Myth And False Traditions In The Church

[KevinG]

Be nice - if this turns into a doctrine and practice bash I'll close it.

 

However,

 

I was thinking of some myths that have been built up as Saints have been over eager to enforce rules generally that apply specifically to certain circumstances.

 

For example: when someone takes the prohibition on certain instruments (drums, guitar, brass) in Sacrament, and assumes we cannot use drums, brass or guitars in the cultural hall and chapel during special events.  My old Stake Center used to perform Handel's Messiah with full orchestra every Christmas season, so I know that one is a false tradition.

 

Another is the use of face cards.  One of my favorite stories is when I was playing go fish with an autistic boy, and a busy body sister told me "Brother Brigham said we shouldn't play with face cards".  I replied "Brother Brigham also said we would be damned if we didn't accept polygamy".  She never tried to correct me after that.  She rarely spoke to me either.

 

There are some examples of things that are not doctrine, but are practices.  For example we wear white shirts out of reverence, even though it isn't doctrinally required.  I'm not looking for these.  Just the silliest stuff we perpetuate that doesn't really have a basis in reverence or doctrine.

 

What are some of your favorite cultural false traditions in the church?

Edited February 18, 2015 by KevinG

[cinepro]

Be nice - if this turns into a doctrine and practice bash I'll close it.

 

However,

 

I was thinking of some myths that have been built up as Saints have been over eager to enforce rules generally that apply specifically to certain circumstances.

 

For example: when someone takes the prohibition on certain instruments (drums, guitar, brass) in Sacrament, and assumes we cannot use drums, brass or guitars in the cultural hall and chapel during special events.  My old Stake Center used to perform Handel's Messiah with full orchestra every Christmas season, so I know that one is a false tradition.

 

Another is the use of face cards.  One of my favorite stories is when I was playing go fish with an autistic boy, and a busy body sister told me "Brother Brigham said we shouldn't play with face cards".  I replied "Brother Brigham also said we would be damned if we didn't accept polygamy".  She never tried to correct me after that.  She rarely spoke to me either.

 

There are some examples of things that are not doctrine, but are practices.  For example we wear white shirts out of reverence, even though it isn't doctrinally required.  I'm not looking for these.  Just the silliest stuff we perpetuate that doesn't really have a basis in reverence or doctrine.

 

What are some of your favorite cultural false traditions in the church?

 

Plot twist.  The busy body sister left and joined the FLDS.

 

And our stake puts on a rockin' Christmas show every December in our chapel, with full orchestra (including brass and drums).  In fact my son just found a mallet from the drums by the sacrament table on Sunday.

[DBMormon]

Let's be clear, I am not saying that none of these can be true, they simply are held by many culturally to be absolutely true when they may or may not be.  Also no emotion in this post, just making a list of what I see as cultural teachings that miss the mark.

 

- enforce WOW as soda or rum cake or beer battered onion rings being a violation absolutely (Just had Jack Daniels pulled pork and pulled beef.... delicious)

- baptism by immersion was done in the brazen font

- Jesus didn't drink wine but non-alcoholic grape juice

- Mormonism has the whole truth and others have none

- Jesus was married

- Jesus was a polygamist

 

 

Edited to remove what your not asking for though not sure  you can easily separate what is silly from what is tied to Doctrine.  Most of the hard and fast lines where there isn;t one is over the misplaced view of where doctrine ends and where cultural silliness starts.

Edited February 18, 2015 by DBMormon

[bluebell]

How about the idea that using a vending machine on Sunday is breaking the Sabbath?  Would that count?

[DBMormon]

My father n law was very uncomfortable with my unorthodox views and wanted me to be a orthodox believer.  Trying to show him that prophets are not infalliable I told him JS and BY mentioned people living on the sun and moon.  Rather than acknowledge that they might have been wrong, he chose instead to validate that people might live on the sun and moon.

[KevinG]

Plot twist.  The busy body sister left and joined the FLDS.

 

 

Not the case this time.  But she is driving her children's spouses crazy.  As long as I'm not garnering her attentions I'm OK with that.

[DBMormon]

my home teacher taught us as the lesson that all resurrected beings will be white people.

[KevinG]

I still hold out that Jesus might have been married... but I wouldn't share it over the pulpit.  It has no bearing on our salvation and isn't official doctrine.

[KevinG]

my home teacher taught us as the lesson that all resurrected beings will be white people.

 

So much for Gospel music.  I hope I can hang out in Protestant heaven for the concerts.

[HappyJackWagon]

Only using your right hand to partake of the sacrament.

Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy- No TV, hiking, outside play, socializing with friends, don't buy gas

Only AP Teachers or higher prepare the sacrament (women used to do it and it's not an enumerated duty in the D&C)

Deacon's holding a microphone for a blessing/confirmation in SM

Not allowing a woman to hold her baby while it's being blessed

[Uncle Dale]

Lime jello with pineapple bits on first Sunday of the week.

Orange jello with carrot bits on the second...

(repeat ad infinitum)

 

UD

or... perhaps that's only true for the Lewisville 2nd Ward

[pogi]

Thou shalt not sell a cake for a gay wedding 

Edited February 18, 2015 by pogi

[KevinG]

Thou shalt not sell a cake for a gay wedding 

 

Bad Pogi!  50 hail Emma's for you.

[DBMormon]

no photography in the building (not just the chapel)

no clapping in chapel (people struggled to adjust when Gladys Knight came to our stake)

[KevinG]

The no photography thing.  Is that always in the chapel or just Sacrament?  Does anyone know the real policy?

 

I'm tempted to have my son's Eagle court of honor in the cultural hall so we can have the OA Drum Team and photos.

[DBMormon]

I still hold out that Jesus might have been married... but I wouldn't share it over the pulpit.  It has no bearing on our salvation and isn't official doctrine.

my point exactly..... to take a maybe and turn it into an absolutely happens a lot in the world and it really happens in weird ways in Mormonism

[DBMormon]

The no photography thing.  Is that always in the chapel or just Sacrament?  Does anyone know the real policy?

 

I'm tempted to have my son's Eagle court of honor in the cultural hall so we can have the OA Drum Team and photos.

no photography in the chapel even outside sacrament meeting.  This was in the handbook last I knew

[KevinG]

We've discussed this on other threads, but the "more generations in the church" imparting some kind of special authority or power.  

[KevinG]

no photography in the chapel even outside sacrament meeting.  This was in the handbook last I knew

 

Thanks.  Somewhere there is a story of someone getting carried away that led to that hard line.  

[pogi]

That the Lord trusts us enough to care for his children.   I hear this in almost every testimony meeting...have any of you seen Maury?  It has nothing to do with trust!

 

Perhaps I am a little sensitive as we can't have kids.  I can't be trusted I guess. 

[stemelbow]

No swearing

Being successful in terms of making a living is a blessing bestowed by God (I guess prosperity gospel)

Can't do stuff on Sunday

Church is for only discussing, in a superficial way, the material found in the manuals. Stick to the manual has ruined more potentially decent discussions in Church than anything.

[pogi]

No swearing

 

Well, excluding "thou fool" and "raca" of course. 

[Duncan]

oh man, you need 1st Presidency approval to get approval to allow someone to attend your ward even though they live outside ward boundaries. Divorced people can't serve in a Presidency-there is a 20 yr ban on divorced men from serving as a Bishop and they deep sixed the idea of a divorced guy from serving as YSA Bishop. Women can't serve as sunday school presidents even though their are women in the general sunday school board.....

[KevinG]

That the Lord trusts us enough to care for his children.   I hear this in almost every testimony meeting...have any of you seen Maury?  It has nothing to do with trust!

 

Perhaps I am a little sensitive as we can't have kids.  I can't be trusted I guess. 

 

I have a few teens left if you are interested.  Of course the deal is you have to bring them back when the complete college so they can support me in my old age.

 

Seriously - I've known childless couples who will be the best parents when resurrected.  The conditions of mortality are not punishments.  More people should remember this: 

 

John 9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

 

2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

 

3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

 

I have no doubt you and your wife have many ways of making God's work manifest in this life.

[mnn727]

How about the idea that using a vending machine on Sunday is breaking the Sabbath?  Would that count?

Funny story about that, when my wife and I were first dating I went to Church with her, we passed a number of convenience stores on the way and she suddenly pulled into an apartment complex. She pulled up to their office building where there was a Coke machine. She wanted a Coke but didn't want to break the Sabbath by making someone work.