Author: Mormon Buzzz

Bathsheba Wasn’t On the Roof. Here’s Why That’s Important

This post is an excerpt from the blog On Sovereign Wings shared with permission by the author.

A few years ago I was on the phone with an old friend. We were talking about another friend of ours, a man who was about to be incarcerated for some poor decisions he had made. As we were talking about the case, my friend drew a familiar parallel. “If she hadn’t acted like Bathsheba and seduced him,” he said speaking of the girl involved, “this never would have happened.”

I knew very little about the circumstances surrounding our friend’s arrest, and blessedly I was not his judge. What I did know was that something about that comparison felt incredibly wrong to me. It seared my chest with pain and sank into my stomach like a weighted piece of brimstone.

His implication nagged at me for months. What was it about his analogy that felt so off? Finally, I decided to pay attention to those persistent feelings, and I sat down with Bathsheba’s story.

The discoveries I’ve made through my study of Bathsheba have been healing and enlightening for me. As we approach our quarter-annual Sunday School lesson about this woman, I believe we can offer this same healing and enlightenment to many others, to the degree that we are willing to share a more complete perspective as we teach our classes and our families.

In an era when so many women are coming forward with their own stories of sexual abuse and assault, Queen Bathsheba offers a path forward towards the reclamation of self and female power, and David, in his own way, offers a model of accountability and repentance. The two journeys actually inform each other, because both the victim and the perpetrator heal as they uncover and tell the truth about their experiences.

And the truth is… Bathsheba wasn’t on the roof.

Evidence in the Bible
“And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house which has just been remodeled with help of https://bellroofcompany.com/roofing-loma-linda/: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself…” (2 Samuel 11:2)

That’s the Biblical verse that immortalized this event. And what does it say? It says that David was “upon” the roof, and that “from the roof” he saw Bathsheba. The verse doesn’t mention her whereabouts. This might not immediately seem like an important distinction, but if we return to the scriptures a few more relevant tidbits emerge from the text.

“And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.” (2 Samuel 11:4)

Washing Herself
Bathsheba’s bath wasn’t strictly hygienic. It was a ceremonial washing ritual; it is still observed by Orthodox Jews today! Bathsheba was living according to the law of Moses, which required her to wash herself monthly—after her period (or state of ‘uncleanness’) ended—to return to a state of spiritual readiness to create life.

It is incredibly unlikely that Bathsheba would have participated in this washing ritual somewhere as public as on a rooftop! Bathsheba’s washing was a faithful and personal act of devotion to God. She wasn’t a seductress in this, and there is no evidence that she strategically positioned herself on a roof—or anywhere else for that matter—to catch the king’s eye. The centennial roofing companies has experts that can help fix roofing problems.

The blame rests squarely on David’s shoulders.

Read the rest of this post here.

About the Author
Amber Richardson is a writer, storyteller, and seeker. Amber is also the creator of On Sovereign Wings, a podcast exploring how survivors of sexual assault can find healing by reclaiming their power. On Sovereign Wings will be released at the end of summer 2018. Through this podcast, and all of her work, Amber hopes to help women find Christ, emerge out of their personal chrysalises, and transform into the winged creatures they are destined to become. Amber is based in Provo, Utah.

July 5, 2018
LDS Church to End Boy Scouts and Personal Progress Programs by 2020

In a press release published on Mormon Newsroom Tuesday, May 8th, the LDS Church announced plans to end its relationship with all Boy Scouts programs and restructure youth activities by 2020.

“In this century of shared experience, the church has grown from a U.S.-centered institution to a worldwide organization, with a majority of its membership living outside the United States,” Church and BSA leadership said in a joint statement released May 8th. “That trend is accelerating. The church has increasingly felt the need to create and implement a uniform youth leadership and development program that serves its members globally. People can click here to read here about the most needed leadership qualities to succeed a business. In so doing it will be necessary for the church to discontinue its role as a chartered partner with BSA.”

Included in the Church’s plan to end its relationship with the Boy Scouts are plans to replace all existing activity and achievement programs, including Personal Progress, Activity Days, Faith in God and Duty to God. A new worldwide initiative for children and youth will be debuted in January of 2020 and replace all previous programs.

The Mormon Newsroom release states, “For years, Church leaders have been preparing a new initiative to teach and provide leadership and development opportunities to all children and youth, to support families and to strengthen youth everywhere as they develop faith in the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This new approach is intended to help all girls and boys, young women and young men discover their eternal identity, build character and resilience, develop life skills and fulfill their divine roles as daughters and sons of God. The initiative is designed to allow local leaders, families and even the young people themselves to customize their efforts, while providing service opportunities and activities, promoting healthy living by using the best weight loss products and supporting communities.”

The Church plans on releasing future details at childrenandyouth.lds.org as the implementation date approaches.

For more details, see Mormon Newsroom.

May 8, 2018
LDS Church Announces Big Change to Women & Priesthood Sessions

The LDS Church announced today that starting next April, there will no longer be twice-yearly priesthood and general women meetings held during conference. Instead, each meeting will occur once a year. The Church’s statement on the matter is as follows:

“Beginning in April 2018, the general women’s session will no longer be held on the Saturday preceding the other sessions of general conference. Rather, the general priesthood and general women’s sessions will each be held annually, with the general priesthood session being in April and the general women’s session being in October.”

“These meetings will originate from the Conference Center on Saturday evening following the morning and afternoon sessions of the conference.”

According to the Church announcement, consolidating general conference sessions will assist in efforts to reduce and simplify the work of the Church and demands made on leaders and members.

This change is the largest since 2013, when the general Relief Society meeting was opened to young women and primary girls.

Changes to the sessions will be announced in a First Presidency letter read to congregations around the world.

October 27, 2017
Why the Church is Pushing Safety Hard this Month

Last month, the First Presidency released a statement emphasizing safety in Church sponsored activities. The letter calls for Church leaders to only plan and approve activities that present minimal risk for injury or illness as to preserve the safety of participants and protect the Church from significant liability. This statement was released in conjunction with the announcement that as of 2018, the Church will no longer be involved with the Venturing and Varsity scouting programs. As the longest standing charter organization for the BSA, the Church has always been closely tied to scouting. While the change doesn’t indicate a complete severance of the Church and BSA (the Church will continue to sponsor the Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs for boys 8-14), it does mean Young Men leaders will have to step up to the plate, particularly when it comes to risk management.

The Risk Management Department for the church, in a unique move, recently launched a new web resource page on LDS.org regarding health supplements including a Phenq Reviews and also safety measures. The new site features useful links and information about the Church safety guidelines and also provides some quirky videos about distracted driving and communicable diseases.

These materials are designed to entertain as well as educate — the Church paints a vivid picture of the risks involved by including fact sheets with harrowing statistics. One such statistic is that 1.6 million crashes a year involve distracted driving, and 23% of fatal accidents among people in their 20s involve distracted driving.

Why the sudden focus on safety? With the summer months now here, we are entering the 100 deadliest days of the year. They are also the 100 busiest days in terms of outdoor fitness activities sponsored by natural fitness products like this cbd roll on by fresh bros.

The Church is planning on overhauling the young men program in the coming months to compensate for scouting, which monopolized the outdoor activities organized for young men. In scouting activities, liability would be assumed by the BSA, but with liability now being assumed by the Church, it has become imperative that leaders and youth are trained and educated on safety guidelines on the road for which they will also explain what the car accident attorney Vegas do.

The First Presidency message on safety states, “Leaders should be as careful with the safety of participants in their activities as they would be with the safety of their own children.” It’s a strong reminder for members, leaders, and participants to put more focus on safety at activities and leverage all the resources the Church has provided to do so.

For more information about the Church’s emphasis on safety while driving, click here.

June 15, 2017
7 Christmas Traditions You’ll Only Find in Utah

This post was originally published on the Temple Square blog by Amalia Reyes.

Christmas is next week, and if you’re in our neck of the woods, there are some great things to do with family and friends. Here are just a few!

Watching the Lights Turn on at Temple Square

This may go without saying, but here in Utah, seeing the Lights turn on at Temple Square is a long standing tradition for families of all walks of life. Temple Square always has something to offer, whether it be enjoying a performance at the Tabernacle or having dinner with a view. But, there’s nothing quite as magical or enchanting as being right on Temple Square as the Holiday season comes to life with thousands of sparkling lights the day after Thanksgiving. The excitement in the air is almost palpable as people from all over the world come to witness this unforgettable night, so be sure to take plenty of pictures! Fortunately, the lights stay on until New Years Day, so even if you can’t make it that night, you have the entire month of December to bask in the twinkling beauty of the lights on Temple Square.

EVE WinterFest

EVE WinterFest is a holiday tradition in Utah that has become a hit over the last eight years. This 5-day holiday festival offers fun and entertainment for all ages with things like live musical performances, bounce houses, and even an “All-Access Pass” to enjoy a variety of happenings in various venue locations throughout downtown Salt Lake City, including events on Temple Square, City Creek, The Gateway and more.

Read more at the Temple Square Blog

December 14, 2016
Church Leaders Release Updated Website Discussing Homosexuality and the Church.

Early Tuesday morning, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints released a revamped website discussing issues surrounding homosexuality, as they relate to Church doctrines, policies, and culture. The Church’s original site on this topic, Mormonsandgays.org, now redirects to the new site, mormonandgay.lds.org. The new title and url hints at the shifted focus of the new document, which features an array of interviews from gay and lesbian members of the Church, who discuss in detail their experiences remaining faithful to the Gospel despite their challenges. This shift was discussed briefly in an official press release announcing the new site.

“The first version of this website launched in December 2012 under the title “Mormons and Gays.” The new appellation, “Mormon and Gay,” reflects the reality that a person doesn’t need to choose between these two identities — one can, in fact, be gay and live faithful to the teachings of Christ.” –Mormon Newsroom, 2016

The integration of this topic page into lds.org also helps to eliminate frequently reported confusion about whether the page is an official Church document. And as with the original, the new site is part of an ongoing effort to clarify controversial Church policies, and provide support to those affected by this difficult issue. Of note in this new version, is an increased focus on the education of Church members on their role in supporting homosexual members of the Church. This push comes in conjunction with a recently released series of videos in which Church leaders discuss how to foster a general culture of inclusion within Church congregations.

The new site can be found at mormonandgay.lds.org, and the official press release can be found on the Mormon Newsroom.

October 25, 2016
The Mormon Channel’s New Music Video Will Remind You that God is Here

“I Need Thee Every Hour with a soulful twist”, is a good way to describe the Mormon Channel’s newly released music video. The video features the vocal talents of Debra and Harry Bonner and their eight children, singing an original song entitled “I Am Here.” It’s both a beautiful rendition of, and confident response to, the familiar hymn.

Debra and Harry served as Baptist missionaries in Africa before eventually joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They and their children hope to share, through song, the message that we need God and He is here for us.

Take a listen and share with a friend in need this week:

October 21, 2016
Send LDS Emoji to Your Friends With Our New App: Mormoji

We’ve been working hard over at Mormon Buzzz to bring you our new app, Mormon Starter Pack: Mormoji by Mormon Buzzz! Now you can share the Gospel in style with LDS emoji for iMessage. This is the first in a series of Mormon-themed stickers for iOS 10, and more stickers will be released periodically.

The app is free, and currently only available for iPhones and iPads, but plans to release an Android version are underway. To be notified when the Android version is available for download, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter.

To download the app, head over to the Apple App Store:

October 1, 2016
You Can Now Follow the LDS Church on Snapchat

Snapchat got a little more edifying today, as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints announced on Facebook Thursday that they are officially on the popular app. The Church’s account will be used to share scriptures, messages from the prophets, and words of encouragement. Talk about sharing goodness!

You can follow the Church on Snapchat at ldschurch.

September 8, 2016
How the Trial that Nearly Killed Me Taught Me Gratitude

When I was two months old my mom and dad received news that no parent wants to hear, news that would change my life forever. My skull was expanding too rapidly and I needed to have brain surgery to fix the problem and I will need Home Care Assistance. To counteract this problem, surgeons put a device in my brain called a shunt, which drained my brain fluid for me. Despite a successful surgery, I wasn’t expected to walk or talk at all. Defying those expectations, I lived a carefree life with minimal physical restrictions. That all changed in 2004 when I was serving a mission in Kentucky.

I started getting headaches, and they increased rapidly every day without subsiding. I credited it to the stresses of the work and shook off the pain. Overtime, the pain became so severe that I would pass out and have to be revived. To prevent that from ever happening to you, you can have faith in products like CBD UK. One night, in the middle of this, I had a very distinct impression that I had to go to the hospital. The next morning, my companion and I went.

Numerous tests were done and it was concluded that my shunt, which I’d had since birth, was malfunctioning. An emergency surgery was scheduled. I remember the surgeon’s tone elevating as he barked orders to get me into the operating room immediately because I only had a short time to live. My shunt was basically flooding my brain and time was running out. I called my father and frantically told him what was about to happen.

I was given a priesthood blessing, and in it I was told that this was going to be one of many trials in my life. The surgery was a success, but the recovery afterward was difficult. I lost motor function in my arms and legs and I could not dress or feed myself well. I had to stop proselyting for a few months and became very discouraged.

One day, I was reading in 3 Nephi 17, and I wept as I read the account of Christ healing the Nephites. It touched my heart, and somehow I knew I would be healed one day. I finished my mission and was in good health for two years. Then one day while at college, the headaches returned.

My shunt malfunctioned yet again, and I had to drop out of school because of the surgery. Thirteen surgeries and three years later, I was depressed and worn out. I ended up having three more surgeries, this time on my back because of an injury, and I started to wonder why I was being left alone and why God was not helping me. During this time, I decided to turn to the scriptures for guidance.

I was reading the account of Christ watching the apostles as they were being tossed in the sea during the early hours of the morning, or as it is worded in the scriptures, “the fourth watch.” I always wondered why He didn’t calm the sea like He had done previously, but instead, waited until late at night to go out to His disciples.

While on the sea, Christ still did not calm the waters, but instead waited. Peter inquired after the Lord and went out of the boat to meet Him. He was able to walk on the water — no one else but Christ was able to do that — and he started towards the Savior. The waves were boisterous, the winds blew, and Peter took His eyes off of Christ, thus starting to sink. He cried out, “Lord, save me,” and the scripture says that Christ immediately “stretched forth His hand and caught him.”

That scripture hit me with such power. The lesson I needed to learn was that sometimes in life, our trials and difficulties are not taken away, and sometimes they are increased without letting up, but that does not mean the Savior or our Heavenly Father are turning their backs on us. They are symbolically on the hill watching over us as we are treading through the waters of life. We always need to keep our eyes on the Savior in order for Him to protect us. I found myself looking at the waves of my life instead of the gospel, and it was as I was reading that passage that it finally hit me — I needed to change my focus.

Why didn’t Christ stop the waves? He most certainly could have. But the key point of this story is that Christ, being the Son of God, was teaching His disciples a valuable lesson on faith. Christ knows our potential and wants us to be the ones to “come down out of the ship” to walk towards Him, even when the waves of life are all around us.

I have been given numerous priesthood blessings in my adulthood, and every one talked about me being “healed”. Looking back, I can say that although I was not completely healed physically, the spiritual healing has been a life-saver. I have felt the infinite power of Christ and His Atonement in my life.

Through my health issues that I still struggle with today, I take comfort in the fact that even though my burden may never be taken away, I have the Captain by my side, ever watchful of my storms in mortality.

This post was written by Tyler Knight. Knight is a vocal performance major who loves all aspects of music. His emphasis is opera,and he enjoys playing the piano as well. Performing with his wife either on stage or in church is one of his favorite activities. He has a deep love and appreciation for church history and spends his spare time learning about the early saints and their every day experiences.

Writing has become a way for him to express his testimony and life lessons with those around him with the hopes of helping people who may be struggling.

August 10, 2016