Equality Time

Understanding Elder Holland's "Safety for the Soul" General Conference Address

My good friend GDTeacher has kindly allowed me to post his in-depth analysis of Elder Holland's recent General Conference address titled "Safety for the Soul."  I commented on the address myself in a recent entry.  GDTeacher's analysis is more detailed and thorough than mine, and I think it complements well my thinking on the sermon.  Also included in GDTeacher's analysis are two appendices.  Appendix A contains the full text of Joseph Smith, Sr.'s dream of the tree of life, which I mentioned in my comments and which is eerily similar to the dream that Book of Mormon character Lehi had, as mentioned by Elder Holland in his talk (without, of course, mentioning Joseph Smith, Sr.'s dream, which predated the publication of the Book of Mormon).  Appendix B contains the full text of the Wikipedia entry on the possible Solomon Spaulding connections to the production of the Book of Mormon.  Elder Holland mentioned Solomon Spaulding (and Ethan Smith) in his talk.  Many Mormons likely are unfamiliar with the theories concerning the production of the Book of Mormon that Elder Holland dismisses as "frankly pathetic" in his talk.  This appendix will provide more background for those whose curiosity was piqued when Elder Holland mentioned their names.

Unfortunately, when I pasted GDTeacher's words into my post editor, all the footnote references were lost.  If anyone would like a copy of the essay with footnote references included, simply email me (equalitytime@gmail.com) and I will send it to you. Now on to GDTeacher's cogent analysis:

An LDS Gem: Elder Holland's Opus

This past Saturday and Sunday, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held its 179th Semi-Annual General Conference, at which Latter-day Saints (Mormons) gathered to hear sermons from their ecclesiastical leaders. At the afternoon session held on Sunday October 4, 2009, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles delivered a 16-minute address that quickly became the talk of the 10-hour-long conference.  The text of all General Conference addresses are available at the LDS church's web site.  The text of Elder Holland's address can be found here.  The church web site also makes the talks available in audio and video formats.  After the jump, I embed the talk as it appears on YouTube, in two parts, and then provide my commentary on it.  In sum, Elder Holland's talk is rife with lies and logical fallacies, and relies on emotional and psychological manipulation rather than rational argument to affect his audience.

The 50 Best Beatles Songs

I received in the mail today my Entertainment Weekly featuring my all-time favorite band The Beatles on the cover.  This is in honor of the Rock Band Beatles edition set to hit stores next week (can't wait!).  As part of the issue, EW lists its version of the Top 50 Beatles songs.  Well, I love lists, and of course I disagree with EW's.  They got a lot right, and a majority of the songs on my list are probably on the EW list (I didn't count).  But EW says Here Comes the Sun is only the 48th best Beatles song.  I've got it in the top 5.  And EW's number one pick, A Hard Day's Night, is a joke.  It comes in a respectable 13th on my list, but a far cry from the top spot.  Here is my list:

1. A Day in the Life
2. Hey Jude 
3. The Long and Winding Road 
4. Penny Lane 
5. Here Comes the Sun 
6. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 
7. While My Guitar Gently Weeps 
8. Eleanor Rigby 
9. Norwegian Wood 
10. Yesterday 
11. Let it Be 
12. Something 
13. A Hard Day's Night 
14. Blackbird 
15. Across the Universe 
16. Help 
17. I Wanna Hold Your Hand 
18. From Me to You 
19. When I'm Sixty-Four 
20. Revolution 
21. Strawberry Fields Forever 
22. I Am the Walrus 
23. You've Got to Hide Your Love Away 
24. Can't Buy Me Love 
25. Day Tripper 
26. Ticket to Ride 
27. Eight Days a Week 
28. Paperback Writer 
29. Getting Better
30. Good Day Sunshine 
31. I Feel Fine 
32. I Saw Her Standing There 
33. I'm Down 
34. Lady Madonna 
35. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds 
36. Magical Mystery Tour 
37. Ballad of John and Yoko 
38. Back in the U.S.S.R. 
39. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da 
40. We Can Work it Out 
41. Michelle 
42. All My Loving 
43. Please Please Me 
44. Love Me Do 
45. Nowhere Man 
46. Got to Get You into My Life 
47. Yellow Submarine 
48. Golden Slumbers 
49. Carry that Weight 
50. The End 

I actually think the last three songs should be ranked higher, but when I play this mix in iTunes, I like to end with that phenomenal medley from Abbey Road.  So, take that, EW!  Readers may notice that my list is top-heavy with later Beatles tunes, and that I am partial to McCartney's songs.  It is also a testament, though, the George Harrison's often underrated impact on the band that I've got three of his songs in the Top 12, and he didn't get writing credit for very many Beatles songs.   

Pat Condell's Latest: Apologists for Evil

I love this guy.

Personal Story I Relate To

In browsing YouTube, I came across this short video by a man who left the religion he had been diligently devoted to for many years.  I relate to his story, though the religion he left was not Mormonism, but Islam.  In it, he expresses views that I share.  He says that once one has lost belief in a religion, continuing to practice it is an act of deception, and if there is a God, He would not want someone to pretend to believe that which he does not really believe.  I couldn't agree more.

BYU May Lift Ban on YouTube Access

A few years ago, when the YouTube phenomenon first hit, the geriatric leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who manage the church-owned Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, decided that the adult members of the LDS church who comprise more than 95% of the student body population, should not have access to YouTube on campus. Now, at the same time that it has been widely reported that China had disabled Twitter and other Internet communications in an effort to stifle any potential dissent on the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square demonstrations, BYU has announced that the Brethren are considering lifting the campus ban on YouTube.  The announcement also comes on the heels of the LDS church's launch of its own YouTube channel. 

So, being the "polite apostate" as one LDS friend of mine recently dubbed me, I take this opportunity to offer BYU students who may be accessing YouTube for the first time some channels you may want to subscribe to in order to expand your understanding and knowledge of your religion.  After all, the glory of God is intelligence, or in other words, light and truth.  YouTube has immense potential to spread light and truth to the world.  Certainly, that must be the motivating factor behind the decision to lift the ban on YouTube at BYU, should the Brethren so decide.  Enjoy!

Stories and Info on Mormonism

Utah History and Culture

Non-Stamp Collector

Edward Current

Mr. Deity

America's Best Christian

Patrician Atheist

 

Mormons and Ex-Mormons Work Together on Eagle Project

Last week, my nearly 17-year-old son directed and oversaw a community project as part of the requirements he must meet to earn his Eagle Scout award.  In doing so, he employed the volunteer services of members of the Plano Fifth Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as a few helpers from the Ex-Mormon community (namely, me, my fiancee, and a few of my friends).  We were all able to work together for a common good--we built planters, planted wisteria vines, and dug out and shored up a pond that will be used by the students at Julius Dorsey Elementary school.  Julius Dorsey is located in an economically disadvantaged area in South Dallas.  Here are some pictures from the event.  I express my thanks to the members of the LDS church and to my ex-Mormon friends who worked side-by-side contributing their time and labor on a Saturday morning to perform an act of service for the community and to help my son in his efforts to earn his Eagle Scout award.  Here are some pics from the event:

LDS Church Apologizes for Past Missteps

From the Deseret News:

In a surprising move, the head of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today has publically apologized for some of the Utah based church's past missteps.

In a written statement, President Thomas S. Monson, the head of the LDS church mentioned a deep regret for Brigham Young and other leaders' pronouncements about blacks and those with African ancestry. In his words, "These statements are offensive and cannot be taken in any other manner. We renounce what was said as not doctrinal and apologize for any confusion or offense the racist statements or policies may have caused."

The press release also announces a transition so adult women may now be granted the priesthood; the possibility for leadership within the LDS organization. Women and church members have long requested this access, but were rebuffed by traditional and chauvinist policies.

The guidelines given to the lay clergy, the bishops and stake presidents (known as the church handbook of instructions) will be published on the lds.org website. All LDS members will now have access to these guidelines and become aware of previously secret guidelines and policies. LDS weddings will still be held in temples, but anyone who wants to attend those ceremonies will be allowed, without a special recommend.

President Monson references a forthcoming document that will detail the expenses and earnings of the LDS church throughout the world. This document will be made public, so each ward congregation will see where their tithing funds are being spent. Prior to today, this information was not public and even individual members had not been aware of how their donations were being used. President Monson also announces his own retirement, and the recommended retirement of any LDS leader over the age of 65. "For too long, we have allowed people to stay in the leadership when a younger, more diverse population would help the LDS church move into the twenty first century".

The statement reverses the official LDS position opposing same-sex marriage. "We regret our participation in this battle for human rights. As of today, we agree to cease any official sponsorship of anti-gay causes and encourage our members to prayerfully ponder their own participation in such causes."

It appears that as of today, April first, the church will be reviewing its policies towards women and gays, modifying existing teaching materials and pamphlets to vigilantly oppose discrimination based on race, gender, creed or sexual orientation.

The press release mentions that the Book of Mormon will become a spiritual guide instead of historically documented fact. It reads: "We acknowledge that the Book of Mormon was inspired by God, but no evidence has been found that the peoples described in the book were real or in fact ancestors of native americans".

Finally, the statement expresses regret that any historians or members of the LDS church were excommunicated over some of these issues. "These members will be welcomed back into the fold if they so choose. All members should feel free to research and study any all issues and come to their own conclusions without fear of familial, social or spiritual reprocussions".

In a related note, the Utah LDS church has agreed to allow reporters, historians and scholars unrestricted access to all the church archives and documents.

Happy April Fools Day!

Text written by aerin of http://acranberryblog.blogspot.com/

Judging by Fruits

One of the principles from the Bible I agree with is that religions and religious leaders ought to be judged by the fruits they produce.  When judging a religion, I think it a useful exercise to ask the question: "What would life be like if this religion had control of society, if it could institute laws in accordance with its teachings?"  Asking this question while I was at BYU law school was perhaps the beginning of my journey out of Mormonism.  BYU is not governed according to the secular principles enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.  Rather, it is governed by ecclesiastical leaders in accordance with the principles of the religion as they interpret them.  Life under the BYU "honor code" provides a glimpse into what life would be like if the LDS church ever became powerful enough to shape the laws of the land.  To me, it's a frightful thought.  The way the LDS church behaves when in total control, unencumbered by secular or ecumenical influences, is truly Orwellian.

Similarly, if we want to know the true fruits of Islam, it is instructive to look at places in the world where Islamic law governs, unfettered by the influence of non-Muslim viewpoints.  Islam may appear harmless when Muslims live as religious minorities in a place like the United States, where religious pluralism is woven into the cultural and historical fabric of the nation and also expressly protected by the Constitution. But what about when Islam is subject to no social constraints, where the Qur'an and the Hadith are the basis of not jut religious but civil law? What fruits are produced when the religion governs all aspects of life?  For a glimpse of what life is like under such circumstances, watch this video:

Apostasy Been Berra Berra Good to Me

The LDS church teaches that people like me, i.e., former members of the church, are destined to be miserable, and that we are in the clutches of Satan.  We are as Judas--traitors who would kill Christ if we could.  This sounds harsh, and indeed it is.  It sounds like one of those old 19th-century teachings (like blood atonement) that the church has swept under the rug.  But, alas, this is one of the old teachings that is still alive and kicking in the modern church.  In the current manual Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, published at the direction of the First Presidency (and the only extra-scriptural material permitted to be used by Priesthood and Relief Society teachers in the church) is found lesson number 27, titled "Beware the Bitter Fruits of Apostasy." From that lesson comes this quote, which is representative of the tenor and thrust of the entire lesson:

[A]postates after turning from the faith of Christ, unless they have speedily repented, have sooner or later fallen into the snares of the wicked one, and have been left destitute of the Spirit of God, to manifest their wickedness in the eyes of multitudes. From apostates the faithful have received the severest persecutions. Judas was rebuked and immediately betrayed his Lord into the hands of His enemies, because Satan entered into him.

There is a superior intelligence bestowed upon such as obey the Gospel with full purpose of heart, which, if sinned against, the apostate is left naked and destitute of the Spirit of God, and he is, in truth, nigh unto cursing, and his end is to be burned. When once that light which was in them is taken from them they become as much darkened as they were previously enlightened, and then, no marvel, if all their power should be enlisted against the truth, and they, Judas-like, seek the destruction of those who were their greatest benefactors. . . .

. . .

When you joined this Church you enlisted to serve God. When you did that you left the neutral ground, and you never can get back on to it. Should you forsake the Master you enlisted to serve, it will be by the instigation of the evil one, and you will follow his dictation and be his servant.

I believe that one reason why active Mormons often choose not to associate at all with former members of the church is that they actually believe that former members are possessed by Satan, as the above quote from Joseph Smith unequivocally states.

50 Reasons People Give for Believing in God

Guy Harrison has authored a book called  50 Reasons People Give for Believing in God.  In it, Harrison lists the things that people typically say to support their belief in deity and then asks provocative questions about the reasons given, and discusses the answers rationally.  I haven't read the book, but thought it would be fun to provide my own one-line commentary on each of the 50 reasons given.  So here goes:

1. My god is obvious. Not to me.

2. Almost everybody on Earth is religious. So? At times in world history, almost everyone believed the earth to be flat.

3. Faith is a good thing. Faith is neutral. It is good or bad depending on the object on which it rests.

4. Archaeological discoveries prove that my god exists. I call BS. Show me one.

5. Only my god can make me feel significant. Says a lot about you, not so much about god.

6. Atheism is just another religion. Only if you define religion so broadly as to have it lose all meaning.

7. Evolution is bad. Non sequitur.

8. Our world is too beautiful to be an accident. Seen any pictures out of Sudan lately?

9. My god created the universe. Well, if you say so...

10. Believing in my god makes me happy. That's nice.

11. Better safe than sorry. How safe is it, really? Are you sure you picked the right one out of the millions of gods out there to choose from?

12. A sacred book proves my god is real. Which book? Which god? Apply this to others who claim the same.

13. Divine justice proves my god is real. The lack of any evidence for such justice in the world tends toward the opposite conclusion.

14. My god answers prayers. All of them? If not, why not?

15. I would rather worship my god than the devil. False dichotomy.

16. My god heals sick people. But only some of them, right? So the suffering in the world is evidence that your god is a sadist, no? Why doesn't your god heal amputees?

17. Anything is better than being an atheist. Are you sure? Try it, you might like it.

18. My god made the human body. So you worship the Earth?

19. My god sacrificed his only son for me. Sounds like your god is a sick sonofabitch. If I killed my son and said I did it for you, what would you think of me?

20. Atheists are jerks who think they know everything. Some of them. But what do you call someone who overgeneralizes about a whole class of people?

21. I don't lose anything by believing in my god. Just your freedom.

22. I didn't come from a monkey. Who said you did, you moron?

23. I don't want to go to hell. Don't worry, you won't.

24. I feel my god when I pray. Quit putting your hand down your pants when you kneel.

25. I need my god to protect me. From your fellow believers, no doubt.

26. I want eternal life. Be careful what you wish for. See, e.g., the Highlander series.

27. Without my god we would have no sense of right and wrong. You need a book and preacher to tell you that murder is wrong? Really?

28. My god makes me feel like I am part of something bigger than myself. So does rooting for your favorite college football team.

29. My religion makes more sense than all the others. With all due respect, that's not a very high hurdle.

30. My god changes lives. For better or worse?

31. Intelligent design proves my god is real. I agree--your god is about as authentic as the science behind intelligent design.

32. Millions of people can't be wrong about my religion. Whatever your religion, millions more don't believe it than do.

33. Miracles prove my god is real. Is David Blaine god? Criss Angel?

34. Religion is beautiful. If you think Afghani schoolgirls with disfigured faces from having acid thrown at them because they were getting an education is beautiful, then sure, it's gorgeous.

35. Some very smart people believe in my god. Some very smart people drank the Kool-Aid in Jonestown.

36. Ancient prophecies prove my god exists. Name one.

37. No one has ever disproved the existence of my god. No one has ever disproved the existence of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, either.

38. People have gone to heaven and returned. People claim to have been abducted by aliens? Do you believe them?

39. Religion brings people together. Yes, it's working out so well for India and Pakistan. Or the Palestinians and Israel.

40. My god inspires people. To do what? Strap bombs to their chests?

41. Science can't explain everything. Give it time.

42. Society would fall apart without religion. Because it's doing so well with religion, right?

43. My religion is so old, it must be true. So what was the basis for believing it when it was new and competing with older religions?

44. Someone I trust told me that my god is real. Someone I trust once told me to buy Enron stock.

45. Atheism is a negative and empty philosophy. Why so negative? Don't you have anything positive to offer?

46. Believing in a god doesn't hurt anyone. Ever heard of Brenda and Erica Lafferty?

47. The earth is perfectly tuned to support life. Duh. If it weren't, we wouldn't be here.
 
48. Believing is natural so my god must be real. If I believe in unicorns, are they real?

49. The end is near. Only if religious people get their way.

50. I am afraid of not believing. Finally, the real root of religious belief--fear.

Song of the Week: You're My Home

This week's song is called You're My Home by Billy Joel.  It's one of his better, though not so well known songs.  I dedicate it to the love of my life.  Lisa, this is for you:

When you look into my eyes
And you see the crazy gypsy in my soul
It always comes as a surprise
When I feel my withered roots begin to grow
Well I never had a place that I could call my very own
That's all right, my love, 'cause you're my home

When you touch my weary head
And you tell me everything will be all right
You say, "Use my body for your bed
And my love will keep you warm throughout the night"
Well I'll never be a stranger and I'll never be alone
Whenever we're together, that's my home

Home can be the Pennsylvania Turnpike
Indiana's early morning dew
High up in the hills of California
Home is just another word for you

Well I never had a place that I could call my very own
That's all right, my love, 'cause you're my home

If I travel all my life
And I never get to stop and settle down
Long as I have you by my side
There's a roof above and good walls all around
You're my castle, you're my cabin and my instant pleasure dome
I need you in my house 'cause you're my home.
You're my home.

You're my home

Three Cheers for Bill Marriott

Famous Mormon Bill Marriott, Chairman and CEO of the Marriott International hotel company, defied LDS church leaders by refusing to donate money to the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign against gay marriage in California.  He has now posted a statement on the Marriott web site, in which he touts the company's long-standing diversity policy, which includes domestic partner benefits, and in which he speaks with pride about the many LGBT events that have been hosted at Marriott hotels over the years.  While it does not take as much courage for a man of Marriott's stature to oppose church leaders on a political issue (certainly, he won't be threatened with church discipline the way Andrew Callahan, rank-and-file church member from Nebraska was), it nevertheless shows that there are some Mormons who are willing to "do what is right and let the consequence follow" as they act in accordance with what their conscience tells them instead of yielding to the pressure to sacrifice their will on the altar of absolute obedience to the prophet.

Marriott's complete statement after the jump:

Prop 8 Supporters Celebrate Denial of Rights

Note: I have changed the title of this post from "Mormons Celebrate Bigotry" to "Prop 8 Supporters Celebrate Denial of Rights" because I think it more accurately reflects what is depicted in the phot and because the old title was unnecessarily provocative and unfair--not all Mormons supported Proposition 8, and many who supported it did so grudgingly.

The Some Mormons, while mourning the Obama Presidential victory, are nonetheless celebrating the passage of Proposition 8 in California, which enshrines in the California Constitution discrimination against a minority of California's population--gays and lesbians, whose marriages will no longer be legally recognized in California.  The These Mormons, including those who live in other states (such as Utah), were energetic and enthusiastic in working to deprive gays and lesbians of their right to marry.  In working so hard to pass Proposition 8, the some Mormons continued a long tradition of their religion to oppose civil rights.  In the 1960s, LDS leaders spoke strongly against civil rights for African-Americans, opposing integration and supporting politicians like George Wallace in his efforts to maintain "segregation now, segregation tomorrow, and segregation forever."  LDS apostles argued that segregation was God-inspired, and that to end segregation was to act against God.  For example, Elder Mark E. Petersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said in 1954 that:

Now we are generous with the Negro. We are willing that the Negro have the highest education. I would be willing to let every Negro drive a Cadillac if they could afford it. I would be willing that they have all the advantages they can get out of life in the world. But let them enjoy these things among themselves. I think the Lord segregated the Negro and who is man to change that segregation? It reminds me of the scripture on marriage, "what God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." Only here we have the reverse of the thing - what God hath separated, let not man bring together again. (Apostle Mark E. Peterson, Race Problems - As They Affect The Church, Convention of Teachers of Religion on the College Level, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, August 27, 1954)

For more quotes from LDS leaders on segregation and civil rights, see the Mormon Think web site. 

The LA Times ran this photo of [some] Mormons [and others] celebrating their "victory" in denying gays and lesbians their constitutional rights:

Someday, I have a feeling many Mormons will be as embarrassed to have worked for the passage of Proposition 8 and to have been captured celebrating its passage, as they would be to have been captured in this photo:

Equality's Election Prediction

Here is my prediction for the Presidential election:

<p><p><strong>><a href='http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008/pick-your-president/'>2008 Election Contest: Pick Your President</a></strong> - Predict the winner of the 2008 presidential election and enter to win a $500 prize.</p></p>

I made this a month ago, and it follows what I have been saying since the conventions. I haven't seen anything, with all the ups and downs of the campaign, to change the basic prediction of Obama in a landslide (yay). I actually think that the result might be even more in Obama's favor--I think the Senator from Illinois has a decent chance at winning Georgia and Montana, which would take his total to 393. To get over 400, he'd have to take Arizona or maybe North Dakota and West Virginia, which might be a bit of a stretch (but wouldn't shock me). I will be shocked if Obama wins with less than 300 electoral votes.

In the Senate, I think the Dems end up with 58 seats, including Elizabeth Dole's seat from North Carolina (which will serve her right for the slanderous ad she ran against her opponent). In the House, I expect the Dems to win a net of about 30 seats. Say hello to a one-party Washington.