Comment #2

I commented on Carson's blog entry on blogging. I reiterated some of the points I used in my in class essay because I do feel strongly about how neat of an assignment this blog has been! The link to the post is here. Hope everyone's finals go amazing!

<3 Amy

Moved by the Spirit?

Okay, so for last class we had to read about the religious upheaval that took place in Kentucky and surrounding states during the early 1800s. It was foreign to me and I think most of the students my age because I don't think we're very familiar with religious fanaticism. And when I say religious fanatacism, I don't mean to infer that the Americans of that time period and area were dangerous, but rather that they showed interest in their religion to a surprising extent.

Some might consider Mormons to be fanatics, and most of us are very committed to our beliefs, but it doesn't seem like it's to an outrageous extent, and it doesn't seem like we do anything unnatural. This could be really biased because I was raised LDS, but I honestly feel I never do anything in worship or praise that ever seems contradictory to my nature.

This relates to the religious upheaval that took place in Kentucky because there were some strange happenings there. At the biggest meeting, there were several preachers expounding doctrine at the same time in their own different spheres, but all throughout this time period from about the 1820s to the 1830s, people were known to be "moved by the Spirit" where they would either shout suddenly or start having spasms all over, and those were just some of the occurences.

This was somewhat foreign to me, because in all the church meetings I've been to, nobody has ever stood up and shouted "Amen" or started having spasms(although I have been in a Church meeting where a girl started to have a seizure and it included something of the both...maybe these "religious fanatics" were simply epileptic!). And I've always assumed most congregations are simliar to mine (though honestly, I've only ever been to one church service that wasn't LDS).

One other thing about the religious upheaval that took place in Kentucky in the 1820 that I found interesting was that it was a combination of different Christian denominations. Both Methodist and Baptists ministers were represented there and they really didn't segregate. This seems almost unbelievable seeing as the difference in doctrine is what usually stirred up so much commotion on the religious scene. Nevertheless, I think it said something about the people at the time, that they were willing to set aside doctrinal differences to focus on the merit of the event, which was really just to become more religious and more dependent on God.

I really can't imagine some of the events they recorded actually occurred, but I recognize that what they participated in had a good intent, and I think even though as Christians we can differ on doctrine, if we could gather without borders for a week just to draw closer to God, that would be pretty amazing. It also do something for our nation's condition right now...

I Once Was Blind

...that's actually a partially true statement. In elementary school, I had the worst eye sight, but then I got glasses and was able to declare, "Now I see!". Okay, okay, cheesy story, I know, but I just wanted to show that I know what it's like to go from blind to seeing. Everything becomes so much clearer and it's almost like a new world. Perhaps you've guessed it already, but this week, we watched Amazing Grace in class. I've actually seen the movie before, but it was definitely a different experience having studied the history of America and the struggles America had on their path to abolition.

Amazing Grace is about William Wilberforce, the "force" and voice behind the British movement for abolition. It took several years before he saw any success in Parliament despite relentless effort in finding evidence and members to support his cause. I think it telling that he had integrity enough be considered an independent in Parliament. He joined no party and rather voted Tory or Whig depending upon the merit of their argument. And he sacrificed his mind and health to see the end of an institution that was such an ingrained part of the British economy. He knew what was right and wasn't afraid to stand up for it. He is an example even to us now.

How often have I been faced with opportunities to stand up for what I know is right? And how many times I have acted upon those opportunities? How many times will I be called on still to stand up for what I believe? The opportunities are sure to come, because they are our tests in life, to see if we are able to choose light over darkness and lies over truth. Hopefully we can all learn a lesson from Mr. Wilberforce who sacrificed so much for a cause that wasn't even his. I think once we understand and are able to emulate him in his efforts, we are finally able to say that now we see.

MOA Trip

Last class we were able to visit BYU's own Museum of Art for a tour. We got to take a look at the museum's religious collection and we learned that the MOA is one of the only BYU art museums to put such an emphasis on collecting religious works. As we were looking at their collection on display, the curator took the time to point on some interesting points of Christian art.

It was interesting to note that most depictions of Christ and others of the same time period are of Caucasians. It wasn't until the 20th Century that artists began to make more realistic depictions of Christ. Also, there is great symbolism found in the colors and shapes. Artists would use threes (such as a halo divided into 3 sections) do represent the trinity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The Virgin Mary was often dressed in red and blue to represent both the upcoming tragedies and her divinity as the mother of Christ.

It was an interesting exhibit because it was almost progressive ( you got to see each part of the Savior's life). My favorite piece there would probably be the three paneled crucifixion scene because it showed every man kneeling to Christ and the vine that extended up the cross reminded me of the hope of life that is the most important part of the Savior's atonement. I love that it depicted that every head will bow and every knee will fall to the Savior of the World, even Christ and I know that I was definitely moved by the painting.

Commentation

For my blog post, I commented on a classmates blog. You can check it out here

Hypocrisy in Economic Potential

The chapter we had to read for class last week had to do with the economic revolution that ocurred as part of the American Revolution. During this time period of resistance and independence, the United States was preparing themselves to have a strong free market system. Up until the 1700s it was just assumed that mercantilism was the most effective market system out there because of Great Britain's success with it. However, with the publishing of Adam's Smith The Wealth of Nations, the founding fathers were given a different perspective. Though, none of the founding fathers advocated outright a switch to a free market system, the turn of events perpetuated the switch.

This was significant in America because it gave all an opportunity to make their own wealth without the hand of the government making every decision. People were allowed to work selfishly, for their own benefit because it actually benefitted the nation. Now, I am a pretty solid advocate for a free market system, but it is interesting to note that when the free market economy first came to the United States, it had many restrictions; not on business policy, but rather social restrictions.

Though people were allowed to work in whatever field they wanted to, making or selling what they wished, the definition of people was firmly defined as white men. Before and even after the Civil War, it was impossible for a black man to find the same kind of opportunity available to the a white man. The stigma also held with women; though they could find menial jobs, the possibility of working up the ladder toward success was denied them.

I bring this up because I find it interesting to note the history of the free market system in America as far as its societal impacts go. It wasn't until the 20th Century that women and blacks could even really dream of making something really successful of themselves, but now, both women and blacks can be found heading large businesses and organizations. Now, I won't go so far as to say that bias is dead in the free market economy, because it isn't. The implementation of the Equal Opportunities Act is an example of this. It did take a while for blacks and women to have equal opportunities in the work force, but I am of the opinion that having a free market economy was the quickest way to that. I might not have any evidence to back that up, but it seems pretty logical in my head. We can accept the past as long as we commit to continually moving towards a country that finds success without hypocrisy or bias.

An Imperfect Constitution

Last week in class we watched the movie "A More Perfect Union" which is about the passing of the Constitution as a new government to replace the failing Articles of Confederation. I have also been reading Just and Holy Principles, a book that we have to read and write an essay about for this class. It includes different speeches given by leaders of the Church from Joseph Smith's time to ours. There are some similar themes I have recognized in the movie and in this book.

One of the most striking is that the Constitution is not a perfect document. Throughout the movie we saw change after change come to the document, and the delegates of the conference had a hard time agreeing on what the best path would be. Comprimises had to be made and they created a government that could be changed as was neccesary for the nation. Not everybody was happy with what decision the Second Continental Congress came to, but they all knew that what they had created would work.

Brigham Young in a speech given on the 4th of July some years ago spoke of how the Constitution wasn't working. Granted, he knew that it could work, but after going through and seeing so much persecution of the Church he had a hard time believing that the government was part of the "more perfect union" set up by the founding fathers. He even went so far as to say that the country was no longer Republican in that it refused to hold up the rights of those under its protection even if they were in the minority.

Brigham Young was right about one thing in particular. The Constitution wasn't perfect then, and it still isn't perfect, but because it gives the people of this nation the power and right to make changes to make it better, it is "a more perfect union" than any on the earth. Now whether or not the citizens and leaders of our nations live up to that standard is the test, but I have hope as Joseph Smith and Brigham Young did that when we, as a nation come to a breaking point, and destruction is looming on the horizon, we will make the hard decision that will save our nation--and it's hard to be hopeful these days...