Podcast: Download (51.6MB)
Subscribe: RSS
Robert Boylan, a LDS theologian, comes on the show to discuss Mariology. Robert discusses the history of Mariology throughout the Christian tradition and transitions into a discussion about how LDS theology portrays Mary. He offers great suggestions about how to have respect for Mary, as she is the holy mother of God, without engaging in a worship of her as many traditions are want to doing. His blog “Scriptural Mormonism” can be found here. He wrote a book on Mariology that is available on his blog.
After hearing from Robert Boylan, Hanna quotes Dan Ellsworth at length for the devotional while briefly discussing that in conjunction with John 6 (full text below):
There is a lot of controversy these days about a set of interviews that recently took place between egyptologist Robert Ritner and some of the church’s most prominent detractors, concerning the Book of Abraham. For some people, Ritner’s arguments are troubling and have shaken their faith pretty deeply. For others of us, who have weathered numerous of these DEVASTATING FINAL-NAIL-IN-THE-COFFIN TAKEDOWNS OF THE RESTORED GOSPEL over the years, we greet it with a yawn. We know from experience that answers will emerge over time, and they will not be satisfactory to everybody, and we are at peace with that fact.
In other words, if Joseph’s polygamy was a massive error, then it’s an error. If it was not an error, then this woman is fully entitled to seek personal revelation to understand if and how it has any application to her. None of us needs to ruminate endlessly on whether or not prophets of the past were good or bad people, whether they were correct or mistaken. The answer is, they were both. They always will be some combination of good and bad, correct and mistaken, just like each one of us.
And so to those of you who are playing ping-pong between critics and apologists on the Book of Abraham or any other issue, I ask a similar question:
What if there will never be apologetic arguments that answer all of your concerns about historicity of scripture? What if church policies will never fully conform to your worldviews? What if people at church will never rise to your expectations of how they should think and behave?
Plan on those things never happening, ever. Not for me, not for you, and not for anyone else. If you need to take time and grieve that reality, then take time and grieve it.
Now, can you still remain a faithful and committed member of the church? Can you keep your covenants? Can you thrive in the church and the gospel? Can you do these things for the rest of your life, with joy, if none of those hopes and expectations are met?
If your answer is no, then we lovingly respect your decision. We do not condemn you in any way. We sincerely wish you the best, wherever your journey takes you.
I think this is what Christ meant when John the Baptist voiced his disillusionment, and Christ told his followers “Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.”
The past of each of us is now inflexible. We need to concentrate on what has been called “the holy present,” for now is sacred; we never really live in the future. The holy gift of life always takes the form of now.
Hanna Seariac is a MA student in Greek and Latin at Brigham Young University. She is writing a book on the history of the priesthood and another one that responds systematically to anti-LDS literature. She works as a research assistant on a biblical commentary and as a producer on a news show. She values Jesus Christ, family, friends, hiking, baking, and really good ice cream.
Really enjoyed this discussion and great to hear Robert Boylan on his book on mariology I have read this book and found it very informative and will read it again and again Hanna thanks for all you do and for you testimony of the restored gospel I too have a great respect the the mother of my Lord Mary she is indeed a chosen vessel and again thanks to Robert Boylan and all that he does for the promotion of the restored church
Tommy Cassidy an Irish Latter Day Saint
Wonderful message – esp the reminder to constantly become ‘fully converted’. Thank you!