Hastening The Work-What Does That Even Mean?

[Tacenda]

We do indeed hear a lot about missionary work these days, Tacenda.

But we also hear increasingly about temples, temple work, and the increasing efficiency and speed of genealogical work.

The Church continues to rapidly expand into these and other areas as it increases the breadth of its worldwide footprint.

Digital systems and social media have a lot to do with all of that, and those are things which were not available until recently.

Reminds me of a science fiction story about a monastery in Tibet which was intent on bringing on the end more quickly: They purchased computers and a computer technician was brought in to advise them. They knew that if they printed all the possible names of God, then the world would end. With computers the end came quickly, and the last thing the computer techie saw was the stars going out.

I have a terrible habit of using hyperbole a lot. I need to stop it. Yes we hear about temple work also.

[canard78]

When I say the end I'm referring to this Telestial existence. As we know the world goes on but under a righteous government. I think when Christ comes we will go on much as we do now. Children will still go to school, grownups will have occupations and we will still be building houses and temples and missionaries will still be teaching. So he is right it will go on and i think a key phrase is "You can look forward to doing it right." I would love my grandchildren to grow up in that kind of world. And we won't have the IRS.

No man knoweth the hour... But Deborah is no man...

[canard78]

Haha, I wish! We are so, so far from perfect -- an assessment I'm in a solid position to be making. At the same time, what I have discovered, and what so many others in my ward seem to be discovering as well, is that simply letting go of cynicism, pseudo-sophistication, and anything else we use to mask our selfishness and/or lack of faith and following the clear directions of the living prophets brings about the promised outcomes -- both in our personal lives and in the lives of others. I got to go to the temple last weekend with our Young Men president, and he kept telling me over and over that he's never been happier and that his family has never before been so blessed since he woke up and joined the current call to 'hasten'. I can see the changes all around me in our ward. For example, greater peace and harmony have come to this man's family as contention in the home has completely melted away. At the same time, he's extending those same blessings to others.

As we were driving back from the temple Saturday afternoon, he asked if we might visit a couple of inactive families upon returning. We were both exhausted after a 600-km trip, but it seemed like the perfect ending to our day, so instead of going home we made two visits first. Both were warm and effective. The second family I have visited a number of times in the past, since they moved into our ward about three years ago. They have always been cold and unwelcoming, but this past Saturday they were warm and open. As the YM president talked simply (because he's a very simple man) but sincerely about the blessings of the temple, the mother opened up and said they might be at church the next morning. They weren't, but then their home teacher rang me Tuesday night to report that the mum had that evening asked for help doing family history work and wanted someone to start taking her girls to church on Sundays. And in our ward, when someone asks for that kind of help, we make sure it's given.

Every week in ward council or PEC, ward leaders report on whom they've visited during the week, how the visits went, and what needs to happen next, and then we follow up and do it. Some weeks everything falls apart, but with only a couple of exceptions (our ward clerk and our YSA advisor), every single member of ward council is doing what we've been asked to do, and it's obviously working. It's made them all happier and livelier, and people's lives are being blessed at the same time.

Glad to hear it. When we're anxiously engaged in any good we're in the service of God.

I don't believe there's something particularly unique about "Hastening the Work" as an initiative. But if it leads to people losing themselves in service of the human family then they are going to feel the benefit of it. As such, if it leads to people being more motivated to serve it is a good thing. Even if it is simply a marketing slogan.

[Stone holm]

Interesting contrast with rhe Pope's most recent comment about the meaninglessness of proselyting work.

[Avatar4321]

The church has been loafing all this time?

 

Actually, yes. Yes we have.

 

I have no doubt that the General Authorities have been working hard. And many local leaders and individuals have been as well. but the fact is that the Church in General has been very lax regarding the work we have to do.

 

I mean just read the message boards here, there are alot of people talking about how the Church only had a fraction active that are on the records. I can't speak for everyone, but I know I've slacked on my home teaching many times. There are times I could have helped others. I used to think i was working hard, but lately, I've been accutely aware of how much time I've been wasting with TV and computers. Even message boards like this.

 

We can do better as a people. There are people who need us. I for one have been seeking greater faith in Christ to do member missionary work. Because i feel I need to be doing better. I am not depressed about it. Not being hard on myself. I just realize there is much more to me than I've allowed myself. So I am going to exercise faith and do better. I hope all of us would.

 

Also, I don't think the "hastening the work" is just a new slogan. the scriptures do say that the Lord will hasten His work. I think that time is now. I've been feeling that some time even before they introduced the slogan. I just hope that I can repent of the rebellious spirit in me an do my duty. I hope you will all do the same.

[Hamba Tuhan]

As such, if it leads to people being more motivated to serve it is a good thing. Even if it is simply a marketing slogan.

 

Agreed. And many of the Lord's prophets seem to have been really good at crafting a catchy marketing slogan. I'm a personal fan of Moses's 'Let my people go™'. And then John the Baptist had a real winner with 'Prepare ye the way of the Lord™'. The Prophet Joseph generated so many, but I think 'The field is white already to harvest™' has had some real staying power. And I'm still in awe at the marketing effectiveness of 'I am the light of the world™', though I reckon we should expect the Lord to be pretty good at this task too.

Edited October 5, 2013 by Hamba Tuhan

[Hamba Tuhan]

Interesting contrast with rhe Pope's most recent comment about the meaninglessness of proselyting work.

 

Interesting indeed. One almost gets the impression that Church leaders actually feel they have something still worth sharing.

[Avatar4321]

Interesting contrast with rhe Pope's most recent comment about the meaninglessness of proselyting work.

 

What did the Pope say?

[Stone holm]

What did the Pope say?

Well to paraphrase, he said proselyting was irrelevant, we needed to just start talking to people and working out ways to make life better for each other...this was in an interview he volunteered to an atheist editor.