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I couldn’t help think of my StayLDS compadres in RS today. The lesson was on E. Wirthlin’s talk, Concern for the One, and the sister teaching it epically failed to grasp the point of the talk. It was nearly an art form how she would read a quote from the talk and then immediately say the exact opposite thing. The entire class was making comments to try to help her see that she was missing the point and to try to bring it back to the real point of the talk. She kept saying we all need to be one and that unity is the most important thing, and that she loves to go to the temple because everyone is dressed in white all the same and nobody is different, and that everyone just needs a hug because we are all struggling so much individually. This last one is a huge pet peeve of mine, the drum beat in RS that every sister in there is theoretically on the verge of a nervous breakdown 24×7, 365 days per year. I’m sure that I don’t need to tell you guys that I’m more likely to suffer from too good an opinion of myself than an inferiority complex.
On the hug bit, a German sister commented that she felt the talk was about understanding that everyone is unique and that she, for one, is not a hugger and doesn’t want people coming up to her all the live long day slobbering over her. Another sister said that we can’t know how people feel about gospel topics, and what is easy for one may be a sore point for another, and we all should be accepting of each other and not assume people view everything the same way.
It was almost funny, but sad, too. I’m sure I had zero poker face.
There are times in church when I sincerely have “Concern for the One” who fails to get the message entirely! Oh well. Angela, how often is RS beneficial for you? Just curious. Today should be fun at church…I get to ordain my son a Teacher and he wants to wear his black shirt and purple tie to “look really good for it”. He is a good kid.
How often is RS beneficial for me? That’s an interesting question. Depending on how you define “beneficial,” I’m going to say zero percent of the time. Although I never would have come up with that if you hadn’t asked. The last time I really got anything out of RS, I was teaching it, and that was probably 5 years ago – and even then it was hit and miss. But I enjoy going nonetheless, and I like the people in the ward in general. And like I said, the entire class today was spot on – everyone except the teacher, that is! It’s interesting how very different people are. That sister teaching sounded like she really enjoys and finds comfort in conformity. That’s obviously very alien concept to me too … but *shrug* … to each their own I guess. Kind of interesting too that so many were speaking out in the class to share different perspectives. What could be more “pure Mormon” than that – a sincere member completely missing the point and lots of others very gently trying to help her see it but loving her anyway and not making waves while she was out there on her own? Ray – terrific point. Talk about “concern for the one”!
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