2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: KJV
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture given by inspiration of God is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: IV
At first blush these passages look pretty much alike, but look again. Notice the absence of the word "is" in the IV. (Get thee behind me, Bill Clinton!) Further on, the word "and" comes before "is". This changes the meaning of the IV drastically from KJV. How, you may ask. Well, if you insert the words "that is" between "scripture" and"given" you'll see the change: All scripture that is given by inspiration of God is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:".
What does that mean? By default that implies some scripture is not given by inspiration of God, according to the IV. What scripture would that be? According to Mr. Strong, scripture is a holy writ. Mr. Webster states "the Books of the Bible." But we can't go along with Mr. W. because, according to Joseph Smith, the three standard books are considered scripture. However, this presents a dilemma: the Book of Commandments would have been considered scripture, but was mostly destroyed. The Doctrine and Covenants is considered scripture, but contains sections which have been consigned to the Appendix because they are no longer considered—scripture. Does this mean that at one time these sections were inspired by God but that He changed His mind? Ludicrous as it sounds that's exactly the way it seems, because that's exactly what the RLDS/Restored Church did. Sections of the Doctrine and Covenants have been hop-scotching around since the first "Thus saith the Lord" erupted from the mouth of the prophet.
But the real quandary lies in the implication that some "scripture" is not inspired of God. But I thought scripture was holy. And I thought the Inspired Version was—inspired. So which part of inspired is not inspired? If every word Joseph put into the Inspired Version was inspired, fine. But why would this disclaimer be slipped in? If every word he put into the D&C is not inspired, where did he draw the line? By what authority? What about sections which have been added since his death? Again, whose authority? This verse seems to leave "wiggle room" for whatever has come forth since the beginning of the church. Convenient.
In His Love
Seeker
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Monday Morning Rant (9)
Since I won’t be available to vent my views for a week or so, you’ll just have to wait. I have twenty grand kids including five in Las Vegas and six in Tucson. It’s been far too long since we have gotten together. Now is the time. Since I don’t have a lap-top and I’m driving, I will be (blessedly) relieved of my responsibility for a short time. But rest assured, when I get home I should have plenty to say.
Happily, a couple of these kids are being home schooled. Their parents are very active Christians and that means they are in a parochial school. I am much relieved they are free from the influences of a public education. They will also be free to fail, to achieve, and to learn as a result. They will be exempt from the warped “modern” ideas promoted by the NEA and the government. The emphasis will be shifted to the three R’s and morality rather than a focus on political correctness and diversity. They will be able to call on the Greatest Teacher to enhance their learning. Rejoice with me on this one.
What about those less fortunate who have to endure the curricula proffered by agenda driven bureaucrats and the peace at any price crowd. Many families are not in a position, either financially or intellectually to follow this path. School vouchers are not universally available either. Are we prepared to step in and supplement their “educations” with real experience and hard won knowledge? Will we be there to correct the misinformation, the Darwinism, the cultural clap-trap and the rest of the ideological brainwashing which is perpetrated by the educational establishment? As a grandparent, I feel a keen obligation to assist my children, if they wish, to provide additional insights for their use in the little ones' development. My only wish is that they were closer.
Since I will be on the road, I would appreciate your prayers. I’ll see you in about ten days.
In His abiding love
Cecil Moon
Happily, a couple of these kids are being home schooled. Their parents are very active Christians and that means they are in a parochial school. I am much relieved they are free from the influences of a public education. They will also be free to fail, to achieve, and to learn as a result. They will be exempt from the warped “modern” ideas promoted by the NEA and the government. The emphasis will be shifted to the three R’s and morality rather than a focus on political correctness and diversity. They will be able to call on the Greatest Teacher to enhance their learning. Rejoice with me on this one.
What about those less fortunate who have to endure the curricula proffered by agenda driven bureaucrats and the peace at any price crowd. Many families are not in a position, either financially or intellectually to follow this path. School vouchers are not universally available either. Are we prepared to step in and supplement their “educations” with real experience and hard won knowledge? Will we be there to correct the misinformation, the Darwinism, the cultural clap-trap and the rest of the ideological brainwashing which is perpetrated by the educational establishment? As a grandparent, I feel a keen obligation to assist my children, if they wish, to provide additional insights for their use in the little ones' development. My only wish is that they were closer.
Since I will be on the road, I would appreciate your prayers. I’ll see you in about ten days.
In His abiding love
Cecil Moon
Saturday, October 13, 2007
“here am I, send me.”
Among my peers are folks with many years experience with the same firm, doing the same job until their eventual retirement. Their persistence is certainly laudable. They do, however, often point with pride that it demonstrates unchallengeable knowledge of their particular area of expertise. There may be some merit to their allegation. Personally, I prefer to believe they have actually had one year on the job repeated forty or more times. That’s great as far as it goes but in the end the prize is more likely a secure retirement package than acquired knowledge.
You have read here many times that I and others have been in the church for forty years. You have also read, in my case, that earlier, the orthodox church was not available to me for many of those years. This means then, that my experience was highly varied. I did not enjoy the comfort of years of consecutive repetition of our simple rituals. I could not count on seeing the same elders on the podium year in and year out. I could not rely on the same hymns being repeated annually. Although a delight, I couldn’t have the world’s best chicken and noodles (if you disbelieve this, you have never been to our branch) prepared by the same sister every second Sunday. One does not worship Almighty God from a “rut” so I shall refrain from using that analogy. However, one does tend to settle in to the routine and not pay as much attention to the sermon locally or the happenings in the church in general.
This repetitive cognizance is very limiting. It was in this atmosphere that the apostasy and ultimate breakup of the greater body was accomplished. The membership gave complete trust to the leadership, enjoyed the basket dinner, praised the sermon, bowed during the prayers and we were blissfully unaware of the momentous developments in Independence. We, in our blind and misplaced trust, allowed false prophets to dominate and destroy that which we held so dear. Friends, I am willing to accept the blame, as should you if you are described in the above paragraphs. If you are ever alert and fully aware of those things which our leadership proposes and disposes, then you are not the villains. Otherwise, join me on the blame train.
Does this mean we can continue blissfully on? Should we conclude our former behavior was right for the church and the Glory of God? I think not. We must be ever questioning, examining and be in a relentless pursuit of truth and His will. But, you plead, they are doing their best and only seek what God intends. That being the case, they will welcome any inquiry. They will happily explain their actions and intentions for the body of believers. We establish validity in men at the time of their ordination that they are truly called of God. We support them with congregational acceptance. We are not always rewarded with actions which match our confidence. Dare we say it? Not only do we dare, we are required to do so. We are required as Saints to be ever on the alert for false teachings, doctrines and actions which are not supported by our scriptures and our prayers.
We only have one leader in this church. The sign says it all, The Restored Church of Jesus Christ. Even He says He is a servant. People asked Him questions and received answers. Although occasionally chided for the attitudes inherent in the questions, they always got a response. I really don’t believe that He equivocated and left people in the dark as to where He stood on a multitude of issues. Are we so busy, so important that we cannot emulate the Master? One doesn’t have to be able to turn water into wine to do this. All one has to do is tell the truth.
When I asked a member of the Peace and Justice committee about the necessity of apology to members of the Community of Christ, he did not really address the question but rather accused me of a lack of forgiveness. Does forgiveness entail suddenly agreeing with their current doctrinal posture? What really offended me was the glib action of turning my legitimate inquiry into a personal accusation. Are these the men who would lead? I have met outstanding men among the Saints whom I know have wisdom, faith and devotion to their Savior which transcends all personal goals and ambitions. The great puzzle to me is how we manage to keep their light under the bushel in favor of the ones we currently have.
This brings us back to the original discussion. This Restoration is going to require that we move from our comfort zone and into the arena to fight for those things which His church deserves. This means we must challenge false doctrine when we hear it. We must be on the alert to prevent that ennui which sets in from pew warming. We must recover our voice and share our strengths and our voice. We must renew ourselves as Christians.
In His abiding love,
Cecil Moon
You have read here many times that I and others have been in the church for forty years. You have also read, in my case, that earlier, the orthodox church was not available to me for many of those years. This means then, that my experience was highly varied. I did not enjoy the comfort of years of consecutive repetition of our simple rituals. I could not count on seeing the same elders on the podium year in and year out. I could not rely on the same hymns being repeated annually. Although a delight, I couldn’t have the world’s best chicken and noodles (if you disbelieve this, you have never been to our branch) prepared by the same sister every second Sunday. One does not worship Almighty God from a “rut” so I shall refrain from using that analogy. However, one does tend to settle in to the routine and not pay as much attention to the sermon locally or the happenings in the church in general.
This repetitive cognizance is very limiting. It was in this atmosphere that the apostasy and ultimate breakup of the greater body was accomplished. The membership gave complete trust to the leadership, enjoyed the basket dinner, praised the sermon, bowed during the prayers and we were blissfully unaware of the momentous developments in Independence. We, in our blind and misplaced trust, allowed false prophets to dominate and destroy that which we held so dear. Friends, I am willing to accept the blame, as should you if you are described in the above paragraphs. If you are ever alert and fully aware of those things which our leadership proposes and disposes, then you are not the villains. Otherwise, join me on the blame train.
Does this mean we can continue blissfully on? Should we conclude our former behavior was right for the church and the Glory of God? I think not. We must be ever questioning, examining and be in a relentless pursuit of truth and His will. But, you plead, they are doing their best and only seek what God intends. That being the case, they will welcome any inquiry. They will happily explain their actions and intentions for the body of believers. We establish validity in men at the time of their ordination that they are truly called of God. We support them with congregational acceptance. We are not always rewarded with actions which match our confidence. Dare we say it? Not only do we dare, we are required to do so. We are required as Saints to be ever on the alert for false teachings, doctrines and actions which are not supported by our scriptures and our prayers.
We only have one leader in this church. The sign says it all, The Restored Church of Jesus Christ. Even He says He is a servant. People asked Him questions and received answers. Although occasionally chided for the attitudes inherent in the questions, they always got a response. I really don’t believe that He equivocated and left people in the dark as to where He stood on a multitude of issues. Are we so busy, so important that we cannot emulate the Master? One doesn’t have to be able to turn water into wine to do this. All one has to do is tell the truth.
When I asked a member of the Peace and Justice committee about the necessity of apology to members of the Community of Christ, he did not really address the question but rather accused me of a lack of forgiveness. Does forgiveness entail suddenly agreeing with their current doctrinal posture? What really offended me was the glib action of turning my legitimate inquiry into a personal accusation. Are these the men who would lead? I have met outstanding men among the Saints whom I know have wisdom, faith and devotion to their Savior which transcends all personal goals and ambitions. The great puzzle to me is how we manage to keep their light under the bushel in favor of the ones we currently have.
This brings us back to the original discussion. This Restoration is going to require that we move from our comfort zone and into the arena to fight for those things which His church deserves. This means we must challenge false doctrine when we hear it. We must be on the alert to prevent that ennui which sets in from pew warming. We must recover our voice and share our strengths and our voice. We must renew ourselves as Christians.
In His abiding love,
Cecil Moon
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Committees
Of all the creations of man, the committee is possibly the worst on every level.
In government, it has a paralyzing effect on the deliberative bodies. When our elected leaders desire to promote a personal agenda in public, they establish an investigative committee. The only thing which is usually accomplished is defamation of character and posturing before the media searching for a sound bite.
In the bureaucracy of departments it provides yet another opportunity to waste time and money (yours) that would be much better spent on the projects they are assigned to accomplish. The national education establishment from the secretary on down to the most minor minions of the local school is hamstrung by one committee after another. I am not saying that this is the exclusive reason for the declining accomplishment of students at all levels but it obviously doesn’t help.
In the military years ago, I don’t seem to remember busy little bodies of men meeting over coffee and little cakes “dialoging.” As I recall, we really didn’t have time for it. In our branch, each man had an assigned, specific duty and he was expected to carry it out. If our mission failed there were no committee members to blame it on. We knew all to well who was responsible. Come to think of it, those two words, committee and responsible, really don’t fit well in a sentence.
I was selected to head the building committee at our church. We have not had a meeting all year. Nor will we. Each member has an assigned responsibility. One is responsible for inside cleaning, one for grounds maintenance, one for finance, and on and on. When a decision is to be made in general terms, I call three of the seven members, varying, depending on the issue, outline a solution to our problem, gain their acquiescence and “get ‘er done.” I scrupulously record the input for a record of consent. Even the damage from the ice storm, which was considerable, probably didn’t take more than an hour in total consultation time and, most of it on the phone. I claim no special talent in this area. Our congregation confirmed a committee of responsible adults who each understand the basics of getting temporal matters under control. We even managed to do all of this without bickering. God is good.
All this prompted me to wonder just how God feels about committees. I went to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance to find some scripture that would guide me to the answer I sought. Not one reference to the word is in that wonderful reference book. I checked the “Good News” Concordance which includes the Inspired Version. There was nothing there either. Since I also have the one for the Book of Mormon, I checked it as well. Nothing. My last hope lay in the Doctrine and Covenants.
On May 6, 1833, in Kirtland, Ohio, in instruction given through Joseph Smith we have the first use of the word. In Section 91:4b Reynolds Cahoon and Jared Carter were tasked to be a committee to build specific buildings, including the temple on various lots in Kirtland. The balance of the references exists in sections consigned to the appendix or disavowed by the World Conference.
Given this history, how has today’s church become so enamored of committees? You can’t open a door in Independence without disturbing a committee. We have “our” committees, they have “their” committees, and if that isn’t enough, they have “joint” committees for the full ecumenical flavor. I would be easily convinced that there is a committee for the exclusive purpose of assigning people to committees. It’s not just the hierarchy, there are dual gender committees for women, music, church school materials, missions, and every aspect of Restoration life.
Can’t anyone make a decision? Isn’t anybody responsible? When the prophets and leaders of old required counsel, they went to the Lord in mighty prayer. These avenues are just as open for today’s leaders as they were in the days of Moses, Isaiah, Nephi, and Moroni. Granted their peoples had a bad case of attention deficit disorder and couldn’t wait for God to get out of sight to build yet one more idol, but would a committee have lessened that problem?
Imagine if you will, a fireman entering a burning building and glancing over his shoulder only to discover his buddies holding a committee meeting to figure out how to get the “wet stuff on the red stuff.” He would be as terrified as I am as I figuratively see our church burning down around our ears. We have pressure from the adversary and we have commandments from God. To effectively deal with both, strong righteous men are required and they must be capable of independent thought and action.
Years ago a comedian named Fred Allen (he died in ’56) made the following comment: “Committee – a group of men who individually can do nothing but as a group conclude nothing can be done”. Like most of the wisdom from humorists, it would be funnier if it were not true.
In His abiding love,
Cecil Moon
In government, it has a paralyzing effect on the deliberative bodies. When our elected leaders desire to promote a personal agenda in public, they establish an investigative committee. The only thing which is usually accomplished is defamation of character and posturing before the media searching for a sound bite.
In the bureaucracy of departments it provides yet another opportunity to waste time and money (yours) that would be much better spent on the projects they are assigned to accomplish. The national education establishment from the secretary on down to the most minor minions of the local school is hamstrung by one committee after another. I am not saying that this is the exclusive reason for the declining accomplishment of students at all levels but it obviously doesn’t help.
In the military years ago, I don’t seem to remember busy little bodies of men meeting over coffee and little cakes “dialoging.” As I recall, we really didn’t have time for it. In our branch, each man had an assigned, specific duty and he was expected to carry it out. If our mission failed there were no committee members to blame it on. We knew all to well who was responsible. Come to think of it, those two words, committee and responsible, really don’t fit well in a sentence.
I was selected to head the building committee at our church. We have not had a meeting all year. Nor will we. Each member has an assigned responsibility. One is responsible for inside cleaning, one for grounds maintenance, one for finance, and on and on. When a decision is to be made in general terms, I call three of the seven members, varying, depending on the issue, outline a solution to our problem, gain their acquiescence and “get ‘er done.” I scrupulously record the input for a record of consent. Even the damage from the ice storm, which was considerable, probably didn’t take more than an hour in total consultation time and, most of it on the phone. I claim no special talent in this area. Our congregation confirmed a committee of responsible adults who each understand the basics of getting temporal matters under control. We even managed to do all of this without bickering. God is good.
All this prompted me to wonder just how God feels about committees. I went to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance to find some scripture that would guide me to the answer I sought. Not one reference to the word is in that wonderful reference book. I checked the “Good News” Concordance which includes the Inspired Version. There was nothing there either. Since I also have the one for the Book of Mormon, I checked it as well. Nothing. My last hope lay in the Doctrine and Covenants.
On May 6, 1833, in Kirtland, Ohio, in instruction given through Joseph Smith we have the first use of the word. In Section 91:4b Reynolds Cahoon and Jared Carter were tasked to be a committee to build specific buildings, including the temple on various lots in Kirtland. The balance of the references exists in sections consigned to the appendix or disavowed by the World Conference.
Given this history, how has today’s church become so enamored of committees? You can’t open a door in Independence without disturbing a committee. We have “our” committees, they have “their” committees, and if that isn’t enough, they have “joint” committees for the full ecumenical flavor. I would be easily convinced that there is a committee for the exclusive purpose of assigning people to committees. It’s not just the hierarchy, there are dual gender committees for women, music, church school materials, missions, and every aspect of Restoration life.
Can’t anyone make a decision? Isn’t anybody responsible? When the prophets and leaders of old required counsel, they went to the Lord in mighty prayer. These avenues are just as open for today’s leaders as they were in the days of Moses, Isaiah, Nephi, and Moroni. Granted their peoples had a bad case of attention deficit disorder and couldn’t wait for God to get out of sight to build yet one more idol, but would a committee have lessened that problem?
Imagine if you will, a fireman entering a burning building and glancing over his shoulder only to discover his buddies holding a committee meeting to figure out how to get the “wet stuff on the red stuff.” He would be as terrified as I am as I figuratively see our church burning down around our ears. We have pressure from the adversary and we have commandments from God. To effectively deal with both, strong righteous men are required and they must be capable of independent thought and action.
Years ago a comedian named Fred Allen (he died in ’56) made the following comment: “Committee – a group of men who individually can do nothing but as a group conclude nothing can be done”. Like most of the wisdom from humorists, it would be funnier if it were not true.
In His abiding love,
Cecil Moon
Monday, October 8, 2007
Monday Morning Rant (8)
While browsing some material the other day I came across an old “lefty” statement which resonated very strongly. “Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.” As is my wont, I immediately substituted “faithful loyalty” for “patriotism.”
While involuntarily deprived of my opportunity to join with other members of “my” church for twenty-plus years, my faith in God grew stronger along with the conviction that my dedication to the RLDS, with which I came in fellowship in 1967, grew apace. It was, and continues to represent to me an organizational structure with goals I share and beliefs I treasure.
Real families, the Cleavers notwithstanding, experience real problems and often run from one crisis to the next. As members, we recognize that our church family is often subject to criticism and dissent. Not necessarily as individuals, but surely as a body. This then leads to questions about that which we seek. Our central figure is rightfully Jesus Christ. Do we actually believe that? Are we so concerned with our “managers” that we have forgotten who the “Boss” is? Some assert that the “managers” have forgotten. I’ll leave that for discussion on another day.
My main concern today is our love of our existent faith in the here and now. Are we comfortable loving one another as well as those who would thwart our humble efforts in pursuit of Kingdom building? Every group has problems inasmuch as every group is made up of individuals with their own opinions, interpretations, and selfish interests. Poll them and see for yourself. Ask each about their favorite scripture, hymn, Old Testament hero, preacher, parable of Jesus, and other matters which occupy the interest of a typical member. I am certain you will find a widely varying group of opinions and all reflect the inner response to Jesus Christ. We follow Him for very personal reasons, anticipating an even more personal result, our personal salvation.
So then, do we demonstrate love for our existing faith or are we seeking the “Faith of the Future?” Are we so fixated on what’s to come that we may ignore what we have here and now? How can we possibly live a faith which is “just around the corner?” The faith I have followed for over four decades (with or without a building full of Saints) has buoyed and strengthened me on a daily basis. It has guided me successfully past some of life’s worst barriers. It has provided warmth and comfort to a troubled soul. The healings have been continuous as well as the answers to prayers which have immeasurably enhanced my life.
I agree we have a fellowship which faces some immense problems. I react to those difficulties as strongly as anyone. In the meantime, I hope I never fail to recognize that, warts and all, the Restored Church of Jesus Christ is the answer to all my questions in the future. It is my rock in a storm tossed sea. I do not expect perfection from my priesthood and fellow worshipers, but rather, turn to God for that quality. What I do seek from them is acknowledgement of the glory of the Father and his immense works today. I expect to see resistance to those who would destroy our church to “make it better.” I desire nothing less than a celebration of the wondrous institution we have now and not what it should be. From that base we can continue to glorify our Maker and actually build the Kingdom here on earth.
Criticism, although sometimes warranted, is only justified in the context of love. Dissent for its own sake is in my opinion the work of the adversary in many cases. To gain the church body we all pray for will require discussion, reasoning, and prayerful consideration. Let us all faithfully and prayerfully build it up rather than tear it down.
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I will confess to you faithful readers that I absolutely lost it after a sacrament service yesterday. Looking forward to that service as an opportunity for renewal and acknowledgment of my commitment had been very much on my mind prior to the service. When the speaker gave his remarks I did fine until he chose to identify Joseph Smith as the “author” of the Inspired Version of the Bible, The Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants. He did not say translator, writer, revelator, or recorder. His statement was unequivocal in identifying Joseph Smith as the author of those works.
My first reaction was shock and disbelief. I then lapsed into sadness over the perceived loss of a trusted mentor on spiritual matters. After my personal selfish attitudes registered I gave deeper thought to how the remarks were an affront to God. He who has taught us everything, He who has healed life’s ills, and He who has set the path to our eternal salvation had been ignored. I vowed to challenge, at an appropriate time, the “shaming” of Almighty God.
I have, to the best of my ability, defended the role of Joseph Smith as prophet, translator (using tools provided by God), rightful leader and martyr for our beloved faith for forty years. As I have written before, his role in the formation of the church is extremely important and I have always believed he has had the confidence of his Maker. Like Moses, Isaiah, John and other important leaders and prophets, he was a man. Did they all have an extra special relationship with God and as a result come to be picked as servants to carry out his will? Yes. Did they then lose their identity as men and attain perfection? No. To deny Joseph’s imperfections as a man is to ignore the content of tens of thousands of pages of documents written by him and others about his life from Palmyra to Carthage.
Through prayer and meditation, I have received that “burning in the bosom” to verify the truths about Joseph Smith. This has included many inquiries about the sacred canon of our church. The conclusions which accompanied these prayers have never left any doubt in my mind about the true authorship of these books. They reflect the revealed words of God Almighty and none other. To reject this premise, in my mind and heart, is to reject the foundation of the Faith. Have I always understood every word I read? Obviously not. Has my understanding increased through exposure and strengthened faith over the years? Of course it has and I rejoice in it. For my part, to ascribe the authorship of these marvelous works to anyone else other than God is blasphemy. There is no kinder word to insert for the sake of political correctness.
After the sermon, I remained in my seat and partook of the emblems, served by elders of the branch and renewed the covenant and acknowledged the sufferings of my Savior for the remission of my sins. This exercise is important to me and, I believe, especially to God, so I could not entertain the thought of leaving before it was complete. We closed the service singing “The Spirit of God like a Fire is Burning . . . ," a hymn which symbolizes to me all that is right about our movement. It states basic truths and always lifts me to strive for greater goals. Once my faith was fortified, I proceeded through the vestibule and shared my dismay with the party who uttered the words.
My return to that venue will be governed solely by the results of extensive prayer. I feel comforted to know that it is a decision I don’t have to make by myself.
In His abiding love,
Cecil Moon
While involuntarily deprived of my opportunity to join with other members of “my” church for twenty-plus years, my faith in God grew stronger along with the conviction that my dedication to the RLDS, with which I came in fellowship in 1967, grew apace. It was, and continues to represent to me an organizational structure with goals I share and beliefs I treasure.
Real families, the Cleavers notwithstanding, experience real problems and often run from one crisis to the next. As members, we recognize that our church family is often subject to criticism and dissent. Not necessarily as individuals, but surely as a body. This then leads to questions about that which we seek. Our central figure is rightfully Jesus Christ. Do we actually believe that? Are we so concerned with our “managers” that we have forgotten who the “Boss” is? Some assert that the “managers” have forgotten. I’ll leave that for discussion on another day.
My main concern today is our love of our existent faith in the here and now. Are we comfortable loving one another as well as those who would thwart our humble efforts in pursuit of Kingdom building? Every group has problems inasmuch as every group is made up of individuals with their own opinions, interpretations, and selfish interests. Poll them and see for yourself. Ask each about their favorite scripture, hymn, Old Testament hero, preacher, parable of Jesus, and other matters which occupy the interest of a typical member. I am certain you will find a widely varying group of opinions and all reflect the inner response to Jesus Christ. We follow Him for very personal reasons, anticipating an even more personal result, our personal salvation.
So then, do we demonstrate love for our existing faith or are we seeking the “Faith of the Future?” Are we so fixated on what’s to come that we may ignore what we have here and now? How can we possibly live a faith which is “just around the corner?” The faith I have followed for over four decades (with or without a building full of Saints) has buoyed and strengthened me on a daily basis. It has guided me successfully past some of life’s worst barriers. It has provided warmth and comfort to a troubled soul. The healings have been continuous as well as the answers to prayers which have immeasurably enhanced my life.
I agree we have a fellowship which faces some immense problems. I react to those difficulties as strongly as anyone. In the meantime, I hope I never fail to recognize that, warts and all, the Restored Church of Jesus Christ is the answer to all my questions in the future. It is my rock in a storm tossed sea. I do not expect perfection from my priesthood and fellow worshipers, but rather, turn to God for that quality. What I do seek from them is acknowledgement of the glory of the Father and his immense works today. I expect to see resistance to those who would destroy our church to “make it better.” I desire nothing less than a celebration of the wondrous institution we have now and not what it should be. From that base we can continue to glorify our Maker and actually build the Kingdom here on earth.
Criticism, although sometimes warranted, is only justified in the context of love. Dissent for its own sake is in my opinion the work of the adversary in many cases. To gain the church body we all pray for will require discussion, reasoning, and prayerful consideration. Let us all faithfully and prayerfully build it up rather than tear it down.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I will confess to you faithful readers that I absolutely lost it after a sacrament service yesterday. Looking forward to that service as an opportunity for renewal and acknowledgment of my commitment had been very much on my mind prior to the service. When the speaker gave his remarks I did fine until he chose to identify Joseph Smith as the “author” of the Inspired Version of the Bible, The Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants. He did not say translator, writer, revelator, or recorder. His statement was unequivocal in identifying Joseph Smith as the author of those works.
My first reaction was shock and disbelief. I then lapsed into sadness over the perceived loss of a trusted mentor on spiritual matters. After my personal selfish attitudes registered I gave deeper thought to how the remarks were an affront to God. He who has taught us everything, He who has healed life’s ills, and He who has set the path to our eternal salvation had been ignored. I vowed to challenge, at an appropriate time, the “shaming” of Almighty God.
I have, to the best of my ability, defended the role of Joseph Smith as prophet, translator (using tools provided by God), rightful leader and martyr for our beloved faith for forty years. As I have written before, his role in the formation of the church is extremely important and I have always believed he has had the confidence of his Maker. Like Moses, Isaiah, John and other important leaders and prophets, he was a man. Did they all have an extra special relationship with God and as a result come to be picked as servants to carry out his will? Yes. Did they then lose their identity as men and attain perfection? No. To deny Joseph’s imperfections as a man is to ignore the content of tens of thousands of pages of documents written by him and others about his life from Palmyra to Carthage.
Through prayer and meditation, I have received that “burning in the bosom” to verify the truths about Joseph Smith. This has included many inquiries about the sacred canon of our church. The conclusions which accompanied these prayers have never left any doubt in my mind about the true authorship of these books. They reflect the revealed words of God Almighty and none other. To reject this premise, in my mind and heart, is to reject the foundation of the Faith. Have I always understood every word I read? Obviously not. Has my understanding increased through exposure and strengthened faith over the years? Of course it has and I rejoice in it. For my part, to ascribe the authorship of these marvelous works to anyone else other than God is blasphemy. There is no kinder word to insert for the sake of political correctness.
After the sermon, I remained in my seat and partook of the emblems, served by elders of the branch and renewed the covenant and acknowledged the sufferings of my Savior for the remission of my sins. This exercise is important to me and, I believe, especially to God, so I could not entertain the thought of leaving before it was complete. We closed the service singing “The Spirit of God like a Fire is Burning . . . ," a hymn which symbolizes to me all that is right about our movement. It states basic truths and always lifts me to strive for greater goals. Once my faith was fortified, I proceeded through the vestibule and shared my dismay with the party who uttered the words.
My return to that venue will be governed solely by the results of extensive prayer. I feel comforted to know that it is a decision I don’t have to make by myself.
In His abiding love,
Cecil Moon
Friday, October 5, 2007
Sincere
God has blessed me with the opportunity to see some marvelous statuary in my life. To actually see David, The Pieta, and Aphrodite is a rare privilege. I never cease to marvel at the beauty and grace which comes from a rendering with rough and ancient tools. Were these men who created them as flawless as the end result? Probably not, and as a result we have a much used and meaningful word in our vocabulary. Its foundation was no doubt used frequently in the appraisal of their work.
The word is “sincere.” Going to its Latin roots, we find it broken into two parts. “Sin” is basic—without. “Cere” means in many applications—wax. Thus the literal translation becomes— without wax. To understand the word we must return to the talents of the sculptor. Rather than discard a huge block of very expensive marble, if the artisan erred, he would fill in with wax. This worked well for concealment of the blunder until the work was exposed to the sunshine. The attendant heat outside in the clear warmth of day light would melt the wax and expose the blunder. Therefore, if the artist produced a faultless work it was described as sincere.
The positive component of the word is defined by the perfection which is implied, if we are faultless, there is no need for any cover-up. It would seem to reflect the characteristics of a life with Christ. Sunshine or shadow should be of no importance if our constant guide is truth. Have we as Saints, any need for any device to conceal who we are and what we stand for?
In our daily lives we are provided scriptural opportunities which were probably not available or recognized by the sculptors of old. If we make a mistake or commit a sin we have the advantage because we can confess to our Maker, seek forgiveness, repent and continue ever mindful of the necessity not to repeat that affront to God. Introspection then demands I examine my life and ask if I have been guilty of filling in an error or two with my own version of wax. Since it is never too late to seek repentance and forgiveness, it’s a healthy exercise.
Just as I lie down to sleep, I often review the various encounters I have had with others during the day. I try to take an objective look and see if my memory can detect any possible offense I might have made. I have a fairly quick mind and an even quicker tongue. As a result I often see things I may have done better. If hurtful to others, I try to express my awareness and apologize at the first opportunity. It is part of the discipline of AA and more importantly, a commandment from God. This double barreled approach has been invaluable in pursuit of both programs. If both are taken seriously, they eventually merge.
I seriously doubt that I will ever be comfortable describing myself as sincere again. It’s rather like identifying oneself as humble. We are, every one of us, a work in progress. We can, and should, strive for perfection. We should also be mindful of our humanity and beware of disclaiming sin while looking for our wax supply.
In His abiding love,
Cecil Moon
The word is “sincere.” Going to its Latin roots, we find it broken into two parts. “Sin” is basic—without. “Cere” means in many applications—wax. Thus the literal translation becomes— without wax. To understand the word we must return to the talents of the sculptor. Rather than discard a huge block of very expensive marble, if the artisan erred, he would fill in with wax. This worked well for concealment of the blunder until the work was exposed to the sunshine. The attendant heat outside in the clear warmth of day light would melt the wax and expose the blunder. Therefore, if the artist produced a faultless work it was described as sincere.
The positive component of the word is defined by the perfection which is implied, if we are faultless, there is no need for any cover-up. It would seem to reflect the characteristics of a life with Christ. Sunshine or shadow should be of no importance if our constant guide is truth. Have we as Saints, any need for any device to conceal who we are and what we stand for?
In our daily lives we are provided scriptural opportunities which were probably not available or recognized by the sculptors of old. If we make a mistake or commit a sin we have the advantage because we can confess to our Maker, seek forgiveness, repent and continue ever mindful of the necessity not to repeat that affront to God. Introspection then demands I examine my life and ask if I have been guilty of filling in an error or two with my own version of wax. Since it is never too late to seek repentance and forgiveness, it’s a healthy exercise.
Just as I lie down to sleep, I often review the various encounters I have had with others during the day. I try to take an objective look and see if my memory can detect any possible offense I might have made. I have a fairly quick mind and an even quicker tongue. As a result I often see things I may have done better. If hurtful to others, I try to express my awareness and apologize at the first opportunity. It is part of the discipline of AA and more importantly, a commandment from God. This double barreled approach has been invaluable in pursuit of both programs. If both are taken seriously, they eventually merge.
I seriously doubt that I will ever be comfortable describing myself as sincere again. It’s rather like identifying oneself as humble. We are, every one of us, a work in progress. We can, and should, strive for perfection. We should also be mindful of our humanity and beware of disclaiming sin while looking for our wax supply.
In His abiding love,
Cecil Moon
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Latter Day Warriors
In a recent gathering of like minded Saints I was completely blown away by a very unexpected presentation. A United States Army Colonel was present and acknowledged the past military service of several of our group. Accompanying the individual recognition was a beautifully mounted certificate, a letter from the Chief of Staff of the Army and cosigned by Pete Green, the Secretary of the Army. This “dog face” was very moved by this expression, coming fifty-two years after separation from service.
The Marines widely advertise “once a Marine, always a Marine.” The other service branches, even though lacking their PR skills, also feel the same way. My brother, long ago discharged, is Navy through and through and proclaims it from the house tops. The presentation raised in me an emotional return to those days of arduous training, travel to foreign lands, and pride in the uniform and flag which I had sworn to defend.
The men and women who have shared this experience are inextricably linked to each other and to the memories they hold. We prefer to remember things which seem meaningless to others. I still use the last four digits of my service number as a PIN. I can see the faces of the men in my old outfit as well today as I could when I got on the boat to come home. I vividly recall that shouting “302” (302nd Comm. Recon. Bn.) would immediately assemble as many of my unit as were available to come to my aid, or I to theirs. We were not maudlin about it; we knew our responsibility and reacted. I well remember singing "Silent Night" on Christmas Eve in the Chapel of the Three Stones (named for an altar constructed from the rubble of a bombed Catholic and Lutheran Church plus a Synagogue) at Badenerhof Kaserne. This moment of peace in a formerly war torn land will never dim.
Today, our culture does not produce warriors automatically. They must be trained. In today’s world, the military tends towards increased specialization. Before that military occupational specialty is taught, however, young recruits endure 8 to 16 weeks of preparation to defend themselves and their country in a hostile world. The first job the drill sergeant faces is to relieve the recruit of the notions taught at home. We now live in an age where the slightest sign of aggressive behavior is squelched in the young. “Play nice, don’t fight!” These are the watchwords for our society. We ban dodge ball on the playgrounds, shun meritocracy at all levels of society, and try to feminize our young men to deny their God given inherent manhood. If it were not so serious, the label “baby killer,” applied to our armed forces by leftist "peaceniks," would be laughable.
The sworn enemies of the republic suffer no such restrictions. They teach their youth to be aggressive, ensconced in a false doctrine encompassing a warped moral code and then strap
explosives on them and send them off to a busy market place to die. International codes of conduct and treaties are useless in an atmosphere of terror. When faced with an enemy whose driving force is to approach his eternal reward as carnal pleasure with 72 virgins there can be no moral equivalent.
If any one believes that there is no rectitude in conflict, he had better open his Book of Mormon and re-read a couple hundred pages. Therein is documented so many armed conflicts in defense of the faith as to actually become tedious. Don’t take my word for it; try it. If that doesn’t do it for you, try the Inspired Version. The adversary has mounted assaults on the will of God since the earliest verses of Genesis. He is a tireless enemy and assumes many identities in his attacks. Over the ages, men of varying stripe have risen to answer God’s call. Their reasons and reactions to Him have taken many forms but none say it as succinctly as Moroni does in Alma 21:41: “In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children.” You have read these words here previously and will no doubt see their appearance again. To me, they say it all. If you need a reason to take up arms, they are catalogued here.
My only regret about the military aspect of our get together was our failure to recognize the all volunteer force which stands today as a bulwark of the advancement of liberty in the world. These treasured men and women are due our gratitude, respect and continued support for their individual sacrifice. I have recently had the opportunity to observe them in action (6 days on the USS Fitzgerald, DDG-62 on a “tiger” cruise) and found them bright, energetic and wholly prepared to carry out their assigned duties. It even softened my attitude toward the Navy. If anyone is in need of our constant prayers, it is these fine young men and women.
I am very grateful to those who engineered the occasion which stimulated these recollections. As a result, I was forcefully reminded why I volunteered so many years ago. I am especially proud of my “brothers” who also took the same action. Today, in our dotage, none of us is looking for a fight. But, we, like Moroni, are more than willing to take his battle cry and say in today’s parlance, “Bring it on!”
In His abiding love,
Cecil Moon
The Marines widely advertise “once a Marine, always a Marine.” The other service branches, even though lacking their PR skills, also feel the same way. My brother, long ago discharged, is Navy through and through and proclaims it from the house tops. The presentation raised in me an emotional return to those days of arduous training, travel to foreign lands, and pride in the uniform and flag which I had sworn to defend.
The men and women who have shared this experience are inextricably linked to each other and to the memories they hold. We prefer to remember things which seem meaningless to others. I still use the last four digits of my service number as a PIN. I can see the faces of the men in my old outfit as well today as I could when I got on the boat to come home. I vividly recall that shouting “302” (302nd Comm. Recon. Bn.) would immediately assemble as many of my unit as were available to come to my aid, or I to theirs. We were not maudlin about it; we knew our responsibility and reacted. I well remember singing "Silent Night" on Christmas Eve in the Chapel of the Three Stones (named for an altar constructed from the rubble of a bombed Catholic and Lutheran Church plus a Synagogue) at Badenerhof Kaserne. This moment of peace in a formerly war torn land will never dim.
Today, our culture does not produce warriors automatically. They must be trained. In today’s world, the military tends towards increased specialization. Before that military occupational specialty is taught, however, young recruits endure 8 to 16 weeks of preparation to defend themselves and their country in a hostile world. The first job the drill sergeant faces is to relieve the recruit of the notions taught at home. We now live in an age where the slightest sign of aggressive behavior is squelched in the young. “Play nice, don’t fight!” These are the watchwords for our society. We ban dodge ball on the playgrounds, shun meritocracy at all levels of society, and try to feminize our young men to deny their God given inherent manhood. If it were not so serious, the label “baby killer,” applied to our armed forces by leftist "peaceniks," would be laughable.
The sworn enemies of the republic suffer no such restrictions. They teach their youth to be aggressive, ensconced in a false doctrine encompassing a warped moral code and then strap
explosives on them and send them off to a busy market place to die. International codes of conduct and treaties are useless in an atmosphere of terror. When faced with an enemy whose driving force is to approach his eternal reward as carnal pleasure with 72 virgins there can be no moral equivalent.
If any one believes that there is no rectitude in conflict, he had better open his Book of Mormon and re-read a couple hundred pages. Therein is documented so many armed conflicts in defense of the faith as to actually become tedious. Don’t take my word for it; try it. If that doesn’t do it for you, try the Inspired Version. The adversary has mounted assaults on the will of God since the earliest verses of Genesis. He is a tireless enemy and assumes many identities in his attacks. Over the ages, men of varying stripe have risen to answer God’s call. Their reasons and reactions to Him have taken many forms but none say it as succinctly as Moroni does in Alma 21:41: “In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children.” You have read these words here previously and will no doubt see their appearance again. To me, they say it all. If you need a reason to take up arms, they are catalogued here.
My only regret about the military aspect of our get together was our failure to recognize the all volunteer force which stands today as a bulwark of the advancement of liberty in the world. These treasured men and women are due our gratitude, respect and continued support for their individual sacrifice. I have recently had the opportunity to observe them in action (6 days on the USS Fitzgerald, DDG-62 on a “tiger” cruise) and found them bright, energetic and wholly prepared to carry out their assigned duties. It even softened my attitude toward the Navy. If anyone is in need of our constant prayers, it is these fine young men and women.
I am very grateful to those who engineered the occasion which stimulated these recollections. As a result, I was forcefully reminded why I volunteered so many years ago. I am especially proud of my “brothers” who also took the same action. Today, in our dotage, none of us is looking for a fight. But, we, like Moroni, are more than willing to take his battle cry and say in today’s parlance, “Bring it on!”
In His abiding love,
Cecil Moon
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