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Ray, Thank you for your beautiful post.
To be candid, I certainly picture myself as faithful. That doesn’t mean I truly am, but it’s nevertheless my self-conception. And that has never wavered since my teen years. My faith has moved around over the years, and no longer rests in the same place it once did. But it still rests.
Of course for all of us, today’s resting place for our faith makes more sense to us than did yesterday’s. And so we want to share the fruit of the tree with each other. You, Ray, I assume, are here sometimes for support, and other times to share and minister.
I appreciate knowing that, like me, you feel at times isolated in the ward, and unable to communicate safely and candidly with your brothers and sisters. And I apologize if I violated that promise here at StayLDS. I only can be comforted in knowing that you have been here a few weeks and are more comfortable than I.
Being inviting and comforting is, to me, the highest imperative of a community. With that firmly in mind, the only question becomes, “Who is the audience?” I would hope that StayLDS could be inviting and comforting to those who need to know they aren’t crazy in their new view, and who need a nice LDS environment where they can sort through the implications of all the nuances of life and religion.
More later.
Quote:I would hope that StayLDS could be inviting and comforting to those who need to know they aren’t crazy in their new view, and who need a nice LDS environment where they can sort through the implications of all the nuances of life and religion.
Well said.
Valoel wrote:
I have been so very impressed with people outside the Church. I remember several times, years ago, that I brought this up in a sunday school or Elders Quorum class — “If being a member of the Church is the only thing that gives our life value, then God’s plan doesn’t seem to be very efficient.” Yeah, I said that a few times in class. It usually ended in an uncomfortable silence…
I would say that God is putting together a big puzzle. The people he wants to be Mormon-Shaped, he calls to them. They hear this call and respond when they come across mormonism or bump into missionaries. The people he wants to be Catholic-shaped, he calls to them. So on and so forth.
I’m not really going to worry too much about the people that don’t become Mormons. There are many good, spiritual, enlightened people out there that are loved and accepted by God. I learn a lot from them.
Great thoughts Valoel…I could not agree more really. I think many are born a certain way (not literally)…some Catholic, some mormon etc etc. Its just a matter of that being synched up in ones life. Even if I ever left the church…I think I would still be LDS in so many ways unless I totally fought it and consciously made major change…its just who I am. Thus I guess if I was not born to member parents, I would probably be converted sometime in my life…like I would be that “golden” convert etc that missionaries speak of stumbling across. I guess that is why so many like me then struggle when they have a crisis in faith…I seriously want to find the middle way and staylds as I know that perhaps it would be hard to fill that void with another religion etc. I am not in denial and know now that I will never be a traditional LDS member, as I can no longer put what I have learned on that shelf that is now broken…but I also cannot just leave the good on the shelf either! Life is sometimes fun hey
I have two brothers…one very TBM and very active, currently serving as a SP, and another who has been inactive since 16, so whom I consider a non-member. BOth men are great dads, and husbands, both really serve in their respective communities they are involved in..(obviously one is the LDS comm, the other is heavily involved in a sporting club serving as President etc)…many times I have seen each brother “reveal” who they are in essence by their actions in their everyday life and I have to say that I would judge them equally if it was up to me….seriously both serve service rich lives and I feel very proud of them both.
Currently we are sending our kids to a private Anglican based school (we are not in the USA)…I also attended this school as a child. So my kids are regularly taught from a “Good News Bible” perspective, and you know I do not fear this at all. The messages they are getting are good, and due to the way the language is written, they can follow easily it. I smile when I see how this religion markets christain living to the younger kids…eg becoming more God Like is marketed as being a “BIG RESCUE” etc. I also have visited different religions services over the years for various friends weddings, christenings etc. I can always find something good in each visit.
But if I was honest I would have to say that I really appreicate the REVERENCE of the LDS services. I do not mean from a audience point of view, I mean the way we traditionally conduct meetings like SM and firesides. It gels with me, and I like this feeling. Again this doesnt make me think the other non-LDS services are anything less, they are just different (eg more casual language, sometimes clapping, cheers etc)…different is different, not better or worse.
Great posts, Valoel and Sally. And thank you, Ray. Am I allowed to say, “Me too”? Sally, combining what you said with my own experience, I am seeing two Types to add to the Types of StayLDS-ers list:
1. People who, knowing it’s just another wonderful church, feel they would have become LDS anyway, because it’s the church for them.
2. People who, knowing it’s just another wonderful church, feel it’s the church for them because it’s their tribe.
I can think of subtypes, but those two major types interest me after reading your post.
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