Not a prudent move, but a brilliantly successful one

Some of you, I think, will enjoy this:  “How to watch the Tabernacle Choir’s pilot of ‘Music & the Spoken Word’ in Spanish: The Spanish pilot of the Tabernacle Choir’s ‘Music & the Spoken Word’ airs Sunday, July 30”

There is much food for thought in the survey data reported here.  I’m not sure whether to be encouraged or discouraged:  “Where Boomer Faith in God Is Low, Gen Z Belief Is Up: What nearly 20,000 people in 26 countries believe about God, Satan, and the supernatural.”

Some of the attention of the Interpreter Foundation has been focused in recent months on the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  (I hope that you will see the results of this attention in a year or two; some will see it much sooner.)  So I was pleased to see this, and the more so because it involves Elder Ian S. Ardern, of the Africa Central Area presidency, whom I first met at his home in New Zealand long before his call to service as a General Authority and even more his tenure presiding over the Fiji Suva Mission:  “New friends, strengthened faith: 1,200 youth attend FSY in Democratic Republic of the Congo: ‘Thank you for being on the covenant path,’ Elder Ardern tells the youth”

I’ve been working today on notes for my remarks at the beginning of the Wednesday morning opening session of the annual FAIR conference.  The expectation that I’ll have images during my presentation has fundamentally changed my approach:  In olden times, I sometimes chose my topic at FAIR immediately before standing up to the podium.  But I can’t do that anymore.  The tech people need to have all PowerPoint materials in hand several days before the meetings begin.

One of the most astonishing things to me about the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in England is its beginning.  I quote from the important 1992 volume by James B. Allen, Ronald K. Esplin, and David J. Whittaker entitled Men with a Mission: The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the British Isles, 1837-1841:

To all appearances, the spring of 1837 was hardly the time to send any of his leaders abroad, but, Joseph Smith declared, “God revealed to me that something new must be done for the salvation of His Church,” and this “something” was the mission to England. The announcement surprised Heber Kimball. On June 4 the Prophet approached him in the Kirtland Temple, saying, “The Spirit of the Lord has whispered to me, ‘let my servant Heber go to England and proclaim my gospel and open the door of salvation to that nation.'” The news astounded him. He had long thought of preaching in England, but now, with Kirtland in crisis? And alone, without others of his quorum? Heber had expected to be part of such a mission, but he considered himself an unlikely candidate to lead out. With his lack of formal education and limited experience as a leader, the idea of leading a mission to sophisticated England “was almost more than I could bear up under.” He asked the Prophet if Brigham Young could accompany him, but needing “Brother Brigham” in Kirtland, Joseph would not consider it. One disaffected colleague chided Heber for being such a fool as to listen “to Joseph Smith, the fallen Prophet” and leave for England at such a time. Another also thought it foolish but, seeing his determination, gave him a cloak to help him on his way. Brigham Young urged him to go, promising “in the name of Israel’s God you shall be blessed.” In preparation, Heber daily retreated to the attic story of the temple and poured out his soul.

To say that it was an outwardly unpromising moment to send Elder Heber C. Kimball, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and one of the very most faithful members of the Church, across the Atlantic Ocean is an understatement.  The Panic of 1837, which soon enveloped the Kirtland Bank and plunged both town and Church into chaos and despair, began in May.  That same month, Warren Parrish led others, including some members of the Quorum of the Twelve, in speaking out against Joseph Smith.  And yet Joseph set apostles Heber C. Kimball and Orson Hyde and Joseph Fielding (a British-born priest at the time)  apart as missionaries to England on 11 June.  And, just two days later, on 13 June 1837, they departed from Kirtland, Ohio, along with Willard Richards (himself a future apostle and a future member of the First Presidency).  Within roughly a year, the Latter-day Saints would largely have abandoned Kirtland.

It was a daring move on the part of Joseph Smith and, I would say, a prophetic one.  It certainly wasn’t “prudent” by earthly standards.  But did it contribute — mightily — to the “salvation of [the] Church”?  In my opinion, mightily so.

It seems to me a perfect illustration of a definition of faith given by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.:

Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase.

And, finally, some new horrors from the ever-terrifying Christopher Hitchens Memorial “How Religion Poisons Everything” File™:

“New Organic Gardens in Peru Will Nourish the Bodies and Minds of Children: Over 2,400 students will benefit from the Church’s collaboration with the Qali Warma National School Feeding Program”

“Offering Hope to Young Victims of Abuse in Samoa”

“Church of Jesus Christ continues to provide relief in Türkiye with the launch of new projects: Additional food boxes, hygiene kits, water and children’s clothes distributed”

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Partners with Other Faiths and Government Leaders in Mbuji-Mayi, DR Congo to Promote Marriage: “There is no church without family, and there is no state without family.””