I actually got an e-mail response from the primary president (PP) late yesterday, four days after I e-mailed her my explanation for not being at the sacrament program last Sunday.
"Dear Lisa,
I'm sorry I am so slow to respond to your email, but my computer was down over the week-end and when I did get it back up, I wanted to take a moment to think about what you had said. First and foremost Lisa, I love you and your children, and would feel it an insult if you would feel that any contact I might make to you would be out of obligation rather than genuine caring about you. for eg. Just today (my granddaughter) told me she had been bugging J. to go to winter quarters with the youth. THAT IS JUST (MY GRANDDAUGHTER) BEING WHO SHE IS AND WANTING J. TO BE A PART OF THEIR GROUP. I know you might think I had something to do with that, and I assure you (my granddaughter) knows nothing about your decision.
I have encountered the Adam God Theory long ago as a missionary, and I too have researched that statement with much different conclusion than you have reached, but I respect your right to believe as you choose. I do however want you to know that I know Joseph Smith is a prophet based on the study of the fruits of his labors, namely the Book of Mormon. I know that no mortal man could have written it. Also in the book, Mormon Doctrine, Bruce R. McConkie explains the Adam God theory, better than I can express it. Quote "Enemies of the restored truth, for their own peculiar purposes, sometimes try to make it appear that Latter-Day Saints, worship Adam as their Father in Heaven. In support of their false assumptions, they quote such statements as that of President Brigham Young to the effect that Adam is our father and our God and the only god with whom we have to do. This statement, and others of similar nature, is perfectly consistent and rational when viewed in full gospel perspective and understood in the light of the revelations relative to the patriarchal chain binding exalted beings together. Full and detailed explanations of all important teachings on these points are found in Doctrines of Salvation, vol.1,pp96-106
Faithful members of the Church worship the Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and view Adam in his proper high place as the pre-existent Michael,the first man and presiding high priest(under Christ) over all the earth for all time, and as the one who will again lead the armies of heaven in the final great war with lucifer. There is a sense, of course in which Adam is a God. But so in the same sense are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; Moses and all the ancient prophets
All exalted beings become joint heirs with Christ and inherit the fulness of the Father's kingdom. They shall be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; D.&C 132:19-21 Of all these Adam is the chief, presiding (under Christ and the Father) in patriarchal order over all the rest. There is no mystery about this doctrine except that which persons ignorant of the great principles of exaltation and unfriendly to the cause of righteousness have attempted to make." Unquote.
Lisa, when you are ready, I would love to go to lunch with you and enjoy your friendship and have a good visit. You are a great lady whom I care about deeply.
as your father said to me that is one thing he and I have in common. Lisa, I hope you will let W., S. and I know when you would like to get together and do something fun. We all care about you. Love, T."
A few thoughts...I have never "done something fun" with these three members of the primary presidency, unless you call countless hours of presidency meetings FUN. I feel close to her only through working so many hours for the kids in the ward. I'm pretty sure I won't be doing lunch with them, 3 vs. 1.
The fact that she had to comment about her granddaughter tells me they did in fact discuss me. Also, I knew immediately that I had been discussed because on Monday afternoon the granddaughter stared me down in the bleachers at my son's football game. And on Tuesday my son asked her granddaughter if her grandma had asked her to ask him to the Zion's Camp. She said NO! but obviously they discussed me after that, if not before, prompting the PP to include this in her e-mail. Whatever.
My point is that LDS people have a hard time disassociating "genuine caring" from intrusive behavior. They think they should show their genuine caring by giving me their testimony in letter and e-mail form. They think they show their genuine caring by personally inviting my son to an activity before he's even stopped going to church enough to be called inactive.
Shaking my head. I have no idea how I should respond to this e-mail I got, so I probably won't.
6 comments:
If only the Adam-God doctrine were the ONLY inconsistency / idiosyncrasy in Mormonism that the apologists have to fumble around to explain. Hm...
I've never had to go through what you're going through. They pretty much left me alone. I am sort of aggressive, and I was very forthright in my leaving. But still, I haven't had anyone bear their testimony at me, except for the bishop.
You're handling it well, just go with your feelings. :)
I look at that ideology and I can say for a certain fact neither Christians nor Jews adhere to that Adam - God theory.
"Faithful members of the Church worship the Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and view Adam in his proper high place as the pre-existent Michael,the first man and presiding high priest(under Christ) over all the earth for all time, and as the one who will again lead the armies of heaven in the final great war with lucifer. There is a sense, of course in which Adam is a God. But so in the same sense are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; Moses and all the ancient prophets
"All exalted beings become joint heirs with Christ and inherit the fulness of the Father's kingdom. They shall be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting," (PP)
We have eternal being not equality with God in any respect, that absolutely ludacris.
"because they continue; D.&C 132:19-21 Of all these Adam is the chief, presiding (under Christ and the Father) in patriarchal order over all the rest." (PP)
No proof of that either and I especially loved it when he said Adam would come back and fight in the end against satan...actually in the final battle acording to revelations it's Jesus and it's figurative (so is Adam Jesus?). Also Adam being the supreme and highest priest, that again is Jesus' spot according to mainstream Christianity. Weird.
I think the Mormon people are trying to be sincere but as you point out, they hide what they know about you too (and judge you in secret). Stand firm and stick to what you have come to learn and with your integrity...who knows maybe they will begin to want to know you.
I kind of feel sorry for PP. Because she can't think straight or honestly, and has swallowed the hook so far down, so long ago it has become one with her.
Something non-Mormons, non-Catholics, and non-several other demoninations don't understand is that these religions are all about the "Church", the message of the church, and the church founder are far more important that God, Jesus, and the power and promise of Salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ.
PP wants to be your friend, but she can't even separate that friendship and her church in one little letter.
Personally ML I say run fast in the opposite direction. Do not stop at Olive Garden when they are lunching. Do not collect blessings that end with dabs of prayed over olive oil. Live happily ever after.
Just my own thoughts :)
If only the Adam-God theory was the only inconsistency!! I am glad you got that e-mail...at least I don't have to be alone! I think the PP REALLY neads a life. Obviously, she needed the weekend to formulate a half-assed response to your questions. Through her a couple more just for grins. :)
Another late response...
My wife and I love your writing and am enjoying reading it here in December.
Here, you said something that excited me, as I had the same insight (I suppose it's probably not unique, since I think it's fairly obvious, but I haven't heard people talk about it).
I won't go into too much depth, as I intend to expand on it greatly in my own (upcoming) blog, but I'll give the short-n-sweet version.
You wrote about how church members have a difficult time dissociating true caring from "intrusive behavior." Bullseye.
Church members are so distracted, guilt-ridden, overworked and locked into spiritual chain of command that they are unable to distinguish between camaraderie and actual friendship. After all, EVERY relationship has an ulterior motive. Are you strengthening the saints? Honoring god? Furthering the work? Oh, it's a NON-MEMBER friend? Are you working on sharing the gospel, bringing him in? When are you going to share it? ALWAYS be prepping them.
You spend so much time maintaining pretense with artificial good feelings and superficial niceness that you not only don't have the time, but almost don't know how to have an honest, authentic and unpretentious friendship.
Instead, most of the time you confuse community/group identity and the feeling of closeness that can come about between two members with feelings of actual friendship.
I remember being in the church after I had converted and thinking with sadness that, oh, I guess this is how relationships are supposed to be in a sustainable, righteous world. I guess it's selfish and hedonistic to wish for plain, indulgent friendships. I've lost several valuable old friendships with people whom I miss because I suddenly became different -- trying to maneuver them into gospel discussions, etc. Ugh.
Anyway, I am so glad to be free of that. And my wife has found her first REAL friend (other than ME) who cares about her and is on her side no matter what. It's difficult to exaggerate the healthy effect this has had.
Anyway, cheers to you on that insight!
I have found all christians feel the need to intrude on privacy of others with their beliefs.
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