Comments on: Denn der Herr ist freundlich–the doctrine of friendship

By: Norbert

Norbert — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 06:34:40 +0000

Really, really excellent. So much to think about and apply. It adds a new dimension to think of myself not only as God’s child, but also God’s friend.

By: John C.

John C. — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 17:12:37 +0000

Kristine,
Your essay is, as always, beautiful and insightful. I was talking with my wife the other day about that powerful passage from Mark and the immediately following verse (where we are told that we are friends to Christ if we keep his commandments). I don’t take that verse to say that we must keep the commandments to earn Christ’s friendship, but rather that those who love Christ will seek his will.

By: Kristine

Kristine — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 14:38:08 +0000

Sam, Stapley and I had a brief behind-the-scenes exchange in which he (sweetly, of course) excoriated me for quoting TotPJS. I am at least dimly aware of its many problems, but it’s the book where I know where things are on the page :) My history snob credentials are, I fear, even less sound than the music ones.

By: Sam MB

Sam MB — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 07:33:44 +0000

TotPJS, 316 is a loose dramatization of Smith’s diary which doesn’t add the fun notion of turning hell into heaven. Agree strongly with your post overall.
Thanks, K

By: MCQ

MCQ — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 07:18:03 +0000

I think this may be my favorite post that I have ever read. Just awesome. Thank you.

(Not to mention my embarrassing fondness for ABBA).

No one should ever be embarrassed about ABBA.
Air Supply on the other hand…

By: Rich

Rich — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 04:03:50 +0000

Your excellent post reminds me of a favorite song my parents like to sing:

My God and I go in the field together;
We walk and talk as good friends should and do;
We clasp our hands, our voices ring with laughter;
My God and I walk through the meadow’s hue.
We clasp our hands, our voices ring with laughter;
My God and I walk through the meadow’s hue.

He tells me of the years that went before me
When heavenly plans were made for me to be;
When all was but a dream of dim reflection;
To come to life, earth’s verdant glory see.
When all was but a dream of dim reflection;
To come to life, earth’s verdant glory see.

My God and I will go for aye together,
We’ll walk and talk just as good friends do;
This earth will pass, and with it common trifles,
But God and I will go unendingly.
This earth will pass, and with it common trifles,
But God and I will go unendingly.

By: Kristine

Kristine — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 21:39:40 +0000

I was kidding about Mendelssohn. But really serious music snobs argue sometimes about whether he is great or merely popular. (I believe the word one uses to show that one is Really, Really Superior when discussing Mendelssohn is “pedestrian.”) My music snob credentials are pretty suspect anyway, because my tastes run so heavily to Romanticism. (Not to mention my embarrassing fondness for ABBA).

By: Tracy M

Tracy M — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 21:30:13 +0000

Wow, Kristine- This is an amazing piece of writing and thought. I’m personally struck by your observations in D&C, and how lovely they are…

Along with Amri, I thought I was doing pretty well with Mendelssohn!

By: Ray

Ray — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 21:15:13 +0000

Thank you, Kristine. The post was beautifully constructed and profound.

Frankly, I think the Church blossoms in direct proportion to how well regular members and local leaders understand the concept of friendship – since I think that is the essence of what Jesus taught and lived. Yes, He taught ideals that often were even stricter than the original 10 Commandments, but He also put His arms around anyone who would open up to them – living among His friends.

I have been struck by the statement “lay down his life for his friends.” I understand the obvious implications of death, but He didn’t say “die”. He said, “lay down his life”. I read the Gospels, and I see someone who literally lived for others – literally laying down His own life at His side and focusing on improving the lives of others. That, IMHO, is true friendship – something that JS got.

By: Kristine

Kristine — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 18:02:51 +0000

Kevin, I’m generally opposed to turning perfectly good nouns into verbs, but I see your point :)

Steve, I’m not sure if it’s replicable. I suspect the answer is at least “not yet” for most of us, and it seems like there must be something different about the quality of God’s friendship with a prophet than with the rest of us slobs. Or maybe it’s a difference of degree, rather than kind…

Mark, thanks for posting the quote from Sister Hinckley. As it happens, that paragraph is my taped-above-the-sink-to-be-memorized-while-washing-dishes quotation of the moment. Great minds… ;)