Casting Criteria

For as long as I can remember, the First Presidency of the Church has had a letter read in sacrament meeting prior to elections. It always stated the church’s neutral position toward particular candidates, while encouraging members to be actively involved in the political process.

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Sadly, when I first became an adult, I performed that duty rather ignorantly. I would enter the voting booth, recognize a name that I had seen on a sign somewhere, and fill in the little circle. I guess I never realized that the voting for government leaders was not quite the same as the popularity contests that took place in high school.

In discussions afterwards, I would hear about who other people voted for and I was surprised by the depth of the reasons they gave for supporting said candidate. I have to admit, I felt sheepish about the fact that I didn’t know any of the platforms prior to Election Day and vowed I would do better next time. Sometimes that once a year duty would still sneak up on me without any type of adequate preparation. Sometimes I would quickly interrogate my husband who he was voting for and why – just to see if I agreed with his logic and so I’d have a name in mind before entering the booth. It was easier than my having to research it out on my own and it eased my conscious a bit. 

Then one day, a friend mentioned that we would be answerable for the votes we cast in elections. I guess that stands to reason when you consider all our thoughts, words, and deeds will be before us on judgement day. 

I already believed the constitution was an inspired document… every bit as much as the Ten Commandments - and Heavenly Father raised up the founding fathers for the very purpose of framing that document and this nation. A free nation was required for the restoration of the church. 

But what I didn’t know was the degree of importance that was placed on preserving the principles outlined within that document. David O. McKay said,

“Next to being one in worshipping God, there is nothing in this world upon which this church should be more united than in upholding and defending the Constitution of the United States”. 

Later he added, “If members of the Melchizedek Priesthood allow the U.S. Constitution to be destroyed, they not only forfeit their rights to the Priesthood, but to a place in his highest degree of glory.”

 

Obviously, the Lord does not tolerate our looking lightly on the government he established nor on our responsibility to maintain it. Ezra Taft Benson said,

“As important as are all other principles of the gospel, it was the freedom issue which determined whether you received a body. To have been on the wrong side of the freedom issue during the war in heaven meant eternal damnation. 

How then can latter-day Saints expect to be on the wrong side in this life and escape eternal consequences? The war in heaven is raging on earth today. The issues are the same: ‘Shall men be compelled to do what others claim is for their best welfare’ or will they heed the counsel of the prophet and preserve their freedom?”

WOW! Can you imagine during the war in heaven not really paying attention to the platform outlined by the two leading candidates – Jehovah and Lucifer. And when election day came – we choose the one who we think is the most popular, 

    or the one who my neighbor supported. 

          or the one who had the most professional looking campaign or media support, 

               or the one who used the most flattering language, 

                    or the one that had the appearance of compassion for my well-being, 

                         or the one who looked the part of a Savior, 

I think the list of lame excuses for casting a vote are endless. That little image alone is enough to cause one to re-evaluate their criteria for casting a vote.  I agree it is very important to engage in our right to vote in this great nation..., however, the criteria for choosing the best candidate may need to be just as important. 

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Agency (Freedom), or whomever best supports the principles outlined in the Constitution, was the very measure for whom Father chose to carry out his leadership here. So I suppose that standard is good enough for me when determining whom I will vote for. 

I am looking forward to casting my vote in the elections this year. As is often the case, my preferred candidate is not without character flaws and may not execute his leadership completely to my liking. It is obvious He is not my Savior. But I am confident, of the candidates running and who have a chance of winning, he is the one that will uphold, protect, and preserve the principles of freedom that are provided through our God-given Constitution. And that is where my vote will go. 

Playing the Game of School

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 I feel like I just completed an escape house challenge. Two years ago, I barricaded myself into a system that would occupy all my mental facilities as well as all my time. In order to open the (2-3 credit) locks, I had to solve the mysterious code (or the to-do’s) that were assigned and look to the rubric and class outline as the clue.  Everything was fabricated ahead of time and I was guided to discover or experience exactly what was wanted. Although the time limit of two years was maybe self-imposed - though highly recommended - it definitely added to the pressure (and anxiety) to stay laser focused. 

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The Grad planner was my master strategy plan similar to the games of Risk or Catan. As I strategically placed courses where I wanted them to become the champion in the end. Sometimes I would be prevented at accomplishing the task by courses not being offered or even the desired teacher or offered class time not coordinating with my master plan.

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The choosing classes to take were similar to a matching type game such as go-fish, Concentration, or Apples to Apples. Enrolling in classes that I think would provide me with the skills and knowledge that I sought. Sometimes I would find out, either at the end of the semester or prior to the dropping the class deadline, that a few of the areas for which I was seeking were not exactly the match I needed. Then I could seek it somewhere else. However, on the most part, the knowledge gained was valuable insight and close enough of a match (Adjectives to nouns) that I was counted as the winner. And so I was able to continue looking for a match in the next class.

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Many students seem to be playing the game of Monopoly, through their constantly changing their majors and accumulating more than necessary credits for their exit ticket. Trusting that somewhere down the line the information will come in handy and pay back some type of reward.

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Then there are the cut-throat games such as Sorry or Chess. This aspect of the game of school affected all the other people and pursuits, other than my list of required assignments, which were put on hold during my enrollment in a course. If something got in my way, I simply sent them back to home (on a back burner) or put them at a significant disadvantage (neglect until more convenient) in order to accomplish my objective of getting the degree. The other players in my life became the temporary enemy and game ethics took affect on what was otherwise harmonious interactions.

image from dadsgamingaddiction.com

Cooperative type games like Forbidden Island is like the group meetings, where other students meet in order to, first of all, get a checkmark, and second, help each other understand the content. I would have to add here, the biggest cooperative assets were the teachers. Some greater than others, but for the most part, the teachers were very helpful in assisting and clarifying content in order for the student to meet the objective that has been placed before them.

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For most of my schooling experience, I felt like I was playing Cash Flow where I was stuck in the rat race - going in circles, again and again. Each time it was my turn, I moved forward with each checkmark, only to realize I was repeating the same path the next week or next semester. In a particular course, once the pattern of the class became identified, it became redundant. Between the courses, once a new class began, the similarities to the other class quickly became apparent. The advantage to this was it became familiar, predictable, and increased the ease of movement, but made it difficult to feel there was any type of headway out of the cycle.

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And now I am done with the game of school. My status has been changed from Scum to President or from student to graduate. The game was fun (at times) and suspenseful and challenging and had elements of victory. But IT WAS ONLY A GAME. Yes…, I learned a lot and gained exposure. Though I still have the learning of application.  For now,  I have been declared the winner and it is time to put the gamified educational pieces back in the box and put it on the shelf in order to engage in the real educational experience of life. 

Speaking the Language of Religion

A number of years ago, I attended a book colloquia that helped me to identify something about myself that I hadn’t really noticed before. I don’t recall the book we were discussing but my aha really had nothing to do with the message found within the pages of the book.

One person in the group made a somewhat lengthy comment about an insight she had gained while reading the book. Again, I don’t remember the comment though I do recall the feeling associated behind her comment. It was very touchy-feely with words like ‘connecting with their heart’ and ‘communicating to the inner child’ or ‘gain access to the passions inside the soul’. I may be completely off but I recall it had that type of emotion behind it.

Shortly after, another comment was made but this time the background of the comment came from a religious perspective or angle – such as referencing ‘the true self’ or ‘remembering who they were in the pre-existence’ or ‘have the Holy Ghost speak to their spirit’, etc. Again, I may be way off, however the comment definitely had a spiritual or religious undertone to it.

The irony was as I analyzed those two different comments, they basically had expressed the exact same idea – the only difference being the style in which they presented it. Although I was intrigued by the first comment (touchy-feely) - it had merit and perspective that was worthy of consideration - however, when the second comment was made (religious verbiage), I resonated with it at a much deeper level of understanding. What I discovered about myself …? Similar to the fact that I am a visual learner, an introvert, or a #3 energy type - religion is my preferred language.  

On the same note, revelation is my preferred epistemology. If you talk to me about ‘studies have shown’ (imperisism) or ‘officials state’ (mandarinism) or ‘experts suggest’ (credentialism), I may or may not buy into whatever you are trying to communicate. In fact, I’ve seen these forms of evidence abused so much in comparison to what I view as the ultimate source of truth, that they really carry very little weight in my mind. However, if you tell me you had an impression, or quote one of the general authorities, or mention a scripture – I am much more easily persuaded to believe and act accordingly.

The irony, of course, is we live in a time when religion is under attack, and so my preferred voice may not be well received by others. I do find it interesting that avid anti-religionists shout about how oppressed people have been under the “reign of religion” and how much better they are now that “science” and “reason” have liberated them. I feel just the opposite. I am “offended” that religious expression is taken out of our schools and our government. And since science cannot “prove” anything (it can only disprove), and the interpretation of the ‘disproof’ can be twisted to whatever agenda they are wanting to promote, I question scientific backing. It just isn’t my preferred style of language.

I sometimes wonder how First Foundations Academy, with its emphasis on scriptural backing and defending the exercise of religion in the context of secular knowledge, can ever become a reality. What if I’m the only one who speaks that jargon? I also wonder how to create it without it being considered priestcraft due to the religious undertones and the need to be funded in order to function. There are still lots of questions in regard to my efforts to follow this prompting.

This much I do know. I know that we are experiencing and carrying out the great plan of Happiness. I know the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and eternal (beyond the academic trends of the day). I know that pure gospel has been restored and we live in the fullness right now.  I know I want to have a personal relationship with my Savior and follow the specific guidance I receive through the spirit.

And I know that my preferred vocabulary is the one that supports these truths the best. No disguise or universal generalities needed. No separation of secular truths from spiritual truths. No need to give my allegiance to Babylon when the invitation of Zion is before me. If religious verbiage is good enough for Heavenly Father to establish and promote, it is good enough for me to support in my usage. I speak religion.

Principles of Teaching in Zion

I’m confused... Uncertain... Wavering...

I just spent an entire semester studying the Principles of Teaching and Assessment. Since the class was in a private school, based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I somewhat expected the class format to be a little different than it turned out to be. The term “principle” had me excited because it is synonymous with truth - little packets of ‘general truth’ or ‘foundational proof’ which other truths can be built upon (Noah Webster 1828 Dictionary). I was excited to identify the core of the matter and be clear what principles were established by the Lord in regard to teaching.

What I found was...

Insightful…oh yeah.
Logical…absolutely.
Professional…yes, sir.
Scientifically supported… theoretically (puns intended).
There was even scriptural support.

Though I’m not sure I gained what I had hoped to attain. In fact, as so often seems to happen in higher education, I feel my very foundation may have been a little shaken. Now I understand that the purpose of the class was to prepare teacher-candidates to be able to work in the public schools and therefore, it would require concepts such as common core standards, testing, professional responsibilities, and technology to be included in the content and of course it had to be backed up by scientific research.  The University had standards in which it had to follow and conform to as well as public schools. I have to admit the content and presentation was really quite eye-opening and I was able to receive invaluable resources. Frequently, I left the classroom completely convinced that what I heard was true – unfortunately, it was in direct contrast to what I believed prior to entering the classroom.

For over 20 years, I have home educated my children with the absolute assurance that many aspects of the public school were not only unnecessary but could be harmful to the spiritual as well as academic well-being of the child. Now that I’ve heard the arguments, background, and logical reasoning for many of those aspects, I am unsure exactly where I stand.  And that is a very uncomfortable place to be.

I decided to immerse myself in the scriptures (as our prophet counseled) and search myself for the principles established by Heavenly Father. Apparently, the Lord has never endorsed the current application of the separation of church and state. Besides, it is impossible to do so as I pointed out HERE - Indivisible Education.

The following is an outline of the scriptures I found put into categories. Of course, this is only a starting point and will require additional studying and pondering to get a firm grasp on the principle. 

Principles of Teaching

Status Warning -
*Teaching/Example is either least or greatest in Kingdom of heaven – [pending content] (Matt 5:19)
*Trust no man to be your teacher except he be a man of God (Mosiah 23:14)

A Teacher’s Purpose - 
*To teach all nations (Matt 28:19)
*To teach others of the Lord [although this duty is temporary] (Jeremiah 31:34)
*The Lord teaches us to profit (1 Nephi 20:17)
*[Supportive]: Parents are primary teachers (D&C 68:25) Teach their children to pray & walk upright (D&C 
68:28) They had been taught by their mothers (Alma 56:47)
*Teaching is a gift of the spirit (Moroni 10:9; D&C 88:118)

Prerequisite –
*First seek to obtain my word (D&C 11:21)
*Appointment to office (D&C 38:23, 88:122)
*If ye receive not the spirit, ye shall not teach (D&C 42:14)
*Treasure up the words of life & it shall be given you (D&C 84:85)

Standards –
*Ordinances [Performances/rules] & laws [nature, government, commandments] (Ex 18:20) Duty (D&C 107:85)
*Statutes & judgments [Cultural rules & church policies] (Deut 4:5) Covenants (D&C 84:48) Traditions (2 Thes 2:15)
The learning of our fathers (1 Nephi 1:1) Keep the commandments (Mosiah 53:21)
*The doctrines of the Kingdom [the ‘WHY’] (D&C 88:77) Repentance (Moses 6:57) Ye ARE to teach of God
 (1 Thes 4:9)
*Principles of the gospel [the ‘WHAT’] (D&C 42:12)
*The word of God (Jacob 1:19) Scripture study (3 Nephi 23:14) Jesus’ teachings (Acts 1:1)
*The difference between holy & profane, discern between clean/unclean (Ezek 44:23) The good and the
right way, the way of wisdom (1 Sam 12:23,1 Kgs 8:36, Prov 4:11)
*Observe all things (Matt 28:20)
*Train up a child in the way he should go (Prov 22:6)
*Teach to pray (Luke 11:1) (2 Nephi 32:8)
*Sobriety (Titus 2:4)
*Do Good (2 Nephi 33:10)
*Walk in the ways of truth (Mosiah 4:15)
*Words of wisdom (D&C 88:118)
*Light & truth (D&C 93:42)

Curriculum -
Taught more perfectly in *theory [math], *in principle [truth], *in doctrine [purposes], *in the law of
the gospel [celestial law], *in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God [all things are 
spiritual], *in Heaven and *in the earth [Science], *things which have been  [History], *things which
are [Current events], *thing which must shortly come to pass [Prophecy], *things which are at home
[Local news], *things which are abroad [global new], *wars & perplexities [Social Studies],
*judgements, *countries & kingdoms [Geography] (D&C 88:78-79) *Read & Write [Language Arts] (Moses 6:23)

Do Not –
*Teach for doctrines the commandments of men (Matt 15:9) Teach no other doctrine (1 Tim 1:3)World does not
want the teaching in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:18) Not which man’s wisdom teach, but what the Holy
Ghost teach (1 Cor 2:13)                  
*Teach for profit [to get gain] (Micah 3:11)      

Method -
* [Inspired from above] - I (God) will teach thee what thou shalt say (Ex. 4:12); It shall be given you what 
to speak (Matt 10:19) Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour (Luke 12:12)  As my father taught me (John 
8:28) Comforter shall teach you all things (14:26) Children are to be taught of the Lord (Isa 54:13, John 6:45) All
thy children shall be taught of the Lord (3 Nephi 22:13) Ye are to be taught from on high (D&C 43:16) That which
is taught them by the comforter (D&C 52:9) Shall teach them all things (D&C 75:10)
*Teach in Parables/Stories (Mark 4:2)
*Teach according to the perfect manner of the law  (Acts 22:3)
*Teach through symbol (Ex 13:14-18, Joshua 4:1-9)
*Teach & admonish each other in psalms (Col 3:16)
*Diligence (Deut 6:7) Cease not & teach diligently the things of the Lord (Acts 5:42; 18:25) Teach them the word 
of God with all diligence (Jacob 1:19) Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend thee (D&C 88:78) Daily in 
the Temple (Matt 26: 55) (Luke 19:47)