My Bloggernacle Honeymoon is Over

My bloggernacle honeymoon is over, and I find myself wondering if I have made the right choice in participating here. But just because the honeymoon is over, it does not necessarily mean I want a divorce. But I find myself evaluating the choice that I made.

I do not think I am feeling sorry for myself, and I am not using this to fish for any flattery or compliments. I am simply wanting to asses the value of this experience overall. There have been a few individuals express a similar feeling in recent days which has caused me to think about this even more. I imagine this happens quite often on the bloggernacle, with new 'converts' considering going 'inactive' after only a few weeks or months. I hope this does not cause to many to roll there eyes saying 'not again'. Judging by the mammoth amount of comments my posts usually generate I imagine the sound of crickets in the distance being the most likely result. Again I don't think I am feeling sorry for myself, just evaluating.

I first sought out 'mormon doctrine discussion' on a yahoo search, and after sorting through a lot of anti stuff came across the New Cool Thang. I did this search because I was bored with the church curriculum, the Ensign, and most conference talks. I did not disagree with anything I heard, I just wanted to think a little more deeply about the gospel than I was. Reading some of GeoffJ's stuff really got me excited. This lead me to the MA. I found out that a friend of mine in my home ward cruised the bloggernacle as 'The Narrator' and had a blog called Traveling Shoes. He showed me how easy it was to start your own blog on blogger.com. I made a few posts and requested to be included on the MA. To my great surprise I was accepted. That day was one of the most exciting days I have had for years. I really thought I had made it! It makes me chuckle a little thinking about it.

In comparison to most of the members in my home ward I thought of myself as a bit of a liberal loose cannon, and I looked forward to a more open discussion of doctrinal topics. Imagine my surprise when after a while I found that compared with many on the bloggernacle I am a very strict, conservative, by-the-book guy. Instead of making wild speculative posts, I found myself making safe, simple, feel-good posts. Probably a little like a poorly written Ensign article. Or maybe more likely the New Era or Children's Friend :). Perhaps every bit as boring as what I thought I was trying to get away from.

I feel that I have benefited from my involvement here. This experience has turned me to the scriptures, and prayer, and thought more than I had in the past. But often in an indirect way. At times it was to counteract the posts and comments I came across, not inspired by them. Often my testimony was strengthened because of what I viewed as obvious 'wrongs' expressed on the bloggernacle that I felt I knew were 'wrong'. I sometimes like reading anti-Mormon stuff because it is usually so lame that it strengthens my testimony.

This is not to say that there are not positive and valuable posts and comments here. There have been times when I have been inspired, and uplifted, and improved by what I have read. Unfortunately these times are more rare than I would like. And I wonder if the time spent sorting through the rest is worth it.

I also wonder about the value of my contribution. I feel a little like an island in an archipelago that perhaps doesn't need much of a name. And that my value here could be measured by the amount that the ocean rises when I make a fist and stick it in. And that if I were to close up shop, the level that the water lowers when I remove my fist from the ocean would roughly be how much I would be missed. Again, I am not shedding any tears here, just trying to evaluate the value of my contribution that I esteem as slight. I sometimes flatter myself to think that perhaps the MA needs as many 'true believers' as it can get to provide a balance. But if what members wanted was simple 'true believer' stuff they could get that from the Ensign. Why would they come here? Perhaps for an interactive version? I don't know.

I am seeking inspiration, understanding, enlightenment, self-improvement and ultimately eternal life. I am a true believer in the Church. Would a person like me be better off spending their spare time somewhere else? Is there more value at the bloggernacle than I am giving it credit for? Have I done any good in the cyber-world today? Is there ways to make my experience here more worthwhile?

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The Spirit World, Our Next Home

I was doing a little studying about the Spirit World and come upon an outstanding article by someone named Dale C. Mouritsen. It comes from the January 1977 Ensign and can be seen here. Why do we not have this kind of stuff in the Ensign today? Maybe we do and I don't notice. The article is 7 pages long and for those who don't want to read the entire thing, or would like an opportunity to comment on the article I would like to provide a small and simple review of the highlights.

There is a quote from Joseph Smith that says that saints should study about life and death 'more than any other subject' and that 'if we have any claim on Heavenly Father for anything, it is for knowledge on this important subject.' (Teachings p. 324)

There are several after death experiences repeated in this article. These experiences were reported by modern day prophets and apostles and their families and provide some interesting perspective. One of the experiences comes from Heber J. Grant. He apparently had a wife die, and then later had two sons die. Prior to his second sons death he had a dream about his wife returning with a messenger to take the son to the spirit world. Just prior to the boys death he and his then current wife felt the presence of the mother of this boy and were greatly comforted . This brings comfort to me as well. I often wonder about going to the spirit world and wondering where to go and what to do. This article let me know that there will be people waiting for us, and that there will be much good to do when we get there.

The article provides a great scriptural reference for the spirit world of Alma 40:11-13.

It appears that the primary work done in the spirit world may be missionary work. The spirit world is referred to as a prison for some. This article states that it is chiefly a place of learning and waiting. Presided Lorenzo Snow made what I find a thrilling statement regarding the Spirit World. He believed 'that when the gospel is preached to the spirits in prison, the success attending that preaching will be far greater than that attending the preaching of our Elders in this life. I believe there will be a very few indeed of those spirits who will not gladly receive the Gospel when it is carried to them. The circumstances there will be a thousand times more favorable.' (Millennial Star 56:50) I greatly look forward to this. I sometimes believe that our Heavenly Father will win his battle with Satan not just on principle but in numbers as well. I hope this is true.

In terms of location, Joseph Smith taught that the spirit world is very close to us. (Teachings p. 326) Brigham Young taught that the spirit world is on this earth (Discourses p. 376)

Ella Jensen visited the spirit world and was then raised from the dead by Lorenzo Snow. She recalled that 'Some [spirits] inquired about their friends and relatives on the earth. Among the number was my cousin. He asked me how the folks were getting along and said it grieved him to hear that some of the boys were using tobacco, liquor and many things that were injurious to them.'. (Improvement Era, October 1929, p.974) Joseph F. Smith said 'Indeed our deceased loved ones are greatly concerned about our well-being and happiness and can be appointed, when there is a need, to bring messages of warning, reproof, or instruction to us'. (Gospel Doctrine, p.436) I have felt that this is the case for our ancestors having an interest in us. It appears that the veil works both ways, but can be open according to the will of God. Perhaps there is also a perfecting the saints work going on in the spirit world as well, including mortal saints here.

Apparently there are no infants in the spirit world. All who reside there are in adult form as men and women.

Some worry about children who die but do not get sealed to anyone in the temple. But it appears that normal relationships that can lead to eternal marriage and sealing are part of 'life' in the spirit world. Melvin J. Ballard made this amazing observation:

'You mothers worry about you little children who have died. We do not perform sealing for them. I lost a son six years of age, and I saw him a man in the spirit world after his death, and I saw how he had exercised his own freedom of choice and would obtain of his own will and volition a companionship ...' (Sermons and Missionary Service of Melvin J. Ballard, p.260). I have not thought much about this previously, but it certainly makes sense. It seems to me that the preexistence, mortal life, and the spirit world constitute what may be a continuous probation.

Wilford Woodruff raised his wife Phoebe from the dead and reported this:

'her spirit left her body, and she saw it lying upon the bed, and the sisters weeping..... two messengers came into the room...One of the messengers informed her that she could have her choice: she might go to rest in the spirit world, or, .... she could have the privilege of returning to her tabernacle and continuing her labors upon the earth. .... At the moment that decision was made the power of faith rested upon me, and I administered unto her, her spirit entered her tabernacle...(Leaves From My Journal, 1909, pp.59-60).

I was very excited to read such an outstanding article, and I highly recommend it for anyone who seeks a greater understanding of the spirit world. I would be glad to read your comments.

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The Game Works

I want to brag about my wife a little bit.

My second son (age 9) got a computer game for Christmas that he just loves. The other day it stopped working and gave some ‘fatal error’ every time he tried to play it. He asked me if I could fix it without loosing any of his saved games. I fiddled with it a bit but thought the only way to fix the problem was to uninstall and re-install, so I put off doing it.

The next day my wife, who is not very computer literate, put in the CD and started looking at the files on the CD. She saw an exe file and decided to click it. Doing this caused the exe file to re-install itself. This fixed the problem and my son’s games were still saved. This is something that normally my wife would never ever even consider doing.

When my son got home from school my wife told him that she fixed the game. His eyes lit up and he said that he had prayed and prayed really hard that his game would be fixed when he got home from school.

This little computer game is not very important, and in some ways he may have been better off having a break from it. But getting an answer to a sincere prayer was important. I am grateful to a boy who believes in prayer, I’m grateful for a wife who I believe was influenced by the spirit, and I am grateful for a loving Father in Heaven who can help even with very small and simple things.

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The OT - still valid after all of these years

An author at another site asked a question on one of his posts requesting scriptural evidence on a topic but did not want anything from the law of Moses. I would assume that this would include any scriptures that would date prior to the crucifixion. Bad assumption? This would throw out the entire Old Testament, the PofGP and most of the BoM. Why would we neglect these books of scripture? Are they invalid? As Paul might say - God forbid.

When it comes to principles and beliefs, I feel that if something was right and good in the OT then it is still right and good today. If something is wrong and evil in the OT then it is still wrong and evil today. The commandments are still the commandments. Certainly much of the rituals that were performed and the punishments have been changed, but truth is still truth regardless of its source.

With the Old Testament being the book of study this year in Sunday School, this is a timely question - Is the Old Testament still a valid book of scripture? I would say the answer should be a firm yes. And if we are seeking scriptural support for our beliefs we should include references in the Old Testament with all the other scriptural sources.

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Family Home Evening: Plan of Salvation

This past week in Sunday school classes for the youth we discussed the Plan of Salvation. It reminded me of an important family home evening my family had when I was a boy.

I was about 14 years old, and was just getting old enough to start understanding some things, but still young enough to listen. My father was teaching us the Plan of Salvation with the similar circles and stick figures that we typically see. When he was done he asked me what I thought about the whole thing. I replied that I would probably end up in the Terrestrial Kingdom.

He asked why I thought that and I replied that I didn’t think I could ever be good enough to be in the Celestial Kingdom, but was probably not bad enough to end up in the Telestial. He took a few moments to teach me a few things. During this he referred to a scripture in the D&C. I do not remember for certain but I believe it was this one:

And as many as repent and are baptized in my name, which is Jesus Christ, and endure to the end, the same shall be saved. (D&C 18:22)

That night my father convinced a simple young man who was struggling with some self-esteem issues that he could return to live with God. That eternal life was well within my reach. I believe this was one of the shining moments of my father’s life, and may have made an eternal difference in mine.

To anyone who might read this simple blog, I hope you can feel that eternal life is within your reach. I am certain that it is. Through the atonement of Jesus Christ we can inherit all that the Father hath. If I don’t meet you before, perhaps we can meet there. I look forward with hope to that time.

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Judge Not

I have a sister who decided to serve a mission several years ago. Her mission call was to Spain which is exactly where she would have chosen to go. Unfortunately there were problems with her Visa and she was sent to Mexico City instead. I was very pleased with her decision to serve a mission. I felt that she had some good teaching talent and a good testimony as well. She was very quiet and introverted and I thought the experience of going on a mission would be great for her.

A few months into her mission she started having some problems. She went to a doctor who misdiagnosed her problems as depression. The medication she was given made things worse and she ended up coming home from her mission early. When she got home she was able to get the help she needed. What she was experiencing was panic attacks. Through some proper medication and coping techniques she was able to get on in life quite well. She graduated from college, got married, had kids, and seems to be doing quite well. I am sincerely happy for her.

At the time she came home (I had previously served a mission) I wondered how she could have let this end her mission. I questioned her toughness, testimony, motivation, etc. I kept these feelings to myself. I wanted to be supportive but did not know what to say or how to say it so I basically kept my mouth shut. If you can’t say something nice….

Now for the rest of the story.

A few years later I was a senior in college. It was one of the most stressful times of my life. We had our first child – stress (stress was not the child’s name of course). I had finals coming up – stress. I had a senior engineering design project that wasn’t going well – stress. I had no job lined up after graduation – stress. And on, and on. Then I started having problems.

When I got in stressful, social situations, and sometimes at random, I would become convinced that I was going to be sick to my stomach. These feelings were so strong and real that I would run for the nearest garbage can or restroom. This even happened during an important college exam. It started ruining my life, and I felt that if something wasn’t done that I may not be able to finish school or be a good provider for my family.

So I went to a doctor who thought I had an ulcer and gave me ulcer medication which didn’t help. I went to another doctor who gave me pills that he gives to women with morning sickness which didn’t help. I eventually began to wonder if perhaps I was having the same type of problem that my sister had, so I went to the psychological services center at the University of Idaho. It was one of the hardest appointments I ever had to make.

I was diagnosed with panic attacks, and with some coping strategies I was able to get along pretty well. But it brought new meaning to the idea of judge not, that ye be not judged. The very thing that I had judged negatively for my sister’s experience had happened to me. No matter how smart you think you are, or how well in tune you think you are to human nature, you do not know what it is like to be someone else. What possible criteria do we think we have to pass judgment on anyone?

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Best Chapter in Scripture? 2 Nephi 2

My favorite chapter in all of scripture so far is 2 Nephi 2. I first started considering this chapter as my favorite when Hartman Rector Jr. (remember him?) came to my mission and spoke. He opened up some time for questions and an Elder asked him what his favorite chapter in the scriptures was and without hesitation Elder Rector gave 2 Nephi 2 as his favorite. He also said that many general authorities would feel the same way. Since that time I have read this chapter several times and have convinced myself that this may indeed be the best chapter in the scriptures. I would like to provide a small and simple review.

This chapter appears to be a final conversation, and perhaps even a fathers blessing, from Lehi to his son Jacob. As such I believe there is a special feeling associated with this chapter.

We learn that Jacob must have been a visionary man, much like his father since Jacob had visions and had seen Christ in his youth.

This chapter has great explanations regarding the atonement of Jesus Christ, and supports the idea that a significant part of the atonement was to allow Christ to provide a perfect judgment (see verses 6-10 and here.).

This is the chapter that explains the law of opposites, and that there must be opposition in all things. How often have we heard that idea stated? This law of opposites provides a fairly compelling argument for the existence of God. And also provides some of the logical conclusions that must be drawn if one believes that there is not a God.

This is also a great chapter on establishing free agency as an eternal truth with great statements like ‘free to act for themselves and not be acted upon’. GeoffJ at the Thang quotes this quite a bit I would not be surprised if he would rank this chapter among the best as well.

I like the wording of verse 17 where it seems that Lehi is making a logical speculation about the fall of Satan. Would this concept have been in the brass plates? Or was Lehi making a speculation that turned out right?

We get some of the best and most clear doctrine regarding the fall of Adam in this chapter in verses 18-25 with the often quoted phrase – Adam fell that man might be, and men are that they might have joy. Again a frequently quoted verse.

Lehi ends this with a statement that lets us know that he was purely motivated since he had no other object except for the welfare of your souls. I think the same could be said of all prophets.

To me this is pretty compelling evidence that 2 Nephi 2 has to be considered among the best chapters in all of scripture.

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