Witt's End

I worry that we are sometimes too obsessed with being holy. So focused we lose sight of what's happening day to day, and who's around in the here and now.  I know I have fallen into the trap of seeking extreme spiritual edification and enlightenment all the time. And at times I found it. Or I thought I did. At least a set of actions that told me I felt holy. Actions that became more and more performative. So it led not to being but to appearing holy all the time. And all too often appearing or attempting to appear holier than thou. It was fake. And I wasn't feeling awe. I was going through a set of motions. And I worry when we make the pursuit of holiness and worship a checklist instead of an authentic lived experience. The insincerity is especially visible in our interactions with others. And we can't hide it.  What exactly am I talking about? And what do we do about it? --- I'm writing this a week removed from Easter, Holy week. I think that should tell you where ...

When possible sacred writings should be treated with respect. I hate to add this part but it should be regardless of if you share the view of their sacredness or not.  That doesn't mean that scripture needs to be placed on a pedestal. That's dependent on tradition. But it should be used appropriately. I've been hard on scriptures. Physical copies of them. I've carried them in uniform pockets in field. I've read and worn copies to the point the pages fall out or the covers separate. That's what happens when you use things. I would argue properly.  What's horrible is purposeful damage or debasement of someone else's holy text. When I was a missionary someone burned a copy of the Quran on the campus where I was serving. Earlier this week a Quran was struck with a slab of bacon and an attempt to burn it was made. What's most concerning is that Christianity was invoked by apologists in this instances.  How can we let this stand? As a member of the Mormon ...

 What has become Christian theology has always been debated. It was hashed out and formed over years of treatise writing and attempts at rhetorical persuasion that led to the creeds and interpretations we have today.  To think there is one simple all encompassing and easily understood theology that answers all problems and questions is the height of hubris. We lean into interpretation and understanding informed by our experiences and overall understanding. Early theologians and church fathers are amazing examples of this. We have regional variances. We have philosophical differences (Plato, the stoics, and the cynics were all often competing influences). And we have strongly various represented priorities. How did the ancient church handle this? Debates. Then a vote. Then a declaration of what was doctrine and what was heresy. It still happens today.  And it's not new. The debates over what we call Christian or not wouldn't surprise the early church fathers, the wouldn't ...

This is my feeble (if long-winded) attempt at bridge building and understanding. I started this piece weeks ago. I shelved it after the Charlie Kirk assassination. I picked it back up after President Nelson passed and then had a night where I could stop writing here and elsewhere following the shooting and arson of the chapel in Grand Blanc. I'd be lying if this was easy to commit to paper. But I have to. Rarely have I felt this level of compulsion to write. To share what I have to say.  Let me try. Here's a start. My faith is not what it once was. Surety has been replaced by hope. Which probably isn't a bad thing. The focus is more on fundamentals of belief and the actions they bring.  I have absolutely struggled with the theology, doctrines, practices, policies, and culture surrounding the faith of my youth. I'm open and honest about that. But I worry that's not always returned. The honest assessment that we all struggle with the teachings and guidance of such a l...

God or prophet tells  people to do a thing. People do not do thing. God or prophet calls people to repentance. It's a common pattern throughout the Christian spiritual canons. It's a common refrain and story.  But that isn't all of it. There's plenty of other stuff in there too.  Not an insignificant portion of the canon of scripture I grew up with is also telling prophets to not do dumb sh** or fix the dumb sh** they did. Them specifically. Not the people. It's in the Old Testament with Jonah, countless times with the apostles in The New Testament, and throughout the Book of Mormon, and even major sections of the Doctrine & Covenants.  I bring this up for a reason. One of the foundations of my faith was the fact that change is always possible. That it's hopefully inevitable. Part of that faith was focused by the belief that the heavens weren't closed. That there was always communication. And it goes through prophets, right? When we look at that propheti...

I'm trying to be more sympathetic and understanding about how people from the same church can have such different views on so many topics. I'm trying to dig at the incongruence between t he doctrine of my chosen religion and my personal expression of faith.  Trying to look at how that exists in all of us. Because I think if we don't have some of this conflict we're lying to ourselves.  I think I have to start this off with something that really troubled me a couple years ago. Vaccines and religious exemptions. During the time of COVID this conflict caused a lot of stress for me. I was an immunocompromised healthcare worker in an ICU. During the time that the vaccine was coming out I was amazed at the number of fellow healthcare workers that were opposed to the vaccine. What was even more distressing to me was the number of fellow members of my church that were in such opposition to masking and vaccination. Things the church actively supported . There was a cognitive dis...

I’m moving through an evolution of my faith with more hope and less certainty. That may sound disconcerting to some but it is a state of mind that leaves me with so much more peace.  The idea of a Savior able to know what I experience has been the most sustaining aspects of my life. But it's been harder to experience lately. And I need to be honest about that. But I also have been reflecting more and more about what that means to me.  I  believe in Christ. I have faith in his atonement. But I don’t know how it works. And that’s ok.   I’ve been reflecting on this. The Atonement is so much more than just pulling weeds. It’s about planting and growing flowers.  So much of my life I viewed Christ as primarily the savior and intercessor between me and God. Between my sinful fallen state and my exaltation. It was entirely about the necessity to overcome the inevitable sin of my fallen nature. That was the primary thrust. In some ways the only purpose. I'll never try t...

  I think we’re failing at ministering. It’s for two     simple reasons. One we can’t manufacture relationships of depth. Two we’re afraid to admit we can’t give the help that’s really needed and just sit with people. The good news is we can address this. And working on one will help the other. I want to first say this. It’s hard to track and determine effectiveness of our ministering without resorting to numbers. And numbers will lead to performative actions and less determinative ones.  With that out of the way let’s focus on really doing this. Actually ministering to people. Ministration without connection is just pandering. And connection takes time to develop. Let’s be real for a second; even if someone genuinely wants to help you there is a barrier without a relationship. Now in a congregation there are often legitimate desires to help and aid each other. But in a culture where service to others is correlated to personal salvation it can come across as more tha...

After conference weekend I’ve got a mixed bag of emotions. But I see myself coming down in the same place. I’m still a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I don’t see that changing either.  As someone with a bit of nuance in this space I’ve heard it from people on both sides. Why do I stay in the church? I’ve always told people it’s for the sacrament. I’ve told people it’s because I’ve had spiritual experiences that I can’t deny. And all of that is true. But it’s more. A little bit at least. The Book of Mormon means a lot to me. As a book of scripture it really helped clarify and focus my belief in Christ and his divinity. Without it I don’t think I would hold onto Christ as much as I do spiritually; especially in regards to the atonement and resurrection. Yes there is plenty in the Bible I draw upon. But there is something more, deeper, and different when it comes to the Book of Mormon. If I had to pick a single passage of scripture that’s saved me over and ...

I hate how we subconsciously or even consciously rate sins. What’s the worst? I think most of us would say murder. That feels pretty obvious to me. Another common one would be sexual abuse and assault, especially to minors. I can get behind that.  Christ said the greatest sin was to deny the Holy Spirit ( Mark 3:28-29 and plenty of others), to blaspheme him.  The gap between murder and denial of the Holy Spirit may seem off-putting to many. Especially those who do not recognize or identify with the divinity of Jesus Christ. It may even seem off from the other teachings they know of him. And they would be perfectly sound of logic and reason to be troubled by this.  I'm looking at this differently. If the worst sin is to deny the Holy Spirit that brings us to a redemptive Savior, then why do we spend so much time fighting against the ability to change (repentance) and establishing a hierarchy and classification of sin. Especially when Christ gave us a lot of positive tasks...