Posted on 04/15/2010 8:56:50 AM PDT by T Minus Four
Think of the Salt Lake Temple as a designer bottle holding a one-of-a-kind fragrance.
Think of the gardens and buildings of Temple Square as bubble wrap around that container.
Think of the City Creek Center to the south, the Church Plaza to the east, the Conference Center to the north, and the Family History Library and Church History Museum to the west as a firm, sturdy box around all of it.
When something merits that much protection, you have to figure rough bumps and bounces are coming down the road.
I get a feeling the LDS Church sees turbulence ahead -- nasty weather -- and it is making preparations.
It's not about being defensive and keeping things out.
It's about being protective and keeping precious things safe.
When the chilly winds blow, forest creatures gather all that's life-sustaining about them.
Horses in the fields cluster together to stand against the hail.
I feel the LDS Church battening down the hatches for bad weather.
The Tabernacle Choir, which was performing musical versions of Robert Frost poetry and other secular works, now releases CDs filled with songs of faith, assurance and the need to rely on the Divine.
I feel protection is the point behind the long row of sentries -- those Mormon temples -- that stand along the Wasatch -- the new Brigham City temple, new Payson temple, the new remade Ogden temple and all the others.
I feel protect precious things is the point of the new mission statements of LDS businesses, the point for books that are picked for publication and the lessons selected for manuals.
Part of the world would divide and conquer.
The church would gather and protect.
Something uneasy this way comes. Not a vilent clash as in Jerusalem -- where cultures fight openly. We won't be seeing stone throwers in the streets of Salt Lake City.
The battle here won't be about territory.
It will be about choices -- about the advent of a bolder, more self-indulgent popular culture.
The church can see the writing on the wall -- often literally.
And graffiti on the temple will never do.
It's time -- as the old hymn has it -- to "safely gather in, ere the winter storms begin."
The plan is not to force people away.
The plan is to keep what's on the inside safe from harm.
And if that means putting up ramparts and watchtowers, so be it.
Even heaven, if you believe the stories, is a gated community -- not to keep people away, but to safeguard the gentle hearts of those who dwell there.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- E-mail: jerjohn@desnews.com Jerry Earl Johnston chronicles his take on the Mormon experience in his column “New Harmony,” which appears on MormonTimes.com on Wednesdays and Sundays.
LDS people make wonderful friends, employees and neighbors. This is true. Enjoy them now.
>>Oh, Nana I am so sorry that you are to stupid to see that Christians are being targeted. You gentile. ,-)<<
Wow, that isn’t nice to call the lady stupid.
Some of us look at the bright side.
Some of us tend to be a bit more paranoid. I run on the paranoid side. But just because someone looks at the bright side of things doesn’t make a person stupid.
>>Oh, absolutely not. But unlike lds we call them out.<<
I’m Catholic. You see the fight we have. I WISH that they would be called out.
I've taken a look at your posting history...it doesn't appear you have spent any time on the Catholic threads, LOL.
Which version of the “Bible” are you talking about? You’re more cunning, I’ll give you that.
The religious scripture, which would make up the term “Bible” is not false. Interpretations of it abound, and each has chosen to translate in different ways. If we had a PERFECT record of it, then there would be no mistranslations, that doesn’t mean the Bible is false. I cited the article. It says there are mistranslations in EVERY variant. Does that mean they purport the Bible to be false. Nope. Sorry to shoot down your conjecture, but it had to be done.
Oh, that is so cute you don’t get sarcasm.
>>I’ve taken a look at your posting history...it doesn’t appear you have spent any time on the Catholic threads, LOL. <<
Truth be told.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is teaching its members how to stay strong and true to the principles of the gospel of Christ amid difficult moral, political and physical conditions that exist throughout the world. In this way the Church does provide protection.
I don’t see the Church hunkering down, though, waiting out a storm. I believe serving God means reaching out, not hiding out.
I apologize. I guess I didn’t get it. Must be Mombrain.
However, I didn’t call the lady stupid. I just want to make that clear.
“Oh, that is so cute you don’t get sarcasm.”
Ok, that made me laugh.
Well, that's what the article said: "I feel the LDS Church battening down the hatches for bad weather. "
But lets go back to the article posted.
My post #28: What a weird article. The paranoia is unbelievable. This lds author talks about protecting the “stuff”, I would say its more like hiding it.
I don't think so - I like Mormons very much. They are generally very honorable, forthright people. I'm not sure what your point is.
The article is about mormons not conservatives..
see ya over in the conservative threads...
Oh bad Nana...
I am clever. ,-)
LOL!!!
I’d like to see that census form!
Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them, because it is the Lord your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6
I’m seeing people being watched and arrested for their conservative beliefs. You may not like the LDS but they are conservative.
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I disagree with you on this. The LDS church has a great ability and history of adaptation. They have learned what they have to do to ‘get along’ after their early history. The genealogy thing with obama is a great example. They have enough money and power that they will make sure they are safe.
But I do see Evangelical Christians and conservative Catholics being in the cross hairs.
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