At work the other night, a coworker and I were discussing our families--specifically, relationships that are strained because of some unspoken barrier. She was using the example of her grandfather, who tended to neglect his family because of the influence of his second wife. I used the example of my parents, whose interactions with me have been awkward over the past few years because I left the church. She'd heard that I was Mormon before but we'd never directly discussed it. Because it was the first time we'd talked about it, her curiosity got the best of her.
"So," she asked, "Does your dad have more than one wife?"
Friday, April 13, 2012
Sunday, April 8, 2012
2 Nephi 2: Predicting Distopia
The dying patriarch of the family continues to share his parting words, preaching important doctrines to his sons.
The Millennium is Going to be Really Lame
Among these doctrines is the claim that "it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things" (verse 11) and that without sin and misery we can't experience goodness and joy (verse 23). Which begs the question...how lame will Christ's Millennial reign be?
The Devil will be locked up, so nobody can sin, and it's supposed to be this perfect, utopian society for a while. But that means nobody will be happy and nobody will really be good because there won't be any sin or misery. So that means...Christ is going to reign over the blandest, boringest, most unremarkable period of human history. Oddly enough, I was never taught that.
But that's what it says, right there in the scriptures. All I'm doing is putting all the pieces together.
The Purpose of Our Existence
Of course he wants to send his children out to face the world armed with a positive outlook.
But if the reason the Mormon god created people was to make them happy, he's certainly not doing a great job of it--even assuming that the happiness is meant to be the eternal, afterlife kind and not necessarily the lifetime, "second estate" kind. Considering his habit of cursing people for generations following the offense and then keeping the priesthood from an entire race, limiting them from reaching the highest degree of glory in the afterlife, it looks like a whole bunch of his precious souls are slipping through his fingers.
The Millennium is Going to be Really Lame
Among these doctrines is the claim that "it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things" (verse 11) and that without sin and misery we can't experience goodness and joy (verse 23). Which begs the question...how lame will Christ's Millennial reign be?
The Devil will be locked up, so nobody can sin, and it's supposed to be this perfect, utopian society for a while. But that means nobody will be happy and nobody will really be good because there won't be any sin or misery. So that means...Christ is going to reign over the blandest, boringest, most unremarkable period of human history. Oddly enough, I was never taught that.
But that's what it says, right there in the scriptures. All I'm doing is putting all the pieces together.
The Purpose of Our Existence
Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.Second Nephi, Chapter 2, verse 25--a Mormon classic. It's very comforting to think that the purpose of our existence is for us to be happy. But it's not a very solid claim. It comes from a father trying to console his children before he dies. Do you really expect Lehi to cough weakly, motion for his sons to lean in closer, and then whisper "it all means--nothing" right before he breathes his final breath?
Of course he wants to send his children out to face the world armed with a positive outlook.
But if the reason the Mormon god created people was to make them happy, he's certainly not doing a great job of it--even assuming that the happiness is meant to be the eternal, afterlife kind and not necessarily the lifetime, "second estate" kind. Considering his habit of cursing people for generations following the offense and then keeping the priesthood from an entire race, limiting them from reaching the highest degree of glory in the afterlife, it looks like a whole bunch of his precious souls are slipping through his fingers.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Re: Why People Leave the LDS Church
I recently discovered John Dehlin's video entitled "Why People Leave the LDS Church" on YouTube. And I watched the whole thing, mostly to see how a faithful member of the church could manage to reach out to ex-Mormons with any level of understanding. He actually did a pretty good job of it. I can't say I understand his ability to look some of the church's worst aspects in the face and not apostatize, but at least he makes a reasonable attempt to reconcile some of the problems that people tend to leave the church over.
But what I'd like to address is one of the final slides in his presentation, which he fills with things that he thinks apostates should consider. These are things that he thinks could influence us to return to the fold:
Friday, April 6, 2012
My Un-Missionary Experience
Probably around half of the people I work with know that I was raised Mormon but no longer subscribe to the belief system.
A big part of the reason that some of them know is because when one of the high school kids learned that I used to be Mormon, he began yelling out "STORRRRMIIIIIIN MORRRRMOOOOON" at inappropriate times. This often results in somebody giving me a weird look and saying, "Wait...you're Mormon??"
A big part of the reason that some of them know is because when one of the high school kids learned that I used to be Mormon, he began yelling out "STORRRRMIIIIIIN MORRRRMOOOOON" at inappropriate times. This often results in somebody giving me a weird look and saying, "Wait...you're Mormon??"
Thursday, April 5, 2012
2 Nephi 1: Famous Last Words
Welcome to Second Nephi!
After the family has settled into the promised land, Lehi decides that he's about to die. He imparts some words of wisdom to leave his family with.
That's One Crappy Covenant
In verse 5, Lehi explains the gift God has given him for his obedience:
Oh, and one more thing--these other people I bring in will kill, manipulate and generally mistreat the majority of your descendants, but it's cool because your descendants will break the deal by rejecting the Messiah. So pretty much I'm going to hold them responsible for the conditions of a covenant that was made long before they were born and without their knowledge. Eventually, though, they'll break the rules to the deal they didn't know about and that's why I'll punish them by letting the white men slaughter them.
That's...not a fair deal.
Nephi's Motives are Pure...Mostly
In verse 25, Lehi tells Laman and Lemuel that Nephi didn't "[seek] power nor authority over [them]." That's kind of a load of crap.
Just look at 1 Nephi 17--when Nephi tries to get Laman and Lemuel to help him build the boat. Not only does he complain that they refuse to work for him, but he also does that whole hulking out thing. He, without claiming any inspiration from God, warns his brothers not to beat him up because he's full of the power of God and anyone who touches him "shall wither even as a dried reed." Maybe...Nephi was using fear to get his brothers under his thumb?
God: Just or Petty?
This chapter contains five full claims to the fact that people in the new world will prosper if they keep the commandments of God but will be punished or cursed if they fall into iniquity or reject God. But in verse 22 Lehi mentions that it's a "just God" that will do this.
And while I understand that a God following the laws of justice would punish wickedness, some of the punishments described seem like overkill. For example, "a cursing...upon you for the space of many generations" doesn't seem very just, especially considering that the people will also be "visited by sword, and by famine, and are hated, and are led according to the will and captivity of the devil."
Joseph Smith Leaves His Options Open
While the United States may be a major player in the world today, it was not a military or economic powerhouse in the 1820s when Joseph Smith was dreaming up the Book of Mormon. But, in keeping with his theme of America being a promised land, Joseph decided to make some prophecies about this great country:
Although I think it's safe to say at this point that you're wrong anyway. With all the premarital sex, pornography, drugs, violence, atheism and homosexuality, you'd think the Mormon god would be positively irate these days about the moral state of his promised land.
But where's the smiting? Where are the curses? Where's the famine? America's far from perfect, but it's still a land of liberty in comparison to much of the world. The economy's been having some trouble and gas prices are high but this is hardly the dramatic vengeance God promised.
Hell, he's aiming to install a Mormon as President of the country--how mad could he be?
After the family has settled into the promised land, Lehi decides that he's about to die. He imparts some words of wisdom to leave his family with.
That's One Crappy Covenant
In verse 5, Lehi explains the gift God has given him for his obedience:
Yea, the Lord hath covenanted this land unto me, and to my children forever, and also all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord.So here's the deal, Lehi: You've been great about this whole getting-relocated-halfway-around-the-globe thing, so I'll tell you what--this land that you've been moved to will belong to your descendants forever. And also it will belong to whoever else I decide to cram in there. Wouldn't want to make you feel too special by giving you some kind of exclusive deal or anything.
Oh, and one more thing--these other people I bring in will kill, manipulate and generally mistreat the majority of your descendants, but it's cool because your descendants will break the deal by rejecting the Messiah. So pretty much I'm going to hold them responsible for the conditions of a covenant that was made long before they were born and without their knowledge. Eventually, though, they'll break the rules to the deal they didn't know about and that's why I'll punish them by letting the white men slaughter them.
That's...not a fair deal.
Nephi's Motives are Pure...Mostly
In verse 25, Lehi tells Laman and Lemuel that Nephi didn't "[seek] power nor authority over [them]." That's kind of a load of crap.
Just look at 1 Nephi 17--when Nephi tries to get Laman and Lemuel to help him build the boat. Not only does he complain that they refuse to work for him, but he also does that whole hulking out thing. He, without claiming any inspiration from God, warns his brothers not to beat him up because he's full of the power of God and anyone who touches him "shall wither even as a dried reed." Maybe...Nephi was using fear to get his brothers under his thumb?
God: Just or Petty?
This chapter contains five full claims to the fact that people in the new world will prosper if they keep the commandments of God but will be punished or cursed if they fall into iniquity or reject God. But in verse 22 Lehi mentions that it's a "just God" that will do this.
And while I understand that a God following the laws of justice would punish wickedness, some of the punishments described seem like overkill. For example, "a cursing...upon you for the space of many generations" doesn't seem very just, especially considering that the people will also be "visited by sword, and by famine, and are hated, and are led according to the will and captivity of the devil."
Joseph Smith Leaves His Options Open
While the United States may be a major player in the world today, it was not a military or economic powerhouse in the 1820s when Joseph Smith was dreaming up the Book of Mormon. But, in keeping with his theme of America being a promised land, Joseph decided to make some prophecies about this great country:
Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom [God] shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore they shall never be brought down into captivity;A bold statement. America shall never be conquered by an enemy. It will be a land of liberty. Wonderful. But just in case it turns out that this prophecy doesn't come true (after all, many great nations in history have fallen), Joseph reiterates the caveat:
...wherefore they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever.Smith is saying, "I'm making a prophecy--but if it turns out I'm wrong, this is why." Brilliant. Way to cover your bases, Joe.
Although I think it's safe to say at this point that you're wrong anyway. With all the premarital sex, pornography, drugs, violence, atheism and homosexuality, you'd think the Mormon god would be positively irate these days about the moral state of his promised land.
But where's the smiting? Where are the curses? Where's the famine? America's far from perfect, but it's still a land of liberty in comparison to much of the world. The economy's been having some trouble and gas prices are high but this is hardly the dramatic vengeance God promised.
Hell, he's aiming to install a Mormon as President of the country--how mad could he be?
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