The King & the Feast of Tabernacles

The concern of this essay is the possible relationship between the ancient Feast of Tabernacles and the public validation of the king. Did Jesus claim to be King at the Feast of Tabernacles mentioned in John chapter 7? The evidence is slim and therefore somewhat speculative, but the implications are fascinating.

The Feast of Tabernacles

The Feast of Tabernacles was a seven-day festival in which all adult males were to report to the temple in Jerusalem (Lev. 23:34). (Many Jewish practices revolve around “sevens”). During the Feast of the Tabernacles sacrifices were given, the temple was lit up at night with tremendous lamp stands, the people were to dwell in booths or tents around the temple (Lev. 23: 42-43), the commandments were to be read and discussed from a high pulpit (Neh. 8:4), water was to be drawn from the pool of Siloam and poured at the base of the temple altar, palm branches were to be waved in the air while chanting the Hallel Psalms of mercy 113-118 (see Lev. 23: 40), and covenants were renewed.

At the end of each seven-year cycle, the king appeared in the Temple on the first day of the festival. He declared his authority, and read various passages of scripture. The Mishnah, a second century Jewish legal commentary, gives a detailed description of the proceedings:

Mishnah-tractate Sotah Chapter 7:8 (The Mishnah translated by Herbert Danby, 1933, Oxford U. Press, p. 301) [Some information in brackets is mine].
After what manner was the paragraph of the king? After the close of the first Festival-day of the feast [of Tabernacles], in the eighth year, after the going forth of the Seventh Year, they used to prepare for him in the Temple Court a wooden platform on which he sat, for it is written, At the end of every seven years in the set time … [Deut. 31:10]. The minister of the synagogue used to take a scroll of the Law and give it to the chief of the synagogue, and the chief of the synagogue gave it to the Prefect, and the Prefect gave it to the High Priest, and the High Priest gave it to the king, and the king received it standing and read it sitting. King Agrippa received it standing and read it standing, and for this the Sages praised him. And when he reached Thou mayest not put a foreigner over thee which is not thy brother [Deut. 17:15], his eyes flowed with tears; but they called to him, 'Our brother art thou! our brother art thou! our brother art thou!' He read from the beginning of Deuteronomy to Hear, [O Israel [Deut. 6:4]]; and the paragraphs Hear, [O Israel] … and And it shall come to pass if ye shall hearken … [obviously reading portions of the Shema: Deut. 6:4-9, 11:13 – 21; and Num. 15: 37-41] and Thou shalt surely tithe…[Deut. 14:22] and When thou has made an end of tithing…[Deut. 26:12] and the paragraph of the king [Deut. 17:14-20], and the Blessings and the Cursings [Deut. 27:15-26; the 12 curses are explicit and the 12 blessings must have been reversals], until the end. With the same blessings with which the High Priest blesses them the king blesses them, save that he pronounces the blessing for the Feasts instead of the blessing for the forgiveness of sin.

An alternate but compatible translation can be obtained in: The Mishnah: A New Translation, Jacob Neusner (1988), Yale U. Press.

The Paragraph or Pericope of the King

The passages most related to the king's authority were found in "the paragraph of the King” (Deut. 17: 14-20; also known as the King’s pericope, passage or reading). Those verses read as follows:

Deuteronomy 17:14-20
14 When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me;
15 Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.
16 But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.
17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.
18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:
19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:
20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.

Jesus in Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles

Why should Latter-day Saints concern themselves with such tidbits of historical trivia?

The Gospel of John, specifically chapter 7, is the only book to describe explicitly the visit of Jesus to Jerusalem during the Festival of Tabernacles. The events from this chapter presumably took place during the last fall of his life. By this time Jesus had agitated many Jews who considered him blasphemous for either claiming he was the Son of God or implying the same.

Chapter 7 of John opens in Galilee with the festival at hand and with Jesus trying to avoid enemies presumably in Judea. Jesus was encouraged by his associates to “shew [himself] to the world” (v. 4) and to attend the festival in Jerusalem. After some apparent hedging, Jesus sent his disciples ahead of him and Jesus followed in secret (v. 10). After all, the law required his attendance at Jerusalem.

As usual, Jesus headed to the temple once he arrived in Jerusalem. It was about the middle of the festival (v. 14), and he began to teach, no doubt from the scriptures. (Remember the Festival was seven days long and Jerusalem was crowded with people, especially the temple). Many in the temple marveled at his teachings (v. 15), and yet there were death threats (v. 19 & 25). His teachings teetered on the edges of blasphemy: “I know God; for I am from God, and he has sent me” (para. v. 29).

Is it possible that Jesus might have recited the “passage of the King” (Deut. 17: 14-20) while in the temple? Is it possible that in the temple he claimed to be the King and the Son of God? We do know that he was accused of healing on the Sabbath (v. 21-23), a violation (of kneading spittle) hardly worthy of great debate. We do know there was discussion about him as the Christ: “Would Christ do greater works than this man has done?” (para. v. 31). We know he was sought but not taken (v. 30).

In terms of John's chronology, the safety of Jesus was at increasing risk from the moment of this Feast of Tabernacles, where the WORD was out.

*****

Copyright 2009 S.Faux (Email: foxgoku54 [at] gmail [d0t] c0m; URL: http://mormoninsights.blogspot.com). Readers may distribute this post for noncommercial purposes provided such distributing is of the entire post, including author's copyright and contact information. All other rights reserved.




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WHEN YOU GET HOME:

Some Advice to the Returned Missionary

Our R.M., literally after the EXIT interview.

Preface: These are words for my sons, but they could easily apply with minor alteration to almost any missionary, Elder or Sister.

*****

Church service does NOT come to an end upon being released as a missionary. It just begins. Therefore, retain the spiritual intensity that you learned to acquire while as a full-time missionary. Continue to seek first the kingdom of God. All else is secondary.

Establish your life goals and aim to accomplish them. Life is like chess. You always play better when having a plan. Don’t live your life from “move to move.” Know instead several moves ahead. Have a plan, but also have the freedom to revise it and update it.

Life is mostly made up of a series of good decisions, some better than others. You have been trained to make good decisions, and therefore you will be blessed. There is no magic pathway to follow. God’s plan for you will NOT change because you graduated from a local college instead of BYU. God's plans are not fragile, and are not dependent upon the academic institutions, technical trades, or the honest careers we choose to enter.

Hard work is a general principle of life. God's blessings upon you will depend upon how you live, how much you pray, and the good works you pursue. Remember, you do NOT need to be a full-time missionary in order for God to work through you. Pray for the enabling powers of the atonement, because we cannot do all things on our own.

Latter-day Saints are asked to be a little different than the world at-large. RESPECT those you date. Respect the principles of marriage. Obey the covenants of the temple. Do NOT cross the lines of chastity. Sexual urges cannot be acted upon except in marriage.

Having a Temple Recommend will be necessary for you to fulfill your callings in Church. I do not presume to know how God will use you. I only know that HE WILL!!!!

Your obligation will be to SEE CLEARLY the things that others often miss.

You will have to SEE THROUGH the myths. You will need to deeply understand ALL the scriptures. You will have to understand the deeper intents of certain Church policies and practices. You will have to understand revelation. You will have to understand basic Church history.

Never think you are better than your brethren. Teach others, NOT with an air of superiority, but with an air of RESPECT.

Someday you will TAP INTO THE SPIRIT OF REVELATION, and you will find that knowledge can stream into your head. When it does, be prepared, be humble, and understand the lines of authority. No one in this Church is authorized to be arrogant, dictatorial, or derogatory.

My words are by way of advice, and are NOT to apply pressure to you. God's plans will happen by the grace of Christ, and we will be mere receptacles.

*****

Copyright 2009 S.Faux (Email: foxgoku54 [at] gmail [d0t] c0m; URL: http://mormoninsights.blogspot.com). Readers may distribute this post for noncommercial purposes provided such distributing is of the entire post, including author's copyright and contact information. All other rights reserved.




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A Postum Postmortem

If the LDS world cried out, then it did not cry loud enough for me to hear. Why didn't I hear? I just found out. I read the Church News. I read all kinds of LDS blogs. I go to Church each week. The Bishop never made an announcement. It wasn't in the Ward bulletin. Where did I go wrong? Obviously, my ivory tower is too high.

I am typing this message in shock, anger, disappointment, and fear. Why fear? I am afraid that I do NOT know how to survive this coming Iowa winter.

In case you were like me and you have not heard, then I have some sad news. Kraft Foods, Inc. has discontinued Postum. We non-coffee drinkers have been severely deprived of our rich, full-bodied, naturally caffeine-free drink.

Feel free to take a breather and perhaps even cry. Below is a marker for your return after your emotions come under control.

*!!!!!Return Marker!!!!!*

Embarrassingly, Postum was discontinued in October of 2007. I kept a healthy stock of Postum at home, and I just ran out. I could not find it in any of our local stores. Then, I did some Internet research. The result was just sad news.

In March of 2008 The Christian Science Monitor published this article entitled: "Can Postum fans revive their beloved beverage?" Frankly, the article does not offer much hope.

In memoriam:

On many a cold Iowa morning, just after clearing the sidewalks of snow, I had an old friend that could warm me up. Yes, it was my dear, dear Postum.

I made it a special way. I put a mug of water in the microwave and brought it to a boil. Next, I stirred in two teaspoons of Postum and a teaspoon of honey. Sometimes, I put in molasses or a pinch of cinnamon. Last, I mixed in 3 or 4 tablespoons of milk.

It is my contention that this drink mix cures all ills. In any case, it made a great placebo. It made me a better man –well, … at least a warmer man.

I put my friend away during the balmy months. It was a mistake. I should have realized that Kraft Foods Inc. was ONLY thinking of profit. I needed to support my friend by continuously contributing to the profit margins. Alas, I did not do a good enough job in keeping those store shelves empty. I simply took my friend for granted and assumed an immortality that it did not have.

(Readers beware: I am not interested in conspiracy theories based upon acrylamide toxicity, unless you have hard evidence and are willing to give up eating French fries & potato chips).

*****The solution???*****

The problem is what will be my substitute solution? What product can go to bat for Postum?

I have only begun my search. Pero? Roastaroma? Cafix? Teeccino? Are these drinks tasty or insipid? I know nothing but their claims.

Surely, there must be someone (anyone) out there who could direct my Postum-less paths?

***** Postum Script*****

Don't worry. I have no interest in drinking "decaf" coffee.

Even so, I have a question that will surely irritate my wife (which is why I raise it). What is so wrong with decaf, which has NO caffeine, especially considering that we eat chocolate, which is filled with it?

I should add that one to my growing list of unanswerable, irritating questions.

In any case, I plan to write and complain to:

Kraft Foods, Inc.
800 Westchester Ave.
Rye Brook, NY 10573

The letter will be something like:

Dear Kraft Foods:

We are freezing in Iowa. We need a good hot drink like Postum, which you unfortunately discontinued.

Please resurrect Postum. Otherwise, a large number of us faithful Postum drinkers will start our own food company with the mission statement, "Krush Kraft."

Sincerely,

An Unfulfilled Postum Drinker

*****

Copyright 2009 S.Faux (Email: foxgoku54 [at] gmail [d0t] c0m; URL: http://mormoninsights.blogspot.com). Readers may distribute this post for noncommercial purposes provided such distributing is of the entire post, including author's copyright and contact information. All other rights reserved.




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Key Doctrines in the Last Dispensation

Christ Handing the Keys to St. Peter by Pietro Perugino (1481-82)

It has taken us two years, but we Latter-day Saints are finally (and unfortunately) finishing the Priesthood/Relief Society manual: Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith. One of the last lessons, Chapter 44, is one of the most important. It teaches any number of important doctrines, but four that stood out for me are 1) the commandment to complete the Nauvoo temple (D&C 124: 31-33; 40-41) ; 2) the keys of the kingdom (D&C 27: 13); 3) the dispensation of the fulness of times (D&C 128: 18); and 4) foreordination.

*****The Nauvoo Temple*****

Concerning the temple, the manual reads:

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith: Chapter 44: "The Restoration of All Things: The Dispensation of the Fulness of Times,” (2007), 507–16
Nauvoo resident Martha Coray was present at an address where she saw the Prophet [Joseph Smith] stretch his hand toward the temple and say in a melancholy tone, “If it should be … the will of God that I might live to behold that temple completed and finished from the foundation to the top stone, I will say, ‘O Lord, it is enough. Lord, let thy servant depart in peace.’ ” …

Joseph Smith did not live to see the Nauvoo Temple completed, but after his death [in 1844], thousands of Saints received sacred ordinances in the temple… . After the Saints were forced to leave Nauvoo [in 1846], their beautiful temple was destroyed. It was gutted by fire in 1848, and in 1850 a tornado leveled some of the walls, leaving the remaining walls so weakened that they had to be razed. Some 150 years later, construction began on a new Nauvoo Temple, built on the original site. The reconstructed temple was dedicated on June 27, 2002, becoming one of more than a hundred temples throughout the world. Each of these temples is a symbol that the fulness of God’s blessings to His children, living and dead, has been restored in this last dispensation.

Large numbers of Saints were forced to abandon the Nauvoo region in February of 1846 and shortly thereafter. Regardless, work continued on the Nauvoo temple until the completed building was dedicated in May of 1846 by a small group of priesthood holders.

Why did these Saints invest their hearts and souls into a building they were going to leave in days?

The simple answer (among many possible) is that the Saints believed that completion of the temple was a commandment of God. The cited verses below were given in January of 1841 at Nauvoo:

D&C 124: 31-33
31 But I command you, all ye my saints, to build a house unto me; and I grant unto you a sufficient time to build a house unto me; … .
32 … and if you do not these things at the end of the appointment ye shall be rejected as a church, with your dead, saith the Lord your God.
33 For verily I say unto you, that after you have had sufficient time to build a house to me, … your baptisms for your dead cannot be acceptable unto me;

To me (admitting my bias), the Nauvoo temple is one of the most symbolically meaningful temples in the Church. The meaning of the temple was magnified when it was destroyed and then resurrected. As such, the Nauvoo temple stands as both a symbol of the gospel and a symbol of early Mormon history and pioneer dedication.

*****The Keys*****

The symbolic reference to "keys" is a reminder of the responsibility held in protecting access to something important. The term keys in the context of the Church actually refers to the presiding ability to act in the name of Christ.

The manual reads:

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith: Chapter 44: "The Restoration of All Things: The Dispensation of the Fulness of Times,” (2007), 507–16
The Lord declared that He had committed unto Joseph Smith “the keys of my kingdom” (D&C 27:13).

What were the necessary keys to enable this necessary Restoration? To answer this question there are two Sections of the D&C, 27 & 110, that significantly address the question.

Section 27 discusses the following keys (in order):

*** v.5: -- keys of [Moroni for] the record of the stick of Ephraim [Book of Mormon];

*** v.6: -- the keys of [Elias for] bringing to pass the restoration of all things [the teachings of all ancient prophets]

*** v. 8: -- [keys of John to] be called and ordained even as Aaron [the first priesthood];

*** v. 9 -- the keys [of Elijah] of the power of turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers;

*** v. 12, 13 -- the keys [of Peter, James, & John] of your ministry … [and] of my kingdom.

Section 110 discusses the following keys (in order):

*** v. 11 – the keys [of Moses] of the gathering of Israel … , and the leading of the ten tribes;

*** v.12: -- the keys of [Elias for] committing the gospel of Abraham [to bless all generations];

*** v. 13-15 -- the keys [of Elijah] to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers;

*** v. 16 – the keys of this dispensation.

What is the practical importance of these keys? When I come across such questions I often go to the writings of President Joseph Fielding Smith, a man known for speaking with great clarity (even though some of what he has said is outdated):

Joseph Fielding Smith, (1956). Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. III, p. 136.
[T]here is no man upon the face of this earth who has the right to go forth and administer in any of the ordinances of the gospel unless the President of the Church, who holds the keys, sanctions it. He has given us authority; he has put the sealing power in our priesthood, because he holds those keys… .

The entire history of God's people on earth has been a cycle between sin or apostasy and restoration, signified by an authorized prophet holding the keys of the priesthood. Joseph Smith expressed this concept in this manner:

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith: Chapter 44: "The Restoration of All Things: The Dispensation of the Fulness of Times,” (2007), 507–16
It is in the order of heavenly things that God should always send a new dispensation into the world when men have apostatized from the truth and lost the priesthood.

Even the great scientist and theologian Isaac Newton (1733) foresaw the falling away (apostasy) and the need for a restoration:

Sir Issac Newton (1733). Observations on the prophecies of Daniel and the Apocalypse of St. John (part 1, Chapter 1, last paragraphs)
For the prophets and apostles have foretold that as Israel often revolted and brake the covenant and upon repentance renewed it, so there should be a falling away among the Christians, soon after the days of the Apostles, and that in the latter days God would … make a new covenant with his people.

Did Newton have the right idea? Was he seeking the right course?

*****The Last Dispensation*****

One of the great roles of this latter-day Church is to help usher in the dispensation of the fulness of times.

What is a dispensation? The LDS Bible Dictionary says under the topic Dispensations:

A dispensation of the gospel is a period of time in which the Lord has at least one authorized servant on the earth who bears the holy priesthood and the keys, and who has a divine commission to dispense the gospel to the inhabitants of the earth. When this occurs, the gospel is revealed anew, so that people of that dispensation do not have to depend basically on past dispensations for knowledge of the plan of salvation. … The Bible suggests at least one dispensation identified with Adam, another with Enoch, another with Noah, and so on with Abraham, Moses, and Jesus with his apostles in the meridian of time. Paul writes of “the dispensation of the fulness of times” in which the Lord will “gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth” (Eph. 1: 10).

Why does this Restoration build upon all the basic principles of past dispensations? Like all previous restorations, it is essential for the members of the Church to be able to rely upon modern prophets with the keys to the priesthood. Further, the Church people of this dispensation are assigned the responsibility of preparing the world for the second coming of Christ. A full knowledge is essential to fulfill that responsibility.

Joseph Smith summed up these issues:

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith: Chapter 44: "The Restoration of All Things: The Dispensation of the Fulness of Times,” (2007), 507–16
The dispensation of the fullness of times will bring to light the things that have been revealed in all former dispensations; also other things that have not been before revealed. He shall send Elijah, the Prophet, etc., and restore all things in Christ. …

Now the purpose in Himself in the winding up scene of the last dispensation is that all things pertaining to that dispensation should be conducted precisely in accordance with the preceding dispensations. …

… All the ordinances and duties that ever have been required by the Priesthood, under the directions and commandments of the Almighty in any of the dispensations, shall all be had in the last dispensation, therefore all things had under the authority of the Priesthood at any former period, shall be had again, bringing to pass the restoration spoken of by the mouth of all the Holy Prophets.

*****Foreordination*****

The doctrine of foreordination refers to a divinely pre-appointed responsibility, the fulfillment of which depends upon faithfulness.

Joseph Smith explained the doctrine:

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith: Chapter 44: "The Restoration of All Things: The Dispensation of the Fulness of Times,” (2007), 507–16
Every man who has a calling to minister to the inhabitants of the world was ordained to that very purpose in the Grand Council of heaven before this world was. I suppose that I was ordained to this very office in that Grand Council. It is the testimony that I want that I am God’s servant, and this people His people. The ancient prophets declared that in the last days the God of heaven should set up a kingdom which should never be destroyed, nor left to other people. …

The official LDS Church web site says in its "Gospel Library/Gospel Topics" section under foreordination:

The doctrine of foreordination applies to all members of the Church, not just to the Savior and His prophets. Before the creation of the earth, faithful women were given certain responsibilities and faithful men were foreordained to certain priesthood duties.

Thus, even though the Joseph Smith quote refers to "every man" called as a minister, women can be foreordained too. Mother Mary was pre-appointed (see 1 Nephi 11:13–20), and perhaps even Emma Smith (see D&C 25:3). The concept of foreordination involves being pre-appointed and given certain responsibilities during our pre-mortal life to be executed in this lifetime.

*****Conclusions*****

This essay has been long, but it contains a sample of some of the doctrines taught in Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, chapter 44. The entire manual is a treasure trove.

The manual is inexpensively available to both members and non-members at: Church Distribution.

It is also available online: Gospel Library/Lessons.

*****

Copyright 2009 S.Faux (Email: foxgoku54 [at] gmail [d0t] c0m; URL: http://mormoninsights.blogspot.com). Readers may distribute this post for noncommercial purposes provided such distributing is of the entire post, including author's copyright and contact information. All other rights reserved.




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The Message of Neanderthal DNA

The faint traces of DNA in fossilized Neanderthal.

It is utterly amazing that DNA can be extracted from 37,000 to 70,000 year-old fossil bones. But, that is what Dr. Svante Pääbo of the Max Planck Institute has done. The fossil bones are from Neanderthal (also spelled: Neandertal), the ancient human relative often given the formal label Homo neanderthalensis. (Side note: for an interesting explanation on the spelling, see "Neanderthal or Neandertal?").

Is Pääbo's work flaky or solid? The proper answer is that the work is literally flaky (involving small bone flakes for DNA sequencing analysis), but the quality of the science is figuratively SOLID. In fact, Pääbo was recently named by Time Magazine as being among the top 100 individuals who is transforming the world. (An interesting biography of Pääbo can be found in the Smithsonian Magazine).

The ability to get DNA from ancient bone indicates that this molecule is HIGHLY stable and NOT easily degraded. One must wonder how far back in time is it possible to get DNA.

As a dead body goes into a state of decay there is a massive bacterial invasion. Neanderthal bones do not just contain Neanderthal DNA but also bacterial DNA. One of the great scientific contributions of Pääbo was his methodology for filtering out the bacterial DNA from the Neanderthal DNA.

Pääbo came to world-wide attention when he published a paper in the journal Cell in 1997 entitled: "Neanderthal DNA sequences and the origin of modern humans." In this paper Pääbo and his team analyzed mitochondrial DNA (which is inherited only from mothers) to show that there were enough nucleotide sequence differences compared to Homo sapiens to regard Neanderthal as a distinct species that was reproductively isolated.

Since that time Pääbo has been working on the sequence of the nuclear DNA of Neanderthal. That is, he is analyzing the main genetic material that is inherited from both mothers and fathers. This work has taken years and is not yet finished. However, Pääbo recently presented at the 2009 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) meetings in Chicago. These meetings are highly prestigious, and reports at those meetings are expected to be substantive, substantial, accurate, and important. The 48 minute long presentation is linked below.

Watch Pääbo's plenary lecture as RealVideo.

An abstract of Pääbo's AAAS presention is linked here.

I would summarize Pääbo's AAAS report as follows:

1. Neanderthal bones were sampled from four main age groups, ranging from 37,000 to 70,000 years ago.

2. Neanderthal became genetically distinct from Homo sapiens about 300,000 years ago in Europe and the Middle East (and possibly spreading farther toward China).

3. Neanderthal DNA differs about 50% more than the biggest differences found within Homo sapiens DNA.

4. Neanderthal and Homo sapiens do share the same language-related gene, FOXp2, which is not in the same form in other primates.

5. Neanderthal DNA shows very little variability across individuals, suggesting that the population derived from a very small parent population.

6. There is no Neanderthal DNA evidence of interbreeding with Homo sapiens.

Perhaps, it is worth noting that Neanderthal became extinct about 30,000 years ago. Theories explaining their extinction include climate changes diminishing food resources, the harshness of their hunting culture, and their inability to compete with Homo sapiens.

We need to remember that it would be highly unusual in nature for only a single representative of a genus to be living. For much of the evolutionary history of Homo there have been multiple species living sympatrically. Thus, the death of Neanderthal ought to be of particular scientific interest to us -- as we are now the lone representative of our genus.

*****

Does the existence of a distinct species of Neanderthal carry theological implications for Mormons? I do not think so, except in the broadest sense.

Paleoanthropologists suggest that Neanderthals were among the first species to bury their dead and to show some evidence of caring for disabled individuals. There is no strong evidence to link cave art to this species, but their tools (Mode 3) were quite sophisticated. Neanderthals were intelligent, showing evidence of planning abilities. It is conceivable that these individuals had simple religious practices, and perhaps they had a concept of life after death. It is possible they had a simple language (having the FOXp2 gene and a human-like hyoid throat bone) to assist their hunting culture.

Latter-day Saints need not fear the dinosaur, Neanderthal, or even their modern messenger – science. The bones of these ancient critters speak to us as anatomical fossils, and now because of Pääbo, some of them speak to us in the language of DNA.

Nature may sometimes mumble, but it does not lie. If scriptures are the manifesto of theology, then the ancient fossils and rocks are the manifesto of nature. Mormons should be open-minded to all good works.

*****

Below is a 10 minute interview that summarizes Pääbo's main findings. What do you think of Pääbo? Has he revolutionized science? Does his work have implications for you personally?

*****

Copyright 2009 S.Faux (Email: foxgoku54 [at] gmail [d0t] c0m; URL: http://mormoninsights.blogspot.com). Readers may distribute this post for noncommercial purposes provided such distributing is of the entire post, including author's copyright and contact information. All other rights reserved.




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Our Suffering Can Be Lightened

Tragedy is an unavoidable part of life for any individual who lives more than a few years. Pain is an indelible part of our existence. The issue is not whether we can avoid suffering, but how we should suffer when the inevitable falls upon us.

How should we comport ourselves as we suffer? What is the proper attitude? Whatever the answer, it must consist of humility, meekness, faith, prayerfulness, and compassion. We can transform the pains of life into good by learning from them, by extending our faith, and by learning to lean on God.

Latter-day Saints have a particular perspective on suffering. We see it as a natural part of this physical life that is important for our learning and our progress. Please do not misunderstand. No one is recommending that we should seek suffering. No one is recommending that we should go out of our way to find it. However, when the causes of suffering find us (as they will), then something positive can be learned.

Elder Henry B. Eyring expressed these ideas in the following quote, and I recommend reading his entire sermon (which is linked):

Henry B. Eyring, “Adversity,” Ensign, May 2009, 23–27
We all must deal with adversity. There may be periods, sometimes long ones, when our lives seem to flow with little difficulty. But it is in the nature of our being human that comfort gives way to distress, periods of good health come to an end, and misfortunes arrive. …

The good health and the serene sense of being secure can become to seem deserved and natural. When they vanish, a feeling of injustice can come. …

That aching for an answer to “How could this happen?” becomes even more painful when those struggling include those we love. …

My purpose today is to assure you that our Heavenly Father and the Savior live and that They love all humanity. The very opportunity for us to face adversity and affliction is part of the evidence of Their infinite love.

Sometimes suffering is a consequence of sin. Hopefully, such consequences will lead to repentance. But, we have no reason to judge those that suffer. Even righteous individuals will have times of great distress. Like rain, suffering falls upon all.

We should always remember the words of Jesus found in the Gospel of John:

John 9:1-3
1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

The works of God, to which Jesus referred, was the healing process. Jesus anointed the blind man's eyes (v. 6) and they were healed.

*****

Our job when suffering is NOT just to endure it. Our job is to transform it. We must seek healing. We should bless and comfort others who are seeking to bless and comfort us. We should magnify our faith. After the learning process, we should teach others.

Such ideals are easier said than done. I vividly remember a hospital stay of several days about 16 months ago. An ideal patient I was NOT. My frustration at being sick and stuck in the hospital resulted in my yelling at a nurse right in front of my Home Teacher, who was also the Stake Patriarch. I have been repenting ever since.

The scriptures are a balm. The scriptures should be used, if possible, in the healing process. The Apostle John expressed this idea as follows:

John 5:39
39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

We must learn how to seek Jesus to obtain rest:

Matthew 11:28-30
28 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.

We must learn how to cast our burdens upon God:

Psalms 55:22
22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

We must learn the benefits of praying continually:

D&C 75:10-11
10 Calling on the name of the Lord for the Comforter, which shall teach them all things that are expedient for them--
11 Praying always that they faint not; and inasmuch as they do this, I will be with them even unto the end.

We must learn how to keep an eternal perspective:

2 Corinthians 4:17
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding [and] eternal weight of glory;

As we suffer we can come to understand (maybe better than at any other time) the essence of the atonement.

Alma 7:11-13
11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

Our suffering will be lightened as we come to recognize the healing and enabling powers of the atonement. Christ suffered on our behalf, but our burdens cannot be lifted unless we hand them over.

*****

Copyright 2009 S.Faux (Email: foxgoku54 [at] gmail [d0t] c0m; URL: http://mormoninsights.blogspot.com). Readers may distribute this post for noncommercial purposes provided such distributing is of the entire post, including author's copyright and contact information. All other rights reserved.




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Naturalism is NOT Atheism

A new picture from the recently repaired Hubble telescope.

One cannot study science and derive the fundamental principles of salvation. I LOVE science. But, science has significant limits. Its messages CANNOT carry its followers past the veil. Passage beyond the veil into the presence of God requires something else. Messages of true salvation are contained in the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the temple, and in the words of modern authorized prophets and apostles.

Science encompasses a mechanistic philosophy called naturalism. Naturalism is the view that the universe operates lawfully in a self-sustaining manner. Some scientists, like Richard Dawkins, take this philosophy a step farther to argue that the laws of nature are self-existent, independent of any higher order intelligence, such as God. This step, however, is a leap of skepticism that merely impedes further knowledge.

Latter-day Saint scientists, like all others, wish to examine the lawfulness of nature. Adoption of that philosophy, however, does not imply that God is a fiction. Instead, our LDS religion teaches that the universe is dependent upon God as the creator and organizer that establishes and works within natural principles. Such a view is well articulated in a 1980 Ensign article entitled: "The Gospel and the Scientific View:
How Earth Came to Be," by F. Kent Nielsen. I do not agree with aspects of Brother Nielsen's account of earth origins, but I do agree with his religious embrace of science.

The mission or charge of science is to observe, identify, and translate the laws of nature. Some of the steps of any scientific approach include:

1) Making systematic and detailed observations of nature, such as identifying and measuring characteristics or behaviors that appear lawful;

2) Learning to control the operations of nature by making systematic changes in the environmental variables that are related to those operations;

3) Building models of nature that account for one's systematic observations and measurements.

As grand as science is, it is a limited system. It does not explain all things. It may even be invasive. That is, it is possible that we change the universe by the mere act of observing it. (Such a possibility falls out of quantum mechanics).

If God could be known merely by doing empirical science, then there would be no need for scripture. Instead, scripture contains ideas that surpass science.

How can we come to know God? Two verses of scripture come to mind:

Jeremiah 29:13
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Alma 43: 26-27
26 Now, as I said concerning faith—that it was not a perfect knowledge—even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.

27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

Scientists who have given up their search for God will not find Him. Instead, they must open their minds (and hearts), seek with diligence, and exercise the smallest particles of faith. Indeed, they must experiment upon the words given to them from scripture and priesthood leaders.

Science is a beautiful thing. I am a practitioner of it. I believe in basic geology, dating methods, evolution, genetics, physics, and so on. Those disciplines never subtract from my fundamental belief in God.

To me, God is nature, even more than nature.

*****

Copyright 2009 S.Faux (Email: foxgoku54 [at] gmail [d0t] c0m; URL: http://mormoninsights.blogspot.com). Readers may distribute this post for noncommercial purposes provided such distributing is of the entire post, including author's copyright and contact information. All other rights reserved.




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Anthropocentrism Falls Short

Anthropocentrism is the view that humans are superior to all other forms of life. The prevalence of this view suggests that maybe we humans have a maladaptive superiority complex -- an overly high opinion of ourselves.

Sure, the Old Testament says humans should have dominion over all other animals (Genesis 1:26), but maybe this ancient text is really informing us that we should take responsibility for our actions (D&C 121:41-42).

Chimps and bonobos (pygmy chimps), our closest living primate relatives, have populations that are reducing in size. Unfortunately, these animals are being extensively poached by humans in Africa.

Does the commandment to "love our neighbor" extend to chimps and bonobos? Regardless of how we might specifically answer that question, our moral responsibility to these animals is considerable.

The Bible teaches that all humans are biologically related to a common ancestor. Evolutionary biology generally agrees, and it goes a step farther by reminding us that animals are tied to a genetic code that cuts across species.

Humans have consciousness and a conscience. We are sentient beings with a moral awareness. Unfortunately, our violent capacities too often overrule those peaceful. But, it is a useful hope that education can overrule moral weakness.

Is anthropocentrism a moral weakness? I suspect so. It is better to embrace a broader view of the value of life.

*****Something to Think About*****

Humans have an average brain mass of 1300 grams (plus or minus, because each individual varies). The great apes have brain masses between 300 and 500 grams.

It might be tempting to conclude from the brain mass data given above that humans are more intelligent than chimps. But, chimps have some cognitive abilities that far outstrip those of humans. For example, chimps have a better digit span memory. Could that be true???!!!! Yes.

College students learn in their introductory psychology courses that humans have a short-term memory capacity of seven chunks of information. For example, someone can say a seven digit phone number, and the listener would have a reasonable chance of dialing the number correctly, if done within a few seconds. Larger digit sequences lead to failure. This finding is so solid that we sometimes refer to our memory capacity as "the magic number 7."

The magic number of chimps is something well over 9, and their memory appears to be almost eidetic. Thus, we are not as superior as we would like to think.

See the research of Tetsuro Matsuzawa at Kyoto University in Japan. The research is amazing.

*****

CONCLUSIONS: As humans, our moral cognitive abilities require us to think beyond ourselves. From our moral training we come to learn that selfishness is ultimately not in our self-interest. Our anthropocentric world view should be replaced with a high regard for conservation, our ecological environment, and all living species.

No longer can we argue that God placed us on this earth so that we can use it and abuse it. Both science and our theology teach us, instead, that we should (1) think of "others" and (2) clean up after ourselves. Anthropocentrism falls short of those ideals.

*****

Copyright 2009 S.Faux (Email: foxgoku54 [at] gmail [d0t] c0m; URL: http://mormoninsights.blogspot.com). Readers may distribute this post for noncommercial purposes provided such distributing is of the entire post, including author's copyright and contact information. All other rights reserved.




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Heavenly Enchiladas

A California orange crate label from the 1930s
depicting a heavenly scene.

I am in celebration. The reason is simple. A Mexican restaurant opened down the street from where I live, and it serves REAL Mexican food. The proprietors are from California, and they know what they are doing.

Don't Mexican restaurants always serve Mexican food? NO!!!! Especially, here in Iowa.

I hate to make fun of Iowans. Having lived in the state for 20 years makes me an Iowan, I suppose. But, despite the flood of Mexican restaurants into the state, the vast majority of them do not know how to cook a taco, let alone something a little more complex, like an enchilada.

Well, what makes me an authority on Mexican food?

I grew up in southern California and had plenty of access to REAL Mexican food. Of course, one does NOT need to grow up in that region to appreciate Mexican food. That's my theory anyway. But, I am amazed at what passes for Mexican food here in Iowa.

Have you ever eaten a dry taco with barely seasoned hamburger, a speck of cheese, and a dab of diluted sauce? Hopefully not, but such horrible tacos are prevalent here in Iowa. Ironically, they are made at a fast food place that calls itself "Tasty."

Now to be fair, Iowans know corn. The best corn I have ever eaten has been in this state. Californians do not know corn the way Iowans do.

On the other hand, many Iowans have never seen a fresh orange. In southern California I could go out my backyard and pick an orange off the tree and eat it. Fresh oranges are heavenly.

The tragedy is that Californians have destroyed their beautiful orange groves, and now they are consuming oranges from Florida – even if the juiced variety. The way the Californians are going, pretty soon they won't have the experience of eating a fresh orange.

All of which brings me to the Celestial Kingdom…

I suppose we all have our own ideas as to the makeup of heaven in the next life. I sure do.

Hanging in my house is an orange crate label that represents my heavenly vision for eternity. My vision involves a casa grande placed in the middle of citrus groves. In the background would be the Santa Ana mountains (not obscured by smog). There would be an ever so slight breeze with a scent of blossoms. Not pictured would be the enchiladas and fresh Iowa corn being served in the dining room.

That's right! In my California-based Celestial Kingdom there would be properly cooked Mexican food served morning, noon, and night. And, yes, there still would be a touch of Iowa.

*****

Copyright 2009 S.Faux (Email: foxgoku54 [at] gmail [d0t] c0m; URL: http://mormoninsights.blogspot.com). Readers may distribute this post for noncommercial purposes provided such distributing is of the entire post, including author's copyright and contact information. All other rights reserved.




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The Keys of Presidency:

Meaning & Samples of Usage

NOTE: This essay is NOT meant to serve any purpose other than to assist individuals wishing to begin their research on the important term "keys of presidency." This post represents my personal understanding of the issue, and is NOT a substitute for official sources.

*****

What is meant by “keys of presidency?” This is a term that is used with care in the LDS culture. The term refers to individuals who preside over essential priesthood responsibilities in the church. At the local level "keys of presidency" are conferred upon Stake Presidents, Bishops, and Quorum Presidents. Such keys allow a Bishop to determine and authorize when, where and by whom priesthood ordinances in his Ward can be performed. The keys are bestowed by setting apart, and are not conferred upon counselors. Keys are lost when an officer is released from his position. Although a former Bishop retains the title of “Bishop,” his keys of presidency no longer remain.

Officers in the high priesthood with "keys of presidency" should aspire to the highest moral characteristics. Those persons should show humility, love unfeigned, long-suffering, meekness, spiritual knowledge, the ability to reprove with love, and respect for differing opinions without compromising the truth. Those persons should be leaders in righteousness, prayerful, able to counter false doctrine (even to an uninformed church crowd), and should seek revelation and companionship from the Holy Ghost. Such individuals study the scriptures, seek the power of God when depressed, and routinely seek and find the peace of Christ.

Few individuals in the church are given the blessing of "keys of presidency." When it occurs, I suspect there has been foreordination. Such callings indicate that there is a work to be carried forth. Again, humility is the essential ingredient. Church leadership entails much hard work and sacrifice. Church leadership provides NOT a mandate of autocratic power, but a mantle of responsibility based in love for others more than self.

Below are representative examples of how this term has been used by authorities in the church.

*****

Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Shepherds of Israel,” Ensign, Nov. 2003, 60
We have more than 18,000 bishops in the Church. Every one is a man who has been called by the spirit of prophecy and revelation and set apart and ordained by the laying on of hands. Every one of them holds the keys of the presidency of his ward. Each is a high priest, the presiding high priest of his ward. Each carries tremendous responsibilities of stewardship. Each stands as a father to his people.

Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., The Way to Perfection, p.215
The bishop of a ward has the power to direct the members of his ward, for he holds the keys of presidency there, and he, acts both as bishop and as the president of the ward by virtue of his High Priesthood. Now, in his ward may live an apostle, but as a member of the ward, the apostle is under the jurisdiction of his bishop. For instance, should he desire to baptize one of his children, it would be his duty to obtain the permission of his bishop, for that is the order of the Church. The bishop holds the keys for the performance of all ordinances in his ward, but he may delegate authority for administering these to others.

Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, October 1937, p.114
We have a perfect order of Priesthood, because it is divine. It is not man-made. The Bishop in the ward holds the keys of presidency, and the power to direct and set in order all things within his ward. Likewise the Presidency of the stake hold the keys of presidency, and it is their duty to set in order and regulate all things pertaining to the stake over which they preside. The President of the Church holds the keys of authority for the whole Church. He is the mouthpiece of God. It is through him that revelation comes for the guidance of the members.

Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., Doctrines of Salvation, Vol.3, p.152 [Emphasis in original].
In the days of Christ's ministry he called the first apostles who were ever ordained to that office so far as we have any knowledge. He conferred upon them all the power and authority of the priesthood. He also appointed three of these Twelve to take the keys of presidency. Peter, James, and John, acted as the First Presidency of the Church in their day.

The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, p.66 – 67
The Prophet Joseph taught us that father Adam was the first man on the earth to whom God gave the keys of the everlasting priesthood. He held the keys of the presidency, and was the first man who did hold them. Noah stood next to him, he being the father of all living in his day, as Adam was in his day. These two men were the first who received the priesthood in the eternal worlds, before the worlds were formed. They were the first who received the everlasting priesthood or presidency on the earth. Father Adam stands at the head, so far as this world is concerned. Of course, Jesus Christ is the Great High Priest of the salvation of the human family. But Adam holds those keys in the world today; he will hold them to the endless ages of eternity. And Noah, and every man who has ever held or will hold the keys of presidency of the kingdom of God, from that day until the scene is wound up, will have to stand before Father Adam and give an account of the keys of that priesthood, as we all will have to give an account unto the Lord, of the principles that we have received when our work is done in the flesh. -- DW 38:389, March 3, 1889.

Joseph Fielding Smith, Gospel Doctrine, p.174
The apostolic office in its very nature, is a proselyting office. When an apostle presides, he, like the high priest, the seventy, the elder, or the bishop, presides because of the High Priesthood which has been conferred upon him; and furthermore because he has been called upon so to do by the acknowledged head of the Church. (Doctrine and Covenants, section 107:23-33.) And so with the high priest who has been called to officiate in the First Presidency, in which case he is "accounted equal" with the President of the Church in holding the keys of the Presidency (section 90:6) as long as the President remains.

Russell M. Nelson, “Keys of the Priesthood,” Ensign, Nov. 1987, p.36
Your stake president, quorum president, and bishop hold keys of presidency. Their keys control the power of their unit of the Church. Those leaders not only may call and release, but they must train and bear sacred responsibility that the mission of the Church be accomplished.

Rex Allred, “I Have a Question,” Ensign, Mar. 1983, p.67
A president is always set apart before the counselors are set apart, and he receives the keys of presidency over the quorum or the organization. Counselors do not receive keys.

Victor L. Brown, “Priesthood Activation,” Ensign, May 1982, p.34
The counselors in the bishopric have vitally important responsibilities, but they do not have the keys of presidency as the bishop does.

Dennis A. Wright, “ ‘None Were Greater’: A Restoration View of Melchizedek,” Ensign, Feb. 1998, p.30
Because Melchizedek served as the “keeper of the storehouse of God,” he held stewardship over receiving the tithes and offerings of the faithful and in overseeing their use in blessing others. Such a function is the same as that exercised by the person who holds the keys of presidency in the Lord’s contemporary Church—the President of the Church, the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator of the Lord. Thus, in this light, Melchizedek acted as the Lord’s presiding high priest in accepting Abraham’s tithing and in giving him a blessing.

Boyd K. Packer, “What Every Elder Should Know—and Every Sister as Well: A Primer on Principles of Priesthood Government,” Ensign, Feb. 1993, p.7
There are two ways authority is conferred in the Church: by ordination and by setting apart. Offices in the priesthood—deacon, teacher, priest, elder, high priest, patriarch, seventy, and Apostle—always come by ordination. The keys of presidency and the authority to act in callings in the priesthood are received by setting apart.

Harold B. Lee, Improvement Era, June 1970, p.28
The beginning of the call of one to be President of the Church actually begins then he is called, ordained, and set apart to become a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Such a call by prophecy, or in other words, by the inspiration of the Lord to the one holding the keys of presidency, and the subsequent ordination and setting apart by the laying on of hands by that same authority, places each apostle in a priesthood quorum of twelve men holding the apostleship.

*****

Copyright 2009 S.Faux (Email: foxgoku54 [at] gmail [d0t] c0m; URL: http://mormoninsights.blogspot.com). Readers may distribute this post for noncommercial purposes provided such distributing is of the entire post, including author's copyright and contact information. All other rights reserved.




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