Did I miss the memo?

There was a training given to GAs and AAs at or around last GC. They were given PowerPoint type presentations and were instructed to share with SPs at the local coordinating councils and in turn the SPs were to train local leaders and councils. I have seen other references to the training here and there, even mentioned in passing here. The actual training to SPs was a few hours long and included discussion. Our SP did his thing with bishops (who are to train ward councils) in one meeting and is doing it with the stake council over several meetings.

So, while not specifically attributed to TSM, I think what you’re hearing is coming from the Q15. There is apparently some concern there that people are or feel overburdened with programs and too much stuff related to their programs.

We had a specific discussion in our stake about what we could cut. The example of taking the summer off YM/YW (other than camp) was included, as was the idea that YM/YW don’t need to meet weekly per the handbook and the new program guidelines replacing Scouts. Generally speaking, members and leaders were counseled to prioritize and just not do things they think are too much – and that was in addition to things like skipping linger longer, firesides, and the ward picnic (not that we shouldn’t have those activities but that members should not feel coerced to attend).

I’ve actually been waiting for a chance to share some of this. The questions when considering activities and new programs (including things sent from SLC) are:

Does it reduce and simplify programs?

Does it deepen testimony of Jesus Christ and His Atonement?

Does it bless or burden the people?

Does it focus on others, or on ourselves?

That purportedly came directly from the FP, but with TSM’s health it’s not clear how much he contributed. It as also specific in stating that tradition should not get in the way when discussing programs and activities (in other words the answer is not “We’ve always done it this way”).

Another question posed was

As a church leader, how am I increasing in faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and His Atonement, and making strengthened faith and deepened conversion the spiritual priority of all I do and all I invite other leaders and members to do?

And we were told the current four priorities of the top leadership are the Sabbath day and the rising generation; member missionary work; self reliance at home and church; temple and family history. (Apparently they believe better Sabbath observance will stem the tide of bleeding youth. I happen to disagree, but I’m not a prophet.) We are supposed to be working toward becoming a people like those in Alma 27.

We had a discussion based on the question “How can we make Sabbath worship a sanctifying experience, that members see as a central

blessing in their lives and not a burden?” (The question was part of the church prepared slides.) Our discussion did point out that SM focus on Christ and spirituality seems to have improved but that the other two hours are still lacking and are burdensome to some members. Part of our discussion included improving teaching and making classes more relevant. We also discussed that there are too many extra meetings scheduled in our area on Sunday and for some people the day is literally spent in meetings (including things like ward councils, self reliance meetings, and even Scout boards of review). The stake has responded by moving things like seminary graduation off Sunday.

Our other discussion in this first session revolved around youth and helping to keep them involved. Frankly there was not much new there. Our discussion focused on mentoring, helping them feel loved and cared about, and using fear less and portraying repentance less burdensome than it is often presented.

I do think the leadership is concerned about the loss of youth and I think they are recognizing that changing the missionary age didn’t change that (some of us predicted that). While mentoring is good, I don’t think it is the answer either. Part of the discussion was families spending more time together and discussing the gospel more at home. I agree some families lack in that respect but I also see families who preach way to much at home and recognize the rebellion in that situation as well. One of my YSA sons told me how much he disliked(s) For the Strength of the Youth because it’s not about Christ, it’s just a list of extra rules. I reread it and he’s absolutely right. What kid wants more (seemingly arbitrary) rules? I do think we can use fear less and I do think we sometimes portray repentance as some long arduous process of sackcloth and ashes when it’s not like that at all (sorry SWK).

My apologies for being long winded. There was actually lots more in this one session of several. I do want to share that the memo is out there and I’m glad to see it seems to be trickling down as it should. The long term affect, if any, remains to be seen.

The person that was supposed to relay this information to my ward must have taken the advice to heart and decided to cut back their functions before relating the news.

The stake has responded by moving things like seminary graduation off Sunday.

Was the intent to free up people’s Sundays or to hold the graduation on a day that had less conflicts so more fathers could attend?

The intent was to have fewer meetings on Sunday allowing families to spend more time together as families and to help the Sabbath be more delightful.

This reminds me of something Stephen Fry said of Mormons while visiting temple square:

…and then [the sister missionary] said how in the afterlife all families will be reunited and you’ll be with your families forever. So I put my hand up and said, “But what happens if you’ve been good?”

I think the “more time together as families” line is the thing we say to save face when we really mean “I want to do something other than church [stuff] all the time.”

We do want to spend more time with family, especially when children are young, but church can quickly become a burden if given the ‘right’ calling.

The intent was to have fewer meetings on Sunday allowing families to spend more time together as families and to help the Sabbath be more delightful.

This reminds me of something Stephen Fry said of Mormons while visiting temple square:

…and then [the sister missionary] said how in the afterlife all families will be reunited and you’ll be with your families forever. So I put my hand up and said, “But what happens if you’ve been good?”

I think the “more time together as families” line is the thing we say to save face when we really mean “I want to do something other than church [stuff] all the time.”

We do want to spend more time with family, especially when children are young, but church can quickly become a burden if given the ‘right’ calling.

I think the point is to spend less time in church/”doing the Lord’s work” on Sunday. Take my ward’s PP for instance (her husband is the financial clerk, they’re empty nesters). On the two Sundays she has ward council she drives the 15 miles to church to be there at 8. Hubby comes with her to save gas and hangs out in the clerk’s office doing his thing. Church is 9:30-12:30. Once a month (second Sunday, same as WC) there’s linger longer, over roughly 1:30. She and her hubby attend the ward’s self reliance 12-week class, it’s at 3 every Sunday. Since my wife and I didn’t accept the ARP assignment they had to get another patsy (apologies if that sounds disrespectful). Those patsies happen to be this couple. ARP is at 6 on Sundays and runs about 1.5 hours sans travel time (one of the reasons we didn’t accept). In my book that’s not keeping the Sabbath holy, although they do spend some time together in all those meetings. Just saying – sometimes it’s way too much. These people won’t complain out loud, but I know them pretty well and inside they do have that feeling of being overburdened/overworked and that Sunday is not a day of rest for them in any way.

Yeah, I believe it was my mission where I first learned that Sunday wasn’t really a day of rest. It was our busiest, most stressful day.

Having had two sons on missions and having done one in the dark ages myself I have thought about that a bit, especially with the Sabbath/delight push. It’s talked about from the pulpit as a day of rest, a day different from other days. In some cases we’re promised blessing by keeping the Sabbath in this way. Yet, missionaries don’t have a Sabbath and even the suggestion of such would reveal big eyes, gaping mouths and “but, but….” Don’t they need a Sabbath as much as – and maybe more than – everybody else?