I learned in church today

[Brian]

Learned the coolest thing in quite some time.
HP group meeting tonight. Going over the inactive list to see who might need some help. Get to a 56 year old Deacon named Leon. The old guy who knows everyone in this small town says: "Leon is nice enough, but he is definitely not interested in any contact." I asked what's the story on Leon.
Turns out Leon is the drug lord in town.

Mormon deacon goes Walter White.

[TripletDaddy]

It is interesting to hear people this week express relief that the election is over. Both adult speakers today made that comment. I feel the same way. I wonder if this is a common sentiment with this current election, especially among Mos.

[FN Phat]

Nothing. Today is stake conference. I love Mormon hollidays!

[Surfah]

I stayed home with the 2 year old who was running a fever.

[Omaha 680]

I learned that the Sunday morning the week after being released from the branch presidency is one of the most enjoyable Sunday mornings I have had in years. Return of the day of rest.

[The_Douger]

I stayed home with the 2 year old who was running a fever.

Me too. She kept me up until 5am.

I just got up.

She is asleep, everyone else is at church.

[smokymountainrain]

Me too. She kept me up until 5am.

I just got up.

She is asleep, everyone else is at church.

Our two year old stayed home with her nearly 40 year old dad who is running a fever and who wanted to watch a couple second year QBs battle the Manning bros. Dalton looking better than Newton, btw.

[Dwight Schr-ute]

This weekend is stake conference. Last night my wife got a text from a friend in the ward asking if we had attended the adult session because she had walked out of the stake president's talk and was curious what our thoughts were. True to form, we weren't there but I definitely wanted details.

Apparently his talk was on homosexuality and gay marriage. He was concerned about how acceptible these were becoming, especially among the younger generations "for whatever reasons." This problem has even started to encroach into our own homes. To illustrate this point, the stake president proceeded to read several comments made by members of the stake that he had "come across" on Twitter and Facebook supporting these two "evils." He never identified any of the individuals that he had quoted, but the fact that he has apparently searching out, or has people passing things along to him makes me uncomfortable. As far as I know, one of the quotes was mine. I've certainly made a few.

According to our friend, the whole talk seemed very negative and borderline hateful. It just seems odd to me that despite Salt Lake's softer approach to homosexuality the last year or so towards these topics, that message doesn't seem to be trickling down to the stakes and wards.

Of course the stake president included the line, "unfortunately, those that need to hear this message most, aren't here." Of course. But hopefully he takes comfort knowing that his message is still making it to those of us that he missed.

[Northwestcoug]

Of course the stake president included the line, "unfortunately, those that need to hear this message most, aren't here." Of course. But hopefully he takes comfort knowing that his message is still making it to those of us that he missed.

Whoa. Then either he or someone in the stake has wasted time/resources tracking people. Doesn't he have a disciplinary council or something else that would be a better use of his time?

And I'm sure the offending people would see the error of their opinions if they were in attendance...

[wuapinmon]

Church did not disappoint today, but not in the way that I expected. So many times our meetings get taken over by more conservative-leaning members' hyperbolic opinions about the End, the Constitution "hanging by a thread," and other stuff in a similar vein. After the results Tuesday night, I fully expected there to be rending of garments, gnashing of teeth, and weeping and wailing, raging against the political machinery that kept Romney from office.

Instead, I was treated to one of the beautiful things about Mormonism. I did not hear a single person today (other than myself as an aside) speak of the election other than expressing a sort of back-handed gratitude at finally not being under the spotlight anymore. Instead, our lessons revolved around showing kindness to others, personal responsibility in avoiding confrontations, and loving your spouse as much as you love yourself. So, church was indeed awesome, but not for the crass reasons that I expected. Instead, I was treated to a good old-fashioned spiritual moment where we talked one with the other concerning the welfare of our souls. It was what church is supposed to be like. Thank God (and I mean that) the elections are over.

[TripletDaddy]

Those are the same sentiments I was hearing. I suppose this election was more personal for LDS which probably exhausted everyone emotionally.

[Omaha 680]

Very conservative guy teaching EQ today. I know he is very distraught about the election and probably believes the constitution is hanging by a thread. Lesson is on Word of Wisdom and he has given a very good lesson and not mentioned politics once. I'm proud of him.

[UtahDan]

Nothing. Today is stake conference. I love Mormon hollidays!

Slick avatar.

[UtahDan]

It just seems odd to me that despite Salt Lake's softer approach to homosexuality the last year or so towards these topics, that message doesn't seem to be trickling down to the stakes and wards.

I think like other issues this a very natural thing when you "soften" but never take back or repudiate what you said before. It allows some people to think/say "yes they say one thing in public for PR reasons, but we know how they really feel because they have very explicitly said ________ and never contradicted it." This is also fed by what Daymon Smith described when talking about the roots of correlation, that is, the expectation among the membership that there is one message given to the public but a somewhat different message given to the membership.

[chrisrenrut]

Attended sacrament in Kona today. An older couple was speaking today, and leaving for the Calgary, Alberta mission tomorrow. They are in for some serious climate shock.

One of the most touching, emotional experiences I've had in a while was after the meeting. The congregation stood an sang Aloha Oe to them. I don't know the couple or the song, but it brought a lump to my throat and tears to my eyes.