Two Basic Questions

First Question:

If God personally directs each Church, how come religious organizations are the last to accept social equality—each person regardless of place or circumstances of birth with inalienable rights? Why aren’t churches leading in social justice? Why do they lag 20 years behind? And why do they file lawsuits that demean people?

“And he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile” ( 2 Ne 26:33) The brotherhood of man is literal. We are all of one blood and the literal spirit offspring of our eternal Heavenly Father. Before we came to earth we belonged to his eternal family. We associated and knew each other there. Our common paternity makes us not only literal sons and daughters of eternal parentage, but literal brothers and sisters as well. This is a fundamental teaching of The church of Jeus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Howard W. Hunter).
"Who, then, are our neighbors? All men everywhere who need our help. Whether they be across the street, across the continent or over the ocean, whether they be friend of foe - they are our neighbors, if we can help them. And we will not ask whether they belong to our family, or our church, or our country, or our party, any more than wer would if someone were crying for help from a burning buildfing. If they need our help, they are our neighbors." Elder Hugh Be Brown (1958).

 “Love is one of the chief characteristics of Deity, and ought to be manifested by those who aspire to be the sons of God. A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race.” -- Joseph Smith

I'm assuming that includes everyone in the LBGT community, immigrants, the handicapped, those who are sick and tired.

"Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: "But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." (Acts 10:34-35)

Second Question:

If God is love; how come the brethren are so mean to certain members who through no fault of their own are on the road less traveled? Why do they want to hurt those who are already hurting? Why don’t they listen carefully when people talk; show respect and tolerance for differences?

Our Church sends out around 80,000 missionaries to convert people to the Gospel. It seems to me that if they would just be kind to their members, everyone would see how happy they are and would flock to hear the Gospel. Instead, they control and dictate ultimatums for no good reason that rob people of their heart’s desires and happiness; making faithful members feel isolated, invisible, worthless.

Why spend $20 million (or whatever – much more than they reported) to block gay marriage in one state? How do Gay Marriages harm my family or the sanctity of the family?  After listening to a couple of podcasts, one where gay parents talk about the joy their adoptive son has brought into their lives and the inclusion of the birth mother and father into their circle of love; and another where a guy who was bullied throughout his school years and is now an activists for LBGT rights speaks so lovingly of all others. It sort of reminds me of the way Jesus was treated and even crucified, yet he spoke tenderly of everyone. Do you have to suffer excruciating pain and be abandoned to really be like Jesus? Maybe we can’t do it by just keeping the commandments in the comfort of our normal unchallenged lives. Disabilities, illness, accidents, and being born out of the norm are perhaps the refiner’s fire. Maybe they are the only ones who will enter the Kingdom of God. For sure, they will show us the way.

Rather than the religions of the world, the disenfranchised are talking about our need to be strong, to work together; to find empathy, regardless of age, skin color, handicap, sexual orientation or any other schism; with compassion and respect for each other. To walk in each other’s shoes. Shouldn’t that message be coming from God?  Maybe it is. 

Happier, Healthier, and More Creative

An obituary in the newspaper read: Our mother was a classy lady; always dressed to the nines. She never left the house without makeup, jewelry and perfume.

I’m 99.9% sure that I will not be remembered that way. I like to wear sweats every day; take pride in the fact that I can do my hair in 5 minutes—just gel, no blow dryer or curling iron; no perfume, minimum jewelry. Heck, I can do all my morning stretches in the time most people spend doing their hair and makeup. This one lady at the gym spends an hour, I swear, doing her hair and makeup. Gooey stuff on her eye lashes, eye liner, thick makeup, not to mention all the steps she takes on her hair. "Are you getting beautiful to go to work or to have lunch with the Queen of England?" I asked her one day. "No. I'm retired. I'm just going home." I told DeRay if it took me that long to do my hair and makeup after I swim, I would never go swimming. I'm in and out of the dressing room in 20 minutes, including a shower. I waste make-up money in other ways, like pills for my joints that may or may not help.

So how will my obituary read?

How will I be remembered?

I think I want to be known as a “Person of Nature”. Out in nature is where I feel the most content. Especially this week, after I listened to a podcast where Doug Fabrizio interviewed Florence Williams, the author of The Nature Fix, an intrepid investigation into nature’s restorative benefits. Why does nature makes us happier, healthier and more creative? 

For centuries, poets and philosophers extolled the benefits of a walk in the woods: Beethoven drew inspiration from rocks and trees; Wordsworth composed while tromping over the heath; Nikola Tesla conceived the electric motor while visiting a park. Intrigued by our storied renewal in the natural world, Florence Williams sets out to uncover the science behind nature's positive effects on the brain.

From forest trails in Korea, to islands in Finland, to groves of eucalyptus in California, Williams investigates the science at the confluence of environment, mood, health, and creativity. Delving into completely new research, she uncovers the powers of the natural world to improve health, promote reflection and innovation, and ultimately strengthen our relationships. As our modern lives shift dramatically indoors, these ideas—and the answers they yield—are more urgent than ever.

Humans are born with an innate love for other moving things and if we don’t cultivate it at an early age, we can lose it. The biggest exodus of all time is not only moving from rural areas to the city but migrating from the out-of-doors to indoors. In one study, 79% of mothers said they went outside every day; 29% of children spend time outside every day. That’s in one generation.  We have pivoted further away from nature than any generation before us. We are afflicted with mass generational amnesia. How can we get nature back in our lives in order to be our best selves?

They did a study involving tens of thousands of people, asking about their moods. Most people were most unhappy when at work or were sick. The majority were happiest when outside. It didn’t matter who they were with or what they were doing, they were significantly happier when they were outside. Being out in nature takes away stress, makes us think more clearly. Why are we spending so much time indoors away from nature?

Another study, they had people walk for 15 minutes in the woods while another group walked 15 minutes in the city. The cortisone, a hormone produced by the adrenal cortex, levels, which measures stress, were significantly lower in the people who walked in the woods. So exercise is not the answer.

Nature heals. Nature can elevate our immune system for up to three weeks. We are a part of nature; always have been; always will be. In the United States, we are trained to think that nature is something we dominate, utilize, change.  Instead, nature changes our brains and our bodies. When we are in nature, we stop taking ourselves so seriously.

We are not always the best judges of what is best for ourselves. For example, we think going shopping will make us feel good, or watching television; while under-valuing how good nature will make us feel.

Other countries have taken this more seriously. In Japan they have forest bathing. You just hang out in the forest, strolling or sitting; opening up all five senses to the woods; paying attention to what you are smelling, what you are feeling—feeling the breeze on your face. Learning to be mindful.  Smells reach the brain quickly – changing mood, changing behavior; invigorating us, making us more calm, less stressed, more energy; boasting our moods.

They locked people in a hotel room. In one room they misted with essential oils from the Cyprus trees.  For the other group, they sprayed water.  The group that were misted with essential oil had much healthier profiles.  

We were evolved to walk, walk, walk; to sit around the campfire and talk.

Air pollution not only affects our lungs, the particles go through the nose directly into the brain. Air pollution in this country kills three times more people than traffic accidents.

The dominant perception is sight. They did a window studies.  After patients had gall bladder surgery, records showed that those who were placed by a window with beautiful views of lawns and flowers asked for less pain meditation and were released from the hospital sooner than those who had no window or the window only showed a brick wall. Even observing nature through a window is beneficial.

Doctors are beginning to prescribe nature as medicine.

Our Park Service is putting dollars and expertise into getting people into nature.

Our own David Strayer has known for a long time that there's a restorative power in nature. The University of Utah psychologist is an avid hiker, but his latest research quantifies the benefits of turning off your technology and getting outdoors. After 4 days in the wilderness with no cell phones, laptops or gadgets, people were 50% better at creative problem-solving.

Actually, after only three days in the wilds, something profound shifts in our brains, suddenly we are getting ideas we’ve never had before. Five hours a month in the woods, keeps people from getting depressed and helps them heal.

Perhaps if I emerge myself deeply within the healthy healing woods, I will never die; no obituary needed.

Life after Death

What I really want to know is

when I die

where do I go?

how do I get there?

what do I do when I get there?

Literally, not philosophically.

I’m interested in Jack Spong’s views on religion and heaven and hell, especially in regards to my last blog.

Two of his reforms are:

11. The hope for life after death must be separated forever from the behavior control mentality of reward and punishment. The Church must abandon, therefore, its reliance on guilt as a motivator of behavior.

12. All human beings bear God's image and must be respected for what each person is. Therefore, no external description of one's being, whether based on race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, can properly be used as the basis for either rejection of discrimination.

—Notes from a Dr. Doug Fabrizio Podcast on KUER January 17, 2017  - “Biblical Literalism” John Shelby "Jack" Spong. Spong is a retired American bishop of the Episcopal Church; a convinced and committed Christian.

Religion is an evolving thing. The Christian church has trafficked in guilt for so long because that is the way you control behavior. Guilt is the gift that keeps on giving. If you make people guilty enough you can control them forever. I don’t know if guilt ever does anything good for people’s humanity. Primary message that comes out of church is that I am guilty. We’re always denigrating our humanity. I don’t believe we’re fallen. I believe we’re incomplete. I believe that the task of the Christian church is to help incomplete people become complete people; not to help guilty people get over their guilt by being punished. Life is holy; all life is holy; life is loved; all life is loved; and life is called to be all that it is capable of being. That’s not what we hear.

Dr. Fabrizio asked about the apocalypse.

The only place it is mentioned is in Matthew Chapter 25.

The questions are neither religious nor political. They don’t ask if you go to church; have been baptized, etc., they only ask, “Have you been able to see the Face of God in the faces of the least of these, my brothers and sisters?”

When you saw people hungry did you realize that to give them food was to give God food?

When you saw them thirsty, did you realize that to give them water was to give God water?

Because the only way you can serve God is to serve your fellow human beings.

That’s the whole standard of judgement we have lost.

Instead (and here’s the part that relates to my last blog), we have developed a heaven and hell: Heaven a place where God rewards good people and hell where God punishes bad people.

I don’t think those make any sense at all.

A modern parent would not raise his or her child on the basis if you’re a good boy, you’ll get a reward; if you’re a bad girl you’ll get a punishment. Because we know that’s not a proper way to raise children. That only fills them with guilt and inadequacy. Yet the Christian church still operates on that principle that good people are going to receive the reward and bad people are going to receive the punishment. I think we’ve gotten God and Santa Claus confused. Santa Claus is the one who’s making a list and checking it twice and is going to find out who’s naughty and nice. And the purpose of that list for Santa Claus is to give good presents to good children and coals or switches or whatever is negative to bad children. That’s just really immature. We’ve got to get beyond that kind of understanding of God. I see God as the source of life calling me to live; I see God as the source of life freeing me to love; I see God as the ground of being encouraging me to be all that I can be. The mission of the church is to build a world where everybody in that world has a better opportunity to live fully; love wastefully and be all that they are capable of being. That’s what our business is.

But you don’t hear that when you attend most of our churches on Sunday Morning.

Some of John Shelby Spong’s published quotes:

*All religion seems to need to prove that it's the only truth. And that's where it turns demonic. Because that's when you get religious wars and persecutions and burning heretics at the stake.

*I want the traditional family upheld, but I don't want it upheld to the detriment of other people.

*It appears to be in the nature of religion itself to be prejudiced against those who are different.

*Christianity is not about the divine becoming human so much as it is about the human becoming divine. That is a paradigm shift of the first order.

*When I grew up in the South, I was taught that segregation was the will of God, and the Bible was quoted to prove it. I was taught that women were by nature inferior to men, and the Bible was quoted to prove it. I was taught that it was okay to hate other religions, and especially the Jews, and the Bible was quoted to prove it.

*When I'm asked to define God, I'm almost wordless.

*I believe that is what the God experience does for us. It calls us beyond our limits into the fullness of life - into a capacity to love people we are not taught to love - and into an ability to be who we are.

*The Bible tells me that every life is holy; the Bible tells me that every life is loved; the Bible tells me that every life is called to be all that it can be.

*You can't have a world where 50 percent of the people are dieting and 50 percent of the people are starving if you want stability.

*The way you become divine is to become wholly human.

*If you begin to give people hope that there is a brighter future, there is a new tomorrow, then the people who were yesterday's terrorists become tomorrow's elected officials and they're part of the system.

*My basis of morality is this: does this action enhance life, or does it denigrate life? Does it build up or does it tear down?

When I first started thinking about my Mormon Heaven,

I could remember a podcast that I had heard that intrigued me

because of the guy's beliefs but I could not think of his name.

I thought I had taken notes but how do you find them?

I have the recent podcasts on my i-Pad so I looked there first.

I could not believe "Biblical Literalism" showed up. Has it been that recent?

At least I had his name, so I looked up John Spong.

My notes were in September 2016. I guess this was a repeat on January 17, 2017.

A coincidence? I would have never found him.

I've written several times about remembering as a child

thinking of Daddy up in heaven with green meadows and pretty flowers

while we were down here wallowing in the mud.

My Mormon Heaven

I dream of a Mormon heaven

Where we sit at Jesus’ feet

In a lovely green meadow

Surrounded by exquisite flowers

Of every hue.

 In family groups, where we meet

The ones who died prematurely;

Still part of our family.

No aches or pains.

No accidents or illness.

No guilt or remorse.

Energy and vitality abound.

Total equality, honor and respect.

It’s not called human rights;

It's called heavenly rights.

No rich or poor.

All are free.

Everyone is happy and smiling;

Peaceful and kind.

Love. Love. Love.

Forever and ever.

Well, maybe do a little genealogy

But I don’t see why.

Everyone knows everyone.

In the Mormon Heaven

I learned about as a child.

    On the other hand,

if one gets too many black marks,
off to hell with you,
where you are continually burning

but never consumed.
Worrisome for a child;
unfathomable.