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I’ve spent most of my time on this site harping about negatives–because finding them and going through FC hurts. But, the cup is not always half empty–I know this, and want to see the half full part. So, I want to start a discussion about the things that are GOOD in the church, not only activities, but also comforting doctrines…
Uncle HUB Said:
Uncle Hub wrote:
Sometimes the things that may or may not be true are the things a man needs to believe in the most. That people are basically good; that honor, courage, and virtue mean everything; that power and money, money and power mean nothing; that good always triumphs over evil; and I want you to remember this, that love… true love never dies. You remember that, boy. You remember that. Doesn’t matter if it’s true or not. You see, a man should believe in those things, because those are the things worth believing in.Let me start. I really like the talk “Broken Things to Mend” by Jeffrey Holland. I like what he says about Christ not forsaking us now. That talk resonated with me, and gave me hope. I want to believe that talk, because it feels like it is worth believing…
Thoughts from others?
What happened Rob? Did you wake up on the right side of the bed? 
Good to see you doing a bit of looking on the bright side.
Even when I was going through my “anger stage” I could still say that I saw many good things in the church. Now that I only have a few threads of belief left, I feel I can more objectively point out some issues, but also I have more items I can list in the positive side.
I have seen it turn people’s lives around for the better. We don’t do a good job reaching out to the lowest and most desperate groups in society, but the church membership can be quite helpful for someone that is down on luck and honestly looking for just some help getting themselves back up.
The church welfare program will not solve all hunger issues, but there is much to be said about doing what you can vs. waiting for perfection. I have worked enough at the local bishop’s warehouse and the local welfare project to know it is a force of good and helps many people.
In all the wards I have lived in, most of the people are extremely good hearted people.
The church does a good job making people feel involved in their ward with service opportunities. I have followed a bit of what is going on in the ex-mo community and one clear issue that comes up when leaving the church is losing the community. I think it is one of those things that you don’t notice it as much until it is gone. I wish these ex-mo’s are able to find some community and peace.
I have seen some families come on hard times such as a child with a serious disease and the ward can rally BIG TIME around
LookingHard wrote:What happened Rob? Did you wake up on the right side of the bed?
Head accident,…brain damage….just the usual.
:wtf: I personally love that we are literally children of Heavenly Parents whose “work and glory” is to bring us to our full potential. I love the concept of eternal families.
I love the thought of eternal progression – that we might learn and grow even after the end of this life.
I love the idea that Jesus somehow experienced every sorrow and suffering of the human condition and can now comfort us from a position of empathy.
I really appreciate that individuals will be judged based on what they had – not what they did not. Also that almost all people will spend eternity where they will be most comfortable.
As much as I sympathize with the Ordain Women movement, I appreciate that priesthood duty tends to get young men involved in their church and (I believe) ultimately helps to make them more involved and attentive spouses and parents.
I appreciate the goodness all of you show by sharing thoughts on this site. The fact people come here and post shows the positives of LDS teachings to support and sustain each other and seek that community that was mentioned. Roy wrote:
I love the idea that Jesus somehow experienced every sorrow and suffering of the human condition and can now comfort us from a position of empathy.
I like this teaching a lot, though I am often faced with contradictions in the culture–a type of “be thou perfect (and then you shall be forgiven)”. Ultimately, however, this is a very comforting teaching.
Nice to meet you, Good Rob. I think for me, the number one positive is the people. Yes, we all have experience with horror stories. But those are outliers. And, of course, there are great people outside of the Church as well. But the Church is populated by really wonderful, first-rate, loving, kind, generous, sincere, hard-working people at levels far far above the standard.
I moved to a new ward a while ago. One of the women in the old ward confided in my wife that she was worried. This is a woman who is as true-blue as a person could possibly be. Old-school Mormonism. Conversely, I am an oddity. I don’t fit the mold. I’m not an old-school mormon (any more). I skip Church if I have something going on. I express views that are not orthodox. I occasionally hold a low-level calling. I haven’t been to the temple since the Bill Clinton era. “I just worry,” she explained, “because people in that new ward don’t know and love [OON] the way that we know and love him. I hope they will welcome him there.”
This is a bit tough for me because everything feels up in the air. There are a lot of good teachings, but I’m not sure if I truly believe them. But, I love the focus on the good, so here’s mine: Music: (Not the actual music, but participating and bonding through music)
* Youth: I think the Church tends to produce upstanding, responsible, respectable youth. The Church helps develop leaders
* Welfare: The Church has a very effective welfare system
* Evolution: The Church is evolving by definition (we believe God will yet reveal…) – that gives a possibility that things can change and get better
* Leaders: I tend to focus on leaders that bother me, but there are many inspiring leaders, like Elder Renlund, Uchtdorf, Monson, Eyring
* Education: Members are encouraged to educate themselves. Somewhat paradoxically, the more educated a member becomes, the more likely they are to remain an active member
* Self-reliance: Taking care of yourself and family; accepting help when you need it, but also lifting others
* Families: spending time together, raising kids to be leaders and teachers, intentional parenting
* Service: helping other ward members
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marty wrote:
Music: (Not the actual music, but participating and bonding through music)
The only participating I am allowed to have is singing the hymns. And there are a few that I do enjoy. “Press Forward Saints”…I love the sound of the music on that, and simple ones like “Lead Kindly Light”. When the Mo-Tab sings “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”,…that one touches me.
I feel a thrill inside sometimes when I think about Jesus walking out of a garden tomb. True or not, I like that thought,…I want to believe it. Out of every thought or idea I am aware of, thinking about Jesus walking out of the Garden Tomb–that one more than any other I want to believe.
You all need to keep going before my “drain bramage” wears off! Positives….lets pile them up please……….
Here are the positives of the LDS church as I see them: * built in family / network wherever you go – a place to belong
* teaches hard work, persistence, selflessness, that there is something out there bigger than us
* encourages love of good music
* encourages keeping your body healthy
* encourages education and provides options for that (Pathway through BYUI program is amazing)
* teaches self control
* encourages serving others
Most of the items I list have negatives if carried to far, which sometimes happens.
thank you all for posting. I am surprised this thread has died out so fast…..other threads abound with posts, but the “positives” one is limited.
I’m not trying to draw any conclusions from that, but its kindof hard not to.
Rob4Hope wrote:I am surprised this thread has died out so fast…..other threads abound with posts, but the “positives” one is limited.
I wouldn’t read too much into it. It could be that it’s easier to talk about things when the topic is narrowed down. It could also be that people don’t need to vent or look for support for the things that they feel are going well.
Here’s a thread that got a little more traction. A nice 9 pager:
Good things that happen at churchFor me the positives outweigh the negatives, otherwise why fight to StayLDS?
Numerous and important to me. I also wouldn’t read anything into it other than that this thread was posted when a bunch of others were posted, also. Good posts sometimes get buried a bit during high posting times. I think there is an ebb and flow to topic reaction here. The thread to which Nibbler linked is a good one. I highly suggest reading it and perhaps even commenting on it to bump it up so everyone can read it, along with this one.
It is an important topic.
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