About the only official (or near official) Mormon publication I enjoy reading these days is BYU/Magazine. The recent edition (Fall 2009) is an excellent case in point. I really enjoyed the Commentary “Loving Our Neighbor” by Barbara Culatta, a BYU professor of communication disorders. Ms Culatta is a convert to the Church from Catholicism, and has a brother who is a priest. Her essay was a condensed version of a devotional address given in February. After reading the one-page sermonette in BYU/Magazine, I decided to find the whole text.
I was somewhat disappointed by the editting job. Ms. Culatta’s principles were editted from 7 to 5. I hope for space. The two principles left our were:
- See Differences and Weaknesses as Part of Life–Each Is a Gift and an Opportunity to Progress
- Serve People from Different Faiths and Backgrounds. (Since I find this one to be very important, I will quote it in its entirety.): I have learned much about tolerance, acceptance, and love from my friends both in and outside the Church. I would like to introduce you to two of them. /P/ About two years ago MacLeans Geo-JaJa, a professor in the McKay School of Education asked me to help with the Inner City Refugee Project, which is designed to meet the needs of refugees settling in the Salt Lake City area. In the process I met Bob and Amy Wylie, humanitarian service missionaries who devote nearly constant attention to serving individuals from diverse cultures and religions. . . . Amy and Bob serve and love these refugees because they think of them as brothers and sisters who have needs. Because of this motivation, the service is heartfelt and sincere. /P/ President Gordon B. Hinckley often admonished us in general conferences to love our nieghbors and to be accepting of those who are not members of our church–to reach out to those from different cultural and religious backgrounds. I always strongly felt the Spirit when he would deliver his councel. I knew we were receiving prophetic advice to extend Christlike love beyond the membership of the Church. It is by our fruits (especially our love and service) that those from other backgrounds shall know that we follow Christ.
In her BYU/Magazine Commentary, Ms Culatta argues for the following: “I believe that we draw nearer to Christ as we love, serve, accept those from different religions and background. It is my prayer that we all can have the respect our Savior would have us feel for all our brothers and sisters. . .” This presentation is so important that I wish the editor would have published the whole text.
The magazine also has an intelligent article about climate change. Not a popular subject in the Utah, given the current makeup of the State Legislature. The Book Nook by Richard H. Cracoft reviews 3 books I actually have an interest in reading. I’m particularly interested in the biography of Thomas L. Kane and the study of Mormon and Indian historical reinventions. There are also two articles about Mormon humanitarian efforts. I enjoyed the one about Amy Antonelli and her work in India with the children suffering from leprosy.
Overall, I enjoyed the short articles and reviews more than the major stories. I hope the editor keeps up the good work.
