Rachel Esplin at Harvard

December 24, 2008 in Religion by Greg | 12 comments

Rachel Esplin is a junior from Blackfoot, Idaho working on a degree at Harvard in East Asian Studies. Thanks to aquinas at Summa Theologica, I came across this video of a panel discussion moderated by Washington Post reporter Sally Quinn. According to aquinas:

The panel discussion was titled “Engaging Religious Difference: Personal Quests for Purpose” and was part of day long series of events on “Faith Live on the Harvard Campus: Personal Quest, Public Conversation, and Global Citizenship.”

Notably, Rachel Esplin, an undergraduate studying East Asian Studies, and president of the Latter-day Saint Students Association, was asked to explain her background growing up in Idaho, and how coming to Harvard has impacted her religious views and convictions.  I was extremely impressed at her ability to articulate her beliefs to others in universal terms and yet in a passionate manner.

Rachel did an excellent job framing the religious questions that she has faced by coming to Harvard:  “What does religious diversity mean?  What does it mean to be in a secular environment?  What does it mean to come face to face with what I don’t know and what I have to learn?”  In Rachel’s case, coming to Harvard has actually strengthen her faith by working through these issues.  As she has learned about other faiths, her faith has been strengthened.1

The event was held at Beren Hall at Harvard Hillel which is,

. . . the catalyst for Jewish life at Harvard, serving the cultural, religious, educational, social, and political needs of all segments of the undergraduate and graduate Jewish student communities. We also welcome and encourage Harvard faculty, staff, and the general public to participate in Hillel’s events and activities.2

The remaining videos can be seen at Harvard Hillel on Vimeo.

Sources:

  1. aquinas. “Harvard Undergraduate Explains Her Mormon Faith“. 22 December 2008. Summa Theologica. 24 December 2008.↩
  2. “Welcome to Harvard Hillel“. Harvard University. 23 December 2008.↩

Tags: Mormonism

  1. brandtNo Gravatar on December 25, 2008 at 6:57 pm

    Rachel’s mother is a faculty member at BYU-Idaho, and my wife recently took a class from said-mother. Wonderful family, all of them. I also took a class from her.

    The thing that strikes me about Rachel’s responses is how articulate she is, especially considering she’s a 20 year old who hasn’t served a mission. I think a lot of people could learn a lot from how she answers

  2. GregNo Gravatar on December 25, 2008 at 10:05 pm

    Thanks Brandt. I couldn’t agree more. A wonderful presentation by a very articulate and thoughtful woman. Hope you had a great Christmas today.

  3. Chris CromarNo Gravatar on December 28, 2008 at 11:45 am

    Very honest communication from Rachael. It seems that what is said is by her is equally as important as what is not said. Her infrequent, but appropriate scriptural references, her quotes from a prophet, her limited but sound knowledge of the purposes of temples are speak volumes of what she does with her life. We should all hope to be as capable.

  4. GregNo Gravatar on December 28, 2008 at 1:19 pm

    How true. I don’t remember being anywhere near as well spoken as a missionary as Rachel is in this video about her faith.

  5. Chris H.No Gravatar on January 2, 2009 at 3:42 pm

    She is a debate champion so I am not surprise by her articulate nature.

  6. Ely LoewNo Gravatar on March 7, 2009 at 7:28 am

    Love the Mormons… although from a theological point of view, I still can’t understand how they believe that the fall, and the sinful patheric world that resulted, was the better of two choices… It’d be fun to meet her and have a discussion about that. Maybe next time I’m in Harvard.

  7. GregNo Gravatar on March 7, 2009 at 9:16 am

    To understand the Mormon conception of the fall, you may enjoy reading What is an Endowment?.

  8. JeffNo Gravatar on March 18, 2009 at 8:59 am

    Loved the video Rachel, very impressed with your broad knowledge of the church at such a young age, very impressive. I would add to your comments about equality among women that the LDS faith allows women to preach sermons, (talks in church) Teach lessons in church settings, hold positions of leadership in the church callings, and do ordination work in Temples. Some faiths do not allow this type of roles for women. Great job.

  9. JeffNo Gravatar on March 18, 2009 at 4:30 pm

    Ely Loew, on your question of the fall. Eve understood that without the fall, she couldn’t concieve children, and she understood she would remain in the state of innosense, knowing no good nor evil.

    Sure it would be an easier life, but she undertsood her purpose and “calling” in life was to be a mother, and she knew it was best to choose to fulfil her calling.

    She also understood the reason for her existance on earth (and all of our existances here as children of Heavenly Father) was to go through this life to learn and grow as a test to see if we could remain faithful to Gods commandments.

    If she would have stayed in the garden forever, it actually would have been a selfish act, knowing she couldn’t have children, and would have an easier life remaining there with all taken care for her, and not having to work by the “sweat of her brow”.

    This “fall” of Adam and Eve was how God choose to introduce sin, and thus a chance and lesson on how God would allow us to overcome sin, through Christ’s atonement. So it was all in a plan of our Heavenly Father.

  10. JacobNo Gravatar on April 12, 2009 at 7:14 pm

    Another question for you Ely. While it is definitely easy to look at the world around us and think “Obviously this is the result of a sin.” However, as an omnipotent God, how could Heavenly Father place Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden? Also why would he have given them the conflicting commandments of staying in the Garden in basically stasis and reproducing and filling the Earth. God doesn’t say things just to confuse us. Also with the world around us being so bad, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13) In short, this is not a punishment and God is with us all.

  11. Nicole RamjoueNo Gravatar on June 5, 2009 at 2:14 pm

    What an incredible young women this is. Her expression of her faith and understanding of our church, (L.D.S.), is so deep and honest. Her expressions mirror my thoughts so clearly. We need more like her to express to the world their understandings.

  12. GregNo Gravatar on June 7, 2009 at 12:46 pm

    I couldn’t agree more. Rachel has a unique gift.