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Show --1 Ckuoicle Paqe Ekt osa ji Book dlise By Chronicle assistant feature editor The making of another bumper sticker could well be underway: standard works. Smith said. God and Jesus Christ appeared to him in 1820 and directed him not to join any of the churches. Instead, he was to organize a new religion, the Mormon Church. "A Mormon who says he or she doesn't believe in the divinity of the first vision is like a person who calls himself a Christian but does not believe in Christ's literal resurrection "Mormon closet doubters, UNITE!" Using D. Jeff Burton's statistics, that bumper sticker could sell well. Burton, a University of Utah adjunct associate professor, believes that 5 to 10 percent of active Mormons disbelieve important tenets of their religion, and about 25 to 30 percent have constant doubts and questions. These theories are discussed in his book For Those Who Wonder. Actually, the book is a collection of essays and short stories about Mormon faith and doubt. It begins with an essay titled The Phenomenon of the Closet Doubter that originally was presented at the 1V82 Sunstone Theological then-establish- ed from the grave," Tippetts said. "To be a Christian . Symposium. closet doubter, as coined and defined by Burton, is Saint who has secretly someone who is "an active Latter-da- y rejected or disbelieves one or more of the fundamental tenets upon which the church is based, such as Joseph (Smith's) first vis ion, his divine calling as a prophet of God, the Book of Mormon as an history of early Americans or Smith's the divine origin of Joseph later revelations as published in the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great A ed Price. "But despite this secret disbelief, the closet doubter continues to be active in the church. He or she attends meetings, teaches classes, holds a temple recommend (and) serves in presidencies," Burton said. "Outwardly, they are little different than other active believers. Closet doubters have not lost both belief and activity, nor do they announce their disbelief," Burton wrote in his essay. However, Larry Tippetts, an instructor at the Salt Lake Institute of Religion, disagrees with Burton's definitions. presupposes he or she believes in Christ's resurrection, and to be LDS presupposes he or she believes Joseph Smith is a prophet and experienced what he experienced." Burton, however, describes himself as a faithful Mormon, citing his church service in bishoprics and high councils. "I've been a doubter since early childhood sort of a skeptic," he said. "But I have strong commitment to it (the church). "I have my doubts, but I let faith guide my way." As Burton's writing points out, his feelings are not unique. For instance, when his essay on closet doubters was first introduced at the Sunstone Symposium, symposium organizers chose an independent person to read and comment on his essay. That person turned out to be J.D. Williams, U. professor of political science. Williams' comment on Burton's paper stunned him. At the symposium, Williams "came out and admitted he'd been a closet doubter for the past 20 years and that he was now ready to come out," Burton recalled. After many such instances, Burton began informally surveying LDS groups in Sunday School classes and at firesides. His book includes a questionnaire for Mormons to assess their level of personal belief and activity. The first part of the a THE TOP 10 ACTS TURNED DOWN FOR TGIF self-assessm- Posting student I.D. numbers violates university Privacy Act Editor's Note: Please call Loreen Erickson 1, stop by in person or send a note to Union 240 if you have a student, faculty or staff complaint. Troubleshooter welcomes all at 10. An annoying mime, a dull kitchen knife, and a man with short temper (draw you own conclusion). KUTV's Rod Decker and Mark Eubank performing a 9. selected dramatic scenes from the stage play "La Cage io ca u 581-704- 7. Elvis Presley's 6. A 5. 4. 3. 2. ghost (a new, coed who graduated from slimmed-dow- BYU version.) n without a marriage proposal. Some trashy looking blonde chic named Madonna-o- r something like that ( ok, so we blew it.) Two nude fat guys who rub lard on their bodies and squeeze under pay toilet stalls. A circus geek with 12 toes, 3 thumbs, and an American Express gold card. The Gary Hart "How to meet boadacious chics" seminar. 1. Full policy. The departments don't read or don't understand the rules." Administrative Assistant Jackie Byrd of the communication department knew about the Privacy Act and said professors are "not supposed to use Social Security numbers as a means to post grades." , eligibility for controlled enrollment classes. At the same time, the department restricts professors from posting grades via Social Security numbers. Why the double-standarNolan Hurley instructors and students to arrange an By Loreen Erickson Chronicle assistant feature editor Query: The department of communica- tion needs a new ng department insists it can post students' Social Security numbers when listing d? Sophomorecommunication Answer: First, page 21 of winter quarter's Directory of Classes lists students' privacy rights. It's known as the Privacy Act. It's also reprinted in the General Catalog. The Privacy Act requires that "the University of Utah forbid the release of personally identifiable student education records or files." In other words, no individual or department has the right to release students'. Social Security numbers Crusher" Peterson vs. Norm "Capitol Hillbilly" you ore pregnant or planning a family, here are three good reasons to quit smoking now: retards the growth of your baby in your womb. alternate method of posting jjades, such as make-belienames or random numbering, the necessity of releasing Social bypassing numbers. Security Later, ByrqTftpntradicted herself and said professors could post grades via Social Security numbers if they rearranged the order of the numbers. Social Security numbers are listed alphabetically, and when numbers are rearranged, students would not be able to figure out who is who. see "troubleshooter" on page nine ve By the year 2000, one in io Utahns will be over 65. A trained labor force is required to meet the needs of the fastest growing This week ASUU presents H However, she said, the department allows GERONTOLOGY CERTIFICATE PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH Bangerter. 1. Smoking grade-posti- contact celebrity wrestling featuring: Chase "The AZURE noon union deli or grades without the written consent of the student. Supervisor Marie Larsen of the Registrar's Office said the departmental violation of the Privacy Act occurs "because gripes. Aux Folles." 8. A philosphy major named Joshua who plays a flute with no holes . .. .or is it? ji half-joking- ly. measures ent . iL--v participation in standard church programs. One question is, "How much of the Word of Wisdom do you follow?" with the answer selections: "I ignore the Word of Wisdom," "Not very much," " I abstain from alcohol and tobacco, most of the time," " I abstain from alcohol, tobacco, coffee and tea, almost all the time," "All of above, all the time" and "All of above plus caffeine drinks, chocolate andor meat in winter." The second part measures belief, and the final part discusses the results. Burton said he included the test because he wants people who have doubts to admit them, identify them and then feel comfortable about them. "I wrote this book for two reasons in particular," he said. "I want those who have doubts to fit in and not feel alienated. I also want the unruffled Mormons to recognize there are different types of believers and that to question is not a sin." Tippetts acknowledges that questioning is not a sin. In fact, he said, "that's what's beautiful about the Institute. Once an atmosphere is created where students feel comfortable to open up, we encourage them to express their doubts. "Closet doubters are being less than honest," he said. "On the surface, they pretend to be believers and use the excuse that they're afraid to publicly express doubts and concern." No Mormon should feel inhibited to question, Tippetts said. Ironically, Burton feels the same way. He spent five years writing the book to "make it easier for (Mormons) to ask questions when necessary," he said. Currently, Burton is on a leave of absence in Los Alamos, N.M., working at a national lab "a place where we make bombs and things," he said, Still, Burton is serious about his theory of Mormon closet doubters. Closet doubter bumper stickers may just be just around the corner. "A person who can't accept and believe in Joseph Smith's first vision isn't converted to this church," Uppetts said. Smith's first vision, a fundamental part of Mormonism, is recorded in the Pearl of Great Price, one of the church's Loreen Erickson angel-deliver- January 21, 1988 ThcRscUy segment of our population. Career Opportunities are expanding for: D Administrators of Adult Day Care D Geriatric Counselors, Psychologists & Social Workers D Geriatric Nurses, Physicians & Physical Therapists asup c Gerontologists 2. Smoking increases the inddence of infant mortality. 3. Your family needs a healthy mother. Please don't smoke for your baby's sake. And yours. will! 1 1 ( nun.- - " D Housing Managers t 1 fl I vj A-- vuminiiudiufi J(mSm!m. numc ci11 CE LI rV feX 0 iiuiiiiiy Pathologists Recreation Workers Therapeutic Speech-Langua- ge For an Information packet, call (801) Gerontology Center 316 College of Nursing University of Utah 581-819- 8 & Audiologists or write: Salt Lake City, UT84112 UNIVERSITY Of UTAH GERONTOLOGY CENTER |
