The Rameumptom

[Anonymous]

Many of you have likely seen this, or some version of it…but I came across it again in my notes as I was studying and wanted to share it again:

Quote:

The Rameumptom

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Cast: A father and his daughter.

“What’s a Rameumptom, Daddy?” “Well, the Book of Mormon says it was a place Where the Zoramites stood to worship and pray.” “But my Primary teacher said it was a tower that evil people used.” “I can see how someone could think that. The Book of Mormon says it was ‘place for standing which was high above the head’ and only one person at a time could go up there.” “Was it like the speaker’s stand in the church?” “A speaker’s stand? You mean a pulpit? Yes, I suppose it was. In fact, the word ‘Rameumptom’ means ‘the holy stand.’” “What’s so evil about a holy stand, Daddy?” “Well, it wasn’t the stand that was evil. It was how it was used. The people gathered there in their synagogue. . .” “What’s a synagogue?” “Just a different word for chapel or church, honey.” “Oh.” “They’d gather in their synagogue one day a week.” “Which day, Daddy?” “I don’t know, honey. It just says ‘one day,’ and they called it ‘the day of the Lord.’” “It must have been Sunday.” “Why do you say that?” “Because Sunday is the Lord’s day.” “Well, maybe it was. . . Anyway, they’d gather there and whoever wanted to worship would go and stand on the top of the Rameumptom.” “Could anyone go up there?” “Well, no, that was part of the problem. Apparently, they had to wear the right clothes. . . ” “You mean like us when we wear Sunday clothes, Daddy?” “Well, not exactly, but in a way, yes, I suppose. Some of us might have a hard time accepting certain kinds of clothes or people in sacrament meeting. But we wear our Sunday clothes to help us be reverent, don’t we?” “Yes, Daddy.” “So anyway, where was I?” “They went to the top of the Rameumptom. . .” “Yes, they would go up and worship God by thanking him for making them so special.” “Were they bearing their testimonies?” “Well, uh, I guess maybe they were in a way, but they weren’t true testimonies.” “How come?” “Because they were too proud.” “What do you mean ‘proud,’ Daddy?” “Well, they would talk about how they were ‘a chosen and holy people.’” “My Primary teacher said Mormons are the chosen people and we’re a special generation.” “Yes, honey, but that’s different.” “How?” “Because we are.” “Oh.” “Besides they were very, very proud about how much better they were than everyone else, because they didn’t believe the ‘foolish traditions’ of their neighbors.” “What does that mean, Daddy?” “It means that they believed everyone else was wrong and they alone were right.” “Isn’t that what we believe?” “But it’s different.” “How?” “Because we are right, honey.” “Oh.” “Everyone would stand and say the same thing. . .” “That sounds like testimony meeting to me.” “Don’t be irreverent.” “Sorry.” “Then after it was all over, they would go home and never speak about God until the next day of the Lord when they’d gather at the holy stand again.” “Isn’t that like us, Daddy?” “No honey, we have Family Home Evening.” “Oh.”

I think is done in jest…but makes me think also that sometimes it is easier for us to read things in the scriptures and see things as right and wrong about others (Zoramites were prideful) and maybe not realize how close those messages are to us and what we can learn from them in our church and in our wards. I have experienced testimony meetings that have been less spiritual and more sharing of stories (or prideful boasting)…but I honestly think most meetings are sincere and the hearts of the people in my ward are pretty well in line with church teachings of love and service and seeking the spirit. Its not perfect, but it doesn’t seem as bad as the Rameumptom used in the Book of Mormon…but who is to say? I also have thought it has been appropriate for church leaders to make statements and provide guidance to members on what a testimony should be and how sacrament meetings should be used (I especially liked it when they guidance came to warn parents not use testimony meetings as time for kids to say funny things…which are not testimonies, and to teach our kids in our home prior to allowing them to publicly stand to share testimonies).

Just a cute little dialogue I wanted to share.

[Anonymous]

Cute little dialog, but actually pretty accurate!

[Anonymous]

Heber13 wrote:

I think is done in jest…but makes me think also that sometimes it is easier for us to read things in the scriptures and see things as right and wrong about others (Zoramites were prideful) and maybe not realize how close those messages are to us

With very few exceptions, every time the spirit touches me I am inspired/motivated to change me. My “spirit” doesn’t tell me how wrong other prople are, My judgmental human nature doesn’t need any help with that. :shifty:

[Anonymous]

Yup, I agree that any pulpit can become a Rameumptom. Whenever I hear a testimony that essentially is giving thanks for being so special, I cringe – but that happens fairly rarely, thankfully.

The bigger issue is the whole “royal generation saved to come forth at this time of history to save the world from all the bad people out there” tripe. I really hate that idea – and it absolutely fits the Rameumptom model, imo.

[Anonymous]

Love this. Awesome post with lots to think about.

[Anonymous]

Biting introspection. Love it. We can all use a healthy dose of this from time to time.

[Author]

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