Monthly Archives: January 2010

Privacy: Dead or Alive?

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Today’s WordPress poll asked the following question: “Is Online Privacy Dead?” Yes, or No.

I chose “Yes”. But, I wanted to expand on my answer. I tried to leave a comment, but it was flagged as “spam” for some reason, and rejected.

No worries. Thanks to my trusty blog, I have a personal “platform” to share all my “brilliant” views on life with the world, whether the world is interested or not. For anyone that is interested, here is are my thoughts on the subject of “Privacy” in the year 2010, and beyond….

When the internet was born, the definition of “privacy” was changed forever. The 20th Century definition of privacy is, for all intents and purposes “dead”. We now live in the so-called “age of transparency”. There are online hackers, and other dishonest folk, who take advantage of this reality. They can steal our medical records, bank accounts, credit cards, social security numbers, and entire identity with a click of a mouse. If we own a phone, the number can be found. With new technology, our conversations can be monitored and recorded. If we own a cellular phone, our location can be traced. If we have a facebook or other social networking site, the world can potentially learn everything they would ever want to know [and more] about us. If we have an email account, it can be highjacked, and we can be inpersonated.

Case in point. Just this morning, I received the following correspondence from a family member. [copied an pasted word-for-word for your reading pleasure, de-identified].

From: [my family member's email address]

Subject: SOS

Sorry for not informing of my recent trip to London for a program. I had intended to stay for five (5) days,
  but for the mishap I had…. Some gangsters strapped me of my money and my traveling document, that I was left empty.  I need to pay for my hotel accommodation and other traveling expenses, therefore will need  candid help by asking for a soft loan of ($ 2500.)   to enable me solve the  financial burden. Please you can remit to me through Western Union Money Transfer. Name: [my family member's full name here] I will appreciate. Here is my  address: [address in the UK given]

Thanking you in anticipation.
  Regards,
[first name of my family member]

This ridiculous email would be more laughable, if it wasn’t causing so much damage and disruption to a real person that I love.

There are people who choose to NEVER use a computer in the attempt to stave off these kind of things, and preserve their “privacy”. Are they really “safe”? No. You might be able to control your own actions, but you certainly have no control over others. There are millions of people choosing to post stories, photos or contact info daily of their family, friends, children, coworkers, and perfect strangers. This is regularly done without any notice, or permission.

All-seeing eye

If you ever venture outside the four walls of your home then your movements are being tracked by security cameras on the street, in parking lots, stores, the bank, the zoo…name the place, and chances are, they’ve captured your movements.

Anything can potentially end up online. We live in an age when nearly every person we see [or don't see] is carrying some sort of electronic device capable of recording,  filming or photographing. You never know when something you do will turn up on YouTube. And, if it is something really stupid or embarassing – it’s almost guaranteed to be tomorrows breaking story!

Knowing these things could cause our stress level to rise. A lack of security means potential danger to us, and that’s scary. But, remember  “God has not given us a spirit of fear“ 2 Tim. 1:7. We can reject paranoia. Life is a beautiful gift! Being born into the ‘age of the internet’ has amazing benefits. There is always a bright side to everything. Our “New Age [lack of] Privacy” has a bright side -

Extra motivation for living honestly and honorably. To borrow a great movie line:

“being a good person even when you don’t think anyone is watching“. 

- Will Smith as ‘Tim Thomas’ in 7 Pounds

If you are alive, [and you don't happen to live in a cave in Pakistan], then you really can’t hide. Someone is always watching. But, Is ”transparency” really a new phenomenon to the 21st Century? I submit that it has always existed. Before this life, we lived with God. Each of us were given a “full disclosure statement” prior to being sent to Earth. At that time, we signed a contract. We agreed to be put through a personal test which would be recorded, monitored and carefully preserved for replay and review. We knew that at the end of the test, our scores would be tallied, a  final judgement of our collective actions, thoughts, intentions, deeds and misdeeds would be handed down, and we would receive a reward. It is reported that each of us sang together and shouted for joy to take this test. Why weren’t we scared? Because we knew we would not be alone. Someone would be keeping an eye on us, and giving unseen help.

A Prophet-King named Benjamin gave what I think is the best possible advice for passing the test:

“watch yourselves.” – Mosiah 4:30

Welcome All Online Angels!

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Nearly a century and a half ago, LDS President Brigham Young gave a prophetic command to the membership of the church, with a promise:

Pres. Young

“There is a great work for the Saints to do…progress, and improve upon, and make beautiful everything around you. Cultivate the earth, and cultivate your minds….and render the earth so pleasant that when you look upon your labors you may do so with pleasure, and that angels may delight to come and visit your beautiful locations.”

(Brigham Young, Deseret News, Aug. 8, 1860, 177, as quoted by Dieter F. Uchtdorf)

This ’call to cultivate’ is still in effect, and can certainly be likened to our modern circumstances and 21st Century creative work. That also means the promise is still  in effect: angel visitors.

I personally like the image of of our departed loved ones taking a little down-time from preaching the gospel beyond the veil to surf the net. [do you think they use MAC or PC?] Imagine angels online, checking in on our virtual activity…Hundreds of heavenly beings lurking through cyberspace, bookmarking their favorite sites, and hopefully, delighting in our online offerings! Do you think perhaps they’re even allowed to help us out a little? Maybe they attempt to whisper some heavenly inspiration into our ears as we sit down at our desktop, ‘boot up’, and ponder post subjects. Who knows? Certainly anything is possible in the Realms of Glory. So, I decided there’s no harm in sending a message:

Dear Online Angels,

You are officially invited to visit my humble blog, www.MormonSoprano.com. I extend a warm welcome to each of you. Please enter my world wide garden! Pull up a …er, cloud, and rest your wings. I’ve been cultivating this little spot of earth for awhile. I hope you will find joy, and delight, in my offering. Comments and/or inspiration is always appreciated! – Best wishes always, MoSop

P.S. Please feel free to sing along!

“No Other Success”: Unlocking The McKay McCulloch Mystery

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Pres. David O. McKay with his wife "Ray"

Like all people of faith, Latter-day Saints (Mormons) like to gather inspirational quotes. Over time, the words become integrated into our souls, our values, and our culture. When the quotes come from “over the pulpit”, [i.e. spoken by a general authority, apostle or prophet in an official meeting of the church, or published in an official LDS magazine], then it is given much more weight, and considered for all intents and purposes, ‘living scripture’. 

One of our “top 10″ living scripture quotes is commonly attributed to President David O. McKay, 9th prophet and president of the LDS Church (serving from 1951-1970)  

“No other success can compensate for failure in the home” 

For over six decades, this memorable sentance has wielded great power to motivate (and sometimes discourage) millions of parents! I recently gathered some interesting back story, along with an intriguing mystery about this quote.

1. NOT President McKay: 

While it is important that President McKay DID use these words as part of two separate General Conference talks -  April 1935, and April 1964 respectively [unavailable online], he was actually quoting someone else;  J. E. McCulloch, to be exact. 

2. Who was J.E. McCulloch? 

Surprisingly, the oft-quoted James Edward [J.E.] McCulloch remains shrouded in mystery. An online search will give you hundreds of references [mainly by Mormon leaders quoting McKay quoting McCulloch]! However, I have tried and failed to find a bio or a photo of the man. Thanks to a great article published in 2004 by Russell Arden Fox at Times and Seasons,  we know that McCulloch “lived in Nashville at the turn of the [20th] century, and served as secretary to the Southern Sociological Congress”. From what I have ascertained, Mr. McCulloch was a prolific author of books, as well as editor for Southern Sociological Congress essays, on topics of conservative values and societal trends. A listing of his literary output – totaling 73 - is found on GoogleBooks, with titles such as: “The Human Way: Addresses on Race Problems“, “Battling for Social Betterment“, and “Democracy In Earnest“. 

3. Source of The Quote: 

A Family, circa 1924

Our ”success/failure” quote comes from J.E. McCulloch’s book entitled Home: The Savior of Civilization [ 1924, The Southern Co-operative League, 638 pages]. You’ve gotta love that title. Like all of his books, it is out of print, and sadly, unlike most of his other books, it is not scanned yet, nor available online (but consider, it is 638 pages). The good news is that a book synopsis pdf is available through online archives which gives a fascinating glimpse: 

  • “This is a large volume [638 pages] compiled for the use of families at their family altars. It  consists of daily readings for the year, for the “home council” – the name given the family group in its religious studies.”
  • “The quotations that serve as reading materials are gathered from widely scattered sources, ranging from the Bible…to selections from the prose and poetry of the renowned and less renowned…the purpose of the book, as the title implies and the introduction states is to make of the home “God’s garden of character; the soul may grow elsewhere, but it grows to perfection there“
  • “The home should be the bulwark of civilization, the school of the spirit, and this book is the text which [McCulloch] evolved with his own family in his own home, with what he and his friends have felt to be good results. He is now passing on his program to any who are interested in keeping the family altar a supreme element in the home…” – AAPSS, scanned on JStor (emphasis added)

Wow! Just the outline of this book says so much about Mr. McCulloch’s deep commitment to home and family. It states here that the book is a compilation of scriptures, poems and quotes, so we still cannot be 100% sure if McCulloch is the actual author of the famous quote included in the book, or if he was also quoting! This is another  ’mystery’ part of our story, waiting for final confirmation. 

4. The Mormon Connection

President David O. McKay’s legacy with the church includes fully implementing the Family Home Evening Program, (an idea first introduced in 1915 – given as “advice” to LDS parents – see history). Since 1964, Family Home Evening (affectionately abbreviated to FHE) has been a standard practice in Latter-day Saint homes. Mormon families set aside Monday night as the evening to be spent exclusively with their families – to sing together, study the scriptures, play games (and eat treats).

In some ways, Monday night becomes the “most sacred” night of the week for a Mormon – in the sense that as a lay congregation with many service responsibilities, this is the only night the church building is guaranteed to remain locked, and unlike Sunday’s or other days of the week, church responsibilities, service projects, choir rehearsals, meetings, and activities will NEVER be scheduled! It’s also an unspoken rule that Mormons don’t call other Mormons after 6 PM on a Monday night, in respect for Family Home Evening.

by Bruce Clovis Smith

From the synopsis of his book, Mr. McCulloch had already instituted a very successful family home evening program of his own, which others were using, too! Did McCulloch’s program of holding ‘Home Council’, and his subsequent book encouraging the practice, have an influence on President McKay? Could it have prompted the inspiration to begin the full-fledged Church-wide ‘Family Home Evening Program’? Another mystery, but certainly feasible. Either way, McCulloch would be pleased to know that Mormons are “Keeping the family altar a supreme element in the home“. 

It seems to me that Latter-day Saints have a lot to owe the mysterious J.E. McCulloch. If nothing else, I think it would be fair to say he holds the unique distinction of being the most-quoted-yet-least-credited-non-Mormon-by-Mormons. :) I would certainly be interested in learning much more about this fascinating man. [If you have detailed information, or actually possess a copy of his rare book, please contact me by leaving a comment!] 

Although we usually only remember the famous McKay ‘one-liner’, the full McCulloch quote given by President David O. McKay is as follows: 

“The home is the first and most effective place for children to learn the lessons of life: truth, honor, virtue, self-control; the value of education, honest work, and the purpose and privilege of life. Nothing can take the place of home in rearing and teaching children, and no other success can compensate for failure in the home” ( J. E. McCulloch, Home: The Savior of Civilization [1924], 42; in Conference Report, Apr. 1935, 116). 

In 1972, President Harold B. Lee, first counselor to Pres. McKay, and later 11th President of the church, added a line to the McCulloch/McKay quote “over the pulpit”, which does a marvelous job of both softening and strengthening the message of this famous quote for all families:

Pres. Lee

Remember, paraphrasing what President McKay said, “No success will compensate for failure in the home.” Remember also that no home is a failure as long as that home doesn’t give up. “- Harold B. Lee, Ensign, Feb. 1972 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR NOTE: To all my fabulous, alert and very-eager-to-be-mystery-solving readers. Yes, I am aware there is a pdf offered by Sage Journals Online. At first glance, it looks like a pdf of Mr. McCullough’s book! Nope. Rather, it is an article published in the same year, 1924, and by the same press company. The article lists the synopsis of McCulloch’s “Home: The Savior of Civilization”, along with several other newly released books that year. It was essentially designed as a promotional ad from the publishing house, but it also provides fascinating insight. I have quoted this article extensively in #3 above.

I welcome any new info. And, as always, I hope to hear your thoughts and comments! – MoSop

Finding God on Facebook

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I can’t remember exactly when I joined the Facebook craze. I’m sure it was well over a year ago. I created two accounts. One “Mormon Soprano” Facebook, and one for my personal/family use. I didn’t actively start using my personal account until about 6 months ago. It seems the trick to getting the most out of FB, and/or being a successful “Facebook-er” is to check in often – preferably, at least once per day. I have noticed an inordinate amount of people choose to leave their pages open throughout the day for as long as they are online, presumably to allow a more active role in conversations, commenting and personal chatting. There are also some people who rarely check their pages at all, and those who seem to have found a user balance somewhere in-between.

Lately, there’s been quite a hullabaloo since the announcement about the changes Facebook has made, and some very valid fears of security breaches, when considering The Good The Bad and The Ugly of Facebook. There’s been worries expressed the changes are an anti-privacy plot, and there’s even a vibrant Facebook / CIA conspiracy theory.

click to enlarge

Facebook has certainly gained a startling amount of global power as the top social networking site, and when there is great power, there is potential for great abuse. I agree that it is very important to safeguard our privacy and make our personal information “personal” … as far as this is actually possible, when weighed against the dichotomy of “online transparency”.

However, I wish to set aside these worries, clamor and discontent for a moment. When I look at the bigger picture of Facebook, “I stand all amazed“. This post is not intended to be an “advertisement for Facebook”. There are many ways to stay connected these days, and life certainly does not end if you don’t have (or want) FB. This post presents a personal observation.

In the past year, I have seen nothing short of a miracle in the good that has come to me personally from my Facebook account. The scriptures remind us that “all things which are good, come from God” Moroni 7:12, Alma 5:40.

Here is how I am finding the Greater Good on Facebook:

1. Finding FOREVER FRIENDS

Facebook has allowed me to  reconnect with people who were a very important part of my life  – my BFFs - whom I had lost all contact with, and nearly all hope of ever finding again. Here’s just a sample that has occurred over the past month:

  • Finding my best friend from High School. I discovered she has been happily married for 25 years, has 8 beautiful children (yes…8!!) and is a professional tri-athlete (putting all of my photos to shame). We also found that we can still talk for hours on end and laugh like little girls!
  • Finding my first best friend from Elementary School days. We have had the most delightful conversations –  sharing memories that had nearly faded. We’ve shared our joys, our sorrows, our stories, our families, and we can certainly still talk for hours on end and laugh like little girls! We’re planning a reunion during her  family vacation next summer.
  • I found my former boyfriend, which allowed each of us to mend the fence, and have closure. We share joy in our memories, our friendship, and our matured perspective on life.

 2. Finding ANGELS

Maj. Griffeth & Capt. Illingworth

Facebook has allowed me to find new friends in unexpected ways that have been a tremendous inspiration, and have changed my life for the better.  

One of those new friends is Major Tobin C. Griffeth of the US Air Force  . I found him on Facebook. As a fellow Latter-day Saint, we had something instantly in common. I was impressed with his love of family and country and his service in Afghanistan.  Then I discovered that Maj. Griffeth was an exceptional Airman, nominated alongside Capt. Katie Illingworth as one of this year’s “most inspiring people” on BeliefNet.com. While bravely serving in Afghanistan, he has still found the time and energy to spearhead the Service Project Operation Red River Care , which has helped change countless lives, build bridges of trust, and confirms that angels do still exist.

3. Finding LOVE

Facebook has allowed me to cultivate friendships, both old, current and new. The bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood with our friends and family here on earth are truly one of God’s greatest gifts. The older I get, the more precious these friendships are becoming. I’m finally old enough to grasp how short life is, and how fleeting our opportunity to share it with the ones we love really is.

Being wanted and needed is a crucial part of what defines us, and gives us purpose. Therefore, being able to gather our friends into a central place, where we can all keep in touch - as often, and as quickly as we like – is an amazing gift.

4. Finding GOD

Facebook’s business slogan is “Internet for Everyone”. So, is God on Facebook?  

I wouldn’t put it past devout followers to create a ‘fan page’ for Him. I’ve read that churches routinely use social networking, and it is reported that many people are Finding God on Facebook and Praying on Twitter. However, I am confident our Father in Heaven is capable of taking care of all His social networking needs through a much higher, and yes – even better - system!

That said, while God may not have his own “Facebook” page, I do believe He uses Facebook.  “Where there is good, there is God”. I have found the good. I have felt His power and His Spirit present. And for that, I give thanks for Facebook.

Mormon Trivia: The Angel Moroni Statue

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January 4th  is “National Trivia Day” in the USA. [You're welcome to play along no matter where you live]. It seems only appropriate I should share some interesting Mormon Trivia. So, here’s everything you need to know, and more, about:

THE ANGEL MORONI STATUE

Joseph Smith and The Angel Moroni

A large majority of Latter-day Saint (“Mormon”) Temples across the world have a gold-leaf statue perched on the top spire. The statue depicts a man in flowing robes blowing a trumpet. This recognizable Mormon symbol represents a heavenly messenger [angel] named Moroni, who appeared to the first Latter-day prophet Joseph Smith , visiting on several occasions. Moroni showed Joseph where the records of an ancient American civilization were buried, which were translated into the Book of Mormon. [extra trivia tidbit: the prophet Mormon which the book is named after and where Latter-day Saints get their nickname, was Moroni's father]

1840's Nauvoo "Flying Angel"

AN EARLY ANGEL:

The first angel placed on an LDS temple was the original Nauvoo Illinois Temple built in the 1840′s and destroyed by fire in 1848. The angel fulfilled a tri-functional purpose as religious symbol, weather vane, and lightning rod. This statue did not officially represent an angel Moroni. It was depicting a ”Flying Angel”, as inspired by Revelation 14:6,

“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.”

THE FIRST OFFICIAL ANGEL MORONI STATUE:

The Salt Lake Temple, dedicated in 1893, was the next LDS temple topped with an angel, and, the first to be formally identified as representing the angel Moroni. This statue was designed by an American Presbyterian sculptor living in Salt Lake City named Cyrus Dallin.

Cyrus E. Dallin, 1880

Cyrus Edwin Dallin was born in Springville, Utah, on 22 November 1861. His ancestors converted to the LDS Church in England and immigrated to Utah in 1851. Once there, however, Dallin’s parents joined the Presbyterian Church. As a child he loved sketching and modeling with clay. Eventually he studied art in Boston.

When LDS President Wilford Woodruff asked Dallin to create the statue, he declined, saying he “did not believe in angels.” President Woodruff was not deterred. He encouraged Cyrus to consult with his mother, a former Latter-day Saint.

The sculptor’s mother felt strongly that her son should accept the commission. When Cyrus repeated he did not believe in angels, his mother asked: “Why do you say that? You call me your ‘angel mother.’ ” She encouraged him to study LDS scriptures for inspiration, which he did.

SLC Angel Moroni Replica

Dallin’s design was a dignified, neoclassical angel in robe and cap, standing upright with a trumpet in hand. The original 40-inch plaster model was completed by 4 October 1891 and exhibited at the Salt Lake Fair. A full-size model was sent to Salem, Ohio, where the statue was hammered out of copper and covered with 22-karat gold leaf.

The 12-foot-5-inch statue stands on a stone ball on the 210-foot central spire on the east side of the temple.

Dallin’s reaction to his experience is enlightening:

“I consider that my ‘angel Moroni’ brought me nearer to God than anything I ever did. It seemed to me that I came to know what it means to commune with angels from heaven.”

(Levi Edgar Young, “The Angel Moroni and Cyrus Dallin,” Improvement Era, Apr. 1953, 234 as quoted)

OTHER SCULPTORS & ANGELS:

Today, nearly every Latter-day Saint temple includes an Angel Moroni statue. Since Cyrus Dallin, other significant sculptors have been involved in designing the statues:

LA Moroni - click to enlarge

1. Millard F. Malin created the 2nd Angel Moroni Statue, placed on the Los Angeles California Temple in 1953 (dedicated 1956) . His angel was cast in aluminum, and stands 4.7 meters high and weighs 953 kilograms. It has Native American features, wears a Mayan style cloak and holds the gold plates in his left hand. You can read a fascinating trivia article about this statue at Keepapitchin entitled “Angel Moroni’s Secret“.

2. Avard Fairbanks sculpted the third Angel Moroni statue which was placed on the Washington D.C. Temple, dedicated in 1974.

DC Moroni -click to enlarge

This angel was created as a one-meter model which was sent to Italy where it was enlarged, cast in bronze, and gilded. The finished statue is 5.5 meters high and weighs over 4,000 pounds (1814 kg). The Seattle Washington, Jordan River Utah, and Mexico City Mexico Temples each have a 4.6 meter casting of this statue.

 

Hill Comorah Monument

3. Torlief Knaphus is most famous for creating the Hill Cumorah Monument - [another Moroni statue] which stands atop the historic LDS site believed to be the location where Joseph Smith received the ancient Book of Mormon records [golden plates] from the angel Moroni. [Bonus trivia: This angel statue was the first designed holding the plates in it's left arm. Today, 5 Temples have an Angel Moroni statue depicted holding the gold plates in its left arm - Los Angeles California, Washington DC, Seattle Washington, Jordan River Utah and Mexico City] Located near Palmyra New York, just southeast of Rochester, this is also the site of the annual Hill Cumorah Pageant. Torlief created a second Moroni statue design which was eventually used for the Idaho Falls, Atlanta Georgia, and Boston Massachusetts Temples.

4. Karl Quilter studied under Avard Fairbanks, and sculpted his first Angel Moroni in 1978. Two sizes were made, one 3 meters high, the other just over 2 meters.

Quilter

These statues were designed to reduce the cost and weight of the previous Angel Moroni statues, in order to become a standard part of the temple architecture. These angels are made of fiberglass and covered with gold leaf. In 1998 with the construction of many new smaller temples, Quilter was commissioned to create a new angel. This angel was similar in design to his previous angels, but he gave Moroni a slightly more massive build, his left hand is opened, and his body is turned slightly showing more action. The photo attached is a 1998 design found on the Bern Switzerland Temple 2005 replacement Moroni. Quilter’s Angel Moroni design is found on well over one hundred (100) temples around the world. (J. Michael Hunter, “‘I Saw Another Angel Fly’,” Liahona, Aug. 2000, p. 12.)

FACING EAST or WEST?

The Angel Moroni statues are traditionally turned to face East, to herald the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ. However, a handful of angel Moroni statues face West  due to the orientation of the lots and the placement of the spires (or towers). These are the Seattle Washington Temple, Spokane Washington Temple, rebuilt Nauvoo Illinois Temple, and Taipei Taiwan Temple.

THE WHITE ANGEL EXPERIMENT

Photo shared by Jeff & Penny Richards

The Monticello Utah Temple is the only temple to have had a white angel Moroni. President Gordon B. Hinckley had envisioned all of the “smaller temples” to have a white enamel angel, however the Monticello experiment proved the white statue was too difficult to see, especially in cloudy weather. It was replaced about a year later by a larger, traditional gold-leafed statue, which remained the standard from then on.

TEMPLES WITHOUT AN ANGEL

Laie Hawaii Temple

For various reasons, eight (8) current temples do not have an angel Moroni. They are the St. George Utah, Logan Utah, Manti Utah, Laie Hawaii, Cardston Alberta, Mesa Arizona, Hamilton New Zealand, and Oakland California Temples.

ANGELS WITHOUT A TEMPLE

One of the most beloved and popular Angel Moroni’s during the early 20th century did not top a temple – but rather, it crowned the Washington D.C. Chapel.

DC Chapel, circa 1933

This Mormon congregation had the distinction of having the only chapel adorned by a golden angel Moroni (an exact replica of Cyrus Dallin’s Salt Lake City Temple Moroni). The stone used to construct the exquisite chapel was taken from a granite quarry in Utah and transported to the nation’s capital. Dedicated on Nov. 5, 1933, this beautiful and unique building served the church for over 4 decades, until it was sold in 1975 to the Unification Church. The unique Chapel Angel was removed at that time, and is now displayed inside the Museum of Church History in Salt Lake City.

[Extra Trivia: My father attended church in the Washington DC Ward Chapel during the late 1960s and early 70s. During that time, Dad served as a Ward Missionary Leader and credits many baptisms to their Angel Moroni. He recalls that visitors would be drawn to the beautiful building with the beautiful statue on a daily basis. They would come inside, and request to learn more about the church.]

ANGEL MORONI and LIGHTNING

The angel atop the newly constructed Oquirrh Mountain Temple was struck and blackened by lightning on June 13, 2009.

Angel Moroni damaged by Lightening 6-13-09

Many people enjoyed poking jabs at this incident, and/or trying to devise some sort of “sign from God” theory. However, the plain and simple fact is that being the highest point on a very tall building, all Angel Moroni statues are frequently hit by lightning. They each include a lightening rod to protect the building, which emerges from the top of the statues head, and they also include special varnish to protect against extreme weather.

It appears that this particular angel suffered from a fluke strike which bounced and caused scorching:

“The original Angel Moroni statue suffered damage when the June 13, 2009 bolt hit the lightning rod on its head and arced beyond that point.” – Deseret News Mormon Times

The poor damaged Moroni was replaced successfully. The new one included an extra lightening rod, for extra protection.

ANGEL MORONI and EARTHQUAKES:

The trumpets of the angel Moroni statues have been launched right out of Moroni’s grasp during earthquakes near the Santiago Chile Temple, Tokyo Japan Temple, and Apia Samoa Temple [see these Temple facts]

HOW MANY ANGEL MORONI STATUES?:

As of this publication date there are 130 Operating Temples, 8 Under Construction and 13 Announced – (click this link for monthly update). As stated above, 8 temples do not have an angel Moroni statue. That adds up to a lot of angel Moroni statues!

PLACING AN ANGEL:

The event of an angel Moroni being placed upon the top of a new temple is always a very exciting celebration.

VIDEO: The Helsinki Finland Temple Thursday, October 13, 2005.

Courtesy Google Videos

Each Angel Moroni is a special symbol to the Latter-day Saints. They are a reminder of the miraculous and holy circumstances which surround founding events of the church, and a declaration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ being available and declared to all nations of the earth.

I always welcome your comments!  ”Don’t be mean, & keep it clean“! – MoSop

**Article updated on Jan 31, 2012 – Thank you everyone for your amazing and helpful comments, and info sharing! I have added additional photos and links to improve this popular post**

Mormons Honor Tolkien

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Today is author J.R.R. Tolkien’s birthday. He would have been 118. Born on Jan. 3, 1892 (died Sept. 2, 1973), John Ronald Reuel Tolkien became a famous English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor. He is best known as the author of the classic fantasy works The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Indeed, he has been called the “Father of Modern Fantasy Literature”.

It is well known that Tolkien’s closest friend was fellow-author and Christian convert C.S. Lewis. Mormons Love C.S. Lewis. He is considered one of the most quoted non-LDS authors over an LDS pulpit – and likewise, J.R.R. Tolkien is admired no less.

Second President of the LDS Church Brigham Young said that “much … knowledge is obtained from books, which have been written by men who have contemplated deeply on various subjects, and the revelations of Jesus have opened their minds, whether they knew it or acknowledged it or not.” (Journal of Discourses 12:116, emphasis added.)

The Prophet Joseph Smith was admonished that we need to seek “out of the best books words of wisdom…seek learning, even by study and also by faith.” (D&C 88:118.) The Lord further urged that we need to “study and learn, and become acquainted with all good books, and with languages, tongues, and people.” (D&C 90:15.)

A brief search on lds.org offers a few examples of Mormons honoring J.R.R. Tolkien:

1. Elder Neal A. Maxwell (July 6, 1926 – July 21, 2004), LDS Apostle:

We may not be able to fix the whole world, but we can strive to fix what may be amiss in our own families. Tolkien reminds us:

“It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule” (The Return of the King [1965], 190).

From “Hope Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ“, emphasis added.

2. LDS-owned Brigham Young University holds a large annual Women’s Conference. The 1983 Conference chose a quote by Tolkien as their theme:

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost,
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
(J. R. R. Tolkien, from The Fellowship of the Ring.)

The theme was addressed thoughtfully and creatively by students, educators, and General Authorities alike in a wide variety of addresses, workshops, and opportunities for learning attended by over two thousand participants.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell was one of the conference’s speakers, and expanded the theme’s message.

“Your Tolkien theme, ‘Deep roots are not reached by the frost,’ might well have had added to it, ‘nor are they scorched by the sun.’ Jesus described the realities of that scorching sun when he talked in these terms: ‘And some fell upon the stony places, where they had not much earth, and forthwith they sprung up because they had no deepness of earth. And when the sun was up, they were scorched, and because they had no root, they withered away.’ (Matt. 13:5–6.)”

“In our own lives, the heat will come—not alone in the rigors of daily life, but also in the special summer of circumstance at that point in history when the leaves of the fig trees sprout. The anticipated summer is upon us, and only those who are (to cite Peter and Paul’s adjectives) ‘grounded, rooted, established and settled’ will survive spiritually. (See Eph. 3:17; Col. 1:23; Col. 2:7.)”

As quoted in the May 1983 Ensign “News of the Church“

3. Renoun Latter-day Saint fantasy artist James C. Christensen stated his symbolic art was greatly influenced by C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien:

The Pelican King

“[C.S. Lewis puts] the gospel in a nongospel context. And he’s not writing just for a religious audience. He’s accepted out there in the real world. I found the same thing with J. R. R. Tolkien. This happened while I was in college. The fact that their fantasy was considered as a viable kind of expression gave me the courage to say, “Why don’t I try to do the same sort of thing visually and see what happens?”

From the interview “Windows On Wonder: An Interview with James C. Christensen“, New Era August, 1989

And last, but not least, Mormon Soprano raises her own toast. I have always loved the following words of Tolkien wisdom:

Nearly all marriages, even happy ones, are mistakes: in the sense that almost certainly (in a more perfect world, or even with a little more care in this very imperfect one) both partners might be found more suitable mates. But the real soul-mate is the one you are actually married to.  (J. R. R. Tolkien, Letter to Michael Tolkien, March 1941)

Happy Birthday Mr. Tolkien!

What To Celebrate Now? Get Creative With Flagpoles

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Celebrating Jan 2nd

Well, here we are. January 2nd. For the past month I have posted [nearly] every day. Naturally, the built-in theme for the first 3 weeks of December focused on the joy and anticipation of Christmas, and then the last week we spent some time saying goodbye to the old year, writing resolutions, and generally welcoming in the New Year.

OK. Now what?

Birthday? Nope. Celebrated in December. [didn't write a post, because frankly there's nothing significant or exciting attached to age 43, other than the fact it's nice to get to be alive another year, but I'd rather not declare my age to the world ... which, of course, I guess I just did .... ]

Anniversary? Nope. Once again, in December. This year WAS a very significant one – our 20th, to be exact. I didn’t officially dedicate a post to it because I had this completely fantastic idea that I couldn’t pull off in time, and so, like the paralyzed perfectionist I often am, I didn’t commemorate it formally on the blog at all. [sorry sweetheart].

At times like these, a blogger must either get really creative, or just start conducting random Google searches, until she stumbles upon a site dedicated to BIZARRE AND UNIQUE HOLIDAYS, where one can learn that on every January 2nd it’s time to celebrate:

Run-Up-The-Flag-And-See-If-Anyone-Salute’s DAY!

Yes, you heard me! I’m not making this up. Today’s “holiday” actually has nothing to do with a Flag, or a Flagpole, or even Saluting, for that matter. The whole thing is ”Just an expression of speech“. It means to suggest an idea to see what people think, or to see if they even notice. From the website I quote:

Run it Up the Flagpole to See if Anyone Salutes Day is set aside to allow people to do just that. Be creative today.  Use this day to try and test new ideas and concepts.  Don’t limit the ideas to business applications. In your personal life, try out a new dress or clothing style, perhaps a different haircut. Or, maybe buy a new houseflag and run it up the flagpole to see if anyone salutes…or even notices…

So there you go. Today is your big chance to share a UNIQUE IDEA, and then watch to see if anyone notices.

Got any ideas? Do tell!

I promise to notice.

New Optimism

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OptimismOn today’s Wordpress home page there is a simple poll. The question reads:

“Are you optimistic for 2010?”

The 24-hr. vote shows that the answer “Yes” garnered 84%. Wow! It is nice to know that despite a world filled with troubles, we can still find a majority filled with optimism.

This knowledge makes me feel more cheerful and more optimistic, seeing that vote of confidence!

After consulting two online-dictionaries for the word “Optimism“, here are a couple of definitions I enjoyed: 

1. “Having a state of positive beliefs”

2. “The belief that the universe is improving and that good will ultimately triumph over evil.”

 

Take a minute to read some other words in the family of optimism:

anticipation, assurance, brightness, buoyancy, calmness, certainty, cheer, confidence, easiness, elation, enthusiasm, exhileration, expectation, good cheer, happiness, idealism, positivism, sureness, trust…

And one my personal favorites … Hope!

It is my hope that reading those words filled you up with as much positive energy as it did for me! Today, I join with you in sharing New Optimism for our New Year!

The Power of HOPE