Stacy.
At 10:41 AM 07/15/2003 -0600, you wrote:
And I for one just love Gospel music and am grateful that I can find some on the cable channels. The Baptist may have a lot wrong, but they have great music.
George
----- Original Message ----- From: "Stacy Smith" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, July 14, 2003 1:41 PM Subject: Re: [ZION] Is Laughter a Sin?
It's been a mystery to me for a long time, but being serious-minded myself I felt I didn't have to worry about it. This is, however, one of the reasons I won't listen to sing-songy Protestant hymns and deplore the choir from singing them. I also refuse to listen to Gladys Knight for the same reasons. I think there is too much emotionality in these songs that could contribute to levity.
Stacy.
At 09:46 AM 07/14/2003 -0800, you wrote:
>Yesterday in Priesthood Meeting we studied the sermons of John Taylor on >the topic of keeping the Sabbath day holy. At one point in the lesson we >came to these words: > >"And when we do meet to worship God, I like to see us worship him with all >our hearts. I think it altogether out of place on such occasions to hear >people talk about secular things; these are times, above all others >perhaps, when our feelings and affections should be drawn out towards God." > >In the course of our discussion of this particular teaching of President >Taylor, I mentioned my puzzlement over a related issue. To my mind, one >of the mysteries of Mormonism is the commandment found repeatedly in the >Doctrine and Covenants and elsewhere that we avoid loud laughter and light >mindedness. > >D&C 59: 15. >15 And inasmuch as ye do these things with thanksgiving, with cheerful >hearts and countenances, not with much laughter, for this is sin, but with >a glad heart and a cheerful countenance- > >D&C 88: 69. >69 Remember the great and last promise which I have made unto you; cast >away your idle thoughts and your excess of laughter far from you. > >D&C 88:121 > 121 Therefore, cease from all your light speeches, from all laughter, > from all your lustful desires, from all your pride and light-mindedness, > and from all your wicked doings. > >When I turn to the Topical Guide, and read the references cited under >"Levity" I gain some insight from this: > >D&C 43:34 > 34 Hearken ye to these words. Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Savior of > the world. Treasure these things up in your hearts, and let the > solemnities of eternity rest upon your minds. > >Even Joseph Smith seemed to think that "levity" was a sin: > >JS-H 1:28 > 28 But I was guilty of levity, and sometimes associated with jovial > company, etc., not consistent with that character which ought to be > maintained by one who was called of God as I had been. > >Further, I see these scriptural admonitions reflected in our church >culture. Our hymns are thought unusually solemn by other >churches. Mormons are frequently accused of taking themselves too >seriously. And not a few have remarked that many Mormons don't seem to >have much sense of humor. > >I grew up outside the Church largely among Jews in the Omaha Jewish >community. I have long been impressed with how well developed a sense of >humor the Jews have. Indeed, many of our best professional comedians are >Jewish. And while living among American Indians at BYU I noticed that >most Native Americans are almost as funny as Jews. But as a group, the >Mormons are a deadly serious people. At least that is the way it seems to me. > >So is cracking jokes a sin? If not, then what do these scriptural >passages mean? In D&C 88:121 we are actually commanded to cease "from all >laughter." What is the reconciliation? Or must this remain a mystery to me? > > >John W. Redelfs [EMAIL PROTECTED] >=========================================== >"There is no place in this work for those who believe only >in the gospel of doom and gloom. The gospel is good >news. It is a message of triumph." --Gordon B. Hinckley >=========================================== >All my opinions are tentative pending further data. --JWR >/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// /// >/// ZION LIST CHARTER: Please read it at /// >/// http://www.zionsbest.com/charter.html /// >/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// // > > > > > > > >--- >Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. >Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). >Version: 6.0.489 / Virus Database: 288 - Release Date: 06/10/2003
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