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The Smallest Act of Kindness

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September 1, 2021

2:13 pm

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Walking through the grocery store the other day, I walked past Jesus, who wasn’t wearing a face covering.

“Jesus”, I asked, “Would you please put on a mask?”

“Why?”, He asked.

“Because it would make me feel safer.”

I don’t believe in a god or Jesus, but the character of the Jesus I grew up with was always purported to be the most kind, the most compassionate, and the most loving person who ever lived – and we were always taught that we should emulate Him.

There are people now who somehow feel that masks aren’t very effective against the COVID virus, despite the mountains of contradictory data. No amount of showing them the science, experts, etc. will change their minds.

Starting from a position of kindness and empathy, even if masks really weren’t that effective, or even if they didn’t work at all, wouldn’t it be “Christlike” and kind to make this simple gesture – to temporarily wear a piece of cloth over your face – even if it was only to make parents, children, and the vulnerable feel a little bit safer?

You cannot do kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Today’s Heretic

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April 5, 2019

10:13 am

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In November of 2015, I resigned my membership in The LDS Church. Though an atheist for many years, their “policy” to excommunicate married LGBT members and prevent their children from being blessed, baptized, and ordained was filled with such wanton hate, I refused to be counted among their number, even if only on paper.

LDS Church leadership claimed that the policy was revelation from God, and not intended to punish LGBT members and their children, but rather to protect the children from teachings and information that may cause “rifts” between the children and their parents.

Yesterday, they reversed this policy. A mere 3.5 years since it was introduced. They claim that their reason is “continued revelation” and to “reduce hate.”

By their own reasoning, apparently they no longer need to protect children. In addition, it seems that that God’s revealed ‘policy’ sewed the very hate and contention they now wish to reduce.

These men claim to speak literally to God. They claim to “know his voice.” They claim that their actions are literally guided and commanded by God.

If there is a God, I can only see three explanations for this ridiculous nonsense:

1. God is hateful and contentious and his revelations to His prophets and His church are hateful and contentious.

or

2. God is not hateful nor contentious, but His prophets are hateful and contentious and enact hateful and contentious practices in His church.

or

3. God isn’t talking to these prophets.

I am glad they reversed this policy. It was harmful. It caused LGBT children to feel inferior, lesser, and, in some cases, so distraught that these beautiful, innocent beings felt it necessary to take their own lives. It is impossible for me not to see that this organization is clearly led by wrong-headed, bigoted, willfully ignorant, and unsympathetic men. “Men of their time.”

If we cannot distinguish when these so-called prophets speak as prophets or speak as hate-filled men, then there is no obligation to heed their words at all.

  • A member arguing against the Nov. 15th policy before yesterday an apostate.
  • A member arguing against the Black Priesthood Ban in 1977 was an apostate.
  • A member arguing against polygamy in 1890 was an apostate.

“Yesterday’s doctrine is today’s false doctrine.
Yesterday’s prophets are today’s heretics.”
– Jeremy Runnells