Posted by:
ken
(
)
Date: September 27, 2010 02:43PM
Hey Ken...
As you well remember, studying for inservice faculty meetings can take you all over the map. Today I landed on a webpage that had some of your writings. Having watched you on youtube a time or two over the past few years, and having read your withdrawal from Mormonism for the third time, my mind caught hold on a student of yours from XXXXX High School whose young family I grew to love. XXXX XXXXX didn't know what had happened to you after he graduated from high school and served a mission and got married in the temple. But you were always one of his heroes. We were playing basketball at the Stake center one day and he began talking about "his" seminary teacher at XXXXXX High, Brother Ken Clark. He talked about your energy and excitement and love for the Gospel and the passion with which you taught. I didn't know what to say. For several moments he praised you and thanked God that you had been in his life. I was unsure how to break the news. I asked if he had heard from you? No.... I asked if he had heard any news about you? No.... "Brother Clark has left the church," I said this reluctantly and with much reservation. He was sure I was lying. "No!" he said matter-of-factly. Yes. "There is NO WAY.... Not Brother Clark!!!" I think I saw a glimpse of how the heavens wept over the Son of the Morning. He was devastated in body and spirit. XXXXX left the game without returning to play. When I saw him next he said that he had read your paper and was still in shock. His question to me was, How? I had nothing to say... I still don't. How could a pursuit of intellectual freedom and expression replace a burning testimony regardless of the unanswered and seemingly contradictory historical questions? I still don't get it. I really have tried to get it.
As Christians we are all asked to accept some pretty unbelievable stories: The Creation; A Garden; a Serpent; A Tree; Adam and Eve; Noah; The Flood; The Rainbow; The Tower of Babel; Moses; The Red Sea parting; Elijah; Talking donkeys; Sacrificial offerings; The Messiah; Raising the dead; Walking on water; Forgiveness; Intercession; Resurrection; Heaven; Hell; and eternal truth. It is all pretty much unbelievable and an intellectual paradox if it wasn't for faith. I too have read and heard about polygamous (or otherwise) reports about Joseph Smith and others. I don't have all the answers. I have also read and heard historical reports about Jesus... I throw them out immediately. None of it matters. I know what I know. It goes beyond a mere feeling or an emotional experience, just as it did for you at one time.
I wish you would come back! Or if you can't, at least stop proving Neal A. Maxwell right, "Strange, how often defectors leave the church, but they cannot leave it alone"(Neal A. Maxwell, All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1979, 108).
The Church IS true, Brother Clark!
I wrote the colleague back and in a plain spoken but kind way told him to (1) stop being so melodramatic because I'm happier than ever, (2) "talk" with me about some of the issues to took me out, and we can look at the evidence, rather than touchy, feely, emotions.
I thought you all would like it. I still feel needed and wanted (sniff) :)