Spiritual Alms in Practice: The Littlest Gestures Can Change Lives

I ran across a wonderful post on Blog Segullah (a literary masterpiece of a blog) that immediately brought to mind the concept of spiritual alms that has been the focus of my contemplation this month. In lieu of a long-winded examination of something that I've examined enough already, I thought I would link to the post and, along with the post from the 17th, let it speak for itself about the astounding power of simple, spiritual alms.

Please take the time to read the linked post. It puts everything I've been saying this month into the proper focus.

The Ugliest Girl in the World - "Blue" (Blog Segullah)

Against Whom Do the Bones Testify?

Bones - Jonathan Green (Times & Seasons)

Pure Hilarity!!

I just found one of the funniest blogs I've ever seen. It's now on my blog roll.

My Religious Blog: The Substandard Works of a Utah-Mormon

Creeping Mormonism (into Protestantism)

I know people who have omitted the “'til death do us part” clause from their wedding ceremonies for three very different reasons:

1) They believed that their marriage would last past death, despite the official creeds of their religion. (Quite a few fit this category.)

2) They had a degree of religious commitment and didn’t want to make a promise “before God” they might not be able to keep. (Only a couple fit here.)

3) They simply didn’t think about it - or, if they did, didn’t like the wording. (The vast majority fit this category.)

I think it is fascinating how much of Mormon theology is beginning to creep into the beliefs of many Protestants. When I traveled the rural backroads of OH, PA and WV a few years ago on a regular basis, I often listened to the local religious radio programming (since I didn’t want to hear about the cost of each and every imaginable grain and vegetable), and I would hear some version of a Restored Gospel principle (including Family Home Evening) at least monthly - from ministers who regularly spent time bashing Mormonism openly on air.

I loved the irony.

A Tribute to President Hinckley

President Hinckley passed away on this date last year. The following is what I wrote in tribute then:

My children really don’t know any other Prophet - not even my oldest in college. My daughters cried when I told them the news.

Along with Pres. Kimball, he was the most gentle, humble, kind man of great authority whom I have ever known. I absolutely LOVED the sparkle in his eyes and voice - that subtle and sweet sense of humor.

From Marlin K. Jensen:

“His keen intellect and thirst to understand how everything works resulted in a storehouse of knowledge that will be nearly irreplaceable,” said Elder Marlin Jensen, the church’s official historian. “I believe he was a true prophet but it didn’t hurt that he was a genius, too.”

AMEN!

I also have been touched by how much he has focused on marriage - begging the brethren of the Church to love and serve and never disappoint their wives - since Marjorie passed away three years ago. His tribute to her in General Conference was one of the sweetest things I have ever heard in my life.

He was such a gentleman - in every sense of the word.

The Temple Prophet & the Church President

In the temple recommend interview, one of the questions distinguishes between “the Prophet” and the other prophets, seers and revelators. Many members don’t realize that the first is capitalized, while the other is not. However, Thomas S. Monson was not sustained by the membership at large as the “Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” - but rather as the “President of the Church . . .” and "a prophet, seer and revelator".

The temple recommend interview draws attention to the fact that he is the presiding Prophet and needs to be supported by the temple attending members as such, but the unique requirement (along with the "generic" prophet, seer and revelator) for the general membership is only support of his role as President.

That’s a truly interesting distinction, imo.

A Personal Thanks for the Alms

This will be a slightly unique post for me, but, in the spirit of this month's resolution, I think it needs to be said.

I scheduled this resolution essentially in December 2007,when I first started my current resolution. At that time, I had no way of knowing how appropriate it would be this month. At that point, I was happily employed - and I thought my employment would last for quite some time. However, I realized toward the end of last summer that I needed to leave that job, so I began looking for something else. At the end of October I accepted a job about which I was excited - one that I ended up enjoying very much.

I lost that job two months later - between Christmas and New Year's Day, and I still don't understand fully why it happened. I think I understand better now than I did at the time, but the official reasons I was given still don't make any sense to me. That, however, is not the purpose of this post.

Mama and I have been overwhelmed by the support we have received from friends and family. It has been immediate and generous and deeply appreciated. It has been anonymous where possible, but even when coming from family as a result of our telling them about our situation, it has been as good as anonymous in spirit. We have received BOTH temporal and spiritual alms this month of a magnitude that is astounding to us.

Our oldest son has turned in his papers to serve a mission, and our second son might choose to leave this summer or fall. Our dear bishop has informed us that they will be able to serve no matter our ability to contribute due to offers by numerous people in our ward and stake (and friends who have moved from our ward) to help. I don't know who most of them are, but I owe them a public thanks for their private concern and care.

The outpouring of love has been wonderful most of all for my eternal companion. Simply knowing that she is loved so deeply and widely by so many people has alleviated much of the despair she felt when I told her about my job loss. I will never be able to thank enough those who have been such a needed cushion for her in this difficult time. God bless you, one and all.

I have a few employment possibilities right now (Thanks, Tim and Andrew, though you probably will never read this.), and even that is relevant to this post - since each of them was generated by a friend who took the initiative to inform me of an opening that fit my background and experience.

Truly, I have been the recipient of alms this month, and I simply want to acknowledge openly my gratitude for that which has been given in secret.

A Fascinating Look at Anger and Understanding

On Being Angry - John C. (By Common Consent)

From Someone Who Knows More of Trials Than Most Can Imagine

Trials - Stephen M. (Mormon Matters)

Blogging as a Supplemental Activity

I connect with people here (and on other personal and group blogs) in different ways than I connect with people at church. I connect intellectually on blogs more often than at church, but I usually connect at a deeper emotional level at church than I do on blogs. On blogs, when someone says something that I consider to be ridiculous, it is too easy to dismiss the person, while at church I have a much easier time “suffering the fool(ish statement)” - since I generally have had other interactions of a positive nature with that person. Each connection is real, but the connections at Church probably are the ones that have the most chance of becoming broader and deeper connections on multiple levels, if for no reason other than there is little chance of me ever putting a face and voice and broad personality to most of you with whom I converse here and on other blogs.

As much as I enjoy the interaction, I simply can't connect on as many levels on blogs as I do at church. For that reason, I hope those who frequent the Bloggernacle don't use it as a substitute for church - that they recognize the fellowship that is more tangible among the saints in person and not feel justified in the relative isolation of the Bloggernacle. I hope they supplement their church experience with these blogs, not vice versa.