By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down,
Yea, we wept,
When we remembered Zion
We hanged down our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof
For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song
Required of us mirth, saying
Sing us one of the songs of Zion
How shall we sing the Lords song in a strange land?
Psalm 137
Sing us one of the songs of Zion
How shall we sing the Lords song in a strange land?
Psalm 137
10 comments:
Alan,
Psalms are the musings of great men, is it a wonder that they saw this day? I don't imagine it is for those who understand.
I would like to reference anyone who would like to reference it,
Alma Chapter 14, read it, and take for yourself any inference you'd like, but I'd like to point out that Alma's response to Amulek when his heart was pained beyond anything I think we can imagine, that the Lord refrained Him from stretching forth His hand, because H.F would be justified in destroying that city. Also, Joseph attempting in his mercy to stop the destroyer on Zion's march. The Lord has it all in hand, and we don't always understand His workings. But if there is a lesson to be learned we want to learn it. U. Rulon said we were a spiritually lazy people, so much has just been handed to us. We need to go through the experiences that will jolt us out of that laziness, and also gain us the blessings that we so desire, as the saints of old.
Anyway, sorry for the epistle.
Indeed,
AMOS 3:6
"Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?"
Although God gives me nothing I cannot handle, it is not I who suffers most from this persecution, it is innocent little children who just want their mothers.
I know that I have and shall make mistakes, perhaps this blog is one, but I never want said of me, that I had an opportunity and did nothing.
I would like an e-mail from you explaining how you feel about this blog, because I struggle every day with writing what I have about apostates. I am not bitter toward them, and I hate writing about their failings. But it has made what I believe to be millions of honest and good hearted people become bitter against an innocent people.
I don't know how much, if any, clout I have to say this (not flds, not lds even), but I am glad to see your blog. I know mostly what is shouted in headlines about these people, and I think more transparency would be a good thing. Your efforts here help toward that. My current inclination is that FLDS are human like the rest of us... there are probably sins and secrets and abuses among some, and so there are among all peoples and faiths. However, for the public to find common ground on which to relate could only help sanity enter into this (forgive me if that goes against the beliefs of keeping separate - it just seems like it could be beneficial).
ellajac,
I published a blog similar to this one over a year ago, and it became a very large waste of time. Why? Because the FLDS had not yet been subject to a massive raid in Texas.
At that time, and even perhaps now, my voice counted for nothing, and Flora, Carolyn, and others were the "victims". Now their true hearts are shown, they really do not care about the children.
It takes a massive injustice again, just as it did in 1953, for disinterested third parties to even LOOK at the other side of the issue.
The pervasive feeling that the FLDS "fear" the outside is unfounded. Like my original post stated, it is not fear that keeps us silent, it is faith. We are not ashamed of our religion, we just feel it takes all of our time to just fix ourselves.
I need to grow, I need to improve my character, I want to be more like Jesus Christ and follow Him, but in that blog before, and even now, I feel like I must slow my own private effort and walk into the mud of other peoples heads and hearts just to gain the freedom that should be ours in the first place.
I may die before I can get to where I want to be personally, because of the time I take to address the bitter hatred that has prompted this raid. That is no small thing to me, no it is not.
But here I am, doing it anyway. I hope I am a help. For that is all I ever want to be.
Alan,
I wanted to tell you thank you for being a positive voice for the FLDS. I left 18 years ago because I chose to. Funny I was rock thowing neighbors with your uncles. My wife also left when she was 18 and she didnt need to call Flora for an excape. When we left we left. No bitter feelings no hate no resentment, we just left. We both loved grow up out there and wish that our kids could grow up in the same safe environment that we did. Thank you for all your positive accounts of life at the "Crick". D.B.
D.B.
Please write to the judge in Texas, and also the Governor. They need to hear the voices of those who left freely. The states case for genocide is based on the assumption that the "culture" is abusive.
Thank you!
Alan,
As you say, it takes something like this for anyone to even look into the other side of the story... Perhaps truth will prevail and enter into the minds and hearts of everyone on all sides. While I'm in complete disagreement with the goings-on in Texas so far, the fact that light is being shed on the entire issue can only bode well for the FLDS, right?, if they are as you say. And YOUR voice can only help. Your silence would not. If FLora and Carolyn get the limelight for their sensationalism, at least there ARE voices like yours that dispute it. Before this, ALL I knew was the Flora/Carolyn type side of this.
Re: your letter to the judge and the info therein; will you ever be able to return to your wife and children? Have they been permanently 'reassigned' as we hear of so often? Might you be someone who called a late-night radio talk show some weeks ago when the former-FLDS author was a guest (the mexico sect, from ages back)?
My best to you.
Little children have been torn from their mothers. Their mothers treated like imbiciles. And this had to happen in order for people to even start listening to the other side. Sad indeed.
I wanted to keep myself out of the discussion, but I have been asked quite a bit. That is why I published my letter. I don't want to discuss it anymore because it is personal and private, and really unimportant to the discussion. I don't want people to think they should have input on things that are not their business.
Yes, that was me. I was trying to explain that there are thousands of happy women who are just like her and still plural wives. And millions of women who get depressed and blue who are monogomist. That call is proof that my side is not desired by the media. We are less than human.
It's not that I couldn't tell you what I know, or what I want. But I am not the only one involved. They are innocent, I am not.
Alan,
Thank you for your response. I understand and respect your desire for privacy. I don't mean to intrude.
I cannot recall the exact nature of that call; our youngest had awakened in the middle of the night, and my husband had forgotten to set the sleep timer on the radio. I lay awake listening to that hour, and only remember bits, but I remember my sadness at a call from a man who was no longer with his wife and children. I prayed for you.
I pray for Texas.
Blessings...
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