Going Back in Time

This past week, I was able to visit the Crandall Museum in Provo, UT.  From the outside, this old-fashioned building does not give the impression that behind those brick walls lies the world's largest and most accurate Gutenburg printing press exhibit.  On the contrary, it appears to be an old house, but oh, how I was wrong.  As you enter the side door, you are greeted by four elderly gentlemen (all of which are experts in the history of the printing press).  At least two of these gentlemen had been printing with one of these old-fashioned presses since he was 14.  

The tour began in Europe with Gutenburg.  We learned how hard it must have been for him to create the press.  Trial after trial each led him a step closer to his final product.  He not only had to create the machine, but he had to figure out how to hold the paper, keep it aligned, create each letter, make a thick ink, create a way to get the ink onto the mold evenly without going into the crevices of each letter, and so much more.  This man was a genius!  He was truly inspired with what he did.  We still use the same formula for ink, and the same metal alloy to create the letter molds.  In these hundreds of years and with our technology, we have not evolved much.  It's impressive.  

After we learned about Gutenburg and the first printing of the Bible, we traveled "across the sea" to America to learn about the role the printing press had on the American Revolution.  It was the press that really helped the revolution progress.  Papers and pamphlets could be printed to spread ideas and news about independence.  Also, the Declaration of Independence was able to be printed and circulated.  

Nearly 5o years later, the press was used to circulate something of even greater importance, The Book of Mormon.  In lightning speed over a period of around 8 months, 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon were able to be printed.  This helped spread the religion and contributed to the conversion of thousands.  We owe so much to Gutenburg and his wonderful printing press.

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  My church is similar to most Christian churches.  We believe that Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten Son of our Heavenly Father and that he is the Savior and Redeemer of the world.  We believe that the only way we can get back into the presence of our Heavenly Father (and thus have eternal life) is through utilizing Jesus Christ's atonement.  

Despite this similarity, my church is actually quite different.  One of the major differences is that we believe that the heavens are still open, that God still speaks to His children, and that we can receive guidance for ourselves.  Closely coinciding with this belief is the knowledge that we have a prophet on the earth today.  See, we believe that the priesthood (or power of God) left the earth when Jesus Christ's apostles died.  Also, that the early Christian church corrupted some of the doctrines that Christ taught.  Because the authority to act in God's name was no longer on the earth, apostasy occurred.  There was still truth on the earth in the Catholic and Protestant churches, but the fullness of Christ's gospel was removed from off the earth.  This made it so that some sort of restoration was necessary.  This was to be a restoration of prophets and apostles, of doctrines and truths that were lost, and essentially of the same church that Jesus Christ himself organized during his short time on the earth.

We believe that the heavens were indeed opened and that Joseph Smith, an ignorant 14 year old farm boy in New York, was visited by our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ while he earnestly prayed for guidance.  Isn't this miraculous?  A 14 year old boy?  But this did indeed occur.  Joseph Smith was called by God to be His servant and restore Jesus Christ's church again to the earth.  Through the power of God, Joseph Smith unearthed and translated a record of the peoples that inhabited the Americas.  These were some of the "other sheep" whom Jesus referred to when he said, "other sheep I have, which are not of this fold" (John 10:16).  This book, The Book of Mormon, is too historically accurate and complex to be written by someone who had a third grade education.  There is no way that he would have been able to create such a complicated plot-line with different narrators and views that were contrary to the common views of his times.  This book was inspired by God.  There can be no doubt.

I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true.  I know it is!  I have prayed to my Father in Heaven, and I have felt the peace and comfort that the Holy Ghost can bring.  I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and that it literally was translated by the power of God.  I know that the priesthood has been restored and there are prophets alive today that give us guidance from God.  These things I know.  I invite you to learn more about them through LDS.org, mormon.org, the LDS missionaries, and even through your LDS friends. 

Jefferson's Government

Government exists to ensure that its people have all of their "unalienable" rights, and if it infringes on those rights, the people have the duty to abolish it and implement a new form of government. This is Thomas Jefferson's view of the purpose of government present in our Declaration of Independence. It is very interesting to note that he does not specify which type of government should be enacted. A democracy? A republic? Or, perhaps, a monarchy? Did he not know which type would work best? Did he think it was so obvious that it need not be said? Or, did he recognize the faults of man in implementing government ideas, so he left it open for the people to decide?

I'd like to think it was the last question. No one knows what he was thinking, but it's kind of fun to guess. Perhaps he knew that a new government would start off right, but then the habits of men would lead to corruption of that form, and thus a new government would be created. Maybe he wasn't that cynical (is that the right word?). Back then, there were truths that were recognized like honor and integrity that he thought would never come into question especially among the leaders of our country. Political positions were never supposed to be a career goal. They were supposed to be occupied by good citizens who were willing to sacrifice out of duty and loyalty to our country. I wonder what it would be like if that would have been the case. We would have elections, but not with all the hullabalooh of fancy campaigning and deceptive slogans and promises. I'm sorry to say, but I think I'm the cynical one here.

A Work in Progress

I'm not a very eloquent person.  I definitely do not profess to be so.  When I write, I try to write how I speak--trying to keep it as natural and as insightful as possible. :) (jk)  I honestly think sometimes I try to hard.  But why?  Why do I feel the need to be eloquent or even deep when I'm not?

I do try to be as real as I can be.  When I form relationships with people, I put my all into them.  I am just my awkward, dorky self all the time.  And when I say that I love someone--even in a moment of joking or humor--it's because I really mean it.  I feel such a capacity to love people--no matter how different they are.  It's not always been easy for me.  I used to care way too much about what others thought of me, and I would bring others down to be "cool."  (Oh, middle school, how I do not miss thee.)  I think back at the fear that I had when talking to some people because I was afraid people would judge me.  How stupid is that?  I can't even imagine how it must have hurt when I wouldn't say hi to people or when I would gossip or say something rude about someone.  It doesn't make any sense.  I don't understand the sick pleasure people get from mocking others.  It brings you, the person you mock, and all those around you down.  I know that sometimes I crack jokes about people, but I always keep it as toned down as possible.  I should cut it out altogether.  It doesn't help anything.  

I don't remember what it was that brought about my change, but I started to ponder about the kind of love that Jesus Christ has.  If you think about it, he is the only person who could judge others because he was perfect.  Nobody has any dirt on him.  He's clean!  Yet, he loved everyone with such a deep and powerful love that cannot be comprehended.  He never turned anyone away.  He never was too busy to talk to anyone.  When he found out about the sins of another, instead of judging or elevating himself, he was sad for him.  He felt remorse that one of his brothers wandered onto paths of sin.  As I pondered this, I felt such a conviction that this is the love I should have for others, and I worked hard to make it so that I could have that love.  I held my tongue when I thought of some joke I could make about someone or when I noticed someone's flaws.  I tried to go out of my way to talk or befriend those who were lonely or down.  I strove to lift people up and help them know that they are loved.  I haven't perfected this or even come close to the love of our Savior, but I must work everyday to try to emulate that love. 

I know that Jesus lives and loves perfectly.  When we sin, he does not say, "How could you have been so stupid?" but rather, he says, "I'm sorry that you had to suffer so because of your decision.  Let me help you get through it."  I know that Jesus feels this way about all of us.  He and our Father in Heaven love us with an incomprehensible amount of love.  Let us all work to appreciate that love by sharing it with those around us.  

A True Sacrifice

"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."

These remarkable words close one of the most famous and sacred documents of human history, the Declaration of Independence.  The men who signed this document, affectionately known as the Founding Fathers, pledged that they would sacrifice what is most dear to them for the cause of this revolution.  For many of them, their dedication would be tried in the worst possible ways.  Five were captured by the British and tortured to death, nine were killed at war, 12 were driven from their homes, and some lost sons in the war (Falwell).  Some of these reputable men died in rags.  Their literal sacrifices seem unbearable, but they never faltered.  

They don't make them like the Founding Fathers anymore.  How many people today do you think would hold true to the end when imminent death and ruin waited for them on the horizon?  I would like to think that the men and women who serve our country in government positions would be made of the same caliber as those in the Revolution, but I'm not sure.  Perhaps the leaders of today are strong in different areas.  I'm not sure how many would honor their pledge to the extent of literal sacrifice, but I like to think that they work their hardest to do what they believe is best for the country.  This may be an idealized and uncultured opinion, but I'd rather be idealistic than cynical in this instance.  We need to have faith in our political leaders.  And, if not in our leaders, then in that God who gives us breath.  We must have faith that His hand is somewhat in the government today as it most definitely was in the founding of this country.  

Falwell, Jerry. Recalling the Sacrifices of Our Founding Fathers.  http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2005/7/3/184018.shtml.