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I believe that Jesus was the ultimate Middle Way mormon. He resided in a church that took themselves quite seriously. He associated with the spiritually less fortunate all the time. He cared for them as his lambs. But he also taught them that if they’re going to have influence in the church, their righteousness needed to exceed that of the Phrarisees.
Why was this? Because if we as those in the Middle are bashful about our Way, and are gray-zoning in a guilty sort of way, then we are demonstrating and confirming the mindset that we are spiritually inferior.
We are not. Being open to the truth is a sign of spiritual strength.
To my thinking Prez Uchtdorf is treated by many TBM’s in the same way Hugh B. Brown was treated by TBM’s back in the 50’s and 60’s: they tolerated him, but they did not believe him. It was even worse if these TBM’s were Republican, too (and of course almost all of them were) since Hugh B. Brown was a Democrat, and he was not shy about letting people know that he was a Democrat, although he was not in any way a political crusader like Elder Benson was. Elder Benson was not only a Republican but a John Bircher. He was not actually a member of the John Birch Society but he openly advocated the society and recommended it to church members. He once said at a BYU devotional that there was a “Judas in our midst”, or in the midst of the Twelve, and it was assumed he was referring to Pres. Brown, then a member of he 1st Prez. This was around the time when Pres. Brown was lobbying to have the priesthood extended to Blacks at a time when Elder Benson and others thought the whole Civil Rights thing was a communist conspiracy. But to address the primary question of wayfarer’s post…. Several years ago BYU prof Eugene England wrote a book titled “Why the Church Is As True As the Gospel”, and in it he said that through our church callings we are forced to rub shoulders with people we’d rather not rub shoulders with–like your home teaching companion; and in this way we grow and become Zion material. It is your HT companion’s burden not only to learn to love you and work with you but your burden to learn to love him and work with him. This is easier said than done. It’s something that I find extremely difficult, as I am very different from almost everybody in every ward I’ve ever been in; in fact, this is one of my primary challenges as I try to remain church active.
Benlin, fwiw, I think your characterization of members’ views of Pres. Uchtdorf is way off. Yes. I should have made myself more clear. Sorry. Pres. Uchtdort is beloved of most LDS everywhere in the same way I think Hugh B. Brown was. People remember Pres. Brown fondly to this day. But we all have the ability to filter out what we don’t like or agree with in conference talks. For example…. Somebody on the Mormon Dialogue and Discussion Board (MDDB) asked if members of the board thought Pres. Uchtdorf was talking about them when he said we should be kind and charitable, even to those we disagree with. It was clear from the numerous responses to this post on the MDDB that no one on that board thought Pres. Uchtdorf was in any way referring to them, although certain posters with doubts, posters who are or were going thru crises of faith or simply with questions–to these people, on the receiving end of the sometimes snarky, sharp, occasionally insulting responses on the MDDB…well, to these people it seems as though Pres. Uchtdorft was speaking precisely to the people on the MDDB, or rather to a certain cadre of faithful on the MDDB.
This is all I meant. It’s kind of like a buffet. We take from conference talks the things we like and mostly ignore the rest. Isn’t that what Pres. Uchtdorft said in his talk? “You’re thinking this is not meant for you. It is meant for you!” (Or something like that.) Pres. Brown was a voice of moderation and civility during a time when there were a lot of immoderate, uncivil voices in the church, and lots of hardliners simply tuned him out.
benlin, your comment sounds like an indictment of those on MDDB, not of Pres Uchtdorf’s influence. The prideful who judge others see the mote in another’s eye, not the beam in their own. It would take a lot to get through to someone like that. Sounds to me like wayfarer’s companion has a problem with him, or possibly with anyone speaking but himself, not necessarily Uchtdorf. What does this guy do for a living? I have not heard of a person in my ward that does not LOVE Pres Uchtdorf. TBMs from my experience are not put off or they don’t fail to understand his message. He is a breath of fresh air and fresh perspective and he is quoted often. Our HT appointment last night was reading straight from the Ensign, and it generated great discussion with the family that has a son just returned from his mission, and I think needed to have that discussion on “we are in the middle” so he could not look at how sad he still is the mission has ended.
I believe the message is around being in the middle of our eternal lives, and not in the middle way of doctrines. However, I see the application fitting for myself just the same.
I think most people I discuss things with see the 14 Fundamentals as the “Celestial” law, a “middle way” as the Terrestial law, and anti-mormon as the telestial law.
Regarding your companion, wayfarer…it sounds like it needs to eventually be thrown out there to ask him directly what’s up and why he doesn’t consider your input to allow you to fulfill your calling. (reminds me of the good ole’ days on a mission, with a senior companion who was too controlling…some times the only solution I could find was waiting until transfers.)
Honestly if we all taught the same way, spoke the same things, had the same things to contribute there wouldn’t be any growth or opposition. Sometimes a classic teaching of gospel is what a person needs, sometimes it isn’t. Hopefully people can learn to apprecaite what each of us has to offer each other. Especailly in home teaching, if we all stuck to tradition there would be no growth. There would be no old testiment because it was written by the Jews, of the Jews, and for the Jews. When it was written it was written with that in mind. Although Christ seemed not to rock the boat on this. But now the Gentiles have it. If tradition was always kept to we wouldn’t. Is it doctrine to teach truth? Is it doctrine to teach or do what that person stands of need at that moment? That can’t always be the traditional way. I guess ask him if he is willing to teach and do work with what the person has need of. Everyone is different and learns differently. Is he open to that? Forgotten_Charity wrote:Honestly if we all taught the same way, spoke the same things, had the same things to contribute there wouldn’t be any growth or opposition.
:thumbup: Well said.I have never, ever heard anything remotely unsupportive of Pres. Uchtdorf. Just sayin. It sounds like your HT companion has some subtle issues with you Wayfarer, not Pres Uchtdorf. And really, once you’re past 30 (just to pick an adult age) does there really need to be senior and junior companions? All that behavior you talked about is hard to bear. I’ll bet those sisters, and others you visit, really enjoy having people stop by though. I never got the impression members of the church question Pres. Uchtdorf. He seems really charming too, like a GA rock star. His conference talks seem far more easy to pay attention to than others just based on his presentation skills alone.
Brian Johnston wrote:It sounds like your HT companion has some subtle issues with you Wayfarer, not Pres Uchtdorf.
Well that wouldn’t be a surprise. I have issues with me as well.The sad part is that we’ve been friends for 28 years, and I have to wonder if the HC (he is HC) is informed of those who are in the scopes of the SCMC. I can’t help but be suspicious.
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