My daughters baptism was on Saturday, and it was an interesting experience. Those who are regulars know some of the drama which has ensued as a result of this.
At baptismal services, they have an opening and a closing song. These are usually chosen by either the baptismal candidates and/or their families and often come from the children's hymnal.
The two songs chosen on Saturday where...
Nephi's Courage
and Follow the Prophet.
Nephi's Courage
The Lord commanded Nephi to go and get the plates
From the wicked Laban inside the city gates.
Laman and Lemuel were both afraid to try.
Nephi was courageous. This was his reply:
"I will go; I will do the thing the Lord commands.
I know the Lord provides a way he wants me to obey.
I will go; I will do the thing the Lord commands.
I know the Lord provides a way he wants me to obey!"
Follow the Prophet
Adam was a prophet
First one that we know
In a place called Eden
He helped things to grow
Adam served the Lord
By following his ways
We are his descents
In the latter days
Follow the Prophet
Follow the Prophet
Follow the Prophet
Don't go astray
Follow the Prophet
Follow the Prophet
Follow the Prophet
He knows the way
Both songs kind of bug me. The first deals with an instance in the Mormon scripture where a guy has to go and retrieve some holy scriptures. The way the Lord provides is for him to kill a man (I believe it was his uncle actually). I suspect that more people have been killed under the guise of "God commanded me to" that for any other reason in history, and yet here we encourage kids as young as 2 or 3 to sing songs celebrating a person in history who claims to have killed in Gods name, and talking about how God wants them to obey. Go ahead all those who get upset when I compare Mormonism to Islam... Please tell me what I'm missing here...
The second song... Blind obedience to leaders... Enough said - well except I'll point out the repetition in the chorus. 6 times in the chorus, which is sung after each verse (and there are 9 (Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Samuel, Jonah, Daniel, and the current prophet.) And some of those verses mention it in various additional ways in addition to the 6 lines of repetitive chanting in the chorus.
The indoctrination really sets in I think once you put in into song. I certainly remember singing hymns in my head to keep me on the 'straight and narrow'.
ReplyDeleteThere are some bloody awful hymns out there. In fact, I'd be interested to see if I can find any that I am currently comfortable with.
I had never thought about that repetitious line there. When I was active it seemed like a great way to 'worship' the prophet. Now it seems like idle, mindless words.
I think the Follow the Prophet one is my kids favorite right now... They have no clue what they're actually singing, I think they just like that they know the words, and the tune is quite catchy.
ReplyDelete"Bow your head and say yes".....anyone?
ReplyDelete"Follow the prophet, follow the prophet, follow the prophet, he knows the way." See if you notice the difference between the "follow the prophet" chant and the following:
"Rely not on the teacher/person, but on the teaching. Rely not on the words of the teaching, but on the spirit of the words. Rely not on theory, but on experience. Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. Do not believe anything because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything because it is written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and the benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it."
--The Buddha
(a guy who only claimed to be a man who sat under a tree and thought about the issues that bothered him and shared his conclusions...and had no light bills or malls for others to pay for)
Koda, I could use a good neighbor up here in Logan. Just thought I'd throw that out as a pinpoint on your map! Have a great day my friend and thank you!!!
I think that quote is very fridge-worthy! At the very least, I think it needs to go up on my office wall.
ReplyDeleteWe've looked at Logan before... And if I find an opening up there, we'll definitely consider it. We've floated the idea of Montello as well, but that kind of decision is a ways off for us!
The Quote: coming from a solid mormon upbringing, I almost wet myself in disbelief the first time I heard this quote. I couldn't believe it was advising the questioning of leaders (which Mormonism is okay with), while providing love and acceptance for those who openly disagree with the leaders (which Mormonism is not okay with). The Buddhist Sangha I attend on occasion begins each gathering by reciting this quote....no wonder I keep going back.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure buddhism has its own hangups and eccentric off shoots that deviate from this quote. But my exposure to this Western flavor has held consistent to the Buddhas advice. One last idea from a buddhist monk....."if the Darma (the gospel) isn't working for you, then what good is it?".....again, what a bold and daring challenge to issue while standing at the pulpit of sacrament meeting, but what a common sense and FUNCTIONAL approach to life that we use everyday for every other situation when we aren't constrained by simple Sunday School songs that have been drilled into our heads. Follow the prophet...if that works for you!
Montello is a ways off for me too. Gotta get the kids out of high school (10+ years).