Mormanity - A Mormon Blog (But Not Just for Mormons)

Pondering "The Inn of the Sixth Happiness": A Tribute to a Brave Missionary to China, Gladys Aylward

2009-11-22T19:01:00.007-06:00

This week my wife and I watched a marvelous old movie from 1958, "The Inn of the Sixth Happiness" starring Ingrid Bergman. The movie about a female missionary's amazing adventures and heroism in China in the 1930s was trashed by one major media source for not having a believable plot--the critic being unaware that it depicted the true story of a feisty English woman, Gladys Aylward.

The movie has its corny elements, too much poorly spoken Chinese, and a love story that is greatly exaggerated. In fact, it horrified the very virtuous Gladys to learn that the movie about her life included some "love scenes" (consisting primarily of violin music and some shy romantic glances gradually leading to a profession of love). But the movie depicts numerous events from her life and, in spite of errors that bothered its subject, seems to be much more realistic than most movies based on true stories. It was also a very strange and foreign movie, in terms of modern standards, for the lead role was a zealous, faithful Christian who was not a con artist, child abuser, or oppressive villain. She was sincere, devout, honest, faithful, and loving. Yes, this film actually came from Hollywood--obviously from a completely different and long-lost generation of movie makers.

Like Latter-day Saint pioneers, Gladys was part of a dangerous trek across hostile territory to lead a people to safety. It was in 1938 as her region was being invaded by Japan that she led 94 children to safety over the mountains to Xian, traveling a distance of about 100 miles. These were orphans that she cared for in her inn, the Inn of the Eighth Happiness (inexplicably demoted to the "Sixth Happiness" by Hollywood for the movie). She was driven by her faith and the desire to bless others and give hope to the next generation.

She had become a citizen of China in 1936 and her activities in support of the local populace, including a bit of spying on the Japanese made it unsafe to remain in Yangchen. Being warned of a bounty for her capture, dead or alive, by Colonel Linnan a member of the local Chinese resistance, she gathered up the children and narrowly escaped the city.

Unable to use roads or transportation, she was forced to lead her children, on foot, over the mountains to the safer province of Sian some 100 miles distant. The trek took twenty seven days in which they had to endure the elements and many hardships. She herself had become ill en route and when they finally arrived safely, she collapsed. The doctors were amazed by the feat as she was suffering from typhus, pneumonia, a relapsing fever, malnutrition, and supreme exhaustion.

She regained some strength but never recovered totally from her illness yet this didn't stop her from continuing her ministry, now located in Sian. She started a church and once more she was sharing the Gospel in the villages, prisons and among the sick and helpless. (Source: TLogical.net.)

After Mao took over China, she fled to England, seeking to bring the Gospel to the nation where she sensed great spiritual needs. She wanted to return to China later but was denied entry, so she settled in Taiwan in 1953.

She died in 1970 is buried in Taipei County, Taiwan. She refused honor and recognition and simply did all she could to serve God.

You can listen to some of her sermons late in life at SermonIndex.net. I like the way she teaches!

Still Pondering the Complexity of Transgender Issues

2009-11-22T16:24:00.004-06:00

In a previous post from July 2009, I discussed some of the new things I was learning and pondering regarding transgender issues. I have learned much from a new friend, a transgender Christian, whose personal journey has opened my eyes to some of the complexities and challenges that can occur in mortality.

Since then, I've heard from a transgender Latter-day Saint who kindly gave me permission to share a little of her story, as follows:

I recently read your article on transgender issues. I am what many consider trans and I am also a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am a Male to Female member.

No, I don't have an axe to grind. I thank you for your article! Well written and sensitive. I figured I might be able to shed more light on things.

The true transsexual is not a sexual deviant. I have kept my baptismal covenants and refuse to have sexual relations until I am married. And yes I can legally get married as a female. What happened to me was not a twist of fate...or an act of nature. It happened because my mother took a drug called DES. A drug marketed in the 60s to prevent miscarriage.

That drug was later classified as a mutagen...a teratogen. Translation? It screws with a developing baby to the extent it can alter gender attributes.

We do the best with what we are handed and we are at the whim of the evil designs of man. God did not make this happen to me...but as we both know this world is not a perfect world. If it were perfect...it would not be that good of a test.

Despite the hell I have endured I have chosen to keep the Lord and the church near me. What and who I am is not a contradiction in the terms of the church unless I make it so. For example flaunting it...making a big deal about it or acting immorally. That is why I am sending this to you privately because it is a private matter. My ward does not know about my past except for the RS president...Bishop and Stake pres.

Any way...there you go. If you have questions feel free to ask.

--Sarah

Thank you, Sarah, for an example of handling an incredibly complicated and unfair situation in life with courage and faith. I cannot comprehend what you've gone through and truly don't understand these issues, but increasingly recognize that there can be genuine exceptions to my conception of how things should be. Yes, I believe that gender is a divine attribute and existed before we were born. But it also seems that mortality makes it possible for all manner of challenges and exceptions to arise with these mortal shells we carry, just as can happen with other aspects of the human experience, so I suggest we need to be extremely cautious and reticent regarding our superficial assumptions about the transgendered. Your example of holding on to your religion and living the moral standards of the Church, even in a situation where most others are surely prone to misunderstand, may be among the truly choice stories of faith that future generations should know.

Blessing the Lives of War-Torn Children with Music: The Shropshire Music Foundation

2009-11-15T08:32:00.002-06:00

One of the best services for on-demand television comes from BYU, where BYU.tv offers an elegant system to watch either live broadcasts or previously played programming. This morning I watched the BYU-Hawaii devotional under live programming for Saturday, Nov. 14 at 3:00 a.m. The speaker is Dr. Susan Shropshire, the amazing LDS woman whose compassion for the victims of war in Kosovo expanded from a short vacation trip meant to help a few people with a little physical help, into a massive effort over the past decade to bless thousands of lives by bringing music into the lives of displaced children.

In the devotional broadcast, she tells her story and the story of some of the people she has worked with. It is inspiring, informative, and deeply moving. You will also learn more about what it means to be a child in a refugee camp--something that so many of my friends have been through right here in Wisconsin, among the Hmong people.

The Shropshire Music Foundation provides free musical instruments and instruction to former child soldiers and refugees in some of the world’s most war-torn places: Uganda, Kosovo, and Northern Ireland. Since 1999, more than 10,000 young people have been taught, and they are finding that through music they can bring healing, hope, and peace to their communities. God bless them! You can help, too.

You can also become a fan on the Facebook page for the Shropshire Music Foundation.

A great example of creative use of one's talents to bless others. Thanks, Sister Shropshire!

Laban's Sword of Precious Steel: Increasingly Plausible

2009-11-14T11:45:00.004-06:00

I've had a number of people complain about the steel sword that Laban had in 600 B.C., allegedly long before steel would be invented. It's a topic I address in my LDSFAQ page on metals and the Book of Mormon. Today I found one more interesting tidbit in a scholarly book an ancient iron and steel.

At Google Books, you can preview Iron and Steel in Ancient Times by Vagn Fabritius Buchwald (Volume 29 of Historisk-filosofiske Skrifter, Det Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskab, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2005) to find interesting information on ancient steel. For example, on page 72, I found this:

In the Homerian epic the Odyssey we have an exceptional hint at the blacksmith's cunning treatment of steel, when Odysseus with his men blinded the one-eyed Cyclops Polythemus. "And as when a smith dips a great adze in cold water amid loud hissing to temper it--for therefrom comes the strength of iron--even so did his eye his around the stake of olive-wood" (Odyssey, 9. song: 391. translated by A.T. Murray, Loeb Classical Library).

The archaic period described in the Odyssean narrative is difficult to fit in time, since the Odyssey is a conglomerate of tales, first edited and issues as a total of 24 songs in the 4th century B.C. However, the general scarcity of iron and the common references to weapons of bronze point to the 8th or 7th centuries. No doubt, quench-hardening of steel as described in the epic had been well known for centuries before the poem was conceived. Hardening was, however, restricted to tools, particularly to knives, files, and chisels, only occasionally including a dagger, a sword or an axe.

Thus, the ancient book, The Odyssey, apparently refers to steel manufacturing that was known in the Mediterranean region well before the time of Lehi. Hardened steel was not common, though, and was used for only a few objects, including an occasional sword. A steel sword in Jerusalem in Nephi's day may indeed have been rare, but known, and thus it is entirely plausible for the Book of Mormon to mention a sword of a significant and wealthy military leader that was made of "the most precious steel" (1 Nephi 4:9). Not the whole sword, but the blade, where hard steel would be especially desirable.

The ancients in Nephi's day had the ability to carburize iron, but that does not mean that iron or steel was commonly available. The steel of Laban's sword was "most precious," clearly not a commodity item. In fact, subsequent appearances of iron in the Book of Mormon rate it with precious metals and riches rather than treating it as an ordinary material, as if metallurgical skills were largely lost in Nephite culture sometime after Nephi's era.

Incidentally, a photo of a gold-hilted sword with a blade made of meteoric iron is available in Volume 3 of the Encyclopedia of Mormonism under the article, "Sword of Laban." The sword comes from the tomb of Tutankhamun, who died in 1325 B.C., over 700 years before Nephi saw the sword of Laban. For more information on the ancient use of iron and steel prior to Nephi's time, see Oleg D. Sherby and Jeffrey Wadsworth, "Damascus Steels," Scientific American 252 (February 1985): 112-20; J. P. Lepre, The Egyptian Pyramids: A Comprehensive Illustrated Reference (Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 1990), 245; Immanuel Velikovsky, Ramses II and His Time (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1978), 222-37.

Another useful paper on ancient steel is "Steel in Ancient Greece and Rome" by E.A.Ginzel, 1995, available at the Materials Research Institute Website. Ginzel argues that early forms of steel were known and made by the ancients, though not well understood.

While most ancient works of iron or steel are not likely to survive because of corrosion, one recent well-preserved find of an ancient iron sword from the Middle East is reported by Avraham Eitan, "BAR Interviews Avraham Eitan: Antiquities Director Confronts Problems and Controversies," interview by Hershel Shanks, Biblical Archaeology Review 12/4 (1986): 30-38, as discussed in the new book, Pressing Forward with the Book of Mormon, edited by John W. Welch and Melvin J. Thorne, Provo, Utah: FARMS, 1999. A large iron sword, three feet long and about three inches wide was excavated at Vered Jericho (a place near Jericho in Israel). It has a bronze haft with a wooden grip. The strata from which the sword was excavated dates to the late seventh century BC. This sword is unlike the shorter daggers that are normally depicted in art from this part of the world. It provides evidence that iron (steel?) swords of large size were known in Nephi's day. (See also William J. Adams Jr., Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, Vol. 2, No. 2, 1993, pp. 194-195.)

Ancient iron often had carbon levels around 0.05% to 1%, especially when it was in contact with charcoal during manufacturing. That is conssitent with typical definitions of carbon steel (an iron-carbon alloy with about 0.05 to 2% carbon), so it may be appropriate to call such iron "steel"--especially if it has been carburized or otherwise treated to increase its strength. But iron or low-carbon steel rusts easily and is rarely preserved for archeologists to find. And for a long time, it was known but rare or precious, and thus unlikelt to be left lying around for easy discovery centuries later. This contributes to the many gaps in our understanding of metals in the ancient world. Nevertheless, there is enough evidence now of steel making before Laban's time that his ownership of a sword with a blade of "the most precious steel" should no longer be a sticking point for those exploring the Book of Mormon. In light of what we know now, it's a subtle statement of great plausibility--the kind of thing that now has to be discounted as just a lucky guess.

The reference to steel "smelted" from a hill by the very ancient Jaredites in the Book of Mormon is probably a reference to meteoric iron, which was known and prized by the Olemcs in the Americas. Meteoric iron is an alloy typically high in nickel content that some experts classify as "steel." Iron elsewhere in the Book of Mormon appears to be a precious metal whose knowledge presumably was brought to the Americas by the early Nephites but became a lost technology--something that happens far more frequently in history than you might think. We would be glad to encounter Mesoamerican finds of iron artificats someday, but since they were rare and since Mesoamerica has the kind of climate where precious ancient iron wouldn't last long, the chances of such a find cannot be high if, in fact, the Book of Mormon describes real people and real events on a small part of this continent.

Off Topic: Reviewers Needed

2009-11-14T08:02:00.008-06:00

Warning: uninspiring secular content! Reader discretion advised.

I know at least some of you are interested in the area of business growth, innovation, new product development, and entrepreneurship, because you've called me or emailed me for tips and advice, or in some cases have brought very interesting opportunities to my attention. I'm hoping some of you might do me a favor now. With the recent release of Conquering Innovation Fatigue, the book I've been working on for the past 3 years, one of our needs is to get further reviews posted at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

If you'd like to review but don't have a copy, I'll send out a copy to the first, say, three or four people who express a willingness and ability to write a review. Tell me a little about yourself, and if you've done other reviews at Amazon already, that's a real plus. Contact me at jeff at jefflindsay.com, with "REVIEW" in the subject line.

You can get some of the content by previewing it at Amazon (use http://tinyurl.com/nofatigue, and there are some free chapters over at InnovationFatigue.com. Naturally, I'm hoping for fair reviews, like the ones that several innovation experts have already posted at Amazon (mostly 5 stars, gratefully), but please be honest rather than merely kind.

Meanwhile, you should know that the book is a perfect gift for the innovators, leaders, researchers and government officials in your life. Great for birthdays, Christmas, weddings, and, yes, even divorces. For divorce gifts, buy two--his and hers. But if it brings the couple back together and saves yet another marriage, let me know and I'll buy a redundant book back from them.

On a more serious note, LDS folks might be interested to see the two-sides of the Philo Farnsworth story I explore regarding his own painful journey in facing, conquering, and possibly succumbing to innovation fatigue. Was this Mormon man the true inventor of television? It's a complex question--and much can be learned in exploring that.

Please forgive this largely "off topic" post. But rest assured that it was inspired by very sincere pride and selfishness.

Basic info on the book is given at JeffLindsay.com and at InnovationFatigue.com, which also has the supporting blog.

Update: The original version of this post offered a second copy of the book or another perk to those who bought a copy to review. The previous offer still stands for those who chose to act on it--please let me know--but to avoid the appearance of compensating people based on the content of the review, I've modified the offer so that I'll send out copies to some potential reviewers who are then free to say whatever they want, which was my intention all along. Unfortunately, the ratio of received reviews to sent out copies has been disappointingly low, so I'm hoping that if you accept a book, that you'll take the time post a sincere review, preferably both at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Meanwhile, if you have suggestions for book promotion, let me know. Even though I'm thrilled that what I consider to be the world's leading publisher in this area has taken on our book, the bulk of the marketing is up to the authors, and, as usual, I'm out of my league here and could use some help.

Do Big Tragedies Negate Small Miracles?

2009-11-09T23:00:00.008-06:00

In a previous post (currently on hold while I consult with the source on what details I should share), I referred to the many small miracles that have blessed people I know and love. In one recent example, a mother I know was staying at a friend's home when she heard a voice say "Run!" That helped her recognize her bold little toddler was not at her side but in danger, and she ran to find a stairway door had been opened by someone else and her wobbly little son, a boy with no respect for gravity, was standing at the top, toes over the edge, ready to plunge forward toward bare wooden stairs leading to a concrete basement floor. She snatched him in time, courtesy of a small little miracle. I mentioned that we don’t know when and why these small miracles come, and recognized that life is often filled with pain and sorrow even for the best parents, but when the little miracles come, we should rejoice for those who receive them. When I wrote that, I expected to get the response that I have often received when referring to a miracle that someone experiences. Skeptics will point to some of the tragedies that occur and insinuate that that miracles can’t be real, otherwise why would God help someone with something minor when such great sorrows and pains exist in the world? But the response was more painful or bitter than I expected. I should have anticipated some of the pain that might have been stirred up:

..and yet my son died. Am I to assume that I didn't listen to the Spirit in some way to save him? Or that Heavenly Father just didn't care enough to send any guidance?

Good to know Heavenly Father was more concerned about the possible broken arm [that child] than about my son getting the organ transplant that would have saved his life. . . .

Stories like these are equivalent to a slap in the face for all of us who have [unhappy] endings to our fairytales. It's great that [one child] wasn't hurt...but surely you can see that what the flipside of it implies???

Ouch. I’m so sorry about this. The loss of a child is one of the great tragedies of mortality. There are no easy answers, except for the far-off answer that comes through Christ and the hope of resurrection and reunion. Another great tragedy is the spiritual loss that comes when a child ultimately rejects God and the blessings of the Gospel. Again, only patience and love can be offered with hope that there might be a return one day.

Do these tragedies, though, negate the reality of small or even large miracles? Can God help someone by answering a prayer, healing an illness, or helping a car to start, when many are about to die from accidents, disease, or even terrorism in Texas? Is God unjust or unfair because He sometimes reaches down and lets the current course of mortality be stayed in an obvious way for some purpose we cannot understand but can only gratefully accept?

Thousands across the earth were blind or going blind 2,000 years ago when Christ touched the eyes of one blind man to give him sight. Did God love the others less than the one rare man who was healed? Thousands, maybe millions, across the earth were hungry or thirsty as He attended a wedding feast in Cana and turned water into wine. Does God love the hungry and destitute less because they were not given miraculous drink? If not even a sparrow can fall to the ground without God’s awareness (Matt. 10:29), we must understand that we, His children, are known, noticed, and loved, regardless of what trials we must endure. Shall we be skeptical of God’s love or His miracles because their more outward manifestations are not commonly and uniformly distributed according to our sensibilites?

Mortality will leave all of us bitter and scarred if we cannot accept the diversity of gifts, blessings, trials, lifespans, ancestries, and genes that God lets us have.

Miracles, large or small, stand out. They punctuate the normal course of the painful mundane world to occasionally, even rarely, teach us or remind us of God’s reality or serve some other purpose. We cannot expect them in all cases, every day, for all of us. We have no basis to demand them by right. Remember, His love is no less, His presence no more remote, for the child that dies than for the one that is spared, for His work is not about keeping us wrapped up in our mortal shells and the little things of earth life, but in our ultimate destiny in His endless presence. His timetable and plans for each of us take us through wildly different routes in our journeys. Some routes are tragic and seem senselessly painful, especially when the cruelty of man is involved, men who have abused the cruel gift of free agency to hurt others, for a terrible consequence of the merciful freedom He gives us to choose Him is also the freedom to reject Him and crucify His son anew by abusing His other children also created in His image. But we are also promised that the Atonement of Christ is sufficient and in the end, as we come into His presence, all tears can be wiped away.

And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.

He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.

And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. (Isaiah 25: 7-9)

I rejoiced that one mother was miraculously aided: a voice spoke to her, “Run!”–how obvious can you get? But as I wrote of that miracle, I recognized that other outcomes are possible. Equally deserving and loving parents with equally wonderful children have suffered tragedy under similar circumstances. Indeed, I left out one detail in the story I related. It was especially poignant for me because my wife and I faced a similar danger years ago at the home of some wonderful devout Christians. During a Christmas party there that we attended while striving to be good friends and missionaries, a door to their basement was left open and our little fearless toddler son waddled over to the top of the stairs. He was about the same age as the toddler that was the subject of my last post. My wife spotted him just in the nick of time – well, almost. As she rushed toward him and reached out to snatch him, she missed by inches, a fraction of a second, and watched in horror as he stepped forward and fell head-first down the hard wooden stairs and crashed against the concrete floor at the bottom. We were horrified. We felt like the worst parents ever. We wondered how this could happen, especially when we were there trying to do good and help others, and then this. We were so worried, afraid he might have broken bones, a damaged brain, or even face death. He survived and was soon well, and perhaps that was miracle enough. But we heard no voice to get us there in time, saw no miraculous delay in our son’s trajectory, no hidden angel’s hand to hold him back. He was hurt, but our pain may have been even greater.

The fact that one child was spared a similar fate was not meant as condemnation to those of us who have faced and suffered the normal course of gravity and dare-devil toddlers. It was a miracle, an unusual departure from the normal course. How else can you account for the vocal command to run, a command which appears to have been perfectly timed for maximum drama and gratitude. To me, it does not mean that one child is more precious than another, or one parent necessarily better or more righteous than another, or that God is unjust in allowing danger to be ever present without omnipresent angels imposing a record of perfect safety. What happened to one mother was rare, unusual, and a cause for rejoicing, not guilt trips, pain, and bitterness. It does not mean that one person or family was more righteous or more loved than another. We do not understand why, but can only be grateful. We could speculate, of course, and even wonder if part of its purpose was to help some of us consider the implications of small miracles in the face of large tragedies, especially when I had a contrasting event under such similar circumstances.

Referring to some Galilaeans who had been slaughtered by Pilate while seeking to worship God, Jesus said, “Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13: 1-3). And regarding 18 people who died in his area when a tower in Siloam fell, he said, “Think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13: 4-5). Towers fall, children fall, and people die, regardless of who is righteous and who is not. It is not death but rebellion against God that is the real tragedy.

If we only understood more and saw more clearly, we might recognize the hand of God in numerous things around us and rejoice more fully in the miracles of life, of love, of beauty, and of families. We might recognize small or even great miracles even in the painful trials he allows us to experience, some of which may have been tailored for us in His grace. We may be blind to most of the miracles that make our lives, but that should not makes us doubt or even be bitter when His kindness is more obvious to some.

Praise God for each child spared and for each parent given miraculous guidance. Weep for the larger number who are not spared. Do our best to keep doors to danger closed and children close enough to us that we will not need an angel’s voice to best fulfill our duties. And may we never judge or condemn those who are not the recipients of yearned-for miracles, or begrudge those who are.

Meanwhile, we must not lose our bearings and sail away from God because we journey in a world where oceans of trouble and islands of miracles coexist on a map wildly unlike what we would draw if we were the cartographer.

The Miracle of the Pamphlet

2009-11-02T16:52:00.002-06:00

My missionary son and his companion recently experienced one of the many tiny miracles that occur when we seek to share the Gospel with others. Here's a condensed version of his story from a while ago, minus some identifying information:

A few weeks ago, the elders in a neighboring area . . . contacted a girl. They set up a time for her to come to the chapel and start meeting with them. After they parted ways, [she] decided she'd probably just forget about them and stand them up.

A day or so later, [my companion] and I went out in the afternoon to go contacting while holding a big sign we made to advertise for the free English class we have on Wednesday. The mission office makes tons of pamphlets with information about the English class, so we took a big stack and walked up and down the street passing the pamphlets out like crazy. Dinner time came so we started contacting our way back to our apartment building, where we would hang our sign back up in the lobby. By the time we got back to the little patio outside our apartment building, we had exactly one English pamphlet left. We wanted to eat food but we decided we had to get rid of the last pamphlet before we hung up the sign and ate some dinner. That's usually not a very hard thing--people usually take pamphlets pretty easily. So we started going around to the people sitting at tables on the patio and telling them about the English class. Strangely, every single person in that area refused to take the pamphlet. We looked around a little harder and finally saw a girl . . . . We went over and tried to give her the pamphlet. She wouldn't take it either. She said she already had one. She told us she'd met the [other] elders a few days ago and showed us the restoration booklet they left her. We talked to her a little about what they shared and encouraged her to keep meeting with them. . . . Because we ran into us after she decided to stand the other elders up, she realized this is a message God wants her to hear and changed her mind and went to meet with them. She met with the [other] elders for a while until they found out she lives in [our area]. Now we're meeting with her and . . . she's getting baptized next week! Isn't it amazing what God can do with one pamphlet?

I think the effort of "hoeing to the end of the row"--working to the end, even when hungry--often brings unusual blessings. Many great stories seem to have the element.

Facing Loss and Pain without Complaint: Richard G. Scott's Personal Perspective

2009-10-25T21:18:00.005-05:00

While visiting my parents in Salt Lake City today, we had a beautiful Priesthood lesson based on Elder Richard G. Scott's General Conference sermon from April 2009, "Temple Worship: The Source of Strength and Power in Times of Need." I was touched by the deeply personal thoughts Elder Scott conveyed as he contemplated the passing away of his wife and also of two of his young children. These closing words from his talk touched me deeply in our class today.

Now I would like to speak of the special meaning the temple has for me. Part of this message is going to be sensitive, so I will appreciate your prayers as I give it so that I do not become too emotional.

Fourteen years ago the Lord took my wife beyond the veil. I love her with all my heart, but I have never complained because I know it was His will. I have never asked why but rather what is it that He wants me to learn from this experience. I believe that is a good way to face the unpleasant things in our lives, not complaining but thanking the Lord for the trust He places in us when He gives us the opportunity to overcome difficulties.

We had the blessing of having children. A daughter, the first child, continues to be an enormous blessing in our lives. A couple of years later a son we named Richard was born. A few years later a daughter was born. She died after living only a few minutes.

Our son, Richard, was born with a heart defect. We were told that unless that could be cured, there was little probability that he would live more than two or three years. This was so long ago that techniques now used to repair such defects were unknown. We had the blessing of having a place where doctors agreed to attempt to perform the needed surgery. The surgery had to be done while his little heart was beating.

The surgery was performed just six weeks after the birth and death of our baby daughter. When the operation finished, the principal surgeon came in and said it was a success. And we thought, “How wonderful! Our son will have a strong body, be able to run and walk and grow!” We expressed deep gratitude to the Lord. Then about 10 minutes later, the same doctor came in with an ashen face and told us, “Your son has died.” Apparently the shock of the operation was more than his little body could endure.

Later, during the night, I embraced my wife and said to her, “We do not need to worry, because our children were born in the covenant. We have the assurance that we will have them with us in the future. Now we have a reason to live extremely well. We have a son and a daughter who have qualified to go to the celestial kingdom because they died before the age of eight.” That knowledge has given us great comfort. We rejoice in the knowledge that all seven of our children are sealed to us for time and all eternity.

That trial has not been a problem for either of us because, when we live righteously and have received the ordinances of the temple, everything else is in the hands of the Lord. We can do the best we can, but the final outcome is up to Him. We should never complain, when we are living worthily, about what happens in our lives.

Fourteen years ago the Lord decided it was not necessary for my wife to live any longer on the earth, and He took her to the other side of the veil. I confess that there are times when it is difficult not to be able to turn and talk to her, but I do not complain. The Lord has allowed me, at important moments in my life, to feel her influence through the veil.

What I am trying to teach is that when we keep the temple covenants we have made and when we live righteously in order to maintain the blessings promised by those ordinances, then come what may, we have no reason to worry or to feel despondent.

I know that I will have the privilege of being with that beautiful wife, whom I love with all my heart, and with those children who are with her on the other side of the veil because of the ordinances that are performed in the temple. What a blessing to have once again on the earth the sealing authority, not only for this mortal life but for the eternities. I am grateful that the Lord has restored His gospel in its fulness, including the ordinances that are required for us to be happy in the world and to live everlastingly happy lives in the hereafter.

This is the work of the Lord. Jesus Christ lives. This is His Church. I am a witness of Him and of His Atonement, which is the foundation that makes effective and lasting every ordinance performed in the temples. I so testify with every capacity I possess, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

His attitude is remarkable. I can imagine myself complaining with much bitterness if I were to face such a trial. But he did this without complaining, trusting in the Lord and turning to Him for guidance. "I believe that is a good way to face the unpleasant things in our lives, not complaining but thanking the Lord for the trust He places in us when He gives us the opportunity to overcome difficulties." I find that profound, and hope that I can grow to have this kind of attitude. Not that we shouldn't share our emotions and our feelings, but that we should retain the eternal perspective and accept the grief life brings us with patience and humility, seeking to understand what we should do and what we should learn from these experiences, with gratitude for what the Lord has given us--especially for the blessings of the Temple that can bind families together forever.

A Salute to Singapore

2009-10-21T09:34:00.002-05:00

I'm so impressed with the nation of Singapore. The remarkably harmonious diversity of races, cultures and religions in this land is a testament to what can be achieved. Had the incredible privilege of being a speaker at their large Innovation and Enterprise Week held at Biopolis, the massive research center dealing with life sciences. Met so many amazing people from Singapore and other nations and really fell in love with this country and its generous and gracious people.

Singapore is one of the most innovative nations in the world--in fact, it's ranked #1 in several rating systems--and has some of the most visionary and futuristic approaches to economic development and scientific progress. What impressed me as I learned more and talked with some of its people is the commitment of so many people to the long-term good of Singapore. The petty personal politics that hinder progress in so many spheres of human life seemed surprisingly diminished in the scientific and IP-related circles I encountered, and I repeatedly sensed and saw evidence of a widespread commitment to cooperation and the good of the nation. There is a culture of cooperation that really impresses me.

Talented, intelligent, and tolerant people building a visionary future is one dimension of what I encountered. Add to that the Singaporean commitment to excellent food, and we've really got a winning combination. I can't believe how well I can eat for $3 at the "street hawker" sites where you can choose from numerous cuisines such as Muslim Halal and many varieties of Chinese, Indian, Malaysian, Korean, etc. Then consider that Singapore offers fresh, never-frozen supplies of the world's greatest plant product, the king of fruit with its foul aroma: durian! Tonight after a spectacular seafood meal with massive chili crab and claypot crab, I was treated to two great varieties of durian: D24X0 and Cat Mountain King. Will one of these species be the official fruit of Zion in the future? Or maybe it will be fresh passion fruit (I got about 20 for just $2!)?

Any of you in Singapore or have you been there? Am interested in knowing more about how members of the Church are treated. I was treated with great kindness, but then again, I'm just a temporary visitor. How is daily life for a Latter-day Saint in Singapore?

A Barbaric Practice: Honor Chillings

2009-10-19T17:46:00.003-05:00

Religion can be such a powerful force for good, but some, in misguided zeal, corrupt their religion and use it as an excuse to hurt others. Occasionally we hear about the horrors of honor killings, but a much more widespread barbaric practice among many faiths is honor chillings--cold treatment due to religious differences. Parents chilling their children, husbands chilling their wives, former best friends chilling each other--all because they are angry that someone has changed their religious views. Many LDS converts have been chilled by those who despise their new religion. But too many LDS folks have turned to honor chillings when a loved one leaves the Church and is viewed as an apostate or even just a non-committed Mormon. Many Christians have struggled when a loved one becomes an atheist or joins a different religion, and folks from many other religions have had similar problems.

Yes, there are verses in the Bible which can be used to justify chilling. When one wants to justify bad behavior, the Bible can be a great resource (ditto for the other LDS scriptures--this may be true of all sacred texts in all religions). But for those looking for a guide on how to do good and please God, the Bible teaches us to love even when that love is not returned, and teaches us to reach out to those of other faiths rather than chilling them. The Book of Mormon likewise teaches us that there are times when unrepentant people may need to be excommunicated from the Church, but the purpose is not to justify chilling. In fact, for those who are excommunicated, we are explicitly commanded to reach out to them and not fall into the temptation to chill. From 3 Nephi 18:

30. Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out from among you, but ye shall minister unto him and shall pray for him unto the Father, in my name; and if it so be that he repenteth and is baptized in my name, then shall ye receive him, and shall minister unto him of my flesh and blood.

31. But if he repent not he shall not be numbered among my people, that he may not destroy my people, for behold I know my sheep, and they are numbered.

32. Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out of your synagogues, or your places of worship, for unto such shall ye continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them.

May we all avoid the cruelness of honor chillings, and follow the example of the Savior in loving and ministering to all around him.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Speaks Out on the Book of Mormon and the Failed Attempts of Critics to Explain It Away

2009-10-13T07:34:00.005-05:00

If you missed the General Conference talk by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, one of the Twelve Apostles and the former President of Brigham Young University, you really should see it. He makes an important point about the last hours of Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum, as they were in prison and about to be killed. They faced the likelihood of death from a hate-filled mob, stirred up and led by religious zealots. For comfort and strength, they turned to the ancient writings of Moroni in Ether, chapter 12, in the Book of Mormon. Hyrum read some of that text to Joseph, including these verses:

37. And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: If they have not charity it mattereth not unto thee, thou hast been faithful; wherefore, thy garments shall be made clean. And because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father.

38. And now I, Moroni, bid farewell unto the Gentiles, yea, and also unto my brethren whom I love, until we shall meet before the judgment-seat of Christ, where all men shall know that my garments are not spotted with your blood.

Hyrum dog-eared that page in his Book of Mormon, marking the spot that they had turned to for comfort. Elder Holland held that very copy of the Book of Mormon in his hand as he spoke of this, and then made an excellent point. If this book were a fraud, why would these two men in their final hours turn to it for spiritual comfort? Why would they blaspheme God in their final moments by reading from fake scripture that they had composed to deceive others? Their final moments only add to the magnitude of their witness and the witness of many others that the Book of Mormon is for real, that it is an ancient and divine text, not the clumsy work of an unschooled fraud. Elder Holland goes on to explain that the pathetic attempts by our critics to explain away the Book of Mormon and offer alternate explanations for its origins have failed and failed miserably. The challenge remains unmet and the witnesses for authenticity (including physical and other evidence for plausibility) of that ancient record are greater than ever. It has withstood decades of assaults and, in my opinion, is "truer than ever" as we learn more about it and the ancient world.

Here are Youtube videos of his talk, split into two ten-minute segments. If you're in a hurry, go to the second video, which begins just after he explains how Hyrum while in Carthage jail had read from the book he holds in his hands.

Part One:

Part Two:

Elder Holland's words are powerful, moving, and wise. As Elder Holland's own great grandfather said, "No wicked man could write such a book as this, and no good man would write it--unless it were true and he were commanded of God to do so."

Secular Note: Prepared for the Decline of the Dollar?

2009-10-12T08:27:00.006-05:00

Ever since about 2005, I've occasionally warned readers that we could face a weakening dollar in the future and growing inflation (inflation is best defined as excessive expansion of the money supply, which we are obviously doing - what prices do for any particular product at any one time is complicated by many factors). You can't keep spending like crazy and creating more money without facing dire consequences. No nation has ever done that without having its currency eventually face great pain. I have therefore recommended that people diversity their investments to include at least some precious metals such as silver or gold.

I made these recommendations when gold was at $500 to $700 an ounce and when silver was at $9 to $14 an ounce. Now that gold is approaching $1100 an ounce and silver is nearly $18 an ounce, those who listened to this advice may wonder if it's time to sell and take their profits. I suggest no, this is still a time to hold and even to buy, if you can. While a painful pull back is still possible, the fundamentals behind precious metals are better than ever. Production globally is declining, demand is increasing, and the dollar faces greater threats than ever. Than ever.

One of the great threats that the popular media rarely discusses is the likelihood that oil-producing nations will no longer rely on the petro-dollar. When the oil-producing nations no longer require payment in the US dollar, the support for the dollar will drop. China has also shown that they are worried about the dollar and turning increasingly toward gold. They must make this move gradually and calmly, but the direction is clear. You can find some of the key news in places like Kitco.com or in British newspapers. You must understand these trends. There are many factors that can threaten to destabilize the dollar. My suggestion, just a tip to loyal readers, is to continue to make slow and steady preparations by building your food storage and diversifying whatever investments you have to include at least some precious metals. I know some of you will say that it's crazy to buy something when the price is at an all-time high, as gold is, and still pretty high, as silver is, but when you adjust for the inflation of the US dollar, the former high in gold in the 80s is about $2000 an ounce today, and the former high of silver is over $100 an ounce, so there's a long ways to go just based on history even if we weren't destroying the fundamentals of the dollar today. When China, Russia, and the Middle East become weary of the dollar, they will turn increasingly to precious metals and other currencies, and those who beat them to the punch by investing in precious metals today will be glad they did - although none of us will have any cause to rejoice when the US faces the consequences of corrupt politicians of both parties who exert no fiscal responsibility and recklessly spend all that we and future generations have for their political benefit today. Germany, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe, and other nations have shown what happens when government spending and monetary creation gets out of control. We don't want to go down that path, but we are rushing.

The expansion of the money supply is a terrible tax on American workers. It silently steals your wealth and transfers it into the hands of spendthrifts and their friends. It erodes years of labor and savings. It whittles away at your wages. It diminishes the future for your children. Over 95% of the value of the dollar has been lost since the Federal Reserve system was created nearly a century ago, when the vast boom in productivity that has occurred should have made the dollar and your savings worth far more. The guardians of our economy have been pilfering it for years. How long will we remain blind to what is going on? Will we remain silent until the burden of debt triggers unbearable pain? It will be too late then.

Grinding Down Moral Standards: Out-of-Control School Dances

2009-10-11T07:09:00.006-05:00

Only a few years ago, at least here in the Midwest, many parents' main concern about school dances involved kids getting too close during slow dances. "Bear hugging" was the great moral threat to warn children against--as long as the music was fast, there was little to worry about. Under the incessant tutoring of the degenerate profiteers of pop culture, coupled with a foundation of parental negligence or ignorance and aided by the apathy of school officials, American students have now "progressed" so far that the intimate slow dances are the most morally tolerable part of a typical school dance. The behavior that goes with the pulsating rap dominating most dances is the real problem now, and it's a problem so severe that many students with basic standards will be so revolted that they have to leave the dance floor to avoid seeing what the "mainstream" students do. The subdued sexuality of bear hugging is nothing compared to the gross and overt sexuality of grinding while dancing, with students bringing private body parts into inappropriate contact.

Appleton's latest high-school dances were offensive, shameful, and troubling to many students who watched in sorrow and shock as so many of their friends acted like sex-crazed deviants. One can only wonder how far the debauchery of high schools will go before anyone has the courage to take a stand. Would officials gladly watch the high school become as degenerate as, say, American universities like Oberlin, where university officials promote sexual activity among the young people entrusted to its care? (Google Oberlin and Safer Sex Night if you need to read Oberlin.edu's own description of what they do.)

To those of you who do not allow your children to attend school dances, or who home school, I congratulate you for your wisdom. To you students who refuse to go or who even speak out against such inappropriate behavior, I applaud you.

I'm just amazed at how far this nation has declined.

Update: Schools Dances and Sexual Assault

Additional information from students in local high schools point to an especially troubling issue arising from the failure of our schools to provide a safe and wholesome atmosphere at school dances. In the "grinding is cool" setting where anything seems to go (one female student described the scene as a "sex pit"), an atmosphere that foments or encourages sexual assault is created. Is sexual assault the proper term for unsolicited sexual contact? I think so. A female simply standing there at the school dance can suddenly be grabbed from behind by an unseen male who then commences simulated sexual activity. Something that ought to get a person arrested for sexual assault in a place where decency prevails is not only apparently tolerated, but the victim may feel pressure to go along since everyone is doing it.

I'm really outraged at this.

One further note: Chaperons and school officials standing away from core of the activity may not be aware of how bad things are. The wholesale raunchiness tends to be shielded by the outer layer of students forming a circle around the "hottest" dancing. I suppose it's possible for adult leaders to stand around and think that grinding only occurs occasionally, when in fact a majority of dancers may do it during the course of the evening.

If I were a school official, I'd be awfully worried about the danger of sexual assault that could be occurring on my watch. I'd also be worried about the risk of a lawsuit when a student who was groped, grabbed, or ground upon against her or his will takes action against the school for allowing it to happen and even condoning it.

Parents should consider speaking out and demanding basic rules for dances that protect children. Rules and basic training about appropriate contact should be clearly conveyed to students before dances. Parents and taxpayers need not succumb to moral debauchery in the schools we pay for.

One General Conference Take-Away: Increasing Our Emphasis on Personal Revelation

2009-10-04T22:20:00.001-05:00

Across many of the talks at General Conference, I heard a theme of strengthening our ability to receive and respond to personal revelation. "Spiritual self-reliance" is not the right term, for it is God we rely on, but honing our ability to receive personal inspiration and revelation strengthens our ability to solve our problems and to make changes in the course of our lives for good. Our increased dependency on the Lord in this process makes us, in a sense, all the more independent--relative to the forces of the world.

As times get more complex, our ability to guide our loved ones, obtain wisdom, find clever solutions to problems, avoid traps from our adversaries, and dodge spiritual bullets (maybe some physical ones, too) requires constant alertness and listening to the Spirit. The challenges of tomorrow depend upon our preparations today. We must work and learn now. The Church won't solve our problems, but is a training ground to help us learn the skills we need--including having love and patience for fellow members. We need the Church more than ever, but in a sense we also need more than ever to stand on our own feet as we kneel before the Lord's seeking His will and inspiration each day.

The emphasis on personal revelation is one of the many things I really love the Church. Revelation is real. God is real. Prayers are answered. And we are taught to turn to God and seek His guidance, not only for our personal testimonies, but for our daily course in life and for the most complex challenges we face.

Ammon's Treason

2009-10-02T07:38:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, on the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, I had the privilege of hosting an official from the Chinese Embassy on a visit to Wisconsin to receive a major award at a dinner celebration attended by 250 people from industry, education, and government. Before that, we had a spectacular luncheon with some local Chinese friends that I arranged to honor my guest. How delighted I was to find that he knew and even had worked for the hero of one of my favorite books, The Man on Mao's Right by Ji Chaozhu. At the luncheon, I used my terrible Mandarin to make a toast: "Zhong-Mei youyi wansui!" ("Long Live the Friendship Between China and America" - I'm not even sure that this is the correct or best way to say it, but they understood). It was a sincere toast.

Like Ji Chaozhu, the father of my Chinese guest from the Embassy had participated in the Korean War. My father did, too. It's possible that our two fathers were shooting at each other in that terrible no-win war. There are still international tensions between our two nations in various parts of the globe. Later I reflected on how some of my conservative peers (I am pretty conservative) might react to my interest in China and to such a toast. There are some complex issues here, but I'd like to cite the example of Ammon, the son of King Mosiah in the Book of Mormon, who took it upon himself to go into Lamanite territory and spend 14 years there. He went not as a spy or Rambo-like commando to disrupt the economy or military supply chains of that enemy nation, but he went as a friend and servant, even a servant to a king. Could this not be considered as treason in the sense that he was supporting and helping a historical enemy? Perhaps, if one wishes to be critical. But what divine wisdom (not greedy profiteering) was in his selfless service! His love for an "enemy people" would change thousands of lives and greatly bless his own people as well in the end.

Long Live Nephite-Lamanite Friendship! This toast comes a bit late, unfortunately, so I'l stick with "Zhong-Mei youyi wansui!"

The story of Ammon and the sons of Mosiah may have parallels that can help guide us in thinking about nations where there is tension in the relationship or where we worry about the current lack of religious toleration or religious freedom. There may be great miracles that yet can be unfolded through small means and selfless service, and great prices to be paid by those ready to give all for what matters most.

When change comes, it will come swiftly, and catch many of us unprepared for the needs and opportunities ahead. As always, this is the best time to prepare. There is also so much to learn from China - don't make the mistake of thinking that it's all about us going there to bring new wisdom, though I believe we have something wonderful to offer them, just as we have something wonderful to offer the United States, Britain, Brazil, etc. There is much we need to learn from their modern and ancient wisdom. Great opportunities lie ahead for those who are wise and prepare.

Creative Home Teaching: Ideas Wanted

2009-09-24T08:33:00.002-05:00

What are your best ideas for creative home teaching?

During a lunch conversation recently, a friend told me about a talk he heard in Utah about the need to be more open in how it is done. The speaker suggested that it might be OK to come by late at night for a few minutes when that's what schedules demand, or to stop by with a plate of cookies on a Saturday morning. Listeners were asked to focus on the essence of home teaching which is showing love for others, something that can be done in many ways.

So let me ask you, what are some creative examples of home teaching that you've tried or seen? I'm looking for interesting approaches that can help others be more effective. This includes tips for those being home taught - we should try to help those trying to do their duty, even when we are "too busy" to be home taught.

Free Loot from Mormanity for Supporting Chem. Eng. Scholarships at BYU

2009-09-22T06:30:00.003-05:00

Help a young person have a better life by giving the gift of education. I'm on a mission to advance scholarships for students at BYU's Chemical Engineering Department, a department that provides outstanding training in one of the most exciting fields, giving broad skills that can help transform our world into a better place by solving problems in energy, environmental quality, food production, water quality, and so forth. But many students need your help to get through the long and challenging program. Will you join me in making a tax-deductible donation for scholarships? As an incentive, I'm giving out some loot. For anyone making a donation of at least $50, I'll send you your choice of a genuine 90% silver half-dollar that is over 60 years old (a "Walking Liberty" half-dollar, one of the most beautiful silver coins in our nation's history). With silver now at $17 an ounce and likely to rise much further, especially when inflation inevitably kicks in, this collectible beauty is a smart thing to own. This prize will be available to the first 50 donors who donate this week (on or before Oct. 1).

In addition, for the first 3 people who donate at least $150, if you wish, I'll also send you a free signed copy of my newly published hardcover book from John Wiley & Sons that includes a touch of BYU, Conquering Innovation Fatigue: Overcoming the Barriers to Personal and Corporate Success by Jeff Lindsay, Cheryl Perkins, and Mukund Karanjikar. Though the retail price is just $43 (less at Amazon), the insights and stories in the book could make it the most valuable secular thing you read or acquire this year. The perfect gift for graduations, birthdays, anniversaries, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, weddings, and even divorces (be sure to give two copies in that case, his and hers - and if the book ends up saving the marriage, I'll give a refund for the second copy!).

You can donate online using a special BYU URL for LDS Philanthropies: http://give.byu.edu/engineer. Be sure to select the Chemical Engineering Department to qualify for the loot I'm giving. You can also make a pledge and send in a check, if you prefer. Then email me or mail me a copy of your receipt or some portion of it, along with an address for me to ship your loot, and you're good to go. My email is jeff at jefflindsay dot com. Use the term "BYU LOOT" in the subject line to help me catch it.

This is a good time to be generous. Dig deep, make a generous donation to support scholarships at BYU, and enjoy some loot that could eventually more than compensate you for your kind gift to others.

The Need for Reverence: One Hour of Chaos Is Worth a Thousand Anti-Mormon Books

2009-09-21T07:23:00.007-05:00

In the great battle for human souls, one hour of chaos in Sacrament meeting is worth a thousand anti-Mormon books.

One of the interesting insights one obtains in talking with non-LDS folks who have looked into our faith is just how difficult we members can make it for others to have any interest in the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. The people who walk through our chapel doors for the first time to attend sacrament meeting may come with heightened expectations about the joys of worshiping with "the real" Church of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, for at least a few, what they find may disappoint or upset them - especially if they've been to a "real" church before, one like the Lutheran Church or the Roman Catholic Church where meetings are generally conducted professionally and where the congregation tends to be quiet and reverent.

Yes, of course, we Latter-day Saints are proud that we emphasize families and that we encourage whole families to attend our main worship service, Sacrament meeting, where children are welcome (for the most part). Many of our congregations and perhaps a majority of parents do a great job when it comes to reverence. But there are far too many problems. I would encourage all of us to step back and look at what's happening. Chances are we could do much better in many of our wards and branches. Apathy about reverence is not just making it hard for our fellow members to enjoy the meeting. It's keeping people away who could accept the blessings of the Gospel if only we weren't so inconsiderate. It's not just kids, of course, but adults as well who can talk and be sources of distraction in meetings. We need to be more sensitive to those around us and make sure we aren't creating barriers to the workings of the Spirit.

Here's email I received yesterday which reminded me that it's time to raise this issue again:

In our ward in [an East Coast city] it could only be described as somewhere between a picnic and chaotic event. Most families with children dump out their "activity bag" as soon as they claim a bench (which usually happens between when the Bishop starts and the Sacrament ends) and the snack fest ensues. It is becoming the trend for some children to wander from family to family to see what everybody else has. The loud voices, wandering, crunching and talking is killing me. The leaderships families are counted with the offenders, so approaching them, I fear, would be a direct offense.

First, let me say that we all need to be compassionate and tolerant of families with kids and especially the challenges of being a parent of young children. We want our families to feel welcome and our young mothers and fathers to be part of our worship. Kids will make noise, and we need to recognize that. Newcomers should be warned that it may be noisier than they are used to because we encourage whole families to attend and often have a lot of small children. But welcoming families and being understanding of parents with young children is not the same as embracing systematic chaos. We can do much better. Not only must we be understanding toward parents with energetic kids, but toward those who have come to sacrament meeting to learn and to worship.

Brothers and sisters, all the efforts our missionaries go through to get someone to walk through the door can be wasted if we neglect reverence. They can be wasted if you keep your screaming child in the chapel instead of immediately retreating elsewhere to be considerate to the rest of the congregation. They can be wasted if your idea of worship is to have a bench of children playing with electronic games and munching from three bags of snacks throughout the meeting, never attempting to pay attention to the messages from the pulpit. Yes, kids will be kids, but kids can be trained and might not always need a massive bag of toys and vast collection of snacks to sit quietly for an hour (but I know from experience that they can really help at times - but there are some poor choices to avoid here). One thing that helped with our four boys was preparing them during the week, teaching them how to sit quietly and providing instructions on what is appropriate and not in the chapel.

I suggest we all step back and consider what impact our family's behavior and our personal actions are having on people, including those who might be visiting for the first time.

Bishops, your own families face the special disadvantage of not having a father. At least not one there on the bench to help kids be reverent. As a result, your young family (if this fits) may well be one of the most challenging examples of poor reverence, even if your wife is a true supermom. You may need to get some help for your family or take special steps to prepare (I think most already do this). The example of reverence or chaos that your family sets will have an effect on the whole ward. You must be the driver for enhanced reverence. Your example, your instructions, and your inspired direction to the ward can help tame the chaos and create an atmosphere more conducive to the Spirit, one that will give visitors a chance at becoming members. How to improve reverence is worth prayerful consideration and periodic discussion in your ward council meetings. It affects some of the most fundamental aspects of the Church: our ability to worship meaningfully, and our ability to attract and retain members.

One hour of reverent worship, where members and visitors can feel the Spirit of the Lord, can be more influential than a thousand books and websites. Let's give people a chance!

Teachings from an Early Christian Epistle: The Letter to Diognetus

2009-09-14T07:23:00.002-05:00

A beautiful early Christian writing, the Letter to Digonetus, has been dated at 100-150 A.D. and is sometimes called the earliest example of Christian apologetics written to a non-Christian audience (some additional background is given in the Introduction at CCEL.org). Its author is unknown.

Here are a few excerpts that might be of interest to LDS readers. Chapter 6, for example, discusses our dual nature, explaining that we have an immortal spirit contained within our physical body. A simple point, but one that has been the subject of much confusion among some in modern Christianity.

Chapter 6. To put it simply: What the soul is in the body, that Christians are in the world. 2 The soul is dispersed through all the members of the body, and Christians are scattered through all the cities of the world. 3 The soul dwells in the body, but does not belong to the body, and Christians dwell in the world, but do not belong to the world. 4 The soul, which is invisible, is kept under guard in the visible body; in the same way, Christians are recognised when they are in the world, but their religion remains unseen. . . . 7 The soul is shut up in the body, and yet itself holds the body together; while Christians are restrained in the world as in a prison, and yet themselves hold the world together. 8 The soul, which is immortal, is housed in a mortal dwelling; while Christians are settled among corruptible things, to wait for the incorruptibility that will be theirs in heaven. 9 The soul, when faring badly as to food and drink, grows better; so too Christians, when punished, day by day increase more and more.

Chapter 7, at least as I read it, speaks of the role of Christ and His relationship to the Father in terms very similar to the nuances of LDS theology. Christ, though (implicitly) a separate being, is like the Father and is God also, but under the direction of the Father, who had Christ act as the Creator and who sent Him into the world.

2 On the contrary, it was really the Ruler of all, the Creator of all, the invisible God himself, who from heaven established the truth and the holy, incomprehensible word among men, and fixed it firmly in their hearts. Nor, as one might suppose, did he do this by sending to men some subordinate—an angel, or principality, or one of those who administer earthly affairs, or perhaps one of those to whom the government of things in heaven is entrusted. Rather, he sent the Designer and Maker of the universe himself, by whom he created the heavens and confined the sea within its own bounds—him whose hidden purposes all the elements of the world faithfully carry out, him from whom the sun has received the measure of the daily rounds that it must keep, him whom the moon obeys when he commands her to shine by night, and whom the stars obey as they follow the course of the moon. He sent him by whom all things have been set in order and distinguished and placed in subjection—the heavens and the things that are in the heavens, the earth and the things in the earth, the sea and the things in the sea, fire, air, the unfathomed pit, the things in the heights and in the depths and in the realm between; God sent him to men. 3 Now, did he send him, as a human mind might assume, to rule by tyranny, fear, and terror? 4 Far from it! He sent him out of kindness and gentleness, like a king sending his son who is himself a king. He sent him as God; he sent him as man to men.

In Chapters 9 and 10, we have reference to the great Plan of God, established with His Son, Jesus Christ, that allows us to be free and capable of sinning, but also provided escape from our sins. The fruits of the Fall, including the free agency we have to choose God or to choose sin, appear to be part of God's great Plan of Salvation, to use LDS terminology. Indeed, God's Plan gives us power to become something much more than mere children in ignorance, but beings of knowledge and capability who can become "imitators of God" through service and charity.

Chapter 9 And so, when he had planned everything by himself in union with his Child, he still allowed us, through the former time, to be carried away by undisciplined impulses, captivated by pleasures and lusts, just as we pleased. That does not mean that he took any delight in our sins, but only that he showed patience. He did not approve at all of that season of wickedness, but on the contrary, all the time he was creating the present age of righteousness, so that we, who in the past had by our own actions been proved unworthy of life, might now be deemed worthy, thanks to God's goodness. Then, when we had shown ourselves incapable of entering the Kingdom of God by our own efforts, we might be made capable of doing so by the power of God. 2 And so, when our unrighteousness had come to its full term, and it had become perfectly plain that its recompense of punishment and death had to be expected, then the season arrived in which God had determined to show at last his goodness and power. O the overflowing kindness and love of God toward man! God did not hate us, or drive us away, or bear us ill will. Rather, he was long-suffering and forbearing. In his mercy, he took up the burden of our sins. He himself gave up his own Son as a ransom for us—the holy one for the unjust, the innocent for the guilty, the righteous one for the unrighteous, the incorruptible for the corruptible, the immortal for the mortal. . . .

Chapter 10 If you too yearn for this faith, then first of all you must acquire full knowledge of the Father. 2 For God loved men, and made the world for their sake, and put everything on earth under them. He gave them reason and intelligence, and to them alone he entrusted the capacity for looking upward to him, since he formed them after his own image. It was to them that he sent his only-begotten Son, and to them that he promised the Kingdom in heaven which he will give to those who love him. 3 And when you have acquired this knowledge, think with what joy you will be filled! Think how you will love him, who first loved you so! 4 And when you love him, you will be an imitator of his goodness. And do not be surprised to hear that a man can become an imitator of God. He can, because God wills it.

5 To be happy does not, indeed, consist in lording it over one's neighbors, or in longing to have some advantage over the weaker ones, or in being rich and ordering one's inferiors about. It is not in this way that any man can imitate God, for such things are alien to his majesty. 6 But if a man takes his neighbor's burden on himself, and is willing to help his inferior in some respect in which he himself is better off, and, by providing the needy with what he himself possesses because he has received it from God, becomes a god to those who receive it—then this man is an imitator of God.

Many interesting passages for contemplation!

The Spiritual Dangers (and Blessings) of Blogging

2009-09-06T21:22:00.001-05:00

Moments after Latter-day Saints got the message that blogging could help share the Gospel, we began to hear refreshed warnings about the dangers of the Internet, and not just for all the filth that it enables, but for the great time sink that it offers and for the distraction it can be from all the good we can be doing. This is a serious issue. I blog, have Web pages, and even Twitter a little. They are all distractions from many things I should probably be doing instead. Blogging takes way too much time, as does everything else interesting on the Web. I'd be more productive if I dropped it all completely. All that keeps me dedicated to squeezing out an occasional post or Tweet or Web update is a selfless desire to help the world and unbridled narcissism, or something in between.

In "Good, Better, Best," Elder Oaks wisely reminds us of the trade-offs inherent to every choice with our finite time in mortality:

Consider how we use our time in the choices we make in viewing television, playing video games, surfing the Internet, or reading books or magazines. Of course it is good to view wholesome entertainment or to obtain interesting information. But not everything of that sort is worth the portion of our life we give to obtain it. Some things are better, and others are best.

I wonder where Twitter falls on the good to best continuum? Perhaps micro-blogging is totally off the chart, next to macro-blogging.

In May, Elder Bednar cautioned against being absorbed in social Web sites and specifically mentioned Twitter, to the chagrin of some of us who had fallen prey to its lure. A video of his May talk was shown on the last Sunday in August in the combined Relief Society and Priesthood meeting I attended, along with some direct and occasionally painful warnings from the bishop of the ward. One of the great advantages to being on the High Council and visiting other wards is that when a bishop gives council that hurts, I can process it as counsel to his ward and not to me. Sweet. And I wasn't there in my home ward to hear our bishop say much the same thing to my ward (according to my son, who was there and listened). So I'm excused, thank you.

Fortunately, the pain of Elder Bednar's tough counsel for those of us who blog and micro-blog was mitigated at roughly the same time by welcome spiritual guidance from an Apostle, Elder Dieter Uchtdorf, in his General Conference address in the Spring of 2009, printed in the May 2009 Ensign, entitled "We Are Doing a Great Work and Cannot Come Down":

Sometimes the things that distract us are not bad in and of themselves; often they even make us feel good.

It is possible to take even good things to excess. One example can be seen in a father or grandfather who spends hours upon hours searching for his ancestors or creating a blog while neglecting or avoiding quality or meaningful time with his own children and grandchildren.

Sweet! There's an Apostle, in General Conference, discussing blogging not as something inherently questionable, but as something that can be good. How good? AS GOOD AS SEARCHING FOR OUR ANCESTORS. Family history work, one of the most important spiritual activities in the Church with eternal significance, something worthy of vast sacrifices on the part of faithful members, has been placed on the same plane as blogging. While we must be careful not to do either too much, we LDS bloggers can find solace in knowing that our work is far more spiritually significant that we ever dreamed. Except perhaps when we're blogging about Britney.

Seriously, though, I agree with all the warnings regarding misused time and Internet excesses. The resources of the Internet, like anything else that is fun, can be addicting or a source of harmful excess. We must always practice self-control and wisdom and not twitter away or blog away our lives. When we do pursue social networking, what is our goal? What is our goal for all the things we do in life? Are we seeking to build up the kingdom of God, fulfill our duties, and bless the lives of others? Are we seeking to be honest, diligent employees doing our best and earning our pay fairly? Are we looking for ways to magnify our callings and do more good? Then maybe that blog, those tweets, or that Warcraft mission will achieve something meaningful.

At the same time, it is natural that new technologies will create social tension and distrust as non-users or late adopters question the changing lifestyles of early fans or fanatics. Some developments that are promising and useful may be viewed as foolish by outsiders. If some of our local and other leaders occasionally seem a little too concerned about the opportunities of rising technologies, let's be patient with them, while also being humble enough to actually listen to the counsel and honestly consider whether we have a problem that might need correction.

Christmas Every Week

2009-09-06T19:57:00.003-05:00

A friend of mine was recently asked what church he went to by a new colleague at work. Upon learning that he was LDS, the woman replied, "Oh, you people don't do Christmas, do you?" Many of us have encountered people with exactly that misconception. Yes, we are Christian and do celebrate the birth of Christ - pagan social aspects included. In fact, when it comes to "Christ Mass," the celebration, worship, and remembrance of Christ, we have it every week during our Sacrament service, similar to communion. Each person who has covenanted to follow Christ by accepting baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost is asked to renew that covenant weekly by partaking of the Sacrament. The ceremony of administering the sacrament may look pretty quiet and dull, but it can be an intensely spiritual moment of renewal and personal reflection on our relationship with Christ was we partake of the bread and water of the Sacrament (yeah, we've been using water for a while instead of alcoholic wine, but for us the water still symbolizes the blood of Christ). So while we put up Christmas lights, pass out presents we can't afford, eat too many sweets, and promote the slaughter of young Christmas trees in December (helping to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, so I guess it's green), we also stay focused on the real message behind Christmas and do so every week of the year. Many other Christians do the same, of course. May we all make every week a true Christmas celebration, and go easy on the sweets and credit card expenditures in December.

Maybe Obedience Isn't a Dirty Word After All

2009-08-30T06:55:00.009-05:00

One of the passages of scripture I've used frequently discussions with fellow Christians objecting to LDS beliefs comes from Deuteronomy 4:2. I've often used that in clarifying some Book of Mormon issues (what does John mean when he warns others not to add or subtract to the words of his book? is he saying that God cannot or will not continue to speak?). Today, though, I'd like to call attention to the last phrase in the verse:

Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

Today I'd like to speak to some of our Christian critics by putting in a good word for keeping the commandments. I think many Christians will naturally agree, but there are those who get bent out of shape by the excesses of critical theology.

For some, the phrase "keep the commandments" immediately smacks of denying the grace of Christ and proudly relying on works for salvation. This is often fueled by misunderstanding that the "law" that is so clearly abandoned in the New Testament refers to the Law of Moses, the system of rites, including animal sacrifices, and detailed rules that was a schoolmaster to prepare a hard-hearted generation for the coming of Christ and the higher laws of the the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Laws and commandments are still there, and obedience to the will of God is still asked of those who wish to received the unlimited grace Christ offers. It's not that anything we can do can wash away our sins, or earn the infinitely precious gift of resurrection or eternal life. But the blessings of grace are extended to us in the framework of a covenant relationship. If we follow God and worship Him in a covenant relationship, He offers His blessings to us in return. It is all by grace, but there are conditions upon which the gift is given.

By understanding that, we see that all the teachings in the Old Testament about following God and repenting of sins weren't abominable tripe, but truly were a schoolmaster to bring people to God.

When God spoke to Moses about our need to "keep the commandments," it wasn't a cruel joke. That phrase, used so many times in the Old Testament (e.g., "Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God" in Deut. 6:17, with related language in many other places), is no more irrelevant today than the statement, "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments," as spoken by Jesus Christ in Matthew 19:17. Some of the commandments have changed, and our understanding of their role and our relationship to God has been greatly clarified, but the principle of obeying God has not been abandoned. His grace is essential for us to overcome our failures and sins, and to gain strength to overcome and follow Him, but the standard remains there and we are asked to obey Him with faith and diligence.

While there are numerous New Testament passages that speak of the importance of obedience by Christians, here are a few using "keep the commandments" terminology that may be helpful reminders:

1 John 5:2, 3 - "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."

Rev. 12:17 - "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." (Nice mix: the combination of commandment keeping and people with a testimony of Jesus Christ.)

Rev. 14:12 - "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." (Yes, faith and commandment keeping do belong together among those who follow Christ in a covenant relationship, known in New Testament times as the Saints.)

Of course, neither the New Testament nor Old Testament are misleading people in stressing the importance of obeying God and keeping His commandments. It's part of what God asks of those who wish to accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That concept is abundantly expressed not only in the New Testament, but also in the earliest Christian writings after the New Testament, such as in the collection known as the Apostolic Fathers, where we find many sermons that often sound rather like modern LDS General Conference sermons to the Saints rather than lectures on the irrelevance of obedience.

One of the most self-evident reasons why Mormons aren't Christians, according to one local pastor who wrote a letter to the editor in my community on this topic a number of years ago, is our Third Article of Faith:

We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

He cited that as if it removed all doubt that we aren't Christian. The idea that we should strive to keep God's laws and commandments to access the power of the Atonement clearly meant, in his opinion, that we Mormons, in spite of worshiping Jesus Christ, had flawed theology and thus couldn't be Christian. We would fail the Great Theology Quiz on the day of judgment and suffer eternal doom (not to mention flunking the Big Quiz for not embracing the most up-to-date metaphysical formulations regarding the Trinity).

I think he's wrong, and would encourage him to think more openly about what the Bible is teaching. Just read the Gospel of John, for example, and look at the numerous teachings of Christ, and then see if the Third Article of Faith really is so apostate after all. We may have difference nuances on how we interpret the workings of grace, the judgment of God, and the role of human free agency in this process of mortality, but isn't is possible that there can be different understandings by people who still truly believe in and seek to follow Jesus Christ? Even those who seek to follow Him by seriously trying to implement His teachings in what may look shamefully like obedience, even intentional obedience? But there's nothing to be ashamed of: obedience is not a dirty word, but one that Christians should use proudly. No, humbly. That's it. Humbly. Humble obedience is the call, actually, and the great example set by Jesus Christ:

Philip. 2:8 - "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

Hebrews 5:8 - "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered."

Psyched about Singapore! Been There? Looking for Tips

2009-08-26T22:44:00.005-05:00

One of my wishes for many years has been to visit Singapore, the beautiful island nation with some of the world's best research and innovation. Plus it's a multicultural gem. After a recent interview of one of Singapore's innovation leaders for my Innovation Fatigue blog, my desire to go there tripled. So you can imagine I was thrilled this week to receive an invitation to speak there in October during their innovation week. Wow! I'm just small fry, but that's a pond I want to swim in for a couple days. Can't wait! Am trying to brush up my weak Mandarin skills. Will be staying close to China Town.

If you live in Singapore or have been there, I'm hoping for travel tips, suggested photo ops, and maybe even a little about the state of the Church there. Also how to eat cheaply. And if there are cool people you know that I should meet, let me know.

A science fiction novel I've been working on in rare spare time has a significant segment that occurs in Singapore, which further increases my excitement about going there.

I'm also intrigued that the name of one of Singapore's beautiful butterflies is the Great Mormon. Any of you know the history behind that? (Hmm, please don't tell me that's where Joseph Smith turned to plagiarize the name Mormon.) Naturally, the Great Mormon butterfly is--you guessed it--true blue. I'll overlook the fact that it is an insect.

Inspired Sleep: A Few Tips for Overcoming Sleep Disorders

2009-08-25T06:42:00.004-05:00

It took me several decades to realize how important good sleep habits are, and how valuable sound sleep is. It took that long to realize that some of my recurring health challenges were related to bad sleep habits. When I was in school, my tendency to stay up late reading or doing homework was directly tied to increased chances of catching a cold or suffering from respiratory infection. I finally realized that there is a raging battle between bacteria and me, and if I wore myself out, they would begin to win.

During the time I served as a bishop, I began to have some recurring frustrations with sleep. Insomnia struck occasionally and left me more weary than I should have been. I sought for solutions and found several things that help - at least that help me. Your results may vary. But the most important factor came from the LDS scriptures. Doctrine & Covenants 88:124 seems like basic wisdom, but it truly helped me:

Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated.

So much like the old saying, "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." (A saying known as early as 1639.) By being taught in the scriptures, I was able to take this principle much more seriously. For my physiology and schedule, I have found that 11 pm is the time when faith needs to take over to help me obey what is a personal commandment for me now (with some flexible exceptions). It takes tremendous faith to walk away from my computer or stop whatever I'm doing to get to sleep. I've always got a dozen things on my mind and want to do so much more, but when I obey and get to sleep anyway, I'm able to arise early and get more done the next day than if I had stayed up another hour or so, for I'll be less effective in most cases by staying up later.

When I stay up too late, for some reason I find it much more difficult to get to sleep and and am more likely to wake up far too early. It's as if the most important sleep for me is early in the sleep cycle, and if I mess that up, even sleeping in the next morning (rarely possible) doesn't do a whole lot of good. If I get to bed on time, I also have better and more interesting dreams, often around 4 or 5 am, and I can arise early and be ready to go. In fact, with good sleep, many of my best ideas are brewing in my mind as I awake, along with occasional inspired guidance - I think that's a key time for personal revelation, somehow. Sleep and inspiration may have a connection, in my personal experience. Shame to miss out on either.

Here are some other things I've found in my observations and experimentation (they may not work for you):

Eating much food after 8 or 9 pm can reduce my quality of sleep. Ice cream in particular is not wise for me late at night, and other sugars and perhaps dairy products don't seem favorable for sleep. (A bite of apple, on the other hand, seems to help me, but not apple juice.)

Melatonin really helps me. It's a natural compound available in the vitamin sections of places like Walgreens and CVS. Helps your body sleep. I prefer the 8-hour time release (5 mg), sold by Walgreens, over regular melatonin. The regular stuff last for 3 or 4 hours only. First time I bought it, I thought it was like a vitamin and popped a pill around 1 pm, then went back to work. I was quite drowsy that afternoon!

Family scripture study and family prayer help me. If we've had them, I feel better about the day and that helps me sleep a little better. When I worry about the things where I messed up or failed as a parent, I sleep worse. So trying to live the Gospel helps. It really does bring rest. At least to those who feel guilty when they don't live it.

Breathing patterns make a difference when I'm struggling to sleep. Sometimes I do wake up in the middle of the night or struggle to get to sleep for various reasons anyway. I found that controlled breathing really helps me relax and fall asleep. I will slowly inhale as I count to 7, and then slowly exhale also counting to seven. Doing this for a couple minutes usually helps me get back to sleep. I owe this tip to my wife, who once purchased "The Wild Divine" biofeedback system for me to help me learn relaxation techniques as a step in helping me with my sleep problems. As strange as that New Age game was, it did help me learn that I can do a lot to control my physical state, and that by practicing controlled breathing and mentally relaxing, I really could change my physiology and improve things. Very grateful for that learning.

Helping tired people to sleep better is something I've been doing recently in my new calling. Seeing the weary filing get some deep sleep always makes me feel great at the end of a long talk as a High Council speaker. But you don't have to catch one of my sermons to enjoy such blessings.

I hope some of these suggestions might help you when you struggle with sleep.

Mixing It Up, Mormon Style: Tom Dickson of "Will It Blend" Fame

2009-08-19T19:21:00.004-05:00

BYU Magazine recently published "Will It Blend?" by Charlene Renberg Winters, featuring the famous guru of blender mayhem, Tom Dickson, CEO of Blendtec in Orem, Utah, and a BYU alumnus. Millions have seen Tom in Youtube videos where he demonstrates what his powerful blenders can do to, say, cell phones, boards, tin cans, butane lighters, or other objects. Crazy, dangerous, and highly viral. Sweet! See WillItBlend.com for more. That's not meant to be a product endorsement. In fact, I'm horrified by the product - especially seeing what it did to an iPhone. NOOOO!

I understand someone has proposed putting an anti-LDS street preacher and me into a giant blender to what happens when apologists and antis mix it up. Makes my head spin just thinking about it. I prefer to shake things up virtually, here at Mormanity.org.

Well, I'm happy for Tom, and pleased to see how interesting LDS people sometimes turn up in the strangest places and make their mark on the world in such unexpected ways. Blend on, Tom!