Popular Post jkwilliams Posted October 9, 2015 Popular Post Posted October 9, 2015 (edited) Last night I was pondering some of the conversations I've had here and some of the discussions about general conference, and it struck me how much fear is being expressed. From what I can see, people are afraid of secularism, the gay-rights movement, feminism, liberalism, conservatism, the government, the pro-choice movement, atheism, academia, the Internet, ex-Mormons, anti-Mormons, secret combinations, global warming, the anti-global warming movement, GMOs, vaccines, high-fructose corn syrup, evolution, science, and a whole host of other things. Many people have mentioned the need to protect and inoculate themselves and their families against these scary and evil forces of opposition. I'm not saying this to criticize, but in or out of the church, I think we have reasons to be optimistic and hopeful about the future. There is no place for gloom and doom and shutting ourselves off from the world. We should be out there in the world trying to make a positive difference. My recently released bishop, for example, is the county executive here, and he told me that, although he's not a natural politician (putting it mildly), he wanted to make a difference in his adopted home in Virginia. People in and out of the church are doing great things and moving righteous causes forward. And yet we despair. One of my favorite scriptures has always been Doctrine and Covenants 128, wherein Joseph Smith outlines all the reasons he has for optimist and hope in the future. The highlight for me comes in verses 22-23: Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing. Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free. Let the mountains shout for joy, and all ye valleys cry aloud; and all ye seas and dry lands tell the wonders of your Eternal King! And ye rivers, and brooks, and rills, flow down with gladness. Let the woods and all the trees of the field praise the Lord; and ye solid rocks weep for joy! And let the sun, moon, and the morning stars sing together, and let all the sons of God shout for joy! I feel optimistic. What about you? What makes you hopeful about the future? Edited October 9, 2015 by jkwilliams 6
CV75 Posted October 9, 2015 Posted October 9, 2015 I feel optimistic. What about you? What makes you hopeful about the future?Not "what" but "Who"! Jesus, of course!
jkwilliams Posted October 9, 2015 Author Posted October 9, 2015 Not "what" but "Who"! Jesus, of course! The thing is, some people seem to be hopeful only that Jesus is going to come and destroy all the wickedness. It's sort of a religious version of Travis Bickle's "Someday a real rain will come and wash all this scum off the streets." Surely, we have more to hope for than the end of the world. 4
HappyJackWagon Posted October 9, 2015 Posted October 9, 2015 I see the same level of fear you do and it sometimes comes across as fear mongering. It's negative. Hopeless. Defeated. I don't understand this mentality. From listening to conference I got the message that SATAN is winning but don't worry, ultimately Christ will come out on top. It's like we're in Rocky IV, watching Balboa (Christ) get pummelled by the Russian (Satan). Wo is me. But we're just waiting, hoping for the day that Rocky starts dodging some punches and actually hits back. We're waiting for Rocky to bloody up the Russian. In LDS theology that bloodying up of Satan will be the apocalypse and then the millinium. So in a way, things will only get worse and worse until the miraculous turn around. And since it's miraculous, and since we're merely spectators, there seems to be little we can or should be doing to make things better.
CV75 Posted October 9, 2015 Posted October 9, 2015 The thing is, some people seem to be hopeful only that Jesus is going to come and destroy all the wickedness. It's sort of a religious version of Travis Bickle's "Someday a real rain will come and wash all this scum off the streets." Surely, we have more to hope for than the end of the world.All I can say is, I don’t know Travis Bickle , but I know Jesus, and from his quote, I’m glad! I find great optimism and hope in knowing Jesus and the blessings He brings, sufficient to counter any negativity and the pressures that exist in the world. I speak for myself of course, and not for others who don’t subscribe to this. 3
Dgal Posted October 9, 2015 Posted October 9, 2015 When you have messages coming from Church leaders like Elder Bradley D. Foster of the Seventy, "Don't let the world claim our children", which is a message the creates fear, is it any wonder that people are afraid. Many of the conference talks have the power to stir up fear in many, too.I found that bothersome. I didn't feel up lifted or inspired. I felt scared.
Meadowchik Posted October 9, 2015 Posted October 9, 2015 I feel quite optimistic! The news emphasizes the horrible, but there really is so many things going on in the world. And I have a personal testimony that, even in the worst times, we will be okay because of Christ. 4
JLHPROF Posted October 9, 2015 Posted October 9, 2015 e . What about you? What makes you hopeful about the future?Eternity. The same gospel plan and pattern has existed from eternity to eternity. Never changed. The end result will come to pass regardless of our fears, disagreements, manipulations, and protestations. In the end Gods plan is guaranteed. That is all the hope I need.
rewcox Posted October 9, 2015 Posted October 9, 2015 If we are prepared, we don't need to fear. Being in good standing with the Lord, the church, our families.There is much good that can be done in our lives. If we are spiritually ready, we can manage the future.
Popular Post Avatar4321 Posted October 9, 2015 Popular Post Posted October 9, 2015 Funny. The impression it got from conference was exactly the opposite. That we should have faith and not fear.And then we have people upset that we are being told to choose to believe instead of giving giving into fear 7
jkwilliams Posted October 9, 2015 Author Posted October 9, 2015 Funny. The impression it got from conference was exactly the opposite. That we should have faith and not fear.And then we have people upset that we are being told to choose to believe instead of giving giving into fear I was not talking about conference. I was talking about what I am hearing on this board.
KevinG Posted October 9, 2015 Posted October 9, 2015 My children are growing into wonderful adults, and they have survived many horrible things, and thrived despite adversity. That makes me very optimistic. 4
rewcox Posted October 9, 2015 Posted October 9, 2015 I was not talking about conference. I was talking about what I am hearing on this board.There are far worse boards/sites. Maybe the negative comes out easier. Disaffected Mormons and ex make it sound like the world is ending if you are in the church. 1
ERayR Posted October 9, 2015 Posted October 9, 2015 Last night I was pondering some of the conversations I've had here and some of the discussions about general conference, and it struck me how much fear is being expressed. From what I can see, people are afraid of secularism, the gay-rights movement, feminism, liberalism, conservatism, the government, the pro-choice movement, atheism, academia, the Internet, ex-Mormons, anti-Mormons, secret combinations, global warming, the anti-global warming movement, GMOs, vaccines, high-fructose corn syrup, evolution, science, and a whole host of other things. Many people have mentioned the need to protect and inoculate themselves and their families against these scary and evil forces of opposition. I'm not saying this to criticize, but in or out of the church, I think we have reasons to be optimistic and hopeful about the future. There is no place for gloom and doom and shutting ourselves off from the world. We should be out there in the world trying to make a positive difference. My recently released bishop, for example, is the county executive here, and he told me that, although he's not a natural politician (putting it mildly), he wanted to make a difference in his adopted home in Virginia. People in and out of the church are doing great things and moving righteous causes forward. And yet we despair. One of my favorite scriptures has always been Doctrine and Covenants 128, wherein Joseph Smith outlines all the reasons he has for optimist and hope in the future. The highlight for me comes in verses 22-23: I feel optimistic. What about you? What makes you hopeful about the future? Now for a little dose of reality jk. In case you spend all of your time on the boards and don't get any current news there is some reason to have some fear. The Middle east is one big mass of turmoil, militant Muslims are threatening to enslave or kill. I could go on but I really think you have consumed enough current events to know what is going on. The last general conference, as with a great many before, was a message of hope and encouragement to not fear. Yes some are fixated on the fear but most simply lead their lives and raise their families with much joy and optimism. 1
jkwilliams Posted October 9, 2015 Author Posted October 9, 2015 There are far worse boards/sites. Maybe the negative comes out easier. Disaffected Mormons and ex make it sound like the world is ending if you are in the church. I'm not hearing the gloom and doom from disaffected Mormons. I'm not gloomy, for example.
jkwilliams Posted October 9, 2015 Author Posted October 9, 2015 Now for a little dose of reality jk. In case you spend all of your time on the boards and don't get any current news there is some reason to have some fear. The Middle east is one big mass of turmoil, militant Muslims are threatening to enslave or kill. I could go on but I really think you have consumed enough current events to know what is going on. The last general conference, as with a great many before, was a message of hope and encouragement to not fear. Yes some are fixated on the fear but most simply lead their lives and raise their families with much joy and optimism. I know there's bad stuff out there, but I'm seeing way too many people who seemed to be consumed with fear.
KevinG Posted October 9, 2015 Posted October 9, 2015 I'm not hearing the gloom and doom from disaffected Mormons. I'm not gloomy, for example. I can list the boards to avoid if you want to stay relatively happy with your state of benevolent doubting. Stay off the sidewalk outside of the conference center during General Conference also. 2
ERayR Posted October 9, 2015 Posted October 9, 2015 I know there's bad stuff out there, but I'm seeing way too many people who seemed to be consumed with fear. You live in the wrong neighborhood.
jkwilliams Posted October 9, 2015 Author Posted October 9, 2015 You live in the wrong neighborhood. I hope you're not inviting me to leave.
rewcox Posted October 9, 2015 Posted October 9, 2015 I'm not hearing the gloom and doom from disaffected Mormons. I'm not gloomy, for example.Are you disaffected? In which way?
jkwilliams Posted October 9, 2015 Author Posted October 9, 2015 I can list the boards to avoid if you want to stay relatively happy with your state of benevolent doubting. Stay off the sidewalk outside of the conference center during General Conference also. Benevolent doubting. I like that. The OP was not to criticize those who are afraid but hopefully to get people to talk about reasons for optimism.
jkwilliams Posted October 9, 2015 Author Posted October 9, 2015 Are you disaffected? In which way? Depends on whom you ask. Opinion runs from "fundamentally dishonest" to "the worst type of anti-Mormon there is."
rewcox Posted October 9, 2015 Posted October 9, 2015 Depends on whom you ask. Opinion runs from "fundamentally dishonest" to "the worst type of anti-Mormon there is." I'm new, so no opinion yet. I'm still trying to figure out the navigation. Any pointers for a cell phone interface?
ERayR Posted October 9, 2015 Posted October 9, 2015 I hope you're not inviting me to leave. Nope, as long as you don't build bonfires in the street and throw rocks at the neighbors windows you can stay. Oh you probably ought not dance naked in the street, bonfire or not.
jkwilliams Posted October 9, 2015 Author Posted October 9, 2015 Nope, as long as you don't build bonfires in the street and throw rocks at the neighbors windows you can stay. Oh you probably ought not dance naked in the street, bonfire or not. Sometimes I regret coming back, and it's easy to interpret some comments as others agreeing with my regret. Oh, well.
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