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I enjoy teaching the lesson each week, but I am haunted by the idea of what it would be like if the board regulars showed up in my class. I actually prepare my presentation with you in mind, with the intent of saying things that would not be regarded as spiritually or intellectually irresponsible. With an imaginary audience ranging from SU to Adam to Tex, this is a challenging mental exercise.
Today’s lesson (Lesson 13, for those of you following along at home) was a discussion of Joseph Smith’s role in bringing forth the Word of God in this dispensation. Keeping in mind my CUF audience, I was struck this week by Obama’s latest approval ratings which show that well over 80% of the Dems approve of the job he’s doing, while only around 20% of Republicans do. While the split is certainly not surprising, the noteworthy point is that the gap between the perceptions of the Dems and the GOP is the greatest it has ever been for a U.S. President. Isn’t it interesting that people see what they want to see?
As for Joseph Smith, most fair minded nonbelievers would grant he was an extraordinary person with considerable charismatic gifts and some remarkable accomplishments during his short life. But those same observers would also dismiss the veracity of many of the prophet’s claims, and point out a number of apparent flaws in his character and performance. I would expect a very wide gap in Smith’s approval rating among the residents of 1840’s Illinois (or the denizens of 2009 CUF, for that matter).
Although I referred to them in the abstract, we didn’t talk about the flaws or shortcomings in the class, as the class is sophisticated enough to be familiar with them (we have some Fawn Brodie devotees, apparently). Unless one has obtained a spiritual witness of the truths contained in the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and other writings, one’s Joseph Smith approval rating will be, at best, somewhere in the mid-range. If one delights in his flaws and focuses on his foibles, one will be as Rush:Barack.
I’m not trying to make a point here and I realize the foregoing is rather pedestrian, but I just wanted to mention that you affect my lesson prep, and sometimes that’s a heavy burden. Next week: The Law of Consecration. Feel free to weigh in.
Today’s lesson (Lesson 13, for those of you following along at home) was a discussion of Joseph Smith’s role in bringing forth the Word of God in this dispensation. Keeping in mind my CUF audience, I was struck this week by Obama’s latest approval ratings which show that well over 80% of the Dems approve of the job he’s doing, while only around 20% of Republicans do. While the split is certainly not surprising, the noteworthy point is that the gap between the perceptions of the Dems and the GOP is the greatest it has ever been for a U.S. President. Isn’t it interesting that people see what they want to see?
As for Joseph Smith, most fair minded nonbelievers would grant he was an extraordinary person with considerable charismatic gifts and some remarkable accomplishments during his short life. But those same observers would also dismiss the veracity of many of the prophet’s claims, and point out a number of apparent flaws in his character and performance. I would expect a very wide gap in Smith’s approval rating among the residents of 1840’s Illinois (or the denizens of 2009 CUF, for that matter).
Although I referred to them in the abstract, we didn’t talk about the flaws or shortcomings in the class, as the class is sophisticated enough to be familiar with them (we have some Fawn Brodie devotees, apparently). Unless one has obtained a spiritual witness of the truths contained in the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and other writings, one’s Joseph Smith approval rating will be, at best, somewhere in the mid-range. If one delights in his flaws and focuses on his foibles, one will be as Rush:Barack.
I’m not trying to make a point here and I realize the foregoing is rather pedestrian, but I just wanted to mention that you affect my lesson prep, and sometimes that’s a heavy burden. Next week: The Law of Consecration. Feel free to weigh in.
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