O:9:"magpierss":24:{s:6:"parser";i:0;s:12:"current_item";a:0:{}s:5:"items";a:25:{i:0;a:9:{s:2:"id";s:58:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-8104706731791570782";s:9:"published";s:29:"2006-12-27T13:52:00.000-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2006-12-27T14:03:59.243-07:00";s:5:"title";s:43:"Beholding Salvation: A Video Christmas Card";s:12:"atom_content";s:896:"You've arrived. You are now on the Christmas card list for the BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications. This year they have put up a <a href="http://beholdingsalvation.byu.edu/presentation/presentation.php">video Christmas card</a> with images from the <span style="font-style: italic;">Beholding Salvation: Images of Christ</span> exhibit. (<a href="http://byunews.byu.edu/release.aspx?story=archive06/Dec/christmascard">ht: BYU News</a>) I suppose the honor of being on their Christmas card list is similar to the honor of being <a href="http://www.time.com/time/personoftheyear/2006/">TIME's Person of the Year</a>.<br /><br />The video contains some images that I hadn't seen before. I haven't taken the time to view the exhibit yet, though I hope to do so before it leaves later this year. This video has definitely encouraged me to make it a priority. I hope you will enjoy it as I did.";s:4:"link";s:81:"http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/2006/12/beholding-salvation-video-christmas.html";s:9:"link_self";s:70:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/8104706731791570782";s:9:"link_edit";s:70:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/8104706731791570782";s:11:"author_name";s:7:"Bradley";}i:1;a:9:{s:2:"id";s:58:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-8188699884870506568";s:9:"published";s:29:"2006-12-27T10:30:00.000-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2006-12-27T10:39:57.254-07:00";s:5:"title";s:20:"Seeing Mary as Human";s:12:"atom_content";s:1382:"People are always looking for a new angle to approach a story when teaching or preaching, and few stories are as frequently discussed as the Nativity story. Throughout my life I've heard many discussions about "what Mary must have felt" or "how Joseph might have reacted" and so on.<br /><br />According to the director of the new movie, The Nativity Story, my experience is unique. Either it is unique among Mormons, or Mormons are more unique among Christians in general as approaching these stories with an eye for the human emotion driving the scene. The video clip below is an excerpt from an interview with Katie Couric where the director makes the point.<br /><embed style="width:400px; height:326px;" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=7416590536218176184&hl=en" flashvars=""> </embed><br /><br />I know discussions of human motivations in scriptural stories are common among internet-savvy Mormons. I wonder if they are common among Mormons in general. My sense is that it is very common, but my experience is limited. <br /><br />Of course, I haven't seen the movie, so perhaps there really is some unique speculation there that I won't have heard before. I don't plan on going out of my way to see the movie, but I suspect I will eventually see it. If I'm surprised, I'll be sure to post an update.";s:4:"link";s:66:"http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/2006/12/seeing-mary-as-human.html";s:9:"link_self";s:70:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/8188699884870506568";s:9:"link_edit";s:70:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/8188699884870506568";s:11:"author_name";s:7:"Bradley";}i:2;a:9:{s:2:"id";s:58:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-6068696592660559531";s:9:"published";s:29:"2006-12-20T22:28:00.000-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2006-12-20T22:53:32.449-07:00";s:5:"title";s:16:"Email Me a Cigar";s:12:"atom_content";s:2270:"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.lavalane.org/ross/uploaded_images/gideon-birth-091-787288.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 303px; height: 227px;" src="http://www.lavalane.org/ross/uploaded_images/gideon-birth-091-784984.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>On Monday evening, our little boy, Gideon, was born. He came out with a bruised face as you can see in the picture, but I've confirmed with several of the nurses at Primary Children's Medical Center that he is among the top 5 cutest babies they have ever seen. Being health care professionals, I'm sure they wouldn't lie to me. :)<br /><br />If you follow this blog with any regularity, you probably knew this boy was coming and that he has some<a href="http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/2006/08/for-whom-am-i-crying.html"> extra medical challenges</a>. Our family has fasted for him and sent a lot of prayers heavenward in his behalf. At least one of the petitioners must be on the good side of heaven. His birth and subsequent surgery have all gone very well. He is recovering well from the surgery that closed up his open spine. He has a nasty gash on his back, but the nurses tell me they've seen a lot worse.<br /><br />Lots of tests are still pending, but early indications show that he can move his legs and may have some control over bowel and urinary functions. We feel so tremendously blessed to have this precious soul in our family. Whatever his physical abilities or disabilities, he has moved from the vague womb-baby-with-spina-bifida to a living, breathing, precious baby boy. Our baby boy.<br /><br />The nurses, doctors, and staff at both the University of Utah Hospital and the Primary Children's Medical Center have been beyond wonderful to us. Keryn was treated like a queen in the room where she recovered from the childbirth. (She's doing great!) The nurses over here in the infant unit of PCMC have been terrific too. We've met more doctors than I can reliably count, but each comes in with a bit of information and gives us the opportunity to ask questions.<br /><br />Thanks to all of you who have inquired about our little boy and have offered up prayers in his behalf. We are truly blessed.";s:4:"link";s:60:"http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/2006/12/email-me-cigar.html";s:9:"link_self";s:70:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/6068696592660559531";s:9:"link_edit";s:70:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/6068696592660559531";s:11:"author_name";s:7:"Bradley";}i:3;a:9:{s:2:"id";s:57:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-116604347912233298";s:9:"published";s:29:"2006-12-13T13:43:00.000-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2006-12-13T13:57:59.153-07:00";s:5:"title";s:24:"DIY: Savior of the World";s:12:"atom_content";s:516:"From lds.org:<br /><blockquote><span class="featurestext">The Church production <i>Savior of the World: His Birth  and Resurrection</i> has been presented annually at the Conference Center  Theater in Salt Lake City since the 2000 Christmas season. Production materials,  including script, score, and orchestral accompaniment tracks, are <a class="featureslink" href="http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,7174-1,00.html">now available  online</a> as an optional resource for Church or home use.</span> </blockquote>";s:4:"link";s:65:"http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/2006/12/diy-savior-of-world.html";s:9:"link_self";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/116604347912233298";s:9:"link_edit";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/116604347912233298";s:11:"author_name";s:7:"Bradley";}i:4;a:9:{s:2:"id";s:57:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-116525546943168868";s:9:"published";s:29:"2006-12-10T20:55:00.000-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2006-12-10T20:53:53.096-07:00";s:5:"title";s:17:"Why Call it Xmas?";s:12:"atom_content";s:1830:"Occasionally, I've heard people complain about using the abbreviation "xmas." I used to be one of them. Fortunately I got an attitude adjustment because of some new (to me) information.  From the <a href="http://www.bartelby.com/61/80/X0008000.html">American Heritage dictionary</a>:<br /><i></i><blockquote><i>Xmas</i> has been used for hundreds of years in religious writing, where the <i>X</i> represents a Greek chi, the first letter of <img src="http://www.bartelby.com/images/pronunciation/c_kc_hgr.gif" align="absbottom" border="0" /><img src="http://www.bartelby.com/images/pronunciation/rgr.gif" align="absbottom" border="0" /><img src="http://www.bartelby.com/images/pronunciation/igr.gif" align="absbottom" border="0" /><img src="http://www.bartelby.com/images/pronunciation/sgr.gif" align="absbottom" border="0" /><img src="http://www.bartelby.com/images/pronunciation/tgr.gif" align="absbottom" border="0" /><img src="http://www.bartelby.com/images/pronunciation/ogr.gif" align="absbottom" border="0" /><img src="http://www.bartelby.com/images/pronunciation/sfgr.gif" align="absbottom" border="0" />, “Christ.” In this use it is parallel to other forms like <i>Xtian,</i> “Christian.” But people unaware of the Greek origin of this <i>X</i> often mistakenly interpret <i>Xmas</i> as an informal shortening.... Many therefore frown upon the term <i>Xmas</i> because it seems to them a commercial convenience that omits Christ from Christmas. </blockquote>Bruce Satterfield was the person who first introduced me to this information. On his web site he has a paper of <a href="http://emp.byui.edu/SATTERFIELDB/Papers/XMASGaskill.htm">symbols of Christ</a> we can find in Christmas. He is appropriating symbols that didn't originally point to Christ but which can still be useful reminders if we want them to be.";s:4:"link";s:62:"http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/2006/12/why-call-it-xmas.html";s:9:"link_self";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/116525546943168868";s:9:"link_edit";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/116525546943168868";s:11:"author_name";s:7:"Bradley";}i:5;a:9:{s:2:"id";s:57:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-116520433645983329";s:9:"published";s:29:"2006-12-09T08:07:00.000-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2006-12-09T08:09:16.790-07:00";s:5:"title";s:59:"How Many Priesthood Holders Does it Take to Give a Blessing";s:12:"atom_content";s:1007:"I guess the title sounds like I should be delivering the punchline of a joke, but the question is serious. Tradition seems to dictate that if I want to give my wife a blessing, I should call another priesthood holder to assist me. Why is this? The tradition is strongest when we give a blessing of healing, but I don't see why this should be a different situation than any other blessing. <a href="http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Curriculum/mpandrs.htm/duties%20and%20blessings%20b.htm/priesthood%20and%20church%20government.htm/performing%20priesthood%20ordinances%20lesson%205.htm#JD_31112.005">The manual</a> says that blessings for the sick are, "Normally," done by, "two or more Melchizedek Priesthood holders."<br /><br />The <a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/james/5/14#14">scriptures</a> talk about "call[ing] for the elders." Note the plural. But, if the priesthood holder belongs to the family, is there really a need to call for others to assist if it is more comfortable not to do so?";s:4:"link";s:81:"http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/2006/12/how-many-priesthood-holders-does-it.html";s:9:"link_self";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/116520433645983329";s:9:"link_edit";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/116520433645983329";s:11:"author_name";s:7:"Bradley";}i:6;a:9:{s:2:"id";s:57:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-116520540812943781";s:9:"published";s:29:"2006-12-07T18:32:00.000-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2006-12-07T18:33:33.136-07:00";s:5:"title";s:21:"A Name and a Blessing";s:12:"atom_content";s:1293:"Knowing that shortly after my son is born I will want to give him a blessing before his back surgery, I have been wondering if I should give the child a "name and a blessing" before I give him a healing blessing.<br /><br />I asked my bishop about it and he opened his scriptures to <a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/20/70#70">D&amp;C 20:70</a>.<br /><blockquote>Every member of the church of Christ having children is to bring them unto the elders before the church, who are to lay their hands upon them in the name of Jesus Christ, and bless them in his name.</blockquote><br />It is interesting to note that there is no mention of giving the child a name. The requirement seems to be that at some point we present the infant before the congregation for a blessing. This verse also seems to argue against doing baby blessings in the home.<br /><br />Anyway, the point of the instruction from my bishop was that it would be perfectly acceptable (and encouraged) that I give my little boy a blessing while he is in the hospital and then later present him in the church for a "name and a blessing." This goes along with what I had felt intuitively. It felt good to have it officially confirmed by my priesthood leader. My bishop is a good man and it is good to have his spiritual direction.";s:4:"link";s:63:"http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/2006/12/name-and-blessing.html";s:9:"link_self";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/116520540812943781";s:9:"link_edit";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/116520540812943781";s:11:"author_name";s:7:"Bradley";}i:7;a:9:{s:2:"id";s:57:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-116517637644853534";s:9:"published";s:29:"2006-12-03T12:47:00.000-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2006-12-03T13:06:16.750-07:00";s:5:"title";s:32:"Moroni, Pahoran, and Me: Part II";s:12:"atom_content";s:4454:"We wrote last week about a <a href="http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/2006/11/am-i-moroni-to-my-bishops-pahoran.html">struggle we've been having in our ward</a>. I wondered in that post whether I ought to go to the bishop and give him some sort of ultimatum. I felt that I had two callings (or <span style="font-style: italic;">de facto</span> callings) that were mutually exclusive and that I couldn't do both of them fully. I got many great comments. Thanks to all of you for your thoughts.<br /><br />I had a very long and instructive phone call about the post with my older sister who has personally been through some of the exact same struggles I wrote about in that earlier missive. She posted the following as a comment to that post. I didn't want you to miss it if you hadn't been following the comments on the other post.<br /><blockquote>I think you are wise to consider Moroni and Pahoran. Moroni certainly had a testimony of Christ and he certainly was justified in complaining. His circumstances were horrendous-Pahoran was his leader and was obligated to sustain him. He was doing an exceptionally bad job-many people lost their lives (although the scriptures tell us they were saved in Christ).<br /><br />So by considering this, what can someone in your position learn?--there are some parallels. Pahoran was not fulfilling his role because he needed to be sustained in a literal way by Moroni. He needed Moroni to help him before he could effectively do what- as the leader- it was his unquestionable duty to do. So what is the likening? I am sure you already know the answer because I have known you for years and know that this is the conclusion you would likely come to-- Be the Moroni to your Bishop's Pahoran.<br /><br />It's OK to express your frustrations and concerns to him just like Moroni did. <span style="font-weight: bold;">But you can't stop there.</span> Moroni showed us that he was sincere when he claimed he just wanted to do what was best for his people. He supported Pahoran militarily. What does that look like today? Personal service to your bishop and his family is a good start, but it sounds like your ward may need more than that. You might consider increasing your own activity and invite other members in your ward to do the same. Fellowship in a ward goes a LONG way when you are trying to defeat the apathy of a ward (which is a spiritual coup metaphorically speaking). Moroni was justified in his complaint, but he also marched and fought for his people.<br /><br />I know you and Keryn are both the kinds of people that aren't afraid to take on a task that is worthy. Can you solve the problem in your ward with bloodshed or loss of limb? Of course not! But service and an increase in deliberate fellowship can go a long way in every ward.<br /><br />I don't think your testimony of the restoration is a factor here. Lots of people had a testimony of the restoration and flat out quit the church. What I meant by the Joseph Smith comment was that if you are a member of the church he organized, you have to accept your bishop as the rightful 'Pahoran' in this analogy. He is your divinely appointed leader which makes him worthy of 'fighting' beside in defeat of what is a real problem in your ward that needs fixing.<br /><br />I agree that if we have a testimony of the gospel we still have day to day struggles that are real, but our excercise of that knowledge can certainly diminish the weight of those struggles. I am interested to hear how you will solve it because I know you will come up with innovative and inspired solutions.<br /><br />My smiley was just because I like you and want to spread around a little more sugar to people I adore (you and your family!) ;) :) :-></blockquote><br />I think she is right on the money here and the counsel is wise.<br /><br />It turns out that I was released today from my calling with the Young Men without even having to go in and talk to the bishop. (That was actually quite a surprise.) I don't have another calling for now; they have decided to wait until after our little boy is born and we have a better handle on what <a href="http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/2006/08/for-whom-am-i-crying.html">his medical situation</a> will be.<br /><br />Everything isn't sorted out with the Nursery or the Primary yet, but I'm sure we'll get there. And in the mean time, I can help out in that capacity without feeling guilty that I'm abandoning the Young Men.";s:4:"link";s:75:"http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/2006/12/moroni-pahoran-and-me-part-ii.html";s:9:"link_self";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/116517637644853534";s:9:"link_edit";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/116517637644853534";s:11:"author_name";s:7:"Bradley";}i:8;a:9:{s:2:"id";s:57:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-116398047741950963";s:9:"published";s:29:"2006-11-19T16:54:00.000-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2006-12-03T08:29:59.396-07:00";s:5:"title";s:35:"Am I Moroni to my Bishop's Pahoran?";s:12:"atom_content";s:4113:"<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><blockquote>Behold, I direct mine epistle to [the bishop], ...who is the chief judge and the governor over the [congregation], and also to all those who have been chosen ... to govern and manage the affairs of this war[d].<br /><br />...we desire to know the cause of this exceedingly great neglect; yea, we desire to know the cause of your thoughtless state.<br /><br />...Yea, even they who have looked up to you for protection, yea, have placed you in a situation that ye might have succored them, yea, ye might have [called others to help] them, to have strengthened them, and have saved ... them from falling [by the wayside].<br /><div align="right"><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/alma/60">- Alma 60</a><br /><br /></div></blockquote>I've been pretty frustrated over the last few months. I have two children in the nursery at church, one aged 3, one aged 1 and a half. We haven't had a nursery leader in our ward since July.<br /><br />Keryn is in the primary presidency. Their presidency has submitted a stream of names, eventually getting to the point where they aren't looking to find the "right" names to submit. They are just looking for warm bodies. Some calls have been extended, apparently, but none have been accepted.<br /><br />Weeks go by without word from the bishopric on the status of the names submitted. Each Sunday Keryn's ears perk up during ward business to see if someone will be sustained. None are read and she pushes back the tears of frustration that fight their way up.<br /><br />5 months after being made aware of the need, there are no nursery leaders.<br /><br />Each week would bring a fresh round of stress to Keryn as she called different people to find substitutes. Eventually, a letter was given to each parent with a child in the nursery, including the bishop, giving them an assigned week to serve in the nursery.<br /><br />The merry-go-round of faces was tough on the kids. They didn't have a good routine, they didn't have a rapport with the teachers, and some increasingly resisted coming at all. Finally Keryn and I decided it would be better for our kids as well as the other children if we spent as much time in the nursery as we could until permanent leaders could be called.<br /><br />So, for most of these five months, I've ditched my obligation to be with the Priests quorum and played with the kids in the nursery. I can hardly complain about the fun level during church. I really enjoy being with the children in the nursery. And the more I do it, the better I get at it, and the more I like it.<br /><br />But every week I go in to the nursery, I must do so with guilt that I'm leaving a portion of my <i>real</i> calling undone. (Being a dad is my <i>real</i> real calling, so I end up in the nursery by choice.) My calling with the Priests is primarily a weeknight calling. I am in charge of shepherding their Tuesday night activities. Because I don't see the young men in church on Sunday, I never feel like things are as well organized as they might otherwise be.<br /><br />I feel ready to issue an ultimatum to the bishop: Either call someone to the nursery so I can feel comfortable as a father sending my children there each week, or release me from my calling with the young men so that I can fill the role in the nursery personally. It isn't a case of being unwilling to hold two callings. It is a case of being uncomfortable holding two mutually exclusive callings, and one of those unofficially.<br /><br />So... I feel like I have a pretty good case right? I've been feeling this building up over a period of weeks. Then this afternoon I thought of the story of Moroni and Pahoran. Moroni was so ticked at Pahoran for not sending him the needed help. He assumed that Pahoran had no excuse and he chewed him out good.<br /><br />I guess before I get too angry at the bishop, I need to remember what an incredibly sticky situation he must be in, calling people (including former bishops and relief society presidents) to serve in positions who flatly refuse. I'm glad I'm not in his shoes.</div>";s:4:"link";s:79:"http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/2006/11/am-i-moroni-to-my-bishops-pahoran.html";s:9:"link_self";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/116398047741950963";s:9:"link_edit";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/116398047741950963";s:11:"author_name";s:7:"Bradley";}i:9;a:9:{s:2:"id";s:57:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-116398209790853281";s:9:"published";s:29:"2006-11-19T17:21:00.000-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2006-11-19T17:21:37.940-07:00";s:5:"title";s:30:"David Earns His Eagle... at 43";s:12:"atom_content";s:694:"<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Keryn pointed out this story in the Deseret Morning News to me. It tells about David Tolson, a 43 year old with Down syndrome who has <a href='http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,650208380,00.html'>earned his eagle scout award</a>. The story is particularly tender for us since we used to live in David's ward in Orem. Each week he attends the Deacons quorum in the ward and passes the sacrament--always the same route. He does an awesome job. His mother is a saint in every sense of the word. Seeing the photographs in the story brought back fountains of fond memories of our time with the good people of the Sunset Heights 4th ward. <br></br></div>";s:4:"link";s:73:"http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/2006/11/david-earns-his-eagle-at-43.html";s:9:"link_self";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/116398209790853281";s:9:"link_edit";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/116398209790853281";s:11:"author_name";s:7:"Bradley";}i:10;a:9:{s:2:"id";s:57:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-115610754641284074";s:9:"published";s:29:"2006-11-11T20:49:00.000-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2006-11-11T20:56:47.946-07:00";s:5:"title";s:33:"Humility of the Women Left Behind";s:12:"atom_content";s:690:"A speaker in sacrament meeting asserted that John Taylor was very humble in being able to leave his wife in a ditch for shelter as he departed on a mission. Given the honor culture so prevalent in that day, is surely must have been a degrading thing for a man to leave his family in the care of others.<br /><br />But it struck me that, as much humility and submission as it took for John Taylor to leave his wife behind, it took more for her to remain without violent objection. She showed true humility in accepting the will of the Lord and supporting her husband's call even when she dearly needed him. I get the impression that her story is not uncommon in the early days of the church.";s:4:"link";s:75:"http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/2006/11/humility-of-women-left-behind.html";s:9:"link_self";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/115610754641284074";s:9:"link_edit";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/115610754641284074";s:11:"author_name";s:7:"Bradley";}i:11;a:9:{s:2:"id";s:57:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-115372001656255677";s:9:"published";s:29:"2006-11-03T19:15:00.000-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2006-11-03T19:19:46.686-07:00";s:5:"title";s:29:"Let's Show Cops in Priesthood";s:12:"atom_content";s:1972:"I've made the breakthrough. I've discovered the secret to saving the children of the world--or at least the church. The secret? Cops. No, not the people in uniform, the show on TV.<br /><br />My revelation came a few months ago when I was flipping between the two channels we get on our television. It was late at night and I couldn't sleep. Cops was on. I watched a girl desperately trying to talk her way out of the fix she was in. She was in the passenger seat of her car. Naked. The car has just been pulled over. She gets out of the car, trying to wrap herself in a sheet or something. Her clothes are a wet clump on the floor of the car. She's apparently been swimming with the two boys in the car.<br /><br />Drugs are found under the seat. She desperately pleads with the officer not to turn them in or "I'll never graduate! Those drugs aren't mine. I have no idea where they came from." She is sobbing. The officer isn't convinced.<br /><br />This is the only episode of Cops I've seen in years. But I think I'm going to switch the curriculum for our Aaronic Priesthood meetings to include an episode every other week or so.<br /><br />I looked at this girl on the TV. Her life is in shambles. Just minutes before we see her, she was living what she thought was the good life. Having "fun" with boys who most certainly adored her, or at least the version of her that didn't have any clothes on and let them drive around in her car.<br /><br />Looking on the wreckage left behind such fun, you'd think that would be a powerful deterrent. I'm sure it all sounds very enticing "in the moment", but the price is so very high down the road. <br /><br />Cops shows the costs. There is nobody on that show (except the cops) that anybody would want to be like. Hopefully our kids would be smart enough to make the connection.<br /><br />I'd better go see if the library has any episode on VHS so I can clear the new curriculum with the bishop. I'm sure he'll be thrilled.";s:4:"link";s:74:"http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/2006/11/lets-show-cops-in-priesthood.html";s:9:"link_self";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/115372001656255677";s:9:"link_edit";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/115372001656255677";s:11:"author_name";s:7:"Bradley";}i:12;a:9:{s:2:"id";s:57:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-116217938264233280";s:9:"published";s:29:"2006-10-29T19:25:00.000-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2006-10-29T20:36:22.806-07:00";s:5:"title";s:28:"The "without a cause" clause";s:12:"atom_content";s:5416:"The <a href="http://ce.byu.edu/cw/cwsperry/">35th Annual Sidney B. Sperry Symposium </a>was held on BYU Campus this last weekend (October 27-28).  The theme this year was "How the New Testament Came to Be", and I was lucky enough to attend several of the sessions (my husband Bradley sent me while he watched the children).  I found two of the Friday night sessions thought-provoking, albeit in very different ways.<br /><br />Daniel K. Judd and Allen W. Stoddard co-authored a paper (Dr. Judd presented it) entitled "Adding and Taking Away "Without a Cause" in <a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/matt/5">Matthew 5:22</a>".<br /><blockquote>But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother <span style="font-style: italic;">without a cause</span> shall be in danger of the judgment:  and whosoever shall say unto his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council:  but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.<br /></blockquote>Although I knew that the JST rendition of this passage removes the phrase "without a cause", I had no idea that among New Testament scholars, the originality of that phrase is debated.  According to Dr. Judd's presentation, among the earliest NT manuscripts, both versions are found, but the phrase is missing in many of the very earliest.  It doesn't show up in the Codex Vaticanus, an early Greek Bible (c. AD 400), although it does show up in an early Coptic manuscript (I missed the age of that one).  Two early Christian theologians, St. Jerome (AD 185-254) and John Chrysostom (AD 347-407) held opposing views on the validity of the statement--St. Jerome arguing against it, and John Chrysostom arguing for it.  The phrase is found in the King James Version of the Bible, but many recent versions, including the NIV, omit it.<br /><br />Dr. Judd and his student have been studying the "<a href="http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/7547/ntmss.html">Barcelona Papyrus</a>", which is a scrap of papyrus from the first century AD with various passages from the Gospel of Matthew written on it.  These passages include the oldest recording of Matthew 5:22, and careful reading by the authors has revealed that "without a cause" is <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> included.<br /><br />The addition of "without a cause" fundamentally changes the message and idea behind the Savior's admonition.  With the phrase omitted, we have absolutely no excuse for becoming angry with our brethren; with the phrase, we can justify it if we have a cause--and who is to judge what is a good reason or not?  It seems very obvious that insertion of those three words makes a higher law into a lesser one.<br /><br />When I was a child, I remember being taught in school that even though someone "made" me angry, it wasn't okay to act on that angry by yelling, pushing, hitting, etc.  At home, though, my parents had a different perspective.  Although they acknowledged the reality of those angry feelings, they taught us that no one could "make" us angry, that we didn't have to allow another person to change the way we felt.  This isn't to say we were punished for being angry (although we were punished by acting on it, naturally); rather they tried to guide us into following the higher law, while recognizing the shortfalls of the natural man.<br /><br />This lecture by Dr. Judd brought similar thoughts to my mind, and reminded me of those early lessons.  Right now I'm experiencing a fair amount of frustration in my calling.  I've had an enormous burden placed upon me by the bishopric, and I feel like I'm getting no support from them--or from the majority of the ward membership.  For the past several months I've had a <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> hard time concentrating on the sacrament, coming as it does right after ward business, in which certain callings are filled with rapidity and my needs are left unfilled.  I ever passed on taking the sacrament a few weeks ago, I was that upset.  And I've been (mostly) blaming it on the bishopric.<br /><br />But considering this passage of scripture, and the admonition to not become angry with our fellow men, makes me realize that I have to take responsibility for this situation--not that I can force the bishopric to fill the callings, but that I need to work on my anger.  It's not something that is out of my control, it's not something that is "healthy" and "right".  It <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> natural, but we are supposed to put off the natural man.  Don't get me wrong, I don't expect myself to change overnight, and I certainly don't think I'll have this concept perfected anytime within my lifetime.  But I need to be actively working on it, for it is <span style="font-style: italic;">my</span> duty.  There is no "without a cause" clause to get me out of it.  Nor should there be.<br /><br />(An interesting sidenote to this discussion:  As I mentioned earlier, the JST omits the phrase.  Later in the NT, the JST changes another passage dealing with anger, Eph.4:26.  The KJV reads "Be ye angry, and sin not" whereas the JST changes it to read "Can yet be angry, and sin not?"--following the same trend as the omission of the "without a cause" phrase.  There is no evidence that Joseph Smith was aware of the question of the authenticity of the phrase; many of the manuscripts cited in the talk had not been discovered during his time.)";s:4:"link";s:66:"http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/2006/10/without-cause-clause.html";s:9:"link_self";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/116217938264233280";s:9:"link_edit";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/116217938264233280";s:11:"author_name";s:5:"Keryn";}i:13;a:9:{s:2:"id";s:57:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-116084435119466531";s:9:"published";s:29:"2006-10-28T14:51:00.000-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2006-10-28T23:14:54.563-06:00";s:5:"title";s:58:"A non-Mormon author's view of Mormon position on evolution";s:12:"atom_content";s:992:"Perhaps you'll think it too vain, but I'm always interested to hear what people are saying about Mormons. When Mormons are mentioned in a news report, my ears always perk up, especially on a national show. (We end up in the news a lot in the Utah news as you might expect.)<br /><br />I was watching a video lecture about the junction of science and religion, with the subject of evolution teaching in schools being a prominent part--always a hot topic. After the speech (which didn't turn out to be terribly interesting) there was a lengthy question and answer period which proved to be much more enlightening.<br /><br />One of the questioners brought up the Mormons and their view on evolution. The speaker was prepared to clarify the Church's official position on evolution. Perhaps you'll be interested to hear what at least one non-Mormon think. The video of the lecture is <a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6062905494885618508">here</a> and the question occurs at 28:10.";s:4:"link";s:79:"http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/2006/10/non-mormon-authors-view-of-mormon.html";s:9:"link_self";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/116084435119466531";s:9:"link_edit";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/116084435119466531";s:11:"author_name";s:7:"Bradley";}i:14;a:9:{s:2:"id";s:57:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-116131901921678165";s:9:"published";s:29:"2006-10-19T21:54:00.000-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2006-10-19T22:54:33.176-06:00";s:5:"title";s:33:""I don't drink tea, I'm a Mormon"";s:12:"atom_content";s:4727:"The following story is based on my recollection of a telling from sometime between 1999 and 2000. Hopefully I won't mangle the details too badly. Those with corrections or additional information are welcome to pipe up in the comments.<br /><br />Hal<sup>[1]</sup> worked for a company that sold phone cards. They were looking to try a scratch-and-win type phone card for sale in Indonesia. In this country of 200 million, 86% of whom are Muslim<sup>[2]</sup>, cultural sensitivity was important. The company didn't want to offer the cards if they would be offensive to the religious sensibilities of the Muslim majority which forbids gambling. Hal was sent in to get a read on the situation.<br /><br />He was told he needed to talk to Gus Dur, the leader or chief cleric of a group of 40 million Muslims, the largest such group in the country.<br /><br />To speak to Gus Dur, one had to wait his turn in line to see the cleric. Hal found himself in a line of people stretching out the door of a small building. After a wait, he made his way into the house where he saw an old man in shorts sitting on a simple bed. The man was nearly blind. This was Gus Dur, more formally known as Abdurrahman Wahid.<br /><br />As Hal started to speak to Gus Dur, someone appeared to offer both of them tea. Hal responded without hesitation, "I don't drink tea. I'm a Mormon."<br /><br />There were any number of ways to demur from sharing in a cup of tea without bringing up the subject of religion. Hal was here on business and it certainly wouldn't do to offend the religious sensitivities of his host. Nevertheless, he was straightforward and unashamed.<br /><br />"Mormon?" Gus Dur leaned forward. "I know this church. This is a good church."<br /><br />I don't know what happened relating to the business portion of the meeting, but at least some part of the conversation centered on the Church and on Utah. Hal mentioned the Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah Hospital.<br /><br />As one thing led to another, Gus Dur eventually found himself on a private plane (owned by a prominent Mormon businessman) bound for Utah. The well-regarded Muslim leader was greeted in Utah by several leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including the First Presidency.<br /><br />As Gus Dur prepared for eye surgery, President Hinckley offered to give him a priesthood blessing. Gus Dur agreed, with his characteristic ecumenicism.<br /><br />In the blessing, a prophet of God blessed him, among other things, that he would return to his country and do a very great work.<br /><br />Abdurrahman Wahid returned to Indonesia and within a relatively short period of time, was recruited to run for president in the first genuine election in a generation. In a strange electoral twist, he became the president of Indonesia with a political rival serving as his vice president.<sup>[3]</sup><br /><br />Thus it was that the man who become the president of Indonesia, the country with more Muslims than all of the Arabian peninsula together, was one who had received a blessing at the hands of a Mormon prophet.<br /><br />Gus Dur was a force for religious toleration in Indonesia. Latter-day Saint missionaries do not currently serve in Indonesia, but perhaps the work of Gus Dur during his term in the presidency will prove to have been a key element in the future opening of that work. And to think it all started over a refused cup of tea.<br /><br />[1] I don't know Hal's full name, or even if this is his real name. The teller of the story never mentioned it. I'm reluctant to associate the name of the teller of the story with my re-telling of it, in case I turn out to have misheard or misremebered any facts. The original teller was serving as an area-authority seventy and recounted the story in a stake priesthood meeting in a BYU stake.<br /><br />[2] According to the Wikipedia entry on Indonesia: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia</a><br /><br />[3] From another <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elections_in_Indonesia&amp;oldid=79316278">Wikipedia entry</a>: "Under the constitution, the new President was elected by members of both houses of Parliament in a joint sitting, with the result that although the Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle won the election with 35% of the popular vote, the new President was not that party's nominee, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megawati_Sukarnoputri" title="Megawati Sukarnoputri">Megawati Sukarnoputri</a>, but was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdurrahman_Wahid" title="Abdurrahman Wahid">Abdurrahman Wahid</a>, from the National Awakening Party, with Megawati as Vice-President."";s:4:"link";s:72:"http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/2006/10/i-dont-drink-tea-im-mormon.html";s:9:"link_self";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/116131901921678165";s:9:"link_edit";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/116131901921678165";s:11:"author_name";s:7:"Bradley";}i:15;a:9:{s:2:"id";s:57:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-116035237212586858";s:9:"published";s:29:"2006-10-08T17:56:00.000-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2006-10-08T18:06:12.126-06:00";s:5:"title";s:26:"Google Earth the Holy Land";s:12:"atom_content";s:1028:"I had a good time today playing with <a href="http://earth.google.com/earth4.html">Google Earth 4</a> and some placemarks I downloaded for it that show historical sites in Jerusalem and the surrounding biblical lands. It is a lot cheaper than plane tickets! (But let's not kid ourselves. Keryn and I are still planning to go over there together as soon as we can afford it and life will allow it.)<br /><br />If you'd like to take a tour yourself over your high-speed internet connection, <a href="http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html">download Google Earth</a> and install it. After you have it installed, download the placemark files <a href="http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthreaded.php/Number/385676">here</a> and <a href="http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthreaded.php?Number=572529">here</a>.<br /><br />I wrote a post a while back where I posted a couple of <a href="http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/2005/12/wonder-of-holy-architecture.html">pictures of the BYU Jerusalem Center</a> for those interested in that angle.";s:4:"link";s:68:"http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/2006/10/google-earth-holy-land.html";s:9:"link_self";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/116035237212586858";s:9:"link_edit";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/116035237212586858";s:11:"author_name";s:7:"Bradley";}i:16;a:9:{s:2:"id";s:57:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-116035172126215822";s:9:"published";s:29:"2006-10-08T17:48:00.000-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2006-10-08T17:55:21.286-06:00";s:5:"title";s:26:"Relics from Herod's Temple";s:12:"atom_content";s:1870:"An archaeologist claims that artifacts found in 1960 that were assumed to be Roman, were in fact objects taken from the 2nd Temple before it was destroyed in 70 AD. I'm not sure if I believe his claim, but the facts that are uncovered are worth the journey, even if you don't support the conclusion. If you are a fan of Biblical Archaeology, you'll enjoy the video. <a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3560238467536024101">The NOVA documentary is titled "NOVA: Ancient Refuge in the Holy Land"</a>.<br /><br />Here is the description of the video from the site:<br /><blockquote> Will secrets buried in an ancient cave rewrite the story of a desperate time? Nearly 2,000 years ago, a dark, inhospitable cave located in a canyon near the Dead Sea was a secret refuge for Jewish refugees fleeing for their lives from the oppressive rule of the Roman Empire. In 1960, archaeologists discovered dramatic letters written by Bar-Kokhba, the heroic Jewish rebel who led a guerrilla uprising against the Romans. Could the cave conceal more historical treasure from that desperate time? Armed with high-tech equipment, a new team led by archaeologist Richard Freund returns to explore a place that has intrigued the experts for decades. With the help of ingeniously improvised devices, they unearth long-lost artifacts and relics that provide tantalizing clues to turbulent times of messianic fervor, oppression, and revolt. The team’s discoveries lead Freund to a radical new theory that he hopes will rewrite Holy Land history--could the treasure concealed in the cave be a long-lost relic of the Great Temple in Jerusalem destroyed by the Romans? Join NOVA for a fascinating detective story that will immerse you in the strong currents of archaeological controversy. For more great science stories, tune in weekly to NOVA on your local PBS station.</blockquote>";s:4:"link";s:71:"http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/2006/10/relics-from-herods-temple.html";s:9:"link_self";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/116035172126215822";s:9:"link_edit";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/116035172126215822";s:11:"author_name";s:7:"Bradley";}i:17;a:9:{s:2:"id";s:57:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-115964229519084095";s:9:"published";s:29:"2006-09-30T12:38:00.000-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2006-09-30T12:51:35.216-06:00";s:5:"title";s:5:"Guilt";s:12:"atom_content";s:1400:"In the Saturday morning session of General Conference, Elder Ballard talked about callings in the church.  It was a well-needed talk, and a very well-given talk.  One thing in particular he said caught my attention.  He chastized those leaders who use guilt to motivate members to do things.  We should never use guilt (I'm paraphrasing here) to get better home/visiting teaching numbers, we should never let the programs outweigh our concern for the members.<br /><br />I completely agree.  But he also said that guilt has no place in the church.  Is that entirely true?  I'm not sure.  When we are called to repentence, isn't guilt something we are <span style="font-style: italic;">supposed</span> to feel?  It's true that in a celestial, perfect world, guilt wouldn't be necessary to motivate us to do what is right, but this isn't a perfect world.  (Punishment shouldn't motivate us to do what is right, either, and yet I don't speed fifteen miles over the speed limit on the freeway--because I don't want a ticket.)  How many of us make our home/visiting teaching appointments because we feel guilty we haven't done it yet?  (Or we don't want to feel guilty at the end of the month when the supervisor calls.) <br /><br />I agree that guilt shouldn't be slathered on; especially when regards to church callings.  But I also think that a little guilt is a healthy motivator.  Am I off my rocker?";s:4:"link";s:51:"http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/2006/09/guilt.html";s:9:"link_self";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/115964229519084095";s:9:"link_edit";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/115964229519084095";s:11:"author_name";s:5:"Keryn";}i:18;a:9:{s:2:"id";s:57:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-115881124759034212";s:9:"published";s:29:"2006-09-20T21:59:00.000-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2006-09-21T06:41:06.006-06:00";s:5:"title";s:21:"Faith and Remembering";s:12:"atom_content";s:412:"<blockquote>Remembering is to the past as faith is to the future.<br /><br />-- John Welch, Worlds of Joseph Smith conference at the Library of Conference, 2005.</blockquote>I'm not sure what the implications are, but both "remember" and "faith" show up in the scriptures a lot. Perhaps considering these two concepts as opposites in time will yield new light on the traditionally tricky (for me) topic of faith.";s:4:"link";s:67:"http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/2006/09/faith-and-remembering.html";s:9:"link_self";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/115881124759034212";s:9:"link_edit";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/115881124759034212";s:11:"author_name";s:7:"Bradley";}i:19;a:9:{s:2:"id";s:57:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-115881033317033643";s:9:"published";s:29:"2006-09-20T21:40:00.000-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2006-09-20T22:01:12.436-06:00";s:5:"title";s:43:"Book of Mormon Tidbits from Margaret Barker";s:12:"atom_content";s:3067:"Margaret Barker, an Old Testament scholar, wrote the following in her paper that she presented at the "<a href="http://josephsmithconferenceloc.byu.edu/">Worlds of Joseph Smith</a>" conference at the Library of Congress in 2005.<br /><br /><blockquote>The tree of life made one happy, according to the Book of Proverbs (<a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/prov/3/18#18">Proverbs 3:18</a>), but for detailed descriptions of the tree we have to rely on noncanonical texts. Enoch described it as perfumed, with fruit like grapes (1 Enoch 32:5), and a text discovered in Egypt in 1945 described the tree as beautiful, fiery, and with fruit like white grapes. I do not know of any other source that describes the fruit as <span style="font-style: italic;">white</span> grapes. Imagine my surprise when I read the account of Lehi's vision of the tree whose <span style="font-style: italic;">white fruit</span> made one happy...<br /><br />Consider as well the mysterious rod of iron in this Book of Mormon vision (<a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/1_ne/8/20#20">1 Nephi 8:20</a>; <a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/1_ne/11/25#25">11:25</a>). In the Bible, the rod of iron is mentioned four times as the rod of the Messiah. Each mention in the King James Version says the Messiah uses the rod to "break" the nations (<a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/ps/2/9#9">Psalm 2:9</a>) or to "rule" them (<a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/rev/2/27#27">Revelation 2:27</a>; <a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/rev/12/5#5">12:5</a>; <a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/rev/19/5#5">19:15</a>). The ancient Greek translation (the Septuagint) is significantly different; it understood the Hebrew word in Psalm 2:9 to mean "shepherd" and it reads, "He will shepherd them with a rod of iron." The two Hebrew verbs for "break" and "shepherd, pasture, tend, lead" look very similar and in some forms are identical. The Greek text of the Book of Revelation actually uses the word "shepherd," <span style="font-style: italic;">poimanei</span>, of the Messiah and his iron rod, so the English versions here are not accurate. The hold child who was taken up to heaven (Revelation 12:5) was to "shepherd the nations with a rod of iron." The King James Version of <a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/micah/7/14#14">Micah 7:14</a> translates this same word as "<span style="font-style: italic;">Feed</span> thy people with thy rod," where "guide" would be a better translation. <a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/ps/78/72#72">Psalm 78:72</a> has, "He <span style="font-style: italic;">fed</span> them...he guided them," where the parallelism of Hebrew poetry would expect the two verbs to have a similar meaning: "He <span style="font-style: italic;">led</span> them...he guided them." Lehi's vision has the iron rod guiding people to the great tree--the older and probably the original understanding of the word. </blockquote>You can watch or listen to Barker's comments in their entirety at <a href="http://lds.org/library/display/0,4945,510-1-3067-1,00.html">LDS.org</a>.";s:4:"link";s:82:"http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/2006/09/book-of-mormon-tidbits-from-margaret.html";s:9:"link_self";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/115881033317033643";s:9:"link_edit";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/115881033317033643";s:11:"author_name";s:7:"Bradley";}i:20;a:9:{s:2:"id";s:57:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-115611586467974412";s:9:"published";s:29:"2006-09-16T20:50:00.000-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2006-09-16T08:57:17.520-06:00";s:5:"title";s:19:"Resisteth the Proud";s:12:"atom_content";s:658:"<a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/1_pet/5/5#5">1 Peter 5:5</a> tells us that "God resisteth the proud."<br /><br />Moroni's Promise has been a point of frustration for some. They claim to have prayed with all the sincerity of heart they can muster and yet the heavens are silent. Some of these people (or their defenders) will take umbrage at the insinuation that there is some fault in the supplicant if they aren't receiving the inspiration from heaven.<br /><br />It rarely behooves us to attempt to judge the heart of another. But in the aggregate, I wonder if this scripture isn't warning us that God has a hard time getting through to proud people.";s:4:"link";s:61:"http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/2006/09/resisteth-proud.html";s:9:"link_self";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/115611586467974412";s:9:"link_edit";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/115611586467974412";s:11:"author_name";s:7:"Bradley";}i:21;a:9:{s:2:"id";s:57:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-115800623668432089";s:9:"published";s:29:"2006-09-11T14:15:00.000-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2006-09-11T14:23:56.706-06:00";s:5:"title";s:33:"Twin Towers and the Gates of Hell";s:12:"atom_content";s:839:"Driving to work this morning, I caught a religious broadcast I don't normally listen to, so I can't provide a good source. It was a call in program. The caller said, as nearly as I can recall:<br /><blockquote>You wanted our thoughts and memories [about 9/11]. I can remember sitting in front of my TV crying because I knew that most of those people in those buildings were going straight to the gates of hell. I use that a lot in my witnessing now.</blockquote><br />What a joyful witness she must be. I am grateful to have a faith where eternal judgement is according to the light that we have received. I'm grateful that my faith assigns most people who have lived on this earth some degree of glory and salvation in the next life. While not Universalists, Mormons have the next best thing: a religion of accountability AND great mercy.";s:4:"link";s:75:"http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/2006/09/twin-towers-and-gates-of-hell.html";s:9:"link_self";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/115800623668432089";s:9:"link_edit";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/115800623668432089";s:11:"author_name";s:7:"Bradley";}i:22;a:9:{s:2:"id";s:57:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-115784802134261053";s:9:"published";s:29:"2006-09-09T18:24:00.000-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2006-09-10T12:42:23.923-06:00";s:5:"title";s:22:""I felt like an eagle"";s:12:"atom_content";s:4777:"<p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal">(Two of my aunt’s children have spina bifida (both are adopted, so there is no genetic link to our own unborn baby boy’s spina bifida).<span style="">  </span>I haven’t had the courage to call and talk to her yet--I’m still feeling tender and raw over the discovery, and I’m not yet ready to face it to that extent.<span style="">  </span>Fortunately, she understands, and my mother says she’s ready to talk with me whenever I’m ready.<span style="">  </span>I’m going home for a visit in two weeks (to help my mother pick out a headstone for my father’s grave, because I’m the geologist and I know the most about rocks), and I’ll probably meet with my aunt then.<span style="">  </span>My mother, of course, has been talking to my aunt about our baby, and sharing some of the stories with me secondhand.<span style="">  </span>This story is about the older of my aunt’s sons with spina bifida, Aaron.)</p>    <p class="MsoNormal">Aaron has finally found his niche in life--in a skate park, doing wild and crazy (not to mention dangerous) stunts.<span style="">  </span>This is not unusual for a teenager, but Aaron’s situation is a little different.<span style="">  </span>He is paralyzed from the waist down, and confined to a wheelchair.<span style="">  </span>For the last two years, he has been going to the concrete skate parks and trying all the tricks he can think of--he practices with skateboarders and dirt-bikers.<span style="">  </span>He <i style="">loves</i> it, and it shows in his attitude toward life.</p>    <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Aaron’s crazy tricks caught the attention of the wheelchair company Colours Wheelchair, and they have taken him under their wing (giving him a wheelchair for free, and then, when he thrashed it to bits, replaced it with one built to his specifications).<span style="">  </span>In July, Aaron made “wheelchair history” by landing the first airborne backflip in a wheelchair.<span style="">  </span>This may even be Guinness Book of World Records stuff!<span style="">  </span>This type of wheelchair-skateboarding (Aaron calls it “hard-core sitting”) is starting to catch on, and, who knows, it may even become an event in the Para-Olympics*.<span style="">  </span>On Colours' website, they have a <a href="http://www.colourswheelchair.com/index.htm">short video</a> of some of Aaron’s crazy tricks. (Click on Aaron Fotheringham--and notice that almost everywhere Aaron is doing these things, he’s the only one in a wheelchair.<span style="">  </span>Everyone else is on bikes and skateboards.)</p>      <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>If you go watch the video, pay special attention to the last bit.<span style="">  </span>The little boy in the wheelchair is a friend of Aaron’s little brother.<span style="">  </span>His family has had a hard time accepting their son’s spina bifida disabilities--they resisted getting him a wheelchair, even though it was recommended to give him far greater mobility than his leg braces.<span style="">  </span>However, after hearing about some of the stuff Aaron can do, and seeing some of the video that had been shot, the mother of this young boy called my aunt and asked if Aaron would be willing to show her son how to really use the wheelchair they were getting him.<span style="">  </span>Aaron did a couple of simple things with this boy, and then eventually took him to the skate park. They did very simple, very gentle, but very fun tricks together.<span style="">  </span>When they were done at the skate park that night, this little boy told his mother, “I felt like an eagle.”<o:p><br /></o:p></p>  <p class="MsoNormal">This is what Aaron wants to do “when he grows up”.<span style="">  </span>He wants to help other children with disabilities to feel like “eagles”.<span style="">  </span>This is what <i style="">I </i>want to do with my own little boy--to teach him not be earthbound and restricted because of his challenges.<span style="">  </span>I don’t know how to do it, yet.<span style="">  </span>But I am so grateful for Aaron’s example, for his parents’ examples, in showing me it can be done.<span style="">  </span>We <i style="">can</i> teach our little baby how to fly.</p><span style="font-style: italic;">(*Edited for correction--Originally I mistakenly wrote "Special Olympics" instead of "Para-Olympics".  The Special Olympics are for mentally disabled athletes, the Para-Olympics are for physically disabled athletes.  BIG difference, in that in the Special Olympics emphasis is placed on participation, and the Para-Olympics are as competitive as the more famous Olympics.  Thanks to emailer Kent for pointing out my mistake!)</span>";s:4:"link";s:63:"http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/2006/09/i-felt-like-eagle.html";s:9:"link_self";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/115784802134261053";s:9:"link_edit";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/115784802134261053";s:11:"author_name";s:5:"Keryn";}i:23;a:9:{s:2:"id";s:57:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-115751374373120996";s:9:"published";s:29:"2006-09-05T20:39:00.000-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2006-09-05T21:35:43.896-06:00";s:5:"title";s:25:"My Testimony of Mortality";s:12:"atom_content";s:2801:"Throughout my life I've wondered what was so special about mortality. What was it that we could accomplish here that we were unable to accomplish in the premortal realms with our Heavenly Father?<br /><br />I think I am finally starting to understand. Recent events in my life are teaching me.<br /><br />Dealing with death, in the vaccum without perfect knowledge of the eternities, is a challenge of seperation we didn't deal with in premortality. Keryn's dad died on Memorial Day of this year. We miss him dearly and long for his advice as we face our more recent challenges.<br /><br />Dealing with physical bodies that break down is the other challenge unique to our earth life. We don't have any evidence that our spirit bodies before birth had to endure illness and decay. It seems those things all started with the <a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/2_ne/2/22#22">Fall of Adam</a>. You don't need to look far to find people battling various forms of illness. In our own family in the past two weeks (including in-laws) we've had a diagnosis of spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, pneumonia (as a follow on from a possible West Nile Virus infection), and a severely infected appendix that had to be removed. Four major illnesses across just three households. When lightning strikes...<br /><br />It is fair to say that our family has been reeling a bit over the past couple of weeks. We seem to be experiencing the full buffetings of mortality available outside a war zone. And yet, in spite of all the tears we've shed, I must admit that I feel stronger now than I've ever been. I believe that God is lifting us and strengthing us. I believe that my trials, as small as they've been over the last decade, have made me into a much better person than I was before. I have faith that the trials that lie directly ahead will make me even stronger.<br /><br />So it is that I'm gaining a testimony of the unique place of mortality in the eternities. I'm seeing the growing I've been able to do in such a short time and I'm grateful for it.<br /><br />I rarely feel compelled to stand and bear my testimony during a fast meeting, but this month I did. The testimony that I bore consisted of the things I've just written. I had many people come up to me afterwards and tell me that those words had been very meaningful to them. One sister said that she, too, was grateful for her earthly trials, though she wasn't yet to the point where she prayed for them. I think I can concur with that sentiment!<br /><br />I thank God for the glorious plan of salvation, that includes the resurrection and perfection of our bodies. And in the meantime, I praise Him for the priviledge to learn in the "<a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/alma/12/24#24">space granted</a>" where we might "prepare to meet God."";s:4:"link";s:71:"http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/2006/09/my-testimony-of-mortality.html";s:9:"link_self";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/115751374373120996";s:9:"link_edit";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/115751374373120996";s:11:"author_name";s:7:"Bradley";}i:24;a:9:{s:2:"id";s:57:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-115656587973535998";s:9:"published";s:29:"2006-08-25T21:52:00.000-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2006-08-25T22:17:59.776-06:00";s:5:"title";s:21:"For Whom Am I Crying?";s:12:"atom_content";s:1598:"I've been choking back tears a lot today.<br /><br />Keryn is halfway through her pregnancy with our third child. We had our ultrasound this morning and discovered that our baby boy has <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spina_bifida">spina bifida</a>. This is a physical problem with the formation of the spine that can cause paralysis in extreme cases. Usually there is some form of nerve damage that will affect the lower body in some way.<br /><br />Keryn and I have tried to keep on our brave faces, but breaking the news to our family and friends today has been challenging. I work with a lot of university students. Three of them were in my office for various reasons shortly after I got back to work. One of them cheerfully asked me how the ultrasound had gone. I wasn't able to keep my composure. (Awkward for him!)<br /><br />Throughout the day I've wondered for whom I am crying. Am I really so godly that I sorrow for the pains of my child yet unborn? Or do I cry for more selfish reasons? Do I feel I've been robbed of the "normal" future I might have had with my third child? Am I crying for the pain my wife is feeling and for the great struggles that lay ahead of her?<br /><br />Probably a bit of everything.<br /><br />I hope my son won't be ashamed. I know there are deaf people who cringe at the label "disabled" and don't want to be pitied. It sounds like spina bifida is a condition something akin to being blind or deaf. Part of your body doesn't work normally but your brain is intact. I'm crying for my son today, but I hold out a hope in my heart for his bright future.";s:4:"link";s:66:"http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/2006/08/for-whom-am-i-crying.html";s:9:"link_self";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/115656587973535998";s:9:"link_edit";s:69:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default/115656587973535998";s:11:"author_name";s:7:"Bradley";}}s:7:"channel";a:10:{s:2:"id";s:33:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2006-12-30T21:29:14.381-07:00";s:5:"title";s:8:"PonderIt";s:4:"link";s:43:"http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/index.html";s:9:"link_next";s:80:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default?start-index=26&max-results=25";s:9:"link_self";s:50:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6613185/posts/default";s:42:"link_http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed";s:41:"http://www.lavalane.org/ponderit/atom.xml";s:11:"author_name";s:7:"Bradley";s:9:"generator";s:7:"Blogger";s:10:"opensearch";a:3:{s:12:"totalresults";s:3:"169";s:10:"startindex";s:1:"1";s:12:"itemsperpage";s:2:"25";}}s:9:"textinput";a:0:{}s:5:"image";a:0:{}s:9:"feed_type";s:4:"Atom";s:12:"feed_version";N;s:8:"encoding";s:5:"UTF-8";s:16:"_source_encoding";s:0:"";s:5:"ERROR";s:0:"";s:7:"WARNING";s:0:"";s:19:"_CONTENT_CONSTRUCTS";a:6:{i:0;s:7:"content";i:1;s:7:"summary";i:2;s:4:"info";i:3;s:5:"title";i:4;s:7:"tagline";i:5;s:9:"copyright";}s:16:"_KNOWN_ENCODINGS";a:3:{i:0;s:5:"UTF-8";i:1;s:8:"US-ASCII";i:2;s:10:"ISO-8859-1";}s:5:"stack";a:0:{}s:9:"inchannel";b:0;s:6:"initem";b:0;s:9:"incontent";b:0;s:11:"intextinput";b:0;s:7:"inimage";b:0;s:17:"current_namespace";b:0;s:15:"source_encoding";s:5:"UTF-8";s:13:"last_modified";s:31:"Sun, 31 Dec 2006 04:29:17 GMT
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