:
"We would like to invite any who feel inclined to join us in prayer and fasting this Sunday, June 4 (or sometime around then, according to your needs) for the success of the scripture project. You may fast as you feel directed, but we'll be fasting for this people as a whole (that our hearts and minds can become unified with the mind of God), and for those directly working on the project (that they will receive help, support and guidance from the Lord, and that all their work will be done with an eye single to the glory of God.) It would be a beautiful, unifying thing to exert our collective faith and show God our desire to please Him with this scripture effort. May this result in a product He will approve."
