There but for the grace of God go I...

I posted this on my Facebook page today:

Today, inspired by several sources, I have put together several packets for homeless people I see on the street corners. It does not contains money, but has some food to eat, nutrition bars, peanut butter, water, canned food and some cookies. Of course, being LDS, I have included a copy of The Book of Mormon. I have put in a list of where homeless people can get help and a short note of encouragement. From experience, I realize a number of these people have addiction problems. So do I, food, but I am lucky enough to provide for myself. I the idea behind my motivation is the old statement, "There but for the grace of God go I." A few little tweaks in your past or mine, a few more bad decisions and that could easily be me on the street corner. I encourage you to think about this, perhaps put together a packet (I use a 2 ½ gallon ziplock bag). Carry one in you car, have an extra in your pantry. It will make your day when you give it to someone. As a caution, I do not give out my name address or phone number. Feel free to post back if you've done or do this. I'd like to hear your experiences.

Prone to Wander

The name of this blog has been changed for some obvious reasons. The new title reflects a line from one of the greatest hymns ever written, "Come Thou Font of Every Blessing." I include the words below although it is best heard. It perfectly describes the relationship each believing mortal has with our Heavenly Father. Below the words, I will include several links to places you may hear the hymn sung.

Come Thou fount of every blessing

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace

Streams of mercy, never ceasing

Call for songs of loudest praise

Teach me some melodious sonnet

Sung by flaming tongues above

Praise the mount, I'm fixed upon it

Mount of Thy redeeming love

Here I raise my Ebenezer

Here by Thy great help I've come

And I hope by Thy good pleasure

Safely to arrive at home

Jesus sought me when a stranger

Wandering from the throne of God

He to rescue me from danger

Interposed His precious blood

Oh, to grace how great a debtor

Daily Im constrained to be

Let that grace now, like a fetter

Bind my wandering heart to Thee

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it

Prone to leave the God I love

Heres my heart, oh, take and seal it

Seal it for Thy courts above

Come Thou fount of every blessing

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace

Streams of mercy, never ceasing

Call for songs of loudest praise

Teach me some melodious sonnet

Sung by flaming tongues above

Praise the mount, Im fixed upon it

Mount of Thy unchanging love

Published by

Lyrics © OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDbllO1LrvM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOWqMwqzUjM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3w9nvXuVnk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPKpkrqBwNs

Please pardon the ads in these links.

Excommunication in the Mormon Church

I light of recent events, I have the following thoughts on the process of excommunication in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

First, excommunication from the Church is not a random, knee-jerk devise for stifling dissent or punishing the individual member. it is a seldom used tool. It is achingly considered after interviews, often many, with the individual involved and great efforts at conciliation. An excommunication is often heart-breaking for both the Church leader and the member involved. From the point of view of a Church leader, it is a step no one wants to take. It is an infrequent, extreme option. Direction is given to the member as to exactly what must be done to retain good standing in the Church. Obviously, it is, in most cases, traumatic for the member when excommunication is even considered as an option. The member involved is given time, usually months, to consider their actions.

Excommunication is not an option for those in faith crisis. Tests of faith have happened to many of us, myself included. A faith crisis is most often a step to increased prayer, study, examining one's heart and mind, usually resulting an increase of faith. Excommunication is not an option for those who disagree with opinions, practices or doctrines of the Church. Specifically, many Mormons believe in women's ordination and same sex marriage. Such views are not reasons for excommunication. There are wide ranging viewpoints in the Church and like most organizations we have those who are rigid, centrists and progressives. They all are welcome and make up the fabric of Mormonism.

Mormon may freely believe what is contrary Church teachings, but when she or he establishes a forum that advocates others follow, that can be grounds for excommunication. Hypothetically, if an employee of Huffington Post started a forum for the criticism the Huffington website, some supervisor would want to have a talk with them. If that individual increased their efforts and it was being found they were being paid by NPR to have Huffington readers go to the NPR website instead, that employee would eventually be fired. While some of the issues may be very different, the essentials are the same. If an individual tries to draw members of an organization away en masse, that organization will most likely and justifiably sever the relationship with the offending individual.

Lastly, excommunication in the Mormon Church is not a shunning. A person who has been excommunicated is encouraged to attend Church meetings, have interviews with their bishop, attend Church social activities and interact freely with members. The door is open for return. The ability to change and repent is not looked at as a downer, but the opportunity to renew oneself through the atonement of Jesus Christ. Admittedly, it is not an easy path. When the excommunicated member is reinstated, he or she is, however, received with great joy. I have known many who have reached this point. They have accepted renewed membership with joy. Obviously, some feel differently. That is a choice they make.

Faith and Works

An old religious argument revolves around faith versus works. Are individuals saved by grace or does it take some works also?

First, we are absolutely saved by the grace of Jesus Christ. With out his sacrifice in the Garden of Gesemene and on the cross, change and salvation would be impossible. He gave his life that all may live. Many believers feel that confessing Jesus Christ as they Savior is enough. That's the end. Some have gone so far as to say that after this admission, they can do anything they want and they will still be saved. But is merely confessing Christ enough?

I will refer to a couple of scriptures to make the point. The first is the story of the rich young man found in Matthew 19:16-22 (KJV):

 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Of course, we do not know if this was a parable or an event, but the point is clear. The young man was a good person who did many positive things. He believed. But the kingdom of God required more. The rich young man was required to sell all he had and give it to the poor. That is more than just the confession of Christ. There was work to do. While the selling of all we have is not required of all followers of Christ, the point is that some actions are required.

Let us go the the last supper when Christ is with his disciples shortly before he is betrayed and arrested. Jesus gives them a new commandment. In John 13:34-35 we read words that Jesus spoke:

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

If Christ only wanted his followers to believe, there would have been no commandments, no parables no instructions. The word love here is a verb. Love as a verb indicates action. Christ was not looking for mere belief, he was looking for his followers to change because of their belief and to do many things. The gospel of Christ is the gospel of doing, of serving. Belief and faith are not ends in themselves, but spiritual evens that motivate people to change and to give  good works. The Bible is full of such examples.

Faith

The concept of faith, it seems, causes some confusion as to what it is and how it operates. We read in Hebrews 1:1 that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of thing not seen." So there is some substance to faith as well as some evidence even though that evidence is not readily apparent.

If we offer a prayer, we have offered a desire for things hoped for, be it help for ourselves, gratitude, the expression of which we hope will be well received, or blessings for others. We all hope, but "evidence of things not seen" is a little tricky. Most everyone wants tangible proof of something before accepting its reality. I believe in atoms, even though I've never seen one. Is that faith? I believe my children love me. Their actions seem to indicate they do, but they could be pretending. How can I quantify love? Do actions prove love? Is love faith or taken on faith? These are all things I have contemplated over the years.

In June, 1963,  if the reader has read my conversion story in this blog, it is obvious I had a spiritual experience. It was mine alone. It was not seen, but only felt. It was very powerful. I didn't know it was coming. I had prayed for knowledge, but didn't really anticipate anything too unusual. It was a manifestation of faith and spirit. With the experience I've just described, the foundation for the rest of my life was set. I knew I was supposed to leave my hometown and as I made plans to do so many "coincidences" occurred to help that happen. In August, 1963, I left Modesto and went to Provo, Utah with $200 in my pocket expecting to make my way. And I did, with a lot of unexpected help. I just knew it was the right thing to do. The way opened before me like the parting of the Red Sea. All obstacles disappeared. An unseen hand was guiding me.

But nothing of what happened to me was seen. It was all just "coincidence." There have been many times "coincidences" aligned to help me and my family. It just happened often when least expected.

I believe in God. I believe God has a plan for each person on this Earth. While God has these plans, we, free to choose, usually mess it up through pride, jealousy and hate. For as much good as I've experienced, I've also messed up my share (I'll write on repentance another time.). I don't know what the plan is for someone else, I just know what it is for me. I wish everyone would follow my plan, as it has brought me much joy. That is not mine to judge. Each of us must find out own way.

Three of my children, as well as two children by marriages, have distinguished themselves. In our family we have three outstanding moms, a financial officer, a college professor and a government relations specialist. We have eight grandchildren, all of whom are bright and get good grades. One is in Guatemala on a mission trying to make life better for the people there. I was a teacher and counselor in the public schools for 32 years and my wife, Brenda, taught for 12 years. An old saying says, "It's not bragging if it's fact." I am not trying to set myself up as special. I am trying to demonstrate that the course that was set for me in 1963 has given good fruit, with a lot of help form others.

Is the result of my imperfect faith not seen? Are the experiences I went through not real? Are my faltering steps in faith just my imagination? No, a thousand times no. Faith is real. It requires commitment and work, but brings great blessings. I am not unique! Others can be guided as I have. As Christ said, it takes faith as a mustard seed.

This poem by French poet Guilliame Apollinaire sums up faith for me.

Come to the edge, he said.

We are afraid, they said.

Come to the edge, he said.

They came to the edge,

He pushed them and they flew.