tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27848588613822094922024-03-05T20:39:41.763+10:00Kolob ExpressWelcome! Loren is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and to the best of his ability he'll capture that experience here. However, the views expressed in this blog are his own and are not necessarily representative of all things Mormon, expect anything different and he might get cranky, soldier boy crank that superman type cranky. It's ok though, preliminary forecasts indicate that there's a 50% chance that he's in a good mood right now. This could be your lucky day.Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10411602545537504295noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784858861382209492.post-64357346156888297272009-04-14T21:46:00.006+10:002009-04-14T21:57:14.800+10:00bye2KolobGoodbye Kolob, I leave now bound for other stars. Your concern is misplaced, I shall return at some (unspecified) future time. I will be at <a href="http://slimodsoc.blogspot.com/">Slightly Moderated Stream of Consciousness</a> if you need me. Thank ye.Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10411602545537504295noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784858861382209492.post-70303672778061292952009-04-05T10:08:00.009+10:002009-04-05T22:02:12.372+10:00autobiographica, 1 Nephi 1.2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3VLrRltU8ARC9wLKUZH4h3xbl71jDzuYpJcgvH9xZQDBPBTU2JCLcxBjA9Xldsi_W-_gTiANHVmcMWnMh1q5B7k9rXYcCEYK1FM_uRo3oYthOxyFekZWYFFxJLwe0PdtB33t3McsgXs/s1600-h/chickensuffer.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 372px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3VLrRltU8ARC9wLKUZH4h3xbl71jDzuYpJcgvH9xZQDBPBTU2JCLcxBjA9Xldsi_W-_gTiANHVmcMWnMh1q5B7k9rXYcCEYK1FM_uRo3oYthOxyFekZWYFFxJLwe0PdtB33t3McsgXs/s400/chickensuffer.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321172411502658818" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">check out </span><a href="http://www.savagechickens.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Savage Chickens</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> why dontcha</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />where we've been:</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nephi's parents were rich, which afforded him advanced educational opportunities.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">where we are and where we're going:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Before the Da Vinci Code begins we are informed that </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"all descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate."</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> would it have been so popular without such a bold truth claim to start with? We can (almost) say in all honesty that it would not have been as precisely popular (maybe more, maybe less, but I'm guessing less) as it is or was without its provocative introduction. Joseph Goebbels famously said "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it." The Da Vinci Code is less accurate or true with respect to the secret organizations that it references than its preamble may have lead us to believe (according to one thing I read once on the internet somewhere, my scholarship is almost as good as what I'm accusing Dan Brown of here). I'm not saying that the BoM is the greatest fraud to be perpetrated on the American continent. That accusation has been levelled several times through the years. I'm not looking to lend my voice to that chorus.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What I am saying is that claims of the magnitude that we're talking about always tend to attract an audience. The BoM goes much further than the Da Vinci Code ever did and the results have been nothing short of controversial. People want to know is it real? Could it be real? It's comforting to think that there's something bigger than us out there. The central conceit (I use this term loosely) of the Book of Mormon is that there is a God, his name is Jesus, and he's got contacts all over the earth, sometimes they even write about him. This is the Latter-Day Saints reply to perhaps the most important question ever asked: Is there God? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Skeptics would have us believe otherwise, Scottish philosopher David Hume offered this rhetorical series of questions as an answer: "Is [God] willing to prevent evil, but not able? then is he impotent. Is he able, but not willing? then is he malevolent. Is he both able and willing? whence then is he evil?" casting doubt on the benevolent Deity concept all together. Nephi acknowledges that the whole God thing is a mysterious enterprise. But he's here for us, ready to unravel some of that mystery. Point number one I suppose is that there is no correlation between being favoured of God and avoiding suffering (As the Buddha reminds us, as if we could forget "life is suffering"). We are assured that this account is true that it is not a work of fiction and that it will elucidate the true nature of God. Imagine a religion where their sacred text consisted of one question and one answer. Is God real? Yes! Things just aren't that simple. How can you have a God without metaphysics? I'm sure there will be plenty on offer here. So, the journey begins in a very simple way, a rich boy, Nephi, writing in his journal about his life, which will teach us, according to the author, about God. Teach on teacher.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10411602545537504295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784858861382209492.post-27416669534102681522009-04-04T19:25:00.005+10:002009-04-04T20:13:52.400+10:00dear diary, Nephi 1.1This is like tearing out my own nails with a rusty pair of pliers, or it could be that I'm just in a bad mood. I haven't even started and I'm already burnt out. Where was I...<div><div><br /></div><div>When you meet someone for the first time it's polite to introduce yourself. Apparently barbaric ancient societies weren't above this obligatory kindness. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Nephi</span> gets us started with something in this vain and proceeds to tell his life story. Brace yourself. The whys, the hows and the what <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">fors</span> are all accounted for in the first few verses. It's probably helpful to remember that the book was not written in verses originally, as a point of fact, neither was it written in English, the soup of the day was reformed Egyptian. Don't get me started (prepare yourself for a post about this lost language very soon).<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Who was this <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Nephi</span> and what gave him the right to go around making up his own languages? Well, if we cheat and skip ahead we find that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Nephi</span> was the son of a well-to-do "visionary" man, who had a joyous surplus of gold, silver and precious things stashed away. A popular children's song in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">LDS</span> faith proudly proclaims that we like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Nephi</span> of old are "born of goodly parents." I have a feeling that the song is assessing the moral character of his (and our) parents and not their <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">financial</span> status, while I'm almost certain that the former is what <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Nephi</span> had in mind when he carved out his freshly concocted characters on metal sheets. This <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">embarrassment</span> of riches allowed for an education in the "learning of his father", which included, but was not limited to "the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians", confirming the truism that free education only occurs in Europe. Given the extra time afforded by being <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">uber</span> rich, with a dearth of drugs, TV, and other less than constructive recreational options, I too would probably make up a lot of stuff and/or write in my journal.</div><div><br /></div><div>More tomorrow. If you're lucky and I'm good...</div></div>Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10411602545537504295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784858861382209492.post-51964478604976132382009-03-29T09:46:00.008+10:002009-04-05T09:16:02.417+10:00The BoM: Title page, paragraph 2<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"An abridgment taken from the Book of Ether also, which is a record of the people of Jared, who were scattered at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people, when they were building a tower to get to heaven—</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Which is to show</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="smallcaps" style="font-variant: small-caps;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Jesus</span></span><span class="Apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">is the</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="smallcaps" style="font-variant: small-caps;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Christ</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, the</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="smallcaps" style="font-variant: small-caps;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Eternal God</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, manifesting himself unto all nations—And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">" -- Moroni</span> or Mormon<br /><br /><br />Hold the phone there's a third group that make an appearance, the people of Jared, an off-shoot of the famed tower of Babel debacle. We get a light sprinkling of their dealings with God and each other. Take a look at the table of contents, and unless my math is wrong which is often the case, of the 531 pages in the BoM, 31 are dedicated to the Book of Ether (which is an abridged record of said peoples' history). That's roughly 5 percent, not the largest morsel on offer, but still important enough to garner a special mention on the title page and hopefully tasty all the same.<div><br /></div><div>The account of the people of Jared then, no matter how sparse, requires special consideration, then again so does the entirety of the BoM as the final sentences of this paragraph goes on to explain. You've got to love the vagaries of the English language "which is to show" (highlighted above) functions as an indexical here and like all bad indexicals it's not immediately obvious what it is referring to (or maybe I'm just being obtuse). It could mean that the record of the people of Jared, or the confusion of languages at the tower of babel, but most likely that the record which constitutes the Book of Mormon is or was written to illustrate that Jesus is God (an interesting idea that will be explored in another post) and the anointed of God and that He will manifest this fact to the world.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I am therefore left to use the discernible intent of the author as the lens by which I go about my (for lack of a better word) deconstruction/commentary/annotation of the BoM. Moroni's purpose was to show the divinity of Jesus and His interactions with the people in the BoM. Lets see where that takes us. </div>Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10411602545537504295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784858861382209492.post-62093061341823943862009-03-27T19:25:00.010+10:002009-03-28T22:02:08.637+10:00BoM title page 1.1 dead prophets complex<span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" ><div style="border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; width: auto; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: left;font-family:Georgia,serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">There was a time when giants walked the earth and men lived close to a thousand years. Those days are gone.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Literalists<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>may see this as a natural consequence of a fallen world. There are alternative scientific explanations, of course, for why the aforesaid may or may not have occurred, but lets not get ahead of ourselves. The supernatural displays of power in the bible are legion, take for instance the Hebrews who were delivered out of Egypt by Moses on the back end of a series of miracles sponsored by God. Was the record that made it down to us documented in "real time" or was it simply the product of Mythic Imagination? In other words was the parting of the Red Sea a current event (something that could be recorded for the local news if they had cameras back then) or was it more of a<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>dream time<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>story. The answer is left to the faith and disposition of the reader. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px;"><br />To keep things interesting let's say you opt for: it's true. A bold move. In my heart of hearts I like to think so too. The difficulty is that nobody sees, as far as we are aware, the frequent violations of the laws of nature in our modern/post-modern world on the grand scale that they did in ancient times. Why the disparity in Acts of God between then and now? A number of factors could account for this (remembering that we're assuming the miracles reported happened):</span><img src="file:///C:/Users/Loren/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br /></div><div><ul><li>This is a sign seeking and/or adulterous generation</li><li>The collective level of faith today is insufficient to draw upon the powers of heaven</li><li>Our faith is so strong that we don't need miracles as often anymore (it always seems like a cop out when people tell me this)</li></ul><div>Lets explore each...</div><div><br /></div><div>next: in 1.2 the contextual faith of groups, myth: a game of bait and switch (sacred then crazy now), no faith=no miracles.</div></div></div></span>Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10411602545537504295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784858861382209492.post-26876041753343845072009-03-26T09:19:00.006+10:002009-03-26T12:48:00.187+10:00BoM: title page 2, paragrah 1I sit at my computer, do I really want to be doing this? I'm working <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Tabula</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">rasa</span>, zen mind/beginners mind. Still I indulge my past memory of the text ever so slightly. Starting from a complete blank is impossible, I know English after all, and the Book of Mormon is written in English after a fashion. Often, this will not be fun, this will be a wrestle. Me as Jacob, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">BoM</span> as the angel, God as Vince McMahon. O.K. deep breath, "Oh God, if there is a God, and if thou are God wilt thou make <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">thyeslf</span> known unto me." The exegesis begins.<div><br /></div><div>This is the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Nephites</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">abbreviated</span> love (lets say <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Philos</span> or maybe even Agape love) letter to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Lamanites</span>. Both '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">ites</span>' are a portion of left overs from possibly the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Diaspora</span>, but <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">definitely</span> the house of Israel. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Nephites</span> generosity doesn't stop with the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Lamanites</span> though, they cc in the Jews and Gentiles as well, covering just about everyone. I'm concerned with the scalability of distribution. The authors' intent when writing was for everyone to have a copy, every author who's ever lived has probably desired the same thing for their work, the question is how? Moroni exhibited a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">mansized</span> portion of faith by hiding the record away and leaving the rest in God's hands. The purpose for writing aside from the above is that to do so was a commandment (that is, God-delivered-instructions that were taken seriously in ancient times), the actual act of writing was directed by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation. It's contents then were constructed with future consumption in mind, prophecy lends itself to future prediction I suppose. The target audience was but a distant imagining, within the logic <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">bubble</span> that Moroni was operating in trust in the end game of the Lord was paramount. He left the plates in their hiding place assured that one day a Gentile, led by the same spirit which guided Moroni, would be directed to the record and interpret them on behalf of all those that they were intended for. </div><div><br /></div><div>At a Glance</div><div><ul><li>Written by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Nephites</span></li><li>For <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Lamanites</span>, Jews and Gentiles (everyone)</li><li>Writing was a commandment</li><li>Writing was influenced by the spirit of prophecy and revelation</li><li>Hidden by Moroni</li><li>With the hope that one day the Gentiles would find them and interpret them by God's power</li></ul>If I was reading this for the first time I would ask who/what are the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Nephites</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Lamanites</span> and Jews and Gentiles and any of the bullet point subjects above? But that's enough for today.</div>Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10411602545537504295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784858861382209492.post-60133596872175616092009-03-25T09:54:00.006+10:002009-03-25T11:22:53.750+10:00BoM: The title page 1"I wish to mention here that the title-page of the Book of Mormon is a literal translation, taken from the very last leaf, on the left hand side of the collection or book of plates, which contained the record which has been translated; …and that said title-page is not…a modern composition, either of mine or of any other man who has lived or does live in this generation" -- Joseph Smith (HC 1:71.). <br /><div><br /></div><div>The Book of Mormon has been a source of controversy since before it was even made available for sale back in 1830. There are numerous theories which attempt to explain its origin. Did Sydney Rigdon help Joseph write it? Did Joseph fabricate the entire thing, pulling it figuratively out of a hat while literally doing the same? Did he just plain plagiarize its content, borrowing heavily from the Old Testament, the contemporary text, The View of the Hebrews, and/or others? Ask the man himself and he would have told you that he was lead to a collection of plates, buried in the side of hill near his home in Palmyra New York, by an angel named Moroni, and that those plates were translated into what we know as the Book of Mormon today (with a thousand or so minor changes). </div><div><br /></div><div>As origin stories go it is certainly fantastical, and skepticism is understandable. For those who believe in the bible, dismissing the BoM because of the miraculous circumstances surrounding its translation/creation are probably less warranted. There were plenty of angels floating around during biblical times, why can't they do the same now? Before I expertly eviscerate any further arguments against the truth claims of the Book of Mormon I will move on to the text itself which is the whole point of this study anyway, leaving the apologetics to more qualified <a href="http://www.fairlds.org/">organisations</a> and individuals, the attacks are too vast and varied to address in this post. Suffice it to say, wow, an angel and gold plates, you just don't see that kind of thing everyday. </div><div><br /></div><div>The angel in question is the resurrected version of the final contributor and assistant compiler of the Book of Mormon: Moroni himself, who was the son of the book's name sake, one Mormon of ancient America. Let's get into what Mormon says the Book of Mormon is about, examining the title page: The Book of Mormon's mission statement, if you will...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10411602545537504295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784858861382209492.post-17903246172921222972009-03-24T12:53:00.006+10:002009-03-24T21:00:22.669+10:00blogging the BoM<object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/B5MkpzMAOZM&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/B5MkpzMAOZM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object><br /><br />Here's how it is. Every general conference or so we are encouraged to do three basic things everyday: Study, pray, and serve. Sure we could tie everything up neatly in the large unwieldy bow that is KTC (Keep The Commandments), but if we ever want to get anywhere we need to rip that parcel open and start unpacking what we mean; take one step out from KTC toward specificity and we have what those Commandments are: Love God, Love others, and Love ourselves. Love is not the easiest thing to qualify on earth, it can get irrational and complicated, so it's nice that we're given simple practices to keep us in the right state day-to-day (hopefully) to start spreading the love like purple dinosaurs. <div><br /></div><div>Can it really be that simple? Do those three basics and everything starts falling into place? I don't know. I've rarely sustained all three together for prolonged periods of time. Service: Does self-serving count? Prayer: do it most days, but I allow myself to get too <a href="http://adventures-in-mormonism.com/2009/03/23/the-nine-billion-blessings-on-the-food/">mechanical</a> too often.</div><div>I'll hold off discussing these two for now (and dream of tomorrows that may never come), lets talk sticks. The scriptures are meant to give us direction not just by what they say, but by opening us up to the promptings of the spirit. It's some obedience thing right. IF you study the scrips, THEN you get the spirit. Sounds like a fair trade.</div><div><br /></div><div>All told that gives us well over 2000 pages to chose from. That's a lot of light reading. Where to start? Talk to most modern Apostles and they'd recommend the Book of Mormon. If called upon to rank the canon in order of most interesting to least interesting to read, my list would look something like this:</div><div><ol><li>The Old Testament</li><li>The Doctrine and Covenants</li><li>The New Testament</li><li>The Pearl of Great Price</li><li>The Book of Mormon</li></ol></div><div>For some reason I've never been super excited to read the BoM (well I don't really get excited about scripture study in general, but I have my moments, the OT gets me going sometimes and tops the list because some of it is just so bizarre). Recently I came across an interview on <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101651934">NPR</a> with David Plotz, semi-practicing Jew, who'd lost touch with the Good Book. After incidentally encountering the tale of Dinah's rape and her Brothers reaction at his cousins bat mitzvah, he decided that there was a lot he didn't know about the Bible and subsequently went on to blog about his adventure of reading every word (which is now a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Good-Book-Hilarious-Disturbing-Marvelous/dp/0061374245/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237868254&sr=1-1">book</a>). </div><div><br /></div><div>What a brilliant idea. After years of going through the motions in my scripture study, I think I'll follow David Plotz's lead and blog my study of the Book of Mormon (and maybe even the Old Testament). Heaven help us. Making religion real for me, that's what it's all about, not just empty ceremony, not that ceremony is necessarily empty, it's just how I respond to it often.</div><div><br /></div><div>Check out A. J. Jacobs in the video above, he's taken things to the next level by actually doing what the Bible says. I'm not quite ready to leap into an entire year or even an entire month yet of complete dedication by strict obedience. I'll start reading consistently, then I'll worry about living the stuff. Still I can't help but be inspired by these men, it's amazing what a little internet surfing can do for you spiritually. </div><div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10411602545537504295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784858861382209492.post-35358170391422786672009-03-22T20:09:00.003+10:002009-03-22T21:17:42.418+10:00creation phase 2In phase 1 (see below) I decided that creativity is beyond neccesity. It is a contingency. It is a choice.<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Do you want to live forever? -- Valeria (from Conan the Barbarian)</span></span><br /><div><br /></div><div>In this post I decide that I will devote my life to something utterly unnecessary. I will become the first cause in a microcosm of the universe: my own little world. Taking things that are happy to continue along there own deterministic path and delicately negotiating with them, facilitating their change from one thing to another. Matter cannot be created or destroyed it can only be transformed. Alan Moore (of Watchman fame -- He wrote the comic, which is way better than the movie -- for fun check out this <a href="http://spectator.org/archives/2009/03/16/god-exists-and-hes-mormon">article</a> comparing Dr. Manhattan to the Mormon conception of God) once said: attempt only the impossible. How does becoming a God sound? I'll start small and work my way up: write, draw, program, be amazing. It's all optional including Eternal life. Do I want to live forever? Yes please. The hero's journey begins now.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10411602545537504295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784858861382209492.post-89725983471527864602009-03-20T16:31:00.005+10:002009-03-20T16:48:14.230+10:00Jesus spotted in home made cookie<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">"A lot of Christians wear crosses around their necks. Do you think when Jesus comes back he's gonna want to see a [censored] cross ever again? " --Bill Hicks </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguo84pkoNBzRc_tS6oLqJzGzJCX3WUtcq6tVvVQzLg0FVV0Tzxz8HqHMLAyNlBCX4BLl-Ny4flOkCRD_6KhrSPVKfqDnW_sM-mgm5D4UGxsyOmlc5nkbyDYMYICwZ-982StineNQ74GsY/s1600-h/christ_on_a_cookie.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguo84pkoNBzRc_tS6oLqJzGzJCX3WUtcq6tVvVQzLg0FVV0Tzxz8HqHMLAyNlBCX4BLl-Ny4flOkCRD_6KhrSPVKfqDnW_sM-mgm5D4UGxsyOmlc5nkbyDYMYICwZ-982StineNQ74GsY/s400/christ_on_a_cookie.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315154654122994674" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Just in time for Easter: crucified Jesus cookie cutters. This may be taking transubstantiation just a little too far.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px;font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div>Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10411602545537504295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784858861382209492.post-14136226362360816502009-03-15T10:42:00.007+10:002009-03-23T16:56:00.190+10:00creation phase 1We are a contingent part of reality, there is nothing that necessitates our being here. Looking from a materialist perspective the universe is as it is purely by chance. The conditions happen to be balanced in a way that allows for the possibility of life, so we shouldn't be overly astounded at the fact that life exists. Here's were the contingent part comes in, there are an infinite number of ways that the universe could have organized itself after the big bang, and theoretically speaking these variations on the theme likely exist in the quantum foam somewhere. We lucked out, and popped up in one where the Anthropic principle is in operation, it's good to be alive.<br /><br />Similarly, in the spiritual sphere, we are not here out of strict necessity - for starters we could have chosen not to come. God by definition is perfect, in other words whole, which means in some sense that he didn't need to create us, because he doesn't need anything. He doesn't want for anything, he just is. Creation (and this is a big call, I know) consequently is a choice, not an obligation.<br /><br />I used to look at the arts and wonder what they're for. Examined through a harsh lens they don't seem to serve any practical purpose (in the Darwinian sense). Sure, musicians and artists in the right context seem to pull a lot of girls, but I'm not sure this is a result of evolutionary fitness, more a by-product of certain cultural expectations and values (and sometimes a contrarian interaction with them). But where does culture come from and where is it going? It creates order, it creates meaning, and art, when it comes down to it is a huge contributor to culture creation. So all though it seems at first blush to be self-indulgent fluff perhaps (and little more), while not vital to our physical survival it still serves a human or consciousness affirming purpose: Art often prompts us to contemplate life the universe and everything, no small task. It is the result of creativity courtesy of our initial creation and I like it.<br /><br />Try some at your own risk.<br /><br />TBC soonLorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10411602545537504295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784858861382209492.post-75891812621308398802009-03-12T13:00:00.008+10:002009-03-12T22:12:37.456+10:00the curious case of 'reliance' in LDS theologyFrom the marriam webster online dictionary>><br />re·<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ly</span> <a class="audio" href="javascript:popWin(" wav="rely')""></a><br />Pronunciation: \<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ri</span>-ˈ<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">lī</span>\<br />Function: intransitive verb<br /><br />1 : to be dependent <the><br />2 : to have confidence based on experience <someone><br /><br />I rely on the merits of him who is mighty save. And when I say "rely" I mean so in a highly specialized way. After a number of pioneers had been rescued from the harsh winter conditions of the unforgiving American plains, Brigham young told the already established saints that all the prayers and faith in the world wouldn't help the suffering (much), they didn't need prayers they needed potatoes and other temporal necessities, or something to that effect. As the saying goes God helps those who help themselves and in select cases others intervene on God's behalf in the lives of those who try to live right by him. In this world most stuff is up to humans.<br /><br />When we say we rely on God, it's not the same as saying that I'm relying on Joe Blogs to pay me today that 20 bucks he owes me from last week, I think what we're saying, when we're on top of our game anyway, is that I'm going to do what I think is right, and God gave me this sense of distinguishing between right and wrong, so hopefully this decision and action will help me on my way back to him. In other words reliance on God doesn't place the responsibility for our destiny on his shoulders, we're not the US Congress handing our powers all over to the Executive branch, in crisis we need to take responsibility for our own bailout. I have a feeling that God interferes in human affairs as little as possible, partly because so little has been seen of him lately or even ever. It is safe to say that we can expect few <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Deus</span> Ex <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Machina</span> moments. He put the wheels in motion, and now he's watching them turn making minor adjustments as needed, any major adjustments need to be handled by us. In the gospel rely=<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">DIY</span>.<br /><br />note: this post is talking about life in a temporal sense, reliance <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">obviously</span> extends into the eternities with the effects of the atonement etc.Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10411602545537504295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784858861382209492.post-536621958735953692009-02-28T20:33:00.006+10:002009-03-01T20:08:34.262+10:00interview with the bibleyour host: Welcome to Tough Talk.<br /><br /><br />Bible: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Thnk</span> y.<br /><br /><br />your host: Please, in English.<br /><br /><br />Bible: Verily.<br /><br /><br />your host: How 'bout we go colloquial, we don't want to confuse anyone.<br /><br /><br />Bible: Ah, so you're asking for clarity, my specialty don't worry yourself about it. I'll speak in the most simplistic language I can muster.<br /><br /><br />your host: It's interesting that you should say that. For a collection of writings dedicated to breaking the world down (especially moralistically) into simple conceptual categorizations of black and white, interpretations of your content have been, at best, varied, which points to a lack of clarity in my estimation, how do you respond to this?<br /><br /><br />Bible: People are peculiar creatures, they see and believe what they want to. These vagrant interpretations that you allude to can in some cases be attributed simply to prejudices of perhaps influential individuals throughout history, which views over time have been adopted into the wider culture of worship. The teachings found herein need not be confusing at all, you need to go about things with the right spirit so to speak. I can offer advice but I'll need to invoke the King James English?<br /><br />your host: Go ahead...<br /><br />Bible: In 2 Peter 1:20-21 I say: "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." or, and this one I'm particularly fond of, from 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."<br /><br />your host: I realize that your content, for believers, are all direct revelations from God, the Song of Solomon notwithstanding, but the thing that trips up many people is verifying whether or not that claim is true. There has to be some kind of test outside of the bible itself which can substantiate the quote unquote truth within it. Accepting the authority of the Bible strictly as a brute fact seems to go above and beyond the reasonable limits of faith into something new and well perhaps dangerous.<br /><br />You touched on the Holy Ghost which I'm sure will have some bearing on the the whole process, but there's something else I'd like to focus on for the moment. I'm glad you brought up the manner of your transcription, because that leads us into another well documented controversy, namely the Documentary Hypothesis and the Synoptic Problem, did these (purported) holy men of God receive revelation directly from him, I'm talking about the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Moseses</span> and the Matthews, the Marks, and the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Lukes</span>; or is the Torah actually a compilation of unknown authors with enigmatic tags like J,E, D and H? Why are the first three gospels so similar?<br /><br />Bible: Well Mr. Host, that's a very good many questions, I'll have to address the issue of the Holy Ghost which we're saving for later only because it impacts deeply on what we're discussing now. What we need to remember is that traditions are created by segments of society to introduce a semblance of order to chaos. As the philosophers say the natural state of humankind is "Nasty, brutish and short." It wasn't always that way, but over time things became unpleasant, which conditions were undesirable, so individuals and families banded together into clans which became tribes and so forth, practices were introduced to encourage unity and prosperity for the group. Traditions were passed on, some of them made it to the twenty first century (almost). In Christianity and Judaism one of these traditions is that Moses wrote the first five books of the old testament. Now for anyone interested in reading the bible it doesn't much matter who wrote what, from a historical perspective it's nice to know (and yes more than one author contributed to the Torah) but more important is what power or influence they wrote by. The Holy Ghost is not only the medium for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">receiving</span> revelation, but for verifying it also. It takes time to learn to listen and understand its subtle language, but the only way to know what is true and what's not is to give it a try. Go on, it wont hurt.<br /><br />your host: It all sounds very mystical, but I'll take that it into consideration. We'll be back after the break.Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10411602545537504295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784858861382209492.post-11159972805465756712009-02-11T21:47:00.006+10:002009-02-11T22:45:51.446+10:00noble in defeat, solemn in victory<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrsM8lo67vjzQ9l_DuL4Pl2KDfNNDKksOjK4bUfPpQFRHWRM0Nj8rSVbi2jXEOVBeUZ4lgu4BzWAEUlfGrBSKdyuuU2FuwPQeLywCaKVF6iQP5Z_wC18ytx8C5vaef2ktS6IyzWVItM3I/s1600-h/nephizaps.jpg"><img title="This is by Mike Allred, he's cool" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrsM8lo67vjzQ9l_DuL4Pl2KDfNNDKksOjK4bUfPpQFRHWRM0Nj8rSVbi2jXEOVBeUZ4lgu4BzWAEUlfGrBSKdyuuU2FuwPQeLywCaKVF6iQP5Z_wC18ytx8C5vaef2ktS6IyzWVItM3I/s320/nephizaps.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301513065066625074" border="0" /></a>I like Nephi. Nephi is a stand-up bloke. You can learn a great deal about the world just by contrasting Nephi's approach to life, to that of his enemies. Take Laban for instance, after duping four young gentlemen out of their inheritance, a great abundance of gold and silver and precious things, he did what any red blooded male would do in his place, he painted the town red by getting absolutely off-his-face drunk.<br /><br />This is instructive of course, don't go on a drinking binge after scoring it rich, it's not worth it. Guard yourself against ostentatious displays of arrogance in victory and all of that, every American football player alive would do well to learn from this, someone makes and tackle and celebrates like they just won the Superbowl, it's all just a little sickening. But I digress... With sobriety as a top priority we can't even conceive of Nephi doing anything that would come close to getting him tipsy, sure he'd chop a guys head off, impersonate his own uncle and misappropriate ancient records carved in precious metal, but we can't really begrudge him any of this can we? Laban had it coming, and besides when it comes to the fruits of the Spirit (the entity that gave our hero a little nudge) against such there is no law.<br /><br />When Nephi got his prize - the plates - he didn't hoot and holler or get on the grog, he simply walked for three days back to his dad's tent, where the group said their thank yous and made their sacrifices to the God of Israel and then got on with their lives. I like that even keeled approach, don't get too high when the gettings good, don't get too low when you hit a road bump. Whatever happens, you just keep on trucking. Sure there's a time to laugh and cry and dance, there is a season turn, turn, turn, you just gotta pick your spots and know when to say when. Therefore, let us be cautious in the ways we celebrate our perceived victories, be like Nephi, be wise O what can I say more.Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10411602545537504295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784858861382209492.post-38680084386970500992009-02-04T21:23:00.004+10:002009-02-04T21:50:26.696+10:00and it came to pass that I was thinking...Hi my name's Loren and I'm sharing a wonderful message today about how Austar can change your life. It just doesn't feel the same for some reason. Perhaps in a(n) (misguided) effort to recapture the glory days of my mission I've taken it upon myself to become a door to door salesman, canvasing any and everyone who'll listen in an attempt to sell cable or satellite TV. Does the world really need more TV watchers? Anyway wasn't tracting the worst part of missionary work? Temperatures in excess of thirty degrees, 99% humidity and I'm thinking it's time to rethink my little trip down memory lane. In this heat nostalgia doesn't feel so good.<br /><br />With the litany of abandoned projects that I've accumulated over the years I often wonder where it's all headed. What is the narrative that I've weaving through my conscious and unconscious choices. Nothing rouses my faculties like thinking about the meaning of life, particularly the meaning of my life. At times I feel as if I should be working towards some kind of unifying design with the world. That somehow it is my privilege to raise humanity, by for once reaching out beyond myself. Another part of me says, leave saving the world to Jesus that's his job. We all have our jobs, mine is at Austar at present, but I feel that there's something else, it just hasn't quite taken shape in my mind yet. The good thing about Jesus is he isn't greedy and he isn't a glory hog either. He'll let me help save the world if I want, I just don't know how. Any ideas?Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10411602545537504295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784858861382209492.post-33507273728429322252009-01-30T22:05:00.004+10:002009-01-31T19:15:51.696+10:00which religion has the best retirement plan?the following may offend virgins, 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">nd</span> councilors, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Muslims</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Mormons</span> and people with no sense of humour...<br /><br /><br /><br />Good morning brothers and sisters,<br /><br />I'm grateful to be here on this most staggering sabbath-like occasion. You know I was walking down the road the other day, true story, innocently minding my own business, as we <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">boulevardier</span> types are want to do, and one of these freaks, I think we call them councillors approaches me. We're all brothers and sisters right, so I play along. Hello brother so and so hows the old the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">watcha</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">madosie</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">thinga</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">majig</span>. This sets him off, he tells me all about the intricacies of mowing his lawn, his shoddy investment deals, his son on a mission and his other son who's got 5-10 for armed robbery and his life dedicated to becoming a chartered accountant. You can't fault the man's small talk skills, he had me right were he wanted me and I was totally oblivious.<br /><br />One minute we're discussing the wonders of compound interest the next I'm holding a white envelope in my hand (which whiteness was above that of all that I ever before I had seen). By the way you don't mind being the final speaker this Sunday now do you. Do you a lot of good, plenty of blessings and all that, well all the best I'll be on my way. I had know idea, none. If I pass out from sheer inability to live up to the task at hand please bear with me, I had a difficult childhood and Sister Robins is glaring at me in an intensely unsettling way. And I'm profoundly grateful to the bishopric for this assignment. Thank you, thank you.<br /><br />*waffles for five more minutes*<br /><br />Thanks again. Today I've been assigned to speak on the topic: "Which religion has the best retirement plan." Where do you begin with something like that ,I mean we all know the answer already. Am I right? Huh? That's what I thought too then I started doing a little digging. It's funny, it's like the bishop really new what I needed to focus on at this point in my life. Lets begin with Islam. Now here's a religion with some real, how shall I say, big kahunas. I mean 72 virgins. 72!?! Each!?! Gentlemen I believe we have a winner...<br /><br />...to be continuedLorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10411602545537504295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784858861382209492.post-20502716517994095512009-01-12T14:49:00.008+10:002009-01-12T16:11:35.650+10:00beautiful paradox: an interlude in "Why is God a Fractal?"<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-F4gmjAtyHxfujL8A-vjtx2N1J5o8BF8ALQyXAWFLTWVXiMZKmc-FfkCiZ0cJ5RleBEB-OSuEbX5_volKmHV9aRZEuQGyIgk-qVg6-zwE3IGHCoCswbpF_apvFzKa8_563Q-Q9cvyKo/s200/Photo+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290265575088838674" /><br /><div>Look at him, what a seedy character. He's got a goatee and a sequined t-shirt. He must be less active (8 out 10 subjects responded in this way).</div><div><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDszMYCw2KU2cWqFYm2OxI5JRShpGeUSNgauVbZ_ErSf-tblnLzR63IEfI50ZPxUZIbTSYyTEKk5gCjKbaD7CAOVXOZ7xh2dASvUhVLzMBG3j70frZfmeWR-JZZ8b1wDesHoN5XdIWbUg/s200/christ.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290270037554639442" /></div><div><br /></div><div>What is this guy a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">hippy</span> or something, don't these dudes know we're supposed to stay clean <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">shaven</span>?Oh, right, sorry Jesus.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The Weightier Matters, Sort Of:</span></div><div><br /></div><div>In <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2784858861382209492">part 2</a> I came to the conclusion that looks matter, it turns out they also don't. Ugly, hairy, beautiful, bald as a babies bottom, it doesn't really matter; what does matter when assessing our character is the advice God gave to the Prophet Samuel when he (Samuel) was looking for an heir to the throne of Israel: "But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">seeth</span> not as man <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">seeth</span>; for man <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">looketh</span> on the outward appearance, but the Lord <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">looketh</span> on the heart." </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm also reminded of a quote from the movie Blood Diamond:</div><div><br /><div>Benjamin <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Kapanay</span>: "My heart always told me that people are inherently good. My experience suggests otherwise. But what about you, Mr. Archer? In your long career as a journalist, would you say that people are mostly good?"</div><div><br /></div><div>Danny Archer: "No , I'd say they're just people."</div><div><br /></div><div>We're born with the equal potential for good or bad, it's not clear if our appearance reveals with any degree of accuracy what choices we've made throughout our lives. It's probably best, then to withhold any definitive judgement of others -- making judgements on a provisional basis is probably reasonable -- be the best we can personally and let God take care of the rest.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10411602545537504295noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784858861382209492.post-69935569812968040832008-12-14T07:09:00.012+10:002008-12-16T07:00:33.122+10:00speak with a new tongueWith all the elections and sloganeering in recent times (yes, NZ had one this year too) "change" has been adopted as the key buzzword of a new zeitgeist. What's so good about change and why do we all want some? Economies are crumbling around us as we speak; Our current and projected future results aren't especially promising: possibly a new great depression, unnecessary wars, continued terrorism and the polar ice caps melting. Doing the same thing and expecting different results is one definition for insanity. All things considered righting the ship seems like a good idea.<br /><br />Macro change begins with micro change. Global effects are generated by combinations of individual decisions. Anonymous as always has something to say about the matter: "When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family. Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world." And thus we see that fighting the ills of the world begins with self-mastery (that's what people tell me, theoretically it sounds right, when I get there I'll let you know).<br /><br />A fair while back a woman named <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Sariah</span> sat marooned in the middle of the desert in her old husband's tent and had a giant sized whinge. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Lehi</span>, her husband, led her and the family away from their well-to-do lifestyle in Jerusalem and set up camp in the inhospitable wilderness. After a three day trip out from the big city <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Lehi</span> received inspiration to send his sons back to Jerusalem to track down some old family records. The assignment was a potentially risky one, as the item they sought didn't exactly belong to them.<br /><br />After a period of waiting, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Sariah</span> made her feelings about the matter known in no uncertain terms. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Nephi</span> records: "For she had supposed that we had perished in the wilderness; and she also had complained against my father, telling him that he was a visionary man; saying: Behold thou hast led us forth from the land of our inheritance, and my sons are no more, and we perish in the wilderness. And after this <em>manner of language</em> had my mother complained against my father" (Book of Mormon 1 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Nephi</span> 5:2 - 3, emphasis added). It's easy to dismiss <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Sariah's</span> questioning as a lack of faith, this was a factor, but not the only one. Lest we judge her too harshly, it's important to remember a mother's love for her children, there are few things that can compete in intensity with the maternal instinct. Add to her imagined loss of her sons the thought of dying alone in the desert and we can in some measure appreciate her concerns. Why this excursion away from home only to have the youngest of the family return to Jerusalem? There were a number of valid questions just like there are today. Perhaps the Lord was getting the oldies out of harms way, before the quest for the brass plates began. God is not a fan of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">collateral</span> damage. I'm not sure if giving these <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">auxiliary</span> issues more then cursory consideration robs these stories of their mythic resonance, what I do know is that patience is a virtue. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Anecdotally</span> speaking when I'm still on the inside and working on the outside good things happen.<br /><br />"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">cometh</span> in the morning." Coming back to faith, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Sariah's</span> was strengthened upon the return of her sons, who were successful in their errand and a powerful change took place. A little success can go a long way "And she spake, saying: Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath commanded my husband to flee into the wilderness; yea, and I also know of a surety that the Lord hath protected my sons, and delivered them out of the hands of Laban, and given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded them. And after <em>this manner of language</em> did she speak" (Book of Mormon 1 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Nephi</span> 5:8, emphasis added). It took a miraculous act of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">deliverance</span>, but <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Sariah's</span> relationship with God fundamentally changed. And it was first manifested through the way she spoke, complaining gave way to praising. "Through small and simple things, are great things brought to pass." When we change, we change the way we speak, the way we carry ourselves the way we treat <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">each other</span> (wow, I think I'm chanelling Tupac) and I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">believe</span> that true change comes when we let go over our egos and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">acknowledge</span> that something bigger than ourselves exists out there, and then act upon it. Words are powerful things they allow us to make sense of the world and today the last ones go to two esteemed gentlemen, John Wooden, and Gandhi. "Failure may not be fatal, but failure to change might be." So,"Be the change you wish to see in the world."Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10411602545537504295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784858861382209492.post-39119752342250384042008-12-07T16:53:00.008+10:002008-12-09T15:21:50.027+10:00Stat Attack: The illusion of looking goodThe invitation to home teach usually triggers a biochemical reaction that results in feelings of anxiety and accelerated onset of spiritual disquiet. Is this response justified or is it symptomatic of deficient spiritual moorings, a various minded vessel lost at sea, drifting gently toward hell? I usually visit half of my assigned families every other month. Statistically speaking that wouldn't even make for a semi-decent bating average in baseball, as home teaching goes it's woeful. To do worse then this would be to do nothing at all, but the one<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">upmanship</span> doesn't end there, I could always fudge the results in my favour. It surprises me when the latter option is exercised. I've never indulged in this ignoble form of embellishment myself, I've got other pet foibles that keep me busy. The base assumptions in the phrase "in my favour" as it relates to "fudge the results" are cringe worthy if you adopt the position that performing yoga with the truth to preserve or enhance your reputation amongst your fellows is an inappropriate behaviour. Shakespeare said of reputation a long time ago, (through the character <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Cassio</span> speaking to Iago): "Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial. My reputation, Iago, my reputation!" On a spectrum of importance where does (the appearance of) good standing in society fall? I feel a long series of posts coming on...Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10411602545537504295noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784858861382209492.post-71471571347848497712008-12-04T15:38:00.005+10:002008-12-04T16:26:49.071+10:00Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8AAtVS1R4u4&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8AAtVS1R4u4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />My most enduring memory of this great apostle was from the 2007 November conference. He was giving a talk on charity, and could barely stand as he did so. Elder Nelson recognized Elder Wirthlin's struggle and stepped up to the podium to support him while he finished his speech.<br /><br />Charity is a two way act, there is a giver and receiver. Elder Wirthlin displayed charity to us in fulfilling his assignment under trying circumstances, and was a recipient of Elder Nelson's charity also. It was a moving image, indicative of the way we should treat one another.<br /><br />The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. I'm grateful that for a time we were given Elder Wirthlin, to share in his love and example; but all good things must come to an end and after a life of service he has been taken back home to his God. God speed Joseph, you will be missed.Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10411602545537504295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784858861382209492.post-4049050095587382112008-11-26T18:42:00.007+10:002008-12-01T05:47:50.048+10:00bushidoI recently re-watched the Last Samurai and it reminded me of an ad <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">hoc</span> lesson that I put together once for my young men. It was based around one of the many analogies of dubious distinction that emerge around the periphery of Mormonism, we like those, but if the shoe fits, that means you get to marry Cinderella.<br /><br />Eastern culture has always fascinated me, I think early exposure to really badly dubbed <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Kung</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Fu</span> movies is where the love affair began. Ever since I can remember I've wanted to be a Buddhist monk at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Shaolin</span> Temple, and later, after I discovered <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Akira</span> Kurosawa, I thought I could have been a passable Samurai in feudal Japan. Fate had other plans, sanity prevailed, and I ended up here, a denizen of the 21st century.<br /><br />As I reflect on what could have been, I'm reminded of the old Samurai ways and see certain parallels to gospel living. I wont expand on them too much, but here's a little sample, I'll leave the rest to your imagination. A Samurai dedicated himself totally to his training, the alternative was death (usually at the hands of another swordsman) which is always a good motivator. We are engaged in a battle with spiritual death on the line, in order to be victorious we would do well to emulate the discipline of these ancient warriors.<br /><br />The piety of the Samurai toward his master was above reproach. The life of a retainer was typified by absolute loyalty and service to their master. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Bushi</span> would literally give their lives in defence of their lords (or end them if they failed to do so). Now that's what I call commitment. Am I endorsing oibara or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">seppuku?</span> No, but if you want a measure of dedication, this one's hard to beat.Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10411602545537504295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784858861382209492.post-42888525244939660802008-11-23T18:31:00.007+10:002008-11-24T19:52:27.344+10:00Why is God a Fractal 3.<span style="font-family:Georgia;">As we venture further into the unknown speculative recesses of my internal imaginative flux, we will first look at the decision making process for all sentient creation from a bottom-up perspective before we take a god's-eye-view (mainly because I find it difficult to conceptualise what the latter would entail). When we last left this topic we spoke of monkeys. I just can't help myself.<br /><br />It's been said that a million monkeys typing for a million years would at some point reproduce the entire works of Shakespeare. An astute commentator observed that with the advent of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">internet</span> this notion has been proven false, but just imagine if they did, would it mean anything? </span><br /><span style="font-family:Georgia;">I think it was Camus who used a similar example to tease out how we go about creating meaning for ourselves in life. Some dude lives forever and reproduces the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Iliad</span> or the Odyssey, can we say that this event has any merit, given that on an infinite timeline it's inevitable that someone would produce an identical work (I guess it depends on how much you like Homer). Looking at things on a mortal scale, because we're working with a literal deadline -- whether we like to acknowledge it or not -- we face the prospect of being limited in what we can do for purely practical reasons. This makes our choices (like writing an epic poem) a lot more meaningful, because they are now subjected to some form of prioritization, which in all likely hood isn't arbitrarily driven. Our discriminating tastes come into play using the time we have in whatever way we see fit. Like the old saying goes "time is what stops everything from happening at once." We may want it all and want it now, but conditions don't favour the disciples of instant gratification here. We're left to make our way in the world slowly but surely one decision at a time. How we go about choosing is a whole '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">nother</span> can of worms that I'll deal with later, the why (as in why our choices matter) will have to do for now.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Sorry eternal monkeys your efforts seen through this paradigm don't amount to much. The limitations of mortality open the way for meaning to mean something. However, when we open our scope and include God in the domain, unfortunately this model doesn't fit. God is an infinite being who does far more then write about heroes with tragic flaws, he makes them. Which doesn't bring us any closer to the celestial selection system. Perhaps I've been asking the wrong question, Why is God a fractal isn't big enough, it's just a less general version of why is there something instead of nothing?<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Georgia;">next: extrapolations that could lead to a resolution of the mysteries of the universe, but probably not.<br /></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"></span>Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10411602545537504295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784858861382209492.post-32675802892589094772008-11-14T14:53:00.007+10:002008-11-14T17:34:43.750+10:00Manhood, Mormon style<p><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eGMN-gNfdaY&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eGMN-gNfdaY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Donny Osmond threatens to make a man out of me</span></p><p></p><p>If there's one thing I like doing here it's recycling old journal entries...</p><p></p><p><br />I woke up one day this week and decided I wanted to be a man. This was surprising news to everyone. Vince Lombardi (of the green bay packers) said: " winning isn't a sometime thing, it's an all the time thing. You don't win once in a while, you don't do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit, unfortunately so is losing." Substitute winning for man or manhood and you'll get some idea of how I felt. Do I wake up some days and think, you know what I don't feel like being a man today? Sure, happens all the time. I don't exactly say those words but my actions reflect that thought process: I don't feel like waking up early or doing the dishes or being nice to people or whatever. Lehi reminded his wayward sons " arise from the dust my sons and be men and be determined in one mind and one heart united in all things, that you may not come down into captivity." The saviour gives us an understanding of what true manhood is... asked:" what manner of men ought ye to be?" & answered: "Even as I am." Remember manhood isn't a some time thing it's an all the time thing. So what are you waiting for? Be a man.<br /></p><p>An addendum, the attributes of manhood:</p><p>1 THOUGH I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.<br />2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.<br />3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.<br />4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,<br />5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;<br />6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;<br />7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.<br />8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.<br />9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.<br />10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.<br />11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.<br />12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.<br />13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.<br />(New Testament 1 Corinthians 13:)</p>Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10411602545537504295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784858861382209492.post-82939803581974719342008-11-02T18:41:00.005+10:002008-11-03T13:03:58.524+10:00The Real JesusOne of the great <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">inadequacies</span> of my personal spiritual experience is the inability to imagine the difficulty of a God having difficulty with the human experience. Jesus was half man, half amazing (or God if you prefer), of course he was going to be better <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">equipped</span> than us at deflecting temptation and enacting all things righteous. It was all part of the plan, as they say. Yet in my attempts to humanize the being whom I've accepted as my deity (with the desire to better understand him) I can't say that I have been inordinately <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">successful</span> nor hopelessly <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">disappointed</span>. Jesus was how he was, I am that I am, what manner man ought I to be? Like him. I can only process this in momentary fragments of insight that seem underwhelming on reflection, mainly because they seem to do an injustice to subject under consideration. Take for instance, when I play rugby league and receive for my troubles an exceptionally hard tackle, which momentarily disables my entire person. My immediate thought upon regaining consciousness would be to retaliate in kind (or worse), which I'm guessing is a result of my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">humanness</span>. Jesus on the other hand would, first of all would not be playing a violent contact sport and if tackled under any circumstance would no doubt be puzzled, yet willfully tolerant of the offender. This is truly amazing to me, and not in some incredulous way, but in a truly <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">wondrous</span> manner. To reward aggression with mercy rather than retaliation is doable once or twice or even for the very best of us several times, but to do it <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">consistently</span>, without fail, always seems to reside, for me, in the realms of the almost unbelievable. It was not fantasy though, it was Jesus, he provided a better way than where our natural inclinations would normally lead. I don't fully understand it, but I'm grateful for it.Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10411602545537504295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2784858861382209492.post-75789574931651057252008-10-21T17:54:00.004+10:002008-10-21T19:12:55.532+10:00it's all goodI was sitting in Sunday School and our teacher offered this profound insight: whether you're suffering through life (experiencing trials) or enjoying it (receiving blessings), in the end it's all good. I'd never really looked at it like that before, sure challenges are useful, they help us to grow, but stating that 2 diametrically opposed conditions lead to equivalent outcomes. Wow. And I agree with him. Double wow.<br /><br />It's all there in the scriptures, a few of my favourites...<br /><br />And he who <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">receiveth</span> all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more.<br />(Doctrine and Covenants 78:19)<br /><br />we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things<br />(Pearl of Great Price, Articles of Faith 1:13)<br /><br />Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.<br />(Doctrine and Covenants Section 123:17)<br /><br />One day a long time ago I read about a quantum theory where someone postulated that every time the universe or one of its constituents makes a decision a new universe pops into existence (actually I may have been watching star trek). So there's a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">multiversal</span> exponentially expanding animal out there tracking all of the different <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">possibilities</span> that could have <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">happened</span> ever. One of the problems with this theory aside from universes being created out of nowhere, was that different causes could lead to the same results. My memory's a little hazy but this affect may have been called "True Chance."(it was probably something else, but this will have to do for now).<br /><br />The question is, with respect to blessings and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">cursings</span> (or just plain <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">hurtings</span>), do we have a True Chance scenario operating here? Maybe, it could also be one of the many marvelous paradoxes which we face in life, even if it is True Chance with a slight rejig, purely to satisfy my own <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">philosophical</span> inclinations, this can be made workable in the real world. If we are to be grateful in all things, good and bad than a redefinition of the word blessing may be in order, the 'blessing' that I carry around in my personal lexicon states: instances where God dispenses good things in my direction and I'm ready and wise enough to catch them. It may need to expand to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">encapsulate</span> anything that happens depending upon your response. It's possible that this generalisation has become so vague now as to encompass everything, but I don't think that diminishes it potency, mainly because we humans are <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">strange</span> creatures and operate differently from almost everything else in the universe. Intention is a powerful thing and I'm afraid I'll have to invoke the great Stephen R. Covey, peace be upon him: for normal matter there's action and reaction, for us there is a stimulus, a space, then a response. What we choose to do with that space is entirely <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">up to</span> us, the next time I stub my toe or someone pulls out in front of me in traffic (yep most of my 'trials" are pretty prosaic), I'll remember that we're here to learn from our experience and choose well. Instead of cursing I may be inclined to thank God for the blessing of this slight <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">irritation</span> which helped me to understand existence a little more and point me in his direction. It ain't much, but it's a start.<br /><br />coming soon: an attitude of gratitude.Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10411602545537504295noreply@blogger.com3