jchandle writes

  Snow camp  When I was a deacon or just barely a teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood, my scout troop went snow camping. I’m from southern Nevada. I had seen snow maybe 5 times, and in preparation, I received lots of advice on how to survive in it. My mom told me to put bread bags over my socks before putting them in the gore-tex boots my grandpa loaned me, boots he bragged were the best money could buy.  On the mountain that night, we gave up on snow caves which was our original plan for shelter and we set up a tent, which became a snow cave as the snow continued to fall throughout the night. Our leaders slept in their trucks. I remember at some point, we all had to pee, and we all had different opinions about what to do. One guy did the right thing and put on his boots and his heavy winter coat and trudged out into the storm. One guy just unzipped the tent and let loose beside it. Another filled a gatorade bottle. I didn’t have a bottle, but I had a gallon sized ziplock ...

  Fearing that Mormon settlers would bring free black people with them to Missouri, local militias attacked the church’s publication house in Jackson County in July of 1833. They destroyed personal and church property. They attempted to destroy the only printed copies of The Book of Commandments, a book which would later become the Doctrine and Covenants.  The mob dragged Bishop Edward Partridge and Charles Allen into the street. Saints, the church’s narrative history, describes the violence:  “Call upon your Jesus!” a voice cried out. The mob shoved Edward and Charles to the ground, and Hicks began stripping off the bishop’s clothes. Edward resisted, and someone in the crowd demanded that Hicks let the bishop keep his shirt and trousers on. Relenting, Hicks tore away Edward’s hat, coat, and vest and turned him over to the mob.  Two men stepped forward and covered the prisoners head to foot in tar and feathers. The tar burned, eating away at their skin like acid....

A few weeks ago, I asked politically conservative friends on Facebook to tell me what, if any, of my liberal beliefs I likely need to give up in order to attain the kingdom of God. I was encouraged that no comments called me to political repentance. But I was also a little surprised. I actually do think that one’s beliefs have a major impact on one’s standing before God. And I do think that having an incorrect belief can disqualify a person from salvation. As the Doctrine & Covenants teaches, “It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance.” (D&C 131:6) While I do believe that we will all have time in post-mortality to correct our ignorances, I believe it’s important to use mortality to get as close as possible to the truth in all its forms.  That said, I want to elaborate on two beliefs that I think must be abandoned for salvation. For most of these, I think we are all guilty, irrespective of political orientation. But several of these are enshrined in conservative d...