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As I thought this week about my New Year’s Resolution this month, one verse from the Book of Mormon jumped into my mind – and, as I have contemplated just how to write about it for this post, it has struck me more forcefully than ever before how comprehensive and concise it is. As I prepare to wrap up my pondering this month about how I am not better than others to God, I want to begin that wrap up by quoting that verse – and asking anyone who reads this post to consider how it applies to their own life and what s/he can do to make it apply more universally, if in no other way initially than more comprehensively in their own mind. The verse is 4 Nephi 1:17, and it describes what Zion truly is in practical terms:
Quote:There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites,
nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God. I do not believe that Zion is a situation where everyone is exactly the same in all ways. That picture scares me more than the traditional lake of fire, frankly. It is the elimination of individuality in all ways that matter – which is exactly opposite of the idea of perfection taught in the Sermon on the Mount. (completeness, wholeness, full development)
The verse does not say that these people were “one”; rather, it says they were “in one”.That is an intriguing phrase, and it gets overlooked almost always. As everyone knows who knows me even moderately well, I absolutely LOVE Elder Wirthlin’s analogy of the orchestra – where all instruments are valued and unite to create truly “perfect” music, together in full and comprehensive harmony not playing the exact same melody.
Solos can be beautiful, but they pale in comparison to complex and intricate arrangements of harmonic grandeur.To me, the idea of there being no “-ites” among us simply means that we don’t create divisive classifications among us – that we don’t focus on our “otherness” but rather on our “unitedness”. In other words, our differences continue to exist, but, rather than defining how we are separate from others, those differences are used to enhance our unity – to make that unity more “perfect” – more “complete, whole, fully developed”.
There are piccolos and banjos and bagpipes and kazoos – but there are no competing groups trying to drown out the different “-ites”.In this situation, differing individuals become “in one” – part of a “oneness” IN which they constitute a critical element. That, to me, is Zion – and that is what I have experienced almost fully on at least two occasions in the wards I have attended.
It is a mortal achievement of an “at-one-ment” that is awesome and inspiring and empowering and simply stunning.It truly is a marvelous work and a wonder, and it is what I want for my family – my immediate mortal family and my expansive, immortal family, as well. May we work to ensure that, someday, there will be no -ites among us – and may we have faith and hope that it may happen much sooner and more fully than we naturally could imagine.
I shared your vision for so very long before I lost faith in the leaders. Perhaps the first “ite” that needs to disappear from mormondom is the “templeites.” When that happens, “zion” really will have something to boast about. Until then….. Yeah, may it happen sooner rather than later. I had a period where I applied this with some success. After two years of being frustrated with the lack of commitment of members of my quorum, having unexpressied “in-ites” and “out-ites” (my own personal in-group and out-group, based on how well they supported the business goals of the Church such as home teaching stats etc) I took a more zion approach. I asked everyone to list under each mission of the Church what initiatives they felt our Ward needed. Then, next Sunday, I made a checklist of everyone’s suggestions, and asked each person to check off those things they felt they personally could support. Some initiatives no one would support, others, they loved. The brethren who supported the same initiative formed project teams for the next quarter only, so to speak, with a leader who volunteered to be such, if appropriate.
Some of the brethren didn’t even hand back ANY of the sheets I passed out. And guess what — after years of my personal, unexpressed “in-ites, and out-ites” — that was OK with me. They were the silent piccolos, or the people who came simply to listen to the music, not make it. I left them alone and didn’t try to change them. Nor did I feel angst about them.
That quarter we had big achievements in each major category, and I wasn’t even present at some of the events due to work conflicts. The orchestra made music without a conductor present at times — a service project, a social. Other events I worked alongside the quorum, but found myself acting mostly as a resource-getter. One brother worked alone, literally playing music at old folks homes as an act of service to the community. That was what he felt was his contribution to the quorum and I just said OK. He reported back to me twice on that one.
I learned that if you can find ways of letting each person just play their instrument in the way they feel most comfortable and passionate about, you get more than trying to force your own ideas about how to accomplish the mission of the Church.
I saw the “kingdom” flowing unto me “without compulsory means” as everyone’s passions were aligned with the work of the quorum as THEY DEFINED IT, and it was liberating for me as a priesthood leader because I didn’t find myself forcing people to do things. And strangely enough, more got done.
cwald and SD, your examples illustrate so clearly the central role of leadership in this effort. Leadership can accelerate or suppress Zion. However, the idea can be modeled and encouraged outside of leadership.
There was a sister in one of my former wards who functioned as a greeter at church without any official calling or assignment. She stayed in the foyer before Sacrament Meeting greeting and hugging literally everyone who walked in the doors – and everyone knew it wasn’t an act or an assignment. It simply was who she was – and it was magical.
I just remembered a post I wrote a couple of years ago on my personal blog. I’ll find the link and provide it as soon as I find it.
Here it is:
“Service: Don’t Let the ‘Small Things’ Go Undone”( http://thingsofmysoul.blogspot.com/2009/10/service-dont-let-small-things-go-undone.html Quote:As everyone knows who knows me even moderately well, I absolutely LOVE Elder Wirthlin’s analogy of the orchestra – where all instruments are valued and unite to create truly “perfect” music, together in full and comprehensive harmony not playing the exact same melody. Solos can be beautiful, but they pale in comparison to complex and intricate arrangements of harmonic grandeur.
I like this analogy as well and would take it one step further. I took a music class a long time ago and the intructor told us that when the instruments of the orchestra play, they are all slightly off tune but this gives the music its rich and full sound…an experience that would be different if everyone was perfectly in tune (which would sound artificial and weak). It’s the differences that makes the experience more satisfying.
Sure, I think the idea can be modeled outside of the leadership, but my opinion and experience, is ten years of modeling by members can be completely undone in a five minute talk in GC. We see it all the time. Example you ask? 10 years of apologists progress and “ground work” making it okay for members to believe the BOM doesn’t have to be literally true to still be “inspiring” and good —- completely undone by Callisters bone-headed talk in conference.
So the ites win again, there are the literal-ites, and nonliteral-ites — ie the heretics.
Quote:ten years of modeling by members can be completely undone in a five minute talk in GC.
I agree – but only if all of the other talks that don’t teach that same message are ignored.
I’m not saying that apologetically, cwald. I simply mean that the talk you referenced only causes the previous ten years to be “completely undone” if Pres. Uchtdorf’s talks are ignored – just to use an easy example. The previous ten years wasn’t completely undone for me or the leadership in my ward (or for many others), although it certainly was for some (like, I’m sure, many of those with whom you have to deal on a regular basis) – including, perhaps, some in my own stake.
It CAN be completely undone, but it doesn’t HAVE to be. That also is a function of local leadership AND personal approach.
I didn’t watch much of conference this fall so maybe I missed something. Did Urtchdorf say during general conference that it’s okay to not believe that the BOM is a historical record and every verse inspired by god? I know he is quite universal, but I have never heard a prophet say that in GC. Ever. The apologists have been saying it for a decade – and Callister put them in their place – then apply the 14 Fs of the prophet – and you have no where to go. It just seems to me these last GCs, the church has taken one step forward, and two steps backwards. Wouldn’t that just make sense though – if we want to get rid of the ites from the church, why doesn’t a prophet just say so about these kind of issues.
Yeah Ray, I wish I had your optimism. I agree about the ites. Most of EVERY scripture that I use to apply to “the others” while an active member, can, and actually appears to be written directly for ACTIVE, ORTHODOX members with temple recommends and church leadership positions, yet they almost never see it that way. It’s always the other people who need to repent and change and read and follow the prophets.
Optimism that the church will make meaningful change? I just don’t see it and I don’t have it. I really have to be careful to not get to involved again at this time. it does me no good, and I really had a great peaceful summer this last six months being on the churchation.
Quote:I really have to be careful to not get to involved again at this time.
Then don’t – at this time. Case solved.
Quote:It CAN be completely undone, but it doesn’t HAVE to be. That also is a function of local leadership AND personal approach.
I think as soon as you start looking at almost everything they say as personal opinion, their power to undo the beliefs that give you peace subsides significantly. At first it was disconcerting that Brigham Young could have said that blacks will only receive the priesthood after everyone else does. Then, to have SW Kimball lift the priesthood ban.
Now I see that conflict of absolute statements as liberating. This is because it means most of what the prophets and GA’s say is open to interpretation — and by that, I mean personal interpretation and even whether it’s even accepted by you personally. If Brigham Young could make statements like that and be wrong, these GA’s can make absolute statements and be wrong in the future — or for me personally.
Where you get in trouble is where you stand up and start telling everyone your personal interpretations when the prevailing culture of the time runs counter to that thought. For example, if you stood up in 1963 and told everyone the priesthood ban was probably a mistake and that you’ll see a prophet reverse the decision, you would probably be removed from the podium with a cane. Comment on the beauty of all men receiving the priesthood throughout the world now, and no one would bat an eyelash.
Old-Timer wrote:Quote:I really have to be careful to not get to involved again at this time.
Then don’t – at this time. Case solved.
okay.
I love you, cwald. That might have been the funniest, non-funny comment ever here.
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