Keeping Covenants (continued)

In response to a comment left on the previous post “Keeping Covenants” I write the following.

While I was initially writing my talk I thought maybe I should clarify a couple of items but decided that the intended audience would understand, but now I see I need to clarify as I have presented this talk to a much wider audience. I am hesitant to post what I have written as this may make me out to be a religious fanatic or some crazy lunatic, which I might be, but I guess if I believe what I have already stated previously that I must hold up the light which is Christ then stating what I have below is not wrong as my intent is humble and I seek truth and understanding.

In the quote by Sister Ann Dibb she speaks of blessings of being a member of the LDS church. The blessings of which she is speaking include the covenants that members of the LDS church have entered into with God for which she is expressing gratitude, but she is also expressing gratitude for what the covenants enable her to do as an LDS church member. My purpose was to show the significance of covenants in the life of an LDS church member which is why  adding that the blessings are “everything” as stated by President Monson, president and prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was important.

In general, a covenant is something that exceeds the bounds of this life and our present understanding of time. It is essentially eternal by nature and as such must be viewed from that perspective. Given its nature it is difficult to weigh its importance within the bounds of just this life. Though a covenant in this life may act like an anchor giving one guidance and stability in a world full of disruption and commotion a more important purpose (in my opinion) is that a covenant binds us to eternity or to God.

Entering into a covenant with God means to accept and keep his commandment and in return receive something from him. It is essentially a promise between two individuals but with more meaning and ritual involved. As Sister Dibb remarks, the blessings of being a member of the church are part of the return received from God but the covenant is not complete just because one made a covenant or received a blessing, as a covenant is eternal by nature and does not end there.

Keeping Covenants

I was asked to speak in church today and the following is the main body of my address if you are interested in reading.

I would like to read part of Lehi’s account of his dream of the Tree of Life. This account is one of the most profound yet simple to understand of all analogies concerning God, life, and our existence and cannot be pondered enough. Elder Jeffery R. Holland says it is “a great parable of life, an extended allegory of hope versus fear, of light versus darkness, of salvation versus destruction” (General Conference October 2009).

Lehi states:

“For behold, methought I saw in my dream, a dark and dreary wilderness. And it came to pass that I saw a man, and he was dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood before me. And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and bade me follow him. And it came to pass that as I followed him I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste. And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies. And it came to pass after I had prayed unto the Lord I beheld a large and spacious field. And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy. And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen. And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy.” (1Nephi 8:4-12)

This passage helps to explain why as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we do what we do. We have seen a “tree, whose fruit is desirable to make one happy," and we are going forward to partake of it. This is a figurative tree like one you might see in a dream, as Lehi did, but the affect on our resolve and belief is not figurative. We can liken the seeing of a “tree” to what Alma inquires of the people of the church during one of his great discourses asking if they have “experienced a change of heart” or “felt to sing the song of redeeming love” (Alma 5:26). If we have lost sight of this “tree," have weakened our changed heart, or forgotten how to sing the song of redemption then we need to be reminded again and humble ourselves. And as Alma continues:

"We'll never be musical ... before we recognize the forms"

I think they have recognized a form.

Society on Shaky Ground

The passing of Sunday’s health care vote demands a few words about its reflection on society. The fact that we had to legislate health care only expresses that our country and society are in a mess. This vote is being marked alongside other “historic” votes which brought about social welfare change (Social Security, Medicare), and on the principle that life is important and needs to be ensured none of these are destructive. The problem is that in order for some people to obtain affordable healthcare the U.S. Congress had to pass a law. This action itself leads to a society that isn’t able to maintain the values upon which it was built, and if the only way for society to stay stable and sustainable is to pass laws that make us reliant upon a government that shifts with each election then we can be sure of more problems to come. Already the pollsters are predicting that the GOP will be back in full swing come November’s election and win back so many of the seats that just two short years ago the Democratic Party won with astounding numbers. How can a country and society keep going back and forth on its public opinion and voice so frequently and to such extremes? Lincoln and others have stated that, “a house divided against itself can not stand.”

Society can be represented by a house with its foundation being columns representing values, beliefs and interest common among those who established and created the society. As time passes these columns are tested and strained by conflict which take place among the members and groups of society. Change happens and with it comes social conflict that has a direct impact on these columns. Governments (which are a product of society) enact laws to help brace these columns through times of change but the laws are only a temporary fix that will not sustain society for long if the columns are being changed to an extensive degree. Society and its people make the final decision about which columns bear them up by the values, beliefs and interests they hold. With too much change society will fall and out of the rumble new societies will be built upon shared values, beliefs and interests.

The passing of the health care bill show a few different reflections about society which include: society does not value life as much as it does money, to care for the poor has become insignificant, the hearts of men have grown cold, leaders of our government and economy have lost their integrity by significant degrees, luxury is seen as an entitlement, empowerment is only received through financial means, and others.

No prediction is being offered that our society is about to fall nor is it being suggested that the health care bill should not have passed, but the question is being asked to what degree are our columns changing and will they hold? Personal agenda needs to be set aside and principle needs to be reinstated as the driving force behind this nation. We need stability. We need values and principles that are surer than laws. Abigail Adams wrote to her son John Quincy these words, “Improve your understanding for acquiring useful knowledge and virtue, such as will render you an ornament to society, an honor to your county, and a blessing to your parents … and remember you are accountable to your Maker for all your words and actions.” If every member of society could have this desire as described by Mrs. Adams then our societal columns will hold and we will have many years of constructive living ahead of us as we have had in the past. If you choose not to believe in God as “your Maker”, as I think was intended in this quote, then please think of “your Maker” as mankind and the passage is significant still.

A Reply

“How to respond to Jane? I could affirm her statement by simply stating that 'I am well. How are you?' but that may not be whimsical enough for her, and I think she deserves a more substantial reply than that. I am usually so long winded and full of discourse that it bores her, but maybe that is exactly what she is missing? I could discuss the idea of presence and say that it is a fluid word and it usually defines a physical state of being but that there are other states of presence of which we both share for each other, but that might be confusing for her. I could tell her that she would recognize me still if we were to see each other on the street and my hair is a bit longer than it was the last time she saw me. The last time we saw each other was a long time ago and we haven’t contacted each other since then so I can understand why she might be having this quandary about having a friend, but I have never been expedient at keeping in touch with people who are not in my physical presence unless there is a specific purpose. I could certainly discuss her wish for a friend and the sociological implications a friend has on one’s life and presence of both mind and being. I could do all of that but it may not be enough and she might even get angry with some of my assumptions which I think are just funny if not witty. I am glad that she wrote on my wall. I am glad that she remembers me and thinks of me as a friend. I don’t know when I will see her next, maybe soon, maybe later. So with all of that I think I will just say....” Hi Jane, it is nice to hear from you. I am doing well and I hope the same for you. What is going on in your life?

To Mick:

I am sorry to hear of your passing. From what my friend says you were pretty exceptional. He says you changed him for the better and so I thank you. I thank you for being what you were and what you are; for taking the time to get to know our friend and for being so kind to him. I am glad you got to know him because he his pretty exceptional as well, but you know that already.

I was hurt inside by the abruptness of your death and its tragic scene. I hope that you and the individual directly involved will be reconciled one with another. I think about this individual and what his response and subsequent actions and emotions were. I hope that he feels the loss caused and in response works to improve others as you have helped to improve others.

My hope and faith are that you will see and be with your friend again; that you will again get to plow your head into his body. But for now I am at peace because I know that you were loved and that you loved others. I think that this marks a fulfilled life and a life that reminds others that not all is lost when something beautiful existed. That which exists will always be but it may be in a different form.

We are grateful for the time we have,

corb

Corb Herzog

About eight years ago I saw a German film called Fata Morgana by Werner Herzog (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067085/). This film is mainly all footage of Africa set to the music of Leonard Cohen. Since seeing the film I have thought about it often over the years and always wanted to make my own version. Here is a little clip to understand what I mean (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGtl7LvPjfg&feature=fvw). The footage captured by Herzog in my mind gave a very real and insightful view of Africa. The landscape was everywhere and was everything, it was dead but also living and it flourished but also struggled. The film allowed a view into part of the world where I had never been and it showed Africa for what it was. I was able to experience a part and time in Africa that I never would know otherwise.

Cohen’s music is a nice complement to the film but otherwise I found it hard for me to connect with his monotone sound. A few years ago while in Portland I stayed at the Ace Hotel (http://www.acehotel.com/portland) which had the lyrics to one of Cohen’s songs written on the wall. As I was reading them I recognized them from somewhere but had a difficult time remembering the song without the music to accompany them. I spent the rest of the evening finding the source of the lyrics and then listened to the song once I found it over and over again. As soon as I heard the lyrics with the music I recognized it from Fata Morgana. It is called "Suzanne" and there is one version of this song that I like in particular which I have shared previously on this blog (http://idiocorb.blogspot.com/2008/09/turn-and-face-strain.html).

A few weeks ago I returned from Africa and while there had a chance to create my own little video in the "Fata Morgana" style. The song which plays along with my video is not Cohen but one of my favorites Joseph Arthur and the song is called “Toxic Angel”. I hope you enjoy.

“Redemption’s Son” Explained

I was sitting and discussing religion with a friend who had to leave which left me sitting at the table to finish my dinner with the cool weather, beautiful trees, and nice live music playing. As I sat pondering that which had been discussed the band started playing Bob Marley’s Redemption Song and as I sat listening to the words “Won’t you help to sing these songs of freedom? Cause all I ever had: redemption songs” I pondered my own life and different times I have sought redemption. I left the restaurant and went back to my room and turned on my IPod and finished listening to the playlist that was started. As I listened I began to notice a common thread that all of the songs of this playlist shared. They all discussed redemption in some way which I found to be significant so as the music continued to play I started picking our phrases from each song to help tell a simple story. Is the story mine? Not really, but yes. I think it could be the story of anyone.

This playlist was created months ago with songs coming from a variety of genres and artists but were selected to be on this specific playlist because of what I felt when I listened to them. I hadn’t thought much about them having to do with redemption or anything of the sort and it only struck me months later that there was a common thread that ran through them. Sometimes I think the IPod Gods are very aware.

"Redemption’s Son"

"When I was young I thought I knew everything. I was young and unafraid and dreams were made and used and wasted; there was no ransom to be paid. I taught myself how to grow but now I’m crooked on the outside when the inside’s broke. I can’t believe what I have become. Couldn’t imagine what it was with soft hands forcelessly pulling me away. Is it overwhelming? Is it getting heavy? I realize, I thought it was already as heavy as can be.

No matter what happens now I shouldn’t be afraid because I know darkness creates these illusions; love comes at dawn. It’s a good time for Superman to lift the sun into the sky. Angel of love shine a light on me and forgive me of what I have done. I have it all here and should try to on hold as best I can because my hand is made strong."

Left for the Duration

A while ago there were lights from within which illuminated these eyes. Now they are clouded and wretched, even covered, with no one of concern looking out. There use to be a cover upon the crown keeping everything safe from misfortune but now it is gone, scathed and ripped out of its place causing tremendous rot upon the unprotected. It seems the cracks on the sides have grown deeper as the years go by, getting older with time, so deep it seems they were sketched within the plan.

The rain seeps in.
The sun bears down.
The snow creeps up.
The decay spills out.
The wind furies around.

There once was purpose which was the finest utility known to accommodate those lodging here, but it is gone. It vanished without any consent from those left behind. No one thought that it would end so soon or without more notice.

But we hold on. We still stand, as best we can. There is goodness still within in us. Even in our anguish we hope for a return of yesteryear, to the time when we were not left abandoned, forgotten, rejected …

I thought that this song by Sufjan Stevens: http://sites.google.com/site/idiocorb/music/03FortheWidowsinParadise%2CfortheFatherlessinYpsilanti.mp3?attredirects=0
went well with these pictures: http://www.100abandonedhouses.com/.