Buckeye

I’m loving the host’s background. Generic house plant, electric guitar, Hugh Nibley book, ball cap, CRT book, bag of protein powder. I can’t tell if that’s supposed to be a metaphor for the podcast topic of mixed up men or his solution for a fruitful EQ lesson. But I’m inspired to host a men’s club where we discuss our favorite passages from One Eternal Round while downing creatine shakes and end with a guitar solo of Come Come Ye Saints.

It looks like a former prominent poster on this board - Blair Hodges - is doing a podcast series on the book. Based on prior work of his, this should be good. https://www.wayfaremagazine.org/p/meet-the-early-day-saints-episode?utm_source=podcast-email%2Csubstack&publication_id=737063&post_id=107093124&utm_medium=email#details

I’ve been wondering myself. When the new hymnal project was announced, I took to wondering “will this be the last time I ever sing this hymn” every time we sang an uncommon hymn in church. At first that made me appreciate the text more and concentrate on its meaning, but I’ve started to lapse as the project is taking so long.

It was actually Latin - QED.

Many schools moved up 6 or so spots this year because a half dozen of the most prominent law schools chose to stop participating. https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/top-ranked-yale-law-school-shun-flawed-us-news-rankings-2022-11-16/

Bingo. This poll (and discussion) can only be productive if someone can explain what values are held by Christians, but not by Hindus, Muslims, Taoists, Buddhists, Jews, and other faiths. Until then, as a devout Christian, I’ll just say that the government should declare us a Jewish nation, US laws should be based on Buddhist values, if the US moves away from our traditional Native American values we won’t have a country anymore, being Humanist is an important part of being truly American, and God has called Muslims to exercise dominion over all areas of American Society.

Thank you. I am back. I’ve attended the endowment since the changes four years ago. Ive never been without a recommend either. Even when not attending the endowment I went on youth baptism trips and did initiatories.

That’s not how I view it. Covenants aren’t one and done. Mine isn’t a God of trickery. Continued attendance and repetition of the ordinance renews the covenants and is critical for them to take effect in one’s life. It also provides an invitation for someone deceased to join the covenant through proxy work, but I’ve always viewed my temple attendance as firstly a renewal of my own covenants. I chose to step away when I came to a conviction that the covenant of obedience for my wife was contrary to the nature of the eternal marriage we were (and still are) building. I continued with the covenants that I found to be edifying - baptism, initiatories, and proxy baptisms with my kids and youth groups. I missed much of the endowment that was good and holy. But concluded I couldn’t continue renewing a covenant I did not believe in. Others certainly can view their covenants differently. But for me, when the wording changes so do my existing covenants. The new replaces the old. My wife is not under a covenant of obedience to me any more.

Interesting. I hadn’t heard that change.

But that covenant accompanied the husband’s covenant to obey God. I don’t see the two covenants as separable. The wife only covenanted to the husband in the context of his covenant to God.

The eternal principle is obedience to God. That is consistent. Previously the ordinance placed a husband as an intermediary between his wife and God, but ultimately her obedience was always to God. Through greater light and counseling, the ordinance language has been improved to provide a direct line between women and God. For some this change may be a stumbling block. For most it is a stepping stone.

I haven’t been to an endowment session for a couple weeks so can’t comment on these changes. I’m excited to “come and see” I can say the changes a few years ago were significant enough that I began attending the ceremony again. I had stopped for a few years because I could not in good conscience join an ordinance that placed my wife in obedience to me. Those changes were a miracle in timing as my oldest son was preparing for a mission and I was torn about not being part of his endowment. I know God has many other children to care about than me, but I’ll always carry that change as a testimony he cares for me personally. I’m so grateful to be in a living church that, while doing so in fits and starts, is moving forward with purposeful repentance and seeking all things which are good.

New article from the WSJ today. Looks like the SEC may take action for failure to report the stock holdings. https://www.wsj.com/articles/mormon-churchs-investment-arm-under-investigation-by-sec-dca77f9 “The SEC’s investigation has focused on whether the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as LDS, complied with disclosure requirements for large money managers. It is at an advanced stage and is likely to lead to a settlement in the coming months, people familiar with the matter said.”

Every ward I’ve lived in since leaving byu has had annual ward goals - Chicago, Ohio, Colorado. My wards growing up probably did too I just never paid attention. Usually the goals track the church missions (now four-fold but previously three). I’d guess 25% of the years the bishopric has printed the goals and handed out copies to members, typically around ward conference. Usually the metrics are not tracked well except maybe baptisms.

I’ll throw in my anecdote. As background, my wife and I grew up in the church, met at byu, got married after I served a mission and before she could, and have five active children - some at home, one at byu, one on a mission. Both our extended families are large (5-7 siblings) and everyone is active and married in the temple save one sibling. None of us feels particularly noteworthy but we’re the ones people in the ward would think “are fully on the covenant path”. Working outside the home is one of the best things my wife has chosen. Initially we handicapped her - I rushed getting to law school and we agreed she’d graduate with a marriage/family degree rather than what she really was interested in because that was all she could squeeze. As such, while at home with five young ones she was also getting teaching certificates and a masters degree online. It was rough at times. But so worth it. She’s an educator who works outside. I’m an attorney blessed to work at home. While no situation is perfect, ours is as good as we could design in the current world. I absolutely love being home when the kids arrive from school. I get time with them, which I rarely have in the church since I’ve always been given administrative callings that take me away. She was with them full time while they were young and still manages to get to all sports, band, etc activities. If she were at home now she’s be completely bored, not to mention frustrated with my being here. 🙂 Over the years we’ve heard a few typical criticisms - “doesn’t your husband earn a good salary”, “I’m surprised your wife trusts you to grocery shop”, etc. Mostly I believe these come from people wrestling with their own circumstances and choices. I’m very confident our children are blessed from us both working outside the home. To put things in a gospel perspective, they have two strong witnesses of the joy that comes through fulfilling a parent’s responsibility to provide, protect, preside, and most importantly nurture.