Church article on Muhammad

The following is an e-mail from Christian Johnson.  I thought it could use some more visibility.


Family and Loved ones,




I think you all will really like this talk. One thought I had while reading it was that we as Latter day Saints have no reason to hide or protect ourselves from other religion’s views. If we reach out to others, I believe the spirit will help us discern truth wherever it may be. We can be resonators of truth wherever we go. This is the way in which the Lord’s work touches others, it builds off of the gospel truths that individuals already have. President Hunter said, “We seek to enlarge the circle of love and understanding among all the peoples of the earth. Thus we strive to establish peace and happiness, not only within Christianity but among all mankind.”



I really like this statement. “As early as 1855, at a time when Christian literature generally ridiculed Muhammad as the Antichrist and the archenemy of Western civilization, Elders George A. Smith (1817–75) and Parley P. Pratt (1807–57) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles delivered lengthy sermons demonstrating an accurate and balanced understanding of Islamic history and speaking highly of Muhammad’s leadership. Elder Smith observed that Muhammad was “descended from Abraham and was no doubt raised up by God on purpose” to preach against idolatry. He sympathized with the plight of Muslims, who, like Latter-day Saints, found it difficult “to get an honest history” written about them. Speaking next, Elder Pratt went on to express his admiration for Muhammad’s teachings, asserting that “upon the whole, … [Muslims] have better morals and better institutions than many Christian nations.””



Joseph Smith said, “The Prophet Joseph Smith, in one of his most eloquent pronouncements on tolerance and compassion, encouraged the Saints to expand their vision of the human family, to view people of other faiths and cultures as our Heavenly Father does and not according to the “narrow, contracted notions of men.” He taught that the Father will take complex personal, political, and social circumstances into account at the last day and render final judgment based on a divine, merciful perspective that surpasses our limited human understanding:”



http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=bbaba1615ac0c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

Have a wonderful day everyone.




Love,

Christian

Ecclesiastes

I know I've read Ecclesiastes before, but I guess this is the first time I am really paying attention to it. I am wondering if anyone else has found it to be as bizarre as I do. It seems nearly as useless as the Song of Solomon. Every few chapters there will be a one-verse sort of truism, but nothing that hasn't already been said in Proverbs. Mostly it just seems like endless repetitions of "All is vanity. Nothing matters. Women are pretty much evil. Wisdom is great! Except that it doesn't matter because whether you are punished or rewarded is absolutely random and nothing you do makes any difference because all is vanity. It's better to be dead than alive."

Please, if anyone sees this book differently, let me know how, because it's sort of depressing me every time I have my scripture study for the last week. And if you do agree, let me know so I don't have to feel so alone. :)