I learned in church today

[clackamascoug]

Ward Conference today, with an area 70 presiding. The quality and presentation of the message of the visiting authority was a huge upgrade to our normal fare. During the last hour combined the subject was on reactivation. The 2nd counselor in the SP spoke of his rebellious years, and how ten years ago he was inactive with long hair and earrings. I knew him then and can attest to his rebelliousness. The 70 spoke of a survey giving to Stake Presidents, with two simple questions. Have you ever been less active? How long were you less active? 25% of Stake Presidents had responded that they had gone at least 1 year in their life without going to church. One SP had gone 25 years without stepping into a church. He then told the story of his own aunt and uncle going to the temple in the late 60's and becoming ordinance workers in their 70's.

[Omaha 680]

The third hour combined lesson was taught by our Bishop and was on guilt. More specifically, what things cause us to feel guilt in our lives and why. A very brief portion of the lesson was spent on guilt as a positive motivator to repentence, while the vast majority of the time we discussed what the Bishop called "bad guilt" for lack of a better term. I think others correctly identified this as shame. Many people opened up and shared issues they deal with that cause shame, from trivial things like not taking your kids trick or treating to weightier matters like serious doubts about the church and God. It was a somewhat cathartic meeting and I thought the Bishop did a fantastic job. His focus was to assure everyone that the point of the Atonement is that we need to let things. Whether it's something we've done that we can't forgive ourselves for or trivial matters that make us feel like we don't measure up, Christ is there to take the burden.

The point that stuck with me was in closing when the Bishop said that in the world you don't get points for trying. You have to do things right or you won't get rewarded. But the wonderful thing about the gospel is that trying does count. The Lord gives plenty of points for trying. In fact, trying is sometimes all that matters.

[thesaint258]

The point that stuck with me was in closing when the Bishop said that in the world you don't get points for trying. You have to do things right or you won't get rewarded. But the wonderful thing about the gospel is that trying does count. The Lord gives plenty of points for trying. In fact, trying is sometimes all that matters.

That is a really good point. I need to remember that.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Being God is a lot harder than you think it is.

[Clark Addison]

Being God is a lot harder than you think it is.

I assume this means emotionally or something, since how can anything be hard if you are omnipotent? Just snap your fingers.

I think, when I create my universe, that the way people will exercise the priesthood is "I Dream of Jeannie" style. For example, when blessing someone who is sick, they will speak the words of a blessing, then fold their arms and nod sharply at the recipient of the blessing. That will provide me endless amusement, I expect.

[All-American]

Being God is a lot harder than you think it is.

Lebowski, care to comment?

[Jeff Lebowski]

Lebowski, care to comment?

He's right.

[Topper]

He's right.

I kinda like it. Rank has its privileges.

[Bo Diddley]

I'm out at a branch at Fort Lee for a couple of months. At the end of Sacrament Meeting, they blessed the sacrament a second time for those soldiers who came in after the first run. Has anyone seen this before? Not saying it's wrong, just never seen it.

You also need to be careful with what you say to young privates. He asked those who came in late to stand up so they'd be able to see who they need to pass it to. They stood up the whole time through both the bread and water, and sat down when the blessers and passers did as well.

[Pheidippides]

I'm out at a branch at Fort Lee for a couple of months. At the end of Sacrament Meeting, they blessed the sacrament a second time for those soldiers who came in after the first run. Has anyone seen this before? Not saying it's wrong, just never seen it.

You also need to be careful with what you say to young privates. He asked those who came in late to stand up so they'd be able to see who they need to pass it to. They stood up the whole time through both the bread and water, and sat down when the blessers and passers did as well.

In a small branch in Japan I saw something similar. The branch president would pick up the trays from the sacrament and rush to the back to give it to families who came in way late during the talks. I thought it was kinda cool.

[Bo Diddley]

In a small branch in Japan I saw something similar. The branch president would pick up the trays from the sacrament and rush to the back to give it to families who came in way late during the talks. I thought it was kinda cool.

I have seen a second opportunity for the sacrament, but this was the first time I saw the same bread and water blessed twice. Obviously the most important thing was that everyone had an opportunity for the most important part of the service.

[PaloAltoCougar]

We had an unusual sacrament meeting talk today, delivered by a 63-year-old member of our HP group who is slowly dying. His various ailments include problems with swallowing, so he’s been hooked up to a feeding tube lest he aspirate food or liquids. He has a DNR in place and the doctors have told him he will likely pass away within six months, possibly within a couple of weeks. The guy has been a mainstay in the ward, is very bright (he has Ph.D. in structural chemistry, whatever that is) and has a dry wit.

His name was on the program and when it was his turn to talk, the lights went down and he appeared on the big screen above the podium (his talk was recorded Friday evening). He was in bed, dressed only in his hospital gown (although it was white!), and after a couple of jokes, including the observation that eating isn’t nearly as much fun as it used to be, he gave a very nice, brief talk about faith and overcoming adversity. He quoted Ether (making weak things strong) and alluded to Nietzsche, noting that in many ways he’s never been stronger, an interesting observation from someone so physically debilitated. It didn’t get at all maudlin and made for a memorable and uplifting meeting.

[ewth8tr]

I learned that the wine in the scriptures was just grape juice and that Joseph changed to water for the sacrament because "bad people" were probably trying to trick him into using actual wine.

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[Harry Tic]

We had an unusual sacrament meeting talk today, delivered by a 63-year-old member of our HP group who is slowly dying. His various ailments include problems with swallowing, so he’s been hooked up to a feeding tube lest he aspirate food or liquids. He has a DNR in place and the doctors have told him he will likely pass away within six months, possibly within a couple of weeks. The guy has been a mainstay in the ward, is very bright (he has Ph.D. in structural chemistry, whatever that is) and has a dry wit.

His name was on the program and when it was his turn to talk, the lights went down and he appeared on the big screen above the podium (his talk was recorded Friday evening). He was in bed, dressed only in his hospital gown (although it was white!), and after a couple of jokes, including the observation that eating isn’t nearly as much fun as it used to be, he gave a very nice, brief talk about faith and overcoming adversity. He quoted Ether (making weak things strong) and alluded to Nietzsche, noting that in many ways he’s never been stronger, an interesting observation from someone so physically debilitated. It didn’t get at all maudlin and made for a memorable and uplifting meeting.

Wow. Sounds like a wonderful meeting. It's good to know that your bishop was sensitive enough to recognize a potentially potent and spiritually enriching sacrament talk and creative enough to make it happen.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Wow. Sounds like a wonderful meeting. It's good to know that your bishop was sensitive enough to recognize a potentially potent and spiritually enriching sacrament talk and creative enough to make it happen.

Agree, my first thought was kudos to PAC's bishop for having the guts to be wiling to stray from the norm.