Checking Out City Creek Mall: What Was All That Fuss About?

After all the grumbling and accusations I've heard from critics of the Church over the City Creek Center (the big new mall in downtown Salt Lake City), I put on my spiritual flak jacket and went to downtown Salt Lake City during a brief visit to see the tragedy for myself. My testimony somehow came out unscathed. OK, it helps knowing a little about the purpose of the Mall (giving back to the community to create jobs, reducing urban blight, and making the downtown Salt Lake City area hosting Church headquarters more vibrant and healthy) and the facts about the money (not tithing money). But there's nothing like seeing, and tasting, for one's self. I really enjoyed the visit, though I'm not into shopping and mall scenes. But this is much more interesting than just a mall. It's a beautiful, innovative, artfully landscaped and designed center that makes the downtown much more of an attraction.  I asked an ex-Mormon friend who is a successful and highly connected businessman what he thought of the Mall. He gave it a thumbs up for having a strong positive impact on the economy. Looks like the mission is being accomplished. Lots of people having fun and lots of employees having good work. Not bad.


Here are a few photos. More photos are on my webpage at www.jefflindsay.com/salt-lake-city-photos.html.  Click to enlarge.

 

Appreciating the Restoration of Ancient Christian Concepts: Baptism for the Dead and Related Doctrines

Sometimes we Latter-day Saints get too caught up with out day-to-day activities or with our own personal discontents and fail to appreciate just how marvelous the Restoration has been. Some aspects of the Restoration demand much more contemplation and study to realize how majestic and miraculous they are, but too often we take them for granted and see them as more human or random than they really are. Baptism for the dead is one of those unique fruits of the Restoration that really deserves a lot more respect, admiration, and contemplation. Toward that end, here are some great resources that can help us better appreciate the big picture and strengthen our appreciation of the marvels in our midst. Baptism for the dead is nothing to be embarrassed about (and nothing to fear, for those of you outside the Church), but is actually something to celebrate and marvel at.


Recommended readings:

• "The Harrowing of Hell: Salvation for the Dead in Early Christianity" from Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture 19/1 by Roger D. Cook, David L. Paulsen, and Kendel J. Christensen
  
• "Baptism for the Dead in Early Christianity" from Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture 19/2 by David L. Paulsen, and Brock M. Mason
  
• "Redeeming the Dead: Tender Mercies, Turning of Hearts, and Restoration of Authority" from Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture 20/1 by David L. Paulsen, Kendel J. Christensen, and Martin Pulido

Are there other resources you would recommend? Besides my LDSFAQ page on baptism for the dead, of course.

17 Miracles: A Film About More Than Just a Handcart Company

While visiting family in Salt Lake City yesterday, I was able to view the film 17 Miracles. First, the camera work was outstanding as was the acting and directing, IMHO. The movie helped me to better appreciate why the story of the Willie Handcart Company gets so much attention in Church lore. It really is a compelling symbol of our mortal journey, highlighting the human goodness that can be found in the midst of trouble, and the tender mercies of the Lord that we can experience on a trail of tears. Further, the humble faithfulness of Levi Savage illustrates so much about the Gospel that we need to know in our day. How does one deal with the failings of mortal Church leaders while yearning for the perfection that only God has? Levi's example is one we should discuss even more that we have in the past.

I know the frustration of working with well-meaning leaders who make what decisions that surely seem to be wrong. I wish I had always exhibited the graciousness and humility and true leadership shown by Levi Savagte who knew that the late departure of the Willie Handcart Company would result in tragedy. Though rebuffed for his wise counsel to wait until spring and even publicly criticized by his priesthood leader, Levi refused to walk away, refused to give in to his pride, and humbly stayed on to support the group and sustain his errant leader in faith. He was not of a mind to belittle others in their mortal failings, but to build up the Kingdom of God and render relief to those who would suffer. My soul rejoices that there have been and still are such men as Levi Savage, and I encourage all of you to ponder the example depicted in this movie.

The problem of pain and suffering is also beautifully addressed in the true story told in 17 Miracles. We are here on a mortal journey where death and suffering are inevitable. God could have prevented the tragic late departure of the group and whisked them all safely to Zion. But our journey must go forward, and though we may suffer, He is still there. Though we may die, He is still there. His tender mercies may come in surprising ways--an angel-baked pie for a woman about to go mad in despair, a miraculous stranger offering dried meat jerky, a rescue squad at the final moment when all hope seemed lost, and Levi Savage himself wondering, as my own father did once in the midst of battle in Korea, who it was at his back pushing him forward, turning to find no one there.

In my father's case, it was while desperately seeking to protect his men under a savage attack, picking up a 75-mm recoilless rifle and rile mount, a load normally meant for 4 or 5 men, and running with that load up a steep hill to get the rifle in position to repulse an attack As he climbed the hill with his great burden, he thought it was the men in his squad pushing him forward, but when he reached his destination and turned around, he saw that the men in his squad were still yards away, delayed by the time they needed to strap on backpacks to carry the shells for this massive weapon. He was puzzled, and only later appreciated that this was one of many miracles he experienced in the midst of war's horrors, miracles that softened his heart and helped a rebellious young man find God. I owe my own life and a part of my own testimony to the miracles that he experienced, though the price he paid in experiencing war was a great one, coupled with many tender mercies. So it is for many mortal journeys. May we not forget the lessons of those who went before us to bring us to Zion.

Ugly TSA Episodes: Does China Have More Freedom Than the United States?

After living in China and traveling to many parts of Asia this past year, it was a real shock coming to the United States a few days ago. The feeling of helplessly facing unbridled power was greatest when encountering the TSA gang in the land of liberty. Going through security in China, an officially Communist nation, is a pleasant breeze. They are fast, friendly, and respectful of personal privacy, in my opinion. Not so TSA in the United States. Not only are lines longer and slower than in many Asian nations, so it seems to me, but the procedures and attitudes seem more like what one would expect from a totalitarian power.

After flying from Shanghai to San Francisco, TSA caused me to miss my connection to Salt Lake, resulting in an 8-hour delay for the next available flight. After waiting through a long line, I had the choice of doing the objectionable "nude scan" or having the objectionable personal pat down. I would have preferred the pat down as a matter or principle, but could see that time was running out and so, to save time, submitted sheepishly to the nude scanner. Unfortunately, I still had on a simple knee brace and a money bag. I offered to take them off and go through again, but they refused to consider that option. I wait to wait a long time for a personal pat down, and then that wasn't good enough, so they took me to a private screening room once it became available for a more invasive pat down. They had to thumb through my cash in the money belt and ask me questions about it. America is safer, but I missed my flight. Ugh.

And then this morning, the pat down in Salt Lake was way too personal. Offensive, invasive, abusive. Just an ugly experience. It was more invasive than the TSA group in San Francisco. Did you really have to prod and touch like that?

Dealing with Our Personal Dissent

For many Latter-day Saints, there will be times when we disagree with a Church leader or even with a Church policy. First, we must understand that this is natural and is an inherent consequence of allowing mortals into the Church. We do not believe in the infallibility of anybody or anything other than God, so even inspired prophets chosen by God are prone to mistakes, as are the rest of us in the Church who sometimes find that our own views and opinions are (surprise!) much superior to those of the Brethren or anyone else who disagrees with us. In fact, those who disagree with the Church on some issue may be right. They may understand something better and have more scholarly insights and more progressive views than those in charge. They real question is what to do next.

The natural man in us is always anxious to criticize and proclaim our moral superiority. After all, to bring about needed change, don't we need to create awareness and public pressure to help enlighten the Church? Aren't we doing God and the Church a favor by turning up the heat on human error, including antiquated perspectives and aging doctrines that need to be refreshed? Isn't it all about spreading Truth?

I offer my experience that those who begin to publicly criticize the Church, even with good intentions, in many cases swiftly find themselves caught up in currents of hostility. They develop a mindset, enhanced with abundant social reinforcement, that increasingly looks down on the Church and its leaders. As they become more vocal in criticizing its leaders, past or present, the beauty and power of the Gospel becomes a faint echo drowned out by louder voices or, in some cases, war drums.

Step back and consider this: If the Restoration really took place, if God really did authorize living but fallible prophets in our day, what attitude would He expect us to take in light of apparent mortal error from His servants? Can there be any doubt that He would expect us to be patient, forgiving, lenient, and still supportive? Could He possibly be the inspiration behind snide remarks, name calling, anger, and public denouncements? Ponder the impact of our criticisms on those investigating the Church or on those struggling with the Gospel or, perhaps, on our own family members, especially children. Ponder the impact of campaigns of criticism on our own relationship with God. Is what we are doing really what He would ask of us? Is it the humble, loving, Christlike thing to do?

Consider the problematic case of Abraham. Yes, a great prophet, but also a mortal man with mortal issues. There are many unanswered questions and some moments that seem to justify harsh criticism, such as sending his concubine and child out into the desert without adequate supplies and other symptoms of the challenges of polygamy. Yet when his name comes up in the New Testament, it is with respect and deference. James writes that Abraham was called "the friend of God" (James 2:23). Christ speaks of him with respect. His problems are left between him and God and not made the subject of harsh criticism. Perhaps the same kind of respect, in spite of knowing of his mortal weaknesses, is something we should have for the Prophet Joseph Smith and others, including our own Thomas S. Monson, an amazing man but still a mortal. We might disagree with the Church and its current or past leaders on one or more issues important to us, but may we be very careful in how we express that criticism, if at all, that we may be acting the way God would have us act in building up His kingdom and advancing His purposes, and not our own proud will. I think each of us needs to be aware of the dangers of taking our differences too far and being too confident in our own wisdom, too sure of our own agenda, and too harsh or unforgiving in our attitudes when we think others have erred. Faith and patience may be more important in the long run than boldness and activism, even when we are right, and also when we, due to our own mortal weaknesses, are not.

Details, Details

One of my pet peeves in religion is that many wonderful stories of miracles and spiritual experiences that people share are bereft of details, stripped of information that could be used to verify or falsify the story, leaving little more than blurry hearsay. Part of the problem is that some stories really are bogus, perhaps with a grain of truth when first told but retold, dressed up, and repeatedly mangled over the years into faith promoting error and fluff. Yet another problem is when those who experienced the miracle or blessing fail to record details--keep a journal, people! They then share the story from distant memory, obscuring their confusion by leaving out details, and then others share it from their memory, without anyone bothering to write down the little details that matter when we wonder about the accuracy and reliability of a story.

Well, it's nice to have some examples with abundant details. The miraculous coming forth of the Book of Mormon has such detail: a specific hill, exact dates, tangible plates with numerous named individuals and their lifelong witness of the reality of the plates, and, of course, a very specific and tangible text published for all to read. An example of a far less dramatic but still interesting spiritual experience is given by President Thomas S. Monson is his October 2011 General Conference talk, "Stand in Holy Places." He shares an example of following a specific spiritual impression that defied logic and yet proved to accurate and correct in a surprising way. Specific places, dates, events, and individuals are named. He must have recorded this information, allowing it to be kept fresh and available for sharing much later. I think this is a good example for all of us to follow in our own spiritual journeys. Here is his story from a 1987 temple dedication, involving the surprise appearance of Brother Peter Mourik from Holland:

One rather dramatic experience took place in August of 1987 during the dedication of the Frankfurt Germany Temple. President Ezra Taft Benson had been with us for the first day or two of the dedication but had returned home, and so it became my opportunity to conduct the remaining sessions.

On Saturday we had a session for our Dutch members who were in the Frankfurt Temple district. I was well acquainted with one of our outstanding leaders from the Netherlands, Brother Peter Mourik. Just prior to the session, I had the distinct impression that Brother Mourik should be called upon to speak to his fellow Dutch members during the session and that, in fact, he should be the first speaker. Not having seen him in the temple that morning, I passed a note to Elder Carlos E. Asay, our Area President, asking whether Peter Mourik was in attendance at the session. Just prior to standing up to begin the session, I received a note back from Elder Asay indicating that Brother Mourik was actually not in attendance, that he was involved elsewhere, and that he was planning to attend the dedicatory session in the temple the following day with the servicemen stakes.

As I stood at the pulpit to welcome the people and to outline the program, I received unmistakable inspiration once again that I was to announce Peter Mourik as the first speaker. This was counter to all my instincts, for I had just heard from Elder Asay that Brother Mourik was definitely not in the temple. Trusting in the inspiration, however, I announced the choir presentation and the prayer and then indicated that our first speaker would be Brother Peter Mourik.

As I returned to my seat, I glanced toward Elder Asay; I saw on his face a look of alarm. He later told me that when I had announced Brother Mourik as the first speaker, he couldn’t believe his ears. He said he knew that I had received his note and that I indeed had read it, and he couldn’t fathom why I would then announce Brother Mourik as a speaker, knowing he wasn’t anywhere in the temple.

During the time all of this was taking place, Peter Mourik was in a meeting at the area offices in Porthstrasse. As his meeting was going forward, he suddenly turned to Elder Thomas A. Hawkes Jr., who was then the regional representative, and asked, “How fast can you get me to the temple?”

Elder Hawkes, who was known to drive rather rapidly in his small sports car, answered, “I can have you there in 10 minutes! But why do you need to go to the temple?”

Brother Mourik admitted he did not know why he needed to go to the temple but that he knew he had to get there. The two of them set out for the temple immediately.

During the magnificent choir number, I glanced around, thinking that at any moment I would see Peter Mourik. I did not. Remarkably, however, I felt no alarm. I had a sweet, undeniable assurance that all would be well.

Brother Mourik entered the front door of the temple just as the opening prayer was concluding, still not knowing why he was there. As he hurried down the hall, he saw my image on the monitor and heard me announce, “We will now hear from Brother Peter Mourik.”

To the astonishment of Elder Asay, Peter Mourik immediately walked into the room and took his place at the podium.

Following the session, Brother Mourik and I discussed that which had taken place prior to his opportunity to speak. I have pondered the inspiration which came that day not only to me but also to Peter Mourik. That remarkable experience has provided an undeniable witness to me of the importance of being worthy to receive such inspiration and then trusting it—and following it—when it comes. I know without question that the Lord intended for those who were present at that session of the Frankfurt Temple dedication to hear the powerful, touching testimony of His servant Brother Peter Mourik.

Nice. A very small miracle,, but significant in preparing President Monson to listen and respond to the promptings of the spirit and in preparing him for the sacred office he now bears today.

While on the topic of details, could you help me in searching for the details from a more recent talk by President Monson? In the latest General Conference, he tells the touching story reported by a non-LDS journalist in a Hawaiian newspaper of seeing a wounded LDS soldier give a priesthood blessing to another man who should have died, and miraculously survived. His talk has a footnote for the story, but it's an LDS book, not the reference is to an LDS book, not the original newspaper article. I hope the book had the story right! Do any of you know the reference for the original non-LDS source of the story?

Easter: How Can We Forget the Physical, Tangible Reality of Christ's Resurrection?

Easter greetings! What a wonderful time to contemplate the reality, the shear physical, tangible reality of Christ's Resurrection. Ponder what it means not just that the tomb was empty, which is where much of Christianity seems to stop, but that the body of Christ was once again alive, now glorious and immortal, but so real and tangible that it could not just be seen, but be handled, and could not just speak words, but chew and swallow food.

Was Christ trying to deceive or rather, to teach a powerful lesson, when he appeared to His disciples in Luke 24 and allowed them to see and touch Him, and then watch Him eat? Here is an excerpt from that marvelous chapter of scripture with so many lessons for us:

33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,

34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

43 And he took it, and did eat before them.

44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Some will say that our worship of this physically real Jesus, with a tangible body of flesh and bone and not spirit only, in Whose image man was created, and Who is the express image of His equally real Father in heaven, makes us non-Christian, for that real and living Resurrected Jesus whom we worship, lacks the metaphysical attributes required by the Neoplatonic philosophers who gave us the official creeds of the 4th and 5th centuries. If that means we worship a different Jesus--and that's exactly what it means to some of our most vocal critics who put the traditions of the creeds ahead of the living Word of revelation from God--then so be it, for the Jesus whom we worship is the Jesus of the Bible, and we invite all men everywhere to follow Him, to repent of their sins, and be baptized in His name to enter into a covenant of joy.

Though we differ in our understanding of the Resurrection and in the nature of Jesus, rejecting some portions of the creeds of philosophers, we do not deny the Christianity of others who believe in Jesus, however wrong they may be about their understanding of Him and His Resurrection. But we encourage them to learn the truth, to learn more, and to add a greater fullness to the precious truths they may already have. Come and learn of Him, be baptized in His name, and receive the priceless gift of the Holy Ghost by those who are divinely authorized to do so in His church.

Dreams About Money

Last week's LDS General Conference is just being watched this weekend in Asia in place of regular Sunday services. One of the many little ironies of life in China is that by being 14 hours ahead of Utah, we get conference a week late--recorded conference, played off a DVD. There are much bigger ironies that I want to talk about sometime, including some issues in which the West gets so many things about China completely backwards. Resisting the urge to diverge, I'd like to mention that Elder Scott's talk on receiving personal revelation was an especially meaningful part of conference to me. One part that intrigued me was his call to pay more attention to the efforts of the Lord to teach us in dreams:

Revelation can also be given in a dream when there is an almost imperceptible transition from sleep to wakefulness. If you strive to capture the content immediately, you can record great detail, but otherwise it fades rapidly. Inspired communication in the night is generally accompanied by a sacred feeling for the entire experience. The Lord uses individuals for whom we have great respect to teach us truths in a dream because we trust them and will listen to their counsel. It is the Lord doing the teaching through the Holy Ghost. However, He may in a dream make it both easier to understand and more likely to touch our hearts by teaching us through someone we love and respect.

When it is for the Lord’s purposes, He can bring anything to our remembrance. That should not weaken our determination to record impressions of the Spirit. Inspiration carefully recorded shows God that His communications are sacred to us. Recording will also enhance our ability to recall revelation. Such recording of direction of the Spirit should be protected from loss or intrusion by others.

Now dreams can be crazy, random, and troubling, especially when we have been filling our minds with troubling thoughts and images. In recalling some of the disturbing and ugly dreams that have bothered me over the years, I think that many of these can be traced to my mind dealing with troubling images and scenes of violence from movies and sometimes a video game. Yes, I have wasted a handful of hours during my mortal journey on video games. Curse you, Donkey Kong! And how much psychotherapy will it take to ease the trauma of that recurring dream, trying to escape the huge yellow teeth of Pac Man?

My experience, though, has been that when I'm trying to be focused on things that are good, dreams can be remarkable tools to change my perspective, better recognize my weaknesses, understand a decision more clearly, or sense and feel the love of God. Since the theme of overcoming materialism and helping those in need has been prominent in this Conference (haven't seen it all yet), starting with President Packer's touching accounts of dealing with beggars and the poor, I'd like to share a couple of very recent dreams I had on the topic of dealing with money.

In my first dream of a few days ago, I had just filled up my wallet with cash. It was thick. As I walked past a food court in a busy public place, I saw delicious ice cream being offered. Someone called out the price, and I said, "No trouble, I've got plenty of money." I ordered an ice cream cone and began eating it as I took out my wallet with my free hand. I brought the wallet up to my other hand to take out some money and accidentally wiped the wallet with the ice cream cone. A thick layer of soft ice cream was now on my wallet. No problem, I just stood there and began licking the wallet. Ah, delicious. Delicious, delicious money, delicious wallet. And then I awoke, disgusted and embarrassed. Could that have been me? Um, yeah, that was me in the dream, misled by the temptations of money and food.

Then the other night, another poignant dream. I was standing at an overlook of some kind, a beautiful place. A little green LED light went off on a computer behind me indicating that I had just received mail from a particular relative whom we had just sent flowers. Without opening her email, I knew what it would say and knew how the flowers would be helpful to her at a difficult time. I felt really good about the simple, easy act of giving the flowers. As I turned and looked out from the beautiful, flower-covered balcony I was standing on, there was a warm, gentle voice: "It is better to give than to receive." It filled my soul with delight and crystallized that teaching. It was suddenly so obvious, so laughably, delightfully obvious that I marveled how anybody could have missed this, how I could not have fully grasped that for so long. And then I awoke, resolving to give more and seek the Lord's inspiration more in knowing how to give wisely.

I hope by blogging about these experiences and recording them in my journal, I will be better able to retain the perspectives these dreams provided. The temptations of mortality never let up, even here in China, so it's important to renew and refresh our memory regularly. That can be aided by daily prayer and scripture study, weekly attending Church and partaking the sacrament, and, yes, regular, sound sleep so we have a chance to get meaningful dreams as part of the many ways the Lord can teach us.

By the way, both dreams were triggered by actual events. The night before the wallet dream I had extracted a thick stack of Chinese cash from an ATM and put it in my wallet. And the night of the giving flowers dream, I had gone online and sent flowers to a couple of special people in our lives. Now I recognize that dreams are a natural phenomenon (a brilliantly designed feature of the miraculous human brain--sorry, Richard Dawkins, you're not even coming close to explaining the brain as the natural outcome of random mutations and natural selection). But it's a phenomenon that I believe is open to external tweaking, to the operations of God when, perhaps only rarely, there is an appropriate opportunity to teach us something of great value. I would love to know the physics and neurochemistry behind the external tweaking: what actually has to happen for God to intervene and influence a dream or give us a thought in our sleep (or any other time)? I think no discussion here will make any sense or have any value until we understand what spirit is and what are spirits are. Some kind of matter, yes, that Joseph Smith said was "finer" than the visible matter we see. As we begin learning about matter, the concept of finer matter makes a lot of sense today. Physicists already know that we are immersed in streams of neutrinos that interact only weakly with regular matter, and have evidence suggesting that much of the universe is composed of "dark matter" and "dark energy" that we can't yet see. Is that part of the answer? There is so much, so very much, that we don't understand. Some things we think we have figured out may be ridiculously wrong when the big picture of the universe finally becomes clear. Until then, we must remain as children in our attitudes, recognizing the need for faith in God and not trust in the arm of flesh, much less the sticky wallet of flesh. Ah, there, it happened again, falling into the temptation to diverge. I suspect there's going to be a dream about that tonight.

"Having Done All, To Stand": Exposing a Self-Proclaimed "Christian"

Have you ever been fooled by someone who claimed to be Christian, only to find out later that they were part of a non-Christian cult which, because of a horrifically flawed theology, meant that they actually believed in a different Jesus? This just happened to me with a dear Christian friend, or so I thought, one whose words about Jesus seemed so Christian, whose deeds and works seemed so Christian--ah, and that was the problem. Turns out this self-proclaimed Christian was a man who, in spite of using some of the right language about grace and Christ, actually had a flawed theology focused on human works and commandment keeping, making him no more Christian than, say, that cult of self-proclaimed Christians, the Mormons. The man I'm exposing today is named Paul.

For years I, like many of my friends, thought Paul was a real Christian. Then I was jarred by reading this sentence from one of his letters: "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." Wait, he's saying that humans must be diligent and do things, doing all they can, in order to stand, as if Christians could fall from grace if they didn't do all that stuff involved with the "whole armor of God." Can that be a Christian doctrine? That sounded suspiciously like one of the most controversial, grace-denying passages of the infamous Book of Mormon: "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." (2 Nephi 25:23) There it is, that jarring combination of human works with grace and salvation, as if our works played a role in determining whether we stand or fall, or receive salvation or not.

When I read Paul's words in Ephesians 6:13 objectively for the first time, I began to see that I might be dealing with with a proto-Mormon non-Christian cultist instead of a true Christian. This was the beginning of a careful study of Paul's writings that show, in case after case, the Paul of the Bible doesn't believe in the Jesus of the Bible, but in a different Jesus, one who requires us to "do all," to be diligent, and even to wear "the whole armor of God" (including strange under-armor, perhaps?).

Paul certainly used some of the right language: "By grace are ye saved," etc. A few times, yes, he uses acceptable terminology to seem Christian. But it's a thin veneer, a light dusting of makeup over the decomposing corpse of works whose stench fills so much of his writings. How have we been blind to this for so long?

Look at the chapter where Paul's "having done all" statement comes from. Ephesians 6 begins with a call to obedience--obey is the second word--quoting some of the 10 commandments. Commandments, really? Then is a promise of blessings for obedience : "With good will doing service, ... Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord" (vs. 7-8). Verses 11-17 then deal with more impossible demands of Paul's flock, requiring them to put on the whole armor of God, spelled out in many details. These requirements for the believer point to impossibly high standards, such as those of verse 18: "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." Horrific. Simply horrific. Paul is all works, all prayer, all perseverence, all obedience, and precious little grace in this passage. It is one of many dark passages where Paul's real agenda of works is evident, in spite of a few nice-sounding passages about grace and Christ. But even when Paul talks about grace, a closer look shows that his agenda of works is often still there. That's the case in his closing verse: "Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen." Grace--not for anyone, but just to those who love the Lord in sincerity: that's Paul's code language for people who engage in the works of trying to follow Christ, of obeying commandments, of persevering, praying, and even wearing funny armor. Paul, I'm afraid, is pretty much a proto-Mormon.

Ten Reasons Paul is Not a Christian

1. Paul teaches teaches a Gospel of works in which humans must keep commandments, obey (2 Cor. 10:5), and labor (2 Cor. 5:9; Romans 2) and in which God rewards us for our deeds, not our correct beliefs (Phil. 2:12). Paul teaches another Jesus who gives "glory, honor and peace, to every man that worketh good" (Heb. 2:10, and see the whole chapter for even more shocking statements)--in total opposition to true Christianity, where glory is only for God, and human works have no bearing on our salvation.
2. Paul teaches us to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil. 2:12), while true Christians know that God does all the work and have nothing to fear because they know that their salvation is assured.
3. The other Jesus that Paul follows "commandeth all men every where to repent" (Acts 17:30), echoing the Mormon doctrine of repentance, but the Jesus of the Bible simply teaches us to believe in Him.
4. Paul claims that humans are literal offspring of God, a troubling doctrine identical to that of Mormonism. (Acts 17:28-29; Romans 8:14-16; Heb. 12:9).
5. Paul denies or fails to endorse core doctrines of the Trinity. Nowhere does he speak of the one substance of God and Christ or other key metaphysical elements of the Trinity, nor does he acknowledge and endorse any of the official creeds that define true Christian theology. Instead he teaches that Christ and God are separate Beings, always speaking of them as if they are two beings, with Christ at the right hand of God. The Jesus of Paul has a physical anthropomorphic image--he claimed to have seen him, after all--with a body, a face (2 Cor. 4:6), hands, feet, etc. Paul's other Jesus is not the same incorporeal Being as the Father, but is a distinct anthropomorphic being that can be seen, and indeed is said to be "the express image of [God's] person" who "sat down" (yes, with the bogus body that Paul's false Jesus has, one can actually sit!) on the "right hand" of God (Heb. 1: 1-4).
6. Paul teaches that man can become like God (Phil. 3:21; 2 Cor. 3:18) by obtaining a glorious, powerful, tangible body like God's. Horrific!
7. In Paul's false Gospel of Fear, Christians can fall from grace. Thus, men should be worried (see the "fear and trembling" problem above) because they can fall from grace if they quit obeying. (1 Cor. 10:12-13; Heb. 3:12-14; Heb. 4: 11). The solution, in addition to all that fear and trembling and human works, is keeping Paul's impossible commandments to "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God" (Heb. 12:14-15). Christians, of course, know that God's grace can never fail, and that's all we need. In contrast, Paul urges believers to endure in running to the end of the race and to "strive for the mastery" (I Cor. 9:24-25) rather than merely receiving grace. In Paul's warped theology, humans must endure to the end, for God's full goodness is only for those who "continue in goodness" (Romans 11:22) and remain "stedfast until the end" (Heb. 3:13-14). Frankly, he seems even more extreme and works-oriented than the Mormons!
8. Paul claims to have had visions, and in his First Vision, claims to have seen Christ. He also claims to have seen angels (and he even peered into heaven where he, like the Mormons, claims that there are multiple kingdoms or heavens!). Christians, of course, will recognize the occult and Satanic origins of such claims. Regarding the ridiculous claim of seeing Christ, Paul compounds his error by suggesting that his followers can also see God if they achieve the impossible goal of holiness. (Hebrews 12:14) Christians know that no man can see God. Further, Paul gives several contradicting versions of his First Vision with confusion in some of the details, but real Christians know that words from God will always be perfect and never cause confusion or uncertainty. In case after case, one can see common roots to Paul's heresies and Mormonism.
9. Paul attempted to add new revelations and new scripture. It is troubling enough that he had the gall to claim to have had visions and seen Christ, but to then go and pretend to be writing scripture--well, it's just too much to stomach. As Moses explained in Deut. 4:2-4, no man can add or subtract to scripture. How are so many people being fooled by this stuff? Think, people!
10. Paul speaks positively of the strange Mormon-like ritual of vicarious baptism for the dead (1 Corinthians 15:29)--a perfect example of relying on dead works instead of grace alone.

Christians can be so gullible. We may like to be nice and accepting of others, so if a friend claims to be Christian and sincerely believes in Christ, we may be tempted to believe them. But just because someone claims to believe in Christ, strives to follow and worship Christ, prays and worships in the name of Christ, and even writes a few best-selling epistles about Christ, doesn't make that person a Christian. One's status as a Christian is not determined by what's in one's heart or even by a lifetime of seemingly Christian service, worship, faith, and prayer. Rather, it is determined by application of strict theological standards applied by true Christians as they carry out their responsibility of determining who is part of the exclusive circle of Christianity. These standards are based on the norms of Historic Christianity, meaning the standard and accurate form of Christianity that was developed in a portion of northern Europe beginning in the sixteenth century and in modern times perfected by and entrusted to select evangelical circles in the United States. To disagree with even one of their pure and standard doctrines is, of course, to believe in a different Jesus. And those standards, when applied to Paul, clearly and objectively require us to see past his alleged Christianity and condemn him as a cultist, as no more Christian than any other proto-Mormon or modern Mormon could be for his Jesus is, of course, a different Jesus.

Adios, Paul. You fooled me for a while, but now you've been exposed.

Coping with Rejection and Mockery

It's not the most pleasant part of the Christian journey, but facing the jeers of the world is something we need to be prepared for. Any aspect of our faith that requires faith is one that can seem crazy to others and may elicit mockery. Sometimes it comes from fellow Christians, sometimes from people who find faith of any kind ridiculous, and sometimes from people who just enjoy causing pain. What a world of difference there is between respectful disagreement and cruel mockery. May we be cautious that our own disagreeing does not become scorn or arrogant contempt.

Photos were taken with Chinese paintings from a famous Chinese artist on display at the Hotel Baili in downtown Yangpu, a tiny little village next to a very industrial port on western Hainan Island, China.

Modesty in China, and China Photos: #17 of 18

One of the things I like about China is the tendency to be modest, especially at beeches. Here's a scene from a warm, sunny day on the beautiful island of Hainan at a beach near Haikou on the north of the island. Beach attire was remarkably modest. OK, during the summer skirts tend to be too short for my tastes, but I don't think I've ever seen a Chinese woman with a bare midriff (though when it's hot, some of the men tend to role their shirts up, so we do have a midriff problem here). Overall, I'm pretty proud of China for relatively high standards of modesty.

Here are a few more views of Hainan:

Fish therapy: this is a warm pool with lots of doctor fish that eat dead skin off feet. Shown below are a couple of feet being processed. Such a strange feeling. Made it hard not to giggle, it was so ticklish.

Marriage and Grace

Marriage in both the New and Old Testaments is a metaphor for the relationship we should have with God. His love for us is like the love of a perfect groom for his bride. The requirement for loyalty and fidelity on our part is also similar to the expectations expressed in marriage vows. Marriage, after all, is a covenant relationship, a two-way covenant. In entering into that covenant, one accepts certain limitations and exclusions in life, promising sacrifice, service, and complete loyalty, and thereby obtains great blessings and promises (especially true if you’ve managed to marry someone awesome like I did--I still can’t grasp why I should be so fortunate, but that’s another story).

Latter-day Saints believe that when God gave Eve to Adam as his wife in the Garden of Eden, that nothing was said about this being a temporary arrangement. We don’t believe that marriage in God’s eyes is intended to last for just a few weeks or years. The marriage covenant as given by God does not come with the words “till inconvenience do you part” or with those more frequently expressed but still tragic words, “till death do you part.” We believe that marriage can be forever. Yes, of course we’ve heard the verse about how marriage does not occur in heaven. There is also no baptism in heaven. These ordinances are earthly ordinances that must occur here, but both, when properly done and with the right authority, can bring lasting eternal blessings. Heaven is not a place for dating. It’s not a place for people changing their affiliation in faith or in marriage. The ordinances of change, both marriage and baptism, are both ordinances of sealing what should be a permanent relationship and must take place before one can really move forward in the glories of eternity. Thank goodness, by the way, for the blessings of the restored temple where mortals can perform baptism for the dead and other ordinances to eventually give all mankind the fair opportunity to hear and accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Those who have experienced marriage long enough may come to know of its delicacy. The love between even a very good man and a very good woman is delicate and requires nourishment, care, diligence, and ongoing sacrifice. Now that I’ve explained the LDS perspective on marriage as an eternal blessing, can you imagine the disservice an LDS leader could do if he twisted LDS doctrine to offer horrific counsel such as this:

Well, young couple, now you are married, married with God’s power, and since what God does last forever, we know that and marriage lasts forever, and so there’s nothing to worry about. No need to do anything, to exert any effort. No need to sacrifice or make any big changes in your life. Oh, sure, the changes will come naturally since you love each other, but there’s no sense trying to change anything about what you do, what you want, how you spend your time or money, etc.. God has done all the work that needs to be done in marrying you and nothing can change that. Once married, always married, you know. Now enjoy!

Returning to marriage as a metaphor for our relationship with God, the writers of the Bible understood that our covenant relationship with God, like marriage, requires loyalty and effort on our part. It requires obedience and endurance to the end. Those in the covenant relationship can fall from grace. The Bible teaches that plainly and explicitly. The covenant relationship with God, not just in the Old Testament but also in the New, requires our obedience and faithful following of God. How tragic that some teachers and pastors would in essence give advice about God that is potentially just as harmful as that hypothetical bad marriage advice.

One of the exciting things about LDS religion is the restoration of the ancient principle of covenants, even down to the level of detailed aspects of ancient biblical covenant patterns being restored beautifully (e.g., in the temple and in King Benjamin’s speech in the Book of Mormon)), patterns that were only recognized by scholar in the past century. Marriage, baptism, the LDS temple, and a knowledge of the real covenant relationship between God and man, with its implications for grace, salvation, and the tragically misunderstood role of human “works” such as obeying God and being loyal to God, are all part of this beautiful and impressive picture.

Marriage is delicate and so is our relationship to God. Just as Paul urged us to “work our your salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12), I would recommend that all you married folks work out your marriage with fear and trembling (and kindness and patience to boot) because we can fall if we are neglectful. Love can be lost. Trust can be lost. Grace can be lost. He that endures to the end, the same shall be saved. The covenant relationship of marriage likewise demands that we endure and stay faithful to the end. Then we’ll see that there isn’t really an end, but a glorious continuation.

Resources:

• Latter-day Saints and the Covenant Framework of the Gospel
• LDSFAQ: LDS Temple Ceremony: Derived from Masonry?
• The LDS Temple Ceremony at Mormon-temple-ceremony.com

Not That Simple: Book of Mormon Geography and Dating

Those with interest in either supporting or attacking the Book of Mormon using science can make a host of unintentional errors. Sometimes the errors come from misreading or misapplying the text, other times from improper understanding of complex scientific issues or other aspects of scholarship. We all like easy answers, especially ones that prove we are right, but life is often more complicated than that.

Instructive lessons about the complexities of applying science and scholarship to the Book of Mormon come from the healthy debate occurring in the LDS community on Book of Mormon geography. In particular, look at Kirk Magleby's instructive "Implications of Radiocarbon Dating for the Credibility of the Book of Mormon and the Validity of Book of Mormon Geography Models." This is a rebuttal of arguments made by Ted Dee Stoddard about radiocarbon dating in support of the Book of Mormon. Brother Stoddard has provided many valuable insights into the Book of Mormon over the years. In this case, though, there appear to be some gaps requiring revision in the approach, just as there have been major gaps in my own thinking over the years, including some of my own technical and other publications, not to mention an occasional visionary patent that looks sorely misguided today. Magleby concludes by stating that "Ted Stoddard tries to argue that C-14 dating authenticates the Grijalva-Sidon correlation and invalidates the Usumacinta-Sidon theory. It is not that simple." It rarely is.

From DNA and Book of Mormon population studies to details of geography or even the "simple" area of Arabian Peninsula locations, it's rarely a simple matter where one line of reasoning or one simple "fact" wins the day. Many details must be considered and competence in multiple fields needs to be tapped. We've come a long way, but there's still much to figure out.

Yes, of course, I am writing this with the carefully obtained witness (in other words, BIAS) that the Book of Mormon is an authentic ancient book with miraculous origins, now seeking to better understand what it means and what it is. I am not trying to use science to determine if an angel brought Joseph Smith to the golden plates he translated with the power of God. "No pre-Columbian horses, no Moroni" - I can win that argument in a flash with the simplest logic and a single factoid of evidence - or I can explore the much more complex issue of what the text says and what I should expect to find scientifically based on it.

Kudos to the Book of Mormon Archeology Forum for sharing the writings from these authors.

The 203 Effect

The photo below is an untouched image (apart from being rendered in black and white and slightly cropped) that I photographed in Boise, Idaho last year. You are looking at stairs ascending a large tank boldly labeled "203." Start at the bottom of the stairs and imagine ascending, one stair at a time. Don't rush your eyes across the image, but move methodically up the stairs, imagining how you would stand, how you would climb, how you would avoid falling. Continue until you get to the top.

Click the image to see a larger version. Do the exercise, then read on.

If you are like me and my wife, you may have been puzzled by some aspects of the image. The way things looked at first glance, and as you started your journey, might have changed along the way. Perhaps even dramatically. Perhaps you found that the logical conclusions you made as you began your upward trek were wrong, so wrong, in fact, as to be utterly upside down, completely the opposite of the reality that was in front of your nose the whole time. Perhaps it was only by looking at both the big picture and some intricate, easily missed details that you were able to properly frame the data--none of which needed to be discarded or retouched to comply with reality.

If that happened to you, then you've just experienced what I'll call the 203 Effect. The 203 Effect is part of life. It's part of growing up intellectually, spiritually, emotionally. Recognizing that assumptions we brought with us may be wrong, that paradigms we relied on to interpret the world may be completely flawed, and that easily deduced conclusions made in our rush to ascend the ladders of wisdom may leave us hanging or falling unexpectedly from what we thought was a secure perch. If you feel like you're loosing your foothold, like the security rails you thought were there are gone when you reach for them, and that everything has turned upside down on you, stay calm. Hold on, reevaluate, challenge lazy assumptions and look with new eyes to see how things fit together, learn how others have made the trek safely, and continue your journey upwards. There's no need to fall into despair.

Now of course this argument can be turned to many directions, as you wish. Here on this blog, I'm applying it, for example, to the good Christian who grew up "knowing" that Mormons were a cult and couldn't possibly even be considered Christian. Upside down! The argument can also apply to LDS folks who always thought the Book of Mormon described ALL ancient migrations to the Americas and covered the whole hemisphere in its scope, or to those who grew up thinking that prophets were nearly perfect or that we Mormons had all the answers. There's a lot of fallible humanity and human limitations mixed in with the revealed aspects of our religion. On the other hand, the argument especially applies to those who have things upside down because they see only the human weaknesses of individuals in the Church and miss that majesty and order of the divine structure that has been restored to earth that can lift and bless our lives more than any mortal remedy. You may be so focused on the rust and the shadows that you miss the beauty of the stairs.

From a Secret Balcony in Shanghai: A Sense of Despair from the Overwhelming Beauty

Yesterday I discovered a balcony on the crazy massive produce market hidden on the 2nd floor of a building next to us. I had missed it for my first few months here because the entrance is an unmarked stairway that looks like it just goes into apartments. My wife discovered the sprawling, bustling, densely packed produce market, my favorite place to get fresh veggies and even meat. Yesterday, though, I finally discovered the balconies at the rear of the market that overlook a street just around the corner from us. As I stepped out and looked, I had a sense of despair as I saw a completely new and beautiful view of a complex, bustling, packed market on the street below, a huge market scene that I had missed before.

The afternoon sun was perfect, the colors bold, the people so beautiful and varied, and the fresh fish, noodles, bullfrogs, spinning pancake wheels, butchers, sugarcane hackers, and shouting produce vendors on the street created too much wonder for one lens, one mind, or even one lifetime to explore. How dazzling that street was, what a gem old Shanghai is, and how great it must be for God to see and comprehend it all. How glad I am that Somebody is doing that, for no mortal can fully taste all this splendor. And if it were being missed, that would be such a shame.

A few photos to follow when I catch my breath....

Join Our Global Tribe!

"Mormons Called Emerging Economic Tribe" is an old story about Joel Kotkin's notable book Tribes: How Race, Religion and Family Determine Success in the New Global Economy. Kotkins discussing new emerging economic tribes including Jews, the Chinese, the Japanese, the British and the Indians. But he also identifies the Mormons as having the characteristics of a global tribe.

One thing about the global Mormon tribe that deserves special emphasis, though, is the high level of trust that exists in the network. At dinner the other night, I was gathered with a number of fellow tribe members. The discussion of Mormons as a tribe came up and people were observing how remarkable it is to outsiders that we can move to a new city, find out who the local Young Women's leader is, and instantly get a recommendation from this stranger for a baby sitter that can be trusted. What I find remarkable and wonderful is that I can travel to a new part of the world, find the Church, and instantly have people that treat me like friends, and who will gladly help me figure out how to get around and survive. And what I really like is just how fun those crazy Mormons are. Some people are surprised at how much fun people can have getting together without liquor, just socializing or sharing talents (ward talent shows--usually a riot) or joining together in community service. Such a great tribe.

You'll be surprised at how diverse this tribe is. A few minutes with the Mormons of Shanghai, for example, will shatter many stereotypes. What an incredible group of people we have here from so many cultures and countries. I just checked our roster, and it turns out we still have openings in our tribe. Come join us!

Drifting Away with the Book of Mormon

Google has a cool service for reading old newspapers at http://news.google.com/newspapers. Here's an example I found by searching for Book of Mormon articles. It's an interesting story from the Montreal Gazette in 1958 about some enthusiastic Mormons who put their lives at risk to see if a raft could drift from California to Hawaii. They succeeded, eventually, which proves, uh, that the Book of Mormon, um, or that Lehi, or maybe Hagoth, or um, well, I'm not quite sure what, maybe that ancient Nephites could have drifted away from California if they weren't careful. But I'm glad they survived. What I find especially interesting is how the Book of Mormon is summarized. Lehi, according to the journalist, used the drifting method to take the lost tribes of Israel from the Red Sea to Central America. Pretty close, except for the drifting (not necessarily drifting: the use of the Liahona on the vessel implies directional control), the Red Sea (they never set foot in that body of water as far as we know, and depart from the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula), and the lost tribes (the lost tribes were lost before Lehi's day and he wasn't leading them anywhere, though he was part of the House of Israel himself, a descendant of Joseph). I'll give the article a B+ for fewer errors than average in Book of Mormon coverage. Yes, I've got low standards (when it comes to expectations of journalists, that is).

I do understand the desire to demonstrate that ancient transoceanic voyages were possible. There really is quite an interesting story about the intrepid Book of Mormon fan, Devere Baker, who sacrificed so much to demonstrate that ancient transoceanic voyages might be possible. See "DeVere Baker and his Ocean Rafts" by Warren Aston. In this regard, Thor Heyerdahl's gutsy work with the Kon-Tiki expedition deserves attention. I'm not sure I grasp what Baker's later work demonstrated beyond Heyerdahl's, so if you're more familiar with the story than I am, please let me know.