We are # None

[Anonymous]

I have the luxury of serving in dual service roles in my life. One in the church. One in my community. The two often overlap. They did yesterday. Our county was hosting a service gratitude event. I was attending in my community role. Looking across the room I saw familiar LDS faces.

Through out the event various groups who had been served in the community gave “thank you” addresses. Each presenter often ran through a list of names of churches or community teams who served them. In 2 hours worth of presentations there was never a mention of the Mormon, LDS, or a Ward/Stake mentioned.

Now I know, and the other LDS attendees, know that we have served in the community. I am fine with limited to no recognition, accept that it creates a silence or black spot. As if our faith is no where when others are in need. (Which is not true. We are growing in this area.)

I wasn’t surprised by our lack of Listing. But the others were. They rushed over to find me. Comments like, “We should be on the front lines” or “I wish our Stake/Ward group had been here to realize we aren’t on the radar.” Or “We need to fix this.” They are just baffled that the entire world doesn’t know when we have helped someone just a little. As if the articles in the Church News accurately reflect our reality. I just listened. The system is too big to create a solution.

Then this morning the first email in my box was a reminder letter to make sure and nudge our members about Just Serve. I laughed. While we are filling up a compute website, trafficked by mostly LDS people (if that even). The other churches in my area are busting butt with the needy. I love irony.

[Anonymous]

Snide remark, but a lot of truth: LDS are too busy serving themselves to serve others.

That being said, I do know a few LDS who are quite involved in the community but never say they represent the church because they don’t want public recognition (think of the scripture that says to serve in private).

[Anonymous]

Roadrunner,

Quote:

That being said, I do know a few LDS who are quite involved in the community but never say they represent the church because they don’t want public recognition (think of the scripture that says to serve in private).

That’s where I am. My service work outside the church is mine. It’s my chance to be a good person. To live up to the scriptures request to care for others and not to do it to be seen.

When I attended yesterday’s event, I didn’t have my LDS hat on. Even when I saw the members that I knew sitting there, it didn’t connect with me how the event might feel to them. Not until the event was done did the understanding come full circle.

I honestly don’t believe they want a plaque or anything. But they did serve, with a sincere heart, and it does hurt to not have one iota of your effort mentioned. I also think we assume that our small presence is monumental. When in fact it is much smaller compared to other faith and good works organizations.

The final part that doesn’t help is that we don’t list ourselves as the LDS church. We are supposed to list it as # Just Serve. So who is that? If I am a community person, thanking people, who is Just Serve? (Now that name didn’t come up either). Still I am happy that our service isn’t supposed to be a missionary opportunity. But really lets make it harder on both teams for connecting the dots by just having a random name from an obscure website be the link. Huh?

The Prethren outdid themselves on that one.

[Author]

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