I learned in church today

[clackamascoug]

I'm glad to see people don't think I'm a liar anymore.

In other news, my ward does not invite the YW president, RS president or Primary president to PEC. Somehow PEC still goes at least an hour every time.

And the Sabbath-day observance crackdown is also a thing. Based on my interactions with members when I drop by reimbursement checks on Sunday afternoons, I don't think many in my ward are doing what the stake would like us to do on Sunday.

Do you really believe that, or are you just telling what we want to hear?

[TripletDaddy]

Reminds me of a time when a custom ring tone of "stairway to heaven" happened during the Sacrament. The SP reached for his phone and turned it off.

this totally happened!

[clackamascoug]

this totally happened!

Lighten up Francis.

[SandYFan]

I was a finance clerk for many years. We never counted money during the third hour. Seriously, why would you do that? Seems like it would just be begging for someone to come up to a member of the bishopric right after church and hand him an envelope. We just did it right after church, and it was never a problem. Took maybe 30 minutes, 40 on a heavy day. Plus, you could immediately take it to the bank in double custody, like you're supposed to.

My bishop is talented at magically producing additional tithing envelopes and bills to pay after we think we're done.

Do you really believe that, or are you just telling what we want to hear?

I don't think I understand the question.

[Dwight Schr-ute]

My bishop is talented at magically producing additional tithing envelopes and bills to pay after we think we're done.

So many pockets!

[clackamascoug]

My bishop is talented at magically producing additional tithing envelopes and bills to pay after we think we're done.



I don't think I understand the question.

Are you sure? Because I think you do understand the question. It seems you're being artfully deceptive.

[SandYFan]

Are you sure? Because I think you do understand the question. It seems you're being artfully deceptive.

That is actually one of my talents, so it makes sense.

The larger question, though, is who thinks it's a great idea to try and double down on stuff like Sabbath Day observance and being super reverent at church when all this turmoil re: gay marriage is a thing.

Maybe someone is trying to separate the wheat from the chaff, and figures if anyone is driven off it was because they were unrighteous anyway.

[Eddie]

That is actually one of my talents, so it makes sense.

The larger question, though, is who thinks it's a great idea to try and double down on stuff like Sabbath Day observance and being super reverent at church when all this turmoil re: gay marriage is a thing.

Maybe someone is trying to separate the wheat from the chaff, and figures if anyone is driven off it was because they were unrighteous anyway.

In all honesty, I think that Sabbath Day worship IS a great idea. I think that if you are competing with everything else out there in the world, then providing a compelling and spiritually uplifting product during meetings is a great idea and likely to lead to people getting something out of the meeting and desiring to return.

I do think there are things you can do to make the meetings better. I do think that reverence plays a role in that. But I also believe it is a circular argument of what comes first - congregational reverence or well planned and executed spiritually uplifting meetings.

Bottom line - it is all in the interpretation and execution of the directive to make Sabbath day worship more meaningful.

[wally]

We are to listen to the music to get us in the spirit after the announcement at five till. No more announcements at the beginning of sacrament. At the beginning of third hour when asking for reports all who give them should be sitting in front row ready to give reports. No more travel logs etc. during F&T meetings, just testimonies and we need to coach them if they need help. Bishopric must be seated by seven of at the latest. There is no meeting more important then second hour. Everyone is to be in Sunday school supporting the class...especially the bishopric. We are to clear the hallways in between classes for all three hours. There is probably more this was shared at Priesthood meeting then some at the late session. Also hammered the point of studying scripture on Sunday's after church at home. No fishing, swimming or other activities that break the sabbath. We have gotten lax we were told. No such thing as opening or closing prayer,it's benediction and something else. Formality is your friend. Learn how to pray, thee, thou, etc.
No more counting money during third hour. Any meeting can wait till after the three hour block. The youth leaders need to learn to have agendas. I didn't make it Sunday so I have no idea what was said.

When I hear these stories it reminds me of when I was a teenager and my mom came down on my brother and I for taking food out of the kitchen and eating it in the basement. She made a good point about food getting in the carpet and what-not, and we sympathized with her point of view, but alas, there was no television in the kitchen and she wouldn't let us move the one in the basement there, so we were really at an impasse. My brother and I would nod our heads in contrition and, out of deference for our mother, wait until she was out of earshot before pulling back out the doritos, with more careful resolve to avoid crumbs.

I pretty much approach these reproving events, when they occur the same way.

[falafel]

When I hear these stories it reminds me of when I was a teenager and my mom came down on my brother and I for taking food out of the kitchen and eating it in the basement. She made a good point about food getting in the carpet and what-not, and we sympathized with her point of view, but alas, there was no television in the kitchen and she wouldn't let us move the one in the basement there, so we were really at an impasse. My brother and I would nod our heads in contrition and, out of deference for our mother, wait until she was out of earshot before pulling back out the doritos, with more careful resolve to avoid crumbs.

You mean my kids are never going to stop doing this?

[Dwight Schr-ute]

You mean my kids are never going to stop doing this?

When I hear these stories it reminds me of when I was a teenager and my mom came down on my brother and I for taking food out of the kitchen and eating it in the basement. She made a good point about food getting in the carpet and what-not, and we sympathized with her point of view, but alas, there was no television in the kitchen and she wouldn't let us move the one in the basement there, so we were really at an impasse. My brother and I would nod our heads in contrition and, out of deference for our mother, wait until she was out of earshot before pulling back out the doritos, with more careful resolve to avoid crumbs.

I pretty much approach these reproving events, when they occur the same way.

Pay attention!

[Lost Student]

You mean my kids are never going to stop doing this?

I had the exact same thought as I read that. Just yesterday, I was picking up Pirate's Booty (not THAT etc.) from the carpet around the computer. After I lectured my kids about it for the 1,000th time, I was sure they would now stop eating in the den.

[Moliere]

You mean my kids are never going to stop doing this?

Do you still eat Doritos in the basement even when your wife tells you not to?

[falafel]

Do you still eat Doritos in the basement even when your wife tells you not to?

I don't have a basement.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I'm glad to see people don't think I'm a liar anymore.

In other news, my ward does not invite the YW president, RS president or Primary president to PEC. Somehow PEC still goes at least an hour every time.

And the Sabbath-day observance crackdown is also a thing. Based on my interactions with members when I drop by reimbursement checks on Sunday afternoons, I don't think many in my ward are doing what the stake would like us to do on Sunday.

Liar? No. But this is the post that started it all:

http://www.cougarstadium.com/showthread.php?27308-I-learned-in-church-today&p=1187764#post1187764\

Apparently the First Presidency have sent down a big push on improving sacrament meeting. According to my bishopric, here is what needs to change:

1. No more reading talks.

2. Kids need to be quiet or taken out to the foyer, by the men.

3. Bishopric needs to be seated on the stand at 7 minutes before the start of Sacrament Meeting.

4. Stop choosing obscure hymns for the meeting.

5. No more speaking on General Conference talks.

6. No stories during F&T meeting. Get up, testify, sit down.

7. The Ward Council now plans all Sacrament Meetings together.

I have seen the training from the First Presidency. There is some partial truth in items 3&7. The rest were made up by your bishop. And they are still funny.

The way you worded your post implied that the list came from the FP. Hence the skepticism.