4 Comments
Ben
1/12/2023 05:49:29 pm
I love the terms of endearment, "cuddable cankerworm" being my favorite probably. The Screwtape Letters approach to our hypocrisy, is the lesson we've always needed. Seems long overdue actually! Of course this could be a multi-chapter post as well. Nearly everyday I think of the Zoramites, with their Rameumptum. What more dangerous perch can there be, than that of "We're good to go, we're God's chosen people afterall and anything anyone says that doesn't reiterate what comes from the pulpit is obviously evil by default. Besides, 'even if we are in err, we'll take a few stripes and be saved in the end anyway'." By adopting a policy of sticking our proverbial fingers in our ears for fear of being guilty of thinking/feeling for ourselves (aka not following the prophet) we dig a moat around a burning house - distancing ourselves from all those who could rescue while not being able to even help ourselves. The Great and Spacious Building is a better example I suppose, especially given how closely it resembles our willingness to burn Abinadi at the stake if he doesn't speak to us flattering words. Fortunately, however, there will always be an Alma or two in the gallery "who hath ears to hear".
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Tim Merrill
1/13/2023 11:19:18 am
Ben, I am glad you referenced the idea of God beating us with "a few stripes"; that is, whipping us with a few wet spaghetti noodles and calling it good. I used to think that was talking about people who winked at their sin; but now I am starting to see that the most dangerous game we play is taking something sinful and creating it into a sacrament.
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Clark Burt
1/14/2023 09:43:10 am
Your creative gift shines in this dialog. I laughed and cried. Laughed because so well written and descriptive. Cried because it is true and so effective. The idea that devils study and search the Book of Mormon, and we do nothing more than occasionally read, validates how important that book should be to us, but isn't. It is written for our learning and benefit, and yet devils use it to cause the salt to lose its savor. So powerful!
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Tim Merrill
1/15/2023 11:36:28 am
Thanks Clark: you inspired me to write this after I read your Goodman Letters. I loved Boggs! Tim
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