071. Institutional Shell Shock: The Lost Art of Respectful Disagreement

Coming from a religious institution that tightly controls almost all facets of one’s life, there is little room or tolerance for disagreement or differences of opinion of any kind. In such settings, if any such differences arise, they are quickly swept under the rug and settled by a deference to an authority figure who makes a judgment call. Additionally, since decisions come from the top down, by the time the layperson could possibly have a say in the matter, "the thinking has already been done”. This system works well to keep things neat and tidy and moving forward, and the ends are more important than the means. Thus, in such institutions there is little chance to openly discuss and debate issues of real importance, unless you sit in the inner circle at the top of the hierarchy or find yourself perching on one of its mid-level echelons. Instead of a reliance on the spirit, exercising persuasion, unfeigned love, and gentleness, and viewing one another as equals, such institutions resort to a reliance on much more conventional means of control, such as authority, hierarchy, rules and handbooks, insider knowledge, history/tradition, "unwritten orders of things", myths, and all sorts of rubrics to sort things out. It is much easier to automatize the process of decision-making, rather than to muck it up with the personalities, problems, weaknesses, opinions, and egos of real people. In such polished institutions, disagreements and differences of opinion are therefore viewed as “bad”, “contentious”, or “of the devil”, and in violation of the "unwritten order of things." Such internal discord, at any level, seems to conflict with the outward image of perfection, peace, and harmony that such institutions wish to project. If you speak up you are at risk of being “out of line with the brethren,” which can place your very own salvation in jeopardy, so they say.

When a person exits from such a system, they often carry the institutional baggage and scars gained from their experiences therein. For example, in a newfound environment, where choices do actually need to be made and opportunities for disagreement do arise, how does one share their deeply held opinions on topics of religion with another person and work through differences in point of view in a faith-filled way without deferring to an authority figure, rules and handbooks, history/tradition, etc? Or, if presented with an opinion that differs from your own, how do you maneuver through the discussion without automatically labeling such a person as “contentious”, “bad”, and “of the devil”, or "out of line with the brethren", or violating some sort of "unwritten order of things"? 

Have our years inside such institutions atrophied these kinds of skills and abilities to the point where we no longer posses them, if we ever possessed them in the first place? 

On the one hand, have we lost the art of how to respectfully disagree with one another and still come away as friends, even if we disagree? Do we know how to put forward an argument for our point of view in a way that is non-combative, allows room for discussion, and is more of an invitation to dialogue? And then do we know how to listen, consider, evaluate, persuade, reflect, ask questions, and respond in a sincere and respectful manner? And on the other hand, are we programmed to throw down the field flags of “contention”, “jarring”, and “strife” as soon as someone offers an opinion that differs from our own, cutting off the discussion and perhaps more significantly, cutting off the warm hand of fellowship? Do we take disagreements personally, viewing them as a personal attack on our beliefs and who we are? 

As individuals trying to work together towards real unity, does that mean we simply sit around smiling at one another and agreeing with every idea that comes out of every person's mouth when inside we might have significant disagreement? Is that charity or is that a lazy way to create a sort of false unity, or does it depend on the situation? Or, do we work towards true unity by hearing one another out, really listening and trying to understand, asking questions, and then exchanging our own point of view in a loving, kind, and open way that allows for dialogue and discussion? Can we be unified if we don't agree on every topic? Many believe that in an effort to keep the peace and “avoid contention”, the best thing to do is to simply put their head in the sand and wait for the gray clouds of possible contention to float on by. However, are opportunities for greater unity lost when we do this? Are opportunities for greater unity also lost when we dominate in conversation or use leverage to silence another's opinion, refusing to be persuaded or consider another point of view? 

Are all of these perhaps some of the symptoms and manifestations of institutional shell shock that we must cure from ourselves if we are to rise above our current state and become one? 

There is a scripture in the Doctrine & Covenants that describes why, in part, the early saints failed in their efforts for Zion (D&C 101:6): “Behold, I say unto you, there were jarrings, and contentions, and envyings, and strifes, and lustful and covetous desires among them; therefore by these things they polluted their inheritances.” What really are these attributes manifested by the early saints? How do we know if we are falling into the same patterns? Here are some definitions from the 1828 Webster’s Dictionary: 

Contention:

1. Strife; struggle; a violent effort to obtain something, or to resist a person, claim or injury; contest; quarrel.

2. Strife in words or debate; quarrel; angry contest; controversy.

Jar (as in jarrings):

1. To strike together with a short rattle or tremulous sound; to strike untunably or harshly; to strike discordantly; as a jarring sound.

2. To clash; to interfere; to act in opposition; to be inconsistent.

3. To quarrel; to dispute; to clash in words.

Envy (as in envyings):

1. To feel uneasiness, mortification or discontent, at the sight of superior excellence, reputation or happiness enjoyed by another; to repine at another's prosperity; to fret or grieve one's self at the real or supposed superiority of another, and to hate him on that account.

2. Rivalry; competition.

3. Malice; malignity.

4. Public odium; ill repute; invidiousness.

Strife:

1. Exertion or contention for superiority; contest of emulation, either by intellectual or physical efforts.

2. Contention in anger or enmity; contest; struggle for victory; quarrel or war.

To me, collectively, these words describe an open, often public, vitriolic, mean-spirited, angry, personal, caustic, biting, ferocious interchange or quarrel that rises above the level of a disagreement or a difference of opinion.

In my profession, I am constantly engaged in debate and discussion with others. We all have different perspectives, experiences, and knowledge. Therefore, it is only natural for us to have differences of opinion, and therefore we should expect that to be the norm, not the exception. In such cases, I do not ask or expect others to share my opinions or convictions, and my goal is not to change others’ views so they accord more nearly with my own. I want to learn and share, plain and simple, and perhaps we can both come away from the exchange for the better. Any time I engage in debate and discussion with another person, for me, it is outside of who that person is, it is not personal or about them. Although any discussion has the potential to rise to the level of contention, jarrings, and strife, that is up to the people involved to regulate themselves. Therefore, discussion and debate and differences of opinion should not be feared, and on the contrary, they should be welcomed. Why? Having different perspectives on issues and challenges can be enormously helpful. They can help us to make our own thinking and ideas clearer, and most importantly of all, we ourselves might be in error. In my profession, there is a maxim that holds true for me in all of life, and it sort of goes something like this: It is not a matter of being right or wrong, it is a matter of determining the degree to which you are (or I am) wrong. In other words, I just assume I am always wrong to some degree. I lack the full picture, all the pieces of the puzzle, all the cards in the deck, etc. I lack full truth. I gather intelligence from as many sources as I can, I compare and contrast ("by proving contraries, truth is made manifest" - Joseph Smith), and then I use the mind and heart that God gave me, along with whatever degree of inspiration I can gather, to help me sort out how off I am and determine the best path forward. And with all of that, I still make plenty of mistakes and errors in judgment, huge ones sometimes, so I thank God for the atonement.

However, I try not to let disagreements become personal. I try to distinguish the person from the person’s opinion, and I try to differentiate between a healthy argument and a personal quarrel. Sometimes it is important to agree to disagree and just move on, but it is important to not fear someone who holds an opposing view. If we are comfortable with our own standards, we can be accepting and tolerant of variety and differences of opinion. As I respect the opinions and views of others, I genuinely feel that in most cases they in turn respect and better understand my own. Often, I am pleasantly surprised by how my own views are improved by a healthy discussion with others who hold opposing views. This mutual respect can transcend a mere difference of opinion on a minor issue, but can lead to friendships with people quite different than yourself…you can truly be one with a variety of individuals without having to agree on every topic. Just because you listen to another's opinion, that does not mean you have to act on it, and of course, there may come a point, or there may be some topics, where you do not want to listen anymore for various reasons, and you have the right to walk away or discontinue the conversation. 

A near Zion-like society is described in the Book of 4th Nephi the prophet says that there was no contention among them four times: 

2 and there were no contentions and disputations among them, and every man did deal justly one with another.

13 And it came to pass that there was no contention among all the people, in all the land; but there were mighty miracles wrought among the disciples of Jesus.

15 And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.

18 and there was no contention in all the land.

Certainly these people were in harmony on many things, but does this also mean there were no differences of opinion or disagreements among them? Obviously their hearts were filled with the love of God, so might this mean that the people also loved their brothers and sisters so much that they learned the importance of listening to one another respectfully, considering differences of opinion, asking each other questions, and engaging in the art of respectful disagreement when needed? 

There is no need to waste time hating people with whom you disagree. We can try to focus on the fruitful nature of such disagreements; how they have helped you to shape our own views of what we are doing, or who we are, or why we are doing something in a certain way. We can be magnanimous and generous in accepting others’ failings. It might be the case that sources of disagreement and differences of opinion can be an important vehicle for arriving at greater unity. 

070. The Snare of Religious Dogmatism

Below is the conclusion of an essay published by CS Lewis on December 19, 1959 entitled Screwtape Proposes a Toast, which was a follow-up to his very popular book Screwtape Letters. Many believe it to be among the most creative pieces of writing of the last century. Here, Screwtape, a demon who continually schemes to bring more souls into Hell, offers a toast to his fellow devils-in-training. The "Enemy" is, of course, the Lord.

"But now for the pleasantest part of my duty. It falls to my lot to propose on behalf of the guests the health of Principal Slubgob and the Tempters’ Training College. Fill your glasses. 

What is this I see? What is this delicious bouquet I inhale? Can it be? 

Mr. Principal, I unsay all my hard words about the dinner. I see, and smell, that even under wartime conditions the College cellar still has a few dozen of sound old vintage Pharisee.

Well, well, well. This is like old times.

Hold it beneath your nostrils for a moment, gentledevils.

Hold it up to the light.

Look at those fiery streaks that writhe and tangle in its dark heart, as if they were contending.

And so they are.

You know how this wine is blended? Different types of Pharisee have been harvested, trodden, and fermented together to produce its subtle flavour. Types that were most antagonistic to one another on Earth. Some were all rules and relics and rosaries; others were all drab clothes, long faces, and petty traditional abstinences from wine or cards or the theatre. Both had in common their self-righteousness and an almost infinite distance between their actual outlook and anything the Enemy really is or commands. The wickedness of other religions was the really live doctrine in the religion of each; slander was its gospel and denigration its litany. How they hated each other up where the sun shone! How much more they hate each other now that they are forever conjoined but not reconciled. Their astonishment, their resentment, at the combination, the festering of their eternally impenitent spite, passing into our spiritual digestion, will work like fire. Dark fire. 

All said and done, my friends, it will be an ill day for us if what most humans mean by “religion” ever vanishes from the Earth. It can still send us the truly delicious sins. The fine flower of unholiness can grow only in the close neighborhood of the Holy. Nowhere do we tempt so successfully as on the very steps of the altar."

069. Obedience & Godlight

"A conscious being is either obeying God or disobeying Him."

"You do not fail in obedience through lack of love, 

but have lost love because you never attempted obedience." 

"This is the courtesy of Deep Heaven: that when you mean well, 

He always takes you to have meant better than you knew. 

It will not be enough for always. He is very jealous. 

He will have you for no one but Himself in the end. 

But for tonight, it is enough"

~C.S. Lewis, That Hideous Strength

"Any patch of sunlight in a wood will show you something about the sun 

which you could never get from reading books on astronomy. 

These pure and spontaneous pleasures are 'patches of Godlight' 

in the woods of our experience."

~C.S. Lewis, Letters to Malcolm

068. The Least of These My Brethren

On a recent trip overseas, we came across this poignant statue in a churchyard (look closely at the feet):

I thought it well-expressed the message in the Gospel of Mathew regarding the poor and needy, which says:

Then shall the king say unto them on his right hand, 
Come, ye blessed of my Father, 
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 

For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat. 
I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink. 
I was a stranger, and ye took me in,
naked, and ye clothed me. 
I was sick, and ye visited me. 
I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, 
Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee, or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in, or naked, and clothed thee? 
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 

And the king shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, 
Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, 
prepared for the devil and his angels. 

For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat. 
I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink. 
I was a stranger, and ye took me not in, 
naked, and ye clothed me not, 
sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 

Then shall they also answer him, saying, 
Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, 
or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 

Then shall he answer them, saying, 
Verily I say unto you, 
Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these my brethren, 
ye did it not unto me. 

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal.

067. The Last Battle (Revisited)

Three years ago I wrote a set of three blogposts on CS Lewis' 7th and final installment in the Chronicles of Narnia series entitled The Last Battle. It is my belief that CS Lewis was inspired in many of his writings and this is one of his best. This story is a parable about the last days and choosing to seek out Christ despite the deception all around us. There's a very good chance you will see yourself in this story. I'd like to revisit this story because it can help you know God better and its characters and themes can help you understand the spiritual challenges we all face in this world.

First, A Brief Summary

The story begins with an unintelligent and gullible donkey (Puzzle), and a very intelligent, conniving, old, and ugly ape (Shift) who find a lion's skin in a pool of water. The ape persuades the donkey to wear the lion's skin so that he will look like Aslan the lion. Shift becomes "Aslan's mouthpiece," convincing everyone in Narnia that Aslan has returned. However, the Narnians don't want to talk with Shift, they have been waiting for the return of Aslan and are excited to see him; they want to speak with Aslan "face-to-face." So Shift, telling everyone that he is very wise and the only one that "Aslan" trusts, puts the false Aslan away in a place where only he can speak with him. Plus, says Shift, "Aslan" can't be bothered with having to talk to a bunch of stupid animals all the time. Instead, Shift says that "Aslan" will tell him what the animals are supposed to be doing, and then Shift will pass along the information "in the name of Aslan." Society is turned upside down in an effort to "set everything right in Narnia": the sacred forest is chopped down, the talking animals are enslaved, and strife and murder ensue. Shift tells the animals that they are not slaves and that their wages will go directly into the treasury of "Aslan", who will use them "for everybody's good." Shift promises that soon there will be roads, cities, schools, offices, whips, muzzles, cages, and prisons. Although the animals only want their freedom and to hear Aslan speak, Shift tells them that true freedom is not doing what they want to do, but is found in obeying what Shift tells them to do…after all, he speaks for and with "Aslan."

When things are at their worst, the true Aslan sends two Children from another world (Earth) to come and help. They team up with the King of the land, Tirian, and eventually reveal that Puzzle is not Aslan. The Narnians are set free (from both bondage and false beliefs) and news begins to spread that the real Aslan has returned to Narnia. However, when the Dwarves learn of this, they do not rejoice. A Dwarf named Griffle steps forward and says "I feel I've heard about as much about Aslan as I want to for the rest of my life. You must think we're blooming soft in the head…We've been taken in once and now you expect us to be be taken in again the next minute. We've no more use for stories about Aslan, see!" The King challenges the Dwarves and tells them that they believed in "the Ape's imitation of the real Aslan." But the Dwarves are not persuaded. Griffle continues: "And you've got a better imitation, I suppose. No thanks, we've been fooled once and we're not going to be fooled again." "I serve the real Aslan!" shouts the King. "Where's he? Who's he? Show him to us!" reply several Dwarves. The King shoots back "Do you think I keep him in my wallet? Who am I that I could make Aslan appear at my bidding? He's not a tame lion." Uh-oh…the dwarves had heard that line before. Those very words were used by Shift to trick them into doing things that the Dwarves originally believed Aslan would never ask them to do. "He's not a tame lion, he's not a tame lion" the Dwarves muttered and sneered. One of the Children then testifies that she has seen the real Aslan. Griffle replies, "So you say. They've taught you your stuff all right. Saying your lessons, ain't you?" He continues, "I don't think we want anymore kings -- no more than we want any Aslans. We're going to look after ourselves from now on and touch our caps to nobody." The other dwarves chime in "We're on our own now. No more Aslan, no more kings, no more silly stories about other worlds. The Dwarves are for the Dwarves!"

There is one small dwarf named Poggin, however, who still believes in Aslan. Although he had been deceived, he joins the King and the Children on their quest to spread the word about Aslan. There is also a man (foreigners in Narnia), named Emeth, who proves by his deeds that he is "worthy of a better God than Tash." Tash was a false god, the antithesis of Aslan, worshipped by man. Although Emeth had been faithful to Tash his whole life, and taught to hate Aslan and the world of Narnia, at one point in the story when he is seeking Tash with his whole heart, Aslan appears to him instead. Emeth falls at the feet of the Lion and thinks he will be killed because he has been a servant of Tash. Instead, Aslan kisses Emeth on his forehead and says "Son, thou art welcome…all the service thou has done to Tash, I account as service done to me….if any man swear by Tash and keep his oath for the oath's sake, it is by me that he has truly sworn, though he know it not, and it is I who reward him. And if any man do a cruelty in my name, then, though he says the name Aslan, it is Tash whom he serves and by Tash his deed is accepted. Does thou understand Child?" Emeth, still not fully accepting of Aslan's love, replies "Yet I have been seeking Tash all my days." Aslan then says "unless thy desire had been for me thou wouldst not have sought so long and so truly. For all find what they truly seek." The book concludes with a massive battle between good and evil and then Aslan ushers those who believe in Him into Paradise, ascending "Further Up and Further In."

Profiles of the Main Characters

Aslan's Great Father - The Emperor-over-the-sea: represents the Father, mentioned in name only, as when Tash is cast out of Narnia.

Aslan the Lion: represents Christ, the one who comes to save His people and bring them into His Kingdom, ushering in the millennium.

Children: represents Christ's messengers, those called to do His work. Children are the main characters throughout the Narnia series, appearing on the scene to turn things around in times of great distress and darkness. The Children are often the ones who see Aslan. They return to Earth after their missions are complete, transformed by their experiences away.

King Tirian: represents those seeking and willing to receive Aslan's/Christ's messengers. He believed Aslan would send assistance to help with the situation in Narnia. When the children came, he recognized them as such and trusted in them. His faith was not always perfect and he was a bit overzealous in his belief that Aslan had returned without verifying that it was the true Aslan, but he remained true to Aslan throughout.

Tash: represents satan, the opposite of Aslan, the false god of men and source of evil and deception.

Shift the Ape: represents the deceived, specifically the wicked who chose evil over good in all its forms: lust for power, praise, honor, control, dominion, wealth, chaos. Sought power over others through manipulation and deception.

Puzzle the Donkey: represents the deceived, specifically those that are duped into becoming a false priest/prophet/prophetess or false christ, or rather, falsely believing they are a prophet, prophetess, messiah, or messenger. Although they are not the root source of deception (see Tash), and may very well believe that they are doing the right thing, they wind up leading others astray as tools of the adversary. When outed as a false Aslan, Puzzle confessed that he wasn't very smart, only did what he was told, and that he didn't enjoy what he was doing.

The Dwarves: represents the deceived, specifically those that believed in and followed false priests/prophets/prophetesses/christs (i.e., false Aslan/Puzzle the Donkey). The dwarves did horrible things in the name of the false Aslan, even war and murder. Their hearts were broken, but then hardened, and when the true Aslan/Christ/prophet/priest appeared, they rejected him. They didn't want to be duped again. And from then on, they only believed in themselves and no longer believed in God/Aslan. They fought against Aslan's forces in the final battle.

Griffle the Dwarf: represents the deceived, specifically a leader among those that have been deceived who then influences others to not believe. His voice is loud and he rises up to speak for the group. His beliefs become the beliefs of others that have also been deceived. He challenges King Tirian's belief in Aslan and also refutes the testimony of the earth Child who says that she had actually seen the real Aslan. He does not recognize the Child as a true messenger that had come to save Narnia in its final days, even though this was foretold in the prophecies of Narnia that everyone knew about.

Poggin the Dwarf: represents the deceived, specifically those who retain a strong belief in Aslan and still seek Him after their deception. His heart was broken, and softened, and when the true Aslan/Christ/prophet/priest appeared, he accepted him.

Emeth the man: represents the deceived, specifically those who are devoted to a false belief system, sincerely trying to live the religion they have inherited. Yet Aslan/Christ, in his mercy, loves and manifests Himself to them because of the intent of their hearts, and because they have remained true to their conscience despite everyone else in their society/culture/family behaving otherwise. After he realized the truth, Emeth turned to face the true God who received him fully.

All other Narnians and men: represents the deceived, everyone else who is asleep or is a blind follower of tradition, culture, or the forces of evil.

All Are Deceived

Do you see the pattern across these major characters in this story? Except for Aslan/Christ, His Father, and the Children, everyone else is a deceiver or are among the deceived. Every Narnian, every one of us - deceived. No one escapes the deceptions of this world, which are designed to turn our love away from God and from one another, and towards something else. If you have been deceived and hurt by deception, you are in good company, welcome to the club: "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." ~ Rev. 12:9. All of those that were deceived in this allegory had surrendered their agency to some other force, power, or individual at one time or another; be it a false prophet (Shift), the false Aslan (Puzzle), their trust in a strong leader or representative (Griffle), or the traditions, institutions, or culture they were born into or chose to embrace.

So, Which of the Characters Are You?

Let me give you a hint, you are not Aslan (nor His Father), and it is very unlikely that you are one of the two Children in this allegory. The good news is that you are not Tash and since you are reading a blog post like this, I'm guessing you are not Shift either. So, which one are you? You may be King Tirian if you are seeking for Aslan diligently, looking to the stars (heavens) for answers as he did, and seeking for his messengers to come and help him.

If not, are you Puzzle the Donkey, going about thinking you are something you are not and leading people astray? Either appointed to ecclesiastical office because of your wealth, influence, or perhaps your family or social connections?...or have you been called upon by a false spirit to rise up and claim you are on God's errand? Both wear the lion's skin and work to perfect the art of priestcraft, but underneath is no sign of Aslan, instead there is only teaching of "another Jesus", which leads people's hearts away from the truth (2 Cor. 11:3-4 "However, I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by its tricks, so your minds may somehow be lured away from sincere and pure devotion to the Messiah. For if someone comes along and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or should you receive a different spirit from the one you received or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you are all too willing to listen." International Standard Version)

Are you a dwarf? If so, which? Their leader Griffle? Within all religions, there exists lies about its history and false doctrines...these can be the vehicle causing someone to wake up. Then there are the personal affronts that people suffer that serve to wake them up, whether they be abuse of power by a leader or a policy that hurts them. For these, the fake lion's skin has been ripped off the donkey's back, now held up as evidence of the false beliefs one has had. It's a shocking and hurtful experience. But truth has been exposed. Whole websites exist where people are featured who tell their stories about the abuse, deception, corruption, and hurt they have experienced as a result of a false prophet, a false Aslan, or a false religious system created by one of these. These are important and valid stories. However, the conclusion of many is similar to Griffle's: "Christ? Who needs him. What did he ever do for me? Been fooled once and I'm not going to be fooled again." Or, are you one of the many followers of Griffle, parroting his sentiments and beliefs, and writing off YOUR former personal experiences with God? "No more silly stories about Joseph Smith or Golden Plates or Christ. The _____ are for the _____!" (you fill in the blank; eg, "Dwarves", ex-Mormons/Christians, Atheists, or your own name). Have you thrown away all belief and yearning for truth because you have been deceived in the past and now believe in no such things? Or, are you Poggin, who realizes he was deceived, but still chooses to follow Aslan/Christ? 

Or are you Emeth, who was totally devoted to the false god/religion/belief system that he had inherited, giving everything to it, and then suddenly realizing that the god/religion he believed in was not true, and that the true and living God/Aslan was very different than what he had ever imagined? Were you intensely devoted to a faith that turned out to be not what you thought it was? Have you now applied that same devotion to a true faith and into a relationship with the true and living God as His disciple?

Moving "Further Up and Further In" (toward God)

Step 1: Assume and realize you are deceived. If you are not Christ nor one of his messengers, assume you are deceived. That's why the Lord tells His messengers to preach nothing but faith and repentance. It's only when we apply faith and repent of our lack of knowledge and turn to the Lord that we can have a hope of getting to that humble state where we can begin the process of coming unto Him fully. Until we obtain pure knowledge and mighty faith, we are only believing in something that is not true and are thus deceived. There are also many who wake up to the deception, perhaps after getting hurt or after hurting others, or realizing that they are on the wrong path. Unfortunately, there are many more who never wake up to or realize the depth of the deception or the falsehoods in their belief system. They remain asleep, comfortable in the situation in which they find themselves.

Step 2: Not rejecting the truth when it manifests itself. When one realizes that they have been deceived, it is very difficult to muster faith or even a desire to seek out truth again. Why would God allow me to be deceived? What if I am deceived again? How can I trust anything? Where did I miss the clues along the path to deception? Did God try to intervene and I missed it? I was trying to believe, and do right, but my faith was amiss, why? What about all those signs that followed my faith? Doesn't God care? Why wouldn't He come to stop the deception that was underway and the horrible things being done in His name? Deceit can be devastating: “...nothing is a greater injury to the children of men than to be under the influence of a false spirit when they think they have the Spirit of God” (Joseph Smith, HC 4:573). 

So, can you blame the Dwarves? It's understandable. Being deceived and let down, the Dwarves had lost faith in the real Aslan. They were so hurt, ashamed of what had become of them, what they had been lead to believe and do, that it changed them. From thenceforth they would only believe what was before their eyes and what their hands could touch. That is the primary consequence of Shift setting up a false Aslan: it stopped people from believing in the real Aslan when he or his servants came. As the story progresses, the Dwarves come so close to the truth as Aslan tries again and again to reach them...breathing on them, altering their experiences...but they cannot recognize Him (or are unwilling to see) and then Aslan says: "They will not let us help them. They have chosen cunning instead of belief. Their prison is only in their own minds, yet they are in that prison; and so afraid to be taken in that they cannot be taken out." Choosing to remain in a form of spirit prison, unbelief, they are blinded, forever.

Yet, what if the path through deception is required of all who live in this world? Does the darkness of night come before the light? Lehi followed a man dressed in a white robe who bade him to follow him through a dark and dreary waste; after many hours of following this man Lehi decided to pray for mercy and was then delivered into the vision of the Tree of Life. Some do persist in seeking after God after a detour through deception, but others do not. I am here to urge all that have been deceived (by some person, a church, or an evil spirit, whatever) (and again, WE ALL HAVE) to not give up...and to not cry out "the Dwarves are for the Dwarves!" Maybe this deception has worked in your life to pull you away from all the things that would have kept you from truly coming unto Him, naked and humbled as a little child, without the trappings of a title, an institution, or a claim to great knowledge. Instead, you can approach Him with arms outstretched like a beggar, pleading for His mercy with nothing to offer Him in return for His grace except a broken heart, a contrite spirit, and your willingness to love Him with all your might, mind, and strength. In many ways, these experiences have been a gift to strip you of pride and the false sense of security you may possess about your own salvation.

Are you worried that in trying again to believe that you will again be deceived and so you don't try, believing it is not worth the effort? Too late, by doing nothing you have already been deceived by another force that is keeping you down anyway. Unless you are following the Savior or have identified one of His true messengers and are heeding their teachings, you are deceived. So, trust in God and exercise belief that He will guide you along the path that leads back to Him through the darkness of this foreign place. Seek for Christ's messengers and heed their teachings. By their fruits ye shall know them.

I have hardly scratched the surface of this short book written in 1956. You ought to read it for yourself....but then again, maybe it's just a "silly story about other worlds" that don't really exist. I find that the allegories in this book have deep significance for us all. Although all of us have been deceived in some way, each of us determines for ourselves which of the characters in this book we will be by how respond to that deception...whether we abandon our quest to know God, or whether we choose belief and press forward. Why not choose belief? That is perhaps one of your Last Battles.

066. Alternative "Area Business Weekends" Bubble Chart

It was interesting that the newly leaked bubble chart illustrating supposed reasons for people leaving the "gospel" pointed the finger completely at forces external to the church. Blame is cast on specific individuals who are named as enemies to the church, as well as things like cultural shifts/trends and non-correlated beliefs...moreover, blame is placed on the individual members, due to their personal weaknesses, failures, or shortcomings. There is not a single bubble on the chart to suggest that the church itself might have something to do with the attrition of its members. Perhaps the paid consultant tasked with this project feared for his or her own livelihood if s/he were to dare to suggest that a major factor in a person's decision to walk away from the church is likely the church itself, which may then in turn give rise to many of the issues presented in the bubbles.

Just like in human relationships, if we are finding that we are having trouble with someone else, it's probably time to take a good look at yourself in the mirror and start working on you. Casting blame on others for our problems only makes things worse and interferes with healthy interpersonal relationships. When the church starts honestly facing and dealing with its own issues, and stops blaming others for its shortcomings, only then it can begin to serve as the example of righteousness it claims to be. In the meantime, those who are seeking honest answers, a deeper and more meaningful connection with God, and a happier and healthier lifestyle will continue to look elsewhere and find their own path out of the church.

Below is presented the original leaked bubble chart, followed by an alternative....

Original:

Alternative:

065. Profiteership

As religions grow in size, wealth, and power, certain liberties are taken by the leaders that the members either excuse or turn a blind eye towards due to their allegiance to or belief in the institution as an extension of God. However, without common consent and transparency, what is the threshold for excess? How much should men who view themselves as Prophets, Seers, and Revelators be compensated for their time and for dedicating their lives to full time ministry? How much should those who labor for the church as general authorities, lawyers, contractors, teachers, professors, accountants, or administrators be compensated? Because it's the "Lord's church", should they be well compensated in order to attract the best talent in order to have the very best in "building up the kingdom", or should they be underpaid because it is a sacrifice and a privilege to serve the Lord in this way? Or, should it be totally voluntary service, giving of your time while holding down a "day job"? Should the total compensation packages for all employees of a church be made known to at least the members of that church? Why would a church work hard to NOT disclose how much its employees are compensated?

In Utah, there are thousands upon thousands of people who work for "the church". No matter how the church spins it, all of these employees are paid from what begins as tithing and fast offerings or any other donations made to the church (donations are pooled). BYU professors are paid well above regional averages, church accountants and lawyers are probably the highest paid in the state of Utah, contractors and subcontractors who work for the church make a killing in the absence of competition and church willingness to pay top dollar for materials, and then there is the clergy. Given the recently released pay stubs of LDS church officials, much has been written of late about how much the church pays its leaders (see here and here). Whatever their full compensation package really entails, it's at least double the median household income in the SLC area which has ranged between $60k and $63k since 2009. I know many well paid employees of the church. Many have multiple (luxurious) homes and live a luxurious lifestyle, with frequent exotic vacations and high end vehicles. With the surge in the church's building program (eg, temples, meeting houses) over the last decade, into whose hands is all this money going? It seems strange to me that the Lord would put in place a system whereby members of a church are required to pay tithing, and almost all of that tithing goes to paying people's salaries and maintaining buildings. Then those employees pay their tithing back into the church, and they in turn get paid again from the tithing, some of it their own. Very little of the billions and billions of dollars brought in by the church every year actually goes towards helping the poor (see here for a recent post on that topic). Where does all that money go? Is the church just hoarding it? What is the difference between this modern version and what other large orthodox religions of the past have done in terms of hoarding and managing wealth? Those religions now rely on that accumulated wealth to remain in existence because there is very little inflow from current members.

In Utah, there are also thousands upon thousands of people who are homeless. No matter how the church or our government spins it, we as a society have completely failed those less fortunate than ourselves. SLC was until recently a national leader in homelessness prevention and intervention efforts. Things have changed dramatically in the course of just a couple of short years and homelessness has increased substantially in SLC. Crime and safety issues plague the areas in which homelessness services are offered. The value of the land on which the current homeless shelter resides and the surrounding areas have skyrocketed in value due to limited housing in SLC and the need to build apartments and condos (much of it high-end properties - just drive around the area near 400 W to see for yourself). SLC has now unveiled plans to close its central shelter with capacity for up to 1,400 and replace it with a system of at least 4 small shelters with a combined total capacity for 550 individuals, including homeless families with children. The shelter is almost always at capacity, so where will the residual homeless go who cannot get in to one of the small shelters in the future? SLC refuses to allow an overflow shelter within its boundaries. Currently, many are bused to Midvale. An overflow shelter is basically a warehouse with bunkbeds that opens during periods of extreme weather or when a surge on the main shelter is experienced. So, where will the homeless go when these mini-shelters fill up? They will remain on the streets. They will not get basic services. Their situation will deteriorate more quickly and be prolonged. The problem will worsen and be compounded. Many homeless are individuals who have been recently released from jail or prison. Those who do not have family or friends to go to end up in the shelter system. Their criminal record prevents them from getting a job. Many return to crime to make money and they find themselves circling in the revolving door of prison-shelter-prison-shelter, etc. These are all signs that the homeless are simply not wanted in SLC. This is in the backyard of both a very liberal, publicly elected city government and a very conservative, private church that bears the name of Christ. Both entities have much power and influence. The church is very much aware of how these plans have unfolded. Given its vast resources, the church could easily eradicate this problem almost overnight. It is a total embarrassment and shameful situation that goes almost totally ignored while we continue to pour money into salaries, opulent buildings, and other waste.

What a contrast. Members of a church should not be profiteering from their connection to a church and the LDS church is no exception. This is the very definition of priestcraft.

064. Christ's Church

The only true church is a church whose foundation is built upon the Rock of Jesus Christ. There are a multitude of false Christian religions throughout the world that base their religion on someone's interpretation of a scripture or as a result of a schism among church leaders. However, it is only those who are led by the Spirit of God who become the Sons of God. Thus, those whose spiritual foundation is built upon the Rock of Christ are the true church of Jesus Christ, rather than a foundation composed of trust in men, traditions, and vanity, which is unstable and will surely crack under the pressures of the world.

People are often searching for a new church to join. One of the major reasons for seeking out a new church is to find other people that believe in the same way. However, you do not need to join a church to find others that believe in Christ. When you become a part of His church, He will find ways to lead you to know other people in His church. Christ's people can be found throughout the world. They are also led by the Spirit of God and Christ can help you to find them.

So, church is not really somewhere you go. Rather, you first go to Jesus Christ and develop a personal relationship with Him. Then, He leads you to becoming a part of His Church, being grafted in to the True Vine so that you will ultimately bear the good fruit in His cause. A gathering of people who meets in the name of Jesus Christ and who are led by the Holy Spirit are part of the true Church of Jesus Christ.

063. By Proving Contraries, Truth is Made Manifest

In a recent conversation with a friend, I was reminded of the following quote by Joseph Smith, as recorded in a letter he wrote just 3 weeks prior to his death:

"Although all is not gold that shines, any more than every religious creed is sanctioned with the so eternally sure word of prophecy, satisfying all doubt with "Thus saith the Lord;" yet, by proving contraries, truth is made manifest, and a wise man can search out old paths, wherein righteous men held communion with Jehovah, and were exalted through obedience." (HC 6:248)

By proving contraries, truth is made manifest...
Webster's 1828 Edition of the dictionary defines "proving" as: "trying; ascertaining; evincing; experiencing" and "contraries" as being "two universals that differ in quality". Such contraries can take numerous forms, often coming into our lives in the form of paradoxes, opposites, or conundrums. These may be within oneself, or in our interactions with others. Answers and direction are not always straightforward. We must prove or test these contraries (whatever they may be) through experience, faith, endurance, revelation, etc. in order for the truth to be made manifest to us. God wants us to grow by working through such challenges, turning to Him in the process, in humility. I find myself wishing that we had more understanding of this principle from Joseph Smith. It seems there is an important truth here for us to carefully ponder and understand. William Blake, the 19th century Christian mystic, poet, and engraver once said, "Without contraries is no progression." Lehi taught "For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one." (2 Ne 2:9). It is often only by directly comparing, contrasting, or "proving" one thing against that the truth is or can be made known aside from revelation.

As an added bonus, this quote from Joseph ends with an eternal truism that perfectly summarizes the essence of the fulness of the Gospel: "A wise man can search out old paths, wherein righteous men held communion with Jehovah, and were exalted through obedience." This is the primary thesis of the Lectures on Faith. That a person can come into the presence of the Lord, commune with Him, and obtain their exaltation by following the commandments that the Lord gives them. The gospel demarcates the path that leads into eternal life, trail-blazed by Christ Himself. He has gained, by His experience, knowledge of the way to return home...all would be wise to follow Him, the Giver of Light.

062. The Archetypes of the Seven Churches of Christ

Book of Revelation chapters 2 and 3 includes a series of brief messages to each of the seven early churches of Christ in the Roman province of Asia. "Churches" in this context refers to the community, fellowships, or local congregations of Christians living in each city, and not to the building or buildings in which they may have gathered for worship. The message to each church begins with a characteristic of the Lord (who gives the revelation through John), and then includes a description of the positive as well as not so positive qualities of each of the churches, and concludes with a challenge and promise to those who overcome trials and tribulation. There are many commentaries in existence about the various levels of symbolism embedded in these messages and how they apply to the churches in the past, throughout time, and into today by way of prophecy. Below is a brief outline of the key characteristics of each of the seven churches. As you read these descriptions, ask yourself these questions:

Of which of these churches are you?
What are the characteristics that the Lord approves of in each of the churches?
What counsel does the Lord give to the various churches that could apply to you?

1. Church at Ephesus (Rev. 2:1-7)
Characteristic of Christ: He holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.
Commended: Dedicated, disciplined, and discerning. They were commended for their works and patience, they had detected and rejected false apostles, and had also rejected the deeds of Nicolaitans (many theories of who the Nicolaitans were have been put forth, but the most convincing in my mind is that they represented a movement to install a professional clerical class over the laity. In Greek, Nicolaitan literally means victory over the laity; see Wikipedia: Nicolaism).
Reprimanded: These saints were lacking in their love for the Lord with all their heart, might, mind, and strength (see previous post). They had left their first love, Christ, and lacked charity.
Counseled: Remember from where they are fallen and do the first works (faith, repentance, baptism, and seek the Holy Ghost).
Promise to those that overcome: "...will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." The fruit of the tree of life is the love of God. Those who keep the commandments, hold to the word of God, and are not led away and deceived will partake of this fruit.

2. Church at Smyrna (Rev. 2:8-11)

Characteristic of Christ: He is "the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive."
Commended: Faithful in suffering great tribulations, poverty, imprisonment, and persecution.
Reprimanded: None.
Counseled: Told not to fear, but have faith in the Lord. Promised a "crown of life" if they endured faithful until the end.
Promise to those that overcome: "shall not be hurt of the second death." Because of the atonement of Jesus Christ, they will overcome spiritual death.

3. Church at Pergamos (Rev. 2:12-17)
Characteristic of Christ: "he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;"
Commended: A few faithful followers were acknowledged for "holding fast my [the Lord's] name."
Reprimanded: Pergamos was a city filled with pagan beliefs and practices, and was referred to by the Lord as "Satan's seat". Temples dedicated to Zeus, Apollo, Athena, Asclepius (the healing cult) and Caesar dotted the city. The church had been compromised by idolatry, and accepted false teachings and those who promoted them. The Lord specifically singled out those who practiced the doctrine of Balaam (worship and idolatry of false gods, and fornication) and the Nicolaitan doctrine (idolatry of authoritarian leaders).
Counseled: Repent.
Promise to those that overcome: "...to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it."

4. Church at Thyatira (modern Akhisar) (Rev. 2:18-28)
Characteristic of Christ: "eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;"
Commended: The Lord recognizes their "works, and charity, and service, and faith, and ... patience".
Reprimanded: The church allowed a woman named Jezebel, who called herself a prophetess, to teach them things that lead to their committing fornication and engaging in idol worship. This led the people away from Christ. Jezebel and those that followed her were given a chance to repent, they did not, and they were promised “great tribulation”.
Counseled: Repent and hold on to what truth they have until the Lord comes.
Promise to those that overcome: "...power over the nations" and "the morning star".

5. Church at Sardis (Rev. 3:1-6)
Characteristic of Christ: "He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars".
Commended: A few faithful followers were acknowledged "which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy".
Reprimanded: The church is mostly upbraided for being Christians in name only. They did not do much with the truth that they were given.
Counseled: Watch, strengthen those who remain faithful, hold fast to the truth, and repent.
Promise to those that overcome: "the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels."

6. Church at Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7-13)
Characteristic of Christ: "He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth."
Commended: They are loved of the Lord as they have kept His word and have not denied His name. They did not compromise with the world and the false teachings surrounding them.
Reprimanded: None.
Counseled: Hold fast to the truth they had been given by God and let no one take their crown.
Promise to those that overcome: "...will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name."

7. Church at Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-21)
Characteristic of Christ: "the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God".
Commended: None.
Reprimanded: The church in Laodicea was lacking in every way. Its doctrines had been compromised, and Christ was not in the people's hearts. The attitude of the people was "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing." The church was not hot or cold, but only lukewarm, and therefore the Lord wanted to spit them out of His mouth. The Laodiceans were wealthy and independent people, yet they lacked a spiritual richness. The Lord referred to them as "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked".
Counseled: To counter these deficits, the Lord counsels these people to "buy of me gold tried in the fire", procure “white raiment" (garments) from Him that the shame of their nakedness might be covered. He tells them to repent and "anoint thine eyes" so that their spiritual sight could be restored.

Promise to those that overcome: "...will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne".

There are some interpretations of the seven churches described in these chapters as representing seven eras of Christianity, with the Laodicean era being the time period in which we currently live. From history, we learn that Laodicea was a very prosperous city, the wealthiest of the seven cities named in these chapters. It was a banking and financial center, as well as a center of "modern" fashion and medicine. Although the city was destroyed in 60AD by an earthquake, it was rebuilt by its citizens and made even more magnificent. These characteristics made Laodicea strongly independent, which was reflected in its name, which in Greek means "the people decide" or "the people judge". Its imposing fortifications gave the city the appearance of strength and promoted a feeling of security, yet its valley location and its exposed water supply made the city vulnerable.

However, the Christians of the church at Laodiceans were condemned by the Lord for their lukewarm attitude towards spiritual things. They had allowed the strength, wealth, and prosperity of their surroundings to make them indifferent and not dependent on God. Although this city was known for its vast wealth and power, the Lord urged the people to procure gold from Him, tried in the fire. Meaning to obtain truth and things of value from God Himself (such as promises) that cannot be corrupted, instead of relying on their own wits, strength, and understanding. Additionally, although the Laodiceans were known for their production of fine black wool clothing, the Lord called the people of His church in this city naked. He told them they were in need of white raiment, meaning they lacked the holiness the Lord wanted to provide to them. And although the Laodicean medical school was well known for its eye-salve, the people of Lord's church in this city were blind to their own spiritual condition, which was a lack of spiritual discernment. The Lord urged them to anoint their eyes with His eye-salve so that their spiritual sight and understanding could be restored. The church of Laodicea was sophisticated, self-sufficient, and trusted in their own wealth, numbers, and understanding. They appeared strong, stable, and unified on the outside, but were internally divided in how they lived out their spiritual lives. Their independence led them to unknowingly reject Jesus Christ because they followed the democratic ("people-deciding" or "people-judging") process of the Laodiceans in decisions about doctrine, organization, and governance, instead of relying on the spirit of revelation to guide them.

These messages to the seven churches should help us all to understand that just because you have accepted and begun to follow the truth, the path is not always easy. There are all forms of deceptions and distractions lying in wait to pull you away. An understanding of true doctrine may be compromised and a person may deviate from that which he was given. However, the Lord lovingly urges us to repent and seek Him out again. The Lord explains in these same chapters that "as many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." (Rev. 3:19). He provides a way back. As evidenced by His interactions with these seven churches, He has not given up on them. He is trying to work with them to bring them back into His fold. Indeed, He says to those of the church of Laodicea: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Rev. 3:20). The same applies to you or anyone who has left their first love, Christ, followed after false doctrines or practices, not lived the gospel they were given, been lukewarm in terms of following after wealth, fame, talents, their own knowledge, or just plain stubbornly independent and not reliant on God. He wants to be invited back into your own life more than you probably want Him in your life. He stands at the door of your life and quietly knocks....but you have to open the door. Ask God to open your eyes so that you can see your own spiritual condition, and then repent of any complacency, compromise, materialism, and stubborn independence. Follow only the Lord Jesus Christ and do not risk losing your reward. To him or her that overcomes trials and tribulations, great promises are made. Those are real promises. Do not fear, do not give in, and do not give up.

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." (Rev. 3:22).

Of which church are you?