Called to Serve?

[TripletDaddy]

I did not accept a calling and have not been set apart but my file leader called me to serve the HPG by teaching the combined meeting. I consider that a calling to serve since it is the method I became a home teacher.

Home teaching is not a calling. It is an assignment. Very misunderstood issue in the Church. But stated pretty plainly in the CHOI.

[KillerDog]

Home teaching is not a calling. It is an assignment. Very misunderstood issue in the Church. But stated pretty plainly in the CHOI.

I'm aware of that. I also know being asked to teach is not a true calling either. It is much more like an assignment. I consider it a calling. I have changed the title to deal with your discomfort.

[TripletDaddy]

I'm aware of that. I also know being asked to teach is not a true calling either. It is much more like an assignment. I consider it a calling. I have changed the title to deal with your discomfort.

You should have changed it to Assigned to Serve.

[Moliere]

I like the concept of fasting. I hate fasting, but I think it is a very interesting way to draw close to the spirit. I see it somewhat like running in that it is a voluntary exercise that pushes me physically but I always feel better spiritually or emotionally after completing it. That being said, I always have a headache after fast Sunday but never after running so I think I like running more.

I also like open mic Sunday. It's fun to hear the crazy stories and sobbing women. It's a great time to openly express gratitude and love for blessings on our lives. I know some people that don't get open spiritual communication at home and they relish in the testimony meetings. Mormons oftentimes feel awkward with F&T meeting because it is off the cuff. We like things structured and correlated and going against those boundaries makes most of us uneasy.

I think your idea of talking about fast offerings is a great one. There is plenty of evidence in teh scriptures of being charitable and so you could take those scriptures and apply them to fast offerings. If you run out of material before time is up, just have a scripture chase and give candy to the winner.

[Moliere]

You should have changed it to Assigned to Serve.

Assigned to Teach would be more appropriate. I don't view teaching as service.

[Katy Lied]

Personally, I think dumping on someone because they lack belief is ridiculously short sighted especially when that person is admitting the lack of belief and requesting advice on how to deal with it. I guess it isn't just short-sighted it is also counter-productive and unchristlike.

But weren't you dumping on the belief in Fasting, calling it "silly, useless, among our stupidest traditions?"

You get your licks in, and then call the reaction you generate unchristlike.

[TripletDaddy]

Assigned to Teach would be more appropriate. I don't view teaching as service.

I didn't want to get technical.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I have been asked to teach in priesthood this coming week. The EQ and HPG are meeting in a combined meeting (they do this often) and my file leader has asked me to teach lesson 25. I said yes (because I generally enjoy teaching) but then found that the lesson is on Fasting. I don't believe in fasting. I think it is silly and useless. I think the regular fast days and the accompanying testimony are among our stupidest traditions in the LDS Church. ?

I would start with this, it would turn the lesson into a situation where the class members were forced to explain/testify their beliefs on fasting.

This is a serious comment.

[Moliere]

I didn't want to get technical.

Good point, leave the technicalities to the lawyers.

[KillerDog]

But weren't you dumping on the belief in Fasting, calling it "silly, useless, among our stupidest traditions?"

You get your licks in, and then call the reaction you generate unchristlike.

Good point. I didn't consider it "dumping" on Fasting because it was so heavily edited from my actual beliefs on the subject. I intended it as a rough and mild generalization of my feelings on the subject. If I were to give a sincere lesson on the subject it would be much more harsh. That explained, your point is still valid except for one thing. Responding to harshness with harshness is still unchristlike. Whether I got my licks in or not, Indy's response is unChristlike.

[Indy Coug]

Good point. I didn't consider it "dumping" on Fasting because it was so heavily edited from my actual beliefs on the subject. I intended it as a rough and mild generalization of my feelings on the subject. If I were to give a sincere lesson on the subject it would be much more harsh. That explained, your point is still valid except for one thing. Responding to harshness with harshness is still unchristlike. Whether I got my licks in or not, Indy's response is unChristlike.

You mean the part where I stated that fasting may not be for everyone and that there are other ways to manifest faith?

[ERCougar]

I would have the same problem.

Start out by showing the evidence that the parts in the new testament mentioning fasting were not in the early biblical manuscripts and were most likely added centuries later by scribes associated with a christian sect that was focused on the practice of fasting. Then move on to fast offerings.

On second thought, maybe you should skip the first part.

Interesting--I didn't know that about the New Testament additions (and am still a little skeptical...).

I think I'm one of the more skeptical people about a lot of our traditions, and I suck at fasting, but I think fasting is one of the more intriguing, cool, and valid of our practices. It's practiced in nearly every spiritual tradition, so I have a hard time just blowing it off as a basically useless oddity (like I do the WOW, for example).

[kccougar]

Let me know when you figure it out. In fact, a summary or outline of your lesson would be good too.

(Yes, I'm teaching the same lesson on Sunday).

[KillerDog]

You mean the part where I stated that fasting may not be for everyone and that there are other ways to manifest faith?

No, the part where you said, "Fasting may not be for you personally, but to dump on the practice entirely is ridiculously shortsighted."

[Jeff Lebowski]

Interesting--I didn't know that about the New Testament additions (and am still a little skeptical...).

I think I'm one of the more skeptical people about a lot of our traditions, and I suck at fasting, but I think fasting is one of the more intriguing, cool, and valid of our practices. It's practiced in nearly every spiritual tradition, so I have a hard time just blowing it off as a basically useless oddity (like I do the WOW, for example).

Check out Misquoting Jesus by Bart Erhman.

EDIT: Hey, maybe I can point you to one of the quotes:

http://books.google.com/books?id=Aul...page&q&f=false