Step 5
October 1, 2010 at 9:42 pm 7 comments
Step 5 is about the only thing scarier than Step 4!
Step 5:
Admit to yourself, to your Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ, to proper priesthood authority, and to another person the exact nature of your wrongs.
I’ve been thinking about the meaning(s) of this step for a long time, hence my several-month-long absence. On the surface, it seems like Step 5 is about little else other than public humiliation. I know that, for me, this step seems like an exercise in airing dirty laundry in public. As I’ve been thinking about this, though, two things have come to me.
First, I think Step 5 is a further step toward the complete humility that the Savior asks of us. I don’t say “humility” in that we are ashamed of ourselves, but that we recognize how much we need the Savior’s assistance. Diving into our past, admitting our grossest sins focuses our attention on the absolute necessity for the Savior in our recovery.
Second, I think that making this admission helps us to finally be honest with ourselves about the reality of our position. It is so easy, so tempting to try and down-play the severity of our addiction. We think that we have it “under control” or that it is that big of a deal. We pretend that the problem is smaller than it is. By confronting it head on, by look at it straight in the face, we acknowledge how desperately we need to change, how hopelessly we have tried, and how completely we must rely upon the Savior instead of ourselves.
Also, I think there is a certain calming effect that takes place as we “lay our burdens” down.
Admitting our faults (and all of their ugly details) to a priesthood authority and to another person is certainly the most frightening part of this process. We are afraid of ridicule, of discipline, of embarrassment. I can’t say that I am fully comfortable with divulging everything to someone else, but I understand that until I am willing to fully accept whatever consequences might await me, I have not yet reached that point of complete humility. We mustn’t fear man more than God.
In all actuality, people are a whole lot more compassionate, understanding, and forgiving than I think we like to believe. Sure, there are lots of people out there who might use these pieces of information against us, or who might choose to cease associating with us, but as a whole, I think we find that those around us are excited, hopeful, and encouraged that we are trying to recover from our addictions.
I pray that I can find the strength to follow through with Step 5.
P.S. I am feeling kind of rusty in my thinking and articulation, please bear with me as I try to gain some momentum ‘round here.
Entry filed under: Religion. Tags: Atonement, Faith, Forgiveness, LDS, LDS Church, Religion, Repentance, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
1. Dylan | May 13, 2011 at 12:04 am
What are your views on Christianity? From my experience most followers of LDS/Mormonism would call themselves Christian and that they are just another branch of that faith, but Christians would disagree with that. There are very fundamental differences in theology, eschatology, how one gets into Heaven and so-on-so-forth. Particularly that Christians do not adhere to the The Book of Mormon and question the legitimacy of Joseph Smith’s claims. What do you think?
2. Taylor | May 13, 2011 at 8:56 am
This is a frustrating question, because it is almost offensive to an LDS person when people tell them that they are not Christian. I am not sure how else one could define Christianity other than a body of people who believe that Jesus Christ was and is the Savior of mankind, who suffered for the sins of the world and through His suffering mankind can be forgiven of its sins and be exalted into heaven. That is certainly what I believe.
Are there specific differences in theology to which you are referring? I think a lot of those differences are more minor than folks make them out to be, or they are fundamental misrepresentations/misunderstandings.
3. Dylan | May 13, 2011 at 11:23 am
I’m not super well versed in LDS belief and tradition so I’ll try not to mess anything up.
One thing I’ve wondered about is the Mormon reliance on Joseph Smith. [There is] “no salvation without accepting Joseph Smith….” (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, p.190) This seems to conflict with Jesus’ words in John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Jesus didn’t mention that another prophet would be sent to reconstruct the faith nearly two thousand years later. In fact (please don’t take offense) it is my understanding that Jesus warned us of such persons in Matthew 24:24 “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” We see through the entire Old Testament, starting in Genesis a promise from God of one to come who would vanquish sin, (this being Jesus.) The Hebrews are looking for the time when the Messiah would come and deliver them. If Joseph Smith was to be just as relevant in God’s designs as Jesus was then why wasn’t he prophesied? Does Jesus need Joseph Smith’s aid in bringing salvation to Earth? Jesus defeating death and bidding His followers to tell the world of what He’s done seems to me a straightforward victory over Satan’s reign. Why must one accept Joseph Smith to have salvation? We’re not told to “accept” Moses or Elijah to have salvation, they are great figures indeed, but they are not the bringers of salvation. Salvation is for God to decree, only He can save us.
Again, I’ve tried to not mess anything up. From reading the Bible, it seems complete and fulfilled to me (save Revelations which has yet to pass) The Bible doesn’t need The Book of Mormon as it’s counterpart in salvation. God’s word is clear and concise to me.
4. Taylor | May 22, 2011 at 4:56 pm
I am sorry that it has taken me so long to respond. With the end of the semester approaching, things get really crazy…
Doctrines of Salvation isn’t official commentary or doctrine, so anything in it can only be taken as conjecture or opinion. The church has never taught that accepting Joseph Smith is something necessary for salvation, certainly not in the way one is required to accept Christ. As to Joseph Smith not being present in the Bible: One could say the same thing about Martin Luther, or Wesley, or countless other reformers instrumental in modern Christianity. We believe the Bible to be the word of God, but we also recognize that it is the words of God to only one group of His children. Certainly there is something top be learned from God’s dealings with other groups of His children.
5. Dylan | May 26, 2011 at 10:28 am
It’s no trouble, feel no obligation to reply quickly.
Yes you’re right, it is not official publications but it is widely accepted from what I understand, and was written by a well respected man in LDS society, so is there division within the Mormon church as to what is correct doctrine? Also, angels did not appear before Martin Luther of any other reformers. They also did not call themselves prophets.
Some other questions… I can find no prof outside of what is said in the book of Mormon that it’s events actually happened, particularly the Native American stories. (I’m doing a lot of research from both perspectives as I talk to you so bear with me, I don’t want to make myself out as some great theologian.) I’m finding that there are somethings mentioned in the American stories that perhaps are not completely possible. For instance, in the stories the people see horses in the Americas, but we know that horses did not exist in that half of the world until the Spanish brought them over during their conquer of south America. Another, if the American Indians are of Hebrew decent why are there no traces of Hebrew in any of their languages, art, crafting or ways? Why do the Americans not have their own tellings of Jesus’ visit to their land, no trace of any form of Hebrew/Jewish culture or religion. Christianity seemed to be a completely new idea to the natives when the Spanish brought it over to them (even though the Spanish were completely in the wrong by how they went about it.)
We have what we think was Jesus’ tomb, we found where the Hebrews could have crossed the Red Sea, also we have first-hand witness accounts written down by Luke who traveled Palestine gathering information about Jesus after He had passed. Although Atheists and other religions have pushed the factual evidence of Christianity aside, it is still there.
It’s my observation that the Book of Mormon just doesn’t add up. It requires us to have complete faith that Joseph Smith isn’t a liar who was just looking for his fifteen minutes of fame and got carried away. The Bible is composed of hundreds of stories by a multitude of writers, over thousands of years who’s stories all intertwine to the greater purpose of God. There is factual evidence, it’s prophesies come true, we have dates and history to show us where it’s events happened and when. There’s no way something that concrete could be a conspiracy involving all it’s writers and events. With the Book of Mormon, it all goes back to reliance on Joseph Smith.
One could say that faith is required for the Book of Mormon as much as it is for the Bible, which is absolutely true, faith is required. Yet God isn’t hiding from us, He wants to be known and loved by His children. He wouldn’t go about reorganizing His followers in such an obscure and bizarre way.
I can tell you that any respected Christian pastor or writer (David Jeremiah, C.J. Mahaney, Mark Driscoll, John Piper) will tell you that Mormonism is separate from Christianity. And if one group doesn’t want to be considered part of the other group than the other group can’t consider themselves part of that group. Basically Christians claim Mormonism is different from them, and so Mormonism can’t go on saying they are Christian. That’s what Joseph Smith was doing in the first place isn’t it? Like the reformation, he was splitting off from what he thought was a mislead church. Or rather he was leading the church in a new direction, and the majority didn’t follow.
Reply when you have time, my friend. I hope I’m not offending you in any way, just a religious debate.
6. Kiersten | May 29, 2011 at 2:18 pm
Whether or not you believe Mormons are Christians doesn’t seem to be the point here. Mormons believe in Christ. We believe that He is our Savior and that it is only through Him that we can be saved. We try to act as Christ would (although nobody is perfect). If that doesn’t make us Christian, I don’t know what does. If you don’t call that Christian, that’s fine, but who has the right to say who is and isn’t Christian?
There were many sects of Christianity at the time of Joseph Smith. We believe that the priesthood authority was lost, that it was taken from the earth and had to be restored. Joseph Smith was the prophet to whom that authority was brought back. This is our belief.
You are correct in that there is much evidence that the Bible is true. Prophecies came true (and still are). But the Bible might also seem ludicrous from an outside-looker. There are many stories that seem far-fetched, but that doesn’t stop us from believing it. The Book of Mormon, much like the Bible, was written by a number of different people. It spans the time of about 1000 years. There is factual evidence of the Book of Mormon too, but that is not what will bring one to believe in it, just as other non-Christian religions aren’t converted to Christianity because of archaeological evidence. We don’t believe the Bible because there is proof. We believe the Bible because when we read it, The Spirit speaks to us in our mind and heart and helps us to feel the truthfulness of it. We feel the Spirit of God when we read it and it’s that Spirit that, in a sense, proves to us that it’s true. In that same way, I know that the Book of Mormon is true. You may not believe it. You may not believe that we are Christian. That’s fine, but the only way you can find out for yourself is by reading it and praying about it. You can research and talk to people and read all sorts of things, but the only way to know the truth of anything is by praying to God. He is all-knowing and we can know truth through Him.
So are Mormons Christians? If you’re asking if we’re a main-stream Christian church, I guess we’re not. But we believe in Christ and believe that we are only saved through HIm.
7. Dylan | May 30, 2011 at 12:20 pm
‘Are Mormons Christian’ was actually the initial question, so it is a major point. I agree with you in nearly every aspect, yet I do believe that physical evidence is a key factor. Yes, God calls us and we are lead by faith. Yet, ‘faith’ alone is a pretty transparent argument to someone who does not believe. As I said God isn’t obscure, He wants to be known, and so God in His wisdom presented Himself in human ways to reach humans. This is why Jesus was sent, to give us a relatable way to seek God. Jesus is all the evidence we need, He’s just as much a part of history as Christopher Columbus or Attila the Hun, yet far more influential, apocalyptic. For one reason or another, people will believe the stories of lesser figures in history, but not of Jesus.
We know because of Jesus that God works in physical ways to reveal Himself to us. The evidence doesn’t gratify The Book of Mormon. Indeed it is not wholly through research that one can find their way to Truth. But research is not to be shunned, God chose many unlearned men, such as Peter to preach the Word, yet He also used Paul a very wise man. We fulfill the designs God has for us through the gifts He has already given to us. We see how Matthew lists the genealogy of Jesus in his Gospel, a way to show Jesus’ legitimacy to the Hebrews. Another example of God providing physical proof for us. It is His nature to do so.
I have prayed for chances to share my faith, and this blog is where God has taken me. I do not rely on a main-stream church nor would I ask you to be a part of one. I place my faith in the character of God both factual and invisible traits of Him. I ask you to look over the scripture with new eyes, read The Bible without shelving it next to The Book of Mormon. God’s unshakeable design to further His glory, that’s what I ask you to be a part of. That is all.