We Need More Jesus

Two Sundays ago, this letter was read in our combined Priesthood/RS Meeting, regarding the Church's position on same-sex marriage.  A friend of mind asked for some practical applications on how to act in response to this, especially at church.  She didn't really enjoy the answers given, so I offered her two thoughts.  I'll elaborate one here, prefacing it with some scripture.

When Alma and his brethren/friends were visiting the Zoramites, he was lamenting their odd sense of worship.  In fact, it tormented him such that he began calling out to God.  I want to call into question some things he says that were we to imitate, we may find a bit peculiar.  

Alma 31: 26.  O Lord...

Alma 31:27.  O God... O God...

Alma 31: 28.  O my God... 

Alma 31:30.  O Lord God... O Lord...

Alma 31:31.  O Lord... O Lord... 

Alma 31:32.  O Lord... O Lord...

Alma 31:34.  O Lord...

Alma 31:35.  O Lord... O Lord...  

13 times.  He calls on the Lord God 13 times in one prayer, and he was not specifically (or only) using the name Heavenly Father, as we often do.  Was Alma's prayer ineffective, because he used "vain repetition" of the word Lord or God, and did not address his prayer directly to Father?   

Alma 31: 36:  

Now it came to pass that when Alma had said these words, that he clapped his hands upon all them who were with him.  And behold, as he clapped his hands upon them, they were filled with the Holy Spirit.  

I told my friend we need a lot more Jesus in our meetings.  If we had so much awesomeness in Jesus, so much sincere prayer, calling without shame on the name of our Lord, we would have no need to distract over what issues are sin, because we would truly have no desire to sin.  We would be healed weekly.  Liquidating sin is cake once you really know Jesus.  I have to wonder if the clapping of hands and filling with the Holy Ghost looked a lot like this video depicts, in the streets of Vegas. 

After Alma clapped his hands on his friends, and they were filled with the Holy Ghost, here's what happened next.  

And after that they did separate themselves one from another, taking no thought for themselves what they should eat, or what they should drink, or what they should put on.  

And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ.  Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith. 

O Lord, my God, bless us with more faithful prayers, even like unto Alma.  Let us not be afraid to truly call out to You in pure faith.  

Rameumptums

A few days ago I was studying the conundrum of the Zoramites.  Some were outrightly rich, and professed their goodness before God on a high, high tower.  On the other end were those who were outrightly poor, and who were denied access to the tower by the rich.  They couldn't afford the costly apparel and "high society" to be considered "worthy" enough to be granted access to climb and shout out their prayers.

(photo source)

One of Garth Brooks' songs refers to an "Ivory Tower", that his ex-woman stays in.  He sings about his "friends in low places".  I wonder, where are we at on that tower?  Am I sufficiently humble?  Or do I think that by my cool flat screen TV that I have made it to a standard of success?  Do I think the girl wearing sweats instead of cool, hot skinny jeans in the mall is less cool that me?  Do I think because someone is actually friendly and sociable that they're just needy, or must want to get something from me?  What a freakishly BIZARRE train of thought.

On the other hand, do I put people in leadership positions in the Ivory Tower?  Do I expect them to represent God, and have the power to deny me access to Him?  Would God look down His nose at me if I show up to church in holey jeans?  Or do I think that because someone has a clean house, Pottery Barn decor or kids who actually eat their vegetables, they have the power to look down their nose at me?  To put me in my place, simply by a subtle, or sometimes overt scoff or sneer?

What is your Rameumptum?  Who do you put in it?  Yourself?  Or other people?

It is interesting that in the end, those that climbed the Rameumptum in the Book of Mormon turned out to be some of the most hard-hearted, murderous people of their time. 

Yes, beware of climbing the Rameumptum, regardless of whether or not you have a tower next door.

~Jen