I need to explain where my main idea for this post is coming from. I recently saw an interview on Jon Stewart with Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of South Park. That show is really hit and miss with me, but in general I think those two are pretty funny. When I heard they were making a Mormon musical on Broadway I didn't give much thought to it, although I was curious. I essentially forgot about it until their interview and it's getting such fantastic reviews that I may end up seeing it when I'm in DC this summer. I'm comfortable enough in my beliefs and religion that I can laugh at it. I think it's good to have a sense of humor about religion.
But this is beside the point. This clip from The Daily Show has a plethora of comments on Facebook and some of them were quite entertaining and I just wanted to share them with the world. Or at least the 8 people who follow this blog. I'm glad I'm not friends with people like this but I'm sure glad they exist for me to laugh at:
Mormonism is a cult.
Religion kills.
The Morman religion is a cult, not young and American! [Trey and Matt described Mormonism as being young and American as it is a new religion and born out of America]
Mormon is not a religion. It's a joke.
Id eather give more time and respect to jehovahs witnesses before a Moron. Rather*
Mormonism. The last acceptable persecuted religion in America.All religion is a cult and does nothing but tear the World and country apart
The Mormon church has a bigger welfare system than the federal government. You'd think liberals would care about that.
They are excellent socialists... they just don't admit it. (shy I guess)
Wow. You guys talk about Mormons like 18th century slaves or the Irish. Get a clue.
Brainwashed .. All of them ..
Religion is for the weak.
Just some choice gems. I made commented that I had been thoroughly entertained by some of the statements made there as a Mormon and not five minutes later a man sent me a message asking what convinces me that God exists. Not in a, "how can you be so ignorant" kind of way though. He's sincerely interested in my personal experience.
Loving Jon Stewart has given me a missionary opportunity. Who'd have thought? :)
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Ladies and gentlemen... The Beatles!
I've been on a Beatles kick the last few days. I always listen to them, but at times like this I breathe them. I watched Nowhere Boy Wednesday night and that kind of set me off. I found The Beatles Anthology on YouTube and I've been watching that since then.
Best part about this story is how I remember watching it when it was on TV and staying up past my bedtime to do so when I could pull it off. I looked it up and it aired in 1995. I will be the first to admit that I was annoying as hell as a child, but there were awesome aspects of me too. I loved The Beatles so much that I was willing to sit through a documentary about them at the age of 8.
Best part about this story is how I remember watching it when it was on TV and staying up past my bedtime to do so when I could pull it off. I looked it up and it aired in 1995. I will be the first to admit that I was annoying as hell as a child, but there were awesome aspects of me too. I loved The Beatles so much that I was willing to sit through a documentary about them at the age of 8.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Revelation
I'm tired and my computer is about to die, but my heart is full right now and since I'm not one for bearing my testimony in front of an audience on Fast Sunday, I'll do that now.
I'm at my parents house tonight and when I'm here I read out of one of those flimsy paperback Book of Mormons. This particular one is one that I had planned on giving to a friend in high school, but ended up giving them a different one. Anyway, I have it and it has some really great scriptures highlighted. When I'm here I usually just flip through the book and read some of the highlighted passages. This one sentence in Mormon 5:23 had an enormous impact on me:
"Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God?"
I felt a sudden rush of gratitude and joy at these words. I'm glad I have the Lord directing my life. I'm glad that I have the trials that I do. Cancer still sucks, but even if my mom departs this world prematurely, I will see her again. She will be saving a place for me in the next life and once there, I will hardly remember my life without her and I won't think on it with pain. It's excruciatingly painful now, but this life is just a moment in our existence. I don't think I've ever been more grateful for eternal families than I am right now.
In my moments of doubt and trying to rationalize religion (don't ever do that by the way) I have thought, "even if it isn't true, it's making me a better person right now." The first part of that sentence is a scary one. If it isn't true, why bother? If families aren't forever, what's the point of sticking around? That "even if it isn't true" is something that I've only thought a couple of times in my life and it's something that I am determined never to think again. How can it not be true when I'm feeling what I'm feeling right now? How can it not be true when I've felt this way hundreds of times before?
This moment is the first time I have felt ok with whatever may happen. Even if the worst should happen, it will be ok. Yes, it will be devastating and horrible and totally suck, but it will be ok. I wish I had felt this last July, but better late then never!
Who says the spirit goes to bed at midnight? :)
I'm at my parents house tonight and when I'm here I read out of one of those flimsy paperback Book of Mormons. This particular one is one that I had planned on giving to a friend in high school, but ended up giving them a different one. Anyway, I have it and it has some really great scriptures highlighted. When I'm here I usually just flip through the book and read some of the highlighted passages. This one sentence in Mormon 5:23 had an enormous impact on me:
"Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God?"
I felt a sudden rush of gratitude and joy at these words. I'm glad I have the Lord directing my life. I'm glad that I have the trials that I do. Cancer still sucks, but even if my mom departs this world prematurely, I will see her again. She will be saving a place for me in the next life and once there, I will hardly remember my life without her and I won't think on it with pain. It's excruciatingly painful now, but this life is just a moment in our existence. I don't think I've ever been more grateful for eternal families than I am right now.
In my moments of doubt and trying to rationalize religion (don't ever do that by the way) I have thought, "even if it isn't true, it's making me a better person right now." The first part of that sentence is a scary one. If it isn't true, why bother? If families aren't forever, what's the point of sticking around? That "even if it isn't true" is something that I've only thought a couple of times in my life and it's something that I am determined never to think again. How can it not be true when I'm feeling what I'm feeling right now? How can it not be true when I've felt this way hundreds of times before?
This moment is the first time I have felt ok with whatever may happen. Even if the worst should happen, it will be ok. Yes, it will be devastating and horrible and totally suck, but it will be ok. I wish I had felt this last July, but better late then never!
Who says the spirit goes to bed at midnight? :)
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