FAIR's Rising Generation

Archive for June 17th, 2009

I’ve been a Christian my entire life, and I’ve only ever condemned one person to Hell, so I figure that’s pretty good. I think I was eight years old when it happened, and the other kid said he hated Mormons. I don’t know if I actually condemned him, technically speaking; I said something along the lines of, “If you hate Mormons, you will go to hell.” I think that was also after he said he wanted to go to Hell. My big brother told me that wasn’t very nice, and I don’t recall having done it since.

So there you go. I don’t think your average Mormon is really about telling anyone and everyone who doesn’t believe exactly as he or she does that they’re going to Hell. In fact, I don’t even think most Christians act like that.

Unfortunately, it’s the loudest and most obnoxious among us who are most often heard. The New Atheism is rather hostile towards religion in general, but Christianity, being the dominant religion in the world, tends to get the most flack. I would just like to take a moment to thank all the fanatics out there for validating the outlandish claims of the anti-Christian movement.

That said, it isn’t as though the more level-headed Latter-day Saints among us don’t “warn.” However, a threat and a warning aren’t the same thing–but it begs the question: What’s the difference?

I am a very small man about to engage a very big topic. However, if you will allow me to be so audacious, this is the meaning of Mormonism according to yours truly:

The meaning of Mormonism is nothing more than the reunification of the human family. Think of the Gathering of Israel. Think of the Lamanites. Think of the City of Enoch. Think of baptisms for the dead. This reunification is accomplished through love and wisdom, and it is through recognizing and heeding the Holy Ghost that we build up these necessary traits. All three require us to forsake the world–to forsake that which is carnal, sensual, and devilish–all the ways we love to distract ourselves. We are in this lone and dreary world for one reason–to figure out how to transcend it, ie, to get out. Christ shows us the way; he is the way…the one who ensures our ultimate triumph. He died on the cross to give us all a second chance ad infinitum. That, and he tells us everything we need to know to move on and up. Nevertheless, the responsibility to answer the call of discipleship and Sainthood resides squarely on us, and effectively taking up that responsibility requires integrity.

Through fasting, the paying of tithes, adherence to the Word of Wisdom, etc., we strive to transcend the cares, appetites, and lusts of this contracted sphere–mere distractions that serve one purpose: To keep our minds and hearts from acknowledging the Still Small Voice, the Gateway to Christ and His Saving Gospel–The Holy Ghost.

People who serve God by serving others don’t utter threats; they warn. A warning comes from those who care about your well-being. Jesus warned those he cared about; I can’t account for everything in the Bible, but I do believe that is how God engages us today–through warnings rather than threats. Following his example, we call the world to repentance because we want to have our brothers and sisters alongside us in the next stage of our progression.

The highest Christian ideal is to love your enemies and lay down your life for your friends. This is pure charity. This is what qualifies you to act in Christ’s behalf…to be a Fisher of men.

However, let’s take a closer look at this metaphor. To go fishing is essentially to kill. That is, the fish you catch will eventually die because they can only exist for so long in an unsuitable environment. When you go out as a missionary, you are essentially persuading people to give up their old selves. Baptism is symbolic of ritualistically dying and being reborn as a completely new being. For people who don’t understand death, becoming a Mormon is like an abortion of all that one is (or perceives him or her self to be). Let’s keep in mind exactly what we’re asking prospective converts to do.

The metaphor works rather well–those who lack faith are afraid of change because they see it as an end, not a beginning. What’s more, they will avoid change for as long as they can–until Christ ultimately succeeds in saving them.

But there is a life beyond this one, and death is sweet to those who believe in Christ. We do not threaten. We hardly even warn. To me, teaching the gospel is nothing short of spreading the good news. Yes! A place does exist without violence, oppression, poverty, and death. Yes, there is a place where families and communities flourish and grow; and people, even strangers, uphold and cherish one another. There is a place to study the mysteries of God in peace and quiet–a place of rest where Social Darwinism is but the memory of a bad dream. It is there that we continue to grow in wisdom and love, closer than ever before to the life-giving light of Christ.

We warn because we want to see all of God’s estranged sons and daughters–our brothers and sisters–in that special place with us. Joseph Smith said the purpose of building up Zion was to remove the fear of death from mankind. When we finally build something of lasting permanence, we will have risen to the next level (and conquered death). Not only do we warn, but we also plead. Not only do we plead, but we also invite with open arms and broad smiles. May we as Latter-day Saints never lose sight of why we do it, and may we together show the world that our war is not driven by hatred and ignorance laced with threats, but divine charity, wisdom, integrity, and devotion to God.

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