Let?s not justify sin
Monday?s ?No R-rated movies? makes some good points, particularly regarding the growth that comes from dealing with ambiguity, the inadequacy of the rating system and the fact that violent/immoral movies might include inspiring principles.
However, the Strength of Youth pamphlet says ?Do not attend, view or participate in entertainment that is vulgar, immoral, violent or pornographic in any way,? with emphasis on ?in any way.? The omission of specifics was replaced with this statement, which, I think, inspires us to be even more careful of the media we participate in, not more inclusive.
I disagree with the implication that some are so weak that they are ?overwhelm? by inappropriate depictions, while others have the spiritual strength to endure them. Moral teachings, such as the Word of Wisdom, are ?adapted to the capacity . . . of the weakest of all saints.? God does not give stricter laws to the weakling, while letting the supposedly ?mature? saints have free rein. This is not ?dealing with ambiguity? as Elder Hafen called for; this is embracing moral relativism.
My sensibilities shout that President Monson did not need to see ?The Passion? to strengthen his tremendous testimony of the Savior; similarly, we don?t need to seek out depictions of real violence or immorality to ?develop the kind of spiritual maturity that is necessary for our ultimate preparations.? I see the pamphlet?s ?call for courage? as a call to move farther away from entertainment that might harm our spirits, instead promoting goodness without such depictions.
Stephen Haskin
Lakeville, Minn.
More important news
Am I the only one fed up with low-minded news? I?m done caring about which celebrity shaves her head, and who is breaking up with whom. The grotesque school shooting in Texas or New Hampshire is sad, but my knowing about it doesn?t really help me, and I can?t change their situation.
More important is the fact that in the last few years, Putin, one of our greatest Cold War foes, had returned to some power in Russia. Since then, we have seen the troubles in Georgia, Russia refusing power to much of eastern Europe and Russia?s several attempts to get a military base within long-range missile distance of the U.S. Worse than that, North Korea and Iran, two of our greatest enemies, have obtained nuclear power. China is a growing threat and, according to Washington, D.C., has hacked into the Pentagon twice in the last few years, has exhibited aggressive behavior in attempting to provoke and deny passage to American ships in international waters and has performed many worse provocations. They have shown that they may cause very serious trouble.
These are huge events that could change the entire world as we know it, and they are usually buried beneath the superfluous garbage about the latest celeb sent to rehab and the newest political sex scandal. Not that I wouldn?t love to know what new diet Angelina Jolie is on, and what color tie Obama was wearing last Thursday, but really, aren?t there more important things to know?
Danny Potter
Jonesboro, Ga.
The standard
To the author of ?No R-Rated Movies,? I would like to refer you to the talk given by President Benson in 1986, ?To the ?Youth of the Noble Birthright?? at the April Conference. He says, ?We counsel you, young men, not to pollute your minds with such degrading matter, for the mind through which this filth passes is never the same afterward. Don?t see R-rated movies or vulgar videos or participate in any entertainment that is immoral, suggestive, or pornographic.?
That is the standard. The author of the article quotes Elder Hafen but he never once said in his talk that he was talking about R-rated movies. We can all give opinions about why not watching R-rated movies was omitted from the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet. I believe the author was correct when she stated that even some PG-13 movies should be avoided. But we stick to the prophet?s counsel given in 1986.
Nobody wants to be judged by peers. My advice is to read President Benson?s article and start to judge yourselves; we know ourselves better than anyone. Lastly, to quote Elder Cree-L Krofford, ?Young people know they should not watch R- or X-rated movies, and yet time after time I hear them say, ?Well it?s only rated R because it?s violent.? What difference does it make why it is rated R? The fact is, a prophet of God has said not to go to R-rated movies.? (?Marriage in the Lord?s Way, Part Two,? Ensign, July 1998.)
David Driggs
Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Rough game
With March Madness upon us, this is a great opportunity to watch closely and be reminded ? or learn for the first time ? how much of a contact sport basketball is.When playing pick-up ball at the RB and Smith Fieldhouse, there are too many fouls called that aren?t fouls, and there is generally way too much whining, complaining and excuses.
I realize a lot of guys may have not played in the organized school setting growing up where you learn the rules of the game, and that?s alright, but that?s no excuse to not learn now. I don?t know if I?ve ever been part of an intramurals basketball game where the refs have not been verbally attacked by some knuckle-head that ?knows? he was fouled, but really just doesn?t know the basic rules of the game.
Watch BYU?s men?s team this Thursday when they play Texas A&M. They?re going to get bumped a lot, and they?re going to play right through it. Everybody knows Provo loves basketball. This is true, so let?s get it together and commit to quit hiding behind complaints and excuses. Commit to let your game speak for itself.
Jeff Wood
Houston
Further light and truth
To the author of Monday?s viewpoint on R-rated movies: My goodness! Thank you for reminding me that there is still intelligent spiritual life here in Provo. I?ve grown tired of defending the intent of my heart, and attempting to awaken some consciousness around here. This life is a test, and if you just dodge all the trials in it, you?re not passing it! You?re avoiding it, and thereby failing it.
We have to venture into the unknown of the darkness to discover that light is there if we look for it, you know? That?s how we discover further light and truth. If we don?t challenge our spiritual position and just accept what is presented before us, we?re no different from any member of a ?wrong? church who attends and believes simply out of habit. (I used to be Catholic.) I?m so glad you nailed it, because there is a clear-cut difference between the testimony of a tradition and the testimony of a truth. You?ve renewed my faith in the Mormon race, and if I ever meet you ? I?m asking you out on a date! Haha.
Daniel Gonzalez
Chula Vista, Calif.
R-rated movies
After reading the Monday?s viewpoint about R-rated movies, I felt the need to respond, because I disagree with the author?s argument that there was never a rule against watching an R-rated movie.
If you read President Ezra Taft Benson?s April 1986 General Conference address in the Priesthood Session he states: ?We counsel you young men not to pollute your minds with such degrading matter, for the mind through which this filth passes is never the same afterward. Don?t see R-rated movies or vulgar videos or participate in any entertainment that is immoral, suggestive or pornographic. Don?t listen to music that is degrading.?
Also in Bishop H. Burke Peterson?s (First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric) October 1980 address during the Priesthood session of General Conference, he stated:
?Now, brethren of the priesthood, there should not be any X- or R-rated movies that we participate in viewing or talking about.?
I agree with the author?s presentation of the rule as it is written in the For Strength of the Youth pamphlet, and the fact that the standards about movie watching, provide us with direction for situations where a non R-rated movie (a PG-13 rating, for example) may provide an atmosphere where the Holy Ghost cannot be present and we should leave. I also believe that individuals and families have to prayerfully make their own decisions about whether they make adjustments to view movies rated R, PG-13, etc. by waiting until they are shown in an edited format on TV or not viewing them altogether.
I present the quotes listed above from talks, which can be found in their entirety at www.lds.org, only to show that there has been counsel given about R-rated movies, even though it was more than 20 yrs ago. We as members of the church are taught to take the information that we learn from modern-day leaders of the church, and ponder and pray about so that we may receive confirmation and learn the rules by which we should live. This is the viewpoint that I offer.
LaMont Council
Lynchburg, Va.