Enoch's Religious Views

The Stake in the Ground … I need to take a stance!

The "Enoch" — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:25:22 GMT

For the past couple months I've been thinking about something very dear to me. This past year has been wrought with choices of change, voting for "causes" and people choosing things that are "right" over things that are "moral." Opinion has been running rampant over the web, emails and networking meetings that I have been attending. For friends who knew me in the past, you may come to find out that I have changed from when I was younger. Even during my youth I thought I was spiritual, but not very religious. It took me years of self discovery and meaningful research on what is "truth" to become the person I am now. And during those years I've learned things that I feel I need to stand up and speak out.

I've been thinking a lot about the saying:

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

Which has been attributed to Edmund Burke, however thanks to Wikipedia we know that it isn't his saying. Regardless, it's a saying that I have always liked and have thought about recently. Repeatedly this past year it has been impressed to me that in order for me to do what is right in this battle of "good vs. evil", I need to do something. I need to make sure that my beliefs are known and spoken about so that people can at least see where I stand. I need to put my marker in the ground and say from this day forward I will not turn my back on my beliefs.

The BELIEF I hold dear

I am a converted life-long member of "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints." To a lot of people that means that I'm a crazy, non-Christian, that has "temples" where secretive services take place. This is entirely NOT true and doesn't make me anymore crazy than a person with strong convictions about anything. I'm still the same nutty person that I always have been. I'm just a little more firmly set in the belief of human potential that other people. I wish that I could go into all of my harden thoughts on religion, science, evolution and everything else that is part of religion, but this post would be huge. I will save those thoughts for another time where I can focus my energies on those concepts. I just wanted to lay a little ground work about where my beliefs are initiated.

A CONCERN that I hold dear

I know that once someone says they are a member of any religion that preconceived notions start formulating in the mind. I ask this of any person reading this entry … please do not judge me by thinking you know what I stand for, without asking me or reading about it. Please ask me about my religion. Inquire about why I believe something and let me answer these thoughts and questions. My life is an open book, good times and bad, which I'm not afraid of answering or commenting, and I want to make sure that friends and family know exactly who I am and where I stand on everything to keep my sanity.

The STANCE that I hold dear

A number of items in recent months have greatly concerned me. It feels that we are moving towards a moral decline in our nation that we are not ready or able to handle. I firmly believe that a person has the right and choice to do with themselves whatever they want to do (Free Agency), but to make decisions for one without recognizing consequences is a HUGE problem. Should a woman have an abortion? It depends on the circumstance. If there are medical reasons that might endanger her and the child's life, then the option should be weighed heavily and consultation considered. But saying that abortion is a means of birth control gives me great concern. The problem isn't in the action of the abortion as much as it is with the action of intercourse. If you're going to have sex then realize that a consequence of that action is potentially pregnancy. The act of pleasing release IS NOT the result of intercourse, but an added benefit. So the fact that a majority of the nation is "ok" with the act of pleasure without the act of consequence is problematic. It appears that we have things backwards.

But that's just one thought on a troubling problem. And I'm just one person who can't fix things without people looking deeper into their own situations and coming to terms with their own issues. My number one stance comes down to consequences. Each action we have in this world has a consequence: positive, negative or both. There is nothing that we do that doesn't have a consequence. As human creatures we want to have things that fulfill our desires, wishes and wants. Those may not be the things that we need to reach our ultimate potential. We need to change our perspectives to be aware of consequences. When that perspective change happens something interesting occurs. The realization sets in that it isn't about me, but about others that really creates a world of happiness. The rules of consequences show that thinking about others allows us to grow stronger than we could imagine.

I hope that as we embark on new times we can look to the future and let the governance of our actions be founded in the consequences we perceive. By focusing our energies in that positive manner this new year will be great.

Reflecting on Gordon Bitner Hinckley - My Beloved Prophet

The "Enoch" — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 02:34:00 GMT

A great man passed away on Sunday. A pinnacle of spirituality that stood taller than his fragile stature would show at times. A person I never directly met, but whose influence made me turn my life around.

I remember a time back in 1997 when Gordon B. Hinckley was going to be on the Larry King show. This was one of the few times that a church leader had spoken out in such a public forum. I was excited to see what was going to happen. And interested to see what words of advice he had for a troubled nation.

My whole apartment sat around the television waiting to see what words of wisdom and insight were going to be said from the prophet of our church. I don't' remember much about the interview now, just a couple words here and there, but there was exchange between Larry and the Prophet that I remember and has stuck with me:

Larry - "How long have you been a member of the church?

President Hinckley - "All my life!"

Larry - "Have you ever doubted your faith?"

President Hinckley - (without a pause) "Never!"

It was the fastest response to a question that I think I had ever witnessed during an interview. And I thought silently to myself, "My goodness. I've doubted so often and struggled so long ... that is impressive that he could respond so quickly." From that moment on I have tried to build my testimony so that I can have that quick of a response to people. "Have you ever doubted your faith?" My response (without hesitation), "Yes, but I no longer do!"

Now I've had friends who've told me their problems with religion (organized or disorganized) as well as problems with spirituality. My past lives have not shown the strength in my convictions as my current life does. However, I am working at becoming better and stronger. The trick is to continue when it is easy to stop. To always pursue the excellence when common is all around. To work through the struggle when you feel like you should quit. With Hinckley's command of "Get your affairs in order" the struggle seems to lessen and the load becomes lighter.

I have had repeated chances to listen to President Gordon B. Hinckley speak, my beloved Prophet. Every time he has spoken something rings true to me and touches my heart and mind and helps me become a better person. I look at his accomplishments and stand in awe at what he has done. And I think to myself ... I wonder what I can do when I stop doubting? Even at 97 years old.

You'll be missed, President Hinckley, but I'll embrace you, and thank you, when we see each other again.

The Pureness of Pre-Missionary

The "Enoch" — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 17:36:00 GMT

This past Sunday I was able to witness a guitar student give his missionary farewell. It is always great to see people grow strong in beliefs, character and charisma; and this student of mine is by no means any exception to that rule. And I will say that watching him give his farewell address he had great poise and integrity that showed far beyond his years.

With that being said, there is something that I was a little worried about myself when I was sitting there observing the meeting. Elder Credille, my students name, spoke of testimonies and how one gains a testimony and strengthens his knowledge. He spoke of how a testimony is a witness of the spirit about truths, and that by desiring to seek truth and knowledge one gains those witnesses and understandings. This was all wonderful sentiments and thoughts, but I couldn't help but feel that there was an important thing missing for myself.

I'm going to admit something here that I shouldn't . . . I'm not a good person. I know that some people will dispute that fact and that other's will say "No shocker there!" The reason why I am not a good person is because I live amongst shadows of truth and belief and feel a lot more comfortable there then in the active spotlight. Oh, I'll hold callings and try to "magnify" them as best as I can. I may even go a little overboard in trying to be the best "calling" I can be. That isn't what I mean by living in the shadows. I think I live my life at times without being as active in my testimony as one can be and live amongst the shine and glow of those around me.

A little while ago, I was in a High Priest meeting with my father where it was mentioned that living your life shows how strong your testimony is. My problem is that I live that way too much. And, to return to my original problem, I feel like living your life without annoucing things prominantly doesn't make you stand out brightly. It is important to verbally re-enforce your beliefs. To hear your voice say the things that you belive and contemplate about what just came out of your mouth. Your testimony NEEDS a vocal component or else you are just living in the shadows like myself. Heavenly Father needs to hear it. Your friends, colleges and family need to hear it. And most importantly you need to hear it.

It's that reverberation in your ears that becomes important. It reinforces those actions that you live, but more importantly it puts those beliefs into the heads and hearts of others. A Testimony cannot live soly within ones self, but lives by the helping and upbuilding of others.

So my friend/student gave a great farewell. I would just add that, for me, without the adding of "shouting your beliefs from the rooftops" that we are not doing justice to our testimony. And as for me . . . I'm tired of living in shadows.

The Rated-R Decision

The "Enoch" — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 17:44:00 GMT

Recently I've made a decision to stop watching Rated-R movies. This has been a tough battle with me and some friends because I personally do not believe that Rated-R movies are bad. Sounds odd to say that, but I think that the MPAA Rating system is an odd system to dictate what is morally appropriate to view at what age. It's odd to think that a group of arbitrary people can define what we should or shouldn't watch. But this is not the place to fight or defend the MPAA. I want to explain myself.

Some years back The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints mentioned that people should stop watching Rated-R movies. This was a big issue with me because I didn't belive that Rated-R movies were bad. And some people that knew would condemn me over and over because I had Rated-R movies in my DVD collection or that I would go out and watch them in the theater. I had roommates who told me that I was being wicked because I would go to the movies and see a Rated-R movie about HIstory (Malcom X, Glory) when I would come home and they would be watching a PG-13 movie that was taking the Lord's name in vain over and over again. It seemed odd to me.

So I held on to my little viewing belief for a long time. Heck they show Glory during US History classes at High School and BYU? If that Rated-R movie can be shown why couldn't I watch my own movies?

Then came the edited movie craze. People could finally watch their favorite Rated-R movie in an edited PG format. That seemed odd to me. Now I know that it is nice to watch a movie that doesn't contain profanity, nudity and/or violence. But if you were worried about that to begin with why watch the movie in the first place? Did it really build up your life to watch the movie?

So I held on to my belief. Usually because the only arguement that I couldn't defeat with conviction was "The Church authorities told us not to." But then to watch those same people who would promote that arguement watch vile things just because it was an "OK" rating to watch seemed tragically hypocritical.

So why did I come to the decision? It has nothing to do with the Rating system. My thought was this:

My life is out of control!!!!

I live pretty much alone and have done so for a while now. I am self sustaining and have many things I can be greatful for, but I need boundaries. The simplest boundary I can put up right now is "No Higher Rating Content." I steer away from movies, tv, art, books, anything that can be misconstrued. The interesting thing is to take that time that was used to those pursuits and put it somewhere else. And sense I have a boundary now that I can guide myself against I can feel good about not steping into a grey world.

Does this mean that all Rated PG-13 movies are OK to watch? Heck NO!!!! I find some PG movies a little disturbing to watch. So what I do is research before I watch. Recently I've been watching a lot of kids movies. I just like to watch them to clean the soul a little.

So that's it in a nutshell. If you feel your life is out of control. Put a boundary in place and see what happens. I don't know if I'm a better person. I don't think I feel any different, but I do know that I no longer say to kids "You can't watch that movie" as often because I don't own as many movies that they shouldn't watch anymore.