Can Rich People Make It Into Heaven?

The Bible says (Mark 10:25), "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." Does this mean that rich people aren't meant for heaven? Part of me certainly hopes not.

I wouldn't mind being rich, myself -- what was it Tevye says? "Would it spoil some vast eternal plan if I were a wealthy man?" 

While Tevye sings about the prospect of being rich, he first imagines life becoming easier. And then he imagines building great things -- in other words, doing good things with his money. Then he quickly moves to imagining the wife being spoiled, yelling at servants, and finally imagining himself as a Wise Man that people come to. He says, "It won't make one bit of difference if I answer right or wrong. When you're rich, they think you really know."

And suddenly he comes back down to earth, saying he would then have more time to pray and discuss scripture with learned men in Jerusalem -- the "sweetest thing of all."

It's interesting how he moves from deliverance, to well intentions, to greed, and then lastly his heart's truest desire.

I think of my own true desire -- if I didn't have to work my day job, I could spend a lot more time changing the world through my music, fiction and non-fiction writing. I worked out that if I had five million dollars, I could just live off of growth for the rest of my life and concentrate on what I love the most.

But then wouldn't I, similar to Tevye, also want to move into that rich gated community? Or use my money to put together an orchestra, or something big to benefit the world? Would I be able to resist the temptation to fall into the traps of greed?

I'm thinking of many rich people that I know (you meet a lot in my line of work), and most of them seem to have one thing in common -- they tend to be atheist or agnostic. And if you bring up religion, they'll be interested to listen, but then it's pretty clear that they have no interest in it. They see it as unnecessary, because why would you need religion when you already have everything you need? Yet, most of these peeps tend to be good, honest people.

But then again, there are a chunk of rich people I know who maintain their religion. I know them from my church -- so yes, I realize it's a biased sample. Though, we Latter-day Saints do seem to attract rich people. Our religion doesn't condemn wealth, but it does promote self-reliance and good stewardship of what you own. For example, it would not be good to be yelling at all your servants. Also, religious rich people tend to give more to charity than do non-religious people.

Bill Gates is one example. I didn't know this, but he's a practicing Catholic, and has raised his children in the Church, and he praises the "moral systems of religion." He is so rich that he can do this ...

Yeah, living on just 1% interest alone, he could earn enough money for a Lamborghini in about an hour. That's crazy rich. And he seems to have trouble spending all that money. He has pledged to donate 95% of his wealth to several different causes, and he's still working on it.

Other famous rich people likewise give a large chunk to charity: Jeff Bezos (religion unknown), Elon Musk (agnostic).

Do any of these good-doers have a shot at heaven? I would like to think so, especially with how much good was accomplished with what they've done with their money.

What about the stingier billionaires like Donald Trump who don't donate as much to charity? I wouldn't too quick to judge, as these billionaires could still be helping some people, whether it be through creating jobs or more directed charity (like Oprah buying really expensive presents for lots of people).

It all certainly gives me a lot to think about. I would hate to not be rich for the fear of missing out on heaven. I think it's what you do with that money that determines your shot at heaven. Are you yelling at your servants? Probably not good. Are you providing lots of jobs and opportunities? Maybe getting better. Are you remembering God at all times? Increasing the chances.

Either way, I'd certainly be willing to give it a try.

Can Busy People Have the Spirit?

I'm annoyed today, because this has been a rough weekend at work -- such that it has even spilled into my Sunday, interrupting my usual Sunday activities, and it wasn't because of something I did or failed to do. It just happened.

But I do notice that when this happens, I get exhausted -- like super tired. Then Monday comes and I realize that I really didn't get any rest. And as a result, I can feel as if my spirituality has dropped. I had to do "Gentile" stuffs on the Sabbath, and it distracted me.

On the other hand, I'm naturally a busy type of guy. If work doesn't fill up my time, I'll figure out ways to fill it up with my own activities. As I've recently said in another blog, I hate being bored. Perhaps my own desire to be busy bogs me down sometimes?

And then I imagine the CEO of my company, who I believe is a devout Christian. If I have to do work on an occasional Sunday, you gotta guess that he's living the company every hour of every day, and it makes me ask ...

Is it possible for a busy person to have the Spirit?

A quick search on the internets to see what the Bible has to say:

Luke 10:38-42 -- Jesus is being entertained by Mary and Martha. Martha's in the kitchen working hard, while Mary is listening to Jesus' stories. Martha complains: shouldn't Mary be in the kitchen helping me? And Jesus answers: Mary has chosen the better part.

James 1:2 -- Count it all joy when you meet all kinds of trials.

Luke 12:27-28 -- Consider the lilies -- God will take care of you.

Isaiah 41:10 -- Fear not, God is with you and will strengthen you.

1 Timothy 5:13 -- busybodies are idlers going from house to house spreading gossip.

Luke 1:37 -- nothing is impossible with God.

Jeremiah 29:11 -- God has plans for us to give us a future and a hope.

Galatians 6:9 -- Do not grow weary of doing good, because we reap what we sow.

... and plenty of scriptures on "peace be still."

So, I guess there are so many aspects to consider. We don't want to be busy just for busyness' sake. (BTW -- I didn't realize that busyness was a real word.) I see it at work all the time -- especially when I give someone a process to help cut down their hours, and they find something else to fill up their time.

Yet, we should never be weary of doing good works. This is what I'm always trying to do -- especially now that I'm past 50 and I know my time on Earth is limited. I now have this strange desire to want to do things that will help the world instead of just myself (or my bosses).

And perhaps most comforting -- if you're anything like me, you probably feel sometimes that you have no choice but to work so hard. You're just trying to keep your head above the water. And yet we have all these scriptures that God is still with us, and he will give us aid. He can lighten our burdens and calm the storms in our lives.

So -- yes, even when busyness is often self-inflicted, I think it's possible to have the Spirit. But, we have to do our part. Whether it be to always have a prayer in our heart, or if we consciously decide to stop for a moment to remember God and our purpose on Earth. It's very possible to maintain the Spirit.

What are your own experiences with being busy?

Where Have All the Christians Gone?

For this week's spiritual thought, I've decided to touch on current events and present this urgent call to repentance. This post is written in terms that my Latter-day Saint friends will understand, but what I say here applies to all Christians equally.

During these uncertain times, tensions and anger have risen to dangerously high levels. Never before have I seen so much entrenchment, hatred, and even violence. Members of the two major parties see each other as enemies like never before. In particular, we appear to have disagreements over who has won the last national election to such a degree that violence erupted last week, and will, with near certainty, erupt this coming week.

So alarming has this trend been that the prophets of my church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) have warned us and given us council on several occasions. In June 2020, President Nelson condemned the "looting, defacing, or destroying public or private property."

During the October 2020 General Conference, practically all talks touched on current events and the rising hatred. Several times we were reminded to "Love Your Enemies." In particular, Pres. Oaks gave a whole talk just on that subject alone. Here's a summary.

In November 2020, President Nelson launched the week-long #givethanks campaign. He suggested that the best way to navigate through our current hard times is to have a thankful heart. I think the effort did help somewhat, and there's no reason not to continue.

Just this past week, the church has issued yet another statement urging against violence and to honor democratic institutions and processes.

In addition, the Church puts out its usually periodic statements about political neutrality and the importance of voting. Here is the latest statement. If you check earlier years, you'll see these statements always contain variants of the following council:

Principles compatible with the gospel may be found in various political parties, and members should seek candidates who best embody those principles.

While the Church affirms its institutional neutrality regarding political parties and candidates, individual members should participate in the political process. Please strive to live the gospel in your own life by demonstrating Christlike love and civility in political discourse.

I believe the instructions from our Church leaders are clear. There is no official Church party. In each party, principles can be found that are compatible with the gospel. And, we should always be demonstrating Christlike love, including civility in our political discourse.

And they have said it not once, but several times over the past. I believe they are very concerned over us and want us to do the right thing. Also, I would bet that my Christian friends from other denominations are receiving similar council, except for a few more militant churches.

Also, note that these leaders mention that we "should participate in the political process." And they are not asking us to refrain from protesting peacefully. They're just asking us to be respectful toward each other, refrain from violence, and remember Christlike love and civility. Indeed, I have had several productive conversations with "opponents" over the last few months. We don't always succeed in convincing the other person, but I think we end up having a better understanding of the opposing view.

Yet, I am distressed to see so many self-proclaimed Christians (not just members of my church) choosing to ignore this council. I see posts comparing one candidate to God and another to Satan, and posts saying "If you believe this, there's no way we can be friends." I see plenty of angry ad hominems lobbed at other people. There are even plenty of posts along the lines of, "If you voted for this person, you're going to have trouble at the pearly gates."

If you need any proof or reminder of this, I invite you to check out the latest announcement by the Church on their Facebook page, and peruse the comments. And then you will see what I mean. It is a very sad irony that the prophets call for peace, love, respect, and understanding, and the majority of responses are just the opposite.

On the one side, Trump is lifted up as God's chosen -- like an idol, someone who can do no wrong, and who is believed beyond all other considerations ... a devotion I've never before witnessed. Not Reagan, not Clinton, and not even Obama.

And evidently ... not even President Russell M. Nelson. People would rather set aside this warning and council in defense of their man. Anyone speaking against Trump is a heretic worthy of hellfire.

On the other side, Trump is a symbol of hate and evil. He can do no right. Even Republicans who helped Trump get into power are complicit and need to be removed from office. I've even had one friend on Facebook post: "If you are a member of the Republican Party, then this is all your fault. You can defriend me."

I believe the truth is somewhere in the middle: Trump is not all good, but he's also not all bad. That's why we should try much harder to understand our opponents (not "enemies"). We don't need to agree, but understanding can go a long way, and beneficial answers can be found to help everyone. 

But from what I'm witnessing, this is not happening right now. It's why I ask in the title: where have all the Christians gone? Because, in all honesty, I don't see very many right now. 

I should probably mention that in my most immediate area, by far, most of my church friends are being quite reasonable -- I think we have a great ward. They are also not posting that much on social media -- so I'm pretty sure that what I see is really a minority of "loud" disgruntled Christians who are posting and not being very Christian.

Most urgently, though, I want you to consider this. It doesn't take a prophet to guess what's going to happen in the next few days. Thousands of armed troops will be protecting Washington DC. Who knows how many people will come to participate in armed protests? You know that these two will not mix very well. There is going to be death ... somewhere. And I'm not certain how many peaceful protestors may be caught in the middle.

I get that many of you are passionate in what you believe. You feel that you need to do something about it. Perhaps you wish to stop the transfer of power. Or perhaps you're planning on staging a counter protest. Either way, just make sure not to be this dog ...

You may find yourself in a sudden situation where you cannot avoid losing your life. And then it's too late.

Or ... you can choose to listen to the prophets now ... remember who you are ... bring out the Christlike love ... turn on the spirit of gratitude ... love your enemies ... and live to discuss these matters another day. 

I believe we can get through this and persevere... as long as we act like Christians.

The First Vision

I debated what topic to pursue this week. I know I don't want to concentrate on Church history every single week, but then again, this week's lesson is a big one. It's also a very divisive topic -- just to warn you off the bat. But I ultimately decided, I can take this opportunity to showcase this core belief in my church for your education. If anyone ever wants to learn about the "Mormons," this is one of the most important stories to learn, because this is the origin story of the Church.

Here's the short version of the story, usually called "The First Vision," but you can learn much more by reading Joseph's account here.

In 1820, Joseph Smith, 14 years old, went out to the woods behind his farm to pray. He wanted to ask which church to join. He was then visited by God and Jesus who told him to join none of the churches. They would subsequently help Joseph to restore the original Church of Jesus Christ -- hence the full name of our church: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Joseph Smith goes into much more detail ... what God and Jesus looked like, what they said, the scriptures they quoted, what prophecies they uttered, and what instruction they gave.

When I tell this story to most people, it is almost always met with skepticism. "Do you actually believe this?" Some may just say, "Interesting" and nod their heads, but you can still see it in their eyes.

It's because it's a remarkable story -- just like a burning bush talking to Moses, or Jacob wrestling with God, or Jesus healing the sick. And it's a story that's impossible to prove. Was anybody else in the woods to corroborate the story? No. We can only rely on the words of Joseph Smith, himself.

Can one be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and not believe this story? Not really, because the whole Church hinges on this genesis story. If Joseph did not see God and Jesus, then everything else couldn't have happened ... the instruction, the prophecies, the Book of Mormon. In other words, as many people in the world believe, Joseph Smith simply made it all up. On the other hand, if the story is true, then everything else is true, and it would become imperative to investigate this religion. 

And thus comes the source of division.

Indeed, I have no way to prove the story. I can only believe it in faith.

In 2019, I took my family to Palmyra, NY to see the Hill Cumorah Pageant before it ends (maybe this year or the next depending on the Covid19 outbreak). We also visited several church history sites, including the Sacred Grove where this very origin story occurred.

No particular spot has been identified, but I pretended to have found the spot here:

It certainly felt to me that I was in the very place where it happened ... almost like sacred ground. This isn't proof I can use to convince others, but it was certainly special to me.

2020 was to be the big 200th anniversary celebration. In fact, I worked with my composer friend to publish his "First Vision" cantata, hoping it could help in the celebration, and then the pandemic hit. And we weren't alone. Any celebrations to be had were greatly diminished. Perhaps there may be some residual celebrations later this year when things open up much more.

Either way, there you have it ... a small part of me ... a big part of the church I belong to.

The Doctrine and Covenants

This week marks the beginning of a new year, which always means a new curriculum by the Church. As part of the "Come, Follow Me" program, two years ago we learned about the New Testament. This past year we learned about the Book of Mormon. For 2021 we will concentrate on our Doctrine & Covenants, and next year we'll most likely read the Old Testament. And our Pearl of Great Price appears to be dispersed over all 4 years. All together, this constitutes our canon of scripture ... five books.

So, for this week's spiritual thought, I wanted to give y'all a heads up. I try to keep these posts open for everyone to read, including those who don't belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But this year provides somewhat of a challenge, as out of the five books, the Doctrine & Covenants (D&C for short) is the one book that covers actual Church history and revelations recorded by our prophet, Joseph Smith, Jr., and a couple of other prophets.

I think what I may do this year is to take this as an opportunity to share some Church history tidbits so you non-members can learn more about what makes us all Latter-day Saints. Not with the intention of converting, but more with the intention of sharing information. The more we learn about others, the more we learn about ourselves. I constantly study other religions and what they have to offer, and more often than not, I find surprising similarities.

Also, one suggestion I'm given is to read the Church-published "Saints," which details a lot of history around the time of Joseph Smith. I'm getting ready to download this for my Kindle from Amazon for free. I believe it is available for free elsewhere as well. Let me search really fast ... it's available in HTML (you can read in your browser) here.

I have to admit that I'm actually light on Church history. I know all the big details that most members pick up in Sunday School, and I've read the first five fiction books of The Work and the Glory, which actually taught me several pieces of history, and plenty of stories from here and there, but that's about yet. 

So, this year I'm going to strengthen myself and give more effort to learn more about the history of my own church.

If I find anything cool, I'll share, but as always I'll try to keep this interesting for all readers.

I'm kind of excited about this new change of scenery. And perhaps, you too, can decide to spend the year attacking something new. Perhaps you can learn more about the history of your own particular denomination. Or about the beginnings of Christianity itself. Or about the history of other religions. If you're atheist (and still reading), I'm sure you can find something as well -- perhaps learn more about the atheistic movement? There is good to be learned from all experiences and history, and I invite you to join me in a fun journey this year. We'll see what happens.