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One more example from my own life experiences: I have lived and worked all across the country. I also have been involved in educational reform for decades. Thus, I have been in elementary and high schools and colleges for many years. At least three times that I can remember clearly, the fact that I am LDS has come up while I have been in a school – and each and every time the reaction from the educators has been essentially identical. They have said:
Quote:The LDS kids are among our best, most well-adjusted kids. I wish all of our kids were like them.
The LDS Church works incredibly well for lots of people, including kids (truly, remarkably, extraordinarily well); it works okay for many, including kids; it doesn’t work at all for others, including kids. I can speak for my own kids and others I have seen who validate what those educators have told me, as well as those for whom it doesn’t work with whom I have associated over the last 50 years; you can speak for yours and others you know like them. To any extreme statement, I would reply:
Quote:It’s not that simple.
paulista, I wish you and your family well, no matter what path you choose. Faith Crisis is a difficult thing and people who experience it (whether LDS or any other religion) scatter in an endless spectrum of colors and directions. Generally speaking, people here try to find a way to stay connected with the Church. That can be for a variety of reasons, and the reasons don’t necessarily remain static. I’ve been at this a long time. My views have changed a lot. I must say that in spite of the Church’s many issues, I have been treated kindly and fairly by everyone in the Church. I believe part of why I can say that is that I try to treat them kindly and fairly. I have no regrets for the way my life has played out. I can honestly say that I would not change it and that I am grateful for my family’s history in the Church. My kids have all been raised in the Church, but we have had plenty of discussions about race, gender, sexual orientation as a way to position the teachings of the Church within a family belief system. It turns out that it hasn’t been as difficult as many might believe. They are now on their own path, armed with empathy. They all have different approaches to how they think of the Church. I wouldn’t change any of them. Perhaps it won’t work for you and your family to take that path, and that is perfectly fine with me. Just understand that there is tremendous diversity on the subject. I’m happy for the path I have chosen, and I wish you happiness in the path you choose.
You done kicked over a hornets nest now. 
Paulista wrote:If you ever really believed, how can you justify disagreeing with the church in any fashion. Its like having your soul ripped in two. How do I send another person down that same path?
It requires a paradigm change from black and white to shades of gray or even a world of diverse color as different people have different ideas on the BIG questions. We have been raised to think that a concept is either true or it isn’t. In the realm of art, symbolism, and (I would include) religion – sometimes the value is not in accuracy.
Paulista wrote:The focus isn’t on helping people return to Christ, it is on enforcement of behaviors or rules the church values
In participating in several churches I can appreciate their various ways of doing things.
I love the “come as you are” “lay your burden at the feet of Jesus” approach. This idea is taught in scripture. Sometimes church’s can have a hard time transitioning from this to “if you love me, keep my commandments” and therefore there can be much diversity in the types of moral lives being led by churchgoers. I’m not saying that is bad, just that there is not always a change in lifestyle when someone joins the church that might be expected by one “dying” in regards to their old life and becomeing a new creature in Christ.
The LDS church teaches a system with Jesus at the head. It seems to emphasize ascendency through self mastery. It is a “show me your faith by your works” approach. This idea is also taught in scripture. I agree that the church emphasizes this too much and I would like to see a more balanced approach overall.
Different church’s – different strengths – different emphasis. I believe that diffirent approaches will work better for different types of people. I see some people that seem to be thriving in a particular church that I believe would not do well in the LDS church. I would never want to take away what is working for them. OTOH, the traits that make one a good Mormon (dedication, work ethic, study habits, emphasis on higher education, service orientation, etc.) would tend to make a person successful wherever they might go. All churches have need of dependable “salt of the earth” people.
Paulista wrote:behaviors or rules the church values that often times are the doctrines of men mingled with scripture
No argument here. This happens alot. In fact I believe that the scriptures contain the doctrines of men mingled with divine inspiration. Sometimes the scripture writers customs, practices, and even theology have little or no application to our modern lives. If what is written in scripture contains divine principles mixed in with a bunch of human expression – how can we best translate that for our use? Modern revelation is the same – divine principles mixed with human expression. How can we distill out the gold from all the chaf? Maybe my trash is your treasure? Perhaps what is important is not found in how we interpret our scriptures but rather how we apply them to further the cause of good within our sphere of influence.
Paulista wrote:doctrines of men mingled with scripture and not the teachings or behaviors of someone who actually believes anything Jesus Christ taught, but we all know the whole have no need of the physician.
This last part seems pretty extreme. I get that we in the church focus too much on overcoming and/or hiding our weaknesses and that can apply to the “whole have no need for a physician” part. But the phrase “not the teachings or behaviors of someone who actually believes anything Jesus Christ taught” seems like pretty indefensable hyperbole. First as I alluded to before, it can be pretty difficult to get a 100% accurate read on what the historical Jesus actually taught given the length of time before the gospels where penned and that nobody was tape recording the sermons and that in that day ideas could be added to your “teachings” post mortum if it sounded like something you might have agreed with. The gospel writers were not eye witnesses to all the events and are themselves writing down oral histories in some places. Finally there are changes and additions that were made in the transcribing process as the writings made their way down through the years to their current form. But even assuming that all of Jesus’ teachings were accurately reported in the bible – I find it difficult to understand how one could claim that LDS church leaders and members do not believe ANYTHING Jesus taught.
Perhaps you didn’t mean it that way. I agree that the LDS church places more emphasis on some teachings over others and probably twists some teachings until they are barely recognizable – but that is not the same thing as saying that we don’t believe “anything” Jesus taught.
In summary, I believe that all Christian churches teach different approaches to “come to Jesus.” I do not believe that any of them teach exactly what Jesus himself taught over 2000 years ago. The good news is that I do not believe that the original, unadulterated teachings of Jesus are more saving than the stuff available to me today (if that were the case then those that actually heard his words would have it made in the shade and I would be hopelessly lost). However, all Christian churches do deem have some overlap in the underlying principles of Jesus’ teachings. I can find beauty and wonder and perspective in the diversity of how we express these shared principles. If you are operating on a binary truth/lie paradigm it may be difficult to understand one another fully.
Roy – I came in to make a reply, then I read yours. Another fantastic response. You are hitting it out of the park for me this week. Your words resonate, clarify, and inspire. Thanks. Thanks Mom. 😳 That means alot coming from you.
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