March 25 Tip: Do you know why Mormon's are called "Latter Day Saints?

Do you know why Mormon's are called "Latter Day Saints?

(The 3-Minute Weekly Insight from Spirituality U.)

Before we answer that question, let's take a look at who the Mormons are. First, the term "Mormons" is actually a religious nickname for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). Mormons are members of one of the world's newest religions, a church that was born in the 1820's in western New York State under the leadership of a man named Joseph Smith, Jr.

And even though Mormonism is called a church, there is great disagreement about whether it is part of mainstream Christianity, or a separate religion. According to the official LDS web site, the Mormons are the only true Christian Church.  But because of some of their beliefs and practices, a number of Christian denominations see Mormons as a separate religion and outside the fold of Christianity.

Mormons, of course, share in the idea that Jesus of Nazareth was the Savior of the world. However, they have a somewhat different view of the Trinity. They see Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as separate beings rather than the 3 in 1 view of many Christians.

But it is their selection of sacred texts and a few of their spiritual practices that make them distinctive and perhaps separate.

In addition to the Bible, Mormons reconize a second major scripture. According to LDS documents, an angel directed Joseph Smith to a place where gold plates containing a new scripture (written in an ancient language) were buried. The plates contained teachings of ancient Prophets who lived in the Americas. Angels helped Smith translate these sacred words into English. This sacred text came to be called The Book of Mormon, and is considered by the LDS to be a Third Testament along with the Old and New Testaments. The Mormons have at least two other documents they see as sacred. These comprise the Doctrine and Covenants as well as a work entitled the Pearl of Great Price.

Among beliefs unique to Mormonism is the concept that Native Americans were aware of Jesus long before he was born in Palestine 2000 years ago. They also believe that after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, He appeared to people in North America and taught them important lessons. Joseph Smith also taught that shortly after the death of Jesus the Church went in a wrong direction and that, as a result, he had been instructed by God to re-establish the true Christian Church.

One of the more controversial of Mormon practices is that of baptizing deceased individuals by proxy. For example, if your late grandfather was not a Mormon, you can still ensure his eternal salvation by having a living person baptized who stands in for your grandfather in the ritual.

So, why are Mormons called "Latter Day Saints"? According to the Mormon.org web site, "As for the term Latter-day Saints, members of the Christian Church anciently were called Saints (see Acts 9:32, Ephesians 2:19, Phillipians 1:1). They were former-day Saints. We are the Latter-day Saints. It is that simple."

For more information about Mormons, visit:

http://www.mormon.org/

And tune in WNDA, 1570 AM, at 8:25 each Monday morning to hear Kristen Riddick

and Terry Taylor discuss the Weekly Insight on 

"Real Life in Louisville"

March 11 Insight: In What Way is THE WAY “The Way”?

In What Way is THE WAY “The Way”?

(The 3-Minute Weekly Insight from Spirituality U.)

That’s actually hard to say…because THE WAY (The Tao in Chinese) is supposed to be impossible to explain. But with American chutzpah, let’s give it a try.

The Tao (pronounced “Dow”) literally means, “the way.” It represents the source and the driving force behind all of reality. According to this way of seeing things, there is supposed to be a certain natural flow to the events of the universe.

According to an article posted by the British Broadcasting Company, “The Tao is the ultimate creative principle in the universe. All things are connected and unified in the Tao.” The followers of Taoism, an ancient Asian religion associated with the Tao, see their task as finding ways to live in harmony with the natural flow of things.

At some level, even though Taoism can be seen as a religion, it is also practiced as a philosophy of living by millions of people in Asia and other parts of the world.

Taoism arose in what is now China more than two millennia ago. It’s basic, sometimes paradoxical, precepts are associated with two great sages: Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu. A key book of collected Taoist wisdom is the internationally popular book, The Tao Te Ching (pronounced Dow Tay Jing).

Here is an example of Taoist wisdom from Lao Tzu:

“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them—that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”

And from Chuang Tzu: “Do not make plans. Do not be absorbed in activities. Do not think that you know. Be aware of all that is and dwell in the infinite. Wander where there is no path. Be all that heaven gave you, but act as though you received nothing. Be empty, that is all.”

Taoism is a philosophy of mutually engaging complimentary opposites: dark and light, action and inaction, hot and cold, male and female, black and white. This concept is often visually represented by the symbol of the yin and yang. The symbol is a circle equally divided into two swirling teardrops of black and white. The white teardrop contains a drop of the black, and the black a drop of the white. The teardrops seem to be trying to overwhelm each other. Yet, the understanding is that at the very moment the dark vanquishes the light, it gives birth to it! In the same way the light can give birth to the dark.

Religious Taoism has gods but no creator God as in Western religions. Religious Taoists see their gods as subject to the laws of the Tao, but do not see the Tao as a God to be worshiped.

According to the BBC, Taoism promotes harmony and union with nature; the pursuit of spiritual immortality; being virtuous (in an inconspicuous way); and working on self development.

Among the practices followed by Taoists these days are meditation and such spiritual movement techniques as Tai Chi (pronounced Tie-chee) and Qigong (pronounce Chee-kung).

For more information about Taoism visit:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/taoism/ataglance/glance.shtml

.

What Do Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday and Pancakes Have in Common?

What Do Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday and Pancakes Have in Common?

(The 3-Minute Weekly Insight from Spirituality U.)

All of these are ways of preparing for Lent, the extended period of fasting practiced by Churches that comprise the majority of the world’s two billion Christians.

The word Lent comes from a Latin term that refers to Spring. These days, Lent is a nearly six-week-long period beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending at Easter. For Christians, Lent is a special time of prayer, penance, sacrifice and good works. A key spiritual practice for Christians observing Lent is fasting.

The idea of fasting in preparation for Easter dates from the earliest days of Christianity, but began to have a specific form during the 4^th Century, CE. Originally, Christians may have simply abstained from eating meat during the Lenten fast. Later, they were asked to give up meat, butter, cheese, eggs and even chicken. Fish was the primary protein food allowed. Christians were required to fast for 40 days in the period from Ash Wednesday to Easter. If you do the math, you realize that there are more than 40 days during this period; Christians get Sundays off from the fast!

Why 40? The Biblical roots are deep, mirroring Moses’ 40 days on the mountaintop and Jesus’ 40 days and nights of fasting in the desert.

These days, the fast is more elective than required and those observing the fast may simply give up a favorite food such as chocolate. Others may take on special tasks of justice and mercy such as giving money to the poor or working at a soup kitchen.

In late medieval times, Mardi Gras (French for “Fat Tuesday”), was the day before Ash Wednesday, a time when households had a feast to consume all of the remaining meat, dairy and poultry products in the home before the fast began. The practice spread to countries throughout Christendom.  In some countries, the pre-Lent feast (or festival) is now called “Carnival” and actually extends over a number of days and in some places, weeks. Louisiana is the only state in the US where Mardi Gras is a legal holiday. New Orleans, in particular, is noted for its Mardi Gras parades and wild street parties. However, the longest running Mardi Gras observance in the US is celebrated in Mobile, Alabama.

Mardi Gras traces its roots back thousands of years to pagan celebrations of spring and fertility, including the wild Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Lupercalia.

“Shrove Tuesday” is the term some Christians use to refer to what others call Fat Tuesday. The word “Shrove ,” derives from an Old English word that refers to the sacrament of penance and absolution. In earlier times many Christians went to confession as a way of preparing for Lent.

Oh, and the pancakes. Many churches (especially Episcopal) have pancake suppers on the evening before Ash Wednesday. Why? Because traditionally pancakes (and the sausage or bacon served with them) offered families an easy way of using up many of the foods that they would soon be giving up for Lent: eggs, milk, butter, sugar, and meat.

For more information about Mardi Gras visit”

http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/mardi-gras