TJ Hirst

Learning to listen is not just a lesson I teach my children, it is a lesson I continue to learn myself, especially that I may receive divine communication.

For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.

The Book of Mormon - 2 Nephi 28:30

When my friend recently talked to me about taking away all the distractions and barriers so that she can have the Holy Spirit guide her, I could relate to that feeling. Often I feel a tight ball of stress swelling right in my chest. I know it is keeping me from more. More faith. More knowledge. More love. I know when I feel it, but sometimes it is hard to let go. But when I am willing, my heart opens, and I receive.

I knew Courtney King Walker as an artist. When we met in St. Louis, Missouri, in the mid-90’s, I was a young mom with occasional free-lance writing or editing opportunities, and she had just taken a job as a graphic artist for Brown Shoe Company, the parent company of Naturalizer Shoes. The interaction with another creative mind inspired me in my own expressions.

Later, with the birth of her children, Courtney’s primary creations shifted toward her home and family, from which she shares her talent in words, music, art, food and love. In the changing phases of her life, Courtney always feels the need to create.

Most recently, I have come to know her as a Christian (LDS) songwriter. She has self-recorded five of the 15 or so songs she has written. She began songwriting without formal training after 10-12 years of piano lessons. Around the age of 16-18 she figured out that she could write music at the piano if she just played and then wrote down the notes, and she wrote something for her high school graduation.

During the summer before she started college at Brigham Young University, she read the book, Jesus The Christ by James E. Talmage. She read about those anciently who did not believe that Christ was the son of God, and the thought came to her to write a song reflecting Christ’s divinity.

“I was always able to write and express myself well,” Courtney said. But now, she felt a purpose for that expression as she thought about “looking at Him and seeing His divinity. The words just kind of came out,” and she put the words to music and created the song, His Eyes.

His Eyes by Courtney King Walker, copyright 2001

On this recording, Jill Thompson and Linda Stewart sing vocals and Courtney accompanies them on the piano. (Singing is not her talent, she said.) She recorded it at a Bay Area recording studio in California in 2001 after many years of revisiting and revising—an important part of the process. She said,

All of my music has grown up. As I’ve grown older, I look at how naive I was. I go back and revisit it to see if it is sensitive. I ask myself, ‘Is that careful enough? Is that kind enough?’

That type of emotional and spiritual reflection and expression motivates her creative process, not commercial success. She said,

I always received support from a handful of people who listened to my music and liked it even though I didn’t have the training. I just do it the way I know how, which is probably blasphemy to people in the music world.

Though her audience may be small, the depth of her ability is great and the absence of fame or commercial success does not diminish her talents and creations.

Fulfilling The Desire to Create is Part I in a series from an interview with Courtney Walker. TJ will publish more of Courtney’s words and songs in Everyday Biography, on Wednesdays in July. His Eyes is copyrighted by Courtney King Walker, 2001, and downloads may not be sold or used without permission. You may contact Courtney by email at walkerfamily5 (at) gmail (dot) com.

Memorizing the document, The Family: A Proclamation to the World, is my Mother’s Day gift to myself. In the process of recalling the words, they’ve been “written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.” (see 2 Cor 3:3) My goals as a mother change as my children change. By reciting this document for memory, my new goal became clear: “teach them to love and serve one another.”

What gift of inspiration does it hold for you?

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah. © 1995 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc.

Rabbi Morris Zimbalist and Bishop Paul Hirst conclude their conversation on similarities in their respective congregation. Read previous entries here.

Rabbi Zimbalist is the rabbi of Montebello Jewish Center in Montebello, NY. Bishop Hirst is the bishop of the Brainerd Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brainerd, MN.

In what ways do you participate in the larger community?

Rabbi Zimbalist: I am currently the President of the Rockland County Board of Rabbis, a group consisting of all non-Orthodox rabbis in the county. I am a trustee of the Holocaust Museum and Study Center in Rockland County. I am involved with the Jewish Federation, a member of the admissions committe for the Rabbinical School at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, and the chaplain for the local fire department. I am a former member of the editorial board for the Rockland Jewish Reporter and the former chaplain for the Jewish War Veterans of the State of New York.

Bishop Hirst: Personally, I’ve been a board member and president of a local arts group. However, because of church responsibilities, I’ve had to give some of that up. We are encouraging our members to reach out and participate as they are able in the community. We’re working on a community blood drive with the Red Cross this spring.

What is the most difficult aspect of your job?

Rabbi Zimbalist: Trying to please everyone. Facing every interpersonal interaction with a sense of uncertainty as to whether or not I am going to be able to help or guide someone with whatever questions or concerns they may be facing.

Bishop Hirst: Knowing how to reach those who, at one time, felt the Spirit and were participants but now, for all sorts of reasons, are not. They aren’t receiving and feeling the blessings that can be theirs.

Church discipline is also a difficult. Imposing consequences on others for their actions and choices is not pleasant. But there is often joy with it, too, as people repent and return to God.

What is the best part of your responsibilities?

Rabbi Zimbalist: Helping people through the more difficult life experiences - pastoral visits in hospitals, comforting and counseling families at a time of loss, taking care of the final needs of those who have passed away. When I do those things, I really feel that I am helping people, particularly helping them through a time of crisis, and I also feel like all of those efforts are appreciated.

Bishop Hirst: Interviewing the children before their baptisms. Watching people rise to the challenge.

What has surprised you, either in a positive or negative way, about your role as clergy?

Rabbi Zimbalist: I am most surprised that it is so incredibly hard to motivate volunteers to do anything, and that people look to me for more than spiritual, ritual or religious things.

Bishop Hirst: The mantle of the office is, in some ways, heavier than I anticipated. I’m also amazed, that while I’m not really a different person since being called and set apart, that people respect the office. I’m still the same, but the office I hold is sacred and people respond to that more than me personally. I was counseled when I was called to put my own “stamp” on the ward. I’ve been surprised how difficult this is, too.

I’ve also been surprised at how few middle-of-the-night calls I’ve received, so far. But I’ve also been told by others that it takes about a year for the members to start trusting, so I may have some more interesting experiences to look forward to, too.

To you, what is the most meaningful part of your faith?

Rabbi Zimbalist: The most meaningful part of my faith is constantly trying to grow closer to God in all that I do, both as a rabbi and as a Jew.

Bishop Hirst: My personal relationship with Christ. This relationship grows through living the covenants I have made with him, which covenants teach me to love my fellowman (Matt 22:36-40).

In Conclusion

This conversation has mostly illustrated that regardless of religious identification, the clergy and their families experience many similar joys and frustrations, and that practicing faith, teaching faith, and encouraging others to have faith is very challenging.

On a personal level, Alison said:

This conversation has taken me back to many memories of our adolescent friendship. The J family was much more religious than my family, and I remember going to church with you on Sunday mornings and sitting in your kitchen doing homework while your family had family prayer time in the next room. I never felt strange or out-of-place as a Jew in these situations. It never even occurred to me that maybe others would feel that way in that situation! It is that same religious respect that I think is reflected throughout this “e-conversation.” I think we can only hope that our children will grow up with those same views towards others who practice different religions, even as they live very different religious lives

Reconnecting in this way with Alison and Morrie reminded Teresa of her interest in and respect of their Jewish faith back in high school. Teresa said:

The rich symbolism and history appealed to me then and it still does. I teach a religion class about the Old Testament to high school students. The personal connection with the practices of a modern Jewish family enriched that study and the class discussions with the LDS youth. And in our own family, as Paul said, we learned some new interesting things about Judaism that we didn’t know before.

Overall, we have been amazed at the similarities this conversation uncovered. Most of all, our goals seem to be the same—that is to have our members draw nearer to God through living the commandments and their covenants.

Rabbi Morris Zimbalist is the rabbi of Montebello Jewish Center in Montebello, NY. Bishop Paul Hirst is the bishop of the Brainerd Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brainerd, MN. Rabbi Zimbalist and Bishop Hirst continue their conversation on similarities in their respective congregation. Read previous entries here.

What responsibilities do you have beyond worship services?

Rabbi Zimbalist: I teach in all aspects of synagogue life, from the religious school to the Bar and Bat Mitzvah students to adult education classes. I am also the ma’ara d’atra—final religious authority—in all ritual aspects of congregational life. I lead daily religious services in the morning. Much of my day is spent counseling members of the congregation, visiting the sick, and tending to the needs of the community. I regularly officiate at all life cycle events, including funerals, weddings, circumcisions and baby namings. As the rabbi, I attend most committee meetings and provide counsel and direction to the lay leaders in the community.

Bishop Hirst: I have 6 basic doctrinal responsibilities: First, the bishop is the president of the Aaronic Priesthood. The priesthood is divided in two, Melchizedek priesthood and Aaronic priesthood. The Aaronic Priesthood is the priesthood of temporal needs. I’m responsible for the young men (12-18 years old), and more particularly those 16-18.

Second, I am the presiding high priest in the ward of the Melchizedek priesthood. This priesthood is the priesthood of leadership and holds the keys of spiritual blessings in the Church.

Third, as a common judge, I’m responsible for making sure there is no iniquity in the Church. Some sins require confession to a priesthood leader. Depending on the severity of the transgression, the position and/or maturity of the member, a Church disciplinary council can be conducted to determine the member’s standing in the Church.

Fourth, I’m responsible for the spending of funds to help the poor and needy in the ward. Most of the time, people come to me. However, I’m also responsible to find them, too.

Fifth, I can (and do) delegate the administrative functions of recordkeeping to clerks. I’m responsible, but I have them do most of the work.

Sixth, we are an evangelical church. We want to share the Gospel with others. The members are the best ones to share the joy it brings them with their friends and neighbors. Having said that, we’re also certainly respectful of other peoples beliefs, see our Article of Faith 11. We have full-time missionaries, 19-year-old young men, who serve in our area and teach people who are interested. I also have a member called as the ward mission leader who coordinates and leads these efforts.

How do you manage staffing other responsibilities?

Rabbi Zimbalist: Being at a small synagogue, we have very few paid professionals running the daily and religious activities. In addition to myself, we have a full-time secretary, a part-time principal, a part-time nursery director, and a part-time custodian. We rely heavily on volunteers, and for most of our volunteers, they try to make as much time as possible to tend to synagogue needs, but oftentimes many important projects get left behind, or I end up trying my best to pick up the slack.

We don’t give formal assignments; however I try to find the capable leaders in my community and inspire and impress upon them the need to rise to leadership positions.

Bishop Hirst: The Church functions with a lay-priesthood and unpaid volunteers (including my position). I’m responsible for calling various individuals to the various assignments in the ward organization. I call them just like I’m called. I seek inspiration for the right person for the right call, counsel with my counselors and then we issue the call, asking them to serve in that particular capacity. Most calls do not have time frames or limits, but we try and be aware of individual circumstances that would necessitate a change.

Each member should have a calling or responsibility. It is through serving others that we often grow the most. It is also a way to fellowship, learn and discover new things.

There never seems to be enough people—at least not enough dedicated and committed people. For the most part, people fulfill their callings. But, some of those called struggle to fulfill their responsibility, and others don’t do it at all. We do our best to encourage, train, teach and provide the resources necessary to be successful in their responsibility.

What do you do to inspire volunteers to give, either in time, financially, or otherwise?

Rabbi Zimbalist: I try to impress upon my entire congregation the need to care for community and to take care of each other. Whether it’s from the pulpit, private conversations, or modeling my own behavior, I try to help them see that we’re all part of something much greater than ourselves.

Bishop Hirst: What do we do? Or what do we do effectively to inspire them? If I could answer the latter question, it’d be a different world. The most effective inspiration comes from the Spirit—when the members sense the importance of what they do and that feeling comes from God. My efforts are geared towards helping them feel the Spirit so they’ll want to be motivated from Him, not because of guilt, or other things.

Do you make people mad in the course of trying to accomplish your responsibilities?

Rabbi Zimbalist: I certainly try not to make people mad; however, in the course of accomplishing any goal, there are bound to be people who disagree, be it respectfully or not respectfully. I try hard in everything that I do to be as sensitive to other people’s feelings and emotions and needs as possible, but unfortunately, sometimes people get upset. More often than not, those who are upset either speak directly to me or to others, which allows me the opportunity to reach out to them and try to resolve the situation.

Bishop Hirst: Most of the time, people get mad when I don’t help them financially. We do have occasional other times when individuals feel too much might be expected of them. Most disagreements of this sort are more administrative in nature, but somewhat rooted in doctrinal misunderstandings. I suppose there may also be times when I’ve said something that someone has taken offense to when no offense was intended.

In one particular case, a member called the stake president to complain about things I supposedly said or did. They were looking to have the Church help them in the way they wanted to be helped, rather than accept the conditions upon which they receive help (which is a whole conversation in itself).

What aspect of faith in your members is most inspiring?

Rabbi Zimbalist: Seeing a commitment to something bigger than themselves, their desire to create and foster a sacred relationship with God, and how familial traditions get passed down from generation to generation in accordance with religious tradition and ritual.

Bishop Hirst: The dramatic change that takes place in the lives of people as they live according to the covenants they have personally made with God and seeing people with challenges in their life draw strength from their faith in God and Jesus Christ.

What do you see in members of other faiths that your members could learn from?

Rabbi Zimbalist: I feel strongly that people of all faiths can learn from each other because all share the common sentiments of responsibility for their community, teaching, and love of God.

Bishop Hirst: To be less insular, more outgoing. But mostly, being happy in their faith; it shouldn’t be a drudgery (something I should remember, too). Maybe even being less afraid to be who they are.

This conversation will continue next Wednesday, April 23. Read previous entries or join the conversation by leaving your own comments below.