In the Rough - The Blog of Joel McDonald Jr.

It’s 1am and I’m still awake. The one thought running though my head: posting a letter to my Mormon friends. I suppose you could call it a prompting. So here I am, eating mint chocolate fudge, writing a letter to some of the most influential, respected, and loved people in my life.

As you may know by now, I am a disaffected member of the Church. “Disaffected” is a perfect word to use to describe my relationship with the Church, for to “disaffect” is to lose affection. In this case, I have lost affection for the Church. I have not, however, lost affection for my friends within the Church. Please remember this.

I ask you to remember this because, as you may have seen already, I am quite open about my disaffection. I have heard it said that people leave the Church by can’t leave the Church alone. This is true for many. The fact of the matter is that being a member of the LDS Church, as told to me by the noble man who baptized me, is more than just going to church on Sunday. It is a way of life. For those who leave the Church, their very way of life, down to the minutest of thoughts, changes dramatically. This dramatic change is difficult and painful, much more so than experienced when I joined the Church. I feel it impossible not to express, discuss, and explore this change. I believe doing so aids my own understanding, and perhaps will help others as well who may be going through a similar trial.

I may be critical of the Church, but I do not feel I am anti-Mormon. I am certainly not anti-Mormons. I have told the local missionaries that they are welcome in my home anytime. Any member of the Church would be welcomed as well, my friends especially. I do not write against you; however, you may find what I write to be difficult. Your affections for the Church will cause you to desire to protect it, if only in your own heart and mind.

My exploring this change is not a one way discourse. I invite you to explore it with me by commenting either here or by e-mail. I welcome what you have to say and will respect your words. I always have. We each try to live our lives in the best way we know how. We should build upon one another’s knowledge. We should be honest with ourselves, and then with others. It’s my pledge to do so.

I love you, and I respect you. Please know that these words are sincere, as I would never use them with insincerity. May you find the choicest blessings available to you.

Your Friend,

- Joel

Lawsuits Filed and Negotiations OngoingSALT LAKE CITY, UT – Officials of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) confirmed today that the Church has been involved in ongoing negotiations with Elohim, known to most as God, on the legality of the Church’s claim to be the “only true and everlasting” church on the face of the earth. Few details were released by officials; however, Elohim’s pleasure in regard to the LDS Church has been in question since the organization was founded in 1830.

What is known can be surmised from court documents filed by the LDS Church and Elohim himself. In these documents, we find shocking details about Elohim’s rejection of the “Restored” Gospel, otherwise known as the “Plan of Salvation”, taught by the Church. The Church claims that Elohim is in violation of what they term as a “prophetic contract”, further claiming that all revelations, in print with the accompanying logo of the Church, were received directly from Kolob, Elohim’s official residence, and are completely valid. In Elohim’s countersuit, he claims that all such revelations are invalidated as they have become outdated. He argues that the teachings of the Church are at least ten thousand years behind current policy on Kolob, but admits their outdated theology was likely caused by the overloading of his servers with the ever increasing number of prayers coming from his worlds without end. This, according to papers filed, may have caused a delay in sending revelations to earth. He further claims that Joseph Smith, the founder of the LDS Church, omitted to record the “Eternal Progression Clause”, and later misinterpreted the meaning of the clause, sent with every transmission of revelation. This clause warns those receiving revelation, and those they lead, that all revelations are subject to change due to eternal progression. In essence, this clause allows Elohim to upgrade his policies based on new information acquired and the research of best practices.

Legal expects closely affiliated with the LDS Church admit to the precarious position of the Church. “We expect Elohim to be able to provide the court with original copies of revelations sent to earth, including dates and the Eternal Progression Clause.”, one group of experts said. “If Elohim can do this, he will prove the Church is not in sync with his current policies and the Church will have to act quickly.”

Some question what course of action the LDS Church can take in order to continue functioning. With so much riding on the Church’s claim to be “true”, the damage that could be caused by not reaching an agreement with Elohim could be severe. There are rumors that the Church has reached out to ancient gods without modern organizations to assume Godship of the Church if negotiations should fail with Elohim. One source claims to have been present in a meeting between the Church and the Greek God Apollo, where he was offered a five billion dollar signing bonus and a large estate in Missouri.

Unconfirmed at this time are claims that the Church’s some fifty thousand missionaries have adapted their lessons to exclude any phrases which may identify Elohim as being responsible for what they teach. It’s rumored that doing so is a stipulation in the continuance of negotiations between the two parties.

With the future of the LDS Church hanging perilously upon negotiations with Elohim, members around the world are waiting for any word regarding the ongoing proceedings. One faithful sister told reporters, “I know without a doubt that the Church is true. I read The Book of Mormon, prayed, and have received a witness. I know if Elohim reads it now, and prays with a sincere heart, he will know that The Church is true too!”

Satire inspired by a letter written by LDS Apostle Bruce R. McConkie where he argues against the question, “Will [God] one day learn something that will destroy the plan of salvation…? Will he discover a better plan of salvation than the one he has already given to men in worlds without number?” I simply asked, “What if he did?”

Richard Dutcher (God’s Army, Brigham City) dives into the personal spirituality of members of various Christian faiths in States of Grace. This movie was outstanding. It truly surpassed my expectations. Dutcher, as he said in his commentary, included various beliefs and philosophies he was considering in this movie. Dutcher is a Latter-day Saint, and the main character of this movie are LDS Missionaries. However, Dutcher’s beliefs have caused him to virtually leave the LDS Church and this movie seems to be a transition for him.

While the main characters may be LDS, the movie also features Pentecostals, Baptists, Lutherans, and Catholics. Every person in the movie is trying to be the best they can in the situations they find themselves in. Each teaches each other the value of loving one another. There is a scene in which one of the missionaries is trying to convince his companion that carrying a homeless man to their apartment so that he may sleep in a warm bed, instead of behind a dumpster, is Christ-like. Doing so would be against the rules, but this missionary poses the question of whether they should keep the rules, and break the commandments; or break the rules, and keep the commandments.

The trails of every character shape who they become at the end of the movie. The focus becomes Christ. Religious barriers are broken and forgiveness is understood. In absolutely beautiful way, every character bows before Christ, regardless the faith.

Some may presume there is an LDS motive behind this movie. I can assure you that this movie in no way attempts to persuade anyone to join the LDS Church. In fact, only one person is converted in the movie, and there is a total absence of the pursuit of others.

As someone whose path had led him to step away from the LDS Church, and one who has served a mission, this movie touched me on so many levels. I connected with the universal presentation of Christianity in connection with the LDS Church. I felt I could understand how Dutcher worked his changing beliefs into this movie.

I would highly recommend seeing this movie, regardless of your faith. It’s fantastically done and I give two thumbs up! Find out more about this worthwhile movie at http://www.statesofgrace.com/.