VideoGameJunkie Posted April 9, 2016 Posted April 9, 2016 It seems almost impossible. In General Conference some of the apostles talk about letters they received, but how do the people find where to mail the letters to or their email addresses? Can only the special Mormons contact these guys with their issues or questions? It seems the best I can do about an issue is talk to my Stake Presidency or former Mission President. Or have to even settle for just talking to a Bishopric member. Does anyone have any contacts for any GAs or Apostles? Or do they keep them private that only the VIP Mormons can ask them questions.
Duncan Posted April 9, 2016 Posted April 9, 2016 (edited) I wrote a letter to an Apostle and he wrote back, I am not a "VIP Mormon" or related to anybody or anyone who has served in any hoy faloy callings Edited April 9, 2016 by Duncan 1
mnn727 Posted April 9, 2016 Posted April 9, 2016 (edited) For questions you are to contact in order your Bishop and then the Stake President, if they need help answering you they pas it up the line. Gone are the days when you could send any question to an Apostle and get any kind of answer other than "Please contact your Bishop or Stake President" The Church is too large and they are too busy for that. Edited April 9, 2016 by mnn727
Bernard Gui Posted April 9, 2016 Posted April 9, 2016 Out of consideration for their time, I would hesitate writing to a General Authority. I can't think of any issue my home teacher, bishop, stake president, or area authority couldn't handle, except maybe giving me a special 8% tithing rate based on my good looks. 1
VideoGameJunkie Posted April 9, 2016 Author Posted April 9, 2016 6 minutes ago, Duncan said: I wrote a letter to an Apostle and he wrote back, I am not a "VIP Mormon" or related to anybody or anyone who has served in any hoy faloy callings Ya but how'd you find out the information of how to write them a letter. How'd you know where to send the letter to?
VideoGameJunkie Posted April 9, 2016 Author Posted April 9, 2016 1 minute ago, Bernard Gui said: Out of consideration for their time, I would hesitate writing to a General Authority. I can't think of any issue my home teacher, bishop, stake president, or area authority couldn't handle, except maybe giving me a special 8% tithing rate based on my good looks. Well I'm asking my Stake President and former Boston Mission President a question and if they can't answer it then I'll want the question to go up the ranks until someone can satisfy me with an answer.
JAHS Posted April 9, 2016 Posted April 9, 2016 Church Handbook #2 21.1.24 Members’ Communication with Church Headquarters Members of the Church are discouraged from making telephone calls or writing letters to General Authorities about doctrinal issues or personal matters. With an ever-increasing Church membership, responding personally to these inquiries presents an almost insurmountable task and would make it difficult for General Authorities to fulfill the duties for which they alone are responsible. The General Authorities love the members of the Church and do not want them to feel that they are without the support and guidance they need. However, all things need to be done with wisdom and order. The Lord has organized His Church so every member has access to a bishop or branch president and a stake, district, or mission president who serve as spiritual advisers and temporal counselors. By reason of their callings, these local leaders are entitled to the spirit of discernment and inspiration to enable them to counsel members within their jurisdiction. Members who need spiritual guidance, have weighty personal problems, or have doctrinal questions should make a diligent effort, including earnest prayer and scripture study, to find solutions and answers themselves. Church members are encouraged to seek guidance from the Holy Ghost to help them in their personal lives and in their family and Church responsibilities. If members still need help, they should counsel first with their bishop. If necessary, he may refer them to the stake president. In most cases, correspondence from members to General Authorities will be referred back to their local leaders. Stake presidents who need clarification about doctrinal or other Church matters may write in behalf of their members to the First Presidency. 3
strappinglad Posted April 9, 2016 Posted April 9, 2016 I imagine letters to GAs are screened for hate mail and toxic substances. If your letter is of sufficient general interest it might get referred to in GC. If your questions can be easily answered by a bishop with a Handbook you will likely be directed there. Might I suggest that you start first by sending a letter to Bill Gates and ask why Windows 10 is so problematic for older computers. If you get a personal answer that is a sign that the Fates are with you and you are on a roll so try a GA next. A couple of decades ago I sent a question to Bruce RM and got a reply. Let's just say it was a good thing I have a reasonably tough skin. As for where to send it, just address it to GA X at the LDS Church Office Building, Salt Lake City, UT , xxxxxx. USPS will get it there , eventually. Google is your friend. 1
Guest Posted April 9, 2016 Posted April 9, 2016 41 minutes ago, VideoGameJunkie said: It seems almost impossible. In General Conference some of the apostles talk about letters they received, but how do the people find where to mail the letters to or their email addresses? Can only the special Mormons contact these guys with their issues or questions? It seems the best I can do about an issue is talk to my Stake Presidency or former Mission President. Or have to even settle for just talking to a Bishopric member. Does anyone have any contacts for any GAs or Apostles? Or do they keep them private that only the VIP Mormons can ask them questions. Each has a secretary who is tasked with passing letters along, they work as a buffer to weed out the vulgar, threatening and rants that the Church gets constantly. I sent a collection of poems to the First Presidency, got a very nice letter. Most of the time, if you send a letter to ask questions about the faith, you get a letter back telling you to ask your local leaders. I had a close friend who was serving as an area President...so if I had a question, he was just a phone call away, or a 15 min drive to his house.
Stargazer Posted April 9, 2016 Posted April 9, 2016 I once wrote a rather impertinent and smart-alecky letter to a member of the Q12, and he definitely answered it -- called me to repentance and wrote to my stake president about it, too! So I got an interview from my bishop, who was more impressed that I got an response than concerned about anything I wrote in my letter. And in fact, I have since repented of writing the letter -- although I still believe I was largely correct with respect to the matter I brought up, which was in response to something he wrote in The Ensign that got my dander up. Upon maturer reflection, I realized that I shouldn't have bothered, or at least I should have worded the letter more respectfully! Mea culpa. 1
Stargazer Posted April 9, 2016 Posted April 9, 2016 1 hour ago, VideoGameJunkie said: Ya but how'd you find out the information of how to write them a letter. How'd you know where to send the letter to? It is so odd! Why does a young whippersnapper have to be told by a superannuated old geezer to check Google? Go to LDS.org and do a search for "church office building address". This is what I got: https://www.lds.org/locations/temple-square-church-office-building?lang=eng&_r=1 The address to the office building is on the page that you see there.
strappinglad Posted April 9, 2016 Posted April 9, 2016 1 hour ago, Duncan said: I wrote a letter to an Apostle and he wrote back, I am not a "VIP Mormon" or related to anybody or anyone who has served in any hoy faloy callings Yabut Duncan , your return address alone would have guaranteed a response. 1
Duncan Posted April 9, 2016 Posted April 9, 2016 19 minutes ago, strappinglad said: Yabut Duncan , your return address alone would have guaranteed a response. Could be !!!! hahahahhaa! In the fall 2011 I emailed the Church archives and asked them a question and an Emeritus GA called me on the phone. I was literally shaking talking to him. he answered my question and it wasn't controversial at all, he asked me if I was married and I said no and he told me to find someone who will be a blessing to me and I wrote down everything he said. How he got wind of my email or how all that happened I'll never know. I think I may have wrote about on here, can't recall 1
Anijen Posted April 9, 2016 Posted April 9, 2016 (edited) 1 hour ago, strappinglad said: I imagine letters to GAs are screened for hate mail and toxic substances. FYI, all letter mail, flat mail [magazines, newspapers], and most parcels when going through the USPS distribution centers will go through machines that "sniffs" for toxic substances. It isn't reserved just for special people. The change happened right after some yahoo mailed anthrax to DC. I am sure the church has some type of security that screens mail too. Fedex, UPS, and others, are not run by the government and at this time I do not think they are mandated to have these "sniffing" machines (they are very expensive). Hope this helps. Edited April 9, 2016 by Anijen 1
VideoGameJunkie Posted April 9, 2016 Author Posted April 9, 2016 I just wanted to write an apostle or 70 about an issue none of my Bishopric or Stake Presidency could answer. I thought maybe a GA would have a better understanding on the personal issue I have.
Duncan Posted April 9, 2016 Posted April 9, 2016 Just now, VideoGameJunkie said: I just wanted to write an apostle or 70 about an issue none of my Bishopric or Stake Presidency could answer. I thought maybe a GA would have a better understanding on the personal issue I have. then do it
VideoGameJunkie Posted April 9, 2016 Author Posted April 9, 2016 24 minutes ago, Duncan said: then do it I will! I just don't know which 70 or Apostle to address it too.
VideoGameJunkie Posted April 9, 2016 Author Posted April 9, 2016 I would be willing to take the word of any 70 or Apostle but don't know who to address it to, because I don't know who is more likely to respond.
Rain Posted April 9, 2016 Posted April 9, 2016 (edited) When the stake president didn't have an answer what did he suggest for you to do? You don't have to be a VIP to talk with a GA. My friend's sister was in Elder Bednar's ward when he was a bishop. They remain good friends. They are very important people to each other, but that doesn't mean the sister is a VIP. My parents were home taught by a general authority for awhile. They just happened to move into his ward. One of my seminary teacher's became a 70. My high school counselor was the son of an apostle. One of my internet friend's dad was a 70 and later happened to move into my ward. - coincidence! Some of the letters mentioned in conference may be like Duncan's, but many of them could be from people like my friend's sister or my parents or even me. And no, I haven't written to any of them, but I did have a question for my bishop once and when he didn't know the answer I asked my stake president when I had an interview. He didn't know, but he worked in CES and asked some coworkers. So what did your stake president suggest you do? Edited April 9, 2016 by Rain 1
BookofMormonLuvr Posted April 9, 2016 Posted April 9, 2016 8 hours ago, VideoGameJunkie said: I will! I just don't know which 70 or Apostle to address it too. Just pick the one you feel the most affinity towards. 1
VideoGameJunkie Posted April 9, 2016 Author Posted April 9, 2016 10 hours ago, Rain said: When the stake president didn't have an answer what did he suggest for you to do? You don't have to be a VIP to talk with a GA. My friend's sister was in Elder Bednar's ward when he was a bishop. They remain good friends. They are very important people to each other, but that doesn't mean the sister is a VIP. My parents were home taught by a general authority for awhile. They just happened to move into his ward. One of my seminary teacher's became a 70. My high school counselor was the son of an apostle. One of my internet friend's dad was a 70 and later happened to move into my ward. - coincidence! Some of the letters mentioned in conference may be like Duncan's, but many of them could be from people like my friend's sister or my parents or even me. And no, I haven't written to any of them, but I did have a question for my bishop once and when he didn't know the answer I asked my stake president when I had an interview. He didn't know, but he worked in CES and asked some coworkers. So what did your stake president suggest you do? My Stake President suggested I shouldn't worry about it. But I still worry about it and have no answer.
Bernard Gui Posted April 9, 2016 Posted April 9, 2016 15 hours ago, VideoGameJunkie said: Well I'm asking my Stake President and former Boston Mission President a question and if they can't answer it then I'll want the question to go up the ranks until someone can satisfy me with an answer. Why not go over all their heads and ask God? 1
rongo Posted April 9, 2016 Posted April 9, 2016 Is anyone else annoyed at the ubiquitous quoting of letters in GC? Especially since we aren't supposed to write them (per CHI), and they ostensibly will be sent back to our local leaders. All that quoting them in GC does is encourage people to keep writing them --- the kind of people who think it would be really cool to have your letter referred to in GC. I've never written a GA, but I've had good success hearing back promptly going up the chain of command. I submitted a doctrinal/policy question from a member to my stake president, and he heard back within a couple of days. I think the Brethren appreciate it when we do it the way we're supposed to . . . 2
Rain Posted April 9, 2016 Posted April 9, 2016 (edited) 1 hour ago, VideoGameJunkie said: My Stake President suggested I shouldn't worry about it. But I still worry about it and have no answer. Then I would either talk with your stake president about it again, while of course doing as suggested above - talking with God. One suggestion: when you talk with God about it ask if it is the right question to ask and if not to help you come up with the right question. Edited April 9, 2016 by Rain 2
VideoGameJunkie Posted April 9, 2016 Author Posted April 9, 2016 9 minutes ago, Rain said: Then I would either talk with your stake president about it again, while of course doing as suggested above - talking with God. One suggestion: when you talk with God about it ask if it the right question to ask and if not to help you come up with the right question. I'll try. I've gone to the temple looking for an answer but didn't get one, but maybe I was asking the wrong question.
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