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No, but here’s a link to an essay by teryl givens. It is too academic for Sunday school, but has some really great quotes from Joseph regarding his calling and the restoration: http://terrylgivens.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Old_Thing.pdf I’ll try and see if I can come up with anything else.
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Whew, rough lesson IMO. Bravo for accepting it with stride. If it were me teaching, I would completely skip the first section and start with the first vision. Discussion topics could include the concept of actively seeking after truth and being inquisitive. Like others have said, I would talk about Joseph as an instrument, and just what kind of instrument he was, ie “the humble things if the earth will make manifest his word.” If you have acces to The Crucible of Doubt, there’s a good section under the chapter about hero worship, which discusses Gods use of mortals to accomplish his work. Very insightful. You could also talk about how Joseph never claimed to be speaking as a prophet at all times and wanted his opinions to be regarded as a mans opinions. The lesson talks quite a bit about the last dispensation etc, I would change it up to talk about the continuous unfolding of the restoration, using Uchctdorfs talk: “Are we sleeping through the restoration?” as a guide.
Anyway, good luck and I applaud you for taking on such a difficult topic.
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So met with the group. It included 3 other members of different walks of life, and all generally active. The group was lead by a researcher in the correlation dept from the COB who was much younger than I expected. In his mid 20’s maybe. He said the group was meant to talk to millenials who have been troubled by issues in the church, about what the issues are, how they became issues and what do we do about them. He said he himself would fit the description of a troubled member, which was a relief. I was worried it would be a grey haired man in a suit and name badge. So it was easier to open up and express our troubles and their histories with him. Our group talked mainly about polygamy, women’s issues and gay issues within the church. After talking about our issues, he asked what would help. We told him we wanted to see more diversity in the church, to provide outreach for those who don’t fit the standard mold, that we would like to see the RS president sit on the stand for example, or give gay members more visible callings. We also wanted fifth Sunday’s to focus more on modern day issues in the church, or to have a special Sunday school for those who want to have frank discussions. He asked if having a group of other troubled members to talk to would strengthen our faith, which of course was answered with a resounding YES!!! It was also asked how we feel about doctrinal or policy change. It was answered that we strongly welcome it, but question the way it’s implemented. Like what would happen to Kate Kelly If the church decided to ordain women? Would she still be reinstated as a member? Probably not. It was a courteous and productive discussion. The person leading the group said he really enjoyed doing this and would be traveling all over the country. When he gets back to SLC, he is going to present his research to his group, (who he wouldn’t say who was on it) and brainstorm some ideas of how to help members like us. This last part was a bit of a let down. I was hoping, perhaps naively that the church shared our concerns and wanted to know what people on the fringes would think of different ways to open up the tent. Instead I got the feeling that we were to be kept as a fringe group and that they were trying to find a way to appease us without causing waves within the mainstream church. However, we made our voices heard and it is nice knowing these will make it to someone’s ears who has the power to make change. He left his card with me, so I may write to him with other concerns, which I may do, but does anyone have any questions they might want me to bring up, that I may have missed?
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These things can become problems only if one is drinking an inordinate amount of coffee per day and/or predisposed to heartburn. Withdrawal causes a headache for maybe a couple days. I’m not sure if you’re still trying to argue that coffee is bad in general or just bad for sambee. Compared to soda, energy drinks, Gatorade, fruit juice, sweet tea, etc, it is quite healthy. I’m sure there is unfairness in how it is grown, bought and distributed. I have zero training in ecology. But I don’t think that is unique to coffee.
BTW I enjoy the debate in the spirit of friendliness and learning. If I am coming off rude or insensitive I will time it down. I’m just trying to argue: all things in moderation (except cigarettes), there are very few really “bad” foods, only bad when used in excess, and that the word of wisdom is a product of antebellum America with less relevance today. I also am trying to say that some people are more prone to harm by certain foods than others are. Like you and coffee. However I am open to where coffee is shown to be generally unhealthy.
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Just a little more info: the lessons cover lds history from the religious revival around palmyra to the modern church and includes all the major movements and controversial events. They begin with a short intro by the author who then assigns reading an accompanying chapter in the acclaimed book: “the mormon people” and segment of Pbs’s “the Mormons”, relevant gospel topics essay and an essay about the larger religious world at that time period. It all works together to educate and frame mormonism as a religion with definite american root, and a religion that responded to the religious attitudes of its time and location. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sambee, I apologize for my wording. My meaning was coffee is not “bad” for humans. In general. It can be bad for an individual. Like it was for you. It can be bad if taken in excess. You were making claims about severe gi issues and ascribing them to coffee and I just don’t see it. Maybe it was true for you. I don’t think it’s true for the general population. If you know of a reputable article, please bring it to my attention. In general though, it is healthy if consumed in moderation. Tea is healthy, but to those predisposed to kidney stones, it’s bad. Same principle. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
So many small things throughout life. But I think eventually, it was polygamy. I remember my wife and I were heavily invested in helping her sister and her daughter find their way back into the church. We had so many successes with them. Eventually my sil started praying and watching conference talks because it made her feel at peace. Then one night we were all watching the show Sister Wives, which I had found to be a surprisingly interesting and wholesome show. They were touring Nauvoo, and their guide, a Mormon historian talked to them about Joseph Smiths wives. I was getting uncomfortable, and then the tour guide told them that JS was a husband to his wives “in every sense of the word.” My niece looked at my wife and I totally startled and said “is this legit?!?” I had no clue what to say. It was all new to me. My faith had humiliated me. I think I became determined to always have an answer after that. Which of course led me to learn of polyandry on a fairlds website, and realize that I knew almost nothing about my church. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sambee, coffee is not “bad” for you. The worst thing about it is the sugar and cream. It has been shown to significantly reduce certain types of cancer, can help migraines and is strongly associated with decreased mortality. However, for some it causes heart arrhythmias, gi upset, and headaches. I’ve never heard of it causing GI bleeding. If it was bad for you, then I’m glad you were able to give it up.
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Well clearly teaming up against gays will help accomplish more youth engagement in the church… Seriously though. Glad it went well, seems like he was a good guy.
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Also relevant: SP opened his talk by complimenting one of the speakers and saying “large talent comes in small packages” 
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Quick follow up: essays were mentioned in the midst of a typically conservative stake conference last Sunday with the exact web address given out and with mention of what the topics were. I guess I’m no prophet 
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A stake presidency member brought up the essays to me. I said I had heard of them, and suggested they be integrated into the RS/EQ lessons. He was hesitant to endorse that idea and suggested they be topics of discussion within the home for now. Seems the articles are being used as a tool by leaders to help those who come to them with struggles. I am optimistic. So it won’t be talked about at the next stake or general conference. It will be easier for me to include in my lessons. And it will enable those leaders who have read them to speak authoritatively, rather than trying to change the subject.
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In my curiosity about this new development I promptly visited LDS.org. The front page bolded title reads “Happiness is the Sum of Obedience.” I could go no further. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Roy wrote:I read a few Bennion books somewhat early in my faith crisis.
They seemed to be written to college age students that were wondering how religion would fit into their new lives of research, scientific discovery, and critical reasoning.
From my memory it was about compartmentalization and being well rounded. Art cannot be evaluated based on scientific principles – likewise religion should be kept seperately and evaluated by its own set of criteria. Also that a well rounded person can have room in their life for these differing aspects – science/academia, art, religion, sports, family, etc.
I liked them and wished that the principles therein were taught more widely in CES programs.
I wish these were part of the CES program too. In fact I can’t believe they’re not. Sort of a no brainer. Sad.
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