Cinderella and the Emerging Church, Part 3

I’m a bit late this week. It’s been really busy at work and outside of work, but the going’s on of my personal life is not what this is blog is all about. It’s about discussing topics I find of great interest, and I find the relationship between our Western Fairy Tales and the book of Revelations to be of high interest.

We left off last week with Cinderella at the ball. She turns out to be the toast of the party. The prince dances with no one but her - and everyone else is green with jealousy. After all, she’s beautiful, charming, of good report and praiseworthy. She’s everything all the other maidens in the realm wish they were - primarily - with the prince.

It’s been interesting to watch the progress of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as she has grown from a humble American frontier church to a global influence. Her welfare program and humanitarian aid efforts have received international attention and acclaim. Her wealth and growth are envied, while other churches stumble and decline. Her origins and doctrine are marveled over, at the same time as they are criticized. It’s been called a cult, non-Christian, even un-American.

What cannot be denied is her growth and unified, consistent organization. Every congregation is structured and executed exactly the same, whether you are in Utah or in France or in India. Every piece of property is well taken care of, even in the poorest of countries. Those who are truly converted to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ are a dedicated, honest, prospering people who serve in various capacities in their local congregations and pay their tithing. This is not the largest Church institution in the world, but no one can deny her great and continued success.

And the Book of Mormon, the keystone of this religion, has yet to be proven a fraud. In fact, it would be like trying to disprove the book of Revelation itself. How do you disprove a work of faith? You don’t. You can only put it to the test and learn through personal revelation whether or not it is true.

And that brings us to Cinderella’s glass slippers.

The clock strikes midnight on the final night of the ball. The day is over and Cinderella flees to avoid everyone seeing her turn back into a scullery maid. But as she flees, she leaves one of her shoes behind, one of the famous glass slippers.

I find it interesting, that when the prince searches the realm for the maiden whom he truly loves, it is with the understanding this shoe will fit only that person. Well, I wear a size five and a half shoe. Small and dainty to be sure, but other women have small feet as well. So what is it about this small, and dainty glass shoe that it will fit only Cinderella?

I thought long and hard about that glass shoe. If the story of Cinderella is the same as our woman forced to flee into the wilderness, our Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, then she is the true Church of Jesus Christ. What separates the true Church from all other churches is - revelation.

We know the Urim and Thumim, the ancient stones mentioned in the Bible and elsewhere, are seer stones, clear like glass, and belong to the prophets of God. Where there is a true prophet, there is true revelation from God, true doctrine, true organization - truth itself. This is the glass slipper. It is clear. Nothing can be hid, but only revealed.

Why does the slipper fit only Cinderella? Because she is the true bride of the prince, the Church of Christ which he originally founded, with prophets and apostles and true priesthood power. She receives revelation from God on how to conduct her affairs, making her beautiful beyond all others.

The party doesn’t last forever. As Cinderella was persecuted before she attended the ball, she will be persecuted again. This is already happening. The participation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the events of Proposition Eight in California and how the Church was vilified by certain groups is a clear indication of what is to come.

But fear not, the prince will come and claim his bride and all opposition will be swept aside. Together they will rule and reign for a thousand years in peace and prosperity. There will be a period of dissent at the end of that thousand year rule, and then the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll and a new beginning of Celestial glory will fill this earth.

And they lived happily ever after.

So says the Revelation.

Next week: The Twelve Dancing Princesses: Restoration and the Wedding Supper of the Lord.