The following page is a historical reproduction of the:
"Free the Birdies" home page,
followed by commentary entitled
"Free the Birdies, de-constructed!"
 

The need for an intact replica of the original home page, is that the site may not stay in it's original form or may go away, in light of the questions raised below.  Also reproduceing it here gives one an opportunity to read the entire page with it's original flow and flavor, before examining it critically. BTW the page was titled "Victorian Page" for some reason.
 



 
 
Free the Birdies
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid . . . and a little child shall lead them." (Isaiah 11:6)
 
 
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How I Located the Author 
 
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The words of Lloyd Glenn

"I'm grateful for the opportunity to speak today regarding the topic assigned to me, the importance of Temple attendance. Brothers and Sisters, throughout our lives we are blessed with spiritual experiences, some of which are very sacred and confidential, and others, although just as sacred, are meant to be shared. 

"Last summer my family had a spiritual experience that has had a lasting and profound impact on us, one we feel must be shared. It's a message of love. It's a message of regaining perspective, and restoring proper balance and renewing priorities. 

"In humility, I pray that I might, in relating this story, give you a gift my little son, Brian, gave our family one warm summer day last year. 

"On July 22nd I was en route to Washington, D.C. for a business trip. It was all so very ordinary until we landed in Denver for a plane change. As I collected my belongings from the overhead bin, an announcement was made for Mr. Lloyd Glenn to see the United customer service representative immediately. I thought nothing of this until I reached the door to leave the plane and I heard a gentleman asking every male if they were Mr. Glenn. At this point I knew something was wrong and my heart sunk. 

"When I got off the plane a solemn-faced young man came toward me and said, 'Mr. Glenn, there has been an emergency at your home. I do not know what the emergency is, or who is involved, but I will take you to a phone so you can call the hospital. 

"My heart was now pounding, but the will to be calm took over. Woodenly, I followed this stranger to a distant telephone where I called the number he gave me for the Mission Hospital. My call was put through to the trauma center where I learned that my three-year-old son had been trapped underneath the automatic garage door for several minutes, and that when my wife had found him, he was dead. CPR had been performed by a neighbor, who is a doctor, and the paramedics had continued that treatment as Brian was transported to the hospital. By the time of my call, Brian was revived and they believed he would live, but they did not know how much damage had been done to his brain, nor to his heart. They explained that the door had completely closed on his little sternum right over his heart. He had been severely crushed. 

"After speaking with the medical staff, my wife informed me that our Bishop and hometeacher were there and were waiting for the doctors to give them the go ahead to administer to Brian. She sounded worried, but not hysterical, and I took comfort in her calmness. 

"The return flight seemed to last forever, but finally I arrived at the hospital six hours after the garage door had come down. When I walked into the intensive care unit, nothing could have prepared me to see my little son laying so still on a great big bed with tubes and monitors everywhere. He was on a respirator. I glanced at my wife who stood and tried to give me a reassuring smile. It all seemed like a terrible dream. 

"I was filled in on all the details and given the guarded prognosis. Brian was going to live, and the preliminary tests indicated that his heart was okay - two miracles, in and of themselves. But, only time would tell if his brain received any damage. 

"Throughout these seemingly endless hours, my wife was calm. She told me that the Bishop had given a blessing so powerful and so reassuring that she felt that Brian would eventually be all right. I hung on to her words and faith like a lifeline. 

"All that night and all the next day Brian remained unconscious. It seemed like forever since I had left for my business trip the day before. Finally, at two o'clock that afternoon, our son regained consciousness and sat up uttering the most beautiful words I have ever heard spoken. He said, 'Daddy, hold me,' as he reached for me with his little tiny arms. 

"By the next day he was pronounced as having no neurological or physical deficits, and the story of his miraculous survival spread throughout the hospital. You cannot imagine our gratitude and joy. As we took Brian home we felt the unique reverence for life and love of our Heavenly Father that comes to those who brush death so closely. In the days that followed there was a special spirit about our home. Our two older children were much closer to their little brother. My wife and I were closer to each other, and all of us were very close as a whole family. Life took on a less stressful pace. Perspective seemed to be much more focused, and balance much easier to gain and maintain. We felt deeply blessed. Our gratitude was truly profound. 

"Almost a month later to the day of the accident, Brian awoke from his afternoon nap and said, 'Sit down, Mommy. I have something to tell you.' At that time in his life, Brian usually spoke in small phrases, so to say such a large sentence surprised my wife. She sat down with him on the bed and he began this sacred and remarkable story. 

"'Do you remember when I got stuck under the garage door? Well, it was so heavy and it hurt really bad. I called to you, but you couldn't hear me. I started to cry, but then it hurt too bad. And then the 'birdies' came.' 

"'The 'birdies'?' my wife asked puzzled. 'Yes,' he replied. 'The 'birdies' made a whooshing sound and flew into the garage. They took care of me.' 'They did?' she asked. 'Yes,' he said. 'One of the birdies came and got you. She came to tell you I got stuck under the door.' 

"A sweet and reverent feeling filled the room. The spirit was so strong and yet lighter than air. My wife realized that a three-year-old has no concept of death and spirits, so he was referring to the beings who came to help him from beyond the veil as 'birdies' because they were up in the air like birds that fly. 

"'What did the 'birdies' look like?' she asked. Brian answered, 'They were so beautiful. They were dressed in white, all white. Some of them had on green and white, but some of them had on just white.' My wife thought this was intriguing because Brian had no clue what the color green was. 

"'Did they say anything?' 'Yes,' he answered. 'They told me the baby would be all right.' 'The baby?' my wife asked, confused. And Brian answered, 'Yes, the baby laying on the garage floor.' He went on, 'You came out and opened the garage door and ran to the baby. You told the baby to stay and not leave.' 

"My wife nearly collapsed upon hearing this, for she had indeed gone and knelt beside Brian's body, and seeing his crushed chest and unrecognizable features, and knowing he was already dead, she looked up around her and whispered, 'Don't leave us, Brian; please stay if you can.' 

"As she listened to Brian telling her the words she had spoken, she realized that his spirit had left his body and was looking down from above on this little lifeless form. 'Then what happened?' she asked. 

"'We went on a trip,' he said, 'far, far away.' He grew agitated trying to say things he didn't seem to have words for. My wife tried to calm and comfort him, and let him know it would be okay. He struggled with wanting to tell something that obviously was very important to him, but finding the words was so difficult. Finally, his eyes alighted on the picture of the Oakland temple that hangs in the room and he ran to it. 'I went there!' he shouted. 'There, Mommy,' he pointed to the temple. 'And I went to other ones like this. There are lots of them. They are everywhere, and I went to some of them with the 'birdies'. We flew so fast up in the air.' 

"To which my wife said, 'That's one of the temples.' 'YES! YES!' he shouted. 'I went to the temples.' 

"'They're so pretty, Mommy,' he added. 'And there are lots and lots of 'birdies' in the temple. Lots of them are in cages and they want to get out, but they can't by themselves. They need us to let them out of the cages. Mommy, I have to go to the temple and let them out. They are so sad and they need me to let them out. Mommy, you have to go there now and let them out. And Daddy too. And everyone. We have to let them out of their cages.' 

"My wife was stunned. Into her mind the sweet spirit enveloped her more soundly, but with an urgency she had never before known. She thought of the spirit world, the spirit prison to those who have not had saving ordinances done, and she knew that such spirits were relying on us to do these ordinances for them. She thought of how Brian had said some of the 'birdies' were wearing green and white, and the significance of that swept her with longing and understanding. 

"Brian went on to tell her that the 'birdies' told him that he had to come back and tell everyone about the temples and the 'birdies' in their cages. He said they brought him back to the house and that a big fire truck, a little fire truck, and an ambulance were there. A man was bringing the baby out on a white bed and he tried to tell the man that the baby would be okay, but the man couldn't hear him. He said the 'birdies' told him he had to go with the ambulance, but they would be near him. He said it was so pretty there and so peaceful, and he didn't want to come back. 

"And then the bright light came. He said the light was so bright and so warm, and he loved the bright light very much. Someone was in the bright light and put their arms around him and told him, 'I love you, but you have to go back. You have to play baseball, tell everyone about the temples, and slay the alligators.' Then the person in the bright light kissed him and waved bye-bye. Brian got in the ambulance with two of the 'birdies'. The ambulance doors closed after the people got in, and he said, 'Then I saw my beautiful, beautiful 'birdies' waving bye-bye. Then whoosh, the big sound came and they went into the clouds.' 

"The story went on for over an hour. He taught us that the 'birdies' are always with us, but we don't see them because we look with our eyes, and we don't hear them because we listen with our ears. But, they are there, and you can only see them in here (he put his hand over his heart). They whisper the things to help us do what's right because they love us so much. Brian continued, stating, 'I have a plan, Mommy. You have a plan. Daddy has a plan. Everyone has a plan. We all must live our plan and keep our promises. And the 'birdies' help us do that 'cause they love us so, so much.' 

"In the weeks that followed, he often came to us and told all, or part it again and again. Always the story remained the same. The details were never changed or out of order. A few time he added further bits of information that clarified the message he had already delivered. It never ceased to amaze us how he could tell such detail and speak beyond his ability when he spoke of his 'birdies.' 

"Everywhere he went, he told total strangers that they had to go to the temple. Surprisingly, no one ever looked at him strangely when he did this. Rather, they always got a softened look on their face and smiled. 

"Needless to say, we have not been the same ever since that day, and I pray that we never will be. My wife and I have gone to the temple repeatedly since then, and always Brian is waiting to hear how many 'birdies' we set free each time we go. 

"Brothers and Sisters, of all the messages Brian could have brought back, he brought this one -- We must go to the temple and free the 'birdies.' I testify that the things I have shared with you today are true. They are of sacred worth. They are of eternal consequence to us all and to the spirits who await the work only we can do for them. 

"May we all go to the temple and free the 'birdies' -- for this truly is the Lord's work and His glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. I leave you with this message in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

 



 
Subject: Free the Birdies, de-constructed!
 

[I have placed bolded comments in brackets with questions numbered in case someone wants to just address a question by referencing the question number.]
 
 

Free the Birdies

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid . . . and a little child shall lead them." (Isaiah 11:6)

I'm grateful for the opportunity to speak today regarding the topic assigned to me, the importance of Temple attendance. Brothers and Sisters, throughout our lives we are blessed with spiritual experiences, some of which are very sacred and confidential, and others, although just as sacred, are meant to be shared.

[1. What determines when an experience is NOT meant to be a "revelation" for others? ]

[2. Did the original story forwarded on the internet, take the form of text from a talk?  Just curious.]

Last summer my family had a spiritual experience that has had a lasting and profound impact on us, one we feel must be shared. It's a message of love. It's a message of regaining perspective, and restoring proper balance and renewing priorities.

[3. Has there been other experiences that cast doubt on their beliefs, but which they will NOT be sharing with others? ]

In humility, I pray that I might, in relating this story, give you a gift my little son, Brian, gave our family one warm summer day last year.

[People are accustomed to critical analysis of stories from adults, but here he sets the stage, that anyone wanting to critically examine this story, would be someone that hates their own children or gifts freely given from children.  The circulating of this story is done by adults, and not because of constant insistence of children.  Therefore the story needs to stand up to adult scrutiny.]

On July 22nd I was en route to Washington, D.C. for a business trip.

It was all so very ordinary until we landed in Denver for a plane change. As I collected my belongings from the overhead bin, an announcement was made for Mr. Lloyd Glenn to see the United customer service representative immediately. I thought nothing of this until I reached the door to leave the plane and I heard a gentleman asking every male if they were Mr. Glenn.  At this point I knew something was wrong and my heart sunk.

When I got off the plane a solemn-faced young man came toward me and said, 'Mr. Glenn, there has been an emergency at your home. I do not know what the emergency is, or who is involved, but I will take you to a phone so you can call the hospital.

[We can all relate to this.  The style of this story is well done, for the most part.  This does not make it objective, factual, or in need of our devotion.]

My heart was now pounding, but the will to be calm took over.

Woodenly, I followed this stranger to a distant telephone where I called the number he gave me for the Mission Hospital. My call was put through to the trauma center where I learned that my three-year-old son had been trapped underneath the automatic garage door for several minutes, and that when my wife had found him, he was dead. CPR had been performed by a neighbor, who is a doctor, and the paramedics had continued that treatment as Brian was transported to the hospital. By the time of my call, Brian was revived and they believed he would live, but they did not know how much damage had been done to his brain, nor to his heart. They explained that the door had completely closed on his little sternum right over his heart. He had been severely crushed.

[Later on in the story, divine intervention and communication from God is strongly stated, but the typical response to an emergency by a neighbor whom is a doctor, the paramedics as well as hospital personal are not seen as lacking or possessing divine intervention qualities.]

[4. How many children are saved each year by doctors and paramedics, yet no divine intervention is attributed to them? ]

[5. Are there more stories circulated about God saving the life of a small child, compared to the life being preserved of a middle aged man?  Is this simply a another play at emotionalism? ]

[6. How strong is our cultural bias that small innocent children, deserve to live more than middle aged people? ]

[7. How many minutes was the child trapped under the garage door? ]

[8. Where was the mother while the child was screaming and kicking, trapped under the crushing mechanism of the automatic garage door closer?  Any discussion of this would tend to detract from the faith promoting nature of this presentation.  I assume that is why it was left out. ]

After speaking with the medical staff, my wife informed me that our Bishop and hometeacher were there and were waiting for the doctors to give them the go ahead to administer to Brian. She sounded worried, but not hysterical, and I took comfort in her calmness.

The return flight seemed to last forever, but finally I arrived at the hospital six hours after the garage door had come down. When I walked into the intensive care unit, nothing could have prepared me to see my little son laying so still on a great big bed with tubes and monitors everywhere. He was on a respirator. I glanced at my wife who stood and tried to give me a reassuring smile. It all seemed like a terrible dream.

I was filled in on all the details and given the guarded prognosis.

Brian was going to live, and the preliminary tests indicated that his heart was okay - two miracles, in and of themselves. But, only time would tell if his brain received any damage.

[9. What constitutes a miracle? ]

[10. If an non-LDS child, had the same injures and lived, would it still be classified as a miracle? ]

Throughout these seemingly endless hours, my wife was calm. She told me that the Bishop had given a blessing so powerful and so reassuring that she felt that Brian would eventually be all right. I hung on to her words and faith like a lifeline.

[Oddly lacking is any Father's blessing or additional blessings by the father.]

[11. Was the father in good standing, active, believing, at this point in time, or would any previous doubts by the father have clouded the faith promoting presentation of the story? ]

All that night and all the next day Brian remained unconscious. It seemed like forever since I had left for my business trip the day before. Finally, at two o'clock that afternoon, our son regained consciousness and sat up uttering the most beautiful words I have ever heard spoken. He said, 'Daddy, hold me,' as he reached for me with his little tiny arms.

[Again we can all relate to this, and feel his pain and joy. ]

By the next day he was pronounced as having no neurological or physical deficits, and the story of his miraculous survival spread throughout the hospital. You cannot imagine our gratitude and joy. As we took Brian home we felt the unique reverence for life and love of our Heavenly Father that comes to those who brush death so closely. In the days that followed there was a special spirit about our home. Our two older children were much closer to their little brother. My wife and I were closer to each other, and all of us were very close as a whole family. Life took on a less stressful pace. Perspective seemed to be much more focused, and balance much easier to gain and maintain.

We felt deeply blessed.  Our gratitude was truly profound.

[To proclaim the body's natural healing powers as well as all the efforts of the hospital staff as incidental, and that a miracle really happened would require more data then anecdotal accounts that the hospital was a buzz with news of this quick recovery. ]

Almost a month later to the day of the accident, Brian awoke from his afternoon nap and said, 'Sit down, Mommy. I have something to tell you.' At that time in his life, Brian usually spoke in small phrases, so to say such a large sentence surprised my wife. She sat down with him on the bed and he began this sacred and remarkable story.

[12. What religious or divine significance is there to something happening 28, 29, 30 or 31 days after an event, other than a bill becoming due? ]

[13. Would this story have been less significant, if the boy had sat up 43 days after the accident and then spun  this tail? ]

[14. When the child first told the story, did the child realize that it was a remarkable or sacred story? ]

[15. At what point in the boy's narrative did the mother begin to interpret this as a divine message? ]

'Do you remember when I got stuck under the garage door? Well, it was so heavy and it hurt really bad. I called to you, but you couldn't hear me. I started to cry, but then it hurt too bad. And then the 'birdies' came.'

[It is never mentioned how the garage door closing was activated]

[16. Why could the mother not hear her son?]

[17. What is the location of the garage, in relationship to the kitchen? ]

[18. Was it a super natural event that caused the mother not to hear her child, or bad luck, or neglect?  Even the hint of neglect would cloud the faith promoting nature of the story.  Should that possibility be ignored for the supposed benefit of a faith promoting story?  ]

'The 'birdies'?' my wife asked puzzled. 'Yes,' he replied. 'The 'birdies' made a whooshing sound and flew into the garage. They took care of me.' 'They did?' she asked. 'Yes,' he said. 'One of the birdies came and got you. She came to tell you I got stuck under the door.'

[This is the first major doctrinal flaw, as Mormons do not believe that angles have wings!]

[Here is the first logical error, where thinking definitely stops and emotions take over.  The "birds", to get inside the garage from outside, would not be human size, but actually bird size, to get under the garage door!]

[Another logic flaw is ignored.  The "birds" did NOT go and get the mother to rescue the child.  In fact details of the way that the accident was discovered is never discussed.  I am left to assume that it detracts from the faith promoting narrative of the story, otherwise it would have been included.  ]

[19. Since it is part of the boy's story, why did it not come to pass, that the "birds" contacted the mother, ala Lassie or Flipper?]

A sweet and reverent feeling filled the room. The spirit was so strong and yet lighter than air. My wife realized that a three-year-old has no concept of death and spirits, so he was referring to the beings who came to help him from beyond the veil as 'birdies' because they were up in the air like birds that fly.

[The seemingly contradictions of "strong yet light", sets up a person that wants to believe in this simple tale from a child, to accept and  ignore any other contradictions.]

[When my daughter was 2, she very much understood about death, as in dead bugs, dead gold fish, dead cats, etc.  She also had a firm concept of Ghosts, that could walk through walls, and suddenly appear, as often in Scooby Doo.]

[The mother here is making a very large leap of logic,  that the birds mentioned by her little boy refereed to spirits, but she does not explain why spirits make whooshing sounds.]

[Real birds often land and walk around on the ground]

[20.  Did the mother ask the boy if the "birds" walked on the ground or floated? ]

[21. Do messengers from the spirit world always float above the ground, or do they walk around?  ]

'What did the 'birdies' look like?' she asked. Brian answered, 'They were so beautiful.  They were dressed in white, all white. Some of them had on green and white, but some of them had on just white.' My wife thought this was intriguing because Brian had no clue what the color green was.

[22. So the boy did not know his colors at this age, or the boy had been exposed to other colors and their names, but never green? ]

[23. The boy had never used the word "green" up to that point before? ]

[24.  Does the family live in a place where there is no green grass? ]

[25. Did the boy use the term "dressed" or did the mother supply that term? ]

[26. Do birds wear clothes?  What birds did the boy know of that wore clothes?  Did the boy own story books with birds or other animals that wore clothes?]

[27. Don't most children at the age of 3, know the difference between birds with colored feathers, and humans wearing cloths? ]

[28. Could not a child with a vivid imagination, picture a bird wearing human cloths? ]

[29. What evidence is there that the boy imagined anything or saw anything other than real birds? ]

'Did they say anything?' 'Yes,' he answered. 'They told me the baby would be all right.' 'The baby?' my wife asked, confused. And Brian answered, 'Yes, the baby laying on the garage floor.' He went on, 'You came out and opened the garage door and ran to the baby.  You told the baby to stay and not leave.'

[30. Are these the exact words of the boy, or in the retelling to the husband, the mother excluded, included and embellished the boys words to fit with the a scenario of an after death experience? ]

[31. Had the boy, before this, been told that he had died and had been miraculously brought back to life?]

[32. Was the boy ever in ear shot of the parents retelling how the boy was dead and was brought back to life by the doctor and paramedics? ]

[33.  How many times had the boy heard that he was for a time dead, and brought back to life? ]

[34. Had the boy ever watched cartoons where a cat is hit over the head with a hammer, and it's ghost leaves the body, and something funny happens and then the spirit returns to the body and then the cat goes on to have other lives? ]

[35. Did the parents, previous to this believe in near death experiences? ]

[36. Had the parents either read Betty Edie's book on near death, or heard stories from it or other sources on near death experiences?

[37. Were they aware that Edie was an LDS convert but then later left the church to sell more books amoung the Evangelical Christians.]

[38. Were they aware of controversies surrounding Edie's book, as it relates to her conversion and later apostacy and how she would play up Mormon elements of her book when around Mormons, and down play them when not around Mormons? ]

[39. How would a healthy skepticism over near death experiences affected the mothers assumptions for example when the boy said birds that she assumed the real meaning was spirits? ]

My wife nearly collapsed upon hearing this, for she had indeed gone and knelt beside Brian's body, and seeing his crushed chest and unrecognizable features, and knowing he was already dead, she looked up around her and whispered, 'Don't leave us, Brian; please stay if you can.'

[40. It seems highly probable that the boy could remember a month later, what his mother said to him, upon arriving at the accident. ]

As she listened to Brian telling her the words she had spoken, she realized that his spirit had left his body and was looking down from above on this little lifeless form. 'Then what happened?' she asked.

[41. Were there elements of the boy's story that did not fit a near death scenario?  What were they? ]

[42. Did the mother or father write down or now remember parts of the boy's story that were fanciful or nonsensical, and have been left out of this faith promoting narrative?]

[43. Was it common or usual for the boy to refer to himself as a baby? ]

[44. Was it his mother that viewed the small boy as still being a baby, and where those the actual words that the boy used, referring to himself?]

'We went on a trip,' he said, 'far, far away.' He grew agitated trying to say things he didn't seem to have words for. My wife tried to calm and comfort him, and let him know it would be okay. He struggled with wanting to tell something that obviously was very important to him, but finding the words was so difficult. Finally, his eyes alighted on the picture of the Oakland temple that hangs in the room and he ran to it. 'I went there!' he shouted. 'There, Mommy,' he pointed to the temple. 'And I went to other ones like this. There are lots of them.

They are everywhere, and I went to some of them with the 'birdies'. We flew so fast up in the air.'

[45. Had the child literally been to the Oakland temple in spirit form? ]

[46. The child is under age to go into the temple and would not have a recommend. ]

[47. To the boy, not the parents, what was the reason for "flying" to what we are assuming are other temples, not just other buildings? ]

[48. Did the boy describe flying as a bird, or is the mother overlaying the spirit motif, when the boy never experienced such? ]

[49. Previous to this, had the boy been conditioned to perceive that the building in the picture on his wall was more special than other buildings around town? ]

[50. Did the parents ever ask the child to describe the other temples that he saw and what did the boy say? ]

To which my wife said, 'That's one of the temples.' 'YES! YES!' he shouted. 'I went to the temples.'

[51. Did the mother indicate by voice tone or non-verbally, something to encourage the boy to get excited to spin a more fantastic yarn? ]

'They're so pretty, Mommy,' he added. 'And there are lots and lots of 'birdies' in the temple. Lots of them are in cages and they want to get out, but they can't by themselves.

[52. Were these birds also white and some white and green? ]

[The boy is still referring to the birds in literal terms, while the mother or father telling this story wants to constantly translate this to ghosts or spirits.]

They need us to let them out of the cages. Mommy, I have to go to the temple and let them out. They are so sad and they need me to let them out. Mommy, you have to go there now and let them out. And Daddy too.

And everyone. We have to let them out of their cages.'

[Spirits are not in the temple in cages, but are in the spirit world, which few Mormons would say is located just in the temples.  If spirits were at the temple they would be happy because they would be at the temple viewing their own work being done for them.  This little boy is taking about birds in cages, inside a building. He talks a lot about it because when he mentioned that building his parents they get excited.  This is only about spirits if that is what you want to believe it means, not based on what the boy says.]

[53. What about the human people attending the temple, were they in cages too, and were they sad? ]

My wife was stunned. Into her mind the sweet spirit enveloped her more soundly, but with an urgency she had never before known. She thought of the spirit world, the spirit prison to those who have not had saving ordinances done, and she knew that such spirits were relying on us to do these ordinances for them. She thought of how Brian had said some of the 'birdies' were wearing green and white, and the significance of that swept her with longing and understanding.

[54. Did the boy mention at any other point in time, any birds that were not white or white and green? ]

[This is an obvious reference to Mormon temple cloths that are mostly white with a square green apron.]

[55. Had the boy every seen his parents temple cloths while they were being laid out for a trip, or while being washed or pressed? ]

[56. The boy apparently did not know what green was, before this, did he know what shapes such as squares are? ]

[57. Why did the boy not mention that the birds wore green squares, or unusual hats?   Surely a bird wearing a hat or a scarf is worth mentioning as much as colors are.    Kid love hats.]

[58. What if the birds are mostly green with a little white here or there or in small spots?  How would that effect the interpretation of the boys story? ]

Brian went on to tell her that the 'birdies' told him that he had to come back and tell everyone about the temples and the 'birdies' in their cages. He said they brought him back to the house and that a big fire truck, a little fire truck, and an ambulance were there. A man was bringing the baby out on a white bed and he tried to tell the man that the baby would be okay, but the man couldn't hear him. He said the 'birdies' told him he had to go with the ambulance, but they would be near him. He said it was so pretty there and so peaceful, and he didn't want to come back.

[59. Were the number of emergency vehicles at the house correct, and what happened to the doctor, whom without his help, the paramedics would have been too late? ]

[60. This has a ring of a near death experience, and the word for word story of the boy, seemed to be a parents summation of what he may have only vaguely recounted.]

[61. Where was this "place" that was so peaceful?  Was it up in the air flying, inside the temple, outside his body?  Outside the context of a near death experience the story is nonsensical. ]

And then the bright light came. He said the light was so bright and so warm, and he loved the bright light very much. Someone was in the bright light and put their arms around him and told him, 'I love you, but you have to go back. You have to play baseball, tell everyone about the temples, and slay the alligators.' Then the person in the bright light kissed him and waved bye-bye. Brian got in the ambulance with two of the 'birdies'. The ambulance doors closed after the people got in, and he said, 'Then I saw my beautiful, beautiful 'birdies' waving bye-bye. Then whoosh, the big sound came and they went into the clouds.'

[62. If we are to take the boy's words as literal, then he should go on and play baseball, but what is 'slaying alligators' suppose to mean? ]

[63. If slaying imaginary alligators and playing baseball are to be taken literal, then why not birds in cages, inside a building?  It is only a faith promoting story when we pick and choose when to take the boy literally or fancifully.]

The story went on for over an hour. He taught us that the 'birdies' are always with us, but we don't see them because we look with our eyes, and we don't hear them because we listen with our ears. But, they are there, and you can only see them in here (he put his hand over his heart). They whisper the things to help us do what's right because they love us so much. Brian continued, stating, 'I have a plan, Mommy. You have a plan. Daddy has a plan. Everyone has a plan.

We all must live our plan and keep our promises. And the 'birdies' help us do that 'cause they love us so, so much.'

[64. The detail provided with the boy's story would only take 10 minutes at best to tell.  What was said during that hour long talk, that had nothing to do with Mormonism or near death? ]

[This boys doesn't know the difference between ghosts, and birds, or what the color green is or what a square is or how odd it is to see a bird wearing a hat, but he seems to know what a plan is, and that individuals can each have their own and why a plan is important.]

[65. Did the boy ever explain what his plan was? ]

[66. Did the boy say "plan" and refer to it in exactly that manner, or was this a constructions by his mother from 10 or more minutes of rambling by the boy? ]

In the weeks that followed, he often came to us and told all, or part it again and again.  Always the story remained the same. The details were never changed or out of order. A few time he added further bits of information that clarified the message he had already delivered. It never ceased to amaze us how he could tell such detail and speak beyond his ability when he spoke of his 'birdies.'

[67. Were there great variations of this story as it was retold? ]

[68. When was the story first written down? ]

[69. After how many retellings was it written down? ]

[70. When did the parents first realize that the story sounded like a near death experience? ]

[71. A 3 year old boy can tell an hour long story, and include the same details and maintain the same order and sequence, with each telling, but doesn't know what the color green is, or know the difference between a ghost and a bird? ]

[72. What were the "further bits if information" that the boy added with time?]

[73. Did all of the additional information support the near death story, or detract from it?]

[74. Did the boy have a vivid imagination? ]

Everywhere he went, he told total strangers that they had to go to the temple. Surprisingly, no one ever looked at him strangely when he did this. Rather, they always got a softened look on their face and smiled.

[75. Why is this unusual, that when a little kid says something odd to an adult, the adult acts kindly back to the child? ]

Needless to say, we have not been the same ever since that day, and I pray that we never will be. My wife and I have gone to the temple repeatedly since then, and always Brian is waiting to hear how many 'birdies' we set free each time we go.

[76. Shouldn't the fact that your child was saved by doctors and paramedics, be more significant than a fanciful story about green and white birds? ]

[77. Does this family watch "Touched by an Angel", and what influence would that have on the narrative of the story, or influence on the boy? ]

Brothers and Sisters, of all the messages Brian could have brought back, he brought this one -- We must go to the temple and free the 'birdies.' I testify that the things I have shared with you today are true. They are of sacred worth. They are of eternal consequence to us all and to the spirits who await the work only we can do for them.

[The spirits of the dead are not sitting sadly inside cages inside the temple, flying in the air making whooshing sounds with their wings! ]

[The parents have constructed the bird / ghost / temple cloths linkages, not the child. ]

May we all go to the temple and free the 'birdies' -- for this truly is the Lord's work and His glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. I leave you with this message in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

[The point of this entire story violates the law and procedures and policies of the church hierarchy.  Instructions from God comes from the top down, not some baby up.  Therefore the source of such information would be dark not light, for it encourages us to seek guidance outside the priesthood channels, according to current mordern day Mormon theology.]

[Even though they are well meaning, neither these parents nor their boy are in the position to be making pronouncements from God, regardless of how faith promoting they may be constructed.]

[Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord God will do nothings, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. ]
 
 
  


This "deconstruction" page was an unlinked and unindex page not initially intended for wide public access, but one of the search engines located this page and I started receiving email from people visiting the page. Brent Williams was one of those people and agreed that that this theological Twinkie story has problems. Brent's point of view is added here, even though Brent takes as authoritative statements made by certain leaders more rigidly than I do.


Perry,

You have my permission to post this where ever you wish.

Bro. Brent (Brent Williams)


The Birdies Research Findings

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 heart-strings.

 

Background

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.

I was recently sent a web-link to a site at inkwell.com called the Testify page. The e-mail reported that the webmaster of the Testify page had permission from Bro. Glenn, the father of the 3 year old boy, to publish the story to the web. I e-mailed the owner of the page to find out if this was true. Sis. Gold informed me that she not only had made contact with Bro. Glenn, but that she actually has copyrights to the story. I was told that legal action could be taken against me or anyone else e-mailing or posting the story to the web. This started my investigation of not only the exclusive copyright but also the doctrinal validity of the story.

 

Contacts and Opinions

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 Bro. Glenn 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.

 

Active Sites posting the story

In one of Sis. Gold's e-mails to me, she said that she has copyrights to the "Birdies" story. Here is what I have found on the web in the last few days.

I think it's most interesting how many postings of the story I was able to find in a very short time.

This is a site that is posting a similar version of the posted story.

There are many sites with various versions of the story. Most of the sites report the story in a slightly different light, different dates that the event took place, or the original discourse was given or excluding the temple references. These variations contribute to the skepticism of the story and the events that took place -

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/7062/U.free.html

Sis. Gold said that she no longer carries a link to the story, here is one linking from one site to the active testify page-the story is still linked at:

http://pweb.netcom.com/~toniaizu/cmemberse.html

There are a few sites that still have active links to the inkwell.com site.

 This site and version of the "birdies" is actually linked from testify sight to a geocities cite at

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/7717/library/stories2.html#birdies

A simple search on excite.com found this active link:

http://www.circle4.com/~inkwell/testfrec.htm

Here is another link to the story, also contesting permission to publish the story to the web:

http://www.ldsdirectory.com/bin/powersearch?req=showspirit&key=212

Yet another website posting the story at:

http://members.aol.com/jhardy355/birdies.htm

In an e-mail sent to me, the author of this site claims the following: "I believe it can only be classified as an extremely personal experience that was meant for the spiritual benefit of that child and his family. I think this was a very personal experience that perhaps should have been kept within the immediate family. It may not even have been an actual after-life experience" Jhardy is exactly right!

This member of the church in Australia also claims to have permission from the Glenn's to post the story. He says, "Since I posted this story to the site, I've had several emails from people wanting some more information about it. When it was first sent to me as a suggested addition for this section, I had the same questions." (referring to the same questions I sent to FARMS) "Recently I heard from Lloyd who personally verified the story for me. If you want any additional information about the story you can contact church headquarters for official verification." I'm not sure who he contacted at church headquarters, it could have been anyone from the building custodian to anyone else. According to my research and points of contact at LDS HQ, there has been no "official verification" of any kind.

You would think that anyone calling long distance from Australia to LDS HQ would have taken more time to reference their contacts.

http://opera.iinet.net.au/~soneil/lds/docs/birdies_background.html

This one is interesting, in that it appears on a mailing list for LDS members. One person on the list even states that she knows that copyright material should not be sent via e-mail, but was willing to take the risk.

http://www.panix.com/~klarsen/ldsprimary/v01.nA176

This poor sister continued spreading and sharing the faith promoting experience to her family in family night and to her visiting teachers. She writes in response to the story the following: "Thanks for the story! I told my husband I was in charge of Family Home Evening and that it would be TONIGHT! I can't wait to share it with my family. My Visiting Teachers came this a.m. and I made a copy for each of them, too. I needed that story to get me back in touch with what is really important!!! Martha." Martha needs only to follow the words of the modern prophets that have told us repeatedly to return to the temple. In Sister Gold's behalf, the proprietor of the mailing list follows Martha's testimonial with this: From ldsprimary-"Please do not send copyrighted material to ldsprimary."

This member actually includes the event being read in sacrament meeting in South Jordan. He has the story linked from his page's favorite places at

http://www.wipd.com/~jwt/JWTSITES.HTM

to this site at

http://www.seminary.org/cgi/showseminary.cgi/1954

Here is another site that has posted a version of the story, but the webmaster claims the source coming from Lloyd Gienn, not Lloyd Glenn...it could be just a type-o...you be the judge. Either way, it is on the www at:

http://www.flash.net/~hillskip/birdies.html

This next site is found on the AOL hometown search page. It is obviously the most plagiarized and distorted non-LDS edition of the story yet.

This person is nothing more than an angel lover and has found pseudo- comfort in the story.

http://hometown.aol.com/smccle9528/SUEPG.HTM

This one is posted on GEO cities, yet without the Temple references.

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Ithaca/2359/index.html

Another found on GEO cities listing. This is a 1994 edition complete with flying birds and music.

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/8377/birdies.htm

It is amazing how many times I found the story posted on the web and how many people claim exclusive on the story. This certifies the fact that the story really belongs to the Glenns only, and not to the general public.

This is a good one, a guy after my own opinion...he shares some of my same concerns about the sacredness of the story and it's doctrinal inconsistencies. He also uses the exact text and motif from the inkwell.com/Testify website...oh no! I smell a lawsuit.

http://www.xmission.com/~plporter/lds/freeb.htm

Another of my own opinion, this Brother finds the story just as sensational and sacred as I do. He says, "Now, I suppose this story could be true. But it certainly sounds contrived, designed to pluck heartstrings with false emotion. And whatever the case, it would be a highly personal experience, far too sacred to inappropriately spread about on the Internet. As such, it qualifies as a twinkie, something that mentally lazy saints tell in sacrament meeting rather than open the Bible or the Book of Mormon for their stories. I have no more authority to speak for the Church than those who spread this spurious folk doctrine about." Twinkies...now that's funny...LOL ;) He is exactly correct...in fact, I would like to personally interview the "Birdie" groupies to find out what their gospel knowledge is and what their study habits are. I'd be willing to bet that many of them are avid X-File junkies and fear the end of the world is Y2k as well. Here's the site...enjoy!...

http://www.iperform.net/jwr/twinkies.html

 

Teachings of the Apostles

In summary I would like 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.

 

Teachings of Prophets

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 though the house of the House of God today."

 

 Conclusion and Challenge

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. 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.

 

Additional Sites:

http://www.lege.com/ylva/birdies.html

http://www.io.com/~rga/netstory/messages/netstory109.html

http://www.osmond.net/chill/aspiring/death.html

http://www.omnicron.com/~fluzby/sister-share/birdies.htm

http://www.geocities.com/~john_foreman/othernde.html

http://search.excite.com/search.gw?search=%22free+and+the+and+birdies%22

http://www.hotbot.com/?MT=%22I'm+grateful+for+the+opportunity+to+speak+tody+regarding+the+topic+assigned+to+me%22&SM=MC&DV=0&LG=any&RD=RG&DC=10&DE=2&_v=2&OPs=MDRTP

 
Sites that have dropped the story from their web pages:

http://www.jersey.net/~inkwell/testfrec.htm

http://members.aol.com/jhardy355/stories.htm



 
 
 
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