When it doesn’t make sense by John Bytheway
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
John Bytheway just has . . . a way! This is such a good book. A paradigm changer, I'm sure, for many people. It puts out trials into perspective. He describes the gospel and the Lord's plan in such a clear and distinct way, that it helps the reader understand that plan better - with more patience, with more insight, with more hope.
Some of my favorite quotes:
Chapter 1:
"We all seem to be born with a sense a justice, as sense of fairness and an expectation that things should make sense. In our childhood Math class we learn that 2+2=4. Every single time. No exceptions. In Algebra we learn that you can do anything to one side of the equation as long as you do the same thing on the other side. It makes perfect sense, and the rules of Math work, every single time. As we grow older we learn that life is not Math class. It's more like, well, Humanities. Sometimes it means this, and other times it doesn't. It's all subjective. Or it's in the eyes of the beholder - This is art, and this isn't. This is abstract and this is impressionist. Still, we often believe that life should be more like Math class, which causes us to look Heavenward and exclaim, "Why is this happening?" or "What did I do to deserve this?" or "Why did the Church make this change?" or "This doesn't make sense!" "
Chapter 2:
Hindsight, Insight and Foresight. These three sights enable us to move forward not just look backward. Focusing on just hindsight alone keeps us stuck in the past, unless we learn the lessons and move forward....Hindsight is only useful when it can provide insight and foresight for future choices.
Chapter 4 (talking about people who say someone must have sinned or their parents, that God would "punish" them with such-and-such trial):
"Jesus seems to be warning against drawing Doctrine of Retribution conclusions to make sense of both Roman cruelty and random natural disasters described in Luke 13:1-5:
1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilæans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilæans were sinners above all the Galilæans, because they suffered such things?
3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
"No," Jesus appears to be saying, "they were not sinners above all men. The Doctrine of Retribution does not apply here. Sometimes bad things happen that are not the result of the Doctrine of Retribution, they're just part of life; therefore we must be careful how we judge and how we assume regarding Retribution."
Chapter 5:
"A mother told me a story about the disappointing behavior of a man after he had been called as a Priesthood leader. 'How, she asked, can I explain to my children that callings in this Church are inspired and at the same time explain the behavior of this man?' The author continued, 'Well I share her concern over what took place. Her question infers that if a leader makes a mistake, then his calling was not inspired. Perhaps a better question would be, should my faith rest in the infallibility of Priesthood leaders, or in the assurance that if I keep my covenants the Spirit of the Lord will always be my companion?' Often what stands between us and answers to our prayers is our failure to ask the right questions. Thus the role of the Holy Ghost is as important in determining what we pray about, as it is in giving us the answers we seek."
Chapter 7:
"Priesthood Keys are a different matter. Why don't women then hold Priesthood Keys? I don't know. It's not my call. But it's a legitimate question, a fair question, and worthy of discussion. So often in life we get stuck in asking questions, but not all the right ones. This is not the only question to ask. There are a lot more. For example, Why didn't anyone have the Priesthood from about A.D. 100 until 1829, except for John the Beloved and the Three Nephites, I suppose. How fair was that? No one had the chance to be baptized? No one had the opportunity to receive the comforting Gift of the Holy Ghost? No one had the chance to go to the Temple for 17 Centuries? Here's another question: Why did only the Tribe of Levi have the Priesthood during earlier times? Were the Tribes of Asher, Dan, or Naphtali out demanding that they have it too? And here's another one: Why don't women need the Priesthood in order to attend the Temple? President James E. Faust taught: "In His infinite wisdom the Lord requires worthy brethren to wear the mantel of the Priesthood in order to enter the Temple, but He permits the sisters to enter solely by virtue of their personal worthiness." So why do men have to take upon themselves the obligations of the Priesthood before they can attend the Temple and why is it different for women? I have a ton of questions. But also have covenants, and my questions can't erase my covenants."
Chapter 9:
"British novelist, L. P. Hartley, began one of his books with this insightful opening line: 'The past is a foreign country. They do things differently there.' This charitable approach toward history has helped me restrain my judgment as I study the stories of the New Testament, the Book of Mormon, Church History, and my own Family History. If we view the past through the lenses of the 21st Century we may smugly wonder what those strange people were doing and why they couldn't see things as we do. We will most certainly see things that don't make sense. In 200 more years my posterity will no doubt scratch their heads at some of the things I have done and written."
This book is short and quick and easy to read - but make note: be ready to jot down some good quotes if you're the kind that likes to keep good quotes that inspire you!
This book helped inspire me to renew my commitment to not judge too quickly, to be kind to the past, to not view everything from today's paradigm and to remember the Lord keeps all of it - the past, the present and future - before Him in one grand "visual", and He has insights and knowledge we don't have. There is great reason to trust in Him before we trust in ourselves!
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