The "sandy soil of doubt and uncertainty"

[Anonymous]

I once did a very detailed analysis of this paragraph from Pres. Uchtdorf’s October 2013 General Conference address:

Quote:

It’s natural to have questions—the acorn of honest inquiry has often sprouted and matured into a great oak of understanding. There are few members of the Church who, at one time or another, have not wrestled with serious or sensitive questions. One of the purposes of the Church is to nurture and cultivate the seed of faith—even in the sometimes sandy soil of doubt and uncertainty. Faith is to hope for things which are not seen but which are true.

In that prior analysis I completely ignored the phrase about the “sandy soil of doubt and uncertainty.” I didn’t do that on purpose, I just skimmed over it. This past week this phrase has been on my mind, and I think I have come to a new understanding of it and wish to share and hear what other might think.

In the early part of that paragraph, Pres. Uchtdorf mentions “a great oak of understanding.” Based on my own experiences over the past year or so, I get that, I do have some great oaks in my own mind, thanks is large part to my friends here. I have also come to realize that some of the great oaks are growing in sandy soil – the sandy soil of doubt and uncertainty. Pres. Uchtdorf said part of the purpose of the church is to nourish seeds (including acorns, I presume) even in sandy soil. I think I understand that we (as we, the church) are supposed to work with people where they are and not where we want them to be. In other words, we don’t move the seeds from the sandy soil, we nourish them in it because that’s where they are.

[Anonymous]

DarkJedi wrote:

I think I understand that we (as we, the church) are supposed to work with people where they are and not where we want them to be. In other words, we don’t move the seeds from the sandy soil, we nourish them in it because that’s where they are.

GReat point DJ. Unfortunately, if that is our mission – I don’t think that we are very good at it. We do not seem to be very accepting of where people are. I have heard at another church that they hope to make an environment where people would choose to spend time – even if they didn’t agree with the doctinal part. For us it seems the opposite – that our conviction of the doctrine compels us to endure the demands of the church environment.

[Anonymous]

Roy wrote:

DarkJedi wrote:

I think I understand that we (as we, the church) are supposed to work with people where they are and not where we want them to be. In other words, we don’t move the seeds from the sandy soil, we nourish them in it because that’s where they are.

GReat point DJ. Unfortunately, if that is our mission – I don’t think that we are very good at it. We do not seem to be very accepting of where people are. I have heard at another church that they hope to make an environment where people would choose to spend time – even if they didn’t agree with the doctinal part. For us it seems the opposite – that our conviction of the doctrine compels us to endure the demands of the church environment.

I agree, Roy. Maybe that’s why I feel I need to share.

[Anonymous]

Interesting, I never really fixated on that small phrase either.

I gave a talk a while back that followed similar logic. I dressed one of the points up a bit to soften the implication I was making, but essentially one of the points of my talk was that the earth is nothing but sandy soil of doubt and uncertainty. If you want to plant your acorn at all it’s going to be in the sandy soil of doubt and uncertainty… so don’t let that stop you from showing love, from bearing fruit while you can despite the circumstances.

I could PM specifics of the talk if you’d like.

[Anonymous]

I loved that quote when I first heard it. Thanks for sharing it.

[Anonymous]

Roy you said

Quote:

I have heard at another church that they hope to make an environment where people would choose to spend time – even if they didn’t agree with the doctinal

The real kicker for me is – the very book that anchors this church The Book of Mormon commands, from the mouth of Jesus Christ, that we do just what you said.

Quote:

And behold ye shall meet together oft; and ye shall not forbid any man from coming unto you when shall meet together, but suffer them that they may come unto you and forbid them not. …And ye see the I have commanded that none of you should go away, but have commanded that ye should come unto me, that ye might feel and see; even so shall ye do unto the world; and whosoever breaketh this commandment suffereth himself to be led into temptation. – 3 Nephi 18: 22 & 25.

Of all the things I struggle with – 3 Nephi 18 and it’s application is the hardest for me. I see Utopia in it’s words – others see the verses about judgement.

[Anonymous]

mom3 wrote:

Roy you said

Quote:

I have heard at another church that they hope to make an environment where people would choose to spend time – even if they didn’t agree with the doctinal

The real kicker for me is – the very book that anchors this church The Book of Mormon commands, from the mouth of Jesus Christ, that we do just what you said.

Quote:

And behold ye shall meet together oft; and ye shall not forbid any man from coming unto you when shall meet together, but suffer them that they may come unto you and forbid them not. …And ye see the I have commanded that none of you should go away, but have commanded that ye should come unto me, that ye might feel and see; even so shall ye do unto the world; and whosoever breaketh this commandment suffereth himself to be led into temptation. – 3 Nephi 18: 22 & 25.

Of all the things I struggle with – 3 Nephi 18 and it’s application is the hardest for me. I see Utopia in it’s words – others see the verses about judgement.

There are scriptures and then there is the application of scriptures. I believe it is the nature of most individuals and organizations to take what we are doing or want to do and then look at the scriptures to explain it and justify it.

Scriptures were used to justify slavery in the US and the priesthood ban in the church. The idea that blacks must have been less valiant in the premortal realm was born as an attempt to square the scriptures of having a cursed lineage with the scriptures that man will be judged by his own actions.

I do it too. Some scriptures speak to me and others I dismiss. Perhaps the trick is to consider the scriptures that challenge me personally to be a better person and build a better world than what I have before me.

[Author]

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