August 4, 2005

  • "So hello, good friend, I wanna be next to you, for my head, for my heart, for its true. So take me and savor me and change me and then make me, and embrace me and then brave my heart for you." (The Rocket Summer).

    I am wearing this fancy sun-block that makes me smell like orange juice, and this makes me happy.

    I am also listening to "Never Knew," and this makes me happy.

    I am also having a party (you're invited) on Saturday, and this makes me happy.

    I am twelve days away from my mission, and this makes me a million emotions, of which happy is one.
    (others include: scared, thrilled, anxious, ecstatic, thoughtful, peaceful, stressed, comfortable, sentimental, spiritual, prepared, worried, impatient, humbled, calm . . .)

    Tonight was perhaps the last ten o'clock run to McDonalds with my little sister Megan. Whenever my parents get overwhelmed at night and Megan isn't going to bed, I take her out to get ice cream at McDonalds. The goal is to have her asleep before we get there, but if she's not it's ok because I can afford the dollar sundaes. Tonight was a dollar sundae night. It was extra special because today is her birthday, so I got chicken mcnuggets too. She dips the chicken in the chocolate sundae. Two years from now she'll probably have caught on to the fact that it's not good to dip chicken in chocolate and ice cream. Maybe she'll still like it anyway and I can take her again on another ten o'clock run.

    "So hello, good friend, I wanna be next to you, for my head, for my heart, for its true. So I'm burning the thoughts of the things that I once said, because you tore down the walls that the world that has put inside my head. . ." (The Rocket Summer).

Comments (6)

  • You're happy. I LOVE ORANGE JUICE!!!

  • i appreciate your comment, and do apologize for using the word 'fight' in reference to your religion. it is not the people of the LDS church i have problems with, but rather the lies of what the church teaches. that may come across strong, but i don't mean for it too, as i realize everyone's faith is open to interpretation by outsiders who do not know the full extent. i plan on learning the full extent more and not harping on what is unimportant between my friends. shoot, i started the blogring 'Conversing with Latter Day Saints' for that purpose as a means of communicating the two, but even now I am discerning how close I want to be involved with it. thanks and safe journey to you on your mission.

    SJ

  • Conversing is two way. Have you read "How Wide the Divide: an Evangelical and Latter-day Saint in Conversation". I highly recommend the book. To say that you aim toward "Conversing with Latter-day Saints" sounds to me like you want to talk to Latter-day Saints without listening. Remember that "Latter-day Saints conversing with you" is just as important. You can't pick up one side of a stick- once you pick up one side the other side comes with it.

    As for the Church, the Church has a lay ministry, which means that every single position of the clergy is filled by voluntary service from the members of the Church. You cannot hate the Church and love the people because they are the same. The Church is the People. I am just a regular Latter-day Saint, however I am also an Elder in the priesthood, a Sunday School Teacher, and soon to be a Missionary. There is no division between the Priesthood/Clergy and the members of the Church. Anything the Church teaches, I teach. So if you think the Church teaches lies, then don't sugar coat it and tell me that you love me and just think that I've been mislead by a lying Church. People like me are the Church. So if you think the Church lies, then you are accusing me of lying.

  • yes

  • Not to debate frivolously, let me just respond to a few thoughts. You are right in that conversation is the exchange of ideas between people (and not spouting propaganda merely for the sake of doing so). A two year commitment as an LDS missionary is a commitment indeed and one not made lightly. You are serious about your faith. I respect that greatly. You say that you and others make up the church, therefore when I am against the church I am against you and that I couldn’t possibly love you.
    However, I would like to defend such an idea. From my perspective (that of nondenominational protestant) my faith is not ‘the church’ as in the hierarchy of mankind. There is no mortal pope or prophet given allegiance. My pastor is only as ‘ordained’ as what he preaches from the Bible and displays in his life.
    So when I have grievances against organized religion I see that as separate from the people inside of them. Many grow up with religious teachings without ever making them personal and that is what I like to talk with people about. It’s not a war mentality.
    Not to sugarcoat, I do feel that the LDS church lies. A blow, no doubt, on your perception, as members are told over and over “I know this to be the one true church” or “This church is true”… ect. Truth IS a big deal. Please don’t misunderstand me. I love Mormons. How can I love people who I think liars? Well, they don’t think they are lying… they are sincere, and I am just as sincere in my love for them, and that would include you too.
     
    P.S. I haven’t read How Wide the Divide. I would have to find out more about it. Mormon America by Richard Ostling and Joan K. Ostling (two Times magazine reporters) is a very non-partisan report on the church’s, history, industries, practices, ect. Most interesting.

  • It is no blow to me. I take it personally in the sense that I am part of the Church, and therefore I say what it says, but I do not take it as a blow because I am very secure in what we teach. You can call us liars. People call others liars all the time. Sometimes they are right. Sometimes they are wrong. Personally, I think you are wrong.

    Thank you for your respect.

Comments are closed.

Post a Comment