Sky Posted September 3, 2016 Posted September 3, 2016 As a spinoff of a thread by Rivers about the most difficult aspects of being Mormon... It can't be all difficult and burdensome, can it? Family History? Temple work? Service projects? Elders Quorum? Home/visiting teaching? The sacrament? The Book of Mormon? Living prophets? The Plan of Salvation? General Conference? Callings? Lay, untrained leadership? Thoughts? 1
UtahTexan Posted September 3, 2016 Posted September 3, 2016 wow....open question. The faithful people, the Temple, how close it brings me to the Lord, having a living Prophet, having the fullness of the Gospel....how close the people are to each other...like a family. 3
Duncan Posted September 3, 2016 Posted September 3, 2016 I think the social aspect, it teaches you to get out of your particular comfort zone 2
Popular Post Garden Girl Posted September 3, 2016 Popular Post Posted September 3, 2016 I actually do like the culture, and believe the doctrines... for instance I think the Plan of Salvation is so much more fair vs the Wham/Bam Heaven or Hell type of belief... and of course I love knowing that I'm sealed to my dear husband for the eternities (I've been widowed for 17 years and I like the thought that he is waiting for me, perhaps somewhat impatiently), and that I'm part of an eternal family... GG 7
Rain Posted September 3, 2016 Posted September 3, 2016 This one, unlike the orher for me is easy. Being sealed to my husband. 1
Popular Post Calm Posted September 3, 2016 Popular Post Posted September 3, 2016 The sense of being home whenever I am with the community. 5
bluebell Posted September 3, 2016 Posted September 3, 2016 I love the community. And the temple. And the doctrine. I love the doctrine. 3
Teancum Posted September 3, 2016 Posted September 3, 2016 16 hours ago, Sky said: As a spinoff of a thread by Rivers about the most difficult aspects of being Mormon... It can't be all difficult and burdensome, can it? Family History? Temple work? Service projects? Elders Quorum? Home/visiting teaching? The sacrament? The Book of Mormon? Living prophets? The Plan of Salvation? General Conference? Callings? Lay, untrained leadership? Thoughts? General Conference weekend! It is like a weekend off. Hang at home and watch in on TV or the internet. And my ward, for years, based on something I started when I was a YM president, has a chili dinner before the priesthood session of conference. It is great fun and even now I attend and enjoy it. Also I think the friendships one develops as a member of the Church are easy and quite fulfilling. I have many close LDS friends that I love dearly. 1
Teancum Posted September 3, 2016 Posted September 3, 2016 16 hours ago, Duncan said: I think the social aspect, it teaches you to get out of your particular comfort zone Yes I agree. Eugene England wrote an essay called Why the Church is at True as the Gospel. See: http://www.eugeneengland.org/why-the-church-is-as-true-as-the-gospel I even now love this essay. He talks about how based on the organization of wards and stakes we are put in a situation of associating with people we may never have chose to hang out with on our own. If you have not read it I recommend it. It is one of the brilliance's of the Church really on how we are all tossed together in a thing called a ward and a stake with no professional clergy and somehow we make it work. I love that even as a skeptic about the church. 3
Teancum Posted September 3, 2016 Posted September 3, 2016 13 minutes ago, waveslider said: Having absolutely no fear at all. No fear of what?
rongo Posted September 3, 2016 Posted September 3, 2016 Amen to all that has been said. In addition, I like the mystique of being Mormon. We're like Gideon's army: people think our numbers and influence are greater than they are, and the whole Church gets credit for the actions and essence of the proverbial "same ten people." As a teacher, I hear and absorb this mystique all the time. Kids talk about Mormons, what Mormons do or don't do, as if there are no exceptions (and they don't think that there are). I know better, but it's nice to have the impression be what it is.
Robert F. Smith Posted September 3, 2016 Posted September 3, 2016 “What is the easiest/best thing about being Mormon?” I like two things most: 1. Everyone pitches in to help each other, as though we are a community -- which apparently we are. 2. LDS theology is so pleasingly consistent and solidly based.
waveslider Posted September 4, 2016 Posted September 4, 2016 6 hours ago, Teancum said: No fear of what? You name it. Before my testimony I used to fear a lot of things: death, what people thought of me, that God wasn't real, that I might have bad luck and not make it back to God even if I did the best I could possibly do and there actually was a God, pain and suffering (the hardest test of my faith of the whole list, but faith still conquers it when I am confronted with it), Etc.. Perhaps you could come up with one that I didn't think of that could put fear into me and shake my faith, but as of now I fear nothing when I feel the Holy Ghost's guidance. The only time I doubt my faith is when I am in need of regaining the Holy Ghost's guidance and comfort through repentance. With faith there can not be fear at the same time. The two don't mix. Perhaps I should have said, "Having the Comforter," instead of, "Having absolutely no fear at all."
Jeanne Posted September 4, 2016 Posted September 4, 2016 Christmas. Nothing like Christmas in a fun ward. You're involved in everything..from giving to getting and feeling and laughing..hayrides.. caroling..your name on a Christmas ball for the ward tree..the bags of candy..Santa..the programs..the surprises...and Silent Night by a Ward Choir.
JAHS Posted September 4, 2016 Posted September 4, 2016 Knowing there is a reason we are living this life and that it continues after the grave. 2
Five Solas Posted September 4, 2016 Posted September 4, 2016 (edited) Since I answered the other thread, I suppose it would only be fair to answer this one. I think a real strength of the LDS Church is the discipline it shows for keeping its membership engaged and connected. In the University wards where I attended as a YSA (from my late teens to early 30s) in Seattle, a lot of time and effort was put into tracking down inactives and visiting them. And we had a mountain of inactives on the rolls, basically anyone rumored to be in the greater Seattle area, unmarried and under the age of 31 had their records transferred to University First, Second, Third or Fourth. Accordingly, the number of people on the ward registry was always at least three times the number we actually knew about. We'd get our lists of unrecognized names as part of our home teaching assignments and we'd diligently call and ask to meet. Admittedly, I didn't do it purely out of a heart for the lost. I was motivated in no small part by knowing there would be accountability--and I didn't want to be seen as not doing my share of the work. But I honestly didn't mind it either, and often I enjoyed the meetings and conversations. But that's all rather beside the point. People got reactivated, people saw the church cared about them. Not everyone, of course--but I don't recall anyone ever being offended by a visit I was a part of. You've got to respect that. But I do wonder how it is now, with the number of YSA wards down from the four I mentioned to the two remaining today (University Second and University Third). The ratio of inactive to active has at least doubled, and at some point the ability to engage and connect simply doesn't scale. --Erik Edited September 4, 2016 by Five Solas math
carbon dioxide Posted September 5, 2016 Posted September 5, 2016 One thing I love about the Church is our church is not one for the comfortable or those who like to dwell in their comfort zones. It requires sacrifice and presses our faith at times. A church that simply tries to make everyone happy or does not test the members faith is one that will be filled with uncommitted and lukewarm members. I am thankful there are things in our history that are difficult. I am thankful there are policies and ideas in our church that might not like. I am far from perfect. A church that I agree with everything on would be a very imperfect church since I know I am not right on everything. I grow by having my faith challenged at times. The Church whether purposely or not does that.
Honorentheos Posted September 5, 2016 Posted September 5, 2016 A Mormon can move anywhere in the United States and likely have many, many people show up to help empty the truck. Then have a built in social network outside of the usual work/hobby/hangout venues others may rely on to reestablish themselves some place new. Part of me wanted to say the music, but that's a mixed bag so I opted to only bring it up.
notHagoth7 Posted September 5, 2016 Posted September 5, 2016 Best things about being Mormon 1) The Book of Mormon 2) A framework that seeks, embraces, and encompasses truth from wherever it may be found 1
notHagoth7 Posted September 5, 2016 Posted September 5, 2016 On 9/2/2016 at 11:05 PM, Calm said: The sense of being home whenever I am with the community. I get that same sense among kindred peoples as well. Basically, I feel just as much at home studying/worshiping alongside others in a Messianic Jewish meeting, in an Adventist, Mennonite, non-denominational meeting, etc. 1
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