My roommate went to a singing testimony meeting today where people from the congregation would go up, say what they liked about a particular hymn, and then the congregation would sing that hymn. Below is one of the testimonies:
"I am going to sing this hymn because we only get to sing it once a year and I think that's just a shame. I'm going to sing "The Star Spangled Banner" because I just love this country so much and I'm so grateful I live here and I know it's the best country on earth, even with a socialist president ;) " He then proceeds to sing "The Star Spangled Banner" and everyone joins in enthusiastically.
Well, as you can imagine, I was SO SAD I missed this because lets be honest, I would have had a field day. But lets not fret friends, for we have the internet to come to my aid! I will now post the response I would have given, had I been blessed enough to attend such a meeting.
"I chose this next hymn we are going to sing because I am just so grateful to have the teachings of Jesus to guide us in our physical lives, as well as our spiritual. I am particularly grateful for the story of the wealthy young man who goes to the savior and asks what he must do to obtain salvation. The Lord tells him to give all he has to the needy, and follow him. Unfortunately, this blessed young man did not love the savior enough to share his physical blessings with his less fortunate brethren. I am grateful that none of us are like this young man. I am grateful that we belong to a global church that does not shy away from things like socialism, but instead has a history of holy revelation, like the Law of Consecration, or the Bishop's Storehouse. And most importantly, I am so glad we live in an apparently socialist country. A country that understands that when we have been given much, we too must give. For are we not all beggars? It is in this spirit, that I would like to sing Hymn 219, "Because I Have Been Given Much."
Because I have been given much, I too must give;
Because of thy great bounty, Lord, each day I live
I shall divide my gifts from thee
With every brother that I see
Who has the need of help from me.
Because I have been sheltered, fed by thy good care,
I cannot see another's lack and I not share
My glowing fire, my loaf of bread,
My roof's safe shelter overhead,
That he too may be comforted.
Because I have been blessed by thy great love, dear Lord,
I'll share thy love again, according to thy word.
I shall give love to those in need;
I'll show that love by word and deed:
Thus shall my thanks be thanks indeed.
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I can't even tell you how much I love this. The religious irony of anti-socialist Mormons (and Christians in general) kills me.
ReplyDeleteThank YOU! I can't even tell you how much this just made my day!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you liked it!
ReplyDeleteThe need to give when given much is hardly a call for institutionalized socialism. It's like someone saying (and I've heard it before on multiple occasions) that no true Mormon who reads King Benjamin's address should be a democrat. That's stupid, so would be saying that Mormons all should be republicans or conservatives.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I don't agree at all with what the Star Spangled Banner singer said, but isn't promoting OR opposing government institutions based on religious argument equally presumptuous. I like to say that God usually lets us work out our own messes and probably doesn't appreciate being blamed for our stupid decisions.
Hi Dennis, I totally agree. That was my whole point. That it was completely inappropriate, not to mention offensive, to say that in a sacrament meeting. As demonstrated above, I can create a pretty decent argument for socialism from the doctrines of the church so why don't we keep asinine and inflammatory comments to ourselves during church instead of saying them over the pulpit.
ReplyDeleteI am curious though, how do people get not being a democrat from King Benjamin's speech? That makes no sense to me.
Sorry, I didn't mean that people use King Benjamin's speech as reason to be republican. I've only heard that one used by democrats. It's usually captain Moroni, or modern prophets used to push the republican agenda. Dumb on both sides.
ReplyDeleteIn all honesty, your bishop should have probably stood up and corrected the young man. I've been in at least 3 or 4 sacrament meetings where a bishop has had to stand after a talk or a testimony and remind everyone that the church isn't the place to push politics and the people speaking have been from both sides.