Comments on: One Last Blessing http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/2007/10/19/one-last-blessing/ One Mormon boy’s iconoclastic quest to remix and rectify his notions of truth, mind, myth, love, life, and transcendence. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:55:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Jonathan Blake http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/2007/10/19/one-last-blessing/#comment-2307 Jonathan Blake Sun, 21 Oct 2007 15:05:50 +0000 http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/2007/10/19/one-last-blessing/#comment-2307 Saying that is one thing; doing it is quite another. I agree that this practice is not based in scripture, but going against social expectations was not easy, for me at least. If it had been easy for me, I would have left the church years ago because social expectations were a large part of what kept me in. It would have been out of character for me to go against Mormon culture like that. Imagine the scorn and disrespect most members would heap on a father giving his child a name by simply saying "Heavenly Father, by the power of the Melchizedek Priesthood, we name this child X. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen." The most charitable among the members would probably assume that the father wasn't in tune with the Spirit, not that the Spirit had chosen not to communicate with him. Aside from that, it's not so easy to tease apart gospel and culture. Even sticking with the scriptures as the ultimate source of doctrine still requires interpretation. Any interpretation is filtered through the interpretor's culture. Given that fact, it seems impossible to draw a distinct line between culture and scripture. Saying that is one thing; doing it is quite another. I agree that this practice is not based in scripture, but going against social expectations was not easy, for me at least. If it had been easy for me, I would have left the church years ago because social expectations were a large part of what kept me in. It would have been out of character for me to go against Mormon culture like that.

Imagine the scorn and disrespect most members would heap on a father giving his child a name by simply saying “Heavenly Father, by the power of the Melchizedek Priesthood, we name this child X. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.” The most charitable among the members would probably assume that the father wasn’t in tune with the Spirit, not that the Spirit had chosen not to communicate with him.

Aside from that, it’s not so easy to tease apart gospel and culture. Even sticking with the scriptures as the ultimate source of doctrine still requires interpretation. Any interpretation is filtered through the interpretor’s culture. Given that fact, it seems impossible to draw a distinct line between culture and scripture.

]]> By: LDS Anarchist http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/2007/10/19/one-last-blessing/#comment-2304 LDS Anarchist Sun, 21 Oct 2007 05:53:06 +0000 http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/2007/10/19/one-last-blessing/#comment-2304 I find it remarkable that the Mormon culture is so strong as to override scriptural mandates. If you had just followed the scriptural directions, you wouldn't have ever minded giving a blessing. Of course, you may have left the church anyway, as you did say you doubted the existence of God, etc. But, geez, where is it written that we have to say anything other than the name of the person, the authority of Jesus, the priesthood used and we anoint and confirm the anointing? If there is no inspiration given of the Holy Ghost, just shut your mouth and say Amen! How difficult is that? Here, I'll write it up for you: Part One: So-and-so, in the name of JS and by the authority of the MP, I anoint you with this consecrated oil. Amen. Part Two: So-and-so, in the name of JS and the by authority of the MP, we seal this anointing that you have received. Amen. To get so worked up over a cultural pressure to pretend you are inspired says volumes about Mormon cultural pressure. We need to separate the culture from the gospel. Please. I find it remarkable that the Mormon culture is so strong as to override scriptural mandates. If you had just followed the scriptural directions, you wouldn’t have ever minded giving a blessing. Of course, you may have left the church anyway, as you did say you doubted the existence of God, etc. But, geez, where is it written that we have to say anything other than the name of the person, the authority of Jesus, the priesthood used and we anoint and confirm the anointing? If there is no inspiration given of the Holy Ghost, just shut your mouth and say Amen! How difficult is that? Here, I’ll write it up for you:

Part One: So-and-so, in the name of JS and by the authority of the MP, I anoint you with this consecrated oil. Amen.

Part Two: So-and-so, in the name of JS and the by authority of the MP, we seal this anointing that you have received. Amen.

To get so worked up over a cultural pressure to pretend you are inspired says volumes about Mormon cultural pressure. We need to separate the culture from the gospel. Please.

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