Latter-Day Ain'ts

A couple of weeks ago, someone I follow on social media told of how she'd once been in a rap battle with a Mormon missionary and dropped a line something like "More like Latter-day Ain'ts". It wasn't mean-spirited or anything like that. It was meant to be a funny slice of life moment, and most people took it as such.

Like most of her posts, this one generated a wide spectrum of comments. Most were harmless and even amusing. Some of them were uncomplimentary towards the LDS community; a few even questioned what a self-professed Christian was doing associating with Mormon missionaries in the first place.

You know, same old same old.

The phrase "Latter-day Ain'ts" got me thinking. I can't speak for anyone else, but here are some of my personal "Latter-day Ain'ts".

——

Ain't claiming to be perfect. I do the best I know how, and with the inspiration of Heaven, I try to be a better person today than I was yesterday.

Ain't telling you that my church is better than yours. But we do have a perspective that you may not have considered.

Ain't trying to be like other Christians, because that's not the point. The point is to be more like Christ, to the extent that I can learn and do what that involves.

Ain't here to judge you. That's not my job. I'm here to love you and to help you when you need help, because that's what the One I'm pledged to follow would do.

Ain't a blind follower. My beliefs and my convictions are my own, hard-won through study, meditation, prayer, and a lot of personal experience. I'm not a novice, and my faith is not fragile.

Ain't just checking boxes. I don't avoid alcohol, drugs, tobacco, casual sex, gambling, and the rest just because my church tells me to. I do it because experience—mine and others'—tells me those things don't make my life happier and don't make me a better person.

Ain't interested in anti-Mormon rhetoric. I was a missionary in the Bible Belt. You really think you know something I haven't heard and debunked a dozen times over? You don't. Don't waste my time, or yours.

Ain't expecting freedom from trials and tribulations. The idea that following Christ leads to an easy life is baffling to me. It certainly wasn't easy for Him. It's the hard times that make us stronger, not the easy ones. Learning to overcome hard times is the whole reason we're here.

Ain't complacent. I don't believe that God sent me here to be who I am, but to grow into who He knows I can become. Exaltation is a process, not an event.

Ain't going to try to justify myself to anyone. People may not agree with my opinions, my positions, or the way I live my life, and that's fine. I'm not accountable to them.

And finally, Ain't concerned about the fires of Hell, because like Nephi of old, I know in Whom I have trusted.

I think that pretty well covers it.

The Donkey and The Tiger

 "The grass is blue!" shouted the donkey.

"No, the grass is green," replied the tiger.

"It is not! It's blue! It's obviously blue! I can't believe you could think it's green!"

"Nevertheless, the grass is green," replied the tiger.

And so the argument went on, until the donkey demanded they take the matter up with the Lion, the Judge and King of the Jungle. 

Brought before the Lion, the donkey pleaded his case. "Oh great and wise Lion, is the grass not, in fact, blue?"

"As you say," said the Lion.

"The tiger contradicts and embarrasses me! Will you not punish him for his disrespect?"

"Very well," replied the Lion. "The tiger will spend a week in silence."

"Yes! Finally! Thank you!" And the donkey went noisily on his way.

"You will accept your punishment?" asked the Lion.

"I will," replied the tiger. "But I must ask why I am being punished, as the grass really is green."

"Your punishment has nothing to do with the color of the grass," said the Lion.

"Then why?"

"Because it is not proper for an intelligent, reasonable creature like you to allow yourself to be caught up in the arguments of a jackass, and less so that you would then involve me in the problem as well."

The Lion's voice then softened. "There are some creatures who will not respond to logic and reason. They do not seek for the truth; they only seek their own satisfaction. You will never convince them with facts, because their convictions are independent of reality. You cannot win an argument with them, because they are incapable of admitting there is anything they do not know.

"In the face of such creatures, the only effective response is silence. Take a week and remind yourself what that sounds like. Your life will be happier, and your mind will be at peace."

The tiger bowed his head in respect. "You are wise, my King. Thank you."