I learned in church today

[LA Ute]

Just book marking this comment as yet another example of the effects of CUF socialization.

Oh, you're too kind. I don't think I've changed that many minds here.

[Jacob]

Still, I don't like where that line of reasoning leads.

"Honey, I know that before we got married I told I was going to be a doctor, but occasionally they have to take call on Sunday so instead I am going to punch a clock for 8 hours a day at the local <insert menial job here> because they are closed on Sundays. That way every Sunday I can prepare my lesson for 2 hours in the morning, go to church for 3 hours, attend 2 hours of meetings, input data into MLS for an hour or so, and then go to the fireside for a few hours. We still won't be together as a family on Sundays because I have 10 hours of jackshit commitments, but at least I will be 'keeping the commandments as they are written. We will be blessed in heaven for making 10% as much in this life...'."

The type of person you describe would not wait until Sunday morning to prepare the lesson. They'd do it the week before, and during the week, etc. The procrastinator is not magnifying his calling and may as well play football on Sunday.

[NorthwestUteFan]

He was preparing for NEXT week's lesson, and picking the proper doilies for this week's table display.

[wuapinmon]

In his defense, I doubt someone who does something like Eli Herring did would like to be held up as an example of righteous living. He struck me as a deeply convicted man trying to do what he thought was right, and not for the world to see or approve of his choice. You might remember his comments on ESPN when asked about other LDS NFL players; he responded something like, "I can't speak for them, only for myself."

[TripletDaddy]

AWESOME!!!,

"do you believe in beings from other planets? I do. we all do. He is our older brother, Jesus."

:rockon1:

Please stay tuned!!!!!

[TripletDaddy]

What a letdown. Turned out to be a talk on keeping the sabbath day holy

If you are wondering about the link between beings from other planets and the sabbath day, there really wasn't any. Her point was that He came here and had to do many things that were "foreign" to Him, so the least we could do is obey the Sabbath even if doing so may be difficult or "foreign" to us. Weak.

Very misleading intro sentence.

[Moliere]

Apostles are required to physically touch the resurrected savior so they can be special witnesses of him.

[LA Ute]

Apostles are required to physically touch the resurrected savior so they can be special witnesses of him.

AWESOME!!!,

"do you believe in beings from other planets? I do. we all do. He is our older brother, Jesus."

:rockon1:

Please stay tuned!!!!!

I wish there were a cringe emoticon.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I learned that every bad thing that happens to us is because God has something specific he wants to teach us. Therefore all bad things are really blessings and we should be thankful. Then he told a story about a kid who was miraculously saved by his mother from choking and the speaker said that this was a tender mercy from God because He knew that the mother would just "lose it" if her little boy died.

[Rosebud]

I've never been in a bishopric, ward council or PEC meeting where we've been talking about how to help someone who's less active and we've used any information other than what was applicable to that individual's specific situation.

Idk LA. I have a hard time believing that. Maybe you mean that you've never been in a meeting where you've been talking about how to "help" someone who's less active using information other than what is YOUR PERCEPTION of what is applicable to that individual's specific situation.

The main problem, it seems, is that the perception of leadership about what kind of "help" "inactives" need isn't necessarily very accurate and therefore may not be all that applicable.

But teaching that if someone's less active it's because he's unable or unwilling to keep the commandments simply encourages the wrong kind of judging among the membership, not to mention self-righteousness.

Agreed. I also think it's a little self-righteous to teach that inactive people are 'struggling with their faith' because they hold beliefs different than are expected. I realize that when a believer is completely sure that he or she is correct, it's easy to assume that someone who no longer believes the same way he or she does is "struggling" or in need of "help." So, in a way, that surety of testimony makes for unintentional self-righteous thoughts or behaviors that, in turn, may cause leaders in PEC meetings to inaccurately perceive the needs of individuals.

[LA Ute]

Idk LA. I have a hard time believing that. Maybe you mean that you've never been in a meeting where you've been talking about how to "help" someone who's less active using information other than what is YOUR PERCEPTION of what is applicable to that individual's specific situation.

The main problem, it seems, is that the perception of leadership about what kind of "help" "inactives" need isn't necessarily very accurate and therefore may not be all that applicable.

Re-reading what you quoted from my post, I see that I did such a bad job articulating my thoughts that even I am not sure what I meant to say. I think it was that in my experience (and that's all it is - my experience) we haven't sat in meetings speculating about or judging people. It's been, "Bob Smith hasn't been here for months, his home teacher says Bob's friendly but won't say why he stays away. How can we find out if we can help Bob? Does anyone know more about Bob's situation or feelings?" IOW, we don't assume anything about why Bob has become less active. Make sense? I personally think that's the right approach.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Caffeine drinks in any form are against the WoW and will cause you not to have a temple recommend. Also that the Lord will never accept "medical" (the speaker used air quotes) marijuana, as it was not developed by the light and knowledge of God, like penicillin.

[Tim]

I learned in church today... that doing a poop-check on a nursery kid's diaper can sometimes result in my finger being covered in poop. God help me!

[wuapinmon]

I learned that every bad thing that happens to us is because God has something specific he wants to teach us. Therefore all bad things are really blessings and we should be thankful. Then he told a story about a kid who was miraculously saved by his mother from choking and the speaker said that this was a tender mercy from God because He knew that the mother would just "lose it" if her little boy died.

Come on, that makes total sense! God makes all kinds of bad things happen to other people so that we can learn how to deal with grief, nevermind the dead guy.

[byu71]

I learned that every bad thing that happens to us is because God has something specific he wants to teach us. Therefore all bad things are really blessings and we should be thankful.

I have heard that one all my life. I have also heard if you live the commandments you will be bless with good things. Seems to make it pretty easy. Good things come God is doing it for you, bad things come and and it is God doing something good so you can learn from it.

I wish in the scriptures somewhere it just said, "shit happens".