I learned in church today

[myboynoah]

Something about Hautecoug's post reminded me of this gem:

Last Sunday our Ward Mission Leader was teaching Gospel Essentials for the last time as he had just been released. He closed his lesson on Family Responsibilities using a Brigham Young quote about "happifying your wife" and concluded with "Brethren, it behooves us to seek immediate repentance if our wives are not happy."

I've found that to be very good advice.

[Dwight Schr-ute]

I've found that to be very good advice.

Assuming that I was the source of a woman's unhappiness, then yes. I would agree. But just because someone isn't happy, doesn't mean that someone needs to apologize for it.

The comment just seemed as ridiculous as something like "if your wife is an alcoholic, you better start being a better husband." I don't know. Maybe it just hit a little too close to home for a tired husband.

[Pelado]

A rough quote of what I believe came from Jeff Foxworthy:

If she ain't happy, you ain't happy.
And if she ain't happy long enough,
you'll be unhappy with half your stuff.

[myboynoah]

Assuming that I was the source of a woman's unhappiness, then yes. I would agree. But just because someone isn't happy, doesn't mean that someone needs to apologize for it.

The comment just seemed as ridiculous as something like "if you're wife is an alcoholic, you better start being a better husband." I don't know. Maybe it just hit a little too close to home for a tired husband.

Oh, I see.

[The Fourth Nephite]

What is the typical goal for a ward or stake for FOS? If you reach the goal, what are the benefits? If you fail to reach it, what are the negative repercussions?

[Donuthole]

What is the typical goal for a ward or stake for FOS? If you reach the goal, what are the benefits? If you fail to reach it, what are the negative repercussions?

Around here it is determined on a per-boy basis. I think our stake is given a total goal amount, and then that number is divided by the number of scouts in the stake. Then each ward is assigned to get that amount per boy. This year it was about $200 per boy.

[Paperback Writer]

This whole post is confusing. Why would the money not be split proportionally among the kids? You can easily have a check cut from the "other" fund and deposit it into the new wards account. You might want to make that request if you haven't already.

Also, how does the bishop have the authority to veto something the YM voted to do. It sounds like the trip is within the guidelines and rules of both the BSA and the church. So much for letting the kids run their own program. Our YM voted on a high adventure trip that I'd rather not do, but that's what they want to do, and it's within the rules, so I supported it.

EDIT: I once had a bishop try to cancel one of our activities at the last minute because of his own weather concerns (even though the activity would be mostly in the building). I told him he needs to have more faith (he didn't like this comment even though it was in jest) and that the activity would still happen. Needless to say, the clouds parted and the heavens shone and the activity was a huge success.

I haven't been a financial clerk since my BYU days. I just know that new wards start from scratch here. No troop equipment, etc. Nada. I was just asked to get to the scout office for some awards, etc. and also told that I would need to use my own funds and turn in receipts. My question to the person asking me was: "If you don't have funds to put in an account at the scout office, what makes me think you have funds to reimburse me?".

When a new ward is created in my stake, funds are never redirected from existing wards to the new ward. I think the process is for the new ward to have it's own budget. The problem is for funds that were "saved" from one year to be applied to a following year. Those funds still stay with the existing ward even though most of the YM have turned over (because the Bishop stayed the same).

As far as veto powers. SP and Bishops can do whatever they want in my stake. I was surprised that a vote was even taken. But it was clear that leadership was hoping the vote would go a certain way and when it didn't they just said that we're going to do the volunteer camp this year and the canoeing trip next year when we will be better funded (theoretically having two years of YM HA funds). Funding is a big problem in my stake because we are not allowed to fund raise. The last canoeing trip was only possible because YM leaders paid for a lot of it out of their own pockets and fudged the expense numbers so that it would be approved. A previous Bishop was complicit in this, the current Bishop was not.

Funding seems to work like meeting block assignments. Our stake rotates meeting times every September shortly after school starts with 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm. and 3:00 pm start times. My ward was on the last block and I was looking forward to the 9:00 block because of conflicts our kids run into with select sports (coaches stay away from Sunday morning when the rest of the Christian world goes to church but anything on Sunday afternoon or evening is fair game). So what happens? The new ward gets assigned to the 11:00 am block despite about 75% of the ward that attended during the last block. The existing ward rotates to the 9:00 am block so there are a familes that get a couple of years at 9:00 with several years before they experience the joy of attending church from 3:00 - 6:00 pm. Meanwhile, it will be 6 years since I'll have attended church at 9:00 am. Yea, life is not fair.

[Omaha 680]

Funding seems to work like meeting block assignments. Our stake rotates meeting times every September shortly after school starts with 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm. and 3:00 pm start times. My ward was on the last block and I was looking forward to the 9:00 block because of conflicts our kids run into with select sports (coaches stay away from Sunday morning when the rest of the Christian world goes to church but anything on Sunday afternoon or evening is fair game). So what happens? The new ward gets assigned to the 11:00 am block despite about 75% of the ward that attended during the last block. The existing ward rotates to the 9:00 am block so there are a familes that get a couple of years at 9:00 with several years before they experience the joy of attending church from 3:00 - 6:00 pm. Meanwhile, it will be 6 years since I'll have attended church at 9:00 am. Yea, life is not fair.

Your stake needs to wake up when it comes to block times. We were on that insane 9/11/1/3 building schedule until my dad copied an innovation he had seen in Utah: 9:00/9:30/1:00/1:30. 9 and 1 have sacrament meeting first, 9:30 and 1:30 have it last. The only difficulty is there are two times during the day when one unit is leaving the chapel while another is coming in. Not ideal, but it isn't too bad and it spares people from having to attend church from 3-6. That block is just ridiculous.

[The Fourth Nephite]

Having Sacrament Meeting at 9 AM for an entire year is a real challenge because of how difficult it is to get up and make it to church on time (this from a single person so it's not about getting kids ready).

Makes me wonder what time these people get up and going every other day of the week.

Me, I'm usually up by 9 or 10. Almost always by noon.

[Portland Ute]

Your stake needs to wake up when it comes to block times. We were on that insane 9/11/1/3 building schedule until my dad copied an innovation he had seen in Utah: 9:00/9:30/1:00/1:30. 9 and 1 have sacrament meeting first, 9:30 and 1:30 have it last. The only difficulty is there are two times during the day when one unit is leaving the chapel while another is coming in. Not ideal, but it isn't too bad and it spares people from having to attend church from 3-6. That block is just ridiculous.

When a building was being renovated, my parents' ward went from 4 to 7.

They called it "Midnight Mass."

[myboynoah]

When a building was being renovated, my parents' ward went from 4 to 7.

They called it "Midnight Mass."

I've been in that situation before. It was weird.

I'd prefer to go to church from 7:00 - 10:00 am if it were offered.

[Moliere]

I haven't been a financial clerk since my BYU days. I just know that new wards start from scratch here. No troop equipment, etc. Nada. I was just asked to get to the scout office for some awards, etc. and also told that I would need to use my own funds and turn in receipts. My question to the person asking me was: "If you don't have funds to put in an account at the scout office, what makes me think you have funds to reimburse me?".

When a new ward is created in my stake, funds are never redirected from existing wards to the new ward. I think the process is for the new ward to have it's own budget. The problem is for funds that were "saved" from one year to be applied to a following year. Those funds still stay with the existing ward even though most of the YM have turned over (because the Bishop stayed the same).

As far as veto powers. SP and Bishops can do whatever they want in my stake. I was surprised that a vote was even taken. But it was clear that leadership was hoping the vote would go a certain way and when it didn't they just said that we're going to do the volunteer camp this year and the canoeing trip next year when we will be better funded (theoretically having two years of YM HA funds). Funding is a big problem in my stake because we are not allowed to fund raise. The last canoeing trip was only possible because YM leaders paid for a lot of it out of their own pockets and fudged the expense numbers so that it would be approved. A previous Bishop was complicit in this, the current Bishop was not.

Gotcha. If the money was from the budget then I see why you couldn't move it, at least not without a fight. I still inquire about it given that the money was "saved" for the YM that are now no longer in the ward. If the money had been raised by the boys then I'd have serious issues with them not being able to use it.

The way new wards are created needs to be addressed by church HQ. When our ward was created we lost everything scout related. We had a fully outfitted trailer, canoes, etc. and they created our ward out of two other wards and then moved one of the previously extisting wards to antoher stake. The equipment went with that ward. We still can get access to the canoes if we "rent" them (yes, they charge us to use them) but we basically had to slowly build up our scouting equipment. I've gone the route of using ward money to buy the basics (trailer, cooking gear, tables, etc.) and then I just using my own money for other things (canoes, sports equipment, gps, etc.) so if my ward splits again the good stuff will stay with me in my ward.

If I were in your ward, I'd likely plan my own high adventure and quietly invite other friends to join if they want. Then you wouldn't be limited by the stake rules as it wouldn't be an official BSA or church activity. Your son can still go to the Service Adventure thing setup by the stake but then he'd at least get a decent trip in after that.

[Paperback Writer]

Gotcha. If the money was from the budget then I see why you couldn't move it, at least not without a fight. I still inquire about it given that the money was "saved" for the YM that are now no longer in the ward. If the money had been raised by the boys then I'd have serious issues with them not being able to use it.

The way new wards are created needs to be addressed by church HQ. When our ward was created we lost everything scout related. We had a fully outfitted trailer, canoes, etc. and they created our ward out of two other wards and then moved one of the previously extisting wards to antoher stake. The equipment went with that ward. We still can get access to the canoes if we "rent" them (yes, they charge us to use them) but we basically had to slowly build up our scouting equipment. I've gone the route of using ward money to buy the basics (trailer, cooking gear, tables, etc.) and then I just using my own money for other things (canoes, sports equipment, gps, etc.) so if my ward splits again the good stuff will stay with me in my ward.

If I were in your ward, I'd likely plan my own high adventure and quietly invite other friends to join if they want. Then you wouldn't be limited by the stake rules as it wouldn't be an official BSA or church activity. Your son can still go to the Service Adventure thing setup by the stake but then he'd at least get a decent trip in after that.

All good advice. I'm now getting emails from the new scoutmaster and YM president about "missing" scout gear from the storage shed used by all wards in building. Since the budget for Scouts and YM has been woefully underfunded, much of the gear was personal and labeled as such. We just stored it in the shed so it could be shared by all AP quorums in our ward. Right after we got placed in a new ward, we cleared out all our personal gear from the storage shed and it is now back in our garages. The email I received mentioned specific items: table, cook stove, first aid kit, dutch ovens, etc. I replied: "So you're referencing personal gear with our last names clearly labled on the gear? There never was a "troop" first aid kit or cook stove, there was only personal gear that was loaned to the troop, it wasn't donated."

I've long since planned my own HA with my sons. Sometimes friends are brought along but there's only room for a couple. I've tried to talk other fathers into going but haven't had any luck. They are fun trips but not as fun as having all their LDS friends going on a HA.

[Moliere]

All good advice. I'm now getting emails from the new scoutmaster and YM president about "missing" scout gear from the storage shed used by all wards in building. Since the budget for Scouts and YM has been woefully underfunded, much of the gear was personal and labeled as such. We just stored it in the shed so it could be shared by all AP quorums in our ward. Right after we got placed in a new ward, we cleared out all our personal gear from the storage shed and it is now back in our garages. The email I received mentioned specific items: table, cook stove, first aid kit, dutch ovens, etc. I replied: "So you're referencing personal gear with our last names clearly labled on the gear? There never was a "troop" first aid kit or cook stove, there was only personal gear that was loaned to the troop, it wasn't donated."

Good on you. I learned this from an old scoutmaster. He had lived in his house for over 20 years and had lived in 5 wards and 2 stakes, all without moving. He had 4 boys spread out in age so he spent a lot of time in scouts. After the first boundary changes they lost all their equipment. He then decided to buy it all himself and since then he hasn't had any issues.

I don't store any of my stuff at the church or in the trailer. It's all at my house. We have an online document that lists all the available gear and where it's available, but it's clear the gear does not belong to the troop/team/crew. I just have storage racks hanging from my garage ceiling where all my crew sits. It comes in useful on family campouts and I'm sure I"ll be buying even more when my son turns 12.

I've long since planned my own HA with my sons. Sometimes friends are brought along but there's only room for a couple. I've tried to talk other fathers into going but haven't had any luck. They are fun trips but not as fun as having all their LDS friends going on a HA.

I'm lucky in that I have several fathers that would never go for a service high adventure like your ward. There are good chances that in 2014 we'll be going to SeaBase, which I know won't get approved by the stake (they didn't approve it that last time) but we'll go anyway.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Good on you. I learned this from an old scoutmaster. He had lived in his house for over 20 years and had lived in 5 wards and 2 stakes, all without moving. He had 4 boys spread out in age so he spent a lot of time in scouts. After the first boundary changes they lost all their equipment. He then decided to buy it all himself and since then he hasn't had any issues.

I don't store any of my stuff at the church or in the trailer. It's all at my house. We have an online document that lists all the available gear and where it's available, but it's clear the gear does not belong to the troop/team/crew. I just have storage racks hanging from my garage ceiling where all my crew sits. It comes in useful on family campouts and I'm sure I"ll be buying even more when my son turns 12.

Anyone who stores their personal gear with the troop gear is asking to have their gear disappear. I would never dream of doing that.

I'm lucky in that I have several fathers that would never go for a service high adventure like your ward. There are good chances that in 2014 we'll be going to SeaBase, which I know won't get approved by the stake (they didn't approve it that last time) but we'll go anyway.

You are supposed to get stake approval? I have never done that.