A PECULIAR CHURCH, A PECULIAR PEOPLE

By: Norberto Betita

April 2017 General Conference

The Lord instructed Moses while they were encamped in the wilderness of Sinai to “tell the children of Israel” thus, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people… And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation” (Exodus 19:3, 5-6).

Such intentions of the Lord for the House of Israel was echoed by the apostle Peter to the saints in New Testament times: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” (1 Pet. 2:9.)

Of these President Russel M. Nelson explained: “In the Old Testament, the Hebrew term from which peculiar was translated is segullah, which means valued property or treasure. In the New Testament, the term from which peculiar was translated is peripoiesis, which means possession or an obtaining. Thus we see that the scriptural term peculiar signifies valued treasure made or selected by God. For us to be identified by servants of the Lord as his peculiar people is complement of the highest order” (Introduction – Deuteronomy, LDS Media Library, lds.org).

The fundamental and basic tenet of being peculiar is that of being different and unique from that of the worldly norms and social patterns. “A peculiar people is one whose relationship to God is out of the ordinary, who partake of his divine nature in a very special way. Jehovah said not only that Israel would be distinct from all other nations, but also that that distinction would lie in their moral and spiritual superiority. In other words, they would be a peculiar people because they were a holy people” (Rodney Turner, The Quest for A Peculiar People, Ensign, May 1972, lds.org).

This peculiar identity has also become evident among the members of the Church---the modern Israel. Although the effort to be distinctive is a personal quest of each member it becomes a part of the whole---The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints---as such it has been known as a peculiar church, a peculiar people. This peculiarity of the church and its people has now been recognized by the world as the members continue to live moral and spiritual ascendancy. While the Lord’s objective to make us peculiar is more on our spiritual makeup, yet the moral values and righteous principles that we each attach into our daily living are recognized with respect in the temporal modern world, whether it be in business, politics and other religious organizations. The goodness that we share to others as a church and as a people and the religious faithfulness that we demonstrate speaks well of our uniqueness and admirability.

John A. Widtsoe, a member of the Council of the Twelve from 1921 until his death in 1952, enumerated five reasons why Latter-Day Saints are a peculiar people in which he described the fifth reason thus: “most astonishing of all, the most peculiar thing about the Latter-day Saints—so it seems to our weak generation—is that its members have the courage to live up to their beliefs in the face of adverse practices. The Latter-day Saint rejoices in his larger and more complete knowledge and in the privilege of using this knowledge for his good. In a social gathering he refuses the cocktail with a smile and a “thank you.” Among companions who smoke, he keeps his mouth and lungs clean and sweet. When others make Sunday a boisterous holiday, he spends part of it attending to his church duties. Amid immorality, he keeps himself clean and goes to his wife as pure as he expects her to be, and continues so throughout life. He tries to follow the admonition of the Savior—to be in the world, but not of the world.

“The world marvels at such daring, but admires it. Men who love truth above all else, who are guided in their lives by the principles of truth and who dare to conform to them, despite temptation or scoffing companions, are the truly honored ones in the minds of saints and sinners. They are the ones the world is hoping and praying for to lead humanity into peace and happiness. But such courage makes of us a peculiar people.

“We should indeed be proud to exchange error for truth, to seek urgently for all truth, and to build truth every day and everywhere into our lives. By that path we shall reach individual and collective happiness and power and become able to serve better our confused and unhappy world. If these be peculiarities, let us thank the Lord for them.

“The Latter-day Saints are a peculiar people. So were the former-day Saints” ( Why are the Latter-day Saints a peculiar people?, Originally published in the Improvement Era,Sept. 1942, pp. 577, 607, lds.org).

“We are a peculiar people. There is a wholesomeness about you that is beautiful and wonderful. We don’t smoke, we don’t drink, we don’t even take tea or coffee. That is strange for a lot of people. We do vicarious work for the dead. We teach that marriage in the house of the Lord is for time and for all eternity, that families can actually be forever. We are a peculiar people, and thank heavens we are. If the world continues to go in the direction it is going, families breaking up, pornography everywhere, drugs and things of that kind, we will become an even more peculiar people. God has blessed us generously and kindly and greatly. How thankful we ought to be.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Fireside, Sydney, Australia, 14 May 1997, lds.org).

Not only are we noted for being peculiar by the way we live our lives, but the church is just as peculiar for the kindness and generosity that it extends to those who desire to come to our meetinghouses and enjoy the wonderful spirit that it provides. In a recent article by Karen Kimball for the Deseret News, published October 19, 2017 is a story entitled “Mormons Lend Meetinghouse to Jewish Congregation for One Year.” I quote:

“Imagine,” he said, “what it’s like when a rabbi goes knocking on a door of the Mormon Church asking to move into their house for a whole year.” He said they “opened the door with love and kindness.” The members who came to host would help clean up, prepare classrooms and even join in the services. It was as if “the call of duty knows no bounds,” Rabbi Steinberg said.

“The rabbi expressed appreciation for the commitment of Church members to put aside their basic tenet to share the gospel while his congregation was in the building. “Not one person would even ‘missionize’ to us,” he said. Through the year, he had gained a greater understanding of why Mormons want to share the truths they believe. Yet, he saw how they refrained from proselytizing “in order to achieve a higher religious value.”

“As an expression of gratitude, Rabbi Steinberg wanted to give three things to the members of the Church. All the Mormons in attendance were asked to come up to the rostrum where the Rabbi pronounced a blessing upon them. He then presented a certificate to President Eyre, indicating SHM would dedicate a space in its new synagogue in honor of the Church as a reminder that the Church’s “graciousness, hospitality and kindness are a model for all religions.” All the Mormons were invited to attend the grand opening of the new synagogue. The Rabbi expressed a hope that, “the world around would see the friendship between these two communities as a model.” (https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865691338/Mormons-lend-meetinghouse-to-Jewish-congregation-for-one-year.html).

Yes, people appreciate our willingness to open the doors of the church to accommodate evacuees in times of calamities, when others are closed. They enjoyed guided tours in our family history centers and meetinghouses. They welcome our invitations to come and witness our church activities and Sunday services. They willingly abide by the high standards of the church and acknowledge with deep gratitude the generosity and benevolence to allow the occasional use of church meetinghouses for some private and public activities.

I was three times privileged to be the resource speaker of the annual spiritual enhancement program of different districts in the Department of Education in Surigao City headed by a member of the church, conducted at the church meetinghouse upon her request. Such were an audience of between 130 to 150 learned teachers, school heads and principals. I voluntarily obliged to do such rare opportunities as a duty to share the truth to people in the academe. Although there was no proselytizing involved, yet the gospel principles and doctrines I taught and discussed were all taken from church materials---videos and quotes from apostles and prophets. While I tried to discuss commonality of beliefs, yet questions of deeper gospel truths and uncommon doctrines were asked and answers appreciated. At least during those events, we had been able to introduce some of the principles of the restored gospel. What was in the mind of this member---schools district supervisor---was to open the doors for more people to know about the church, especially that these learned men and women were impressed of her own peculiarity, asking from her many questions about her beliefs.

Another member who owns a small elementary school near the church meetinghouse has the same thoughts about opening the doors of the church to more families and people. In more recent years she has requested to conduct the rehearsals of school activities at church which were readily approved by the local leadership. Final program presentations are always performed in larger commercial rented facilities.

During each of these events, these groups of learned men and women in the Department of Education, and parents and guardians, teachers, and pupils of the elementary school were properly apprised of church standards of cleanliness and some principles to live by---such as the words of wisdom---while in the premises, which they willingly, dutifully and most respectfully abided. Of such we have offered them a simple trial and expirement of obedience to principles.

Yet sometimes these peculiarities are obscured from the eyes and misunderstood by members and non-members when wisdom and inspiration of key leaders, as a result of the constant renewal of leadership, changed.

Most recently the opening of the doors to these groups of people and for members to invite non-member groups to come to church and conduct activities in accord with church standards was already restricted. While the local leadership does not in any way question the wisdom and inspiration of higher key leadership and the physical facilities department in our area, they felt it a missed opportunity for the church to have more people feel its “graciousness, hospitality and kindness [as] a model for all religions” the same way as did Rabbi Steinberg and his Jewish congregation, and other groups, felt with expressions of gratitude. The local leaders felt the church will be missing the prospects and opportunity for more of these people to open the doors of their homes and hearts for the gospel of Jesus Christ as they recollect and reciprocate those times when once we “opened the door with love and kindness” for them to enter. However, they sustained the policy changes in accordance with the law of common consent as best understood (see D&C 26:2).

Art by Brent Borup

Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles observed, “One complaint we often receive from those who are interested in the Church is that they build up the courage to stop by one of our buildings only to find it locked and empty. So we have also decided to open our meetinghouses for guided tours. The missionaries will be at meetinghouses to greet interested individuals and guide them through our houses of worship, where they can be taught and invited in a place that rests under the strong influence of the Spirit” (Missionary Work in the Digital Age, lds.org).” To the affected local leaders this statement appears paradoxical in relation to the new local directions. But they believe that “church officers are selected by the spirit of revelation in those appointed to choose them (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine).” Consequently, they are bound by the same law of common consent to sustain and abide and not put their ultimate salvation in God’s Kingdom at stake.

As an ordinary member I kind of take the personal courage to accept the possible ignominy and disrepute that maybe thrown against me for writing my stand against this ironical change as above explained, in behalf of the members and local leaders. I am not in any way against the wisdom and inspired decision of the local key leaders, nor do I diminish my sustaining support to the church leadership in our locality in accordance with the law of common consent. But I wanted to be clarified of the seemingly conflicting applications of principles and policies which may redound to the church being labeled as “double standard.” I am encouraged and motivated to raise my opinion by the apostolic statement of Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in his recent commencement address at BYU-Hawaii on February 25, 2017, entitled “Push Back Against the World” where he said, “…this counsel to love, to avoid contention, and to be examples of civility is not meant to discourage us from participating in discussions, debates, and even taking adversarial positions against what we believe to be wrong or inadvisable. Within the limits of our own resources of time and influence we should take a position, make it known, and in a respectful way attempt to persuade others of its merit, at least for us. Positive action is essential to our responsibility to push back against the world.”

My memory echoes an experience during the Stake organization of the Butuan Philippines Stake in 1989 attended by then Area President George I. Cannon, Elder Richard G. Scott, and one Area Seventy, during which time I was sustained as counselor in the Stake Presidency. While President Cannon was being ushered by all the leaders in the Butuan Philippines District upon his arrival at the parking area of the District Center along Montilla Blvd., Butuan City, he observed that the basketball goals were without rings. He then asked the agent branch president why they detached the rings. The branch president explained that it was all because many non-members in the neighborhood usually clambered up the fences to play basketball inside the church premises. In that informal setting when almost all of us Branch Presidents were present, he asked the question “Was the church built only for the members?” Then he taught us the lesson that all those people in the neighborhood and in Butuan City for that matter, are children of our Heavenly Father, and therefore all meetinghouses are built purposely for all. Such information and related instructions had since been the basis for stake and branch leaders to approve of requests in accordance with the framework of church policies on the use of meetinghouses, until this unexpected change.

We are a peculiar church, a peculiar people and this peculiarity of opening the church’s door in graciousness, hospitality, love and kindness for those who knock, is not just permitted and effected in selected areas or in some favored countries where the church is located. There is no double standard in the church. The Lord’s call to “knock” and His divine assurance that “it shall be opened unto” (see D&C 4:7) is not just to a few but to all of Heavenly Father’s children.

It is our hope and prayer that the obscured view and misunderstood peculiarity of the church in our local area in the Philippines may soon dissipate, and the clouds of doubt bordering the minds of members and non-members dispel, as the issue is clarified and resolved in the same spirit of inspiration, revelation and divine guidance, until the same peculiarity shines back into its pristine majesty to the delight of our local community and people.