I learned in church today

[CardiacCoug]

How do you guys know what is going to happen next week? Does your Ward do sneak previews? That is a good idea actually.

They said something like the Primary kids were going to watch a video second hour next week so all the adults including Primary teachers could hear a presentation by the Bishop. I'm assuming it will be about gay marriage (the meeting with the Bishop, not the video for the kids).

Our Bishop seems like a normal enough dude that he probably thinks legalization of gay marriage is fine -- would be interesting to hear what he has to say.

[scottie]

Dido. We intentionally arrived back from UCo in time for church so Mrs. D could teach her SS lesson. About 30 mins before we got home, she got a text from her team teacher saying she had the lesson covered and to take our time getting back (this is the same lady who had previously insisted that Mrs D teach the lesson today because, even though this lady is in town today, Mrs D will be gone two Sundays in late July and things apparently need to be perfectly even/fair. Anyway this "helpful" text was just the latest in a long line of passive aggression from this lady. I digress). With the lesson covered, Mrs D floated the idea of skipping church altogether to unpack and unwind. I actually suggested that we come, partly because I didn't want to miss Open Mic Sunday and partly because I was hoping for some juicy third-hour meeting. Well FT meeting was a dud, and there are no group meetings planned for the 3rd hour.

Lesson learned: skip church when you get the chance.

I read what I thought was a great message on FB that showed up in my feed because you Liked it, about considering that one person who may be silently suffering during the letter reading/special discussion.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

How do you guys know what is going to happen next week? Does your Ward do sneak previews? That is a good idea actually.

Sleeping with someone on the ward council has benefits

[OceanBlue]

They said something like the Primary kids were going to watch a video second hour next week so all the adults including Primary teachers could hear a presentation by the Bishop. I'm assuming it will be about gay marriage (the meeting with the Bishop, not the video for the kids).

Our Bishop seems like a normal enough dude that he probably thinks legalization of gay marriage is fine -- would be interesting to hear what he has to say.

Our SP didn't leave it to the Bishop. He sent his counseler and while they asked for discussion it was a directive. I can honestly say in our Stake if a Bishop supported legalization of gay marriage his calling would end quickly.

[Bo Diddley]

I just have a hard time understanding the concept that you can love and have empathy for homosexual individuals while at the same time firmly believing they are damned if they enter into a committed, legal relationship with someone they are sexually attracted to.

Is this something the Church teaches? Because consignment to damnation comes only from Jesus Christ at the Judgement Seat. I imagine there will be all sorts of mitigating factors that are taken into account when he passes judgement. For example, what about all the gay people who get married that never truly had a chance to hear the Gospel preached?

[ewth8tr]

We didn't read the letter in our Ward. There was no combined meeting either. I'm feeling ripped off.

Our Bishop only read it in priesthood opening exercises, I guess he figured the men could tell their wives about it....

[TripletDaddy]

Our Bishop only read it in priesthood opening exercises, I guess he figured the men could tell their wives about it....

Or their husbands

[smokymountainrain]

Sabbath initiative Sunday next week. Sac meeting at 9, followed by a 60-70 minute meeting about Sabbath observance with families, out of church by 11:15. My Bishop is obviously inspired.

[SandYFan]

Is this something the Church teaches? Because consignment to damnation comes only from Jesus Christ at the Judgement Seat. I imagine there will be all sorts of mitigating factors that are taken into account when he passes judgement. For example, what about all the gay people who get married that never truly had a chance to hear the Gospel preached?

So you're splitting hairs. This goes for every sin ever, right?

Working from the frame of reference that someone has been taught that homosexual intercourse is a sin, entering into gay marriage means you are unrepentant about engaging in the act, and as such, God is super mad at you and your progression is stopped. Hence my use of the word damned.

[byu71]

I am not one who will be that bothered if one day we are told the Prophet got a revelation and gays can marry in the Temple. I doubt that is going to happen during my remaining years here, but who knows.

I also am not asking for everything to be explained to me. The things I don't understand, which are numerous, I just figure will be explained on the other side.

If gays end up having Temple marriages one of those explanations involve eternal progression. I think the doctrine is still that we can become God's and Godesses and procreate and do what God has done. Would that mean that for gays who marry in the Temple and live righteous lives there will be adoptions in the hereafter?

I know none of you have an answer, it is just something I thought about and like with a lot of things will not think much about it in the future.

[TripletDaddy]

I am not one who will be that bothered if one day we are told the Prophet got a revelation and gays can marry in the Temple. I doubt that is going to happen during my remaining years here, but who knows.

I also am not asking for everything to be explained to me. The things I don't understand, which are numerous, I just figure will be explained on the other side.

If gays end up having Temple marriages one of those explanations involve eternal progression. I think the doctrine is still that we can become God's and Godesses and procreate and do what God has done. Would that mean that for gays who marry in the Temple and live righteous lives there will be adoptions in the hereafter?

I know none of you have an answer, it is just something I thought about and like with a lot of things will not think much about it in the future.

good post.

[byu71]

good post.

Thanks, I actually thought it was a great post but I probably am an easier grader on myself.

[Eddie]

So you're splitting hairs. This goes for every sin ever, right?

Working from the frame of reference that someone has been taught that homosexual intercourse is a sin, entering into gay marriage means you are unrepentant about engaging in the act, and as such, God is super mad at you and your progression is stopped. Hence my use of the word damned.

This is what I find funny. In all honesty, we ARE taught this about all sin. That God cannot overlook even the least sin. I loved President Uchtdorf's talk a year or so ago about the bumper sticker that said "Don't judge me because I sin differently than you".

So, yeah. It is the same as someone who fornicates, steals, lies, doesn't keep the Sabbath holy, smokes tobacco or drinks alcohol or coffee. Those are all technically "sins" (admittedly, some may only be sins for the LDS folks). So they really aren't any different.

I suppose an argument could be made that there is a difference between trying to overcome a sin (such as a substance addiction) versus deciding that you are just going to go ahead and plan to commit a certain sin repeatedly with no intent to change that. But I'm sure we all have certain "sins" that fall into that category for us.

So I don't get your angst. This is no different than any other "sin" out there. Less judgment and more love would be great. But the reality is that NOTHING has changed within the church. There always have been and always will be people who focus on one particular area or commandment while giving another less attention. Whatever.

[Eddie]

So - during the third hour we had the Bishop read the response in Relief Society, 2nd Counselor read it in Priesthood, and 1st Counselor read it in YW.

There wasn't much discussion in Priesthood. We had a guy from Argentina ask if the church was going to separate the legal marriage from the temple sealing like is done in some other countries. The answer was "not as far as we know right now."

When there was no more discussion about it, another guy in his 90's asked if we were also going to announce today that Sacrament Meeting would be our first meeting of the block. Of course, this led to much confusion because Sacrament Meeting has been the first meeting of the block since we moved into the ward years ago.

From what I understand, the 1st counselor led more of a discussion in YW than was had in Priesthood. Wait -did I say discussion? That's the wrong word. He just had a lot more to say about the response and felt the need to explain it. The good news is the biggest take away the YW got (from what I understand) is that there is need for love, acceptance, and understanding. Sounds good to me!

[TripletDaddy]

Good thing a christian church announced the need for love, acceptance, and understanding. this must have been a complete shock to most in the congregation.