Uchtdorf and "Weightier Matters"

Pres. Packer lives in my stake. The guy is a very old school, rule loving, by the book kind of guy. I think it has put added stress on those in leadership positions. (Especially those at the Stake level) I have heard a term used within the stake when people question what seems to be a ridiculous or unnecessary rule. It is called a “Packer Policy”

All I can say is if many had their way they would line up to live The Law of Moses. We have gone so over board with rules that the average member can no longer live up to everything. White shirt are a good example. Just an idea that got elevated to doctrine in many members eyes.

Silly traditions can easily become rules and norms for us morms… for everyone, actually.

And, guidance given by GA’s can be interpreted quite differently by leaders down the line. An interesting example of this occurred in two stakes in my area a few years ago. One stake asked men in leadership callings to shave… allowed no facial hair. In the other stake, however, nothing was said. When stake leaders in Stake A realized that Stake B was not shaving, they wondered what was up… “They received the same direction from Elder ____ that we did”, they said. The direction was just interpreted differently. One stake leader change later and the “rule” was forgotten.

I’ve been amazed at how really dumb ideas and directives are followed by intelligent people (I understand I’m being very subjective here… I mean ideas and directives that seem really dumb to several people including me). They’ll often say things like “I don’t really see the point, but I’ll support my leaders and go ahead and do this” thing that might take a great deal of time and effort. Some however, just say “okay”, but don’t do that dumb thing, or put it so low on the priority list that it kind of goes away. A very few say, “No, I think this is a bad idea for these reasons, so we’re choosing to do this other thing instead.”

I also have seen a trend for NEW Stake Presidents to make a lot of changes, give a lot of silly directives, and frankly… in my opinion, make a few mistakes in their first year or two on the job. Has anyone else noticed this trend (subjectives aside) of several new “rules” or “programs” or directives in the first year of a SP? This might be a natural thing… new Presidents of anything usually try to start with a bang. I don’t see this as much with new Bishops. Most new Bishops seem like they are bumbling their way along for the first little while, just trying to cover the bare minimum.

I might put the WoW up as an example of where the rules help to keep people in line with weightier matters. I believe the principle behind the WoW is to live free of addictions. Disobeying the official LDS stance of the WoW does not mean a person will develop addictions, but I think that overall the stance helps the masses.

I really like this thought. Thanks for sharing.

Has anyone else noticed this trend (subjectives aside) of several new “rules” or “programs” or directives in the first year of a SP?

Yes, I think this is one cause of these “good ideas” that become expectations, when really, they are just good ideas. Obeying might be helpful, but some people might have perfectly good reasons it doesn’t work for them and that is when it becomes problematic that expectations then make them feel guilty or bad when it is not a doctrinal matter that should be a problem.

I cringed at our last stake conference where a leader bragged about our poor Mexican immigrants who spend a weeks paycheck to buy a white shirt so they can pass the sacrament. This was in the presence of an area Seventy. Seriously, it really seems wrong to me.

oooh. I cringe a bit too in hearing that. I guess ultimately if it was a sacrifice made by the immigrant willingly, that is inspiring…but if that person was pressured in any way or it is used to pressure the congregation that it really is worth a week’s pay for “a good idea” – I am uncomfortable with that. I guess it depends on the context.

All I can say is if many had their way they would line up to live The Law of Moses.

I think so too…in my experience, the closer you get to SLC, the more this applies…but I realize I’m making huge generalizations with that statement, but that is what I see.

I almost wonder if it is that when people become so obedient, there needs to be “new” or higher standards to continue to work towards perfection…which I guess is better than staying stagnant and not progressing…but sometimes needs constant reality checks if it is still on course or if it is veering off in less important matters.

I almost wonder if it is that when people become so obedient, there needs to be “new” or higher standards to continue to work towards perfection…which I guess is better than staying stagnant and not progressing…but sometimes needs constant reality checks if it is still on course or if it is veering off in less important matters.

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I suppose some people see doing more and more but getting less and less seems like working toward perfection, but it’s more like rearranging the chairs on the Titanic. Joseph Smith said he governed his people by teaching them correct principles. If we would focus on the principles, we would have enough to keep us busy doing truly useful work for several lifetimes. Just think of the Beatitudes.

My wife tells a story of a training class she was attending where the trainer presented the mission statement (prepared by the President’s wife, who is well known for being picky) for the temple workers. It focused primarily on maintaining (reinforcing?) reverence. My wife raised her hand and asked, not so innocently, what happened to the mission statement that included redeeming the dead? After a moment of dead silence, the trainer said, “I’ll need to get back with you on that”. There was a rather irreverent chuckle among many of the attendees.

Wow wow wow! I gotta say I love this site. I wish the leadership and over zealous members would get through thier thick skulls that stupid nit-picking rules are causing so many to go inactive or leave the church all together. They always seem to have the comfort of going back to that broken record statisic “The church is the fastest growing church in the world.” I beg to differ, the fastest growing faith worldwide is Islam and The Assemblies of God. Christianity in the Pacific NW as well the rest of the country needs to take a look at itself and I think many if not most of more mainline churches have done so, resulting in higher membership and better attendance and sense of community. I wish many in the church would follow suit. I believe the church really needs to look at itself and ask is a white shirt or earrings a good reason to shun those seeking the love of God, our Heavenly father?

I recently became active again and I do love church, but stopped attending my ward to attend my fiance’s ward. I site this because the difference in our bishop’s. Mine is a nice but zealous man bent on rules for BIC members and going lax on our new converts and investigators. My fiance’s bishop is a blue collar construction guy whom simply told us “Come to church, get married, and the rest will fall into pace as you grow in the ward.” Neither of us have been perfect but her bishop took the more Christian attitude by leaps and bounds.

While I think that there are standards to be maintained I feel that more often than not the baby is thrown out with the bath water. I envy many of my Christian friends who simply live the best way they know how, and worship God in loving and spiritual manner wether they go to church in Old Navy or a suit from Men’s Warehouse. They have a glass of wine/beer or morning coffee without the worry of losing their place in the afterlife, and have just as much love in thier homes as many LDS do.

I do love the church and always will. I will never deny the many great things and blessing which have come from being a member of the church, i hope to raise my family with my future wife in the same way. I just think the church needs to take a hard look at itself and ask “What would Jesus do?”