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Carl Sagan wrote in his book The Demon Haunted World, “The World needs fewer business majors and more History majors.” I was fortunate to earn a Bachelor of Arts in History from BYU in 1989. After that I went on to earn 2 Master’s in Instructional Leadership and Special Education. Looking back I regret that choice in post Bachelor’s education. I wish I had stuck with History. The last three or four years I read quite a bit concerning WWII. During that time I went down a rabbit hole and read several books on Stalin since I new much less about him. Regardless of your station in life, in Stalinist Soviet Union, you were never removed to far form the famines and Great Terror. I think he was the worst of the 20th Century dictators. All that WWII reading came in handy last year when I took a WWII class online from BYU Independent Study. It had been a while since I had taken an academic class that was that rigorous.
Recently I have been trying to get into the Dark and Middle ages. I am just not feeling it. So, I have decided to take the next couple of years and delve into Church History. I have Leonard Arrington’s
Great Basin Kingdomso I will start with that. I might re-read Rough Stone Rollingas well. The last time I read Rough Stone RollingI mentioned to fellow ward member that I had finished it. He told our bishop that I had read Rough Stone Rolling. Whatever. Reading church History will be tough since I will need to tear myslef away from the detective novels I have been filling my time with.
My personal thoughts are, a well read background in history is indispensable.
I have experienced both the Temple ceremony and the three degrees of Freemasonry. I have found both to be beautiful in their own way. When a Masonic degree is performed, and those involved are experienced, it is moving. Kipling gave us all some of the most excellent writing in regards to Freemasonry. Poems, essays, novels were vehicles Kipling used to write about Masonry. The Man Who Would be King and Kim are probably his most recognized. Short stories like, “In the Interest of the Brethren”, and poems such as ” Banquet Night”, present Freemasonry directly. In one short story Kipling describes the lodge as being frequented by Christians, Muslims, and Hindus. So prevalent was Freemasonry in the English military Kipling wrote for some soldiers it was their religion, meetings being their only access to scripture. Kipling knew Masonry was not a religion, but for some it became religion.
Early America was very influenced by Masons. From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, American leadership was weighted by Masons. It has been told to me, revolution or no revolution, that Colonials and the English would meet during downtime to hold meetings.
George Washington was by far the most famous of Masons. And still is. Contrary to the “Washington Hypothesis” Washington did spend a lot of time in his church. He did spend a lot of time in lodge. There is a long line of Masonic lineage in US presidents.
As stated above there is nothing remotely satanic in the Masonic lodge. Nor “secret”. Again as stated above dates and times for meetings are posted. Masons are often prominent in their communities. They wear rings or other jewelry/clothes saying to the world: I am a Mason! If people get that curious I imagine you watch the degrees on YouTube.
Unfortunately most people who are not Masons get their information from the History Channel. The conspiracies they try to tie to the Masons is a hoot. The History Channel’s take on the Masonic Lodge ranks up there with Animal Planet’s shows on mermaids and the megalodon. Or Sy Fy’s Sharknado.
Long post, sorry.
Nice thread, I agree. Many people get caught up in everything except what the Book of Mormon is about. It reminds me of President Benson’s Book of Mormon talk in the late 80’s. !989?
It has been a millenium since I have posted. Anyway, I believe the Big P (as it has been designated) is available for addiction. I work in the public sector and more than one person in our area has been either severely reprimanded or terminated due to Big P use at work. Not during work hours, but individuals coming in in the very early AM to involve themselves in pornographic movies. they did not want to be discovered by their spouses. (Obviously that did not actually workout.) A friend let me know that his son in law was fired from a job because he spent all night watching Big P (at home in this case) and did not have the umpff to get to work. I am not an expert on addiction, but I believe if a behavior is disrupting your family life, marriage, or career, etc. Then regardless of the behavior (drug use, booze, Big P) you are probably looking at an addiction? Maybe someone with more knowledge on the subject will helpout with that. However, I have heard people around church meetings, on BYU-I campus, yada, yada, describe Big P as a bad habit. The mental health rpofessionals I work with, in fact, chuckle at the “New Drug” take on the porn problem. They suddenly are not chuckling when one of their kids gets caught surfing X sights.
Now, the psychologist (I am sure with good intentions) began publicizing ideas that juuuuuust do not mesh with church ideas. Had she kept her thoughts and ideas within the bounds of her practise then this would not have become such an issue, if at all. I do not think she was wrong, but she appears to not wanted to have backed down. As we have seen in recent years the Big Ex is right around the corner. I really believe that this is unfortunate.
So, after a millenium that is my take.
P.S. Thanks for giving me a phrase I can use in mixed company!
