Many of you know that last month in Elders Quorum the President was giving a lesson about the direction our economy and the country in general was heading (Down the tubes). As he began his lesson he started pacing back and forth in obvious excitement (Pause) then he turned to me and announced to the class that in a month I was going to follow up with a lesson about the religious freedoms that were included in the original constitution that were now being denied to us [My mouth hangs open] (He then Resumes pacing). Hmmm.
As you can imagine I have spent the last few weeks with a nagging thought in the back of my mind reminding me that soon I would have to stand to present a brief treatsie on the thoughts and intents of our founding fathers regarding religious freedom. Hmmm. Needless to say, I wasn't excited.
Finally yesterday morning arrived and I knew my time was up. I spent a few minutes brushing up and then I reported for duty. To be honest, I had no idea what I was going to say. I was relieved to see I only had twenty minutes to present.
As I stood there, trying to frame my opening remarks, I asked an ice breaker question: "List for me some of the constitutional religious rights that are being denied you and I". (Not a hand is raised or a response shouted out, somewhere in the background a cricket began chirping).
I think to myself: OK, lets try that again. "Can any of you think of examples in your lifetime, where the government has restricted our ablity to practice religion"?
(repeated lack of respons except this time someone coughs).
I take courage and respond: "The reason that none of you can think of an example is that there aren't any. If there were we would all be aware of them. This government was founded upon the rights of religious freedom, and those rights are protected by the constitution." Thus ended my treatsie.
I then spent the remainder of the lesson discussing the 134th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, and finished off with the idea that things in this world are unfolding as they should, that God is in control, and we should spend our time in doing our responsibilities and let God do his. Or as Neal A. Maxwell put it, "Isn't it interesting that we who wear wrist watches seek to counsel he who oversees cosmic clocks and calenders".
P.S. Trivia time: Who wrote the 134th section, and is it a revelation?
P.S.S. On a random side note, here is a shout out to Crunchy Chedder Jalapeno Cheetos. Buy em, Inhale em, Love em.
Out.
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4 comments:
LOL. Well, that worked out well (and in your favor!) Good show! I nod in your direction and would pop a cheeto in your honor, if I had one.
D&C 134 was unanimously approved by the brethren in Kirtland, I believe...who did write it?
Oh how I wish I could have been a fly on the wall to witness this!
Vintage Jared right there. Love it! Especially the chirping crickets. Maybe that will teach him not to ask you to expound on ridiculous topics again. :)
Thanks for the laugh!
I would have run out of the room!
I knew you liked those cheetos!
The authorship of section 134 traditionally has been attributed to Oliver Cowdery. The prophet was not present at the time but later approved of section 134 and declared the statement to be "the belief of the Church" on principles of law and government.
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