Why Don't We Learn About This Stuff in Church?

I get quite a few questions from religious people who are drawn to/guided to what they would call New Age/Metaphysical things like meditation, yoga, energy healing, etc. but who wonder if they are doing something wrong. They wonder if all this stuff is so great, then why don't they hear about it at church. Why don't we hear about chakras and auras at General Conference? Why didn't Joseph Smith teach us about yoga?

These are good questions so I thought I would address them.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is now a global, world-wide and growing church full of lots of brand new baby converts. Most of the church membership is outside of the US. Most do not have Mormon Pioneer ancestors. Most do don't have stereotypical Utah Mormon cultural heritage/baggage. However, even in Utah I don't find anyone who fits a stereotype except on a surface level. Deep down, each individual member has their own strengths, concerns, weaknesses, troubles. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is very simple and it is for everyone. The role of the church is to teach these simple and true foundations of the gospel and to help people enter into covenants with God. It is essential to have a foundation and covenants are essential.

However, once that foundation is laid, there is more for those who will seek it--but those steps are personal. Paul discussed this in his letter to the Hebrews:

"Therefore not leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection.(Hewbrews 6:1, Joseph Smith Translation)

This means that we don't leave the basics behind. But we can and are invited to go beyond and learn the mysteries of God. We do this by studying with Him personally and following personal revelation and having an open heart. 

Here is a great scripture from Matthew 13

And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. (Matthew 13: 10,11,13) 

 In these scriptures Jesus is basically saying “Because you—who are ordained my real disciples and who are living a spiritually disciplined, consecrated life according to my teachings—because you have meditated and gained inner awakening, you deserve to know the mysteries of God. But ordinary people, unprepared or unwilling are not going to be able to comprehend or practice these deeper truths. So I give it to them in symbolic stories with many layers and each can glean what they will.  And if they apply it, they will make some progress.”  He was being merciful and also realistic.

That’s my interpretation. Not everyone will have the same interpretation. 

But basically the gist is that they were asking this question because Jesus didn't speak to them in parables. He gave them the good stuff. And He will give it to you if you go to him and if you learn to perceive things through your spiritual eyes and ears (called intuition). This awakening is pretty amazing. And if you read the scriptures or listen to Conference talks with your awakened intuition, you will find that there is a lot said about meditation, chakras, mantras, energy healing, etc.  It's there, I promise.