WRTG 150

English Symposium!

      I was lucky enough last weekend when entering into the symposium while all the speakers were being asked questions.  Of all the speakers the most interesting to me was a graduate student named Elizabeth Brady.  The topic of the session I attended was non – fiction.  When asked why it was that she decided on non fiction writing Brady talked a lot about how it was just her natural thinking.  She didn’t grow up wanting to be a non – fiction writer, but in fact wanted to write fiction stories!  However, as she tried to write stories she found it hard to make up connecting details when there is no factual base, as I inferred.  In the end she found it natural bringing real, factual stories to life.  They are already interesting and riveting so it is way easier to bring to life!  She mentioned that it was very frustrating to start your paper feeling good, hating it half way through, and then finding somehow it works in the end.  Her last comments to the question if she kept a daily journal.  She responded saying she did not keep a journal early on but now she does, but it is different than most.  She writes a few lines of her thoughts and that’s it!  She states that figuring of self is more important than daily schedules.

My introduction to my paper regarding whether or not members should be allowed to read and study other versions of the Bible.

      Throughout time Mormons have heavily safeguarded their sacred texts to be the

true Word sent from God.  Of these sacred texts is included the Book of Mormon,

Pearl of Great Price, Doctrine and Covenants and the King James Bible.  Three of

these texts are without question the Word which we should follow, however one of

the texts: the King James Bible has sparked controversy within the Church of Jesus

Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Many of the members of the LDS faith claim that the

King James Bible is the only Bible in which we should be allowed to read, and to

read other such versions would count heretical or wrong!  Through this thought

process we find many of the members to have placed man made guides to narrow

their view and learning, and slow the progress that God would intend for them to experience.  We must remember that Christ, our known leader and Savior, has repeatedly taught us that we should learn of all things, but do so by the Spirit of God, for that is the true teacher to our hearts.  Though it may seem easier or more logical to stick to the works which have been placed in front of us since youth, we must realize that due to the Spirit’s guidance and help, and also pure human desire to learn and grow we may find that it is absolutely acceptable to read other versions of the Bible to provide increased capacities and clearer doctrinal motives in our daily lives.

Hayden Gerrard

WTRG 150

Research Assignment

      My topic is that of the Bible and its singular importance.  The question I really want

to address when it comes to my paper s better understanding why the LDS church uses

the version of the Bible that it does (KJV) and if looking at other versions or translations

can help us of this faith.  This question is one of understanding our church leader’s stand

on it. What do they believe?  Have they or will they ever read the other versions of the

Bible?  Has it or will it ever benefit them?  I think another question that needs to be

addressed is what is our personal feeling when we read other Bibles?  Do we, like many,

feel it to be heresy?  Do we think that it is not true faith if we look or read other churches

translations of the Bible?  We do have to understand that Christ expects us to use our

common logic and the Spirit when reading any book.  Not just the Bible but all other

translations of it as well.

      The Bible’s history is one that cannot be recounted for.  It goes to the very early years

after Christ’s death.  That is when it was created, however, the stories and writings that

the Bible contains dates back nearly to the beginning of the world.  It tells of Adam and

Eve and Moses all following God and how they come to know of Him and His power and

supremacy.  It tells of Lot and father Abraham as they faced the trials of their day with

faith, patience, and perseverance.  It also talks about our beloved Savior, Jesus Christ and

His mission here on earth.  He tells us what he did, why he did it, and how we can feel

the influence of His actions.  The Bible is indeed amazing and as been a source of

revelation for years and years for millions and millions of people.  However, throughout

time the Bible has, indeed been changed, It has had a million different people trying to

describe, with ill or good intent, the Bible and its meaning.  A lot of different people have

tried to show people what Christ is telling us.  Therefore what we have today is not the

original.  It is interesting how we think looking at other translations is bad when we live

of the Joseph Smith translation who translated and changed much of the Bible.  I

understand he is our beloved prophet, however, we cannot suppose all people who re

translate the Bible do it in ill meaning. 

      The authorities that are addressed in this paper I feel are really the church leaders

themselves.  We should teach people that the Spirit is the best way to know of truth and

error.  We are to follow the Spirit in counsel for the guidance to know which of the

translations of the Bible can provide us with the inspiration needed to push forward. 

Some Bible translations may be wrong and lead us astray, however, some might just be

more simple and help us to understand.  The Spirit will let us know which is which. 

Christ is watching over us, and that is a fact.  The sources is which I address such a topic

is simply my teachers and church leaders.  I have found the Book of Mormon itself, along

with the Bible, to be great sources as I study out Christs teaching.   He teaches us to heed

the right and things of light.  If we have the Spirit we will understand His words.  He also

commands us to learn all that we can, and we can do that by comparing and seeing other

people’s views on the Bible.

Sources:

1) 1974, Quaker History, volume 63, issue 2, starting on page 94, English, “Oh no it’s not the scriptures! The Bible and the Spirit: James Ash

2) 2007, Pneuma, volume 29, issue 1, starting on page 148, English, “The Holy Spirit and the Bible: The Spirit's Interpreting Role in Relation to Biblical Hermenuetics”  Williams Lyons

3) Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A.: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2000, 1590, 813, [44] p.: col. ill., maps (chiefly col.); 19 cm., English, The Holy Bible

4) Lincoln H. Blumell and David M. Whitchurch, “The Coming Forth of the King James Bible,” in The King James Bible and the Restoration, ed. Kent P. Jackson (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2011), 43–60.  “ The Coming Forth of the King James Bible”

5)  Interview with BYU professor Lincoln Blummel.

6) “The Joseph Smith translation of the Bible” Robert Bowman, 2012 Institute of Religious Research

A Proposal to Analyze 

“A Government in Thrall to Religion” by Frank R Zindler

     I don’t like his views one bit.  I disagree on most of them and reading his background I see 

absolutely no reason for some of the things that he says.  Perhaps it is my religious bias, or 

background that lead me to think and feel the way I do about Mr. Zindler, however I will say 

that, though I disagree with most of it, I can or do agree with some of it.  There are some points 

he brings to light that I do believe our government has to realize and fix.  Even though it is not 

very appealing and convincing to me, it wasn’t me that Zindler was writing to.  Considering that 

his audience is primarily those of the Atheist party as he is I find that he is very persuasive in 

stirring and intensifying the feelings of separation of church and state.  

     I propose to focus primarily how through his powerful word choice, religious connections, 

and firm examples of his point he creates a very convincing pathological paper.  It is not perfect 

by any means or standards, however it accomplishes it’s purpose.  That purpose is not to 

persuade everyone to believe and think as he does(though I think he would like that), but it is to 

help create stir amongst those who share his similar beliefs to creating a voice against the merge 

of religion and state affairs.  You can tell he had thought a great deal of the subject and also how 

to word such an issue without completely ridiculing the religious.  He is very firm on his 

viewpoints and ways but does not spend the whole paper insulting those who not in favor of his 

views.  The greatest part of the paper is the passion that is displayed through his words.  As you 

read you have this sense of urgency as he repeatly tells his audience if we do not do this now, 

when?  Also banging off the same topic, he iterates the importance of such by letting people 

know we will not survive as a nation if this keeps up.  While I find fault in his views of the 

importance of stopping religion being intertwined with government I will see both sides of his 

argument, both from his original audience, and from myself.

Faith in America: Mitt Romney

          

     The purpose, which is beautifully stated by Mitt Romney, was to help the nation 

realize that separation of church and state has never been the true way of America.  

God has, and always will be a key part in America’s progression.  Our country was 

founded on faith and will be sustained by faith.  He called for men of true faith to show it.  

To be respecters of all faith, loyal patriots to our country, and to remember, “In God we 

trust.”  He also let people know that he, if elected President, would run America as it has 

always been run, which is under God.

     He states great logos through history and the facts of our nation.  He quotes Sam 

Adams in his own words of going for faith in God, and shows the nation that this is the 

most effective way.  He goes on to tell that America was founded on faith, and the 

founding fathers put God in the Constitution for a reason.  He also states the common 

facts that all Christians, and probably most non Christians, should know.  One of them 

being that we are all God’s children and that God is our Creator.  By using this common 

knowledge he hits on the basic points that all people uphold, therefore catching his 

audience.

     Through ethos he accomplishes his status in the past, and what it will be in the 

future.  He states that how he was governor he ran the state as best as he could.  He 

also did not enforce his own religion on anyone but instead ran the state as the 

Constitution taught him too.  He later then touches on the family aspect of himself.  He 

states that his spouse is a living example of service and doing what is right, not just 

simply doing what their religion implies.  He uses these two things to help the audience 

see that he will respect all religions and treat them fairly as he should.  He also states 

the fact that no one should win or lose candidacy due to their religion.  That would be 

pure discrimination.

     To round off this great delivered message, Romney touches the emotional parts of 

his audience.  He seems to do this through a mirage of stories of great men from the 

past, quotes from the beloved Lincoln, events with the founding fathers, etc.  Through 

these numerous stories and small quotes he arouses the audience to remember what it 

is that made this country, and that is God.  He even adds his own testimony through the 

process of the paper, letting others know of his personal belief and expectations.  He 

does well with pathos by helping people remember the pure trust our founding fathers 

had on God and how we ought to do the same.  We cannot afford to lose that trust.

     This is in my opinion a great piece on faith.  Romney boldly adds his own testimony 

and belief, but also lets people know how he will run office by way of the Constitution, 

not by his church’s council.  By including his trust to the Bible, and what the oath stands 

for lets the audience feel that this man is, indeed, religious, but also willing to do what is 

needed to help America.