Taking God's Name in Vain

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  • wuapinmon
    Soul Plumber
    • Dec 2008
    • 30711

    #1

    Taking God's Name in Vain

    So, I've felt rather badly since last Sunday because I took God's name in vain, for real, for the first time since I was baptized 20 years ago.

    Without belaboring the details, I was helping my mom clean out the house I grew up in, and that she and my father let fall apart through mutual stubbornness and blamegaming. All week long she had been fault finding and picking at me, recalling past things that I had putatively done (some of them amazingly during my mission). It's not a minor's responsibility to make sure that his parents' house is in good repair. Since getting married, I have spent countless hours doing what I could to fix things at that house.

    Finally, when she accused me, incorrectly, of making a water stain on a piece of furniture, furniture that we had already sold, and that looked like it did when I sold it, I blew up at my mother. My parents would often blame me for things that went wrong around the house. I endured my father's manic depression and my mother's co-dependency for my whole life. And, on Sunday, I lost it, and told her that I refused to take any more blame for things that were wrong in that "god-damned house."

    So, I broke a temple covenant. I went outside and sat in the car for about a half an hour, calmed down, apologized to my mother for yelling at her, and we reconciled. But, I prayed for forgiveness, and I feel absolutely NOTHING, just a sadness, like a knot in my throat, that I can't seem to shake. I didn't take the sacrament today so that I could spend another week thinking about not letting my anger and my temptations (gluttony has been my companion all week) control my spiritual life; some of them, like gluttony, spilling over into realms physical/temporal.

    This has always been on of the things that was easy for me, but lately, I've been thinking "God dammit" in my head all the time when I'm frustrated or stressed. I never thought this was going to be an issue for me. I'm not around people who use it. I never had the habit of saying it before I joined the Church.

    I don't feel like I need to confess to the bishop because it's really a matter of having offended God. I just feel like time will heal the wound, but for now, it's festering, and I just needed to tell others about how I was feeling. You might think this is silly, and perhaps it is, but I broke a covenant I never thought I would, and it's gotten to me.

    Have any of yall struggled with this?
    "Wuap's "problem" is that he is smart & principled & committed to a moral course of action. His actions are supposed to reflect his ethical code.
    The rest of us rarely bother to think about our actions." --Solon
  • Mr. Mcgibblets
    Junior Member
    • Aug 2011
    • 24

    #2
    I think you should go easier on yourself. I am not sure that such a narrow interpretation of "taking the lord's name in vain" is helpful or correct. There are only a few major covenants made in the temple (if I remember correctly) and this is one of them. I have a hard time believing that God finds it so important that he makes us covenant not to use the word God when we are upset.

    I really don't think guilt comes from God as often as us Mormons sometimes ascribe it to him. Besides, the word God isn't really his name anyway is it?

    I think this guy is closer to what the bible meant than many modern christians: http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blo...-name-in-vein/

    Basically he argues that the commandment originally intended to stop people from making pronouncements in the name of god.

    While I understand that using it as a curse word is still offensive to many and seemingly against the letter of the law, I would try not to be so hard on yourself. I don't think you broke a temple covenant by doing so. I'd call this an infraction. I highly doubt that if you died tomorrow you'd find yourself in the Terrestrial kingdom because of this.

    You'll be okay.

    Disclaimer: I also have this phrase going through my head all the time now and have to consciously watch myself to not say it because it has never been something that I ever said before. I think it started from watching too much It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: "Goddammit Charlie..." But this is the least of my worries when it comes to sinning.

    Comment

    • grapevine
      Senior Member
      • Apr 2009
      • 1990

      #3
      Putting words in the Lords mouth may also be a way of taking his name in vain. What would Jesus do when it is actually your agenda. Beware how you take my name with your lips. In anger or expression, doing things without authority there are several ways to take his name in vain. JFS even said some hymns had too frequent repetition of the name of deity.

      A bishop lecturing me and other priests on sacrament prayers mentioned to be careful there. Oh (pause) then God can sound like you are taking his name in vain.

      For sacrifice and consecration have to be willing to do it but who hasn't at times not given there all to there calling. Chastity serious one easy to be exed for. For name in vain several ways to do it.

      Comment

      • Levin
        Senior Member
        • Mar 2009
        • 1152

        #4
        Wuap, I think you're a good soul. Your sincerity and contrition -- with the obvious humility -- are admirable. If only all of us could feel such contrition when we mess up. You may say you're not feeling anything, but I would say your contrition is a sign of a sensitive soul that is already much in line with the object of its worship. As Jesus told many much worse sinners than you, I am sure he would say the same to you: your faith hath made thee whole.

        Comment

        • taekwondave
          Junior Member
          • Feb 2011
          • 1160

          #5
          Wu,

          You've imagined a god who takes offense. That's the only mistake you've made here. Rest easy, friend.

          Comment

          • taekwondave
            Junior Member
            • Feb 2011
            • 1160

            #6
            Wu,

            I looked over the last post I left on here, and I'm worried about how it could be taken. It doesn't acknowledge you enough or take into enough consideration what you're probably feeling about this.

            I know what it's like to come down off that cloud through disobedience; how awesome you feel about yourself and your soul one minute, only to be thrown into a spiral of doubt the next by screwing up somehow. It's one of the weaknesses that I believe is inherent in Abrahamic religions, and any other religion that teaches that mistakes leave stains on your soul that will remain throughout eternity without some intervention. I just don't believe that anymore, so when I read your post I thought of that spoke rather abruptly.

            I just meant to say that, as far as God is concerned, I truly think you're just fine. I don't think he gets offended nearly as easily as our religions say he does.

            Comment

            • Sullyute
              a day late/a dollar short
              • Jul 2010
              • 3308

              #7
              I like what Solon says in this post about how those in antiquity viewed taking the name of God in vain...

              "Friendship is the grand fundamental principle of Mormonism" - Joseph Smith Jr.

              Comment

              • TripletDaddy
                sweet triple
                • Nov 2008
                • 58186

                #8
                Originally posted by Sullyute View Post
                I like what Solon says in this post about how those in antiquity viewed taking the name of God in vain...

                http://www.cougaruteforum.com/showpo...0&postcount=36
                Solon has posted many gems over the years. I also found that one to be very interesting.

                There are others.....
                Fitter. Happier. More Productive.

                sigpic

                Comment

                • cowboy
                  Homer Weems
                  • Dec 2008
                  • 5740

                  #9
                  Maybe if you said it in Spanish next time you'd feel better about yourself.
                  sigpic
                  "Outlined against a blue, gray
                  October sky the Four Horsemen rode again"
                  Grantland Rice, 1924

                  Comment

                  • Jacob
                    Junior Member
                    • Oct 2009
                    • 6801

                    #10
                    It's interesting how religious people can feel so bad about offending God in such a manner, but feel no remorse over the countless times we have offended a fellow human in a much more offensive way.

                    Comment

                    • dabrockster
                      Senior Member
                      • Aug 2009
                      • 10936

                      #11
                      Yesterday in Sacrament meeting we had a new convert speak about her conversion story. She said "OH MY GOD" 3 times. I watched the Bishop flinch and look goosed in his seat each time.... I found that rather enjoyable..

                      Comment

                      • Green Monstah
                        Royal Rooter
                        • Aug 2010
                        • 13947

                        #12
                        I have the same problem saying GD. When I get really ticked it flies. I don't like it and I feel like crap afterwards. I also think it in my head all the time.

                        You're clearly a better man than I b/c I simply forget and move on. You might also be a little too hard on yourself. I think God knows you regret it, and I have no doubt he forgives you fully.
                        Jesus wants me for a sunbeam.

                        "Cog dis is a bitch." -James Patterson

                        Comment

                        • wuapinmon
                          Soul Plumber
                          • Dec 2008
                          • 30711

                          #13
                          Originally posted by taekwondave View Post
                          Wu,

                          I looked over the last post I left on here, and I'm worried about how it could be taken. It doesn't acknowledge you enough or take into enough consideration what you're probably feeling about this.

                          I know what it's like to come down off that cloud through disobedience; how awesome you feel about yourself and your soul one minute, only to be thrown into a spiral of doubt the next by screwing up somehow. It's one of the weaknesses that I believe is inherent in Abrahamic religions, and any other religion that teaches that mistakes leave stains on your soul that will remain throughout eternity without some intervention. I just don't believe that anymore, so when I read your post I thought of that spoke rather abruptly.

                          I just meant to say that, as far as God is concerned, I truly think you're just fine. I don't think he gets offended nearly as easily as our religions say he does.
                          I hope so. I feel better now. Godly sorrow has a way of doing that. However, I've thought it in my head a couple of times, and almost said it the other day again. It's like I have to be doubly careful now that I've started up the factory.

                          Originally posted by cowboy View Post
                          Maybe if you said it in Spanish next time you'd feel better about yourself.
                          It's not really the same in Spanish. People don't have an interjection like that other than "Ay Dios mío" which is akin to "Oh my God!" which I don't really view on the same level as wishing divine damnation of something. Now, Spanish does have some truly imaginative ways of being blasphemous. For example:

                          "Hostia" (the Host [the Sacramental wafer taken during Communion])
                          "Me cago en la Hostia" (I shit on the Host)
                          "Me cago en la Virgen" (I shit on the Virgin)
                          "Me cago en la Leche" (I shit on the Milk) meaning, the milk that Mary used to feed the infant Jesus. That one seems unparalleled in creativity. It is also widely used.

                          Originally posted by dabrockster View Post
                          Yesterday in Sacrament meeting we had a new convert speak about her conversion story. She said "OH MY GOD" 3 times. I watched the Bishop flinch and look goosed in his seat each time.... I found that rather enjoyable..
                          He must not watch any of those home shows on TV. Whenever they reveal the new digs, that's the only thing people say.

                          Originally posted by Green Monstah View Post
                          I have the same problem saying GD. When I get really ticked it flies. I don't like it and I feel like crap afterwards. I also think it in my head all the time.

                          You're clearly a better man than I b/c I simply forget and move on. You might also be a little too hard on yourself. I think God knows you regret it, and I have no doubt he forgives you fully.
                          Thanks, man. I was truly ticked that day. Now though, I find it coming into my head when I'm merely annoyed.
                          "Wuap's "problem" is that he is smart & principled & committed to a moral course of action. His actions are supposed to reflect his ethical code.
                          The rest of us rarely bother to think about our actions." --Solon

                          Comment

                          • Eddie
                            Senior Member
                            • Apr 2009
                            • 8098

                            #14
                            Originally posted by dabrockster View Post
                            Yesterday in Sacrament meeting we had a new convert speak about her conversion story. She said "OH MY GOD" 3 times. I watched the Bishop flinch and look goosed in his seat each time.... I found that rather enjoyable..
                            We have a woman from Dominican Republic, who speaks little English, in our ward - and this is her favorite too. I don't think I've ever had a conversation with her without at least 3-4 of those mixed in. It is interesting to see people jump when she does - but most of the folks know her well enough know that it isn't as frequent.

                            Comment

                            • Tim
                              Not Banned
                              • Nov 2008
                              • 4390

                              #15
                              Originally posted by wuapinmon View Post
                              "Hostia" (the Host [the Sacramental wafer taken during Communion])
                              "Me cago en la Hostia" (I shit on the Host)
                              "Me cago en la Virgen" (I shit on the Virgin)
                              "Me cago en la Leche" (I shit on the Milk) meaning, the milk that Mary used to feed the infant Jesus. That one seems unparalleled in creativity. It is also widely used.
                              You're missing the most beautiful, creative one of them all:

                              "Me cago en la mar salada."
                              Visca Catalunya Lliure

                              Comment

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