OK, but then so are road shows. George
----- Original Message ----- From: "Stacy Smith" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2003 10:20 AM Subject: Re: [ZION] Is Laughter a Sin? > I don't feel the same way and I'm a former Baptist. I feel it's > sensationalistic. > > 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 > > > >/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// / > >// > >/// ZION LIST CHARTER: Please read it at /// > >/// http://www.zionsbest.com/charter.html /// > >/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// / > >/ > > > >/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// /// > >/// 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: 6.0.501 / Virus Database: 299 - Release Date: 07/14/2003 > > //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// // > /// ZION LIST CHARTER: Please read it at /// > /// http://www.zionsbest.com/charter.html /// > //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// / > > > > ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// /// ZION LIST CHARTER: Please read it at /// /// http://www.zionsbest.com/charter.html /// ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aaP9AU.bWix1n.YXJjaGl2 Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] TOPICA - Start your own email discussion group. 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