- This topic is empty.
-
Posts
-
Hey folks, One thing we might start w/ is w/ this essay:
http://staylds.com/docs/HowToStay.html A few items come to mind:
1) Is this worth referring folks to?
2) If so, would one or a few of you be willing to take a pass at editing it? A few things I’d love to change would be:
— To take out the 1st person stuff. That said, I do think we should try to keep it engaging…not too sterile.
— To remove anything that would be considered offensive to church leaders (some BYU professors mentioned to me that the temple recommend section is very inappropriate, for example). If so, let’s kill it.
— Add stuff that would be helpful
Is anyone willing/able to take a pass?
johndehlin wrote:— To remove anything that would be considered offensive to church leaders (some BYU professors mentioned to me that the temple recommend section is very inappropriate, for example). If so, let’s kill it.
I don’t think this is possible, and also for us to have a purpose on the internet. At least that is my understanding of our positioning in the “market” of ideas. FAIR already does a great job of publishing traditional apologetics.
When I read this article of yours during my early crisis, it was a breath of fresh air. AT LAST! someone was at least shooting straight and being honest about the problems. I don’t have to agree on answering the TR questions the way you suggested, but at least I knew you weren’t another dupe of the system trying to bury all the bodies and hide the evidence of problems. It’s ok to doubt or think differently, and still be engaged, active and faithful in the Church. That is what I needed to hear most of all. I was not alone, and I was not crazy (or at least there were other crazies out there, hehe). People can answer the temple recommend questions differently, all be faithful, can disagree and STAY together in the Church. Maybe I don’t think Joseph Smith was second in perfection and divinity only to Jesus Christ? Yeah, that’s ok. I can still think of him as the prophet of the restoration, and a prophet for us in our day.
I knew how to find the FAIR website and get lame, saccharine answers that did nothing to satisfy.
Here are some totally off-the-cuff thoughts I have, and then I have to get back to work. Sorry these aren’t more thought out. Intended audiencesection is really important. I think it’s good to say who this essay is not for. I consider that the
temple recommend questionscan be readdressed in a high-level way. I think it should keep the stuff about how the questions are meant to see how comfortable the individual is, how the individual becomes the ultimate judge of his/her worthiness. They’re meant to be empowering, not a hindrance. I don’t know if going question-by-question is necessary in this essay (although I found this very interesting). I agree w/ Brian that they are probably fine, and more helpful and satisfying than other sources. I think my concern is more about length and real estate. Maybe moving that detailed discussion to a companion essay would help. I also think that the
question on tithingmight be addressed at a higher level. As a full 10% incomer, my personal experience is that I felt a little like a schmo when I realized other people paid their tithing in other ways and still were FTPs(although I know this is none of my business, I was just surprised). I think again it might be wise to promote the benefits of doing what one is comfortable doing, promoting personal responsibility, sacrifice, and charitable giving as part of “how to stay.” Maybe as something a little on par with building/spending credit (or service). As a not incredibly social person, engaging in the ward is hard for me, although it’s necessary and I’m working on it. Tithing (or fast offerings) can be one of the ways more introverted people can feel like they’ve made a meaningful contribution to the LDS community. At least that’s what helps me a little. Building/Spending credit:great section. I think this is so important. I’m wondering what advice we can give to the not-so-much people persons who don’t really fit into the community or who have been isolated for awhile (or offended by Church members, or whatever). I think this is important b/c a lot of types of people who are susceptible to disaffection may be a little more anti-social (I’m not trying to stereotype and I’m counting myself in this group). We need to stay too. I mention paying tithing/fast offerings, but there have got to be more steps. I’m searching these out for myself as I’m trying to find ways to engage while not overloading myself with social anxiety. The
Faith is an amazingly low barsection is awesome. This might deserve more attention here or in another essay. Something about getting in tune with a Higher Power, figuring out unique ways that HP manifests itself to the reader in a unique way. Perhaps something about Moroni 10 knowledge v. Alma 32 faith and knowledge. Maybe something about Iron Rod types and Liahona types. I like the idea that we should be proud of our belief. To me this section is important and provides a balance to the more practical day-to-day stuff mentioned elsewhere, which is why I might suggest punching it up some more. FWIW, anyway.
I have no problem with this. I remember it being honest and straightforward and not encouraging dishonesty. I will have to go back when I have some more time and read the temple recommend interview part again, but my only concern with other treatments is when they actively encourage what I think are overly-rationalized answers. (For example, I’ve heard it suggested that anyone who donates 10% to charitable causes can answer the tithing question affirmatively – since the question doesn’t specify “to the Church”. That’s twisting the question beyond recognition into a totally different question, imo, and fundamentally dishonest.) I don’t remember anything that blatant in what you wrote, however.
John, How do you want help editing it? Just broad ideas like the previous ones, or more targeted?
Heather
Actually, I’d love to be able to give the text to someone and have them re-write it. Or at least do a major pass over it. I know it’s a lot to ask.
I’ll give it a major pass, although I’m hesitant because they’re YOUR ideas. So you want your name stripped out of it? You want it to read like a generic (anonymous?) document? I mean, I can edit it without changing the ideas. Is that you want? Just writing revisions, not content revisions?
John, you know you’re finally in the big leagues and a celebrity when you have ghost writers 😆 hkobeal wrote:I’ll give it a major pass, although I’m hesitant because they’re YOUR ideas. So you want your name stripped out of it? You want it to read like a generic (anonymous?) document? I mean, I can edit it without changing the ideas. Is that you want? Just writing revisions, not content revisions?
I’m totally open. I just want it to be effective, and not off-putting.
I think we need a foundational document for this new site. This one is so personal to me. So should we use it as a starting point, have it be one of many approaches, or start from scratch?
Again…I’m totally open.
John, Do you have a word version of this file? I could use the track changes feature on word . . .
Heather, I imported it into a Google doc and sent you an email. Let me know if you have a gmail account, and if you can access the Google Doc.
Thanks!
Hkobeal – willing to help too, although my time is limited. Do you want to split it up? Ang, I’ll give you access to the doc as well. Ya’ll can edit simultaneously. That’s part of the beauty of Google Docs.
I would be willing to look over them once they have been edited. foundational document is a good idea. I’ll take a look, too.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.