Of Revelations and Life

A few days after my latest blogpost I encountered a bit of self-reproach, or was it anxiety. At any rate, it was some further thinking. Unlike most of my tomes (?) which garner considerable responses and some good conversation, this one showed many hits, yet minimal responses. That became reason for this ... reflection. I always instruct myself to write only from my genuine self, and before pressing ‘publish’ the reminder from Shakespeare’s famous line, “to thine own self be true.”[i] I need to be able to live with what has appeared. Within these parameters I allow myself to “say things as I sees em.”😏 This time, had I offended, or even worse in my perfectionist brain, perhaps been unclear in what I was getting at? [One friend, a magazine editor, actually told me so]. It has become clear to me that this was a large subject, very large actually, and somewhat new territory for many. Therefore it's probably appropriate, perhaps even important, to just press on! I am within my parameters and fascinated with topic at hand, enough to dig into it a little more! Also I must say, one of the responders, namely my cheerful learned younger brother, provided some good information plus his ever encouraging perspective, a welcome gift to this old preacher. Hang on folks, there’s a little more on that incendiary topic of Mormonism!

I believe in knowledge. I also believe in wisdom. A humble pursuit of knowledge can be an excellent contribution to wisdom, usually over a bit of time. My brother, whom I cited among the clowns in a recent article, [ii] also contributes to the wisdom column. He does a huge amount of reading, sometimes at night, in his adventurous activist life in Colorado. I will share a few of his quotes as we move along here. 

Mormonism is not the all-inclusive name. Although the referent name in most casual talk, I have become aware that my local Latter Day Saints neighbors cringe a bit if I use that term in conversation. Apparently it’s a colloquialism, almost a slang word. My brother says there is disagreement among LDSers on that, including some denominational alignment/realignment based on use of that term! That is something they have in common with all of Christendom, thousands of mainline and reformed and reorganized denominations all over the world!

Regarding origin, why not quote from my brother. I smile because I know his style will make this piece interesting, possibly even a little entertaining (usually he’s too busy formulating thoughts about subject at hand to bother with capitalization). 😉“they continue to track their origin to sir joseph smith w. unfeigning sincerity.  smith evidently had his first revelation of 1820 in or near palmyra, n.y., where god & jesus christ visited him, w. golden plates. part of this experience (further visions, w. 5 of his friends?) may also have been in fayette, n.y.  anyway, this visit was the 'first vision', as it's often referred to. it began a series of events that would restore jesus's church to the earth.[iii] This information, although not new to me, still comes as a surprise because we have never yet spoken about this! I enjoy his familiarity with so many things. Mormon beginnings are right in there among the Jews, Muslims and Christians. Yes, it's Old Testament plus some additional visioning to a teenaged American boy named Joseph Smith, requiring a move across the ocean and into the middle of the United States. The Bible’s message, of course, is for everyone everywhere, indeed all continents. This is the New Testament's "go ye" mandate of Jesus after he was arisen from the dead (Matthew 28:19-20). To revisualize this as an Old Testament prophecy is premature, and in my mind rather aggressive. But what can be done after a vision has been seen! 😏 Anyway, my brother's email goes on, ...by 1831 joseph led his crew to live temporarily in kirtland, ohio (enroute further west, tho they called it east). i think it was here that hebr. prophet isaiah's vision of ca. 3000 yr ago, was confirmed by the joseph team as proof of god's preordained time to brand utah as the holy land.  here was 'the place' as next leader, brigham young (following joseph's death in 1844) stated it, where salt lake city would serve as the apocalyptic new jerusalem and Utah's Jordan river would serve as the reestablished palestinian jordan river and its flow into the salty waters of sea of galilee.  these and many other geographic construals had to do w. the forging of peace in today's palestine, as necessary prep. for return of messiah.[iv]

Two things happening here. On the one hand, my brother pushes the absurdity button, quite alongside most Bible-believing Christians. The LDS origin, purporting to be back there in the Old Testament, includes a movement of holy writ to another continent. The Isaiah 53 savior promise is one thing; but to present this as a latter-day transference (construal?) of Jesus to a new Palestine in Utah is a presumption akin to rewriting of history (not unknown in some other countries, including present day Russia, Canada and U.S. Just ask the Indigenous)! Both Old and New Testaments warn against adding to or taking away from the scriptures (e.g. Deuteronomy 4:2, Revelation 22:18). That is likely the reason why Bible scholars and even my early Bible school education places the Mormons squarely among the cults! Much further information is available in libraries everywhere for anyone interested to dig into this interesting topic![v]

On the other hand, there is a futuristic ingredient in these revelations which provide a positive intrigue, especially these days as the world contorts itself in warfare of apocalyptic proportion right back there in the near east, the land of the three monotheistic religions, each believing in that one God. Of note is the Latter Day Saints’ reference to forging of peace in today’s Palestine (Utah? Middle East?), as a necessary preparation for the return of Jesus. No matter how one understands that interpretation, the possibility of peace would be a wonderful answer to the prayers of many! Pacifism, however, seems not in their playbook. In fact their trek from New York to Utah reads like script for a wild west movie, especially the arrest and murder of Joseph Smith in Carthage, Illinois. Furthermore, military and/or missionary service are apparent expectations for their young people as they grow up. These family expectations and their rugged entry into the U.S. may explain why peace churches and genuine pacifists are confused about seemingly contradictory teachings and practice. Surface impression is that Latter Day Saints are big players in the U.S. God and country military mindset along with the evangelical right. 

Obviously this is further grist for the mill. Also I acknowledge I am not fully informed about topic at hand. Further theology and discipleship conversation is needed - including nurture of relationships! What better way to nurture relationships than to be neighborly in the very communities we live in? My LDS neighbors are at forefront of local service projects. Further, the local LDS Bishop is full participant in some honorable dialogue among members of our Calgary Interfaith Council, which includes Indigenous and Colonial Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, B’hai, Sikh - apparently some stressful recent meetings for obvious reasons, and yet a positive contribution to municipal political environment in this city.[vi]

I cannot but conclude with a concern, this directed not only to my Mormon friends, but also to fellow Mennonites and many other Christians. As a believer within the Peace Churches tradition, I say, “if the LDS claim their church is prerequisite to peace in Palestine and of Jesus’ return to earth, would it not be appropriate for them to be practising pacifists?"  And this also!  Why is it that Christians of all stripes, including us peace-churchers, especially our executives, the journalists and media experts, are more conversant in sound bites, in Zionist prophecies or military strategies, along with coffee-shop or watering-hole politician critiques, than in the teachings and the suffering love of Jesus the Messiah and Savior? Indeed Jesus has promised his return, the day and the hour we do not know (Acts 1:7). There is no biblical requirement to first be on membership role in the LDS church or any other church for that matter, but there is a mandate for followers of Jesus to be peacemakers in this broken world. Would that all people regardless of rank or church affiliation (or non-affiliation) might act on what they know in their heart. 

In conclusion I repeat the same scripture text as at end of my last post, and one more for anyone who realizes it's time to get on board with the faith pilgrimage. I present them both in the King James Version, the received and preferred version for the Latter Day Saints.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6).

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:20).

 

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[i] Hamlet, Act I, scene 3.

[ii] 2023, November 22, “Redemptive Clowns”, jcfroomthoughts.blogspot.com.

[iii] Peter Sprunger Froese, “email message,” February 17, 2024.

[iv] Ibid.

[v] One fascinating read with comedic storyline is Avi Steinberg, The Lost Book of Mormon: A Journey through the Mythic Lands of Nephi, Zarahemla, & Kansas City, Missouri (New York: Doubleday, 2014). See also a riveting nonfiction by Alex Beam, American Crucifixion (New York: Public Affairs, 2014).

[vi] Sarah Arthurs, “Our Shared Voice During This Time of Conflict,” https://www.calgaryinterfaithcouncil.org, March 5, 2024.

Train Up a Child

“Could we have a little conversation with you?” This was the greeting of two young ladies approaching the people beside me waiting for next Commuter Train. Not at all conversant in English, nor much interested in this forward approach, these people exercised their right to bad manners and just walked away! I was next, perhaps because of a friendlier look on my face.  “Hi could we have a few words with you?” “Certainly,” was my reply; then asked if I might have first question, "Are you Jehovah’s Witnesses?” Along with name tags it was quickly clarified, “No, we're from Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.” “Oh, I have some friends right here in this neighborhood who are LDS.” I could tell by look in their eyes this was a good twist for them. In short order a brief conversation ensued, but short circuited by my C-Train arriving. As I took my seat in the train car I was glad for the positive connect with these well-meaning young people. From this Calgarian they had heard a word of appreciation for ‘their people’ coordinating and doing most of the service projects in our community. It was brief and it was pleasant.

I am becoming increasingly acquainted with the LDS church. Many years ago I ‘studied’ them in Bible School in a class entitled ‘Cults’, and over the years have learned considerably more, either by rumor or by personal relationships. The rumors are usually gossipy and the relationships are stellar! During my years of college and seminary I became engrained in biblical, historical and practical education and that became the focus in my ministry of pastoral leadership among ‘my people’ always aware of 'those people' same as a considerable populace of others who kind of fade into the background while one is tending the local scenes. 😔 As fate would have had it (providence?) due to some health issues, the last twenty years of my working life were spent as a long haul trucker on the highways and byways of Canada and U.S. I testify this was a furthering of friendships and neighborliness among all of those ‘others’ - no holds barred, including an occasional graffiti “Welcome back elder ---” painted on barns beside the I-15 traveling through Utah. My thinker is on and my spirit open, probably reason for my hospitality to the young missionary ladies bothering C-Train passengers here in my city.

A few weeks ago, in a discussion about some of today’s societal trends, I heard from one of the participants about a recent study which indicates today's young people are interested in faith but not the church. The reason, I heard, is because they see no evidence of living faith among their parents or others even if involved in church leadership – no heroes of the faith, if you will. Ouch! This is us. Our actions have been speaking more loudly than our words. Lack of attentiveness to our children because we have been busy with careers and livelihoods, to the extent that we have not tended well  to our carefully planned nests of two or three! Interesting, I grew up in a family of twelve and my parents paid lots of attention to us (There is some opinion among my siblings about that. Apparently this eldest son asked so many questions and had so many opinions that he commanded a little more than his share 😏)! Actually in farm families attention was more than talk. It included chores with ‘jobs’ doled out to each one of us. And we also got play, lots of it, both on our farmyard and at school, but always after the work was done. Even some evening extracurricular was allowed once we were endowed with a driver’s license and in good enough grace to borrow the pickup truck! The reason for this adequate attention was not because of many heart to heart conversations, but because we knew ourselves to be essential in the mode operandi of our farming operation. Maybe it was child labor, but we didn't even know what that was! Each of us was a part of the package.

This was how we baby-boomers grew up, and now growing old. Because of our parents’ post-war diligence, many of us had the good fortune to grow up in large families occupied with purposeful things. Work, play, religion all included as post-war institutions were thriving along with a lifestyle that might be labeled as healthy, along with learning about a colonial God who became increasingly optional as the good life developed. Even as some of us (eg Mennonites, Doukhobors, French Canadian Catholics) still grew up in large families, in urbanizing society the greater need became daycare and after-school supervision while parents were doing the careers. Oh yes, as the good life improved there were also better schools of choice, either Christian or charter. Regardless of tradition or faith allegiances, most career parents by now are ‘driving hockey’ (as the commercial says) with competitions, dance or sport, being the priority weekend activity. 

The irony here is that our children are no longer the workforce, not even around the house. They are now the consumers of extra work for their parents. Parents are now required to be experts in pre-adolescence and adolescent and teenage mood swings, including emergency housing when their young adults have employment problems. Back in Saskatchewan each weekday morning we would run to the road to catch the school bus after doing our allotted farm chores, breakfast wolfed down and lunches packed. Today it remains for parents to deal with whoever did not get up on time, to drive the errant one to school. In my day, if there was a slowpoke, he or she would stay home for the day, help out with extra work, and make sure next morning you got your act together! There are exceptions of course to these generalizations  – some incredible parenting even among today’s good lifers, and also some very shoddy farm management back there! It is within this generational change, however, and even as I acknowledge lots of exceptions, some unique ‘institutional’ observations can be made.

Back to the C-Train missionaries. These two young ladies hailed from the U.S., one from Utah and the other from Arizona, if I remember correctly, duly assigned to ‘intercept’ people in this Canadian city. It is their responsibility as members of the LDS church. These missionary assignments are in locales other than where they grew up, obviously to provide occasion of learning church protocol from supervisors other than parents, and to practise the church 'lines' - rote learning if you will. It is a transition from the home base to places all over the world where these faith communities are located (Recent Conference report indicates 20 new temples worldwide scheduled for construction in 2024). I am fascinated by a faith community which demonstrates both the teaching (didache) and the experience, absolutely essential for Spirit and Body to be in tune. 

My hunch is that Mormonism is an antidote to some of the societal trends described above, which may be why family togetherness is priority in their assemblies and homes. In that environment the high school teenager is being prepared for the important assignment coming after graduation. It comes after baptism and confession of faith (in that order). It reminds me of certain patterns also in our Mennonite communities. Not quite as per ecclesial requirement, but among devout church members there is an understanding that one or two years after graduation would be best spent in a Bible Institute or College – this is usually talked up and supported in families and social groupings of similar mindset, in hopes of course to provide a solid base for further career choices and education thereafter. [Albeit some of these education excursions nowadays are fairly high-end fully funded by well-to-do moms and dads!]

Two scriptures come to mind; similar topic, but with kind of an opposite tug.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6 KJV).

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God (Luke 18:16 KJV).  

[One little aside. I have chosen the King James Version here with a little smile. For reasons not clear to me, the KJV is ‘sacred text’ among all LDS, perhaps because of 'revealed' similarity to Book of Mormon. Another topic! 😉] Back to topic at hand. "Train up a child" in Proverbs we have that proverbial acceptable wisdom similar to sentiments I have noted above. Luke’s New Testament rendition gives us the 'also requirement' - the loving tone of Jesus rebuking his own disciples for shushing the children. His words are eternally heartwarming. Both texts are overwhelmingly true. There is need for training and instructions, and there is need for the mystery of love -  much room for holy pause here.

I am reminded of a good friend – my cousin actually – recently retired after spending most of his lifetime as an international teacher and latter years as executive director of Mennonite Central Committee Alberta, a worldwide service agency. In a recent blogpost, [i] somewhat unlike his many other posts pontificating about everything else under the sun, he writes about his five-year-old granddaughter Sierra. In a mass observance in their neighboring  Catholic church, and at invitation of the presiding priest, along with many others she was ‘invited’ to deliver her toonie offering up to a box in front of the church. After depositing her coin, she returned to her grandparents, face beaming with sheer joy and pleasure at having done so important a job!

Training up children is indeed a rich combination of learning responsibilities, of participating in family, including family jobs and values. Children need to know the faith claims of their parents. We have reason to think long and hard about that! Training up children also includes the possibility of faith or unfaith coming in strange and wondrous ways. It includes divine possibilities such as the Sierra moments of little children and important things like serving as teenage missionaries on behalf of self? parents? church? or on behalf of Jesus Christ, the one who is available among us all “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

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[i] Janzen, Abe (2024, February 13). “Keeping the Devil in the Hole,” Some Messy Notes. https://wordpress.com.