Sheldon is here

[Anonymous]

Since it looks like I’ll remain in the church due to family and cultural reasons, I thought maybe I’d join this group. I’ve been on lots of Mormon internet groups, starting with the first one in the early 1990’s called Mormon-L. I currently participate on NOM with a different user name.

Background:

I’m a 5th generation Mormon, from polygamous heritage. I was BIC, served a mission, got married in the temple and had kids. I’ve held most callings in the church including being a Bishop. I live in the Southern California area, currently active TR holding member.

Beliefs:

Book of Mormon is fiction, but I’m still open to it being inspired. (When called as bishop, I told my SP that I had problems with the historical nature of the BofM. He said that wasn’t a problem as it wasn’t a question on the TR interview)

There is probably some sort of God, but nothing like what the church teaches.

The LDS church is as good as any. It has no special key to get to heaven.

[Anonymous]

Welcome Sheldon.

I share many of your beliefs you listed.

Sheldon wrote:

I told my SP that I had problems with the historical nature of the BofM. He said that wasn’t a problem as it wasn’t a question on the TR interview

Thanks for sharing this part…to me, it is evidence that many leaders in the church can and will respond this way. Not all, but many.

How does your family do with your ideas? Is your ward family very aware of your views?

Glad you’re here. :thumbup:

[Anonymous]

Heber13 wrote:

How does your family do with your ideas? Is your ward family very aware of your views?

My family knows that I have a heterodox view of the church and its teachings, but they mostly just rack it up to me being weird. I still attend the same ward I was bishop in, so I’m still called bishop by most, and offered some respect when I speak in class. I was well liked by the ward (or so I think), and was very laid back hands off bishop. The RS and Primary pretty much ran themselves. The RS Pres would ask me what I thought of such and such an activity, and I would just say “do what you think is best”. After a while she got the hint, and stopped asking.

My talks have always been different, more Uchtdorf than Monson. I once while bishop gave Elder Poelman’s un-edited GC talk in sacrament meeting (you can read the side by side talks here). There is always somebody that asks for a copy of my talks after the meeting. They are usually very TBM, which surprises me.

I also make people think and squirm in their seats when I teach a lesson in Sunday School or HPG. Only once years ago did I have a class member run to the bishop when I said that the church has no position on evolution, and you can believe what you want. The bishop called me in, and I showed him the FP statement that said the church has no position. He said Ok, and to keep up the good work..

[Anonymous]

Welcome. I have no time for a longer response, but I think you will fit in here very well.

[Anonymous]

Welcome! I look forward to hearing more.

[Anonymous]

Sheldon (a funny show)

Thanks for coming aboard a ship with a very diverse group and a wide variety of perspectives.

I’m also new here and enjoy the many stories and responses. I hear warm advice to encourage a toe in the church and a foot out and vice versa. I see people at the door step of a faith crisis, those almost drowning and others sipping on a Slurpee on a smooth sea of faith.

Thanks for sharing your background and in particular the edited talk by Ronald Poelman.

You seem to have been sailing these seas for awhile. You also seem very comfortable and adjusted to your cruise ship. As one having a similar background (my great….etc G-father was Frederick G. Williams), I’m curious if you went through a stormy faith crisis (losing all your faith or belief in God) at some point in your life or was it a smooth and a well adjusted transition as it appears, (always retaining some shoring or anchor to your belief system?) I too was a Bishop and admire your ability to lead rather than micro-manage people.

Thanks,

Johari

[Anonymous]

Interesting intro. I’ll look forward to hearing more from your perspectives.

[Anonymous]

Johari wrote:

I see people at the door step of a faith crisis, those almost drowning and others sipping on a Slurpee on a smooth sea of faith.

😆

Welcome, Sheldon, and thanks, Johari, for making me laugh!

[Anonymous]

Welcome Sheldon. This board is a good place with less hate on the LDS faith. I am a recent member here as well.

Good luck with everything and I hope to hear more about you in coming posts.

[Anonymous]

I love what you’ve written here Sheldon. I believe the same things you do in the opening statement. And I also challenge people’s beliefs in lessons. Been a HPGL, Bishop’s Councilor, and lots of other positions in the church.

Some of the beliefs I have (similar to yours) I acquired here at StayLDS, but I too question (or even no longer believe) if the LDS Church has it all…..I have trouble reconciling this belief with the spiritual impression (powerful) I had to join the church in the first place. But as I sit in meetings, I now see that I joined a church that follows a corporate governance model. The use of the term’s “president”, the 12 councilors are like Board members, and the president and two councilors model is called a Troika from management theory. The approach to finance, budget, and callings is similar to a professionally run business that uses a command and control structure (like Jack Welch’s General Electric model).

And the management style is not participative. It is top down.

And guess what, I don’t fit.

Welcome — I’m really looking forward to your comments. If you’re philosophical, try checking out my questions regarding the meaning of some statements from a book I’ve been reading by Max Dupree (not LDS), with statements such as “It’s the leader’s role to define reality” is one that I don’t understand…perhaps you do.

Thanks for joining!

[Anonymous]

Sheldon, welcome. I’m still TBM but I am not a cookie cutter TBM either. Which is why I am here.

Silent Dawning, what book is that? And I’ve never heard of those theories either, but I didn’t major in business. Where’s a good place to learn more?

[Anonymous]

Ruthiechan wrote:

Sheldon, welcome. I’m still TBM but I am not a cookie cutter TBM either. Which is why I am here.

Silent Dawning, what book is that? And I’ve never heard of those theories either, but I didn’t major in business. Where’s a good place to learn more?

Welcome Sheldon. I too have pretty Similar beliefs, mostly for my sanity, it isn’t mostly historical issues for me thought as much as policy, culture, tradition, or even doctrine(hard to tell sometimes) that conflict or teach emotionally harmful ideas or things that have caused great suffering in my family but I got the worst of it since I took the blame to protect my family and friends fr harsh judgements.

I would like to hear if you have any ideas to disengage the flash backs that appear during chuch service when that teach things that spark them of the bad memories I have. I know where certain teachings can lead and my brain plays that out when I hear exteme teachings.

[Anonymous]

Ruthiechan wrote:

Sheldon, welcome. I’m still TBM but I am not a cookie cutter TBM either. Which is why I am here.

Silent Dawning, what book is that? And I’ve never heard of those theories either, but I didn’t major in business. Where’s a good place to learn more?

Ops forgot to ask, what is that book silentdawnimg?

Welsh from GEneral electric is the primary reason the USA is a service oriented country today.

Look up “workforce 2000”.

[Anonymous]

Quote:

“I also make people think and squirm in their seats when I teach a lesson in Sunday School or HPG.”

I like what joe spencer from feast upon the word blog once said. Religion that isn’t provocative has no power. Only when we are uncomfortable is there any value in it. I tend to take that approach also.

[Anonymous]

I am new here also Sheldon. Thanks for sharing, and I do share some of your beliefs. I look forward to hearing more from you and sharing myself. I have also read your post about staying sane, which coincidently is the same terminology I have used – I use it as a reason not to go to church, but am considering a return and need those tips on how to remain sane.

[Author]

Posts