What Does It Mean To Simplify?

[Ahab]

President Uchtdorf mentioned Simplification, told a story of overdoing.

What are your thoughts?

I've said to my wife before, "Why do we have to take the house for a RS lesson?" I also know many men do not prepare to teach priesthood lessons.

Have you simplified? What did you do? What should a person, couple, family do to simplify?

You say many men don't prepare to teach priesthood lessons... I wonder how much preparation you think is necessary?

I've been teaching the 2nd and 3rd Sunday lessons in the high priest group for several years now and I prepare my reading through the material in the manual, which usually takes about 10-15 minutes, and then relying on the Spirit to help me remember what I read in the manual as well as everything else I have already learned in my life about what that Prophet was talking about.

So how much preparation would you say that was?

I think what I do to prepare is an excellent example of simplifying and it works very well.

[Duncan]

Our culture almost demands that we be continually engaged. If we are eating breakfast we must also be reading something, if we are driving we must also be talking on the phone, if we are on vacation we must be working. Even if we are at work we must make it seem like our schedules are overflowing. It is such a problem that for some even to propose slowing down seems to them like committing sin. In their heads they think things like, "I have to be productive", "I have to be accomplishing something". But perhaps in our constant doing we are accomplishing almost nothing of value. Perhaps in our mad rush to be continually busy we are losing the moment.

 

Thoreau challenges us on this matter, he says: 

I wonder if we realize how much we can grow in moments when our minds are at peace. Why do we continue to sacrifice the present moment, for some vague notion of being "productive"? What is interesting is that as we chase this concept through we will find that we can live our lives in the peace of the present moment. That simplifying is involved with doing less, but is more involved with an inward stillness, even when we our working. To me that is the ultimate end of what President Uchtdorf is reminding us.

 

let's not forget the hymn, "have I done any good in the World today" and this statement from Elder John Longden, former Assistant to the Twelve “Mere ‘busyness’ is not necessarily evidence of the wise use of time. There should be time for mental and spiritual development as well as relaxation: time for worship and time to express our thankfulness for our ability to work, and think, and pray, and read, and help, and dream, and laugh, and plan, and learn” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1966, 38)

[Bernard Gui]

You say many men don't prepare to teach priesthood lessons... I wonder how much preparation you think is necessary?

I've been teaching the 2nd and 3rd Sunday lessons in the high priest group for several years now and I prepare my reading through the material in the manual, which usually takes about 10-15 minutes, and then relying on the Spirit to help me remember what I read in the manual as well as everything else I have already learned in my life about what that Prophet was talking about.

So how much preparation would you say that was?

I think what I do to prepare is an excellent example of simplifying and it works very well.

I totally agree. The 40 minutes or so of a class is barely enough time to develop two, maybe three, concepts. The lessons in the manuals contain far more content

than can be explored in a single class meeting. My experience is that teachers prepare way too much material that cannot possibly be covered in that short time, and then express frustration that they run out of time or try to condense the last 15 minutes of their prepared material into the short time between the first and second passing bells. I approach teaching in church exactly the same way you have described. After all, most of us went to Primary, YM, YW, Sunday School, seminary, missions, multiple meetings and conferences, have engaged in extensive scripture study, and have a wealth of life experiences all of which can be applied to a lesson, and so do the other members of the class. I have found that trying to stick to a highly outlined lesson plan leaves little room for sharing and discussion.

Edited October 11, 2015 by Bernard Gui

[MiserereNobis]

Is there an equivalent to monastic retreats in Mormonism?  A place to go where everything is super simplified?  I know some churches have what they call retreats but really it is just one program after another in an outdoor setting, rather than a retreat from busyness.

 

Spending time on a monastic retreat helps me get a perspective on what is important.  My favorite monastery is so far out in the middle of nowhere that there are no phones, no cell phone signals, and of course no TV or radio.  Everyone is quiet and calm.  There is a river, there are canyons (and canyon walls), and lots of other places to walk, sit, pray, meditate, sleep, stare at the sky, read, be simple.  We meet for liturgical prayer 7 times a day (starting at 3:45 AM!).  There is a work period of about 2-3 hours which is optional for guests.  I always work because that's part of the life and it is also very grounding and meditative, since it is silent.  Meals are taken together but without talking -- there is usually someone reading a book while we eat.  The rest of the time is free to find God

 

http://www.christdesert.org

 

I find regular retreats always blend over into our hectic lives and tell us how we can be more simple, how we can do less, how we can try to make God be at the center of everything we do.  Not by doing more, but by doing less.  Not by more religious activities, but by fewer, but ones that are deeply centered on God.

 

Thomas Merton said that God can't be one priority among many, even if He is the top priority.  God has to be the only priority.  Of course what he means is that everything we do has to be God centered, from the mundane to the transcendent.  It reminds me of "praying without ceasing."  Make everything a prayer and then all we are doing is praying.

 

Easier said than done, ha! but monastic retreats always refresh me and remind me of these perspectives.

[Blah]

[Rain2]

I totally agree. The 40 minutes or so of a class is barely enough time to develop two, maybe three, concepts. The lessons in the manuals contain far more content

than can be explored in a single class meeting. My experience is that teachers prepare way too much material that cannot possibly be covered in that short time, and then express frustration that they run out of time or try to condense the last 15 minutes of their prepared material into the short time between the first and second passing bells. I approach teaching in church exactly the same way you have described. After all, most of us went to Primary, YM, YW, Sunday School, seminary, missions, multiple meetings and conferences, have engaged in extensive scripture study, and have a wealth of life experiences all of which can be applied to a lesson, and so do the other members of the class. I have found that trying to stick to a highly outlined lesson plan leaves little room for sharing and discussion.

The beginning of at least some of the lesson books say:

Prayerfully select from the chapter those teachings that you feel will be most helpful to those you teach. Some chapters contain more material than you will be able to discuss during class time.

...

As you teach from this book, invite others to share their thoughts, ask questions, and teach one another. When they actively participate, they will be more prepared to learn and to receive personal revelation. Allow good discussions to continue rather than trying to cover all the teachings.

[\quote]

The problem isn't the abundance of materials. Some of it is people having an ignorance of how the church asks people to teach. Some of it a lack of desire to utilize the church's resources to teach more effectively.

We can help the first group by sharing those resources.

With the second group we need to help them understand a little effort will go a long way and in the end will simplify things for those who learn the skills and make them wonderful tools in the Lord's hands. Easier said than done and definitely deals with agency.

[iWriteStuff]

Reading from President Eyring's book "To Draw Closer to God" the other day and found it interesting how he talks about being a deacons quorum advisor and staying very close to the teaching manual. I guess he forgot his ice sculpture of Jesus and full arrangement of flowers at home that day....

It's amazing how hard it is to keep things simple!

[rongo]

Reminds me of an old thread I started years ago . . .

 

http://www.mormondialogue.org/topic/56755-reducing-time-and-money-commitments-for-members/

[Ahab]

Is there an equivalent to monastic retreats in Mormonism? A place to go where everything is super simplified? I know some churches have what they call retreats but really it is just one program after another in an outdoor setting, rather than a retreat from busyness.

Spending time on a monastic retreat helps me get a perspective on what is important. My favorite monastery is so far out in the middle of nowhere that there are no phones, no cell phone signals, and of course no TV or radio. Everyone is quiet and calm. There is a river, there are canyons (and canyon walls), and lots of other places to walk, sit, pray, meditate, sleep, stare at the sky, read, be simple. We meet for liturgical prayer 7 times a day (starting at 3:45 AM!). There is a work period of about 2-3 hours which is optional for guests. I always work because that's part of the life and it is also very grounding and meditative, since it is silent. Meals are taken together but without talking -- there is usually someone reading a book while we eat. The rest of the time is free to find God

http://www.christdesert.org

I find regular retreats always blend over into our hectic lives and tell us how we can be more simple, how we can do less, how we can try to make God be at the center of everything we do. Not by doing more, but by doing less. Not by more religious activities, but by fewer, but ones that are deeply centered on God.

Thomas Merton said that God can't be one priority among many, even if He is the top priority. God has to be the only priority. Of course what he means is that everything we do has to be God centered, from the mundane to the transcendent. It reminds me of "praying without ceasing." Make everything a prayer and then all we are doing is praying.

Easier said than done, ha! but monastic retreats always refresh me and remind me of these perspectives.

The temple is that place for us, or at least it can be...before, after and in between ordinance sessions. Sitting or walking through the gardens outside or in Celestial room and other places around or in the temple. Edited October 13, 2015 by Ahab

[Meadowchik]

I call the Simplify Talks the "Wink-Wink Talks." I've been hearing them since the early 70s. Soon after the talks, we start getting the winks....we wink at this extra meeting, wink at that new activity, wink at this new program, wink at that really good idea, and the stuff just keeps on multiplying. Today we had ward temple trip, youth temple baptism trip (separate from the adults' trip), Relief Society Super Saturday, the stake child of records baptisms, and a memorial service. ;)

No one should feel compelled to participate in too much, while many of those activities may be very helpful to some.

There's still those who need to work on it. However, there are other wards snd branches where the pressure and participation is not high.

The "wink wink" should rather be, "Choose, and choose wisely. You can only be one place at a time and there is a season for every thing."

[ERMD]

Reminds me of ward choirs that try to perform challenging pieces when one or two people in the choir can (kind of) read music.  The hymnal should be the primary resource, and it has some decent arrangements (although personally I preferred those in the "old" one, for the most part).

 

When I was in the MTC 30+ years ago, we sang, "There Is a Green Hill Far Away" straight out of the hymnal.  It is simple, beautiful arrangement, and that is one of the performances I remember the best.

Edited October 15, 2015 by ERMD

[Rain2]

Last post reported.- meaning the spam post that was there when I posted.

Edited October 16, 2015 by Rain2

[DBMormon]

let go of the appendages and focus on Christ.  No longer focus on the accomplishing and simply work on the trying.  Concern myself less with food storage and pedigree charts and more with building friendships and helping others smile.  less concern with home teaching and more concern for neighbor kindness.

[MiserereNobis]

Sometimes (often?) the details of religion can become a barrier that keeps us away from God...?

 

(yes, one idea that I've cultivated on monastic retreats...)

[changed]

simplify means pay someone else to mow the lawn, celebrate birthdays at the local park/ rollerskating / bowling rather than creating a production at the house, it means freezer dinners, and not being a perfectionist, it means not keeping the house spotless and being ok with that, it means saying 'no' occasionally,  it means putting your own family first rather than worrying about everyone else's families.... 

[Bernard Gui]

No one should feel compelled to participate in too much, while many of those activities may be very helpful to some.

There's still those who need to work on it. However, there are other wards snd branches where the pressure and participation is not high.

The "wink wink" should rather be, "Choose, and choose wisely. You can only be one place at a time and there is a season for every thing."

Church leaders could be more thoughtful when they calendar three or four important events on the same day or same weekend when a little forethought would make it so you don't have to choose. To me, the essence of simplification is consideration of others' time. The "wink wink" means that even when we are asked to simplify and cut back, we always find something else to fill the void. 

Edited October 16, 2015 by Bernard Gui

[rewcox]

Let's expand this out.

Here is an example web site: http://theproject333.com/

What about

Social media

Tiny homes

Fewer toys

[HappyJackWagon]

I call the Simplify Talks the "Wink-Wink Talks." I've been hearing them since the early 70s. Soon after the talks, we start getting the winks....we wink at this extra meeting, wink at that new activity, wink at this new program, wink at that really good idea, and the stuff just keeps on multiplying. Today we had ward temple trip, youth temple baptism trip (separate from the adults' trip), Relief Society Super Saturday, the stake child of records baptisms, and a memorial service.      

That memorial service really should have been postponed to another day. What were they thinking ? The nerve

 

Honestly, though, you're right on. Tomorrow we have youth baptisms, stake leadership training, a primary activity, and we're cleaning the building. We simply need to fit those things in between a cross country meet and band comptetition for school. No worries.

 

We simply have to pick and choose the best use of our resources and not sweat it if we can't make every single church activity.

[iWriteStuff]

Let's expand this out.

Here is an example web site: http://theproject333.com/

What about

Social media

Tiny homes

Fewer toys

I think the tendency, at least for me, is to get used to a certain volume in life and then try to keep it at that volume, neither above nor below. Simplification is turning the volume down, thus hard and initially uncomfortable.