Summary
Shawn McCraney humorously announces his intention to rejoin the LDS Church by agreeing to its stringent doctrines, including recognizing Joseph Smith as a prophet, only to reveal it as an April Fools' joke, emphasizing his continued critique of Mormon doctrines. This announcement, made from Salt Lake City during the final show of "Heart of the Matter," showcases McCraney's commitment to questioning and discussing LDS teachings, captured in his approach to examining doctrine through a screenwriting paradigm in future episodes.
The set-up for the film script "Twistianity" explores Joseph Smith's teachings on the LDS idea of the pre-existence, including themes such as eternal regression of Gods, Jesus as a created being and elder brother, renunciation of the Trinity, and Satan as our spirit brother, contrasting these with traditional Christian views from the Bible. In subsequent acts, the script will examine key historical and doctrinal events, like the doctrines of salvation, Jesus' ministry, the establishment of His Church, the apostasy, the Dark Ages, the Restoration, and the present-day church.
Heart of the Matter
Shawn is standing, in a suit and tie before the camera.
“Good evening.
Welcome to the final show of Heart of the MatterTGNN’s original show where Shawn McCraney deconstructed religion and developed fulfilled theology.. Over the course of the past few years, I have often wondered where the Lord would take me regarding this ministry. I’ve watched my daughters lose friends. Seen my parents' family pull away from us. Wondered all along if what I was doing was right.
A little over a month ago we started getting calls from a man who said his name was John from Illinois. He invited me to “come back to the Church.” That it wasn’t too late – to repent, and come back. I tried to brush this invitation off. Yes, I even laughed at it. But something about it called to me – late at night – in my quiet moments of personal reflection. Last week, I received a call from my wife’s Stake President. Tearfully, he too, invited me to come back.
My family has suffered. I have suffered. I have spent far too much time away from home. In many ways, I realize I have been wrong about my stance against the LDS Church. And so I want to announce tonight that I am going to be rebaptized –
Rebaptism Announcement
“Don’t do it!”
“You’ve lied to us, man! You’re liar man . . . you big fat liar man!”
Please let me finish, here. Please???
. . . so I am going to be rebaptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am sorry if this hurts your feelings or if I have offended you. But isn’t this what life is all about? Making my parents and brothers and sisters happy and proud of me? Making it easy on my wife and children? Isn’t this what Jesus would do?
In taking this step, I am prepared to re-embrace the LDS idea that . . .
The Bible is not enough – but I also have need (HOLD UP) for these holy books like the doctrine and covenants, this Pearl of Great Price, and this Book of Mormon. I have to re-accept that faith in Jesus is not enough to ensure my salvation, but that I must also receive:
- the LDS baptism to live with God,
- the LDS priesthood to live with God,
- the LDS temple rites to live with God,
- and an LDS re-sealing to my wife to live with God.
Commitment to LDS Beliefs
I must also earn my exaltation, which comes through a life dedicated to serving the Church, and doing all IT requires of me . . . for the rest of my life . . . Perhaps most importantly, however, I have to accept the idea that for me to stand before God I have to admit that Jesus Christ was not enough for me. That I ALSO have to recognize and believe that Joseph Smith was the one who restored the true Church and priesthood and its ordinances back to the earth. I must trust and confess Him as a prophet, seer, and revelator. And I must have a testimony of Him with me when I die to live with God again.
Did you know that I would have to agree to all of these things in order to “come back” to Mormonism?
And did you know today is April fools – and I would have to be the biggest fool in the world to ever, ever, ever do such a thing?
LIVE! From the Mecca of Mormonism – Salt Lake City, Utah! This is Heart of the Matter.
Introduction
Show 15 April Fools April 1st 2008
. . . and I’m Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion., your host.
Apologize for upsetting people out there.
Announcements:
- Reign Down
- “Aleutheia Project”
- Support Group
- War Camp
- Lord’s Word
PRAYER PRAYER PRAYER PRAYER
Years ago, Hollywood screenwriters approach their craft using a simple paradigm that was fairly well understood. Films were broken down into three acts. The same formula – though now much more complex and rearranged – still exists today.
The Three Act Paradigm looks like this:
Set up Conflict Resolution
I—————–I—————I——————I
I am going to use this screenwriters paradigm over the next few weeks to explain LDS doctrine. We’ll title this script:
“Twistianity”
Tonight I am simply going to review Act One, or the
The Set-Up of "Twistianity"
“Set up” of our film script for “Twistianity.” In the weeks to follow, I’ll give you the components to the conflict and what they offer up as the resolution, or third act. Ready? Now, remember, the set-up of a script lays the foundation for everything else that is to occur in the film. Once the set-up is in place, it gives us room for conflict, and then a reason for a sound resolution.
The main theme for the set up here is all stuff Joseph Smith said took place in the LDS idea of the pre-existence. Now the only thing Christians know about a pre-existence is what the Bible says – Jesus was the only pre-existent one, AND Satan, a created angel, was cast from the presence of God. But Joseph taught, and Mormon doctrine supports these Act I themes:
- An eternal regression of Gods.
- Jesus as a created being and elder brother.
- A renunciation of the Trinity.
- Satan as our spirit brother.
- The Fall being upward and good.
- All of us being God’s children from the start.
Okay?
The Conflict and Resolution
Over the next few weeks, we are going to review the scenes in Act Two, which include: Doctrines of Salvation (which is a biggie), Jesus Ministry on earth, The establishment of His Church by Him, The so-called Apostasy, The Dark Ages.
The Final Act
And then we’ll discuss the scenes for the final act or Resolution Act of our script for Twistianity, which will include The Restoration, Present-day Church.
Open the Phones and read some emails
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