There’s an interesting debate at Beliefnet on the topic, “Are Mormons Christian?”. LDS author Orson Scott Card takes on Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, the flagship school of the Southern Baptist Convention. I enjoyed Brother Card’s lucid comments, but I learned the most by reading Dr. Mohler’s explanation of why we are not Christian. I’m so glad I read it because I finally understand a big part of the problem that the SBC leaders have had with us Mormons. Look at this quote from Dr. Mohler:
Contemporary Mormonism presents the Book of Mormon as “another testament of Jesus Christ,” but the Jesus of the Book of Mormon is not the only begotten Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, or the one through whose death on the cross we can be saved from our sins.
My goodness, it’s suddenly clear. The problem, obviously, is not that we believe in a different Jesus, but that Al Mohler and his fellow SBC peers DISBELIEVE IN A DIFFERENT BOOK OF MORMON.
OUR Book of Mormon, the real one, is all about Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the One whose death and Atonement provide our only hope of redemption, our Lord and Savior. The one Dr. Mohler’s folks have in their elite theological seminary must be a counterfeit, perhaps an early draft of Rushdie’s Satanic Verses (yeah, that would explain it!) or some 1960’s druggie tract or perhaps a sarcastic atheistic comic book stuffed into an old Book of Mormon dust jacket.
Well, bless their hearts, no wonder they’ve had trouble accepting us as Christians. With all that LDS talk about the Book of Mormon being scripture and another testament of Jesus Christ, I’d also be confused if I checked out the Book of Mormon from my SBC library and starting reading some warped humanist satire denouncing Christ. In fact, I’d probably make an anti-Mormon DVD myself. Well, now we know that it’s all just been a big misunderstanding (and that’s really what it is).
And this explains why many of the fine Christians (and I truly mean that) of that denomination don’t have trouble with Mormons as Christians – I bet they’ve seen the real book. The problems is just with a few people at headquarters, relying on some counterfeit in the SBC Seminary. Now it all makes sense.
So let’s be more understanding on our end, but also take this opportunity to fix the problem and patch up our relationship with our former theological enemies. Let’s buy them a few hundred – maybe even a few thousand – copies of the real Book of Mormon, ship them to SBC headquarters, and let them see that there’s really no need for all that time and money being wasted to tell everyone that we aren’t Christians. If we can just get them to look at the same book, then I’m sure we’ll end up on the same page.
Whew! Glad that’s over!!
Hey Bookslinger, ready to help?
I’m trying. But I’m having some struggles right now.
I was on a trip down South a few weeks ago, so I probably did meet some Southern Baptists, and didn’t realize it. I gave one English-only-speaking Caucasian lady a customized pass-along card, but should have given/offered her an actual Book of Mormon and Bible. I chickened out.
In the past, when offering material to “regular English-only-speaking people” I usually pair a Bible with a Book of Mormon, and offer them together. (Doing an “Ezekiel”.) But this time, I didn’t live up to my calling.
Two other times (in addition to the above), I was led by the Spirit to specific places and told to talk to specific people, but again I chickened out. I pretty much did a Jonah.
On the trip as a whole, I did have nine other successful encounters where people accepted material, and I rejoice in those. But I’m still stinging from my fear/disobedience/failure-to-heed in three situations this trip.
Aside from all the above, there was one place I deliberatly stopped at along the way on this year’s trip (annual family visit), because last year I chickened out at that place. I asked the cashier if so-and-so still worked there, and he said she moved out West a couple weeks ago. (I remembered her name from her name-tag, and it had a unique spelling.) I can only hope she moves somewhere where she’ll come into contact with Mormons, because I blew my opportunity to share the gospel with her last year, even after the Spirit made it obvious I had to say something to her last year.
At another exit this year I was directed to an indoor flea-market. It was almost spooky. I browsed a bit, then the Spirit said, “Walk down this aisle.” I did so, and two Caucasian-American women were walking towards me. My eyes met with one of them.
Have you ever had your eyes meet with a stranger’s and you look at each other eye-to-eye for just a second or fraction of a second longer than what is customary, and you feel (to the point of knowing) that there’s some connection between you, or you’re supposed to make some connection? Not neccesarily deja vu, a past encounter, but a “this encounter was meant to be, and for a purpose.”
But again, I let fear and awkwardness get in the way, and I didn’t stop to strike up a conversation with those two ladies. There were plenty of other people at that flea-market (or “peddlars mall” thing) that I didn’t have that feeling about.
It was definitely a lack of confidence on my part, so I guess I need more virtue garnishing my mind.
It’s easy to give out books to people who speak foreign languages, because you don’t have to talk religion. I always say up-front “it’s a Christian book” or “a book from my church”, because I don’t want to feel surprised when they see the sub-title. But that’s the closest I usually get to talking religion, unless the person asks me a direct question.
And I know from past experience that immigrants overwhelming welcome offers of free materials in their native language, “even though” it’s religious. So for 95% of them, I know they’ll consider my offer as a big favor.
But it is harder to strike up a conversation with a stranger for the sole purpose of “sharing religion.” I’ve been using the language and ESL aspect as a “crutch,” and without that crutch, I’m a big chicken.
I have to keep reminding myself that when the Spirit points someone out like that and tells me to start speaking, (the inspiration of exactly what to say doesn’t start flowing until after you start talking, the Lord seems to require that little leap-of-faith from us) that that person is supposed hear some kind of message. I seem to forget that these promptings of the Holy Ghost aren’t some kind of whims or randomness on his part, they’re actually the will of Heavenly Father. The Holy Ghost does not and cannot prompt, whisper, command, or inspire anything unless it’s the will of Heavenly Father and the Savior.
I realize some of the nay-sayers who visit your blog will likely dismiss such promptings/whisperings/ideas as my imagination. But those who have received of the Spirit will know exactly what I’m talking about.
Okay, back to sharing the restored gospel and the Book of Mormon with Southern Baptists.
As I mentioned in the previous post, in the past (on those occasions when I didn’t chicken out) I’ve had success placing the Book of Mormon by first offering people a free Bible. Then if they accept the Bible, or even if they say they already have a Bible, I asked “Would you like a free Book of Mormon to go along with it. In my church, we believe in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon.”
Some say yes, some say no. But the offer and the statement are testimonies which will stay in that person’s memory for the Holy Ghost to bring to their remembrance later.
This can get expensive, since the least-expensive Bible published by the LDS church is $7.00
So what I do is buy $2.00 ( plus shipping) paperback Bibles from the International Bible Society.
However, I still have some of those $7.00 LDS edition KJV Bibles in the car for when the inspiration to use those hits.
If you do offer the LDS edition Bible, show them the footnotes, and how we link it to the Book of Mormon.
Show them our “concordance,” which we call the Topical Guide.
I’ve actually given out handful or so “Mormon (KJV) Bibles.”
I have found that there are plenty of believing Christians out there, of all faiths and even “un-churched” believers, who don’t have a Bible, but want one.
And what better testimony that we believe the Bible than to offer someone one a free copy?
Great comments, Bookslinger. I hope more people will prepare themselves for those moments when there is an opportunity to share the Book of Mormon with someone. Step Two is having a copy or other materials ready to give out. Step One is preparing oneself to be in tune with the Spirit. Thank you for your example of kindness toward so many and in so freely sharing of your time and resources to get the good news to so many!
Great post, Jeff.
When I was ward mission leader, I kept my vehicles stocked with Books of Mormon and pass along cards. Sadly, I have fallen out of that habit. I do, however, keep my home teaching lists with me at all times since I am now the EQ secretary.
I guess I need to repent and restock the old ’76 Levi’s Special Gremlin with books. 🙂
Bookslinger,
On your worst day, I suspect you are doing better than most of us, myself included. I enjoy reading your blog and the stories you share as you help flood the earth, one drop at a time.
“…there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.(Mosiah 3:17)
Oops, that verse must not have been in his copy of the Book of Mormon. And I think I just invalidated every follow-up post to the article that claimed Mormons do not accept Jesus as our Lord and God!
I don’t get the whole idea why people think you can be saved by grace alone. Does that mean all I have to do is believe that I am going to be saved and then it happens?
This comment has been removed by the author.
So aren’t being baptized and repenting part of the works we should do to be saved?
Latter Day James–
I am an orthodox Latter Day Saint, and I can say with full confidence that if we, to borrow Stephen Robinson’s now memorable phrase “believe Christ,” then we submit our will to his and are therefore saved unequivically, unabashedly, by grace. The only reason baptism matters is because of the atonement. The only reason mortality ESCAPES MEANINGLESSNESS is because of the atonement. Without it, there is simply no hope. Period. Read 2 Ne. chpt. 9 (you too nat! You might like it–and I promise that reading Mormon literature will not make you turn into a pumpkin nor will all Mormons everywhere laugh as they suck another person into their nefarious cult)
This debate is as old as the hills. Can we, at the very least, actually debate something that we really disagree on? There’s enough to keep us occupied without forcing us into these silly word games over “grace” and “works.” As C.S. Lewis said, one without the other would be like using one blade on a pair of scissors.
So am I to understand that you need both grace and works? You said that we are saved by grace then mentioned the CS Lewis quote.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nathaniel,
Welcome back. I was afraid I scared you off. I may have been a bit confrontational in my last comment to you, and I apologize for that.
You believe in keeping the Lord’s commandments. Mormons believe in keeping the Lord’s commandments.
I think (I hope) we’re in agreement on that part.
I think (I hope) we are also in agreement that if someone _says_ he believes, but doesn’t make any effort to keep the commandments, and totally blows them off, that he probably didn’t believe in the first place. And if such a man doesn’t believe, then he won’t be saved.
I see this whole grace-verus-commandment-keeping, or grace-AND-commandment-keeing, largely a semantic deal.
Because by saying that commandment-keeping (or at least sincere efforts too) is a natural byproduct of truely believing, that is more or less saying that they go together. Which, hence, goes back to LDS teachings that believing and commandment-keeping (or at least sincere efforts to) also go together.
After studying the Mormon religion for years and years, I have found no guarantee that commmandment-keeping will bring about one’s salvation. There is no Mormon doctrine that could be construed that salvation comes from a vending machine which is operated by the insertion of coins of works and commandment-keeping.
I have found Mormon teachings, and it’s in the Bible at John 7:16-17 that commandment-keeping, in the absence of belief, will foster or give birth to belief, or even knowledge.
“Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”
So if you do God’s will (keep his commandments), then you will know (believe.)
And like you say, believing in Christ leads to salvation.
So in essence, for someone who doesn’t already believe, Mormons teach: “Try it. Keep the commandsments, and see what happens. See if by doing so whether you develop some belief/faith/knowledge.”
But for people who already believe in Christ, like you, we don’t have to worry, since like you say, your belief already leads you to make sincere efforts to keep the commandments.
Therefore, in the end, does it really matter if someone believes(on pure faith)-> then obeys(because they believe-> then is saved,
or obeys(as a test)-> then believes(because they learned by obedience)-> then obeys(this time because they truely believe) ??
Mormons don’t teach that believing ONLY comes from obeying. A lot of people believe right off the bat. But for a lot of us, we seem to have to go through trial-and-error. I obey a little here, and reap the benefit of having done the right thing, therefore I believe a little more. I disobey a little here, and reap the consequence, and I learn the hard way, therefore I believe a little more.
Russell: Let’s debate what happens to the billions of people who lived and died on the earth without a knowledge of the Savior.
Awesome post Bookslinger. I do not need to say anything else but to refer to Jeff’s page
http://www.jefflindsay.com/faith_works.html
Latter-Day James… come on, it’s not like Jesus said “Come follow me” or anything like that. 🙂
I don’t get it either but here’s some links to the last couple of thread-discussions on grace;
http://mormanity.blogspot.com/2007/03/church-responds-to-anti-mormon-campaign.html
http://mormanity.blogspot.com/2007/06/patience-of-prodigal-sons-father-always.html
http://mormanity.blogspot.com/2007/06/alma-36-whats-so-special-about-it.html (nat: don’t know if you saw my last post)
Notice how the topics relate… oh, nevermind.
…
Hi Nat!
Glad you’re still checking in… 🙂
I can see that you are inspired by the topic of grace. That’s a good thing. Inspiration can lead us to do many great things.
Because of that (or should I say “for you”), I went to the website you specified and watched part of Tim Keller’s video (didn’t have 52 minutes to devote). I also read the Preamble (sounds like a lot of work) and the Confessional Statement, specifically “The Justification of Sinners”.
Maybe you can shed some light on the “justified”… (“Christ, by his obedience and death, fully discharged the debt of all those who are justified”.) So, two question;
1) Who is justified and can they be un-justified?
2) What happens to those who are not justified?
If the position is everyone is saved no matter what, that’s more “Mormon” than it is traditional 4th century Christian. And without something doctrinally equivalent to the LDS Plan of Salvation / baptisms for the dead, you would have to write off Christ’s words that the only way to God is through Him.
If the position is only some of Earth’s inhabitants are “justified”, then there’s not much reason to be joyful since many of our good, self-sacrificing, peace-loving brothers and sisters who haven’t found Christ aren’t able to take advantage of His Grace. What a sad and unfair thing that would be.
Without being able to qualify the “justified”, you’ll never be able to convince a Mormon that work and sacrifice are not required when one serves Christ. No matter how many times you bring it up. 🙂
Who are you serving anyway if you don’t serve Christ?
BTW, regarding Tim Keller comments, I don’t think I have ever met a single member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints who lived in “fear” or serves because of “fear”. One of the reasons I joined the Church was because of all of the happy / joyful people I met. Yes, I’ll give you peculiar, too. People are serving out of a love of Christ. How else could you have a lay ministry serve 12 million people? That’s what I think a gospel centered ministry would look like. 🙂
…
BookSlinger… you rock.
Thanks for doing the work, being engaged, and spreading the word. Even though you aren’t always able to follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost, you are an inspiration. One can never tell the outcome of an encounter, no matter how much we “think” it through. I had an incredible experience after hanging on to a BoM for three weeks trying to figure out who could benefit from it. Finally, I stopped thinking and prayed for help. Even with my prayer, I had little hope as the only activity I had going on that day was a Muslim wedding reception. Go figure. I ended up having a three hour religious discussion with a Muslim pre-med student who was interested in Christianity but never met a “Mormon” before. He could even quote New Testament scriptures from memory. He was very excited to meet a “Mormon”… I’ll never forget that exchange and the lesson I was taught about prayer. 🙂
-Shawn
James,
I only mentioned the C.S. Lewis quote to demonstrate that grace is really all encompassing–to compartmentalize grace–the scissors into component parts of “faith” (one blade) and “works” (the other) is simplistic. They’re just part of the one pair of scissors.
That’s all.
And nat, I’m little confused as to why you constantly laugh when I agree with you in any way?
Grace is all encompassing and absolute as a free gift for salvation and resurrection. Works, although not a score card demonstrates our commitment to God and His work.
Bookslinger,
I concur. Maybe we can get nat in on the mix. I’m not inclined to think my Hmong friends (the ones who wondered who the bearded man was in our books) are going to burn eternally because they don’t understand what they see as the white man’s god.
I just posted this on a June blog…I think maybe people will see it if it is more current!!!
I have a question…I know that the Mormon church is very proactive about “recruiting” (?? I am not meaning to offend, just don’t know the right way to say it). Why is this such an important thing in the Mormon religion? I realize that missionaries of other religions have been around forever, but I have never understood it. Meaning, why do people feel it is so necessary for others to believe the same as they do? Why would the Mormon church want me as a member? Does that make sense? I know that differences of religion matter so greatly to some, that war is a result. I was just wondering if anyone had insight into this phenomenon. Thanks!
This comment has been removed by the author.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Grace is all encompassing and absolute as a free gift for salvation and resurrection. Works, although not a score card demonstrates our commitment to God and His work.
Just a quick reminder before I close: In Aug. 1842, Joseph Smith said the following:
“God said, ‘thou shalt not kill;’ at another time He said, ‘Thou shalt utterly destroy.’ This is the principle on which the government of heaven is conducted — by revelation adapted to the circumstances in which the chidren of the kingdom are placed. Whatever God requires is right, no matter what it is, although we may not see the reason thereof till long after the events transpire.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nat: “I think also, through my dialogue with Robert, that even most people who claim to be Evangelical Christians DO NOT HAVE SALVATION.”
Um, what makes you think you (or this Robert guy) can judge who is saved and who isn’t? Isn’t it up to Jesus to judge?
If an evangelical christian says he believes in Christ, and in Christ’s atonement, well, isn’t that what you’ve been saying is required for salvation, just believing?
What are all those evangelical christians doing or believing wrong that makes you think they aren’t (or won’t be) saved?
By the way, Mormons have about 6 different definitions of “salvation”. One of our apostles, Dallin Oaks, gave a talk about it once. The word takes on several meanings according to the Bible.
I’ll have to go look up the talk, but at least 3 of those definitions match pretty well what most other christian churches call being “saved.”
So according to Dallin Oaks, if someone asks a Mormon “Are you saved?” then by several of our definitions, then yes, we are on the same page as you guys in that regard, and can honestly say we’re saved.
Now personally, I’m still an ex-member of the Mormon church. I got disaffected, and renounced my membership a years ago. But I’ve come back, and I hope to apply for readmission (re-baptism) before long.
However, if you were to ask me “Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal savior?” I believe I can truthfully answer “YES” to that question.
If you were to ask me “Are you saved?” I’d probably say that the only salvation that really counts is “being saved in the kingdom of God at the last day”, and that that blessed event is still a future event, it hasn’t happened yet. But I look forward with faith towards it.
This comment has been removed by the author.
As far as missionary work. We are commanded to share the “Good News” with everyone. My wife who was recently baptized said something to the effect of… “I just want to shout this from the roof tops” This peace spoke of in the scriptures is real, and once you have felt it, it makes you want others to share in the joy.
It is a terrible thing that in the past we have examples of war happening due to religion. This is not how Christ would want it. It is not how believers are created. There are many out there who do want it. Not in a forceful way, but in a peaceful way. These are the people that we seek. Those who are ready to hear that, His glorious gospel has been restored.
“Errm, question: why, if grace is all encompassing (and please excuse me for my ignorance here) does the mormon church have temple recommends endowment ceremonies as a way for man’s exaltation?”
It would be erroneous to call the recommend meeting a “ceremony.” Everyone I know just calls it an “interview.” It just consists of a series of questions and then singing a small piece of paper.
Why an interview at all? We believe that Jesus Christ has commanded us All questions that are asked relate to teachings that are already fundamental to Mormonism–questions on living the law of chastity (no sexual relations outside of marriage), the Word of Wisdom, the law of tithing, honesty, and other basic principles. There is no favoritism–you can’t buy your way into the temple (unless someone on ebay TOTALLY disrespects everything about the temple and sells a recommend online).
What happens in the temple? The details of the endowment are too sacred to relate here (a bit like when Paul said that a man was caught up in the third heaven and heard words not lawful to utter–2 Cor. 12:2-4). The basic premise of the endowment, however, is that one learns how to submit oneself more fully to the Savior. The endowment is all about teaching us the central role of Jesus Christ in the plan of salvation. Good evidence can be found that Christ taught much to the apostles during the 40 days between his resurrection and ascension to heaven (see Acts chpt. 1 where the apostles see “infallible proofs” of Christ’s divinity).
All of this “doing” is not really “do-it-yourself.” If one does not believe Christ to be the Savior, then he’s not following him and therefore will not receive the blessings the Savior has promised. The only reason the endowment is relevant is because the Savior has atoned for our sons and that his atonement is so expansive, so deep, that to even get a tablespoon of understanding, one must be taught through symbolic methods (see Matthew 13 for why Christ taught in parables–the rationales have some similarities).
Hi Anon 1:21
Thanks for your questions! Before I joined the Church, my “opinion” was ALL religions were political tools used for power or control over congregations of people, mingled with some nice ideas. I was very jaded. I don’t fully hold that opinion anymore.
Missionary work is very important because we believe we are being given the chance to be active participants in bringing people to Christ. There is much joy to be found in the work and there are many who are willing to listen. Through the conversion process, a life-changing awakening takes place, upon which I believe, people put aside (some of) their selfish desires and begin to make a fulfilling difference in this world. It’s not for everyone and, yes, there are people who serve humanity nobly without religious affiliation. Many religions have something wonderful and good to contribute to the world. A healthy relationship with Jesus Christ and God is not a bad thing.
So what can religion offer? The World Health Organization estimates 500 million people will have contracted AIDS by the year 2050. That’s a lot of people who don’t believe in the Law of Chastity. It doesn’t have to be this way. I think the world IS as we collectively choose it to BE… I think people who follow the tenants of service and self-sacrifice (i.e. not smoking, avoiding alcohol and pornography, being chaste, being kind and charitable) heal the world. I believe the Church has the social structure to help people be closer to God. It may sound sappy, but once one has a relationship with Jesus Christ, there are many wounds and heartaches that seem to only be able to be healed by Him.
The flip side… It’s when “religious” people twist doctrine to propagate fear and gain power or political control when things go horrible astray. There’s a big difference between the missionaries we send out and some young man or woman who straps a bomb to themselves in the name of God. The “war” that results is not a matter of differences in religion so much as it is the result of oppressive and maniacal people who also call themselves “religious”.
-Shawn
Hello! This is Anon 1:21
Thank you for your replies. I had never thought of actually healing the world through religious conversion…I think that this is an absolute necessity for some people. Also, I wanted to make it clear that I don’t think that Mormonism is responsible in any way for violence and wars…and actually, I don’t think any religion is “responsible” rather, it is some people who (I believe) misconstrue their holy words.
Anyway…thanks for the insight…I am sure I will be lurking around this blog a bit. 🙂
Nat, as I’ve explained before – I hope you recall this because it’s been several times now – I don’t like your use of video links. Links to lengthy videos from unfamiliar sources are likely to just be instantly deleted, especially if they contain or might hostile material. I don’t have time to review them.
“Errm, question: why, if grace is all encompassing (and please excuse me for my ignorance here) does the mormon church have temple recommends endowment ceremonies as a way for man’s exaltation?”
Quite simply, Mormons believe that Christ has asked us to make the covenants found in the endowment to show our willingness to follow him. We can’t say “I accept you and will follow you… except for that!” (You might argue that he really hasn’t asked us to make these covenants, but at least this may help to understand why we view this belief as consistent with the power of Christ’s grace.)
“I don’t know much about Mormon living, I have two close friends who are mormons and I have upon two occasions attended a ward meeting…and the thing that was so significant for me were all the songs about J.Smith.”
Every week, the “sacrament hymn” (sung before our version of the communion ceremony) is always about Christ, never about J. Smith. Most other hymns are about Christ as well. There are only a few about J. Smith– probably not even enough to fill a “couple” of meetings without duplicating. There are also some about varying other topics. You can browse them here and see for yourself. We even include several traditional Protestant hymns, like “A Mighty Fortress,” “The Lord is My Shepherd,” “Nearer My God to Thee,” most of our Christmas and Easter hymns… I could go on, but you get the idea. =)
If the sacrament talks were on the theme of prophets or Joseph Smith, I could see how the opening hymn and the intermediate hymn (or opening and closing) could be “Praise to the Man” and “Joseph Smith’s First Prayer”.
If someone’s first visit to the LDS church included both of those hymns in the Sacrament meeting, I can see how Nat might get the impression he did.
Jeff, I know this is off-topic, but just so you know – I received your e-mail on the 1833 Book of Commandments and prophets revising revelations from last week and responded. Feel free to quote or use it as you wish.
Robert Boylan
This comment has been removed by the author.
Excuse me Nat, but just what do you mean in claiming that you are Biblical and Latter-day Saints are not? Seems to me that your problems with us are based on our failure to accept post-Biblical creeds using language and concepts remote from anything in the Bible, and out failure to accept the particular doctrinal developments from 16th-century Northern Europe.
We accept and use the Bible, and feel that our doctrines are much closer to the Bible than our modern competitors. So what do you mean in calling us unbiblical? Is that another way of saying that you don’t interpret some passages the same way we do?
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nat, out of curiosity, don’t you also accept and use at least some of the creeds? Or do you reject them as representing anything authoritative or canonical?
And which Bible do you use? If you or other Christians are using a canon that contains additional books in your Bible relative to earlier canons of historical Christianity, would that be a problem?
These are not especially friendly questions, I suppose, given their potential trick nature, but there may be some instructive points for discussion — after you’ve chosen which corner you wish to back into. 😉