January 5, 2012

• The most appalling thing came in the mail today....

  At school, being in the library, some of the darndest things come our way.

  Today's entry for the absurd came in an oversize mailing envelope, white, with the following printed over the address:  Religious Materials Inside.

  That caught my attention right away.  Being a public high school, we rarely get religious materials. 

  Intrigued, I opened the envelope.

  Inside was what looked like an addendum or a correction signature to be placed in a book.  (Both of these are fairly common for libraries to receive.)

  Instead, the cover read (paraphrased...):  Repent!  A revelation of man from Jesus Christ and to Ahman, another son of God. 

  Say what??????

  Upon opening it, I discovered that Warren Jeffs (yes, THAT Warren Jeffs) had received some revelations from God (or so he claimed) on November 4, 7, and 8, 2011.  These revelations went on for about 12 pages and the final page was a signature sheet signed by two men who I assume were religious leaders of the Church of Latter Saints (the Mormons...).  Interestingly, the "claims of authenticity" were signed on October 31. 2011 or the week before the first revelation.

  So, either Jeffs added this document to his revelation without checking the dates, or else the religious leaders were clairvoyant, knowing that Jeffs was about to have this religious experience.

  So why was this the most appalling thing?

  Not because of the date mixup.  But we librarians are somewhat anal about fact checking.....

  Not because it came from the Church of Latter Day Saints.  Jeffs claims to still be a part of that group, although I'm not sure they want him.

  No, the biggest reason that I was appalled by this is that Jeffs is supposed to be in prison, unable to be in contact with the outside world, and here he is, spending someone's money to try to proselytize individuals to his way of thinking.  You may recall that Jeffs was arrested for marrying and abusing young girls. 

  (By the way, Ecuador and Bolivia, clean up your act.  Jeff's revelation specifically names you.)

  Oh, and if you live in North America, the revelation says that the New Jerusalem will be coming to North America.  What the rest of you are supposed to do is beyond me.  I've not had any revelations on that matter.

  so yeah, I was appalled.  As a librarian, I am to make available divergent points of view.  However, since we presently do not have a copy of the Book of Mormon (or the Cabbala or the Koran because someone keeps stealing them), I cannot add this signature to our copy. 

  So for now, it's safely tucked in my filing cabinet.  Which is somewhat like the Bermuda Triangle.  Things go in there and never come back out.

  Mr. Jeff's revelation is safe from prying eyes.

  • 8:18 pm
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