Happy new year.
A little irreverent, yes, but hang on to the end. It’s worth it.
This Is the Work of the Master
President Gordon B. Hinckley
April 1995
This church does not belong to its President. Its head is the Lord Jesus Christ, whose name each of us has taken upon ourselves. We are all in this great endeavor together. We are here to assist our Father in His work and His glory, “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). Your obligation is as serious in your sphere of responsibility as is my obligation in my sphere. No calling in this church is small or of little consequence. All of us in the pursuit of our duty touch the lives of others. To each of us in our respective responsibilities the Lord has said: “Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees” (D&C 81:5).
The Great Plan of the Eternal God
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
April 1984
Hence, in submitting knowingly and meekly to this plan, we cannot say to the Lord that we are willing to surrender but only on our terms. There are no conditions in unconditional surrender!
Even with all of its interior consistency, however, the plan cannot bring true happiness to anyone whose life is grossly inconsistent with its standards. It cannot fully enfold him who is too worried about being taken in. It has no place of honor for one too concerned with losing his place in the secular synagogue. (See John 12:42–43.) . .
Truly, of all the errors mortals could make, God’s plan of salvation is the wrong thing to be wrong about!
I did not know that: The Easter Island heads have bodies.
Joseph, the Seer
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
October 1983
Throughout the expanse of human history, no prophet has been scrutinized in such a sustained way, on as wide a scale, or for so long a period of time as Joseph Smith, Jr. The communication capacity of this age and the global impact of his work have so ensured.
Young Joseph was told that his name would be “both good and evil spoken of” throughout the world. (JS—H 1:33.) Except from a divine source, how audacious a statement! Yet his contemporary religious leaders, then much better known than Joseph, have faded into the footnotes of history, while the work of Joseph Smith grows constantly and globally.
“Shine As Lights in the World”
Neal A. Maxwell
April 1983
[I]n human affairs, erroneous and unchallenged assertions sometimes assume an undeserved aura of truth. While a response to this hopelessness may not create conviction in disbelievers, it can bolster believers against the silent erosion of their own convictions.
And it has its own unofficial blog detailing the weekly progress: Brigham City LDS Temple
Focus and Priorities
Elder Dallin H. Oaks
April 2001
We have thousands of times more available information than Thomas Jefferson or Abraham Lincoln. Yet which of us would think ourselves a thousand times more educated or more serviceable to our fellowmen than they? The sublime quality of what these two men gave to us—including the Declaration of Independence and the Gettysburg Address—was not attributable to their great resources of information, for their libraries were comparatively small by our standards. Theirs was the wise and inspired use of a limited amount of information.
Available information wisely used is far more valuable than multiplied information allowed to lie fallow.
A Penn State Ph.D. Candidate needs volunteers to take an online survey on media coverage of the marriage debate and one’s views on the matter.
Supporters of marriage are needed for an online research study concerning communication messages about how marriage is defined within the United States.
Share your opinions by Nov. 7. Click here to take the survey, or copy and paste this link into your browser: http://pennstatecomm.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_5q0jBQGKH2DXFWs
The survey takes less than 15 minutes to complete. You are eligible to participate if you are at least 18 years old. This research study is being conducted as part of a doctoral dissertation at The Pennsylvania State University. It is NOT funded or commissioned by any political, religious, or advocacy organization.
The survey was interesting and worthwhile.
I actually liked this defense of Mormonism from a non-believing perspective.
I’m a secular humanist, but Maher’s statement is incredible. How are Mormonism’s unique beliefs any “more ridiculous” than believing that a virgin gave birth, that five loaves and two fishes fed 5,000 hungry people, that spitting in mud and rubbing it in a blind man’s eyes made him see, that you can walk on water or that people dead for centuries will be brought back to life looking just as they did in their prime? And on and on…
My point is not to make fun of Mormons or Christians — people are free to believe whatever they want (but they can’t force their beliefs on others). No, my point is that Mormon beliefs only appear strange because they are not commonplace, not part of the culture. So leave the Mormons alone.
Why is Mormonism declared “weird” because we don’t believe miracles and faith-demanding events only happened in ancient times? That, and we are not allowed to claim we worship our Savior simply because we don’t believe in a political declaration that was written by a committee 300 years after he lived.
The Daily Show has a similar point in its own unique way.
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Indecision 2012 – Hardcore Sects Edition – Mormonism | ||||
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A look at how other religious groups view Mormonsat who is least likely to have problems with a Mormon president is interesting. Especially about our Jewish brothers and sisters.
Why do Jews feel warmly toward Mormons? It cannot be because of a political alliance, as the groups are political opposites. Sixty-four percent of Jews are Democrats while 63% of Mormons are Republicans. Nor does it seem to be explained by a group’s perceived support of Israel. Mormons and evangelical Christians both tend to be vocal advocates for Israel, yet Jews give evangelicals a lower rating than Muslims.
We suspect that Jews’ warmth toward Mormons stems from solidarity with another group that is small and subject to intolerance. Jews and Mormons are the two American groups most likely to report that other people disparage their religious beliefs. Roughly 15% of both Jews and Mormons say that they hear derogatory comments “often.”
The warmth of Jews toward Mormons reminds us that, even at a time when religion and politics are increasingly intertwined, religious comity can transcend partisan differences. But this affinity is unlikely to have much political impact: Jews are typically loyal Democrats, and at any rate they are a small slice of the electorate.
However, I think the opposition by Evangelicals is overstated. Even the Pastor Jeffries, despite his political hackery of the past few weeks, has said he could endorse and vote for Romney.
“Be of Good Cheer”
Neal A. Maxwell
October 1982
Thus we see, brothers and sisters, how we are justified in being of good cheer for ultimate reasons—reasons to be distinguished, however, from proximate circumstances. If, for instance, our attitude towards life depends upon the praise of men, the level of interest rates, the outcome of a particular election or athletic contest—we are too much at the mercy of men and circumstance. Nor should our gratitude for the gift of mortal life depend upon the manner in which we die, for surely none of us will rush eagerly forward to tell Jesus how we died!
Is this on 15th East in the Sugarhouse area?
Fortunately, Mitt Romney is ruling out giving another “Mormon Speech” like the one he gave last campaign cycle.
“I think the great majority of American people want to select the person who’s the most capable of getting our country going again, with strong values and a strong economy and a strong military,” the Republican presidential candidate said at a campaign event in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Thursday afternoon. “Among the things that are unique and exceptional about our country is the fact that, in America, we recognize and appreciate differences in faith.”
His 2007 speech “Faith in America” did little to quell the media fascination with his religion as it is still going strong four years later. The best way to be treated like any other politician is to act as one and not like the an apologist super-missionary that some want him to be.
The Power of Scripture
Richard G. Scott
General Conference October 2011
The scriptures provide the strength of authority to our declarations when they are cited correctly. They can become stalwart friends that are not limited by geography or calendar. They are always available when needed. Their use provides a foundation of truth that can be awakened by the Holy Ghost. Learning, pondering, searching, and memorizing scriptures is like filling a filing cabinet with friends, values, and truths that can be called upon anytime, anywhere in the world.
Great power can come from memorizing scriptures. To memorize a scripture is to forge a new friendship. It is like discovering a new individual who can help in time of need, give inspiration and comfort, and be a source of motivation for needed change.
The New York Times’ Maureen Dowd launches a salvo against Mitt Romney and his Mormon faith by cobbling together the usual jeers and criticisms from such Mormon experts as Bill Maher, Christopher Hitchens, and those angry with baptisms of the dead, particularly of Holocaust victims. She also includes Richard Bushman and a member of the BYU religion faculty.
But her intention is clear: to roll out any claim that Mormonsim is weird, different, and an anyone who is a believer is unworthy of being taken seriously. Not unheard of but expect more of this from the Left as Mitt Romney gets closer to threatening President Obama.
Fortunately, Commentary – a conservative political magazine with a Jewish perspective – takes Dowd and the Times to rightfully task:
Of course, as she admitted, it’s easy to mock any faith, and the columnist is well-known for having a negative opinion about the Catholic faith in which she was raised. But would the Times let her get away with poking fun at the skullcaps or items of clothing associated with religious Jews such as the fringed garment many Orthodox Jews wear? Would she have mocked Muslims for their burqas or head coverings? But in an era where a satire about Mormons is a Broadway hit and many liberals worry about Romney’s ability to beat President Obama next fall, right now it’s open season in the Grey Lady on Latter Day Saints.
It should be specified the Mormon practice of seeking out every name of everyone who ever lived — even the victims of the Holocaust — and posthumously baptizing them into their faith was deeply offensive to non-Mormons. To its credit, the official LDS Church finally gave it up in the 1990s, but the ill will that this ritual created still lingers.
Mitt Romney has essentially been running for president for five years. By now, you would think that those who knew of him would identify him with some of his accomplishments: successful businessman, salvaging the Winter Olympics, governor of Massachusetts, heck even “Romneycare.” Perhaps a proposed policy initiative or a campaign platform.
And yet the Washington Post seems surprised that among poll respondents asked to define a candidate by a one word description, Gov. Romney is overwhelmingly known as a “Mormon.”
Romney during both campaigns has repeatedly explained that he is not running to be “pastor in chief.” He reluctantly gave a J.F.K.-like speech to appease the calls for him to explain his religion. He wisely side-stepped this by instead emphasizing our nation’s principles of religious freedom and plurality. And yet after all this time he is still saddled with what the Post describes his “one word problem.”
Gee, why would he still be so overwhelmingly defined by his religion?
⁂
the Grio: “Black Mormons weigh Romney-Obama match-up.”
THe GOP debate last night in Las Vegas brought up the issue of whether it is fair to consider a candidate’s religion. I liked Sen. Santorum’s and Gov. Romney’s answers the best. I would say faith matters but only as it translates into values that may affect policy. Debating theology is a horrible way to select a president.
From the transcript, here’s the relevant part.
COOPER: And welcome back to the CNN GOP debate live from the Venetian in Las Vegas. Let’s continue. We’ve got an e-mail question that was left at cnnpolitics.com. This is from a Mike Richards who says: “With the controversy surrounding Robert Jeffress, is it acceptable to let the issue of a candidate’s faith shape the debate?”
Senator Santorum, this is in reference to a Baptist pastor who, at the Values Voter Summit, after introducing Governor Rick Perry, said of — said that “Mitt Romney is not a Christian,” and that “Mormonism is a cult.” Those were his words.
Should…
(BOOING)
COOPER: Should voters pay attention to a candidate’s religion?
SANTORUM: I think they should pay attention to the candidate’s values, what the candidate stands for.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
SANTORUM: That’s what is at play. And the person’s faith — and you look at that faith and what the faith teaches with respect to morals and values that are reflected in that person’s belief structure. So that’s — those are important things.
I — I’m a Catholic. Catholic has social teachings. Catholic has teachings as to what’s right and what’s wrong. And those are legitimate things for voters to look at, to say if you’re a faithful Catholic, which I try to be — fall short all the time, but I try to be — and — and it’s a legitimate thing to look at as to what the tenets and teachings of that faith are with respect to how you live your life and — and how you would govern this country.
With respect to what is the road to salvation, that’s a whole different story. That’s not applicable to what — what the role is of being the president or a senator or any other job.
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