12.19.09
Messiah
I went to see a presentation of Handel’s Messiah tonight. I had gone last year and was so moved that I wanted to go again this year. I love music and Christmas and worship of the Savior. The only thing that is a bummer about going to a formal presentation like this is that it doesn’t feel very appropriate to express my worship how I would like. The music and words are so powerful that several times I wanted to raise my hands, or fall on my face, or dance. I saw some judgmental looks, though, when a cell phone went off during the pause right before the Hallelujah chorus (and, yes, I admit I was surprised by the cell phone too and joined in with some of the “looks”!) :) So, when the Hallelujah chorus started and I wanted to raise my hands I didn’t really want to have any of those “looks” directed my way! We were in a church so, on the one hand, it seemed like I should feel free to worship as I would at church. But I was in a church building I had never been in before, surrounded by strangers that were there to see an opera, not necessarily to worship the Messiah (although I’m sure many were there to worship, but they were doing it in a more formal way). So, even though I restrained myself tonight (for fear of being despised like David), it was kind of fun to imagine how others might react if I shook up the stoic setting a bit.
During and after the concert I was thinking about the impact that Handel has had on so many people by creating this magnificent oratorio that sings the words of the gospel, blending Old Testament prophecies and New Testament promises in such a powerful way, appealing to the mind and heart. Over 268 years after it was written, his musical masterpiece continues to be one of the most popular works in Western choral literature (according to the ever-trusty Wikipedia).
The alto soloist for tonight’s performance was a BYU grad. She had a lovely voice.
12.15.09
The Automatic Book of Mormon
Joseph Smith’s translation of the Book of Mormon stands as proof for his prophetic genius. At least, that is what LDS apologist Michael Ash believes. Ash points to factors in the production of the BoM that he implies cannot be explained naturally—for example, the book’s consistency, Smith’s speed of production, and his lack of education. Ash also notes the seemingly supernatural method of translation: Smith peered into a seer stone buried in a hat, with no way to copy an existing text.
But are there any other examples of writing such as Smith’s—examples that could cast light on the method and origin of his works? At the time Smith was killed in the 1840s, the Spiritualist movement was just reaching its zenith in the United States. Spiritualism emphasized contact with the dead, and among practitioners, automatic writing was a key feature for contact with the spirit world. The Encyclopedia Britannica defines this practice thusly:
[I]n spiritualism, writing produced involuntarily when the subject’s attention is ostensibly directed elsewhere. The phenomenon may occur when the subject is in an alert waking state or in a hypnotic trance, usually during a séance.
12.11.09
How do we then approach this prophet?
At the heart of every belief system is a nucleus of certainty about something or someone. As a Christian, I have faced doubts and persecutions over my faith and have recalculated all of my assumptions only to realize that I have a certainty about a Person: Jesus Christ. I am convinced that He died for me and that I have received His grace and pardon. But in the world of faith thoughts clamber in my head, and I find myself evaluating other systems and comparing them to my own and assessing their own value. At this time in my life the issue of Mormonism has utterly captured me. I deeply love and care about the Mormons that I know and when I read Mormon literature the thought goes through my head, “What if this is true?” I’ve mulled it over and considered that possibility on many occasions. And yet when I think of the nucleus of that belief system I realize that, for me, it would have to rest upon the shoulders of a man called Joseph Smith. I’m fully aware that he may not be the center—the core of the core—for LDS. But, as a Christian, when I consider the faith claims of Mormonism in comparison to Biblical Christianity, I have to admit that, for me, he is the crux. Upon him the religion sinks or stands.
12.06.09
Aaron Johnson’s big mistake
On March 1, 1857 Aaron Johnson defied a revelation of Joseph Smith by marrying 14-year-old Julia Johnson.1 It is true that, at age fifty, he was old enough to be her grandfather. It is also true that he already had eight other wives. It is also true that on the same day he was also married and sealed to Cecelia Sanford, age 15 and Sarah James, age 19. Regrettably, it is also true that Julia was Aaron’s own niece. But those weren’t the real offenses. The reality was that Julia was the sister of four of Aaron’s wives and this was in direct opposition to revelation of Joseph Smith.
The ban of being married to multiple sisters was revealed to Joseph Smith in 1843 and told by William Clayton. Both Clayton and Smith were interested in marrying 17-year-old Lydia Moon but Clayton had the distinct advantage of being married to Lydia’s two older sisters. The addition of Lydia to his household would have made for complete marital and sisterly bliss and harmony. But, alas, it was not to be. Clayton and Smith’s conversation over the matter was recorded by a dejected but faithful Clayton in his journal.2
He said the Lord had revealed to him that a man could only take 2 of a family except by express revelation and as I had said I intended to take Lydia he made this known for my benefit. to [sic] have more than two in a family was apt to cause wrangles and trouble. He finally asked if I would not give L to him I said I would so far as I had any thing to do in it. He requested me to talk to her.
12.04.09
My favorite Christmas song
I bought Casting Crown’s Christmas CD a few weeks ago and love this instrumental rendition of an old classic. The violin part is amazing.
12.02.09
But the LORD is in his holy temple, let all the earth keep silence before him. Hab 2:20
I think non-Mormons have an innate curiosity about LDS temples. As I drive past the local temple in my area I often wonder what is going on inside. The sheer imposing size and augustness of the architecture leave many to marvel at the significance of these temples. I’ve never been inside one but I’ve seen pictures. They look like places of immaculate design and pristine decor.
The concept of having such a huge private church-operated building outside of the local church is a concept foreign to most Christians today; but the use of temples was not foreign to early Jewish Christians. Acts records,
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart. (Acts 2:46)
11.22.09
What are apostles and do we need them?
One of the reasons that people join the LDS church from other denominations is the LDS church’s claim that they have the correct biblical structure. Their church is run by twelve apostles just like the original church established by Christ. Boyd Packer makes this statement, “The most precious thing lost in the Apostasy was the authority held by the Twelve—the priesthood keys. For the Church to be His Church, there must be a Quorum of the Twelve who hold the keys and confer them on others.” Protestant churches don’t often claim to have twelve apostles. Is this a problem?
The apostle Paul lists the spiritual gifts in Ephesians 4:11.
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.
11.20.09
Memoirs of a One True Church
Followers of what was formerly classified “the one true church” now declare on their church’s website: “We have much to apologize for. We are profoundly sorry that we verbally persecuted Christians and created dissention and disunity in the body of Christ. We seek forgiveness and reconciliation.”
These former followers of the late Herbert Armstrong, founder and apostle of the Worldwide Church of God, came to realize the doctrinal errors of their founder after his death in 1986. After a long and painful process over more than ten years, the leaders finally made the decision to reject the unbiblical doctrines of their founder and to embrace the Biblical gospel of Jesus Christ and His grace. Earlier this year they changed the name of their organization to Grace Communion International to reflect the doctrinal changes their organization has made, in particular their “fresh awareness of the importance of grace.”
11.16.09
In pursuit of compassionate dialogue
In the online interfaith conversation between Evangelicals and Mormons it is often easy to lose perspective that the blogger behind the computer is a human being with feelings, personality and deep emotions. Words strewn across a page can convey an articulate argument, but the non-verbal communication central to human interaction is entirely absent.
I was at Deseret Book this week looking for another book on the great apostasy. One of the store clerks, an older man with white hair, nabbed me in the doctrinal section and handed me a book that he said would change my entire view on the Old Testament. As I listened to him correlate the Old Testament with the temple video that is shown every year I realized that I must have had a completely confused look on my face. I tried to inquire for more information without looking totally ignorant but finally had to confess to him that I’d never seen the video before because I had never been to the temple. I told him that I was a born-again Christian. Thinking that he was talking with another Mormon, he was a little shocked, and when he turned his face away, I thought it was because he was angry with me. But then he turned back and I realized that his eyes had filled with tears. He said to me in a broken voice, “I love born-again Christians.”
11.13.09
Is there a disconnect for single people in the LDS church?
Increasingly more and more people are waiting longer to marry. The age of people at their first marriage has continued to steadily rise in the U.S. And although there are greater numbers of single people in our society, some sectors have remained impenetrable to change. It is not always easy to be a single person in the church environment. But while I may occasionally grumble about the church’s seeming over-emphasis on family, I know that I really have nothing to complain about.
11.11.09
Welcome Kirk Cameron Fans
Hello,
I see that there are hundreds of people finding this blog today through search engine searches for “kirk cameron wife” or “kirk cameron.”
We are big fans of Kirk around this blog and that’s what brings you here today.
A Marvelous Work and a Wonderful Sequel
I recently stumbled onto an LDS blog that was discussing the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon. In the comments section some advocates for Christopher Marc Nemelka showed up and started encouraging the Mormons to read The Sealed Portion that Christopher claims to have translated. They urged Mormons to read it with the Moroni promise in mind, “with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ…”
The discussion that ensued reminded me a little of the discussions we have on this and other blogs, but the tables were turned and the Mormons were the ones giving reasons for why they were not interested in reading Christopher’s alleged translation or why, after reading it, they did not have a testimony of it.
One of the advocates for Christopher Nemelka accused the Mormons of being closed to new revelation. She said, “You all sound exactly like those who cried…’A Bible, a Bible we have got a Bible.’”
It was interesting to see the Mormons on the other side of the fence in this debate, using scriptures and methods often employed by those they sometimes accuse of being “anti-Mormon.” The blog administrator brought up I John 4:1, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” He also referred people to some “anti-Christopher Marc Nemelka” articles.
11.09.09
Robinson on Church Loyalty
After finishing Believing Christ by Stephen Robinson I have begun reading his follow-up book Following Christ. Following Christ picks up where his first book leaves off and focuses on the application of the LDS gospel to the life of the believer. I have found myself very much liking Robinson. His writing style is simple eloquence. However, I want to focus on the disagreements between his presentation of the gospel and my understanding of Biblical Christianity.
One of the key concepts of this new life that LDS believers must embrace is “enduring to the end.” The commitment to follow Christ in faith to the end of our lives is a reasonable expectation from God for any Christian. But when Robinson discusses “following Christ” he seems instead to be instructing believers to follow the Church. Indeed, instead of exhorting members to “know Christ” he asks them to know that the “church is true.”
Some people are basically saying “Well, today I think the Church is true, but ask me again tomorrow.” But there must come some point at which our commitment to the gospel and our conviction of its truth settles such questions in advance and predetermines our response to whatever challenge we may encounter to our faith, to whatever commandments we may receive, or to whatever sacrifice we are called upon to make (p. 27). (emphasis original).
11.07.09
Another Account of the First Vision!
I found this rendition of the first vision posted on the website of the Community of Christ, the second largest branch of churches that traces its history back to Joseph Smith Jr. Notice the significant differences between this account and the “official” version that is promoted by the Brighamite branch of the LDS church:
In the early 1800s, a young boy named Joseph Smith knelt in the woods near his family home in Manchester Township, New York. He felt separated from God; he also wanted to know how he could make his life count for good in a world full of confusion and sin. He wanted to join with God’s people, but he had no idea how to do that. So, in response to the scripture from James, he prayed to God.
How long this first attempt at verbal prayer lasted is not known, but he came to a point of deep despair. At this point, a vision surrounded him with love and mercy. From that light came a voice as clear as his own. As the vision ebbed and the voice faded, Joseph felt that he knew the truth. He felt the healing presence of God within and the forgiving mercy of Christ. He knew that God would be with him.
He struggled through his teen years, trying to balance his experience with God with his desire to be accepted by others in his community. He continued to have significant spiritual experiences, one of which led to the Book of Mormon. He also felt called to establish a church, officially organizing it on April 6, 1830.
Notice some key points that are different in this account as compared with the version that ended up in the Pearl of Great Price:
