The Kirk Effect

Just like 9/11, most of us probably remember where we were and what we were doing when we heard the news of Charlie Kirk.  If you did not know Charlie Kirk before, you do now.  On 9/11 I was a Sophomore in high school.  I was in band class 1st period.  I was wearing a blue sweatshirt with big thick letters that spelled ROXY and black leggings.  I did not know what the World Trade Center was when I saw the 1st tower fall on the TV.  I remember my band teacher coming in and turning on the TV without a word.  We all just watched.  As I went to every class that day, it was more news and more news.  All we did was watch the news in every class.  I knew something big had just taken place that I didn't even understand.  I knew it was somber, I knew it was sad, but I didn't quite know the whys and the hows of it all.  In the days following I found out.  

On September 10th I was doing reading school with my son on his bed when I read the news on social media.  I was shocked, but my immediate thought was, "there's no way he's gonna die, no way!"  I put my phone down and stayed focused on the task at hand doing school with my kids.  After school we went grocery shopping and by the time I got back to the house the news broke that he was gone.  I had moments of denial because of the shocking nature of it all.  Then I saw the video of the violent killing.  All I could do was gasp at the sight.  I did not put my phone down the rest of the day.  I did not sleep for 2 nights straight and I cried.  Yes, I cried.  Why was I crying for someone I did not even know.  I did not even listen to him on a regular basis, but I did know him.  I knew him well.  

One of my favorite things to do is listen to debates.  I love learning the art of debate and civil

conversation.  I've listened to Charlie many times in debates.  I love listening to Jubilee debates and Surrounded.  I love Andrew Wilson, creator of Crucible, a debate channel.  I enjoy the debates Piers Morgan has on his show.  I enjoy the Whatever podcast with their debates.  I've listened to many, many debates.  I love and admire Charlie's courage and openness in conversing with all who agree or disagree with him.  He was a great example of how to approach disagreement and debate.  Years ago, I would have been one to avoid and I would not have been so bothered by people cutting me out of their life simply because of disagreement.  In the past I have unfriended or unfollowed people on social media in order to avoid arguments, not out of hate.  It's never been out of hate.  There was something in me I had to fix.  When people I disagreed with said certain things, I would be very tempted to say something.  Sometimes I said the wrong thing or said something the wrong way.  I have been unfriended and blocked by people just for saying things they don't like or for calling them out on their wrong doing.  Many take the truth to be hard.  I'm trying not to be like that.  No matter how hard the truth is to swallow, I try to face it and take responsibility for my own actions.

I am changed because of Charlie Kirk.  He showed me how to properly handle disagreements.  I think it may be too late to fix things with some people from my past.  If they do think that I hate, then I can't say they would believe me about changing.  I can't say they would not be too sensitive to my opinions still.  I would like to think that one day we can understand one another.  I know I'm a better person because of Charlie Kirk's influence.    

If he was RACIST......explain the massive number of people of color out there defending him. 

 If he was HOMOPHOBIC.....explain the massive number from the gay community defending him. 

 If he was TRANSPHOBIC.....explain the trans group and de-transition groups defending him. 

If he was a FASCIST.......explain why it's him that's dead and not other people who he supposedly hated......and explain why he loved the constitutional republic government........explain why he wanted smaller government......explain his advocacy for free speech. 

 If he was a MISOGYNIST........explain the majority of women who are defending him. 

If he thought college kids were STUPID and if he HATED college.......explain all of the college kids and former college students defending him like a brother. 

If he was HURTING and HATING people in the name of Jesus Christ......explain all of the people he lead to Jesus, and the respect he has from those who don't believe in Jesus. Explain the number of atheists who are defending him. 

If he was so DISRESPECTFUL in debate......explain many of his opponents defending him.......explain those who vehemently disagreed who defend him and his cause! 

See, for everything he was accused of, or name he was called there's a pretty substantial group defending him that proves you are WRONG! If you really believe any of this, I must conclude that you really didn't listen to him all that closely. I must conclude that you heard one sound bite you disagreed with and judged him completely on that. I must conclude that you didn't fully understand what he was really doing. I must conclude that you listened to his demonizers.

You wonder why this is so HUGE, why this feels like a GLOBAL LOSS, why the EMOTIONAL RESPONSE from not just conservatives, but a response from people from ALL WALKS OF LIFE???? Charlie was one of the GOOD ONES. He was CHANGING people's HEARTS......that was his mission, not to change minds, but to change hearts! Most who truly listened to him and came to understand what he was really saying walked away CHANGED in some way, even if it was only RESPECT for his willingness to talk with them even still disagreeing. What you are seeing now is HUMILITY and HUMANITY. You are seeing people wake up to what he was doing and getting killed for it. Why else would so many who did not know him cry for him?

In my mind Charlie stood for 3 things, COURAGE, FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, and UNITING

HUMANITY. Those are what he shared with the masses!  Embracing absolute truths or objective truths does not equate to hate speech.  Acknowledging the truth does not mean you are rejecting those who disagree with you.  In my world view there are fundamental truths that are objective and absolute, you may disagree.  That doesn't mean we can't have a dialogue about it. I believe Charlie Kirk was the Martin Luthor King of this generation, controversial, and a martyr.

Am I angry because Charlie did not advocate for bringing people to Jesus via Mormonism?  No, of course not.  I believe he loved everyone of all faiths.  I do think he loved the LDS people and was willing to unite with us on our shared beliefs.  His message was a powerful one of unity in humanity.  We can have unity in faith and humanity.  I'm so happy he brought people to Christ through his own joy in Christ.  That is a beautiful thing.  I've thought for years that we need to put down our Bible bashing and arguing over differences in our faith and unite on our commonalities.  

On Friday morning I was scrolling on X and was overwhelmed at the responses saying things like,"I'm going back to church." "I picked up the Bible again."  " I went out and bought my first bible today."  All because of Charlie.  There were also incredibly courageous responses like, "I'm driving to a college campus right now to pick up the mic for Charlie."  "I'm going to live like Charlie."  "I'm taking my life more seriously, now."  "I'm going to stop drinking today." "I'm going to register to vote today." "I'm going to get involved in politics on the local level."   I could go on for hours with the responses.  There were also thousands upon thousands of personal experiences with Charlie.  People flooded the internet with how Charlie changed their lives for the better.  People were sharing their testimonies of Jesus Christ, of Freedom, of change through adversity, and courage.  I've never seen anything like this before.

As workplaces, and social media tell us to stop sharing our faith, stop talking about personal lives, and religion and politics, I say we rebel!  I say we do the exact opposite! In the most appropriate and respectable way, of course.  Share your lives, share your faith, share your love of freedom!  Never should we stop talking to each other and trying to understand one another.  He said something like this...........first see someone as human made in the image of God rather than someone who disagrees with you.  The disagreement should not be the first thing we see.  As Christians, I believe, we should show others the love of God.  It is our duty.  This does not mean to ignore truth, absolute truths and objective truths.  Acknowledging these truths does not equate to hate and hurt intentional or not in the name of Jesus Christ.  We must understand that.

To think doing what Charlie was doing and getting killed for it is just unfathomable.  I essentially do a little bit like what Charlie was doing only in writing and on a much smaller platform.  I have faith that God takes my words to those who need it when they need it.  It's not about the number of views and clicks, it's about bringing the bread and fish and letting God do the rest.  I bring what I can through words and experiences and God works the miracles.  In honor of Charlie I'd like to write something particular about my faith organizationally and personally that has been on my mind lately.

I have been told my whole life that I'm in a cult.  That the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a cult.  Recently, I've just listened to probably 100 hours of documentaries on cults.  I can understand why people leave my church or any church based on this argument.  Churches are a little culty.  The definition of a cult is a system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object.  So, if we take this definition, many things could fall under the umbrella of "cult".  Based on my recent experience with cult documentaries, and knowing another word for cult could be fad, I would classify many things as cults.  For instance, Lisa Frank was culti-sh, Pogs were culti-sh, Anime could be a cult, LuLaRoe Clothing company was a cult, Brandy Melville Clothing company is a cult, and Executive Success Programs from NXIUM was a cult.  

When the word Cult is used, we most often associate it with all of the really bad cults like NXIUM, Branch Davidians, People's Temple, Manson Family, Gwen Shamblin The Way Down, and Heaven's Gate.  What is it about these that make us so uncomfortable?  Well, some people died, people were used to kill others, or were being trained to die for the cause.  They were all very controlling in their nature.  Teen Mania of the 80's and 90's is one I recently learned of that I had no idea about.  They were a teen Christian movement that started out innocently enough, but eventually became militarized and abusive.  Most of these groups were sequestered to one area and in many ways cut off from the outside world.  Mind control was a huge part of all of these.  Shunning was a common practice.  Abuse of individuals or children was a common practice.  All of these groups have a culture.  Churches all have a culture.  Political parties have a culture.  Each state has a culture.

My church does have a culture.  If my church is a cult, using the most harmful definition of cult, and being

compared to the most dangerous cults in history, I have to say my church is failing big time!!!!  I just learned that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is piloting 1 hour church.  Yes, that's right coming to a ward near you, 1 hour church.  Elder Uchtdorf advised, in a conference a few years ago, the saints around the world not to come to Utah to live.  He specifically said they have a place where they are at and God has a plan for you.  Stay where you are and don't come to Utah, he said.  Okay, so less time to brainwash the saints and they want us spread out, not be concentrated in Utah and surrounding states.  Major fail if you are trying to brainwash and control your people.......I mean cult followers.  

We are not advised to abuse our children, in fact we are taught to love them even when they reject the church.  Our number one job as parents is to love our kids.  The Church left the Boy Scouts of America because their values were slowly dis-aligning with the church.  We have to go through very strict training before we are allowed to work with the youth in any capacity and no single adult is to be alone with a youth in any circumstance.  Again, failure if we are really a cult to be compared to the above. 

The fact the LDS Church has over 17.5 million members globally suggests we are not a cult.  Let me explain.  It is true that some cults can be quite large, however most of the worst cults are smaller with hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of members.  The worst cults don't get into the million range of membership.  Scientology might be an exception if you consider that a cult.  I've heard very mixed opinions about that.  Their membership has declined dramatically over recent years, with membership estimated in the tens of thousands and not millions anymore.  

My point is, if my church is a cult, then I think we would have to classify all churches as cults.  If this is the case, then yes, I guess I'm in a cult.  If you classify churches as cults, then we would classify political groups and ideological groups as cults too.  We can't leave out any group that has an obsession with something like comic books, Anime, Hollywood, Gaming, and even health and fitness groups.  Anything can be your religion.  Cults are easy to create and define.  We do live in a world surrounded by cults and cultures.  I've recently learned that there is a definite culture in gaming and comic books.  

You'd be surprised by the diversity of thought within my church.  There are the teachings of the church and there are more personal interpretations of things in the church.  Dogma exists within any church, I think.  Even the dogma arguments don't hold up for my church though.  Dogma is agreed upon doctrine, rules, or beliefs of the group that are accepted without question.  Why is it that my church encourages the saints to question?  In a church with so much alleged dogma, the prophet preaches to 17 plus million members that personal revelation is going to be more important in the coming days than anything else.  He said we will not be able to survive without the constant guidance of the Holy Ghost.  For a dogmatic church to be so insistent upon self reliance and personal revelation is almost unheard of.  Rarely do leaders of cults encourage their congregations to pray about what's being said and taught and decide for themselves if it be right.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is failing the cult test!

I've heard the famous debater Parker, who is often on Jubilee debates.  He challenged either Charlie, or Ben Shapiro on Surrounded; I can't remember who it was.  Parker claimed the LDS church forced its members to pay tithing.  He was trying to make the claim that churches are bad for doing this.  This example did not get addressed as it was beside the point and was a red herring to the debate topic.   I've heard this from other non members before.  I guess it was widely believed that the church forcibly takes our money like the government does.  This is simply not true.  Another area where the church fails as a cult.  Tithing in my church is similar to many other churches and is 10%.  The reason it is demonized is due to it being tied to getting a temple recommend.  First of all it is never forced.  Second, it is a preparatory principle to what you will do in the temple.  If you don't have a testimony of the principle of tithing, then why would you want to go to the temple to make more serious covenants with the Lord?  Tithing is a symbol of humility and sacrifice.  You recognize that God has given you all things and you honor Him by giving 10% back that is used for the needy and less fortunate, furthering missionary work, building more temples and churches, and other charitable causes such as humanitarian aid.  

I believe Joseph Smith saw God and Jesus Christ.  I believe the Book of Mormon to also be the Word of

God just as the Bible is.  Those who say God would never reveal himself to anyone, but the Old Testament prophets, or that God would never give us more scripture is, in a very literal way, putting limitations on God.  Is God unchanging? Yes, I do believe that, however I also believe that it's unrealistic for us in our current state to put limitations on the divine.  I also believe God spoke to Joan of Arc.  I believe God spoke to St. Patrick.  I believe God has spoken to and spoken through many that are not of my faith.  I believe God can have more than one prophet at a time, as in the Book of Mormon.  Many Book of Mormon prophets overlapped with one another.  Lehi in the Book of Mormon was a prophet about the same time as Daniel in the Lion's den was a prophet. 

Currently, in my church we believe and sustain all of the 1st presidency and 12 apostles as prophets, seers,
and revelators.  The Prophet holds the keys to the priesthood and is the acting president of the church and is the CEO of the corporate side of the church as well.  We, as regular people, regular members are allowed to receive our own revelations from God about our lives.  I believe people outside my church still have access to the Holy Spirit and can also receive revelation from God about their own lives.  I support anything good, beautiful, and praiseworthy that brings people to Christ.  I respect others' journeys and religious beliefs because there are more ways than one to get to a destination.  The Book of Mormon brought me to Jesus Christ.  It is ANOTHER TESTAMENT OF CHRIST.  I have my reasons for staying and I know others have their reasons for leaving, but why do we have to be enemies?

Herein lies where Charlie rose above the rest.  We don't have to be enemies because we disagree.  We often choose that though, unfortunately.  Charlie was a great example of this. If you don't know this, go listen to what Charlie actually said about everything.  You probably won't regret it.  People are asking what we should do now?  Charlie showed us what do by how he lived and for what he advocated.  Do what Charlie did.  Live a little more like he lived.  

He probably pointed more people to Christ than anyone else in this generation! I was completely amazed by his learning ability and his instant recall of history, books, scripture, philosophy, statistics, and culture! It truly was incredible to witness. Good luck keeping up the fact checking while listening to him!  He was a true life long learner!  I strive to never stop learning! Thank you Charlie!  You made a difference in my life too! Farewell, you will be missed!  Prayers to his family, prayers to this country and prayers to the world.