The following research was conducted for the purposes maintaining the true chronology of truth found in Amos 3:7. The research was accomplished because of a story that I received repeatedly over the Internet e-mail, as well as posted on several websites. The story is called "Free the Birdies." It is a story that relates the near death experiences of a 3 year old boy who related experiences to his mother that are closely associated to the after life (or spirit world) as well the sacredness temple. The story was purportedly related by the boy's father in a sacrament meeting. The story has been used by proponent members of the LDS church as a faith promoting experience that encourages its members to return often to the temple. It is an emotional story that makes some readers feel as if the spirit touches them, when it is really just an affective story that tugs at the heartstrings.

I first read the story after it was e-mailed to me by a friend. I have to admit that even I was astonished by the story and what the 3 year old boy had told his mother concerning specifics of the spirit world, temple clothing and the appearance of birdies (for which I interpreted as angels…I am not alone in this assumption). After much consideration, I reviewed the story with other members of my ward, in private, as to keep the sacredness of the story reserved for only endowed members of the church. Upon further review, and looking beyond the emotional aspects of the story, I started to find many doctrinal inconstancies with the story. Most of the discrepancies I found were that the story, in my opinion, was not in harmony with gospel principles and official doctrine of the LDS Church. To confirm my assumption I contacted a few associates that I consider sound in their doctrinal dissertations and analysis of gospel.

I do not doubt that the events took place, or that the boy was involved in an emotional experience that effected his parents and family. I disagree with its motives. I believe certain things are given for the spiritual support and benefit of those close to the events…not for the entire church or world as a spiritual motivator for encouraging members of the church to actively attend the temple to "free the birdies" that are held captive in cages.

The following article prescribes the events and feedback I received during my search. It is my objective to stop to this sensational story from being published or circulated, and to encourage members of the Mormon faith to follow the words of the modern day prophets. This started my investigation of not only the exclusive copyright but also the doctrinal validity of the story.

I contacted a few people that I consider respectable in their opinion of both LDS literature and LDS church doctrine. Although none of them are LDS Church authorities, their input on the story is worthy and valuable. I also contacted individuals at BYU with the FARMS group and at LDS Church Headquarters.

Bro. Burton at BYU responded with the following in regards to Save the Birdies: "The 'save the birdies' story, in my opinion, is a good example of Mormon folklore. It has enough of the ring of truth about it to be possible, but its very popularity and its sensationalism make it suspect. One member I know put this story on a list with several others under the title of 'Theological Twinkies' (referring to Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's remarks from April 1998 General Conference). The story obviously has a good intention, but its quasi-authority makes it something I would not repeat as gospel, because it isn't the gospel. A good discussion of what should be taught in LDS settings (in other words, what constitutes "doctrine" --which comes from "doceo", "to teach") can be found in the preface to We Believe: Doctrines and Principles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Rulon T. Burton. The author refers to the need to rely on the authoritative teachings, those principles that adhere to the "Law of witnesses" established by scripture (in the mouth of two or more...). Save the birdies is a sweet story, but has neither literary value nor doctrinal authority, in my opinion."

In response to a few questions I asked, Bro. Burton also had this to say in response to the doctrinal story:

Q-Is it your interpretation of the story that the angels described possessed wings like "birdies"?

A-Joseph Smith said "An angel of God never has wings" (Journal of Discourses, 6:240)

Q-Can a 3 year old boy receive inspiration, revelation or anything of the such that could possibly give as much or even more particulars of the spirit world than what is already described by prophets in the D&C?

A-In the Book of Mormon it states "And now, he imparteth his word by angels, unto men; yea, not only men, but women also. Now this is not all: little children doth have words given unto them many times, which doth confound the wise and the learned." (Alma 32:23). However, and this is very important, the truths revealed to individuals do not constitute doctrine (official teachings of the church).

Q-Is it doctrinally correct to say that the spirits waiting to have their work done for them are in the temple since they have not yet received their endowment?

A-Nowhere have I heard this said, even unofficially. It is certainly not church doctrine.

I spoke on the phone to Bro. Nelson and Bro. Brandt who work for Correlation Dept. at LDS HQ. The Correlation Department of the church often handles such stories and rumors of doctrine. Both men agree that the story is sensational. Although neither of them doubt the event took place, is has no gospel value except for the immediate personal use of the family Members. Bro. Brandt informed that "the brethren are aware of the story" and that as far as he knows the family has been counseled with regards to propagating it in a public forum. I also spoke to Bro. Otterson, at LDS HQ Public Affairs and Family History. He agreed that there is no doctrinal support for the story, at the same time, the church has not published anything formal on the story, other than what has already been taught by Elder Holland on "twinkies."

Bro. Hall with the FARMS research group at BYU said, "Church doctrine is not part of what we do here. However I think your questions are good ones…but these experiences should be very sacred and presented to the individual in a way he/she can understand." FARMS

These contributions confirmed my opinions of the doctrinal validity of the story. The reference above to Elder Jeffery R. Holland and "twinkies" will be referenced later.

In to reference of the landmark discourse mentioned before, given by Elder Jeffery R. Holland in the April 1998 General Conference, Saturday Session. Elder Holland gives challenging remarks to those who spread such faith promoting fictional doctrine as the "Birdies."

He said to the body of the church, "Satan is certainly not subtle in his teachings; why should we be? Whether we are instructing our children at home or standing before an audience in church, let us never make our faith difficult to detect. Remember--we are to be teachers "come from God." Never sow seeds of doubt. Avoid self-serving performance and vanity…Teach the revealed doctrine…as the revelations say, that even in these our teaching may ultimately be "from on high." (See D&C 43:8, 16) The Church will be the better for it, and so will you, for as Paul said to the Romans, "Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?" (Rom. 2:21)

It is clear that the brethren are concerned with the flamboyant faith promoting teaching of false doctrine in our churches. Elder Holland goes on to say the following: "When crises come in our lives--and they will--the philosophies of men interlaced with a few scriptures and poems just won't do. Are we really nurturing our youth and our new members in a way that will sustain them when the stresses of life appear? Or are we giving them a kind of theological Twinkie--spiritually empty calories? President John Taylor once called such teaching "fried froth," the kind of thing you could eat all day and yet finish feeling totally unsatisfied." If the birdies story doesn't qualify as a "twinkie" then I don't know what would. The story makes a person feel all good inside, it tastes good going down, but contains no gospels substance that would sustain a person spiritually, but only leaves a person spiritually malnourished on what looks and tastes like doctrine. Only the word of God can fill the soul.

Elder Holland continues by quoting from J. Rueben Clark, "[They] are hungry for the things of the spirit," he said; "they are eager to learn the Gospel, and they want it straight, undiluted." It is a shame that this modern LDS twinkie has leaked out from the Mormon fiction circulation to the "You've Got Mail" now crowd, only to be distorted by non-members and misinterpreted by "Touch-by-an-Angel" Tele-junkies on their home pages. Let alone the un-countable number of times the e-mail versions have been sent. Opponents of LDS doctrine feed on such stories. The "Birdies" story does nothing to forward the truth of the restored-everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ, but in fact contributes to the secrecy and sensationalism that many anti-mormons use to forward their cause.

In a recent general conference, Elder David E. Sorensen of the Seventy (and my former bishop), said this about our motivation to attend the temple often. The simple presence of a temple should serve as a reminder of covenants we have made, the need for integrity, and the fact that God is never far away." (October 1998,168th Semi-annual General Conference Sunday Morning Session.) It is evident that the mere existence of the temple is motivation enough to attend often.

President of the LDS church (and prophet to the world) Ezra Taft Benson said these encouraging words that in themselves are motivation enough to attend the temple frequently, "I hope you would teach this truth about the temple to your children and your grandchildren. Go to the temple--our Father's house--to receive the blessings of your fathers that you may be entitled to the highest blessings of the priesthood. "For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live." (D&C 84:22.) I testify with all my soul to the truth of this message and pray that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will bless

modern Israel with the compelling desire to seek all the blessings of the fathers in the House of our Heavenly Father. (Ensign, August 1985, pp. 7-10.) An inspired address by President Ezra Taft Benson of the Quorum of the Twelve, given at the Logan Temple Centennial, 17 May 1984.

It is clear that our encouragement and motivation to attend the temple is that of accomplishing eternal covenants that could not be performed any place else if were not for the restored truth and the building of temples. Why then is it that members of the church would not head the words of a prophet of God when he says "Go to the temple--our Father's house--to receive the blessings of your fathers that you may be entitled to the highest blessings of the priesthood"? Why then would any member of the church be motivated by sensationalism and not the testimony of a prophet when he says, "I testify with all my soul to the truth of this message"?

President David O. McKay said the following in regards to motivating members to attend the temple. Notice that his message is accompanied with a promise that only a prophet of God can give to the body of the church (Italics added to promissory statement). "Go through the House of God today seeing the spiritual significance of the ordinances, that you may not come out disappointed, but filled with a desire and determination to walk uprightly before God, and thus merit His divine inspiration, not only while you are on your mission where you will need it--oh, how you will need it--but all through life when you come back to make a success of your vocation in your own life--that you may "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, that all these things may be added unto you." I pray that this, my dear fellow workers, brethren and sisters, will be your happy lot, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. (An address on the Temple ceremony by President David O. McKay given Thusday, 25 September 1941, at 8:30am, Salt Lake Temple Annex Manuscript in BYU Library Collections.)

Again I place emphasis that the words of a prophet hold more strength when he said, "Go through the house of the House of God today."

In conclusion, I think I have stated my case well enough to say that the "Free the Birdies" story is not appropriate for gospel discussion or the world wide web or in almost any gospel discussion, mostly because it is not doctrine. Please…do not be swayed by sensational stories that promote faith without doctrinal substance. I encourage anyone thinking of sending the story via e-mail, posting it to the web or speaking of it in a gospel setting to seriously consider the risks of spreading false doctrine, faith promoting fiction, personal revelation or as Elder Holland has called them, "Twinkies." If the story is posted on a web site that you author or own, I challenge you to remove it for the sake of truth and to spread the message of following the words of the prophets, when they challenge us to attend the temple.

In Addition, I will end with the humbling account found in Luke, of the mother of Christ giving account to Luke of few events from the Lord's childhood. There were many things Mary could have told Luke about her experiences raising and nurturing the Son of God. Yet she did not. She told very little. The rest, as Luke writes, "but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart." Mary could have told us many wonderful faith promoting stories. But she knew, as well as others who have testified of Christ, that His mission was not his childhood, but in His adult life. (Luke 2:51)