I learned in church today

[smokymountainrain]

For a 5th Sunday lesson, they decided that they should combine EQ/HP/RS/YW/YM for a lesson on how to do indexing. One sister in our ward shared how she had been doing indexing for a "bunch of negro families."

Lol.

Oh how I wish somebody in my ward would say something like this.

[PaloAltoCougar]

We had a testimony of The Habit (a California-based burger and tri-tip sandwich chain) this morning. A woman in our ward (Mary) talked about how she ran into a casual acquaintance at the post office two weeks ago and was saddened to learn the acquaintance’s husband was dying from cancer. They spoke briefly, shed some tears together, and that was seemingly that. Then last week, Mary went to The Habit to buy dinner for her and her husband. While in line, the thought occurred to her that she should buy dinner for that acquaintance and her husband as well, which was strange since she rarely ever saw the woman, didn’t know her all that well, and certainly didn’t know if dinner was needed or desired.

Mary said she resisted the impulse to buy the meal for the other couple until the last second when, after giving her order, she suddenly said “You know, make it a double. Give me two of everything I just ordered, and put them in separate bags.” She then drove to the other woman’s house, knocked on the door several times, and finally the woman appeared. When presented with the bag o’ burgers, the woman look very puzzled, said, “Uh, thanks,” and then closed the door. Mary went home, thinking she had done something very strange but wrote it off as a stupid impulse she should have resisted.

But then yesterday the gift recipient visited Mary, embraced her and said she was stunned to have received the visit and the gift. Only moments before The Habit goods arrived, her husband, who hadn’t eaten much at all in the days leading up to that moment, said, “You know what I’d like? A Whopper from Burger King.” The wife replied, “I’m not going to drive to BK to buy you a crappy hamburger. I’ll make you something healthier.” But then their doorbell rang…

She went on to explain that her husband ate the entire burger and said it was the best hamburger he had ever eaten and absolutely loved it. It was the last meal they had together, as the husband died a day later, reportedly due to end stage cancer, not the burger. Even the doctor was amazed the guy ate at all, much less an entire burger. The new widow embraced our ward member and, crying, thanked her for making her last evening with her husband so fun and enjoyable, and how they both had marveled how many good and kind people they had been blessed to have in their lives.

Mary finished her testimony in a way that even a nonbeliever would have appreciated. She said that all too often in her life she had resisted the temptation to do something nice for others, and that she believes every human being is prompted to do good (whether it’s by the Spirit, innate human goodness or just an underdone potato), and she’s going to try to be better at responding to those prompts.

I thought it was a nice story and, even taking into account it was Fast Sunday, made me want to return to The Habit.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Great story, PAC.

[clackamascoug]

My favorite part of CS: PAC Story time.

I'm sure he told the story better than even Mary.

[cowboy]

We had a testimony of The Habit (a California-based burger and tri-tip sandwich chain) this morning. A woman in our ward (Mary) talked about how she ran into a casual acquaintance at the post office two weeks ago and was saddened to learn the acquaintance’s husband was dying from cancer. They spoke briefly, shed some tears together, and that was seemingly that. Then last week, Mary went to The Habit to buy dinner for her and her husband. While in line, the thought occurred to her that she should buy dinner for that acquaintance and her husband as well, which was strange since she rarely ever saw the woman, didn’t know her all that well, and certainly didn’t know if dinner was needed or desired.

Mary said she resisted the impulse to buy the meal for the other couple until the last second when, after giving her order, she suddenly said “You know, make it a double. Give me two of everything I just ordered, and put them in separate bags.” She then drove to the other woman’s house, knocked on the door several times, and finally the woman appeared. When presented with the bag o’ burgers, the woman look very puzzled, said, “Uh, thanks,” and then closed the door. Mary went home, thinking she had done something very strange but wrote it off as a stupid impulse she should have resisted.

But then yesterday the gift recipient visited Mary, embraced her and said she was stunned to have received the visit and the gift. Only moments before The Habit goods arrived, her husband, who hadn’t eaten much at all in the days leading up to that moment, said, “You know what I’d like? A Whopper from Burger King.” The wife replied, “I’m not going to drive to BK to buy you a crappy hamburger. I’ll make you something healthier.” But then their doorbell rang…

She went on to explain that her husband ate the entire burger and said it was the best hamburger he had ever eaten and absolutely loved it. It was the last meal they had together, as the husband died a day later, reportedly due to end stage cancer, not the burger. Even the doctor was amazed the guy ate at all, much less an entire burger. The new widow embraced our ward member and, crying, thanked her for making her last evening with her husband so fun and enjoyable, and how they both had marveled how many good and kind people they had been blessed to have in their lives.

Mary finished her testimony in a way that even a nonbeliever would have appreciated. She said that all too often in her life she had resisted the temptation to do something nice for others, and that she believes every human being is prompted to do good (whether it’s by the Spirit, innate human goodness or just an underdone potato), and she’s going to try to be better at responding to those prompts.

I thought it was a nice story and, even taking into account it was Fast Sunday, made me want to return to The Habit.

PAC, that is an awesome story and I'm glad you shared it. I know I'm tilting at windmills, but I wish you had posted it in the Good Deeds thread. Thanks for giving me something to share for FHE tonight, unless you are opposed to this breach of SE confidentiality.

[PaloAltoCougar]

PAC, that is an awesome story and I'm glad you shared it. I know I'm tilting at windmills, but I wish you had posted it in the Good Deeds thread. Thanks for giving me something to share for FHE tonight, unless you are opposed to this breach of SE confidentiality.

We're in the Foyer, not the SE, so share away! The woman related the story to the whole ward in testimony meeting, so there's no need to keep it confidential. Other than changing her name, the story is as she related it. Also, Mrs. PAC reminded me that she rang the doorbell multiple times, and then knocked a couple of times, puzzling herself as to why she was being so persistent.

And the woman is not given to flights of fancy or weird testimonies (I think this may be the second time I've heard her from the pulpit in seven years). And her husband, blessings be unto him, has a huge smoker/trailer rig like another person I know. He's called upon to cook up Tri-Tip (sometimes 200 or more) for Stake and other big local events. Given their storied status of delicious meat preparation, it was funny to think of them going to The Habit for dinner.

[cowboy]

We're in the Foyer...so share away!

I'm an idiot. This is what happens when I try to multitask.

[Shaka]

That's an incredible story PAC.

Promptings are an interesting thing. A couple of weeks ago I took a date to a concert and had an amazing time. After midnight, exactly two seconds after I put my date in her car, I got beat over the head that I needed to call a friend. I'm not in the habit of making midnight calls so the prompting was definitely abnormal. I dialed, she answered, and I found out that she had just started a mega meltdown after finding out that behind her back shenanigans were occurring between her love interest and her best friend. Now this is minor stuff compared to PAC's story but my friend really needed that call. It's a good feeling that, even though you aren't perfect, God is still willing to use you as his instrument when needed.

[byu71]

We're in the Foyer, not the SE, so share away! The woman related the story to the whole ward in testimony meeting, so there's no need to keep it confidential. Other than changing her name, the story is as she related it. Also, Mrs. PAC reminded me that she rang the doorbell multiple times, and then knocked a couple of times, puzzling herself as to why she was being so persistent.

And the woman is not given to flights of fancy or weird testimonies (I think this may be the second time I've heard her from the pulpit in seven years). And her husband, blessings be unto him, has a huge smoker/trailer rig like another person I know. He's called upon to cook up Tri-Tip (sometimes 200 or more) for Stake and other big local events. Given their storied status of delicious meat preparation, it was funny to think of them going to The Habit for dinner.

There are so many feel bad stories out there. A pilot flying into a mountain on purpose, terrorists and Enos Kanter hating on the Jazz and Utah.

It is great to hear a story like this and there are probably plenty of feel good stories out there that just don't get into the public realm. Despite what I hear on the news, I basically feel good about humans and what they try to do.

[byu71]

I'm an idiot. This is what happens when I try to multitask.

I would hate to be the guy holding down a bull when you were castrating the bull if you were multi tasking at the same time.

[Pelado]

There are so many feel bad stories out there. A pilot flying into a mountain on purpose, terrorists and Enos Kanter hating on the Jazz and Utah.

Terrorists don't like the Jazz and Utah?

[Dwight Schr-ute]

We had a testimony of The Habit (a California-based burger and tri-tip sandwich chain) this morning. A woman in our ward (Mary) talked about how she ran into a casual acquaintance at the post office two weeks ago and was saddened to learn the acquaintance’s husband was dying from cancer. They spoke briefly, shed some tears together, and that was seemingly that. Then last week, Mary went to The Habit to buy dinner for her and her husband. While in line, the thought occurred to her that she should buy dinner for that acquaintance and her husband as well, which was strange since she rarely ever saw the woman, didn’t know her all that well, and certainly didn’t know if dinner was needed or desired.

Mary said she resisted the impulse to buy the meal for the other couple until the last second when, after giving her order, she suddenly said “You know, make it a double. Give me two of everything I just ordered, and put them in separate bags.” She then drove to the other woman’s house, knocked on the door several times, and finally the woman appeared. When presented with the bag o’ burgers, the woman look very puzzled, said, “Uh, thanks,” and then closed the door. Mary went home, thinking she had done something very strange but wrote it off as a stupid impulse she should have resisted.

But then yesterday the gift recipient visited Mary, embraced her and said she was stunned to have received the visit and the gift. Only moments before The Habit goods arrived, her husband, who hadn’t eaten much at all in the days leading up to that moment, said, “You know what I’d like? A Whopper from Burger King.” The wife replied, “I’m not going to drive to BK to buy you a crappy hamburger. I’ll make you something healthier.” But then their doorbell rang…

She went on to explain that her husband ate the entire burger and said it was the best hamburger he had ever eaten and absolutely loved it. It was the last meal they had together, as the husband died a day later, reportedly due to end stage cancer, not the burger. Even the doctor was amazed the guy ate at all, much less an entire burger. The new widow embraced our ward member and, crying, thanked her for making her last evening with her husband so fun and enjoyable, and how they both had marveled how many good and kind people they had been blessed to have in their lives.

Mary finished her testimony in a way that even a nonbeliever would have appreciated. She said that all too often in her life she had resisted the temptation to do something nice for others, and that she believes every human being is prompted to do good (whether it’s by the Spirit, innate human goodness or just an underdone potato), and she’s going to try to be better at responding to those prompts.

I thought it was a nice story and, even taking into account it was Fast Sunday, made me want to return to The Habit.

Thanks for the story PAC. I'm too often guilty of the rear view mirror prompting. Like when you're driving down the highway and see a vehicle on the shoulder with the emergency lights flashing. You pass it, really without much thought but for whatever reason, it catches your attention in the rear view mirror. They you start the internal debate was that really a prompting or am I now just starting obsess about it on my own? Sometimes I'll turn around only to find the vehicle gone or someone else rendering aid. If I was more in tune, I wouldn't have to second guess myself so much.

As for the highlighted piece, what's with people? I don't have a huge sample size of people caring for dying loved ones, but I know that my mother has expressed on several occasions wishes that she could go back to when my dad was so sick and respond positively to several of his small requests that would rank up there with a "Whooper from Burger King" but she was too distracted by some other aspect of his health that she failed to acknowledge or fulfill the request. I observed my grandmother engaging in similar conduct as my grandfather neared the end. I've postulated more than once if being diagnosed with a terminal illness would improve these kinds of little acts of service in my own marriage. I'd like to think so, but the data indicates otherwise.

[Eddie]

The only thing I can add to this thread is that there is now a The Habit burger joint in Utah. I've only eaten there once, but if I were dying I'd rather have a burger from there than a whopper.

Thanks for sharing the story, PAC. Definitely a good one.

[Harry Tic]

Thanks for the story PAC. I'm too often guilty of the rear view mirror prompting. Like when you're driving down the highway and see a vehicle on the shoulder with the emergency lights flashing. You pass it, really without much thought but for whatever reason, it catches your attention in the rear view mirror. They you start the internal debate was that really a prompting or am I now just starting obsess about it on my own? Sometimes I'll turn around only to find the vehicle gone or someone else rendering aid. If I was more in tune, I wouldn't have to second guess myself so much.

As for the highlighted piece, what's with people? I don't have a huge sample size of people caring for dying loved ones, but I know that my mother has expressed on several occasions wishes that she could go back to when my dad was so sick and respond positively to several of his small requests that would rank up there with a "Whooper from Burger King" but she was too distracted by some other aspect of his health that she failed to acknowledge or fulfill the request. I observed my grandmother engaging in similar conduct as my grandfather neared the end. I've postulated more than once if being diagnosed with a terminal illness would improve these kinds of little acts of service in my own marriage. I'd like to think so, but the data indicates otherwise.

Either the HG is a pretty imprecise tool or I struggle to interpret it correctly. Lots of misses and not enough hits on my part. I'll be honest, to the extent that some of the crazy stories are true about TSM heeding this or that obscure prompting, he has my vote as prophet. I admire people that can feel such things and act upon them on a consistent basis. I'm pretty good at second guessing everything and my second guesses usually get me conveniently off the hook.

Dwight, when I first read your post, I thought you were saying that you were accustomed to ignoring the flashing lights in your rear-view mirror. That's the kind of behavior that will land you on America's Most Wanted.

[RC Vikings]

Robert Gay from the seventy gave an excellent talk on living a Christ like life at BYU-I's graduation yesterday. This and Uchtdorf's talk Saturday night were two of the better talks I've heard in a long time. I think it's these talks that really make people try to be better and for the right reason.