going to church is exhausting

I feel your pain. For about 95% of the time it is mind numbing or boring. But once in awhile there is a spark of something and I actually enjoy it.

Well, there is certainly something to say about going to a two-hour block.

I find church to be exhausting as well. Unlike Ray, I am not a people person, and find my peace and enlightenment in solitude – in nature – or at home with wife and kids.

Church has become a terrible burden for me personally. If I had half a brain I would save myself the trouble and just quit – but their is a spiritual guide in my life that just won’t let me. I do feel like I am “serving” and helping others to find some kind of peace – I think the church still does that for some folks, and being in a small branch, I really do feel like I have some responsibility to stick around and help things function at a minimal level at least for those souls who rely on the LDS church as a crutch to get through life.

Today was branch conference. I was at church for six hours. I came home mentally and physically exhausted. Overall, it was quite a benign Sunday. Pretty mundane messages and lessons – no 14Fs or Two Lines of Communication to deal with. Had a potluck afterwards, and I sat and ate with tattoo lady and her non-member husband and visited for awhile. That was okay. SP finally cornered me in a weak moment, and interviewed me for about 30 minutes. He never once brought up the whole TR thing. Just kept asking me, “How are you doing? How is your family? Are you sure there is nothing you want to talk about? Is there anything we can do to help the branch?” I told him many times that I’ve never been better and smiled a lot. Its all good. I did mention that we need to go to a two hour block. He thought I was joking.

I think it really depends on the ward. I visited one ward which was sheer torture, but in my home ward, there’s usually a large degree of interest compared. There is boredom, yes, I’ve mentioned that here before, but I appreciate the variety of a ward in an international city.

I didn’t think 3 hours of sitting could make a person so tired.

I try to walk around a bit between each of the sessions… as for the three hour thing, yes, it’s a bit like traveling in a car, that can be tiring even in the passenger seat.

I find church to be exhausting as well. Unlike Ray, I am not a people person, and find my peace and enlightenment in solitude – in nature – or at home with wife and kids.

I can sympathize with that big time, and don’t make an effort to stand out. (I had to give the closing prayer last Sunday, which was difficult!) I enjoy solitude, yes, but at the moment, my life has a bit too much of that! I end up doing some socialization on Sunday. Right now I am wondering about what to do about my non-church friends – they’re a mixed bag to say the least.

Is it less exhausting for TBMs?

I don’t find it exhausting at all. It’s there that I get my best naps. The droning helps.

I was always exhausted after church. Sacrament meeting, and Sunday school were boring or irratating to me depending on who taught or spoke. What was most annoying was the lack luster singing, generic prayers, or testimonies. Most people looked like they were bored to death and struggling with their kids. Relief Society is what I usually enjoyed because we had good teachers and good discussions (and no little kids around). The sisterhood I experienced there was good and I usually had good visiting teachers. I remember when I taught RS in Oregon many years ago. Two sisters from a small city in Utah came to visit when I taught. Afterwards, they came up to me in tears and said, “This is the first time we have felt the spirit in years in church.” This shocked me. I believe that one of the things that happens in the lds church is that they grow complacent when they believe they have the only truth and are sealed in the temple. It’s like they have it made (celestial kingdom)so are just enduring to the end. Often I was taught that since we have the fullness of the gospel and the only church with members having a constant companion of the Holy Ghost, that we are the only church who has the Spirit. I have found this to be false.

Since no longer being active in the lds church and becoming very active in the Nazerene church, as well as two other churches for Bible study etc., I have loved attending church. It is one or two hours at the most. I feel energized and on a spiritual high. They have a nursery during worship hour so adults can enjoy the main meeting where the Pastor gives his sermon. I love the discussions and enthusiasm members have for singing, praying for each other, and showing so much geniune service and love for each other and Christ. The spirit is so strong there and I feel like an empty battery that has been recharged. These people adore Christ and want to follow Him. My husband feels the love and brotherhood in his classes as well. We just had a church activity recently at the Nazerene church with a Talent show and dinner. It was such a success with the youth and old alike interacting. No clichesness. And afterwards, everyone enthusiastically stayed to put away tables and chairs and clean up. It is never boring and we look forward to going. When someone is sick, the whole church gathers around them to pray for them. There is definitely some things in other churches that the Mormons could learn.

On the other hand, I find myself sharing with them lds teachings that they find amazing and they think we are brillant.

I look forward to the millenium when Christ gathers all the good people from all churches under one roof and we can really feel the Spirit.