A time to breathe
I have been thinking about this ever since President Nelson of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints spoke in conference. Whether it was the precursor to the announcement of the "home centered, church supported" format, the challenge to the sisters of the church and beyond, his impassioned plea from the Lord regarding the name of the church, or the announcement of numerous temples and renovation of the pioneer temples, I was moved by this prophet of the Living God.
More than anything I heard the call to civility by many. The rancor of this world, and this nation in particular, has reached a fever pitch, where many feel there is no way to walk back from the precipice that we are staring down. Whenever we get to that kind of place, we have to go back to the basics, and the most basic is to focus on breathing. As Mr. Miyagi from Karate Kid said: "Don't forget to breathe. Very important." So, with a focus on removing the rancor and frustration at the political environment out of my life, I will take a breath, and review a few things that I listed above.
In conjunction with Ministering replacing the programs of Home and Visiting Teaching, the introduction of a reduced Sunday meeting block as part of being a home centered and church supported church. I look at these two things as pivoting from the Mosaic law of the gospel to the higher law. Does that make sense? From checking boxes for Home and Visiting teaching, we now strive to actively minister to those we have been assigned to shepherd. We don't just visit for a message, ask about needs, and leave, (and to be fair, many were already living this ministering concept) we are now to reach out in love, to know them AND their needs. We are interviewed, not just to whether we have checked the box of the visit, but what they need, and how the Elder's Quorum and Relief Society can help them where they are. Not for the purpose of getting them to church, though that would be a side effect of the love demonstrated, but for letting them know that they are loved, by their Father in Heaven most of all.
This is going to be a little long, sorry. That last paragraph was meant to describe living the higher law with a reduced meeting schedule. Well, I will go where I am led.
I remember the change to the three hour block in 1980. What a change that was. Of course the all day schedule before was exacerbated by living 30 minutes from the church building. Now, the prophet has reduced the schedule to two hours. This can go one of two ways. People can follow the guidance of the prophet of God to continue their learning at home, which they should have been doing already. Again, the higher expectation. Or, we can get out of church and have an extra hour of the day to do as we will, and keep church at the chapel. One other point that was made, is that we will be accountable for those choices. We are given this opportunity, what we do with it is how we will be judged. The church will support the family in their primary role to teach God's children, as was foreordained.
The prophet's plea regarding the name of the church was heartfelt and passionate. We forget as we use nicknames of the church that we are minimizing the name of Christ. What do you think of this? Calling a member of the restored Church of Jesus Christ a Mormon is similar to referring to Christmas by "X-mas". Mormon, a long time ago was an epithet. That would be akin to a Mexican thinking that some slurs, which I will not write, are acceptable in common discussion They aren't. I truly thought President Nelson was going to cry. We are members of the Lord's church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We are not Mormons, or even LDS. Latter Day Saint is acceptable to refer to a member of the church, but we do not drop the name of Jesus Christ when referring to His church. It really is that simple. Curious as to how to address the issue?
https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/style-guide
The announcement of 12 new Temples throughout the world was very bold and ambitious. From Africa to Asia, from Argentina to Utah, temples are being built at a rapid pace. As temples are built, old ones are being renovated. The pioneer temples, which I take to mean: St. George Utah, Logan Utah, Manti Utah, and Salt Lake City Utah temples will be scheduled to be closed and renovated. What a time to be alive. To have temples multiplying through the world!
Did I forget anything? Oh, the challenge from President Nelson to the Sisters of the world. Well, maybe an invitation. There were four, actually. To read the Book of Mormon cover to cover by the end of the year, to attend the temple, to attend ALL of their Relief Society meetings, and... a social media fast. Ten days. T.E.N days. My first thought? Thank goodness that was directed at the sisters. Dodged it again. But then, especially today, I thought "is that what a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ would say in response to a prophet of God? and then I had that "oh mannnn" moment.
But you know? Things are really ugly on Facebook, and I would never be able to cast the first, tenth, or thousandth stone. When I add my opinion, I had tried to be sensitive, and in many ways, I still am, but like Justice Kavanaugh, I let it get to me, and lately I have been striking out with emotion, righteous anger was my thought, but then asked myself, do I have the same claim to the emotion that Christ displayed as he turned the tables in His temple? Um, no.
So, I am taking a few days off of Facebook. I may try to write a little more, particularly here On The Rim. I wish that I could just move to Andorra, and say the heck with the US politics, but I can't. I love this nation, and feel that I must let my voice be heard. No matter how few read it. That, and I am taking a Democracy class which has discussions that I need to keep up with current events. I will try very hard not to let my anger get the better of me, instead opting for a more reasoned tone.
I will follow the prophet, though he did not call to me directly. But being a junkie, leaving all of the political commentary behind will have a significant withdrawal phase. Wish me luck and enjoy the peace.
And don't forget to breath.
More than anything I heard the call to civility by many. The rancor of this world, and this nation in particular, has reached a fever pitch, where many feel there is no way to walk back from the precipice that we are staring down. Whenever we get to that kind of place, we have to go back to the basics, and the most basic is to focus on breathing. As Mr. Miyagi from Karate Kid said: "Don't forget to breathe. Very important." So, with a focus on removing the rancor and frustration at the political environment out of my life, I will take a breath, and review a few things that I listed above.
In conjunction with Ministering replacing the programs of Home and Visiting Teaching, the introduction of a reduced Sunday meeting block as part of being a home centered and church supported church. I look at these two things as pivoting from the Mosaic law of the gospel to the higher law. Does that make sense? From checking boxes for Home and Visiting teaching, we now strive to actively minister to those we have been assigned to shepherd. We don't just visit for a message, ask about needs, and leave, (and to be fair, many were already living this ministering concept) we are now to reach out in love, to know them AND their needs. We are interviewed, not just to whether we have checked the box of the visit, but what they need, and how the Elder's Quorum and Relief Society can help them where they are. Not for the purpose of getting them to church, though that would be a side effect of the love demonstrated, but for letting them know that they are loved, by their Father in Heaven most of all.
This is going to be a little long, sorry. That last paragraph was meant to describe living the higher law with a reduced meeting schedule. Well, I will go where I am led.
I remember the change to the three hour block in 1980. What a change that was. Of course the all day schedule before was exacerbated by living 30 minutes from the church building. Now, the prophet has reduced the schedule to two hours. This can go one of two ways. People can follow the guidance of the prophet of God to continue their learning at home, which they should have been doing already. Again, the higher expectation. Or, we can get out of church and have an extra hour of the day to do as we will, and keep church at the chapel. One other point that was made, is that we will be accountable for those choices. We are given this opportunity, what we do with it is how we will be judged. The church will support the family in their primary role to teach God's children, as was foreordained.
The prophet's plea regarding the name of the church was heartfelt and passionate. We forget as we use nicknames of the church that we are minimizing the name of Christ. What do you think of this? Calling a member of the restored Church of Jesus Christ a Mormon is similar to referring to Christmas by "X-mas". Mormon, a long time ago was an epithet. That would be akin to a Mexican thinking that some slurs, which I will not write, are acceptable in common discussion They aren't. I truly thought President Nelson was going to cry. We are members of the Lord's church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We are not Mormons, or even LDS. Latter Day Saint is acceptable to refer to a member of the church, but we do not drop the name of Jesus Christ when referring to His church. It really is that simple. Curious as to how to address the issue?
https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/style-guide
The announcement of 12 new Temples throughout the world was very bold and ambitious. From Africa to Asia, from Argentina to Utah, temples are being built at a rapid pace. As temples are built, old ones are being renovated. The pioneer temples, which I take to mean: St. George Utah, Logan Utah, Manti Utah, and Salt Lake City Utah temples will be scheduled to be closed and renovated. What a time to be alive. To have temples multiplying through the world!
Did I forget anything? Oh, the challenge from President Nelson to the Sisters of the world. Well, maybe an invitation. There were four, actually. To read the Book of Mormon cover to cover by the end of the year, to attend the temple, to attend ALL of their Relief Society meetings, and... a social media fast. Ten days. T.E.N days. My first thought? Thank goodness that was directed at the sisters. Dodged it again. But then, especially today, I thought "is that what a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ would say in response to a prophet of God? and then I had that "oh mannnn" moment.
But you know? Things are really ugly on Facebook, and I would never be able to cast the first, tenth, or thousandth stone. When I add my opinion, I had tried to be sensitive, and in many ways, I still am, but like Justice Kavanaugh, I let it get to me, and lately I have been striking out with emotion, righteous anger was my thought, but then asked myself, do I have the same claim to the emotion that Christ displayed as he turned the tables in His temple? Um, no.
So, I am taking a few days off of Facebook. I may try to write a little more, particularly here On The Rim. I wish that I could just move to Andorra, and say the heck with the US politics, but I can't. I love this nation, and feel that I must let my voice be heard. No matter how few read it. That, and I am taking a Democracy class which has discussions that I need to keep up with current events. I will try very hard not to let my anger get the better of me, instead opting for a more reasoned tone.
I will follow the prophet, though he did not call to me directly. But being a junkie, leaving all of the political commentary behind will have a significant withdrawal phase. Wish me luck and enjoy the peace.
And don't forget to breath.
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