Abstract: Using the context of Easter, this personal essay explores perceptions of God’s presence and absence during human suffering. There is a theological thread that ties Christ’s suffering for our griefs and sorrows during his Atonement directly to his ability to succor us as we enter into despair due to our own trauma. Our suffering occurs during moments of transition and vulnerability known as “liminal spaces.” It is in these moments that the Savior meets us at the threshold, helping us move through trauma toward transformation in Christ. Our ability to move forward openly in liminal spaces will help us to recognize God’s presence in these moments as well as to discern the reflection of his presence in those who minister to us in our grief.
Moreover, here are links to the Easter articles that we’ve already published in this series during the past several years. I hope that you’ll take time over the next two or three days (or even thereafter) to read one or more of them:
“Christ is Risen! Truly, He is Risen!” (Daniel C. Peterson, a last-minute pinch-hitter)
“The Goodness of the Cross and Good Friday: Lessons from Bavaria” (John W. Welch)
“Resurrection Month” (Claudia Bushman)
“Christ and the Work of Suffering” (Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye)
“The Crucifixion as a Mockery, Witness, and Warning of the Judgment” (George L. Mitton)
“The First Easter” (S. Kent Brown)
“Easters: The Eternal Atoning Sacrifice Testifies of the Everlasting Redeeming Savior” (Alan C. Ashton)
“The Healing and Exalting Powers of Christ Weave Together at Easter” (Ann Madsen)
“Why Did You Choose Me?” (Joseph Grenny)
“Three Streams of Gratitude for Jesus” (Mitt Romney)
The same estimable fellow who, just a few days ago, completely, grossly, obviously, and undeniably misrepresented Heber C. Kimball’s view of abortion and falsely claimed that abortion was extraordinarily common and well-accepted among earlyLatter-day Saints — see “Brazenly Lying about a Nineteenth-Century Church Leader” — is now blaming the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for mental illness in Utah. Why? Because, he says, the Church fosters scrupulosity, obsessive perfectionism, guilt, and depression.
Of course, the issue is far more complicated and far less reducible to anti-Mormon propaganda than he would like it to appear. In support of that assertion, I offer a few discussions that he almost certainly won’t consult but that people seeking a balanced view of the subject certainly should:
- “Religion, Mental Health, and the Latter-day Saints: A Review of Literature 2005–2022”
- “Two studies of Latter-day Saints, LGBTQ Youth, and Suicide”
- “BYU research finds link between temple attendance and improved mental health in youth: ‘Being able to step back and serve other people, that is a beautiful, beautiful thing and helps us to walk the pathway of healing,’ researcher tells the Church News podcast”
- “Perfectionism in perspective: Latter-day Saints’ unique outlook: Study shows lower levels of toxic perfectionism among those with strong faith ties”
And the entirety of this recent multi-authored special number of BYU Studies is directly relevant to the matter: https://byustudies.byu.edu/issue/63-4
Many years ago, then-Senator Marco Rubio was my preferred Republican candidate for president, so I like to think (and I think it far and away most likely) that he personally had nothing at all to do with this particularly egregious case of federal stupidity: “Marco Rubio Revoked International Student’s Visa for Dumbest Reason.” But I’m very pleased to see that Suguru Onda’s situation is beginning to draw attention even beyond Utah: “Japanese PhD student forced to leave U.S. because another person caught too many fish at a church outing.” And I’m happy that the governor of Utah is now getting involved in the general issue: “Gov. Spencer Cox wants info from Trump administration regarding international student visa revocations: Visa cancellations are impacting international college students in schools across the nation, including many at Utah institutions.”
If you want to weigh in on behalf of Brother Onda (and against foolishness), please drop a brief note to Governor Cox or your delegates to Congress or Secretary Rubio. In order to make contacting representatives in Congress easier (for at least a few of you here), I share the contact information for my representatives:
I saw a comment at the Deseret News yesterday from somebody who seemingly believes that, under the current administration, the federal government can do no wrong. He praised the expulsion order against Brother Onda, pointing out that the Ondas have been in the United States for six years, which, he said, is far too long. They’ve worn out their welcome and should go immediately. Doctorates, he wrote, should never require more than a year, or at most two, to complete, so Suguru Onda is abusing our hospitality. I sometimes wonder whether I’m living in the Twilight Zone.
Meanwhile, the continual flow of horrors into the Christopher Hitchens Memorial “How Religion Poisons Everything” File™ doesn’t let up even on holidays. Nor does my duty to report on them. Here is a trio of recent arrivals:
- “At WFP Headquarters, Bishop Caussé Reinforces Commitment to Help the Hungry: The Church of Jesus Christ and the World Food Programme have worked together for more than a decade to bring relief to those in need around the world”
- “Children learn value of service with JustServe projects: Albuquerque, New Mexico, family sets goal to serve once a month with their Primary-age children”
- “Students, Faith Groups and Utah’s First Lady Join Forces for Women in Crisis: Service project at the University of Utah produced hygiene kits for women at local shelters”
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In