Be proud of childlike innocence
"Saturday's Voyeur" is in full swing again. For those who've never heard of it, it's a jaunty, homegrown musical revue that pokes fun at all things Utah and many things Mormon.
The show is a fundraiser for The Salt Lake Acting Company — a true force in the local arts scene. And over the years, "Voyeur" (originally a send-up of the LDS musical "Saturday's Warrior") has grown more secular in tone. Today it targets politicians more than LDS people. But there was a time when "Voyeur" came out swinging at more than a few LDS sacred cows. In the early years, I remember actors dressed like LDS missionaries singing raunchy lyrics and more than a few "deer-in-the-headlights" LDS matriarchs taking a thumb in the eye.
Traditionally in "Saturday's Voyeur," Mormons have been portrayed as wide-eyed innocents — clueless turnips fresh off the truck. But even in my "wild oat" years, I saw those portrayals of childlike Latter-day Saints as a backhanded compliment of sorts.
Becoming as little children was a charge given to Christians by the founder of Christianity. And I saw then — and see now — a kind of sweet grace and Pollyanna beauty in many LDS members that I feel would please him very much.
Last Sunday, for instance, in our sacrament meeting, two older gentlemen supplied the special music. They sang a duet that blended together two primary songs — "Teach Me to Walk in the Light" and "I Am a Child of God."
For the "Saturday's Voyeur" crowd, I'm sure it was a moment that needed no parody.
But for those on the other end of things — those in the chapel that day — it was a moment of spiritual wonder.
We often hear radio and print personalities bellow, "Legalize adulthood in Utah!"
I say, "Fine. Legalize it."
But if you're after a connection with the tranquil, tender joys of the spirit, that's not where you're going to find them.
You will find them where they've always been found:
In the childhood recesses of the human heart.
Needless to say, Mormons aren't the only ones who go looking for them there.
There's a reason St. Therese of the Child Jesus is the most popular saint in the Catholic Church. She embodies all the innocence and grace of childhood that we'd like to recapture.
And there's a reason Anne Rice points out in her memoir "Called Out of Darkness" that the babe lying in the manger remains such a powerful emblem of Christianity and continues to stir the hearts of millions.
Childlike grace will always be the shortest and surest route to the divine.
Comments
- Tigers vs. Miners by the numbers 2:32 a.m.
- Springville vs. Dixie by the numbers 2:25 a.m.
- Wasatch vs. Juan Diego numbers 2:22 a.m.
- Mustangs vs. Tbirds by the numbers 2:02 a.m.
- Nuggets win after clock review 1:41 a.m.
- Robbery ends poorly for one suspect 1:20 a.m.
- Wednesday on TV 12:59 a.m.
- Integration is possible on TV 12:59 a.m.
- Herbert talks land issues in D.C. 12:59 a.m.
- Developer looking to buy RSL share 12:58 a.m.
- Utah group finds homes for orphans
- Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
- Y. tight ends talented tandem
- Jazz blow big lead, hang on
- Utes get extra motivation
- Senators want food tax restored
- Hair-pulling raises more questions
- Lobo land like home for BYU lineman
- BYU soccer incident still popular
- U. hopes to keep clicking
- House passes health care bill
265 - TCU showdown has big implications
188 - Lobo suspended
185 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Senators want food tax restored
152 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
105 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
104 - Utes pound winless Lobos
89
Glad that he's finally going to be scouting how to beat TCU. Seems to...
Too anyone who whines about people who EARN high salaries; when was the last...
Don't know bout all that "Texas" stuff, but I'm here to tell you people, that...
Gorbachev was a brilliant leader and single most important individual in...
It buys votes from every irresponsible, lazy American in order to keep the...
My fear is the damage to the economy adding trillions of dollars to the...
I don't know, Ak can be horrible too, there are those times when he only...
Utah 24, TCU 21
You are so right about the BS of these 3 radio clowns!
And some of you out there could care less if we give up our freedoms as long...



You can be the first to comment on this story.