I learned in church today

[DrumNFeather]

I was actually surprised that the Bishop would allow something like this too. Maybe this was the high councilor's passive aggressive way of telling the bishop that this was not kosher.

Also, I don't know why but Primary presidencies always seem to get worked up about these things. My ward is no different. It was always life or death it seemed if some kid didn't stand up on cue or get to the mic in time to read his part during practices. I have seen presidents and their partners in tears over this. Do they forget that everyone loves this Sunday mostly because of the kids' errors and antics? Gidget just got called to be the secretary in our ward and already the presidency is getting her all flustered with everything she needs to be doing and how to do it.

It's just evidence that the two hour block won't work. We're not programed to do anything less than three hours of church.

[NorthwestUteFan]

Twain must have been drunk when he said that.

I am sure he was merely trying to keep up with Brother Brigham.

[smokymountainrain]

We had the primary program yesterday as well.

As much as I enjoy listening to the children. I try to keep an eye on the parents in the crowd as well to see their reaction to their child's part.

I love doing this. Watching parents, spouses, etc, reactions to the people they love most is always very enjoyable.

[Northwestcoug]

I got an email from our EQP asking me to meet with the branch president today. I have been without a major calling for a while (but my wife is RS president) so I figured the good life was coming to an end.

So I get to church a little early, and meet with the BP. He says that my temple recommend is expired. I'm sure that I renewed it about a year ago, but he says we need to have another interview, which went fine. Then he asked me about my home teaching, which is admittedly subpar, and asked me to do better.

At the end of the meeting, I mentioned that I thought my recommend was current. He didn't have the (old) temple recommend book with him to check, but said my name came up in a report.

Today I learned that there is a report for lapsed temple recommends.

I knew this list existed when I was an executive secretary, but the bishopric would only use it sporadically. Fast forward a few months ago and our stake has a goal of each ward getting 10 new people who don't have one get a recommend. Mine had recently lapsed, and the bishop comes to me and tells me that I should get mine renewed. Bingo! 1 down, 9 to go.

Something tells me that getting me to renew my recommend isn't the spirit of the ward/stake goal. Oh well...

[Mormon Red Death]

This is seriously one of the lamest things I have ever heard. Our primary practice during the time alloted for primary and on Saturdays. Sorry but if I were bishop I would not take 30 minutes from the most important meeting of the week for the primary to practice.

Much ado about nothing here.

This may seem weird to you but the closest any one of my ward lives to the building is 20 minutes. Having a practice on a Saturday morning isn't happening because there would be a lot of no shows. Additionally, since you didn't read my original post there are three wards in the building. The second ward starts their sacrament at 11 AM. Thus, using the remaining hour and 50minutes to practice in the chapel can't be done logistically. Moreover, the primary as it is in most wards is pretty large. Getting every kid in a seat and showing them where to stand and following the order where they can say their two lines take practice.

[Mormon Red Death]

I'm in that camp, too. I don't like when speakers take more than their allotted time. That being said, why not just use the 2 full hours of Primary to practice the primary program? You can't understand half of what is being said anyway and the main thing everyone is waiting for is the one kid that yells his lines into the mic. That always kills.

Primary and RS lends itself to a lot of drama. This is a neutral observation.

Its about getting all the kids logistically in the right place. Of course there are going to be screw ups but is it too much to ask that they are given some extra time to make program go smoother.

[TripletDaddy]

Its about getting all the kids logistically in the right place. Of course there are going to be screw ups but is it too much to ask that they are given some extra time to make program go smoother.

No, I can see that. I stated that I don't like when people go over their scheduled time. I find it very inconsiderate of those that bother to prepare lessons for the following hour.

I guess I would cut the HC some slack. I don't think he was trying to sabotage but sounds like he could have stuck to the deadline. I wouldn't be surprised if he zoned out at the beginning of the meeting. These guys are basically wandering preachers, giving the same talks in various wards.

[Soccermom]

No, I can see that. I stated that I don't like when people go over their scheduled time. I find it very inconsiderate of those that bother to prepare lessons for the following hour.

I think it is even inconsiderate if it is the last meeting of the day. I mean, it sets a chain of delays. If Relief Society and Elders Quorum get out late, the nursery leaders and younger primary teachers have to stay longer and wait.

I think it is also inconsiderate when there are two speakers and the first speaker takes so much time, the second speaker either has to be considerate and give a two minute talk or hold the meeting over to give the talk he/she prepared. But, I guess that is part of what we get for having lay members speak. Not all of them are probably skilled at shortening a talk on the fly.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

This may seem weird to you but the closest any one of my ward lives to the building is 20 minutes. Having a practice on a Saturday morning isn't happening because there would be a lot of no shows. Additionally, since you didn't read my original post there are three wards in the building. The second ward starts their sacrament at 11 AM. Thus, using the remaining hour and 50minutes to practice in the chapel can't be done logistically. Moreover, the primary as it is in most wards is pretty large. Getting every kid in a seat and showing them where to stand and following the order where they can say their two lines take practice.

Not to mention that nobody was willing to show respect to the Lord's chosen leader of the ward who requested that they end early. I guess I would think that some people in the church would show some respect when a man is called of God and do something simple he asks them to do, like wrapping up a talk.

[Drunk Tank]

How did you answer him?

I told him she would probabbly love it, but you would have to ask her. I also told him that she does sometimes have commitments to work and that sometimes she is busy doing homework for the PhD program she is in, but she could decide for herself if this was right for her.

He then said someting to the fact that she seems really busy to which I replied yes she is. I also mentioned that maybe his wife (who is her visiting teacher) should try to visit later in the evening because my wife works until 6, and is never home at 2 in the afternoon when they come by, but I did appreciate the goodies they always dropped off.

[PaloAltoCougar]

I learned, yet again, that our ward is filled with lots of good, caring members who go out of their way to welcome new people and those who've been away for awhile. Sunday was my first time at the ward since August, and it was nice how many people noticed that and acted genuinely happy to see me. It's a great community.

BTW, I concluded my Gospel Doctrine lesson with a discussion about Paul's admonition to "glory in tribulations", and how tribulations --> patience; patience --> experience; and experience --> hope [I ignored the obvious tie-in to current football season and Big12 prospects]. I closed with a poem from Rumi (it's important to include the occasional 9th century Persian/Afghan meditation, as my lessons are invariably the philosophies of men, mingled with scripture):


This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

[HBCoug]

I learned, yet again, that our ward is filled with lots of good, caring members who go out of their way to welcome new people and those who've been away for awhile. Sunday was my first time at the ward since August, and it was nice how many people noticed that and acted genuinely happy to see me. It's a great community.

BTW, I concluded my Gospel Doctrine lesson with a discussion about Paul's admonition to "glory in tribulations", and how tribulations --> patience; patience --> experience; and experience --> hope [I ignored the obvious tie-in to current football season and Big12 prospects]. I closed with a poem from Rumi (it's important to include the occasional 9th century Persian/Afghan meditation, as my lessons are invariably the philosophies of men, mingled with scripture):


This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

Love it. Thanks for that, PAC.

[wuapinmon]

From my bishop (paraphrased):

"Have women ever had the priesthood?
No.
Do women have the priesthood now?
No.
Will they ever have the priesthood?
No.
The Lord is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow."

:igiveup:

[pellegrino]

From my bishop (paraphrased):

"Have women ever had the priesthood?
No.
Do women have the priesthood now?
No.
Will they ever have the priesthood?
No.
The Lord is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow."

:igiveup:

ask him about Lydia, Phoebe, Prisca and other female leaders in the early church. Odds are he won't have a clue who it is you're talking about

[pellegrino]

Today one of the counselors used Plato's Allegory of the Cave as an example of why we should do missionary work. The LDS are the prisoner that was released and saw things as they really are and now must try to share that "light and knowledge" (his words, not mine) with the rest of the world who remain prisoners in the cave.