Anybody else feel this way about Elder's Quorum and Home Teaching?

[JarMan]

So we've got a new EQP. He's a young guy with a young family, just graduated from BYU and teaches seminary for a living. He's a genuinely good guy and he decided to hand out a short survey on Sunday asking about what we liked and disliked in EQ.  I wrote down that I hate everything about EQ. I hate the manual. I hate home teaching. I hate being home taught. Elder's Quorum is the worst hour of my week unless my HT's were over that week, then it's the second worst hour. 

Anyway, I feel a twinge of regret about survey-ambushing him like that, but I answered honestly like he asked us to. So now that I've lain down on the virtual couch, can anyone tell me: am I normal or is it common to feel this dissatisfied with everything EQ related? 

[Hamba Tuhan]

I'm a high priest, so I guess my response is automatically off-topic somewhat, but no, I don't recognise anything you just wrote. For example, I love the manuals, and I freaking love home teaching. The men in my group, though many of them could be my father or even grandfather, are my brothers. But if I were your elders quorum president, I'd certainly want you to be honest with me.

[The Nehor]

Sometimes I kit be annoyed by something but hatred? Wow. I find it hard to feel any kind of passion about the manual, either positive or negative. Same with Home Teaching and being Home Taught. Why do you care so much?

[JarMan]

I find it to be a major invasion of privacy for people to invite themselves into my home, pretend to care about me, all the while not-so-covertly gathering information that they can take back to the EQP which may ultimately find its way to everybody at Ward Council. Meanwhile they get to literally check the box and thus ensure they are one step closer to salvation. 

[The Nehor]

Just now, JarMan said:

I find it to be a major invasion of privacy for people to invite themselves into my home, pretend to care about me, all the while not-so-covertly gathering information that they can take back to the EQP which may ultimately find its way to everybody at Ward Council. Meanwhile they get to literally check the box and thus ensure they are one step closer to salvation. 

I think that statement means you hate your fellow ward members and not the program they follow.

I have to admit I am curious what is so blatant about your home that two people entering for 30 minutes can spill the beans and ruin your life. Now you probably hate me too huh?

[Sky]

37 minutes ago, JarMan said:

So we've got a new EQP. He's a young guy with a young family, just graduated from BYU and teaches seminary for a living. He's a genuinely good guy and he decided to hand out a short survey on Sunday asking about what we liked and disliked in EQ.  I wrote down that I hate everything about EQ. I hate the manual. I hate home teaching. I hate being home taught. Elder's Quorum is the worst hour of my week unless my HT's were over that week, then it's the second worst hour. 

Anyway, I feel a twinge of regret about survey-ambushing him like that, but I answered honestly like he asked us to. So now that I've lain down on the virtual couch, can anyone tell me: am I normal or is it common to feel this dissatisfied with everything EQ related? 

I don't hate EQ, but sometimes I get bored with monotony of it.  I barely know anybody's names in my EQ.  It's like we just come and go every week and there is a lack of deep, interpersonal connection.  It sort of feels like "going through the motions" at times, and superficial.  And honestly, I don't know what to do to change that, other than trying to do my home teaching and trying to make friends with at least one or two other quorum members.  Not easy to do though, for some reason.  I know people are busy with their families and such, and it's hard to forge meaningful connections in a 1-hour meeting per week, but still.  The women seem better at this to me, in general.  

I enjoy the manuals and the teachings for the most part, though.        

[Garden Girl]

Forgive me, JarMan, for posting here as a woman... but let me give you my perspective...

I had reactivated into the Church for three years prior to my dear non-LDS husband's death.  So, since reactivating I've not had the Priesthood an actual part of my home (dh preferred not to have the home teachers visit).  Now however, I have two home teachers who visit me faithfully every month.  I cannot tell you how much I appreciate their visits as it is the only way I feel like I have the Priesthood in my home.  They are faithful in their stewardship, and as a 75 year old widow I know they are there for me (like in February when I had an auto accident during a heavy rain/wind storm, and I called one of my home teachers and all I had to say was... I'm in need of help... All he asked was... where are you.  I told him and he said... I'll be there in 10 minutes... )

Every month when they visit we have some general conversation, then they give a spiritual lesson, and when they are ready to leave, they give a prayer that is almost like a priesthood blessing.  Can you possibly understand, JarMan, just what my home teachers mean to me?

GG

[Bobbieaware]

7 hours ago, JarMan said:

So we've got a new EQP. He's a young guy with a young family, just graduated from BYU and teaches seminary for a living. He's a genuinely good guy and he decided to hand out a short survey on Sunday asking about what we liked and disliked in EQ.  I wrote down that I hate everything about EQ. I hate the manual. I hate home teaching. I hate being home taught. Elder's Quorum is the worst hour of my week unless my HT's were over that week, then it's the second worst hour. 

Anyway, I feel a twinge of regret about survey-ambushing him like that, but I answered honestly like he asked us to. So now that I've lain down on the virtual couch, can anyone tell me: am I normal or is it common to feel this dissatisfied with everything EQ related? 

Your negative attitude is what happens when one chooses to remain a nominal member of the Church but does so without exercising genuine faith, hope and charity in the Lord. When one attempts to participate in the Gospel of Christ without the guidance and empowerment of the Spirit, everything seems lifeless, dull, gray and gloomy.  But as for myself, I've seen too many good and spiritually transformative things come out of faithful visiting and home teaching to ever allow a cynical attitude, such as yours, to hold sway in my mind. Remember, the law of the harvest always applies. Go into Church work with a negative attitude, and with low expectations, and it's most likely one will get little or nothing back in return.

But on the positive side, at least you are being honest. The best starting point for real change is to admit to one's self the unvarnished truth, and you have done so. And after this honest self-assessment, perhaps the time has come for you to experience the joys of what living the Gospel of Christ is like after having put on the whole armor of God.

Edited May 19, 2016 by Bobbieaware

[Mars]

The manual can be boring, and sometimes the teaching styles grate on me. I am not trying to pile on, but I do hold myself responsible for the annoyance at teaching style. Usually, I feel like they've got poor form or they use very hackneyed approaches. I know it's more me than them because when I am having a particularly good Sabbath due to personal preparation, the normally grating manner is different. I don't react negatively, even though I can tell it's still not my thing. I'm less annoyed, but I don't like it any more if that makes sense. 

As for home teaching, some people feel it a tremendous intrusion of their privacy. And, they feel that if there wasn't a Church connection, those two brothers wouldn't give a flying fig about the people they teach, and so they mistrust the intentions and take the whole thing as a negative experience. 

It IS a violation of privacy. The shared connection of covenanted members of the Priesthood of the Restored Gospel is sufficient reason, imo, to allow them access to your privacy in a way that you wouldn't with normal people. Obviously, the rules of friendship and trust building apply, but I think you err in so strongly assuming they don't care. Plenty of folks don't do their home teaching and I'd bet that if this one or these two didn't care about you they wouldn't be in your home. 

As a general remark, though, I also strongly suspect other members of my ward of being fake. I don't think it's fair of me to do this. The reason I don't think it's fair is because I realize I have impossible criteria in my head for them to meet before I consider them sincere in their friendly overtures. The entire ward can't be my bosom friend. There will be normal and reasonable disagreements of life choices and interests to prevent that kind of closeness. There is sometimes a lack of chemistry in general humor and personality. Other ward members don't need my permission to be great friends or go on weekend excursions together. Because they, and I, see everyone as a child of God they are bound to be friendly and given time, a good mix of chemistry and shared interests, I have no doubt that any of them COULD become that close friend. 

I get more out of Church and ward activities when I remember these things, which is why I point to myself rather than them. I'm only sharing what has helped me, not using my experience as a substitute for yours to nullify your experience or criticize it. 

And I do love my home teaching families. I think of them often and I'm very glad to go see them and pray with them and be as close or as far from them as they need or want. 

[Duncan]

I've only reported serious stuff to ward council and then stuff to the Bishop alone, like abuse or they don't have anything to eat or I saw Edmonton Oilers stuff laying about or they are moving and need help, stuff like that

[CV75]

8 hours ago, JarMan said:

So we've got a new EQP. He's a young guy with a young family, just graduated from BYU and teaches seminary for a living. He's a genuinely good guy and he decided to hand out a short survey on Sunday asking about what we liked and disliked in EQ.  I wrote down that I hate everything about EQ. I hate the manual. I hate home teaching. I hate being home taught. Elder's Quorum is the worst hour of my week unless my HT's were over that week, then it's the second worst hour. 

Anyway, I feel a twinge of regret about survey-ambushing him like that, but I answered honestly like he asked us to. So now that I've lain down on the virtual couch, can anyone tell me: am I normal or is it common to feel this dissatisfied with everything EQ related? 

If you have a twinge of regret under the circumstances, i suggest you look beyond mere "survey-ambushing but..." as the cause of your regret. Perhaps to some degree you do see reason to love the manual and home teaching. Many of the things you like about EQ are outgrowths of the manual and home teaching, if not directly applied by you, then by someone else who applies them to make your life better.

[Vanguard]

8 hours ago, JarMan said:

So we've got a new EQP. He's a young guy with a young family, just graduated from BYU and teaches seminary for a living. He's a genuinely good guy and he decided to hand out a short survey on Sunday asking about what we liked and disliked in EQ.  I wrote down that I hate everything about EQ. I hate the manual. I hate home teaching. I hate being home taught. Elder's Quorum is the worst hour of my week unless my HT's were over that week, then it's the second worst hour. 

Anyway, I feel a twinge of regret about survey-ambushing him like that, but I answered honestly like he asked us to. So now that I've lain down on the virtual couch, can anyone tell me: am I normal or is it common to feel this dissatisfied with everything EQ related? 

Well, honesty has to be the best policy. I feel for you. I wouldn't describe my experience nearly to that extent though. The problem is that the reasons you provide would seem to suggest you may well feel this way about virtually everything else at church, right? You know, "I can't stand going to the temple because everyone puts on a fake veneer of caring and everyone gets to posture as though they are striving for the CK" or "I can't stand sacrament because everyone judges everyone else when they see someone not taking the sacrament - it's a totally phony opportunity to be seen as spiritual" and on and on... Your problem is that you are railing against a culture that cannot be changed - that culture being one of collectivism where we are all obligated to one another's well-being and therefore are required to become involved in their lives to an extent. If you want no intimacy in that way there are plenty other religions who don't require this level of involvement. My recommendation would be for you to seriously rethink what the ideal is for everything that we push and then to consider adjusting your attitude accordingly. There are folks out there who don't even know yet that they will crave a home teaching visit from you and that the visit will be viewed as the salvation they seek that ends up changing their lives. Don't be so cynical that you lose sight of those precious moments that come far too infrequently.

And yes, home teaching numbers will continue to stink because you're not the only one who harbors these issues...

[Kenngo1969]

6 hours ago, JarMan said:

I find it to be a major invasion of privacy for people to invite themselves into my home, pretend to care about me, all the while not-so-covertly gathering information that they can take back to the EQP which may ultimately find its way to everybody at Ward Council. Meanwhile they get to literally check the box and thus ensure they are one step closer to salvation. 

Crikey (RIP, Steve Irwin ), I'd hate Home Teaching and Elders Quorum, too, if that's the way I felt about them.  One can have 100% Home Teaching every month for however long one's been assigned to do it and still not be any closer to salvation/exaltation.  As for covert information gathering, if you and your family honestly don't need any help, I'd say that's great: One fewer thing for the Bishop and the Elders Quorum President to worry about (and having spent several years between the two assignments at the elbow of a Bishop and an Elders Quorum President, respectively, I'd say that the fewer things they have to worry about, the better.)  

As for any such issues being discussed in Ward Council, that might be a no-win proposition: Half the families in the Ward are upset that the Bishop doesn't know about their issues (because their Home Teachers, who feel the same way you do about Home Teaching, haven't troubled themselves to do it so that they can find out about those issues) and the other half of the families in the Ward are upset that the Bishop does know about their issues but can't do anything about them unless he does it himself, since, according to you, he's not supposed to bring them up in Ward Council.  If you were the only one in your Ward who felt that, "If I have a problem, I simply want to be able to go to the Bishop and have him resolve it without involving anyone else," I suppose that wouldn't be a problem: the problem arises because a sizable minority to a majority of the members of your Ward feel the same way. Jethro told Moses that wasn't a good approach, and if it wasn't a good approach 3,000 years ago, that hasn't changed.  

Home Teaching is your chance to be a Shepherd.  If you felt the way the Good Shepherd feels about the rams, and ewes, and lambs in His flock (the ones who are supposed to be in your flock, too, because He has asked you to look after them), would you feel the way you do about Home Teaching?  How did the Savior respond when the lawyer asked him, "Who is my neighbor?"  If you care for your Brothers in your Quorum the way the Good Samaritan cared for the injured Jew (and if you felt that they care the same way for you) would that change your attitude and approach to being a member of the Quorum? And being Home Taught is your chance to be a sheep, though, as I said, if you don't need any help, and if you call your bishop and say, "Hi, Bishop?  This is Brother Jones.  I just called to tell you that my family and I don't need any help," I guarantee you, there will be joy and rejoicing in the Bishop's household over that phone call.  And even if you're right that everyone else simply is "going through the motions," (though I'd be loathe to reach such a conclusion myself, since it would require me to know someone else's [everyone elses!] heart) does that mean you have to, as well, or can you be "the little leaven" that leaveneth the whole lump"?  

As for the quality of the manuals, of the lessons, and of the instructors, I agree: they can leave something to be desired. But if I'm entirely dependent upon a manual and/or on an instructor to give me Living Water, can I change my approach to that, as well?   Who's supposed to be teaching me, a manual, an instructor, or the Holy Spirit?  And if I have the last of those three assets, even if I don't see the first two of those things particularly as assets, would those first two things matter so much?

Even if you're absolutely right that Home Teaching, the manuals, the instructors, the leadership, and everyone else in the Quorum or Ward absolutely sucks, if nothing else, that's an excellent opportunity for you to develop charity: You can and should pray for your crappy instructor, your crappy Quorum members, your crappy Elders Quorum presidency, and so forth.  Believe me, they need your prayers, whether they realize it or not: And I've never met a Bishop, and I've rarely met an Elder's Quorum President or an Elder's Quorum instructor who doesn't realize how much he needs your prayers; they appreciate those prayers.  I know I have, and I would.  Beyond that, the only thing you can change is you.

I wish you well.

[JAHS]

I am in High Priest group and I really like our discussions there. The teacher hardly has to do anything but introduce the topic and lead the discussion. Everyone contributes during the class making it more interesting and uplifting. I am not sure if anyone actually loves to do home teaching. I see how it can help the families though, who may at times need someone to turn to in times of hardship. But it is sometimes hard to arrange visits to families; some who like you to come and those who would rather not have you visit. 
I remember Elder Rasband came to our Stake Conference one year and in our Priesthood session he said "I hated home teaching right up to the moment I rang the doorbell; then I loved it."  
But there were times in my life when a home teacher was a great help to the family and times when I was able to help a family who needed it.
Most likely it's the requirement of going every month aspect of it that seems onerous; arranging times to go and making time to go that makes it hard to do. 

[Gray]

My EQ seems to put zero effort into lessons. Just taking turns reading from the manual for the most part. I don't hate it but it's a waste of time. 

I'm in a calling that takes me out of EQ, however, so I don't have to sit through it. 

I consider home teaching to be busy work unless there is a genuine need for help (there usually isn't). I'd rather put the time in with my family, and I generally do. We're also rarely home taught, which is my preference. 

Edited May 19, 2016 by Gray

[Tacenda]

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=891665237538550&id=410935972278148

Watch how these home teachers are taking care of this lady nightly going on seven years.  She contracted MS and her husband divorced her.  These men in the ward are her heroes and now very good friends.  This is the spirit of home teaching.  And like GG, she totally relies on their visits.

My home teachers haven't been around for months.  I like having home teachers and have had some wonderful ones.  Can't recall any that seem insincere, maybe they were good actors.

My husband has never liked home teaching, but now he's partners with the bishop.  And before that our bishop was our home teacher.  It could be they're keeping tabs, but hopefully because he and the bishopric care.  

Also, my husband despised going to High Priest group, maybe you two should talk. I know my husband likes to do things for the neighbors and not be assigned, or something like that.  Maybe that's kind of the vein you're in.  

[jkwilliams]

I'm weird, but I always loved home teaching because it helped me make friends I wouldn't have made otherwise, and it gave me real opportunities for service that I wouldn't have noticed a need for. 

High priests group meetings are much livelier and interesting than elders quorum meetings, in my experience. Of course, the reason I stopped going to church altogether was that our high priests group would always veer off into politics and criticism of people who don't think like Mormons. I had been going to church to keep my wife company, but I was coming home stressed. 

[Rain]

Any chance you are an introvert?

My husband is an introvert and struggles with these things sometimes too. Unfortunately/fortunately his wife and children like inviting others in.  We sometimes even ask our HT to come for their regular visits. 

He HATES to make appointments, but he has really grown to love the people he visits.  

One thing about the survey  - honesty is good,  but it really is only helpful if the whys are there.  What is it about EQ lessons that you don't like?  Why do you feel HT is an invasion of privacy  - do you have experience with that being a problem? If so then share how it was a problem so the EQP can understand what might be done to help with it.  Do you feel it is an invasion just in your home?  Let the HT know you want to do it elsewhere.  

Edited May 19, 2016 by Rain

[stemelbow]

I enjoy going home teaching but really don't care to be home taught--which is good because in the 10 years I've been in the ward we've been home taught maybe twice.  We've also been doing, what we call, a "pilot program" for years.  We assign everyone home teachers but scale frequency of visits on need.  My house, being a house of a full family of actives, is given a frequency of being visited twice a year.  So it goes from twice a year (active members, fully participating) to once a month (not really active and typically viewed as needing help).  You have to keep track of who you need to visit each month, as opposed to just visiting everyone, but it's ok.  Better than the regular.  The problem is, of course, once home teachers start showing up monthly to someone's house, that household knows immediately they are seen as some sort of project. 

The meetings on Sunday are a waste of time.  We typically repeat what's been said for years--no real engagement, no real effort to bring people together.  years ago I was in the EQpresidency and before that taught in EQ for my calling.  My emphasis was creating an atmosphere wherein we could each feel like we could share what was really a concern to us, or was really in our hearts, completely ignoring the concern of sticking the manual.  It kind of worked.  of course I was a once a month teacher opposite of a pile of brethren who seemed to strictly stick the manual and ask the same questions each week.  So we had a mix. 

My wife was telling me last night about a recent RS meeting, one she mentioned to me before.  The teacher asked my wife, "what's it like to raise a black child?  Do you recognize racism from ward members?" (we're adoptive parents) She felt a bit blindsided by the question but it sounds like she handled it superbly.  A lady blurted out before my wife finished, "if we're so bigoted, why do we have a leader of our Church with the name *Uchtdorf?"  huh?  Ah well.   Then the instructor lady added, "I'm bigoted in some ways.  I admit I have a problem with fat people."  more than half of the ladies in the RS are pretty much obese another large percentage are overweight.  She went on, says my wife, with no shame whatsoever of having offended the bulk of the audience. 

*the lady who mention Uchtdorf, years before was a co-SS teacher for the youth with me.  Elder Oaks in a surprise move showed up at our Church one day, and this lady was scheduled to teach the whole fo the youth that Sunday.  In class she said something about diversity in the Church and said, "I mean one of our main leaders is President Uckerdorfer, for crying aloud...or whatever his name is."  Cute stuff.   At least, she's learned his name over the years.

Edited May 19, 2016 by stemelbow

[bluebell]

9 hours ago, JarMan said:

So we've got a new EQP. He's a young guy with a young family, just graduated from BYU and teaches seminary for a living. He's a genuinely good guy and he decided to hand out a short survey on Sunday asking about what we liked and disliked in EQ.  I wrote down that I hate everything about EQ. I hate the manual. I hate home teaching. I hate being home taught. Elder's Quorum is the worst hour of my week unless my HT's were over that week, then it's the second worst hour. 

Anyway, I feel a twinge of regret about survey-ambushing him like that, but I answered honestly like he asked us to. So now that I've lain down on the virtual couch, can anyone tell me: am I normal or is it common to feel this dissatisfied with everything EQ related? 

My only issue is, what do you want him to do about your hatred?  

These kinds of surveys typically exist so that the leadership can try to make things better.  They aren't just a handy way for members to complain.  So, the question becomes, what can he do to help improve your feelings?  If the answer is 'there's nothing he can do' then you probably shouldn't have shared your true feelings.  Sharing them serves no purpose under those circumstances.  If there is something he can do that is inline with his duties then don't regret the honesty.

[mfbukowski]

53 minutes ago, stemelbow said:

 

*the lady who mention Uchtdorf, years before was a co-SS teacher for the youth with me.  Elder Oaks in a surprise move showed up at our Church one day, and this lady was scheduled to teach the whole fo the youth that Sunday.  In class she said something about diversity in the Church and said, "I mean one of our main leaders is President Uckerdorfer, for crying aloud...or whatever his name is."  Cute stuff.   At least, she's learned his name over the years.

Undt in dees context, vot vould that SS stand for?   

[mfbukowski]

10 hours ago, JarMan said:

So we've got a new EQP. He's a young guy with a young family, just graduated from BYU and teaches seminary for a living. He's a genuinely good guy and he decided to hand out a short survey on Sunday asking about what we liked and disliked in EQ.  I wrote down that I hate everything about EQ. I hate the manual. I hate home teaching. I hate being home taught. Elder's Quorum is the worst hour of my week unless my HT's were over that week, then it's the second worst hour. 

Anyway, I feel a twinge of regret about survey-ambushing him like that, but I answered honestly like he asked us to. So now that I've lain down on the virtual couch, can anyone tell me: am I normal or is it common to feel this dissatisfied with everything EQ related? 

Quite honestly I think you should look inside yourself to see what you get out of putting yourself through that kind of misery.

Maybe a little counseling is in order.

[Jeanne]

10 hours ago, JarMan said:

So we've got a new EQP. He's a young guy with a young family, just graduated from BYU and teaches seminary for a living. He's a genuinely good guy and he decided to hand out a short survey on Sunday asking about what we liked and disliked in EQ.  I wrote down that I hate everything about EQ. I hate the manual. I hate home teaching. I hate being home taught. Elder's Quorum is the worst hour of my week unless my HT's were over that week, then it's the second worst hour. 

Anyway, I feel a twinge of regret about survey-ambushing him like that, but I answered honestly like he asked us to. So now that I've lain down on the virtual couch, can anyone tell me: am I normal or is it common to feel this dissatisfied with everything EQ related? 

Note...you would have felt bad about being not true to yourself.  Honesty is always a good thing.  Besides...he asked!

[Jeanne]

1 hour ago, Tacenda said:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=891665237538550&id=410935972278148

Watch how these home teachers are taking care of this lady nightly going on seven years.  She contracted MS and her husband divorced her.  These men in the ward are her heroes and now very good friends.  This is the spirit of home teaching.  And like GG, she totally relies on their visits.

My home teachers haven't been around for months.  I like having home teachers and have had some wonderful ones.  Can't recall any that seem insincere, maybe they were good actors.

My husband has never liked home teaching, but now he's partners with the bishop.  And before that our bishop was our home teacher.  It could be they're keeping tabs, but hopefully because he and the bishopric care.  

Also, my husband despised going to High Priest group, maybe you two should talk. I know my husband likes to do things for the neighbors and not be assigned, or something like that.  Maybe that's kind of the vein you're in.  

There is something wonderful about NOT being assigned friends.  I think I felt about RS visiting teaching as some men feel about home teaching.  What good happens should happen no matter whether it is an assignment or not.  I didn't mind my home teachers, but I really didn't like the thought that they visiting because.."I did not have any priesthood in the home".  That being said, I was doing fine without it.  Must be a woman thing.

[hope_for_things]

10 hours ago, JarMan said:

So we've got a new EQP. He's a young guy with a young family, just graduated from BYU and teaches seminary for a living. He's a genuinely good guy and he decided to hand out a short survey on Sunday asking about what we liked and disliked in EQ.  I wrote down that I hate everything about EQ. I hate the manual. I hate home teaching. I hate being home taught. Elder's Quorum is the worst hour of my week unless my HT's were over that week, then it's the second worst hour. 

Anyway, I feel a twinge of regret about survey-ambushing him like that, but I answered honestly like he asked us to. So now that I've lain down on the virtual couch, can anyone tell me: am I normal or is it common to feel this dissatisfied with everything EQ related? 

I feel for you for sure.  I don't dislike all the same things about priesthood meetings that you do, but I can empathize with your experience. Part of why I'm taking a sabbatical from church right now is that I told my Bishop I want to go to church for the right reasons.  I didn't want to go just to please other people or out of guilt or peer pressure or anything else.  I think its good that you've given honest feedback on his survey though, so I commend you for that.  

If and when I go back (and this is a hope of mine), I will do so for good reasons.  Things like the desire to be uplifted and to uplift others. For spiritual nourishment and a desire to commune with my fellow saints.  If I don't have good reasons to return to regular activity, I'm not going to do it.