Nature or Social Religion

Highly recommended BTW. It’s always good to have stuff which looks at Mormonism from new angles like this. It makes up for the over homogenization that I think some of the teaching manuals etc can have.

I think the Book of Enos, although it doesn’t talk much about it directly about nature has some of this flavor about it. He hunts and wanders the wilderness, but it seems to be as an adjunct to his spirituality.

And I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins. Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart. And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens. And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.

Enos’ experience of nature and hunting is contrasted with the Lamanites, which is somehow more brutal –

And I bear record that the people of Nephi did seek diligently to restore the Lamanites unto the true faith in God. But our labors were vain; their hatred was fixed, and they were led by their evil nature that they became wild, and ferocious, and a bloodthirsty people, full of idolatry and filthiness; feeding upon beasts of prey; dwelling in tents, and wandering about in the wilderness with a short skin girdle about their loins and their heads shaven; and their skill was in the bow, and in the cimeter, and the ax. And many of them did eat nothing save it was raw meat; and they were continually seeking to destroy us.

Note how he mentions that they not only eat raw meat (as some native tribes did), but also that they feed “upon beasts of prey”. Now as I understand it, carnivores and carrion eaters violate Jewish dietary law as well – although I wonder how many people have picked this up.

You make some good points about the sacred grove and the BoA. I think even in the degrees of glory and temple architecture we reverence the stars in some ways. The whole concept of a Mormon environmentalism is another interesting concept I haven’t heard too much of…

In the early church days and now in the case of farming and ranching being able to subdue and control nature were essential

great point GB

I wonder if this is why rediscovering nature is so spiritual now…it is something we are more removed from in our modern lifestyle.

I think the church is more social now then it was in the 1800’s. We still have teachings of the natural man and this mortal existence that Adam and eve were given dominion over, but the modern correlated church is mostly social in preaching to proclaim the gospel to others, perfect the saints by seeking to provide callings and teaching the good word and friendshipping, also socially strengthening lure ties with ancestors by redeeming the dead, and also providing humanitarian aid to those in need. The mission is a very social one, IMO

I believe that it’s both. That we are taught to be good stewards of nature and our fellow man both equally. That we shouldn’t squander the gifts that have been created. That as good stewards we reap the bennifits of the earth and familial tranquility with our fellow souls. If we do not then narture and humans will correct themselves through chaos. I see examples of this through the flood of the days of Noah. Wars,plague, etc. There is enough resource, land water, and all the things we need on this earth if Humans would learn to be stewards of both. Unfortunately it make take disaster, war, plague, etc. if we do not learn to be stewards of our world and fellow brothers and sisters.