The study of Mormonism is not just for Mormons

The requirements for earning an 'A' in Philip Barlow's religious studies classes include an unusual strand.

Students must teach the Utah State University professor something he doesn't already know.

"I find in my classes that if I do it right -- if I manage to convert my students, not to a particular faith or lack of it, but to how crucial the study of religion is -- it will change their consciousness and will therefore change what they see about reality," said Barlow, a professor of Mormon history and culture and the Leonard J. Arrington Chair.

"If I ignite or enhance their interest and curiosity, I find that many students are capable of teaching me things. I become a more experienced facilitator of exploration."

Barlow, a Bountiful native and graduate of Weber State University and Harvard University, was drawn from Indiana to Logan two years ago because of the uniqueness of the Arrington Chair.

"(It) constitutes the first full-time professorship at a secular university devoted to the study of Mormonism," Barlow said.

The study of Mormonism is just part of the program, which is the first of its kind at the university and in the state and region, he said. The opportunity to shape its beginnings was appealing, but establishing a balanced religious studies program in Utah is tricky.

"Because of the culture we live in, many people feared that the formal study of religion would tend to be critical of religion or of Mormonism in particular," Barlow said. "Others feared it would subtly promote Mormonism."

USU's program takes pains not to undermine or promote religion. Rather, it induces study about religion and the implications it has in people's lives, Barlow said.

"I was drawn here to create a safe haven where all legitimate questions are in bounds," he said.

According to Barlow, it is important for students, and anyone who wishes to understand human cultures, to study religion.

"The study of religion ought not to be only for religious people," he said. "All people would be better off studying some religion."

It's important to understand the surrounding culture, of which religion is a part, in order to be a competent citizen. For those who live in Utah, the Mormon faith is part of the culture.

"If you're an American citizen, America is a very religious country," Barlow said. "So, I learned along the course of my study, I had the opportunity to think not only about religion, but about education."

While not everyone agrees on its definition, religion still tries to "probe human beings' ultimate reaches -- their reach for meaning, their reach for how to live, their reach for the meaning of life that the creator asks of us," Barlow said. There are no questions more important than these, even for an atheist.

"You're not a fully liberally educated citizen engaging culture and exploring the social situation that you're in unless you try to understand religion and how it works," Barlow said.

"If you leave religion out of the mix, it's a little bit like playing a football game where a quarter of the players are invisible to you. You see people being knocked around, and you can't see what's causing it."

For Latter-day Saints, Barlow suggests that the formal study of other religions "helps one understand one's Mormonism."

"You can be a devoted, good, participant person with a faithful testimony, which is the essential thing for believers," he said. "But there are limits to how much you can see if you don't know how to get outside of it enough to look at it."

Barlow's teaching structure includes "unfamiliar angles of vision," and students can expect to be taken out of their comfort zones.

"I try to cast things in a framework to get people a little bit out of their native way of seeing things," he said. "It's hard to ask a fish about water because the fish thinks the water is the universe, the only thing that is. So, while minimizing distortions, I try to make the world look half strange, to tilt it on its side."

Probably because many of us who think the theology of the LDS may be odd, but the Mormons we’ve known are rock solid people who seem to do a really good job of behaving as a citizens, patriots and parents are supposed to...If “by their fruits you shall know them” is a valid yardstick then the Mormons I know have nothing to apologize for, and quite a bit to be proud of...

Hey, if you were applying for the position of godhood with a lifetime audition, you'd put forth your best face and walk, too.

(Or did you not know that one of their "beliefs" is that they are gods-in-embryo -- part of the "Future Gods of the Universe Club?" Do they "live their godhood" more than other religions living their manhood? For I'd say that's an entirely distinct line of standard-measuring!!!

Any theology is pretty weird if you don’t look at it through the eyes of faith, IMHO.

There's faith in what we don't see, but then there's also blind faith -- avoiding thousands of warning signs. (I don't believe we're called to the latter)

I’ve read Pearl of Great Price, Doctrine and Covenants and parts of Book of Mormon. Just had to go “huh?”...

Agreed.

So I could see ‘Mormon bashing’ as doing more harm than good; if you want orthodox Christian doctrinal purity attend the church of your choice, if you want solid yoke-mates in defending against and trying to roll back rampaging liberalism, hug a Mormon:-)

First of all, I frankly don't believe you can "liberalize" Christian theology any more than by declaring God wasn't always God -- and that you won't always be a man -- you'll join God as part of that great God council in the sky.

Secondly, I don't think telling the truth and hugging a Mormon is mutually exclusive. (Why would you think that is?) Doesn't the greatest Bible chapter on love talk about love's "marriage" to the truth? (1 Cor. 13:6)

Other than that, sounds like you'd lecture even the apostle who wrote most of the New Testament -- Paul. As Paul was leaving the church of Ephesus, he warned them with this high-priority alert:

"I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears." (Acts 20:29-31)

Tell me something, RedState: If you did something tearfully night and day for three years, do you think it's rather important? So what? We're just to conclude, "Oh, the man who contributed a good chunk to the New Testament -- what does he know about cultural priorities?" Was Paul just some stickler for "doctrinal purity" -- or do spiritual wolves really exist?

I'll take Paul's already-revealed cultural priorities to your liberalization of Christianity any day!

Yes, that's what I encourage as well -- especially the study of Christianity!

HERE is a good place to start!!

KJV

Galatians 1:6-9

6. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7. Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

ANYBODY???

Like this fine looking fellow???

2 Corinthians 11:12-15

12. But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
13. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Like THESE guys??

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/js_h/1/19#19

17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!

Ephesians 2:1-2

1. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

1 Corinthians 4:17
For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

1 Corinthians 11:2
Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.

2 Thessalonians 2:15
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

2 Timothy 1:13
Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:14-15
14. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15. And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

It's is MormonISM bashing - not ‘Mormon bashing’

THIS is what makes it PERSONAL:

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/js_h/1/17#17

17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!
18 My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.
19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”
20 He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, “Never mind, all is well—I am well enough off.” I then said to my mother,

“I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true.”

Probably because many of us who think the theology of the LDS may be odd, but the Mormons we’ve known are rock solid people who seem to do a really good job of behaving as a citizens, patriots and parents are supposed to.

These "rock solid people" approve the practice of the mormon church in denying family members the right to be present at the weddings of their sons, daughters, parents.

From another website and known to be the truth by FR ex-mormons:

"I am a non-mormon. My daughter was married in the temple while her father and I and her entire family waited outside.

This is the question I asked on the Fair boards:

(copied and pasted from the emailed response)

"Why can't I attend my childs wedding in the temple? What is the doctrine that
says I can't?"

This is the reply:

I am a FAIR volunteer who helps respond to inquiries such as yours. I alone
am responsible for what I write.

To be perfectly honest, I cannot say why you could not attend your child's
sealing in the temple (note, I did not say "wedding" as this is a sectarian
event that is temporary and not eternal like a sealing), because I don't
know your circumstances. However, I can perhaps give you some guidance on
how you might be able to participate.

First, some background. Temple ordinances are of such a sacred nature that
they are performed in the temple specifically because of the nature of the
covenants and the preparatory events that lead up to them. In the case of a
sealing, your son or daughter goes through ordinances that precede the
sealing in a specific succession whereby they make covenants of obedience to
God, sacrifice, morality and loyalty, and consecration. This is because
these covenants are necessary for one to be able to live in the presence of
our Father in Heaven as a joint heir with Christ in the sense that they can
inherit all that the Father has, and are therefore required before a couple
can be sealed together. The sealing ordinance therefore is a culminating act
that brings these other ordinances into full purpose and enables the couple
to covenant with God and each other such that they can receive promises of
eternal roles as husband and wife, or father and mother. It is the sealing
that gives to individuals and couples the ability to return to Heavenly
Father qualified to inherit all he has.

Because of the eternal consequence of the covenants made, the ordinances are
only allowed in buildings dedicated and consecrated to perform them. Temples
are these buildings. Given that no unclean thing can enter in the presence
of God, which the temple symbolizes, there are preparatory requirements to
enter the temples. In short, you must make and keep covenants outside the
temple before you are allowed to participate. This includes participating as
a witness or bystander.

So, what you have is a series of sacred ordinances performed inside the
temple that lead to the sealing of a man to a woman and the woman to the man
such that they are eternally husband and wife. This is precipitated by
making and keeping covenants outside the temple so that you can be prepared
to enter and participate in the ordinances that effect the greater
covenants.

What you need to do to qualify for admission to the temple is that you must
first be a baptized member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints for at least one year. You must then receive a temple recommend from
your local Bishop, who by his signature and yours, you signify that you are
living up to certain moral standards, and that you honor and sustain those
who control the priesthood keys held by the leaders that govern the
performance of the ordinances. This means that you live what is called the
Law of Chastity (you live by specific standards of moral fidelity), that you
live the Word of Wisdom (a code of health), that you keep baptismal
covenants by serving your fellow man, that you give of your means to the
furtherance of God's work by tithing, that you sustain the current president
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the only one
authorized to control the keys that govern the ordinances and therefore the
covenants of the Temple, and that you do not associate or sympathize with
those who have left the Church and might mock or belittle the covenants and
ordinances of the temple. If you can affirm all of the above, then you can
indeed participate in the sacred ordinance of a Temple sealing.

What is sometimes heart breaking is that some parents, family members, and
friends are not able to qualify as described above, so they are precluded
from participating in the sacred ceremony when someone they know is being
sealed in the temple. I suspect this is the case of what you are facing.
While I sympathize with your sense of exclusion, what is important to
understand is that your child, by being sealed in the temple, is laying
claim to the greatest of blessings God offers a man or woman on this Earth.
They are reaching for the greatest that Heavenly Father can offer them. I
know from experience that it is heart wrenching to decide to be sealed in
the temple in the place of a secular ceremony, but as a firm believer in the
ordinances of the temple, it is the best decision to be made.

I hope that you can show compassion and understanding towards your child and
participate in what is a day for them more than anything. It is the day that
they start an eternal family. Temporal concerns should be secondary for
them, and you would do well in your relationship with them to sustain them
in their desires to make these sacred, eternal covenants. If you are on your
way to qualification (ie. You have been a member for more than a year), you
should speak with your Bishop to see what you can or should do to qualify to
participate within the temple. The process of qualifying alone will bless
you personally, and will make the day so much more special to your son or
daughter.

Kindest regards,

John L.

The "UNCLEAN" parents are forbidden to share one of the most important events in their child's life. Yeah, that's a "rock solid" demand by mormon leaders. BUT the parents and other family members are allowed to wait outside and take part in the wedding pictures....how compassionate!

What matters to me is where does someone stand on upholding the Constitution; they can make offerings to Zeus or read Aleister Crowley for all I care if they have their head on straight regarding keeping the government of the United States in line with what the founding fathers intended.

Well, when it comes to setting cultural priorities, who are we going to follow?

"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him." (Luke 12:4-5)

So does Jesus say, "fear those who will alter your country's constitution?" (No) Or, does He say to exercise fear of the One who has authority to cast somebody into hell? (Yes) So, indeed, our "fear" is on behalf of those who are placing their eternal spiritual lives at risk.

Any eternal ramifications are purely the responsibility of the individual.

Well, that's what the cross was all about to begin with -- a man-God suffering death, shame, and the pangs of hell (separation from God) -- so that we wouldn't have to carry our impossible burden before God.

We don't live in a solo universe. To want heaven for others is no evil you make it to be.

Besides, if you were at all consistent, & applied what you believed within the posts of this thread to LDS, you'd be upbraiding them for sending out 60,000 missionaries around the world. You'd be saying to them, So I could see ‘Christian bashing’ [calling all Christians "apostates," for example -- as LDS do] as doing more harm than good; if you want orthodox Mormon doctrinal purity attend the church of your choice.

Or you'd make your "eternal ramifications" and "What someone believes is between them and their God, or Gods" comments to the Mormon-sending families of 60,000 missionaries.

Since you don't, your inconsistencies stands out like a neon light.

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