CWK: Strange Encounters in Mormonland

[Kishkumen]

https://youtu.be/CIx3LPmX6SM

Although Mormonism reaches around the globe, it's kind of a small world. I have shaken a few hands and met a few people (President Monson, Cody Judy, Brian David Mitchell: the kidnapper of Elizabeth Smart) who were notable or infamous, and in this episode I share those encounters with you! Enjoy!

[ceeboo]

I enjoyed that episode, Kisk.

As a devout Mormon who really wanted the BYU job (I assume these things - correct me if I am wrong) how did you feel/react when you didn't get the job?

[Kishkumen]

I enjoyed that episode, Kisk.

As a devout Mormon who really wanted the BYU job (I assume these things - correct me if I am wrong) how did you feel/react when you didn't get the job?

That's two endorsements, folks! Tom and ceeboo! Thanks guys!

So, it was hard. I was not extremely surprised. First, my mentor at BYU was not well liked by all the faculty, and the people in the department definitely felt I was his protege. He was also out of power, and the new head of the section in the department clearly had his eye on someone else. The person he wanted is who they ended up hiring.

Finally, my mentor was probably no longer completely in my corner because he had gone down some strange religious path in which he had essentially started a kind of mini cult on campus, and, when he asked me about the Book of Abraham at the welcome lunch during my visit, I clearly gave an answer he did not like. Unbeknownst to me, he believed the old Nibley apologetic about the esoteric nature of Egyptian hieroglyphs was essentially true, and I laughed about it out loud right in front of him. Bad move on my part, but, then, I don't think I was really who they wanted.

At the time, I was not ready to understand that I was not a good fit for the job, and I would never be a good fit for it. I am not good LDS material, and I am certainly not good BYU material. BYU Classics is great. I love the people there, and they do really good work. I have interviewed their alumni for jobs where I work, and they do well. I have had their alumni as grad students at my institution, and they are really lovely, intelligent people with great training in the languages. But, I am allergic to authoritarianism, and both the LDS Church and BYU lean authoritarian. Whatever the Brethren say, you know.

Today, I am really happy I did not end up at BYU. It would have been a terrible fit, and I would have ended up being very unhappy. Still, I remember my days at BYU very fondly. I am so grateful I went there. It was an important step in my journey, but it is not a place I can ever return to.

[ceeboo]

I enjoyed that episode, Kisk.

As a devout Mormon who really wanted the BYU job (I assume these things - correct me if I am wrong) how did you feel/react when you didn't get the job?

That's two endorsements, folks! Tom and ceeboo! Thanks guys!

So, it was hard. I was not extremely surprised. First, my mentor at BYU was not well liked by all the faculty, and the people in the department definitely felt I was his protege. He was also out of power, and the new head of the section in the department clearly had his eye on someone else. The person he wanted is who they ended up hiring.

Finally, my mentor was probably no longer completely in my corner because he had gone down some strange religious path in which he had essentially started a kind of mini cult on campus, and, when he asked me about the Book of Abraham at the welcome lunch during my visit, I clearly gave an answer he did not like. Unbeknownst to me, he believed the old Nibley apologetic about the esoteric nature of Egyptian hieroglyphs was essentially true, and I laughed about it out loud right in front of him. Bad move on my part, but, then, I don't think I was really who they wanted.

At the time, I was not ready to understand that I was not a good fit for the job, and I would never be a good fit for it. I am not good LDS material, and I am certainly not good BYU material. BYU Classics is great. I love the people there, and they do really good work. I have interviewed their alumni for jobs where I work, and they do well. I have had their alumni as grad students at my institution, and they are really lovely, intelligent people with great training in the languages. But, I am allergic to authoritarianism, and both the LDS Church and BYU lean authoritarian. Whatever the Brethren say, you know.

Today, I am really happy I did not end up at BYU. It would have been a terrible fit, and I would have ended up being very unhappy. Still, I remember my days at BYU very fondly. I am so grateful I went there. It was an important step in my journey, but it is not a place I can ever return to.

Understood - Thanks for elaborating.

(I think you should do an episode on ex-communication/shunning)

[Kishkumen]

Thanks for the recommendation, ceeboo. I think that is a wonderful idea.

[ceeboo]

I think that is a wonderful idea.

Really? Cool!

Many moons ago, when I first started learning about this fascinating thing called Mormonism (as a never-Mo), I remember the first time that I was jolted (I literally froze behind my screen for a minute) - It was the first time that I read what someone posted about the consequences around family/friends/careers/spouses/neighbors/reputation/marriages/children/etc - This forever changed my online experience and it was the genesis of me beginning to understand the significant stakes involved for many.

Yeah, I think it would be a great topic (and, depending on what you might provide in such an episode, a valuable one too) - No pressure!

[Kishkumen]

I think that is a wonderful idea.

Really? Cool!

Many moons ago, when I first started learning about this fascinating thing called Mormonism (as a never-Mo), I remember the first time that I was jolted (I literally froze behind my screen for a minute) - It was the first time that I read what someone posted about the consequences around family/friends/careers/spouses/neighbors/reputation/marriages/children/etc - This forever changed my online experience and it was the genesis of me beginning to understand the significant stakes involved for many.

Yeah, I think it would be a great topic (and, depending on what you might provide in such an episode, a valuable one too) - No pressure!

I’ll do it! It may take a bit, but I’ll do it.

[Moksha]

Today, I am really happy I did not end up at BYU. It would have been a terrible fit, and I would have ended up being very unhappy.

Repressed by the BYU administration and fearful of being ratted out by your students if you had an enlightened thought. It would be akin to being in a gulag for educators. Besides, BYU's money is better spent on football players.

[Kishkumen]

Repressed by the BYU administration and fearful of being ratted out by your students if you had an enlightened thought. It would be akin to being in a gulag for educators. Besides, BYU's money is better spent on football players.

I remember teaching the son of a BYU professor when I was a grad student there. The young man urged me to open every class with a prayer. I told him he was welcome to offer a prayer at the beginning of each class. I think he did it once, and that was that.

[msnobody]

Enjoyed this episode, Kish.

It is indeed a small world. I’m not sure I want to disclose the details of what led to this, but I was once called and the caller asked for Winston Blackmore. My heart sunk as I snapped close my little silver flip phone. I was thinking, oh crap, what have I done. I learned later that it was a result of mistaken transposition of numbers in an area code. How many non-Mormons do you know who have been called asking for a polygamous group leader? I’m still waiting to learn why the Lord has brought a direct descendant of an early church leader into my life, coupled with people I’ve met here. I believe He certainly orchestrates our lives to accomplish His purpose. Maybe one day we will know the purpose of these strange encounters of the Mormon kind.