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I have been lurking on this site for the past couple of months. (At least I think that is the correct term.) I am posting first and foremost to thank all the contributors to the site because they have helped me understand and evaluate my thoughts better. My story: I grew up in a large family all LDS. To give you an idea I have 8 siblings that have served missions and my parents just came back from one. To be fair, after reading many posts on this site, most of my family would be very understanding, but in the same vein none of us have much tact or know when to keep our mouth shut. My crisis actually started on my mission 20 years ago. That was the first time I really saw the politics in the church. After coming home, I went about doing the normal TBM mormon would do except I do not where a tie to church. In fact, I usually wear a blue shirt as well. It has served me well. I guess I thought things were going fine until a couple of months ago a friend introduced me to some of the information on the net. I am not a blogger and I do not do social media, so a lot of the information while not surprising as I had heard most of it before was more detailed than I had previous been subjected to. This caused me to re-evaluate what I think and believe. This site has helped me do that and I really appreciate it. I guess the hardest part was a month ago I was put into the EQ presidency. As has been mentioned in many other posts it is kind of hard to bear testimony when you do not think you have one. I especially appreciated the posts that gave me ideas and thoughts of how to go about this. Again thank you.
The most difficult part for me in my new calling has been the “reclaiming” activities we are asked to participate in. I live in Utah, so, I have always been a believer that when people get to my age they know where the church is and if they want to come they may. (I am also an introvert, so, meeting and talking to people has never been a strong point, I used to drive my mission companions nuts.) That said, I also have known people that came back to the church because someone went out of their way to, in my mind, annoy them. So, I am trying to walk the very thin line of what I think is overbearing, yet, still invite people to come back to activity. Again, I have received ideas from this site and wanted to thank you.
Welcome! I’m glad you found us, and even better you introduced yourself! It’s good to have you. Welcome to the group. I hope we can continue to help you and that you can begin to help us. Welcome to the site! Glad to have you here. Welcome. “Rescue” is a sort of mufti-faceted issue.I certainly didn’t want to be rescued during my years of inactivity, and successfully but unknowingly rebuffed such attempts. On the other hand if someone had taken a true interest in me and my situation and had really listened and perhaps given the kind of advice and support I get on this side, I may have been rescued years ago. That said, I’m much more like you. Members know where the church is and it’s certainly not hard in the modern era to know when the meetings are. If they want to come, they’ll come. I actually feel the same about missionary work. If people have questions, they’ll ask, and I think we should honestly answer. If they’re asking the kinds of questions where the missionaries should be involved, fine, I’ll have them call the missionaries. I’m not going to sic the missionaries on my neighbors. Good luck in your new calling. Perhaps you’re there to bring a different perspective to the leadership and your ward. Do it gently.
Welcome! Oneofmany wrote:That said, I also have known people that came back to the church because someone went out of their way to, in my mind, annoy them.
I always find it funny the romantic lengths that guys go to in romantic comedies to “win over the girl” and “not take no for an answer.” In the end these attempts are almost always justified with a happy ending. I also feel that some part of women wish that they would be pursued so recklessly by their heartthrob crush. But nobody wants to be pursued in this fashion by someone that they are not interested in. Sometimes stalking really is just stalking and restraining orders can be helpful. Sometimes “no” really does mean no.
I seem to have diverted somewhat from the topic but I’m not sure I can find my way back again.
Hope you enjoyed the tangent.
It’s a fine line sometimes between love and stalking – especially when love and/or genuine concern really do exist. Thank you everyone, and Roy I did enjoy the tangent. Hi, Oneofmany – Glad you’re here, and good luck walking the thin line. I know that rescuing canget completely botched, but I was touched the other night when my husband came home from an evening out contacting HP group families. He was thinking aloud about what they could do to reach people and I was really struck by his sincerity. You seem to have that, too, so things will be alright. I have the same thoughts as you on this rescue mission. I have taken a little different approach then what I think my leaders would prefer. I am willing to speak to others about how I try to make the church work for me. I am not too afraid to say I don’t believe everything and that I have many doubts and questions. Most people seem surprised but I think it makes them feel a little more comfortable. I don’t push at all. I glad you found us and please let us get to know you better. I agree with church0333, given your perspectives you could visit people and really empathise with their doubts or uncertainties. If I wasn’t attending I know I’d prefer a member of this forum to visit me rather than some gungho zealot. And welcome to the forum
church0333 wrote:I am willing to speak to others about how I try to make the church work for me.
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