- This topic is empty.
-
Posts
-
But I’m confident that the majority of church members who we might label ‘TBM’ are not deceiving themselves. The majority that I know have an honest heart – to others and themselves. They are working with what they know and live with it. I work with it in a different way, but I wouldn’t presume for a minute that they are wrong or deluded. This thread is about how we find value in the LDS Church. (I just realized the actual focus of the question wording as I finished writing this comment.) It wasn’t just the charge of delusion that was inappropriate; it also was that it was inserted into a post about what is valuable in the Church. Taking pot shots that are not even related to the post is not accepted here. It’s more than just bad form; it’s unnecessarily rude and attacking. There was no reason for it (not one legitimate reason for it) in the context of the post. It was gratuitous in the purest sense of the word.
Now, let’s get back to the question of the post:
Quote:What do you
DOto find value in the LDS Church? That acutally isn’t the same question even I answered. I just realized that, so
let’s address that question. At the most basic level, I attend – but I do so to worship with and help others, not to gain spirituality or learn new things. I attempt to grow and learn on my own time – as part of what I do to find value in the LDS Church.
1) Worshipping with my family 2)How callings have grown me, so to speak and spiritual experiences I had while in those callings which I cannot explain away 3)I love some of the theology that I did not find in other churches 4)the family history emphasis….I don’t think I would ever have sought out my ancestors on my own (and the closeness it enabled with older members of the family as I did that 4)the Relief Society organization and what it taught me about charity 5) the temple and the time it allows me to step away from the world and meditate (it’s hard for me to carve out that time in regular life) 6) the close friendships I have made through the visiting teaching program that have lasted for years 7) the booklet RS gave out eons ago that taught sisters to set goals in 5 areas of life -that was extremely helpful to me as a young adult who had come out of a chaotic family 
the teachings on living within your means and striving to be self-reliant. Again, those were not taught by my immediate family, although emphasis was given by grandparents. 9)My husband and I are a little better after we have been to the temple. Please don’t scoff… temple sessions refocus us on our commitment to each other, our family members and others in our vicinity we can assist.I am really grateful for this thread as it has given me time to reflect when I am also at a time of great frustration with other things happening in our church setting.
My daughter just came home and told me she completed her YW progress program….at times over the years she came out with surprisingly good things she would do for us at home, and later, I found out later they were personal progress goal items. I think that is of value. Just about anything to do with encouraging youth to be good people, sans judgmentalism or harmful cultural values we all know well enough — is another thing of value in the LDS Church.
afterall wrote:9)My husband and I are a little better after we have been to the temple. Please don’t scoff… temple sessions refocus us on our commitment to each other, our family members and others in our vicinity we can assist.
I hope nobody here would scoff. I think that sounds lovely and I am glad for you. I do believe that the temple is a wonderful place and experience for many people. I also believe that the focus on family making and preserving would make the world in general a better place. One problem I see with how we deal with the temple in the church is to not acknowledge that some people do not find the temple experience to be so great. I think it would be the height of hipocrasy to turn around on a site like this and not acknowledge some some people find great peace, joy, and meaning in the temple.
For my answer to the OP. What do I DO? Well I believe that there is value that is inherant in the LDS church. The problem comes when the benefits are outweighed by the costs – then participation becomes draining and insustainable.
So for me, continued participation in the church comes by managing the associated costs. This for me has taken the form of not paying tithing, not having a calling (not that I’m necessarily opposed to the right calling, although I dislike that callings/service is largely expected and taken for granted), not doing HT, not having a TR, only attending SM and then leaving straight to work.
There are lots of things that I DO DO – (like wear garments 24/7, obey the WoW, and helping on last minute moving/service projects) – partly because they have become so much habit that they hardly feel like costs anymore. To the degree that they mark me as a faithful Mormon – so much the better.
As I participate at other churches I see that different churches are good at different things – we have moved (in town) 3 times in the 2.5 years that we have lived here and the EQ has played a major role in each of these moves. If we wanted to schedule the chapel for a family event like a wedding – it would be relatively easy. Bringing in meals during a time of hardship. These are examples of things that the LDS church seems to do better than many others. I understand that the LDS church has a reputaion for helping with food/rent/utilities when times are tough. I have even wondered if paying tithing etc. would have a higher return on investment if I were living paycheck to paycheck – knowing that the church would step in whenever I ran short – allmost like an insurance plan.
Roy wrote:
So for me, continued participation in the church comes by managing the associated costs. This for me has taken the form of not paying tithing, not having a calling (not that I’m necessarily opposed to the right calling, although I dislike that callings/service is largely expected and taken for granted), not doing HT, not having a TR, only attending SM and then leaving straight to work.Yes, we have our own versions of these. And when I was a HPGL, I found everyhone did — even the person who is not a member of our SP who was a quorum member. I think many people manage the costs in some way, whether consciously or unconsciously.
Old-Timer wrote:That acutally isn’t the same question even I answered. I just realized that, so
let’s address that question.
I appreciate the redirection and refocus, Ray. That’s some good moderating!🙂 :thumbup: One of my all time favs, Orson. Thanks for the link.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.