On February 4th this week, district judge, Elizabeth Roscoe, issued a summons ordering Thomas R. Monson, president of the Latter Day Saints in England, to appear in the Westminster Magistrates Court on March 14th.
He is called upon to defend certain tenets of the Mormon story that have been challenged by a former disaffected member, Mr Tom Phillips.
Phillips charges that asking members of the Latter Day Saints to contribute finances to promote misleading and questionable doctrines is a breach of the Fraud Act (2006).
Among these false doctrines that Phillips claims he was gulled into believing are:
1) That Angel Moroni spoke to Joseph Smith.
2) That there were gold plates from which the Book of Mormon was printed and have since disappeared.
3) That the American Indians are a lost tribe of Israel.
4) That Jesus made a special trip to America to preach to these Indians.
5) That the Book of Abraham was translated by Joseph Smith from ancient Egyptian papyri which have also disappeared.
Failure by President Monson to appear will result in a warrant being issued for his arrest.
He must now marshal his evidence to show that the Book of Mormon is not a fairy story or face a hefty fine for perpetrating a fraud.
O to be fly on the wall when proceedings get started next month.
Jubilate.
Ian
In the late eighth century in England one of the more enlightened monarchs called Canute, wanted to demonstrate that it was God in charge of the major events in life, not the king.
To do this he assembled his court on the beach at Pevensey and ordered his throne to be set up on the sands.
When the tide turned, Canute, with scepter in hand commanded the waves to come no further. He kept giving his edict until his chair was almost afloat and then, on being rescued by his jarls, he remarked: "Now you know where the real power lies."
Thus the photograph, taken secretly by my neighbour when I was putting out the garbage last week.
In defiance of the Canadian Winter I did the job in my running shorts.
Tonight, another storm is approaching my city of Barrie and tomorrow I will be out with my snow shovel, wrapped in my thermal pants and gloves, conceding with Canute in the rule of a Higher Power.
Jubilate
Ian
Amid the news of global weather convulsions; floods in England, the polar vortex in North America, bush fires in Australia and a volcano eruption in Sumatra, one looming crisis was overlooked - the drought in California.
For over a year, large parts of America's most populous state have seen no rain. Now reservoirs in the foothills are all but dry, the mountains have a fraction of their usual snow-pack and the hills are aflame in tinder-like conditions.
Yesterday a motley crew of witch-doctors, Indian rain dancers and New Age Shamen were at it , invoking the skies to give forth moisture.
None came!
But it HAS come down to prayer. The Roman Catholic bishop of California in his Sunday address has called the faithful to earnestly pray for rain.
Who ever would have believed it!
But there is a spiritual link to all of this.
King Solomon in his dedication of the Temple prayed thus:
"When THERE IS NO RAIN because Thy people have sinned against Thee.... hear their confession in Heaven, forgive the sin of Thy servants and grant rain upon the land, and teach them to walk in a GOOD WAY." (1 Kings 8.)
Well, well. A connection between human conduct and natural disaster.
Depending on where you live on Earth you may or may not embrace that thought, but I somehow think that if YOUR lawn had shriveled and died, that it was YOU who could only shower once a week and that it was YOUR neighborhood that was served by a single water-stand pipe, you might possibly be adding your own prayers heavenward right now.
Jubilate.
Ian
