Charismatic and LDS Both Have Something Wonderful to Offer One Another

Page Contents:
Introduction  | The Dream | Reflections | See also

Introduction

I had a dream Sunday Morning, April 8, 2001, which spurred in me some thoughts regarding the marriage of Charismatic and LDS revival approaches.

The setting for the dream was a presentation to be given by a man and woman who as a married couple had attained the closest union possible in mortality.  For example, I heard a song being sung by them and you could not tell the difference between their voices. (Probably spurred by Golf 40's recent account of a friend's vision of Heavenly Mother and Father's oneness.) The presentation was being held in BYU's Wilkinson Center Ballroom.

Coming in late, but still during the introduction, I coaxed my wife (she hates to make any kind of scene) to come with me toward the front, where we found a seat several rows back.

The person doing the introduction was the patriarch from Boulder Colorado who gave me my patriarchal blessing.  Though that was his identity in my dream, he did not look or act anything like the real McKay Allred (who I hope will not take offense in my mentioning his name here).  I mention it because in the dream he made a statement something to the effect, "And Melchizedek was ordained by Allred."  In the dream, "Melchizedek" referred to the speaker who was being introduced, though that was not his actual name.

As the introduction was completed, the speaker, who was sitting in the front row, turned around to me (I was not just behind him in the second row) and asked me, "How do you know him?"

I said, "He was my patriarch in Boulder, Colorado."

I had never met the speaker before, nor had he met me, but somehow there was a mutual understanding the we are both fellow team members in bringing Zion.

In the next scene of the dream, a minute or so hence, he was off to the side of the platform several feet away, talking on a cell phone.  He motioned to me.  I thought maybe he wanted me to pinch hit for him at the podium for however long.  But then it became clear he wanted me to play the piano, to accompany him(&her).  I inquired what song, asking him if he could hum the tune (usually easier for me to recognize than just by the name of a song).  It was the hymn, "As the dew from heaven distilling" (by Parley P. Pratt).

I began playing an introduction, as he finished his phone call.  Rather than going with a pre-arranged accompanist, apparently he wanted a more spontaneous accompaniment, something that could move and flow with the Spirit as he sang.  I love playing like that and seldom have the opportunity.

At this point I began waking up from the dream.

As I awoke and began pondering on the dream, the first thing that came to mind was the revival of the gifts of the Spirit that is happening especially through the ministry of Lynn Ridenhour and John Bayley.  (These are two I'm closely associated with, though I'm sure there are many others in the vast body of Christ.)  Not only did I think of them because they have been playing a focused role in my life lately, but I felt that the dream had to do with them to a significant extent and my relationship to them.

The BYU setting of the dream calls to mind John Bayley's recent visit and mini revival on the BYU Hawaii campus.  The patriarch in the dream links to a public message Lynn had sent out the night before I had the dream, but which I did not read until the next morning, in which he mentioned his patriarchal blessing.

The thought or flash of inspiration that came to me as I pondered upon waking from the dream was that not only do the charismatics have something to offer the Mormons by way of revitalizing their legacy of manifesting the gifts of the Spirit (abundant in the early days of the LDS church, such as in Kirtland), but the Mormons likewise have something to offer the charismatics by way of teaching them of the power of reverence in evoking the Spirit of God.

Up until now, I had felt like a babe in this whole charismatic thing, like I have so much to learn (which I do) but virtually nothing to give -- at least not yet.  But the feeling I had upon waking from the dream was that I (and others like me) do have much to contribute to this revival.

The charismatics have a thing or two they could teach the Mormons about getting off their seats and getting involved in the worship service.  But the Mormons have something to teach the charismatics about the role that reverence plays in worship as well.  I have had many deeply spiritual experiences in a reverent LDS setting.

Both have their place and their function -- like work and play have their function and should be sought in balance -- like laughing and crying.  Here is where the male-female unity in the dream is significant.  It is the idea that diverse talents are brought together into such harmony that they become one, each supplementing the other in a synergistic way.

The charismatics seem to always be putting on such a show to the point of often coming across as phony, but the Mormons could use a bit more life in their services which often are so boring even a mother falls asleep while her son is giving a talk.

I have a friend, Mark Thomase, who hypothesizes that the charismatic movement came about in Missouri before the turn of the century because the Mormons were turning away from the gifts of the Spirit at that time, and the baton was passed from them to another people, so to speak.  Meanwhile, the priesthood authority remained with the LDS church.  But eventually, these two -- the power of authority and power of the Spirit -- will be reunited.

He compares the authority to wiring in a house, and the Spirit to the electricity.  Using that analogy, I like to say that the LDS Church has been experiencing a major brown-out.

That is why I think the reference to patriarchal authority in the dream is significant.  I believe that the LDS Church is the legitimate caretaker of earthly, physical priesthood authority, and that their destiny, once set in order, is to combine that with the heavenly power of the Spirit, bringing these two together into one.

Then Satan will not have a chance.  The kingdoms of this world will become the kingdom of our God and of his Christ.

That is why I am so anxious that this revival take root and spread.

It will not be easy to change generations of cultural indoctrination among the LDS.  I know, I was brought up in a mainstream LDS home and still have hang-ups about saying "amen," or "hallelujah" while someone is speaking.  Raising my arms in the air is about as natural to me and most Mormons as sitting stoically through an entire service would be for a Pentecostal.  The Pentecostals overdo it generally speaking -- just as much as the Mormons underdo it.

There is a balance to be struck.  There is a place for deep reverence, and there is a place for joyous reveling -- even dancing; and these two can take place minutes apart if not even simultaneously.

The Charismatics could use a good helping of sincerity; and the Mormon could use a good dose of liveliness.

The Charismatics could really benefit from the Book of Mormon, and the Mormons could benefit from greater familiarity and love of the Bible.

The Mormons are more male in their attributes, while the Charismatics are more female.  The ideal is in a marriage of these two.  Separate and in their extremes, these two have strayed from that balance.

In closing, I would like to quote the lyrics to the hymn that I was asked to play in the dream:

As the dew from heaven distilling
Gently on the grass descends
And revives it, thus fulfilling
What thy providence intends,

Let thy doctrine, Lord, so gracious,
Thus descending from above,
Blest by thee, prove efficacious
To fulfill thy work of love.

Lord, behold this congregation;
Precious promises fulfill;
From thy holy habitation
Let the dews of life distill.

Let our cry come up before thee;
Thy sweet Spirit shed around,
So the people shall adore thee
And confess the joyful sound.

The lyrics of this hymn, especially the last verse, read like a Charismatic rally cry.  But the music is one of the most reverent songs in the LDS hymnal, played often for prelude music.

What is neat about the Lynn - John - Sterling friendship is that John comes from a Charismatic background, Sterling comes from an LDS background, and Lynn comes from both.  Perhaps together -- along with many others -- we can help bring the power or spirit and the power of priesthood authority into greater unity until the perfect balance is achieved.

That it may be so is my humble prayer.

Sincerely,

Sterling D. Allan
www.greaterthings.com

Manti, Utah; April 12, 2001

See also

This page created on April 9, 2001
Last updated on November 04, 2007