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Yesterday, I saw a photo of the FP posted on FB. It was an informal photo from GC. For the first time in my life, I looked at the photo, and my guts are wretched. I found myself recoiling from the photo in almost horror. I have never felt that way before. I’m still trying to process it. The emotions were so strong, and none of them were happy feelings.
It made me recognize that I am moving further away .. Not closer.
Anyone have any input? I’m rather horrified with my reaction, but claim it as real and mine.
It certainly sounds like the internal stuff you are going through are attached to the 1st Presidency and the decisions and policies that their figurehead represents to you. I wonder if that would change with a new leadership some day. But I find your reaction interesting.
I can’t say I recoil from the picture, but I can say I don’t see much positive in the picture. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Oh my, that happened to me a few months ago! And I had the same reaction (I was horrified that I felt that way). It must be that I am not fond of some of the decisions (not repealing the temple marriage wait time, the recent gay policy, etc).
I don’t know what to do either.
Can anyone post the photo or a link to it? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
FaithfulSkeptic wrote:Can anyone post the photo or a link to it?
Seriously, what was so bad about it?
Unknown wrote:FaithfulSkeptic wrote:Can anyone post the photo or a link to it?
Seriously, what was so bad about it?
Yeah, sorry, I’m not seeing anything sinister or repulsive about a picture of some old men. To some extent I like them.
Unknown wrote:FaithfulSkeptic wrote:Can anyone post the photo or a link to it?
Seriously, what was so bad about it?
I think that’s the point. AP is surprised and shocked by the reaction.
I’ve had a similar experience when I was going through an Ensign Magazine and looked at the photos of the 70.
It was a moment when I had to take a step back, calm down, and reflect on what was happening. It helped me come to a greater self-awareness of the frustrations I was having with the Church. Amateurparent, you’re probably aware of some of the reasons why you felt the way you did.
I don’t think it’s necessarily bad. I think it might help to try and humanize these three by whatever way you choose. Perhaps do something to help you try to help you see them as individuals, not as the administrative face of the Church. I don’t know how, but just a thought.
AP, I haven’t seen the photo, but I’m assuming from your description that it’s not the photo, but the FP, that caused you to recoil.
I can offer some thoughts.
Each member of the FP is a person who has dedicated their life to the cause. They will stay true to the end. They work very hard and have sacrificed everything to push the work (as they see it) forward in an effort to help mankind. I can pretty much guarantee you that they see the new policy in a much different light than you or I see it; so much so, that we are probably not even talking about the same thing.
President Monson has been working non-stop since the Kennedy Administration, and before much longer, he will go to his grave having worn himself out in what he would call the cause of truth. If any of us were to become his Private Secretary, we’d probably be begging for a new job after a year so we could have a chance to relax for a change.
Finally, let me add that when I have had some of my most difficult moments, just the kind of moments that you are experiencing, I have found it helpful to remember that my reaction belongs entirely to me. It cannot be the result of others, or I have lost some of my self-determination.
OON – great perspective. I do feel I have respect for the devotion and service of leaders even when I am quite upset with the their actions. When I see the photo it makes me realize how different I am from them- how much I have changed. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
amateurparent wrote:It made me recognize that I am moving further away .. Not closer.
Maybe it’s just semantics, but I’m trying to look at it this way. Leaders are where they’ve been all my life, and I’ve been an active member that whole time including the present. No one’s moved, but my spiritual technology just went through a lifetime of updates in about three years. I used to have a lens smeared with vaseline like yesteryear’s glamorous movies; now, for better and worse, HD.I was just in the temple chapel and am pretty sure three very large portraits of the FP were new. Nothing wrong with them, but to me they were intrusive and out of place.
I would like to know more about why u felt the way u did AP. Can u expand on the feelings and what may have caused it? I have had lesser feelings when I walk by all the apostles lined up in the chapel hallways. For me its the result of the fact that I see them as managers with certain destructive policies and not magical men as I once did. It’s partly a manifestation of the thoughts I have furrowed toward them over the years. Particularly boyd k packer. Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk
As OON pointed out, it’s probably not the photo itself that caused the reaction, but the feelings about the FP that caused the reaction. I’m still curious though. Is this the photo we are talking about? My tipping point angry moment wasn’t a photo it was a scripture. I was walking into a Stake Activities planning meeting and the scripture from Book of Abraham where Abraham sees the hosts of heaven and among them are the noble and great with God standing in the midst of them. It was like a bomb went off inside me. I had heard that scripture hundreds of times but that night all it did was scream arrogance to me. I was ill for days. That’s when I knew there was no going back. That too made me ill. I really wanted to stop the on coming train but there was nothing I could do.
I’ve had many such experiences. What’s helped me is to remember that “revulsion” is not a feeling God wants us to feel towards people. Even if the FP is made up of the worst type of men ever to have lived in this sin sick world, God still loves them. When I feel that type of thing I just have to think “man, why am I feeling that way?”. Then I try to look at the picture again, try to see them through God’s eyes, and usually that at least gets me through the day.
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