Whether it’s a scripture story or symbolism we encounter elsewhere, it can sometimes be difficult to separate the literal from the metaphorical at church, especially if our personal interpretation seems at odds with that of many other members. But what if we just can’t ‘believe’ something the way it’s being presented on the surface? Can we become comfortable setting aside narratives that no longer serve us to approach texts, language or ideas we can’t make sense of literally in ways that help us draw personal meaning from them?
Notes:
Interpreting Scripture, by Richard Rohr, Center for Action and Contemplation, 12/2015
Interview: Gordon B. Hinckley, American Experience, PBS, 1/2007
PoGP Student Manual, Moses 3:1-25, 2018, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Anne
I found myself saying Yes! Yes! Over and over during this episode. Thank you so much.
Steve
Kajsa’s comment, almost in passing, that the rending of the veil at the time of the crucifixion equates to the elimination of the need for the priestly intermediary, and her connection of that to the temple recommend process, was like a bomb going off in my mind.
Thanks for this!
Matt
I am a fairly new listener. Your podcast are WONDERFUL. Thank you so much for your insight, brillience, and thoughtfulness.
This episode prompted a memory that applies. Years ago I had a conversation about the Book of Job. I expressed my belief that Job was not a real person, and that the book was a poem intended to teach some principles. The other person got a bit heated and said, “There is no fiction in the Bible!” I should have let it go, but I responded with, “Christ’s favorite form of teaching was fiction.” None of us think his parabels are true stories, so why is it such a stretch to think that some Old Testament or Book of Mormon stories are made up to make a valuable point.
Another point about Wendy Nelson’s comment about putting an ! after everything the Prophet says and a ? after things others say, how does that work with the following two comments by prophets?
(paraphrased)
“I have no problem with the nick name Mormon.” — Gordon B. Hinckley
“The Lord is offended when we use the nick name Mormon.” — Russell M. Nelson
Which statement gets the ? and which gets the ! ?