Last night I emailed Pat (my gender neutral pseudonym for the questioning wardmember). Pat’s question had been: why did I leave the church in the first place? I hacked on the keyboard, generating three or four screens of bulleted reasons. My list had collected really esoteric tidbits about Fanny Alger, Elkenah, Zelph, Kinderhook, Psalters, Haplogroup X2a, Chakras, and the more common ones some members have heard about. It’s a protracted list that’s taken me over five general conference cycles to accumulate. I was about to paste the mega-clipboard into an email for Pat, but stopped myself. Pat’s email was short and to the point. I should be too.
me: I couldn't keep having faith in fundamental claims that have clearly contrary evidence and facts.
That is all I sent. That was late last night. Then I received another one-line reply from Pat just a moment ago:
Pat: What facts and evidence have you found?
Now here is where I am torn. I could go back and paste that bucket-o-facts to know before you die, or I could simply send the link MormonThink to Pat. Most of my list items have links to MormonThink already. However... There’s a problem...
I don’t want anyone I meet in person to know I’m associated with, let alone managing editor at, MormonThink. I don't even want Pat to find it serendipitously -- It could get me in a sort of pickle and cut short my church activity.
What to do, what to do. Suggestions?
Roots go deep if branches reach up.
(Oahu, HI, 2008)
"However... There’s a problem...
ReplyDeleteI don’t want anyone I meet in person to know I’m associated with, let alone managing editor at, MormonThink. I don't even want Pat to find it serendipitously -- It could get me in a sort of pickle and cut short my church activity.
What to do, what to do. Suggestions?"
No man can serve two masters.
My suggestion... get on your knees. Ask the one that you know has the answers you seek. Then wait for the answer. Sometimes the answer that you get is not the one you want, but it is for your best. I've been where you are. It worked for me.
My concern is always the same. My testimony relies on one thing. Jesus Christ. I focus on that and I never go wrong. How many angels did Abraham see? How big was Noah's ship? How did Moroni carry the plates? What was it like when Mary rode the donkey for all those miles? I have counseled so many people who have gotten hung up on small things. The big thing is Jesus Christ. He is the center of my worship. He is who I think about during Sacrament. I use him as a barometer always. He is who I seek at the temple....I have been insulted horribly at church...but I love something bigger than the small things that could get in my way. The Savior. The Book Of Mormon is something that proves even more that He lives...I have gotten past the fact that every thing and every body better be perfect.
ReplyDeleteThere is an interesting fact that I never see anywhere.....no where, any where can anyone find any children of Joseph's other than the ones he had with Emma. If he was having sex everywhere, with everyone wouldn't there be more children? Brigham Young has lots of children.....just wondering.
When people wonder if they should be members, ask them about the Savior....
Wise words.
ReplyDelete