The Holy Ghost

Sunday thought experiment.

I believe “The Holy Ghost is the fullness of your pre-mortal spirit.”

LDS friends, please state your arguments why you think this statement would not be true. I’m looking for holes in my premise.

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An Interpretation

Melchizedek and the Mideiweewin. Part Two

This an illustration of a “fourth degree chart from the National Museum. This is from the collection found by Reagan at Nett Lake (or Bois Fort).

Note that in this version the Buffalo and the bear are supportive, while Misshipeshu and the Great Serpent are malevolent.” *

* From “The Sacred Scrolls of the Southern Ojibway,” by Selwyn Dewdney

When you get right down to it, there isn’t much difference between the meaning of the symbols used to represent the four degrees found within the old Grand Medicine Society lodge and the four degrees found in a Latter-Day Saint temple. Except that the Midei used symbolism and hyperbole to consolidate power unto themselves over others, while the Latter-Day Saints use it as a teaching tool to enable all who wish, I a journey to return to God.

To the Anishinabeg all living things have spirits/manidos and the strongest spirits have the most power. In this case the spirits of the bear and the buffalo can represent either:

God the Administer and Jesus Christ-The creator, or Christ and Adam/Michael the first man,

Or God and the Holy Ghost,

as they were all involved in the creation. A symbol can have multiple and multi level meanings.

The good spirits created the Mideiwigun or a remnant of the ancient temple as the path to return to them.

Attempting to bar this path at each degree are the evil manidoos mishipeshew and mishiginebig, the great water lion and the great water serpent**. They represent the destroyer or any two of his servants. They are “fire breathing” and “pestilence striking monsters”. They represent evil spirits who attempt to destroy us through spiritual death, spiritual dissipation, and sometimes pestilence.

The “fire” that they breathe are “the fiery darts of the wicked,” Ephesians 6:16. These are the temptors and temptations of the natural man which beset us whenever we attempt to improve ourselves. So it is not at all unusual that an evil personage appears in the Mideiwii scrolls, or the temple as part of the story. In order for the old Anishinabeg to attain the highest degree or us to succeed in the plan of happiness, there must be “opposition in all things”.

If the destroyer has such power, how can we hope to protect ourselves? James 1:14 says:

“ But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” If we recognize that we are only being tempted with something that we want, which isn’t good for us, we can choose the good. That is how we overcome the destroyer. That is the way the old Anishinabeg progressed to the next degree in the Mideiwiigun and how we now make covenants in the temple.

This is a key that you won’t see in the old scrolls. Because we have a body and the destroyers do not, they only have power over us if we let them. NEVER give them permission. You’ll regret it if you do!

The last thing I would comment on is the circle in the middle. It is a sun symbol which can represent three things. , The Son who is The Creator, A return to the presence of The Father with whom the Son dwells, and our heart after we realize our best desires.

** It is interesting to me to note that both the Anishinabeg and the early Latter Day Saints connected the destroyer with water. D&C 61:

3 But verily I say unto you, that it is not needful for this whole company of mine elders to be moving swiftly upon the waters, whilst the inhabitants on either side are perishing in unbelief. 4 Nevertheless, I suffered it that ye might bear record; behold, there are many dangers upon the waters, and more especially hereafter; 5 For I, the Lord, have decreed in mine anger many destructions upon the waters; yea, and especially upon these waters.

18 And now I give unto you a commandment that what I say unto one I say unto all, that you shall forewarn your brethren concerning these waters, that they come not in journeying upon them, lest their faith fail and they are caught in snares; 19 I, the Lord, have decreed, and the destroyer rideth upon the face thereof, and I revoke not the decree.

This is one of the coincidences which enables me to reconcile the two institutions.

Melchezidek and the Mideiwiwin- to be continued.

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Part One: Indian AND Mormon?

I had a friend once who once accused me of selling out my being Indian (American) to the “Mormon” church. (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) I suppose since I’ve never shared my innermost thoughts I can see how it appears that way. So I would like to set the record straight.

Mind you, these are all my personal beliefs and I claim to represent no one but myself.

Since I was raised a Latter-Day Saint the question is not why I joined the church but rather why I stay. It’s because I see beyond the two cultures in question to the spiritual commonalities they share.

Since this blog is from an Indian perspective I’ll start off there, although there needs to be some switching back and forth in other parts. If I were to say that I believe in a traditional “religion”-which I do, these are the things I believe that are necessary for it to have.

My people believe in prayer to a Creator. Conversely we believe in fasting during vision quest, which implies spiritual purification on our part and revelation on the part of the Creator. We believe we can receive revelation through dreams. We believe in the prophecies of old. The seven fires prophecy comes to mind. This implies that the Creator gives universal revelation to His chosen prophet-a spiritual person who also represents and is accepted by the people.

In my tribe we have the Mide’wiwin. A Grand Medicine Society which is composed of both men and women. My Grandpa’s grandmother was a fourth degree Mide’. She prophesied at his birth that he would go on to meet royalty, and curiously enough, he did.

Socially, it was expected that a medicine person was chaste and moderate. If they slept around, or were drunken, it was noted with private disapproval.

That’s it in a nutshell. I might think of more in the future but this is what comes off the top of my head. So, looking around, where do I find a container of spiritual beliefs that matches all of the above criteria?

Almost all churches satisfy many of the above criteria except for one. That the Creator presently gives universal revelation to His chosen prophet-a spiritual person who also represents and is accepted by the people. (Although it strikes me as somewhat schizophrenic that religions or tribal institutions believe or espouse that The Creator provides personal revelation but has ceased to provide revelation for His people as a whole through prophets.)

For me, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only church which satisfies all of the above criteria. That is why I am still a member without having to sacrifice my traditional beliefs.

Coming Soon:

Part Two: The Temple and the Mide’wigun. The Mide’wiwin and the Melchizedek.

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Faith

Celia’s Sermon:

I had a friend accuse me of “selling out” because I was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Rather than–I suppose–her idea of what a traditional Indian would believe. But I remain a member for many reasons, chief among them, (no pun intended) gifts of the Spirit (the Holy Ghost) such as prophecy, and faith.

Today I would like to talk a little bit about my view of what I see as the LDS definition of faith, which is different in one major way than a secular definition of faith.

In Hebrews 11:1, The secular version reads:

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

In other words, this faith, (in general) is a belief in things which are not seen, which are true. Alma 32:21

My LDS version differs by one word: “yet”.

Faith is a belief in things which are not YET seen, which are true.

You are not going to find that “yet” definition explicitly stated in one neat, handy little scripture somewhere, but you will find the process expounded in Alma chapter 32 in the Book of Mormon. I’ve included it.

21 “And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.
22 And now, behold, I say unto you, and I would that ye should remember, that God is merciful unto all who believe on his name; therefore he desireth, in the first place, that ye should believe, yea, even on his word.
23 And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, not only men but women also. Now this is not all; little children do have words given unto them many times, which confound the wise and the learned.
24 And now, my beloved brethren, as ye have desired to know of me what ye shall do because ye are afflicted and cast out—now I do not desire that ye should suppose that I mean to judge you only according to that which is true—
25 For I do not mean that ye all of you have been compelled to humble yourselves; for I verily believe that there are some among you who would humble themselves, let them be in whatsoever circumstances they might.
26 Now, as I said concerning faith—that it was not a perfect knowledge—even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.
27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.
28 Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.
29 Now behold, would not this increase your faith? I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge.
30 But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now, behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow.
31 And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed? I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness.
32 Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away.
33 And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.
34 And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand.
35 O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good; and now behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect?
36 Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither must ye lay aside your faith, for ye have only exercised your faith to plant the seed that ye might try the experiment to know if the seed was good.
37 And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.
38 But if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.
39 Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.

40 And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life.
41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.
42 And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.
43 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.”

Through this process of faith I can honestly say that because I have husbanded many of my seeds of faith into stout trees, I no longer have to only believe many of the tenets of my church, especially the one that through the atonement of Christ all mankind may be saved, because I know them to be true.

There IS a Honeycrisp apple orchard over that hill. You can’t see it now, but I hope that you have enough faith to go and see for yourself.

The fruit is delicious.

with love,

Russell

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The Sound–Like Sleet

The sound–like sleet upon a roof

draws me outside to see

a great flock of European Starlings

filling the surrounding fall trees.

surrounding me.

 

 

 

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Help!

Dear Readers,

In two weeks, I am going to present at a fortune 100 company as part of their diversity program. I have a half hour for my presentation and a four-by-eight table on which to place pictures or things. I get to talk about being “Indian”.  (In my case, being a member of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, and having ancestors from the Red lake, Leech Lake and White Earth bands as well.) I suppose my audience will be people I’ve met from a relative’s department, and perhaps some of the big wigs from the company.

Having lived on and off the reservation and having degrees in American Indian Studies and psychology, it would be easy for me to come up with my perception of what being Indian means.  However, as part of the presentation, I would like to know and present two things. 1) What you would like to know about a person/people from these cultures if you are not from there, and 2) what you would like other people to know if you are.

For fellow Anishinabeg, I’m aware that we come from many different  reservations, reserves, places and experiences, and want to take this into account. But I need your input in order to do so. If you would like me to keep your replies confidential, I can do that, as this blog is set up so that I have to approve,  and can edit, your reply before posting it. I would however like to use your reply and at least note where it comes from.

Yours Sincerely,

Russell Littlecreek

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How High?

How high does an Eagle have to fly

in order to take your prayer to Heaven?

 

About 3 feet.

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The Lost Ones

Are the dead meant to fade away?

Are our forebears meant to be forgotten,
when the ones who loved them pass away?

Spirit houses are not made to last.
They are new at the time of death
and old and decrepit after a short time,
a few years.

This so the spirits of those who linger
near the world of the living
have time to transition.

In some of the reservation cemeteries,
there are the newest graves at the front,
with their gaudy plastic flowers and mementos
and bright and shiny polished granite
fading to graves halfway back.

On these, no plastic blooms.
They are the somber, weathered, dusty tombstones;
some in the lichen covered, obsolete limestone,
of those who could afford them.

And the simple wooden crosses
rotting and askew,
of those who could not.

And further back still,
the depressions in the grass
of those old, old ones,
silent and unattended,
unmarked and forgotten.

The lost ones

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Hand Drum

Here is a picture of a drum I made way back on December 12th, 1975 (A year out of High School) My sister owns it now.

In a somewhat stylized painting of Anishinabeg drawings, it represents the people of the four directions: Red, White, Black, and Yellow; while also representing the four directions themselves.

Note: I believe it is ok to use this style of drawing in one’s art because the symbols had individual meaning and were the property of their owner and were passed to another as such. They did not have a universal meaning. And, as long as one does not try to pass oneself off as being a Mide’ (unless you are one) this style of drawingis a part of being Anishinabeg.

The horizontal line through the middle represents the separation between the world of the living and the world of the dead.  

The accent lines pointing to the hands and feet of the man and woman in this world represent their power to move, act, etc., in short, their power to do everything that a person with a body can do in this world.

Notice that the spirits of the man and woman do not have hands and feet, which signifies that they lack some of the power that comes from having a body in this world.

On the left is a drawing of Mishipeshew-the great water Lynx. He represents an evil spirit. The red fire coming out of his mouth represents “the fiery darts of the adversary”, which tempt the people of the world.

 

Note the line coming from  his heart to his mouth. This is called the heart line, and  it also represents that what comes out of a person’s mouth comes from his heart. Mishipeshew is also reflected in the spirit world to represent that he has the power to influence the spirits of people there as well.
The tree represents the tree of life, which is a symbol of the gospel of Jesus Christ. (I believe that many of the Mide’ symbols are remnants from the time that Christ visited this continent.) It exists in this world and in the spirit world.

The figure on the right is the Holy Ghost, which operates in both worlds as well. (The Holy Ghost is a little faded because some of the white paint wore off  🙂    )

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Is It A Wonder

Is it a wonder,

 

an Eagle soars where prayers are offered?

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