Culture vs. Truth

In response to an entry on http://aletheiaquest.blogspot.com/ titled "On Priesthood Authority in Mormonism" I have posted the following entry

A Long Overdue Shift in Blame 

When Jesus was confronted by Pharisees on the issue of divorce as recorded in Matthew 19:3-11. He explained that from the beginning men and women were meant to be united not divided (which we currently use to support the ideals of marriage) , "Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." (v.6). So the pharisees then began to ask Jesus why Moses commanded divorce in certain situations. (there is a parallel here to that of the priesthood issue). Christ's response is very telling, and he did not hold the prophet responsible as our critics do. I quote, "Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning." (v.8 NIV) He then strongly denounced divorce.

Here Jesus explained how a true prophet of God (Moses) commanded something against God's will... not because of his own biases or misconceptions, but rather because of the hardness of the people's hearts.

I know from their teachings and examples that the leaders of the LDS Church from the early years to the present have always been prayerful followers of the same God worshipped by all of Christianity, espousing the same teachings from the Bible and more. Prayerful, but not infallible. Leader after leader was confronted with the issue of blacks and the priesthood and I am confident they each took the issue to the Lord, just as one would expect any righteous leader to do. I am sure they did. Each received their answer and each were required to wait. The time was not yet. I submit that the blame for the blacks being kept from the priesthood is wrongly placed on the shoulders of the leaders of this church (just as divorce may be wrongly placed on Moses' shoulders). The Lord knows the hearts of all men, and I am confident that because of the hardness of the hearts of the membership of the LDS Church of that time that Lord knew the time was not yet. Our world was still embroiled in racist division and the time was just not yet, and so the Leaders were left to use scripture and logic to support the Lord's decision. Brigham Young and his predecessors confined the priesthood to a small homogenous group because of the hardness of the hearts of the early membership... unfortunately the hatred and division were two-sided and in many places still are. I imagine many of our black brothers and sisters were not yet ready either.

In short, the membership of the LDS Church and all who accepted the prevailing culture were primarily at fault, though the blame is only placed on the Leaders by critics of our faith.

Rising Above Cultural Norms... Since When?

In response to your statement "those outside the Church would naturally expect LDS general authorities to always have the discernment and moral fortitude to rise above the cultural norms (like racism) that are so inconsistent with Christian teaching." I must simply ask why Christ, Paul, and Peter, nor any of the other leaders of the early church (since Adam :)) denounced slavery, nor called an end to it, but rather told slaves to serve their masters well. How does this relate to such an unfair standard of requiring normal men to rise above cultural norms? Was Christ himself subject to a cultural norm (according to the precedence set forth), or were other issues at play? I would suggest the latter. (For the sake of reference: Eph. 6:5, Col 3:22, 1 Pet 2:18, 1 Tim 6:1, Titus 2:9, Matthew 10:24)

I would beware of confusing political correctness with God's standards of righteousness (lest we be caught promoting cultural ideals that are clearly inconsistent with God's such as homosexuality as of late). While in places they cross one another the ways of men are not one and the same with the ideals of God... and maybe in the eternal scheme of things we are really comparing apples with oranges. Most likely God dislikes slavery, but understands that in this world we are all slaves to something, so he teaches how to gain freedom by transcending the cultures of this world. In this way while chained in physical or temporal bondage we can at the same time be spiritually free. 

The Priesthood Question

As is always the case my comments are my own, my personal reflections on topics of importance to me. I welcome your thoughts and challenges to my way of thinking.

God has given the priesthood to man so that His power can be manifested among the children of men in an orderly way—so that His purposes may be fulfilled. God never intended to give the authority to act and administer in his name to all people, but rather a reserved portion that made valiant decisions in this life and perhaps in their previous experience. Evidence for this can easily be found in every book of scripture in every age where the priesthood has been given by God to man. Even still, the priesthood is not solely a mark of personal valiance or honor. It is given to man for God’s purposes to be fulfilled, not man’s. Otherwise we speak of priestcraft, not priesthood. I have come to see great wisdom in God’s giving this priesthood to some and not all, for example His giving it to men and not women. By doing so we must rely upon one another to make it active in family units—the basic unit of the gospel. When the intact family unit is discarded by society the blessings of the priesthood go with it, as it is no longer readily accessible in the home. When families remain worthy and intact, however, the authority to preside and bless are efficacious and contribute to the strength and vitality of that family.

The gift of Christ’s gospel is not the priesthood, which some may have mistaken it to be. The gifts of His gospel include all of the gifts of the Spirit, which are made available to all of His children but are reserved for His faithful, seeking ones.

Unlike the priesthood, which has been reserved for a few, to suit God’s needs, the blessings of the gospel and the gift of the Holy Ghost are made available to all of God’s children, EVERY LAST ONE. We are only made partakers of these great gifts, however, as we humble ourselves before God and are baptized into His church and kingdom. All of those who humble themselves before God and are baptized and receive His word will be blessed by having continual access to the Holy Spirit of Truth. This is the greatest blessing that can come to mankind while in this earthly probation. Far greater blessings lay in the next estate, of course.

Giving the priesthood unto the children of men is God’s way of keeping order and bringing to pass His work in His vast kingdom and is an oath and covenant made to and with the human race. It is not expedient that every person hold the priesthood for it is not the holding of the priesthood that causes conversion in one’s breast. Rather it is an order of service through which God can bless His children, while maximizing the utility of the agency that has been given to mankind. Some must choose to serve, while others must choose to be served, regardless of who holds the priesthood.

Thoughts came to mind of certain metaphors such as the body of Christ where all members are needed, but do not perform the same function or have the same level of utility. I also have considered that while many hold the priesthood some hold the greater (Melchizedek) and some hold the lesser (Aaronic). Furthermore, there are many levels of duty and responsibility within the priesthood organization. There is obviously a need for great variety in this regard. The authority to act in God’s name never has been distributed evenly. It is given according to His wisdom, and His timing.

Any thoughts?

Samson, a story for our day?

I would like to say something about the story of Samson from the book of Judges. I have had great difficulties with this story for more than a decade until I finally took it to Heavenly Father in prayer. I could not see its relevance as scripture. I was reminded more of the Illiad and the Odyssey and such tales of godless honor and warring.

I tried and tried to resolve the dissonance caused by this story through reason and logic, through study and discussion, but not prayer.

I came to hate the story of Samson and treat it with disgust; using it as an example that the Old Testament has been corrupted by the enemies of righteousness. Why else would such a story exist that seems to champion his wickedness? The way Samson is portrayed in the Old Testament is not unlike the portrayal of modern-day movie stars. Their heroism stems from their large statures, their nice figures, and their ability to fight and get what they want. This is how Samson is treated. But what of the integrity of the heart? What of the desire to act in righteousness before God? This is not a part of the story of Samson as we know it.

Against his parents’ wishes and the Jewish tradition Samson asks for the hand of a woman of Timnath. His pleas are not unlike that of a spoiled child, “Get her for me, daddy! I like her daddy.” (Jud14:3). He fed his parent honey made in the carcass of a lion, surely against the Law of Moses. He rose up and killed 30 men because they discovered the answer to his riddle. (Red Flags going up everywhere). When he was dishonored by losing the hand of the woman from Timnath he turned upon the inhabitants of that land and burned up their fields of corn and vineyards of olives. But that was only the beginning. He then slew them with a great slaughter. Then when the Philistines came with their armies to take him he slew a thousand more men. He later went unto the harlot Delilah who was not only a harlot, but of the Philistines as well. He not only broke principles of the Law of Moses, he consistently broke the BIG commandments. Amidst this sinful saga we get one little glimpse of seeming goodness in Samson. We learn that he judged Israel for 20 years. Now this detail is not a light thing. The Judges of Israel were chosen from the righteous of Israel, at least in theory. What from Samson’s story besides his strength gave him the right to be a judge in Israel?

I argued for some time that such a story could only mean that the bible had been changed from its original state or such wickedness would never have been celebrated. Then I had a shocking and most pleasant revelation that has helped me to see the value of this story more clearly.

As I pondered and prayed about this particular story, my understanding seemed suddenly clearer and I felt impressed that Samson had served the Lord faithfully for many years and was justified in his ways…

but then he fell.

His story is one full of tragedy, for after living a life of faithfulness (20 years as a judge of Israel), and knowing the Lord well and the Lord’s will regarding him, he forsook the covenants he had made and faltered, giving way to his sensual desires. His fall began gradually and because he was a judge of Israel he was not checked for his behavior, but rather he likely used his position of power to satisfy his carnal desires. At such a point the Spirit could no longer be with him.

The idea that has made this story so clearly relevant came next. This was the idea that to the extent that Samson kept his covenants he was protected. He was a Nazarite, so as he forsook strong drink and stayed the razor from his head, for example, he was protected from the cunning designs of men, but as his heart had failed him and was set henceforth on things of the world and no longer on things of heaven, he soon forsook even those covenants. He was blinded by his appetite for power and sensuality and quickly fell from his place. While the Bible only gives account of his head being shaved by Delilah, the Antiquities of the Jews by Josephus discusses how all of the conversations with Delilah, when she convinced him to do so many things, happened while he was drunk! A Nazarite is not supposed to be drunk…which means he forsook even the most basic of the covenants he made with the Lord.

His life is one to be remembered, but not revered or followed. He wasn’t forsaken by the Lord until he had completely forsaken even the outward covenants he had made with the Lord. The thought occurred to me that there are many Christians today who outwardly keep commandments and covenants they have made with the Lord by following codes of health (i.e. Word of Wisdom), for example, and wearing their garments, BUT THEIR HEARTS HAVE ALSO FAILED THEM or have gradually begun to do so as they seek to satisfy their own carnal desires rather than seek the things of heaven. In a very real way Samson is a tale of our day…and a warning.

The story of Samson now has value to me and has become one of my favorites.

My Reading of the Qur'an

I have been reading the Qur'an lately because I have several close friends that are or were Muslim. I have found the book to be of the highest quality, and have decided that I believe Muhammad was a prophet...in the sense that I believe he really was visited by an angel and really did a great work for God in converting a godless people back to God. I do not believe however that his prophetic calling was complete because he could not accept the divinity of Jesus Christ. This I attribute to the culture of the day and human weakness.

Muhammad had access to the writings of the New Testament, he was familiar with the state of Christianity in 600 AD, he was protected at times by the Byzantine Christians and saw them as allies (particularly the Christian Ethiopian King). He knew well what had taken place in the debates of the 4th and 5th centuries that led to the many Christian Creeds and he soundly rejected some of their conclusions...particularly the trinity doctrine and the deification of Christ. The Quran states very clearly how the Jews received revelation at one time...but had forsaken them, and then the Christians, they received the revelations of God at one time...but also had forsaken them...something that I believe happened following the death of Christ. The great falling away that Paul speaks of.

This is all very interesting to me because I believe that Christianity and the world at large fell into a period of darkness for many many centuries after the death of Christ. In fact history shows us that it went through several periods of religious decline and then restoration before Christ. Muhammad saw his mission as that of a restorer.

Muhammad taught that Jesus was a great prophet, a perfect man, an apostle of the one true God, but still his servant. He believed in all his signs and miracles and openly taught of his great coming in the end of times, but denied any teaching that made Christ equal to Allah. This flies in the face of the Trinity doctrine as embraced by much of the Christian world which either makes Jesus also the Father, or his equal (depending on which Christian you talk to). I believe they are both wrong.

I believe that Jesus Christ, after accomplishing his mission, received of the Father's fullness and therefore has become a God himself, but in the heavenly hierarchy God the Father is the Greatest of all and all will be less than him in Glory forever since any glory we, His spirit children, attain adds to his. This includes Christ, our brother, as I believe Him to be.

All in all, I am enjoying the Qur'an and trying to understand from their source material the similarities and differences between our faiths. I find no excuse in their teachings for terrorist activities. Not in the Qur'an. Self defense yes, but nothing to justify murderous terrorism.

Some may wonder how I can believe that Muhammad could be a prophet when he rejected Christianity. Firstly I do not believe Christianity then, was what Christianity is now. But how could Muhammad be a prophet and still reject the divinity of Christ? I contribute such a failure to the weakness of men and compare this instance to that of other Bible Prophets. Jonah tried to run away from his calling, but went and preached to the Ninevites and was hailed as a prophet even though he wanted no mercy for them and was rebuked by the Lord. King David is still hailed a prophet king even after he caused the death of Uriah after committing adultery with his wife Bathsheba. Many of the psalms that prophesy of Christ's coming and mission were written in David's old age, after this moral fall. How could he have received such profound revelations quoted to this day by Christians throughout the world, prophesying of the birth, life and death of Jesus Christ in greater plainness than most other Old Testament prophets, after he had committed such wickedness and betrayed the Lord in such a manner. There are many examples of those who were chosen by God to do a work, despite their rejection of critical principles related to God's will.

It is in this light that I see Muhammad as one who was chosen to do a work, however partial it was. After all, he was the instrument through which an entire pagan nation was converted back to the God of Abraham when neither the Jews nor the Christians of the time could do so. Go Muhammad! I bet our Father is proud of what he accomplished and I am sure Muhammad accepts the divinity of Christ now. :)

Introduction to the Urim and Thummim blog

White seemed to be the appropriate color for this Blog.

My intention here is to have a place to post thoughts of religious nature that are important enough to share with others, yet not so private and personal that I feel anxiety over such postings. I have had experiences in my life that are much too special and much too sacred to share in such a venue as this, and I am grateful to know that the heavens are open. Our Father in Heaven is very much aware of us, and is pouring out light and truth in this great latter day in preparation for the grand return of His Son, Jesus Christ. It is they whom I worship, and to them that I devote this blog.

This blog, however, is not for them . My intentions are to have a place where family and friends may come to know my testimony of the true and living God of this world, a way of seeing what goes through my mind as I study the books of scripture and the books of men, when I compare the ways of the world and the ways of the Lord.