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Sunday was a mixed bag. SM was one of those where Jesus doesn’t get mentioned and one talk focused on exact obedience and being perfect. It would have been a difficult talk for my orthodox self to hear.
I attended gospel essentials class instead of gospel doctrine. It was lesson 38, eternal marriage. Yeah, it drifted into our definition (good) vs. the world’s definition (evil) of marriage. I was expecting it to go that direction so it wasn’t a big deal.
It was 5th Sunday and the lesson was on doing missionary work. Missionary work is always an “oh geez” subject for me, entirely played out. That said there were some really good comments by members that go against the grain of how we traditionally teach people to do missionary work. I particularly liked one comment about unconditionally loving people and if people become interested in the church they become interested, if they don’t – no worries, that shouldn’t get in the way of us having a relationship with people.
I also chatted with someone and discovered that we’ve had surprisingly similar set of trials in life. Nothing faith crisis related, just life stuff. Of course they are moving out in a few weeks. Sigh.
DarkJedi wrote:Skipped SS as usual (the guy literally reads out of the manual).
I’ve wondered how hard it would be to print and bind a fake manual with some outlandish sentence tossed in every few paragraphs, just to deal with people like this.
The final speaker in Sacrament Meeting was a woman, and NOT a woman who was leaving for or returning from a mission. Just a female third speaker. That hasn’t happened in over a year. Even though my husband brought it up with the bishop during tithing settlement (likely because he was sick of hearing me complain about it), it’s very rare to see a female third speaker in our ward. I made sure to tell this woman afterward how much I liked her talk. She is a very intelligent woman, as well as being a divorced single mother, which puts her well outside the norm of church culture. Yay representation!
Young Women was a disaster. The girls were shown a “stay in the boat and hold on” video… followed by a long, droning explanation by my least favorite member of the bishopric about how the boat represents the church! Yeah, I think they would have figured that out on their own…
Joni wrote:She is a very intelligent woman, as well as being a divorced single mother,
So, was her talk on how to untie yourself faster than the other members can get the bonfire lit?
In combined SS a member of the bishopric conducted a short and important training. He read directly out of the CHI about not letting garments touch the ground and how to dispose of them etc. I also was excited about the new teaching program. I hope that it will open the classes up more room for class participation and learning together.
Roy wrote:In combined SS a member of the bishopric conducted a short and important training. He read directly out of the CHI about not letting garments touch the ground and how to dispose of them etc.
Hmm, interesting. I have never heard garment disposal discussed in an open setting.
Did he give any more insight into what the ‘destroy’ part of ‘cut up and destroy’ means?
Joni wrote:Roy wrote:In combined SS a member of the bishopric conducted a short and important training. He read directly out of the CHI about not letting garments touch the ground and how to dispose of them etc.
Hmm, interesting. I have never heard garment disposal discussed in an open setting.
Did he give any more insight into what the ‘destroy’ part of ‘cut up and destroy’ means?
No, a discussion ensued about how the bishopric member has a separate hamper for garments but that he personally does not wash them separately – they go in with other whites.
I personally would just cut up to markings like I do when disposing of old credit cards. I assume that the purpose is to keep the markings out of the hands of our enemies/people that dig around in landfills.
I say, “I would” because I do not believe that I have ever disposed of garments myself. Somehow my threadbare garments keep disappearing in the wash…
:think: Note – I will cross post this into the thread about garment disposal so as to not derail this thread.
Sacrament Meeting was not good for me. I was noticeably uncomfortable and my mom picked up on it. I hadn’t felt that way in sacrament meeting in a long time. Youth speaker: not very memorable. Innocent testimony. Talk was read.
Couple speaker (elderly couple who live close to us):
Wife: Brief talk. Mostly about staying in the boat. Not what I want/need to hear but wasn’t bad. Some generalizations blaming people for leaving the church but some nice points as well. I was pleasantly surprised because her final point was not to judge people because you never know what they are going through.
Husband: He seemed like a nice enough man, but his whole talk about honoring our ancestors or our “fathers” in the Church who came before us (beckoning back to the Nephites) by staying in the Church and being “strong members.” Really laid it on the thick. Obedience, obedience, obedience. Comments about how the world is getting worse (and indirect references to gay marriage and the Church “being under attack” for standing up for what’s right). Talked about how life is going to get difficult for the “true believers” now from here on out. Again, really laid on the thick how important it is to stay in the Church and be good strong members. Said “there is nothing more important we can do for our parents than to remain strong members in the Church.” I felt like I was listening to a lecture specifically designed for someone like me, in the worst way. It was a rough 15 minutes. EDIT: I forgot to mention here that my mom is looking at all four of her children potentially leaving the church. Two siblings already out. Another one on the way out. I’m the last hope even though inside I know what’s coming.
My mother could sense my nervous energy. We’ve actually had some wonderful talks about where I am at right now, even though she doesn’t know the full extent of how I feel. To be honest, I think I was scowling during this man’s talk (sometimes I’m not the best at hiding my feelings). She even felt compelled to lean over and tell me that he actually really is a nice and wise man, as if to imply she understood I didn’t like his talk. I didn’t respond.
Thanks for the update, university. Sounds like a painful meeting to get through. They can be painful for the fully active as well…as you mentioned…your mom may have been saddened by the message thinking of her kids and wondering how it makes sense. But if it got you two talking, maybe it was good for that purpose. You could even comfort her if she has fears…and maybe both agree there isn’t just one boat to stay in, despite the well-intentioned messages of others at church. If she can see how patient and loving you see things, then in time perhaps she’ll realize you saw things clearly all along, and she’ll be proud of how you handle yourself, despite differences. When people say…”it is going to get harder for the faithful” and the world is becoming more evil, and talk of goats and sheep, wheat and tares, good and evil….well…That is about how they are framing their inner struggle of conservative vs liberal thinking. Conservatives are trying desperately to hold on to what is dear to them. That is not necessarily bad in all things.
In time, truth prevails. The church evolves. Changes happen even in temple ordinances. Those that hold fast to the “it is the same yesterday, today, and forever” are the ones that will feel it harder to stay in the church as it changes.
The church changes too slowly, because it has to keep people safely in the boat, so the ship turns slowly. If people could see truth and love easier, it would turn quicker to truth. Have patience with them.
Heber13 wrote:The church changes too slowly, because it has to keep people safely in the boat, so the ship turns slowly.
OK. That helps. If anybody has ever seen me driving my boat with my kids tubing will know I don’t usually care much for slow turns. Slow turns – yawn.Went to church. I was surprised that the attendance records showed I have been averaging church once a month lately. Partly due to a building dedication and a Stake Conference, one Sunday of bona fide sickness, and one Sunday where I did community service. I skipped Sacrament due to poor planning in getting clothing washed and dried on time to get to church. My son stayed home because he could not find his church clothing, and neither could I find it for him. He’s a crafty boy so who knows what happened there…
At church, I went to Sunday School and it was OK. I was more engaged in reading The Fifth Discipline and Good to Great — books on management in organizations — than the lesson. Priesthood was more interesting. I participated twice in the lesson when the teacher asked for people to share stories about their fathers. HPGL chatted me up again, but I think he had a hearing problem as he walked away from me while I was in mid-sentence. I realize now how shallow my relationships are with people at church. During priesthood meeting, I heard announcements about the same kinds of things that I normally hear about, and felt overwhelmingly thankful for my little non-profit and the freedom it gives me to set policy, make decisions and venture into new areas I have never experienced before.
One good thing is that my daughter has missed Seminary a lot this year, but a member of the SP said she could do makeup days so she can graduate. That was good — that there is leeway. Notwithstanding my unorthodoxy, I would be proud to know my daughter completed Seminary.
I also hoofed it out of the meeting as soon as possible.
I feel no real connection with the people there anymore, but I remember them from my former days as an orthodox member, to which there does not appear to be a feasible return.
We were traveling today. 1. Saw no rainbow ribbons, pins, clips, etc.
2. Bishop opened testimony time with a comment that everyone sees the gospel in their unique way, and that everyone grows in the gospel at their own pace.
3. Saw an announcement in the bulletin for a Young WOMEN’s bike trip.
We are in Nevada for our daughter’s high school graduation yesterday. It was good to see everyone in our old ward again – and Testimony Meeting wa wonderful. Lots of focus on love and grace and trials. Quote:3. Saw an announcement in the bulletin for a Young WOMEN’s bike trip.
:clap: 😯 Ann – Are you sure you were in an LDS church?
mom3 wrote:Quote:3. Saw an announcement in the bulletin for a Young WOMEN’s bike trip.
Ann – Are you sure you were in an LDS church?
They’re probably going to do it Girl Scout style; load up all the bikes on a trailer, drive somewhere and ride around a park. Maybe a few miles on a rail-to-trail if they’re feeling really adventurous.
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