Comments about ‘Gospel themes from Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'’

from article--"For more than 20 years President Monson has played the role of Scrooge for 27 years at Hale Centre Theatres annual production of A Christmas Carol."

This was very interesting to learn. I didn't know Pres. Monson had been involved with theater. Does anyone know what ages he was for these years he played the part of Scrooge?

The truth is President Monson has attended the play at the Hale Centre Theatre for more than 20 years. He has not acted in the play. Not sure where you found this, it's not in the story. Richard Wilkins has acted in the production as Scrooge for 27 years. That's accurate.

One of the many biblical juxtaposition of images Dickens masterfully wove into his " A Christmas Carol " was the symbolic old testament image of Ebenezer with an old grizzled miser Scrooge.

While a humorous image, Ebenezer is a very motivating and inspiring ancient Hebrew symbol:

"Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Jeshannah and named it Ebenezer; for he said, " Thus far the LORD has helped us." ( 1 Samuel 4:1-11 and 5:1 )

The word Ebenezer comes from Hebrew and is actually two words pronounced together: Even Haazer. It is usually transliterated as a proper name dropping the definite article (Ha) from the Hebrew word for "help" (Ezer) combining with the Hebrew word for "stone" (Even) to create "Ebenezer" . The etymological roots of the word, should demonstrate that an "Ebenezer" is, literally, a " Stone of Help." source; writings of Dr. Gregory S. Neal Senior pastor of St. Stephen United Methodist Church, Mesquite Texas.

I love how Dickens rich and deep symbolic juxtaposition between greed, selfishness and the repentant Scrooge who became a " Stone of Help " to the poor and the destitute an uneducated folk.

Merry Christmas !

For many who confuse the United Order with Socialism, Fascism, and Communism as practiced in many countries under many leaders this is used as a means of all capitalist or businessmen as greedy and that equality to be accomplished is a goal too large for individual charity, or business charity. It can only be done by government taking and then forcing the people to do right so that none shall be lost.
True their system wasn't perfect. Neither is our's. They had "prisons", "Union workhouses", and the "Treadmill and the Poor Law". We have bankrupty among other things. But there were others, businessmen, who were rich enough to be able to give and did help the poor as shown by the two gentlemen who were visiting them with requests. Those willing to help were represented by Fezziwig; while the unwilling by Scrooge and his father (for whatever reasons).
Giving isn't entirely limited to the rich. The middle-class and the poor also give as they can.
Unexpressed is the attitude of the receiver but I have 16 words left and that is another subject.

Mr. Trent

Have you read the article?

2nd Page under Gospel Themes
For more than 20 years President Monson has PLAYED the role of Scrooge for 27 years at Hale Centre Theatres annual production of A Christmas Carol."

No kidding! I can imagine few examples of casting that are such opposites of type casting as having President Monson play the "old" Scrooge. Not a bad fit for the "new" Scrooge, though!

Dickens also wrote about Christmas in Chapter 28 of "The Pickwick Papers." While not as powerful as writing a whole story on the subject, it is full of heart-softening sentiment perfect for reading this time of year if you feel a case of the Grinch coming on.

Years ago, I found a full-page newspaper ad taken out by a liquor company. Chivas Regal, maybe. They ran "A Christmas Carol", the whole thing, on that page. Small print, but readable. How cool! I wish somebody would do it again.

These are "Gospel themes" because, of course, only religious people can change from unhappy to happy;

and only religious people can provide service to others;

and only religious people can care for the poor and fight against "ignorance and want", right?

Because only religious people have the market cornered, the patent on, and the copyright for all goodness, morality and decency in the world, right?

Only religious people can experince or express "love and of generosity and of goodness," is that it?

Bah, humbug on such an idea!

Bah! Humbug!

Merry Christmas to you Dear Mr. Atheist,

While I will not try to define who you are and what you believe (as you often try to do to anybody who is religious) I can say that at least for me my Religious beliefs have compelled me to do as much good in the world as I can. Perhaps someday when your bitterness has waned you might recognize that there are many of us for whom this is the case.

But until then I'll reply to your "bah humbug" as Fred does in the play: "I'll keep my Christmas humor to the last, so a Merry Christmas to you!"

@IndependantLiberal
In reading your comment I had to go back and check.. on page 2 under "Gospel Themes" it says "Wilkins has played the role of Scrooge for 27 years at Hale Centre theater's annual production of "A Christmas Carol"
I also thought that it was interesting that the person that you were correcting also seems to be the man WHO WROTE the article!
Merry Christmas

We need to be careful about reducing the gospel to mere morality or ethics. Without the sacrifice of the saviour and access to his atonement, no amount of 'Christian' service would save us.

What resonates with Latter-day Saints from A Christmas Carol is the ministering of angels, the gift of visions of past, present and future to gain personal insight, the possibility of overcoming the natural man, and the joy found in family. For us, these have theological dimensions not merely moral ones.

jkds
I am copying and pasting this directly from the article because it is very clear were the first poster got the idea that President Monson was the one who acted in the play
"For more than 20 years President Monson has played the role of Scrooge for 27 years at Hale Centre Theatres annual production of A Christmas Carol."

it is clear by the authors reply that the line was a misprint however he should perhaps say that rather than that it is not in the story. It is infact on page 2

Thank you for your comment, it clears things up
Merry Christmas

The error about President Monson noted by Mayfair and KC Mormon doesn't appear in the version for printing - Which is the version I read as it is all on one page!

I love A Christmas Carol. I have watched many different versions. I think it is about time to read it in the original. I'm impressed President Monson finds the time to read it each year.