New York or Bust: Adventures with Latter-Day Saints and New Yorkers

I was warned before going to New York that New Yorkers are often rude, particularly to tourists. With this warning in mind, I kept my eyes and ears open for this kind of behavior, but instead was overwhelmed by the helpfulness and kindness of strangers in both Palmyra and New York City in restaurants, subway, and street corners. This experience, along with the beauty of upstate New York and the electric feeling pulsating through New York City, is enough to make me want to visit again.

My journey began in Palmyra, New York, where 21 Evangelical and Mormon scholars and students met for two days to discuss the topic of "revelation" in conjunction with visiting Joseph Smith's birthplace and some of the sacred sites where he allegedly received both revelations and the golden plates. This was a fascinating two days, watching and observing the respectful yet honest ways the scholars engaged with each other as well as contemplating within myself what might have happened as I walked through the "Sacred Grove" (where Joseph Smith received his first revelation) and meandering through the farmhouse where he dictated the Book of Mormon. The two days raised many questions and new thoughts for me and also helped me to see the value of this kind of dialogue which seems more profitable and truth seeking rather than the polarization and defensiveness that often comes through debate. Also, I had my own beautiful room in the hotel which was larger than my living space here in Pasadena! It was like a mini-retreat.

After the dialogue, two of the other students and I drove up to New York City and spent an exhilarating and exhausting 2 two days cramming as much sight-seeing in as we could. Aside from our many mistakes on the Subway(the first series resulting in us being buried within the system for about two hours with all our luggage) we had a grand time seeing Chicago on Broadway, Times Square, Soho, Ground Zero, Wall Street, Ellis and Liberty Island, Central Park, and many other sites. This visit merely whet my appetite for more exploration of the East Coast!

Passing the torch

Yesterday I participated in my baccalaureate service(can you believe I am graduating?). It was a very moving service for me for two reasons: first, I couldn't help but reflect on what a wonderful two years it has been, and how God has provided for and blessed me here at Fuller. I cannot believe how fast it has gone! I'm glad I have one more year to study theology.

Second, dear Dr. Scholer gave the message. He spoke on the importance of remembering ourselves as being "jars of clay" whom are cracked and weak, so that the power of God is able to radiate out from our cracks. Over and over he reminded us that it is not about us, but about God, and that we have this treasure in clay jars. I have heard this message before; but this was particularly poignant because Dr. Scholer is at the end of his life. His terminal cancer that he has had for the last 6 years just spread to his brain a month ago. He was so weak he had to be helped up to the stage by two people. He is a man in the twilight of his life, and his sermon was perhaps the last public address he will ever give. To see a man who remains faithful up to this very point, when he is facing imminent death, was a powerful exhortation to all of us who are setting out on a new phase of life. If this was one of the most important lessons of his life, that God's grace is sufficient in our weakness, than surely we need to embrace that as we set out.

Although at times his voice quivered, or choked up with emotion, his final AMEN with which he ended his sermon was strong and confident, and had most of us in tears and then brought us to our feet in applause as we recognized his lifelong faithfulness to Christ. What a moment.