Inappropriate or Appropriate?

[fusnik]

Today at church the YM did not prepare, administer or pass the sacrament. I was telephoned at 815 this morning asking if I could prepare today due to 'Fast Sunday' considerations. (The excuse being the boys are so busy on FS that giving them a break today is cool)

During the prep of the sacrament, the YM President who had just left PEC, came to help and explain how it should be passed. I asked why the boys couldn't pass or bless and was told the following:

At Youth Conference this week we (the YM Presidency) snuck up on the boys main tent to scare them. As we approached we noticed the boys talking about porn, sexual acts, and heard inappropriate language. Because of this none of the AP will be allowed to pass until interviews have been conducted with all the boys.

I told the YMP that it was inappropriate that he listened to the conversation and that it was inappropriate that the Bishop is taking disciplinary action prior without talking to the boys. I asked, how do you know they are not bragging to appear cool? Have you not convicted the boys prior to allowing them their license of talking to the Bishop? (The point being, what will the Bish say when a boy says I have never watched porn)

Who is wrong, me or the YMP?

[DapperDan]

I don't know that the YMP was in the wrong to listen, but the proactive punishment is wrong.

[pellegrino]

I agree with Dan, and I would add that perhaps there isn't a wrong or a right in this situation. I don't have a problem with the YM leaders hearing the conversation. I don't think they intended to spy and once they heard things like that they are placed in a difficult situation. How do you go approach a situation like that where the kids are apparently not living some important standards? I would likely tell the bishop, but I'd talk to the boys individually and tell them what happened, what I heard, what I was going to do, and why. I'd also encourage them to go see the bishop on their own and to refrain from using their priesthood until matters were cleared up. It would be tough, especially because you could potentially ruin any sense of rapport between you and the boys.

I'm confident there was truth to what was being said in the boys' conversation, not so much about the sexual acts (I assume they were bragging about having engaged in certain acts), but it's far from the realm of unbelievable.

[BlueHair]

Either way, good luck finding a teenage boy that is truly "worthy".

[SoonerCoug]

The real measure of worthiness ought to be whether these kids wash their hands before they break the bread or pass the sacrament.

[pellegrino]

Either way, good luck finding a teenage boy that is truly "worthy".

are there not degrees of worthiness?

[pellegrino]

The real measure of worthiness ought to be whether these kids wash their hands before they break the bread or pass the sacrament.

this is true, given what they are could be doing with them.

[wuapinmon]

Well, I think that your YM president has forgotten what it's like to be a teenager.

And cussing should have no bearing on passing the Sacrament, otherwise, I should've never been allowed to even take it.

With all this said, I think that they need to have interviews today, and not make a big spectacle about it again. They worry about what color shirts the boys wear to "not distract;" well I guarantee that this is a big distraction.

I don't think that listening was inappropriate. However, I would've gone in right then and there and asked them what was going on, and then depending on their responses, either taken them all home that night or had a testimony meeting.

[jay santos]

Fus, you have drama queens for leaders in your ward.

[jay santos]

are there not degrees of worthiness?

Biblically there are only two. Unworthy humans and worthy Christ. You become worthy only by inheriting Christ's worthiness.

[mUUser]

One thing's for certain -- it will be a splendid week for the ward gossipers.

[Indy Coug]

One thing's for certain -- it will be a splendid week for the ward gossipers.

As opposed to people that post this on a messageboard for the entire world to see?

[CardiacCoug]

Fus, you have drama queens for leaders in your ward.

I agree with this -- don't these leaders have any real problems to deal with without getting all worked up about some locker room talk from teenage boys?

They shouldn't have been listening to the boys without their permission -- that is a violation of their privacy, not to mention extremely bad manners.

And if they accidentally heard something, they should have just gone in and told the boys to knock it off and left it at that.

[Non Sequitur]

If this story is really true, then the inappropriate part is the YMP telling you why the kids wouldn't be participating in the Sacrament. I have a hard believing such a lack of discretion.

[Indy Coug]

Fus, you have drama queens for leaders in your ward.

Consider the source of this information.