When Youth Departs, My Wisdom Prove Enough

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

"When Youth Departs! May Youth Be Enough", this is a quote made by the Great, Winston Churchill. He was someone with great leadership skills, skills needed during the Great War (WWII), When the crisis had  past, those of Great Britton,  no longer wanted him. If I may, I wish this serve as a metaphor   

The Church is changing fast, as fast as the Internet, many made changes without waiting for an instruction or direction in General Conference, even Message boards, who have no affiliation to the Church, as their disclaimers denote. We are no longer "Mormons" despite almost 200+ years, (well we still have the "Mormon newsroom" and other things, Mormon, for clarity's sake), I have always referred to myself as a Latter-day Saint, it is only after many tries to figure out who (or what I am) only then do I say, I am a Mormon. I did have done this ever since President Hinckley addressed this in a sermon, decades ago. Pageants are being scaled back or stopped all together, the Pioneer Trek, is also being scaled back and changed. Much is changing and changing rapidly. About 18 miles from my house on my road, about 23 miles long, at the opposite end, of where I live a new Branch building. It sits at (again) the end of the road, so in another county,  so it is not my Ward. One of  my oldest friends did the design, and oversaw the construction . Some had suggested that the old building should remain bullet holes and all, being the oldest Church building in the South, and in Georgia. One family wanted to buy it if the Church would not want to preserve it. The first Sunday the Saints meet in their new building, they were informed the old building had been torn down, every stone removed, and cleared. There were many tears, none more bitter than at the site, where beside the Church generations of Saints are buried, but now just an empty field. When I ask my friend about the why this was done and why so quickly, he said "the Church is moving away from historical sites, instead looking to the future" . 

So is it time to "pass the torch" (so to speak), to our younger members, at Church, and on such websites? Most who are old, just work the Temple work, or serve as Prophets and Apostles. I fear I am a dinosaur, and have outlived my usefulness on the debate stage. I also found out that more than one High Priests, in my Ward have been asked not to volunteer to teach in Priesthood either. 

Thoughts? 

ETA: Had to do many changes, my blood sugar crashed last night, and I post sooooo many errors. The wife thankfully saw what was happening, if it had gotten much wors it would have turned into a ambulance ride. Yet another reason for the long goodbye. 

Edited October 31, 2018 by Bill “Papa” Lee

[Duncan]

I was reading in Alma 5 something I have never read before, about the aged, middle aged and the rising generation need to be born again. It was Pres. Packer who said while there may not be enough stuff to do there is, however, lot's to become😉

[Hamba Tuhan]

7 minutes ago, Bill "Papa" Lee said:

I also found out that more than one High Priests, in my Ward have been asked not to volunteer to teach in Priesthood either.  

Thoughts? 

My thoughts: Your elders quorum really needs to lift its game and actually call and set apart instructors instead of calling for volunteers (but rejecting others). Whenever we get things wrong in the Church, we almost always end up hurting someone.

By the way, I don't consider myself a high priest, and I don't refer to myself that way. I'm a member of the elders quorum. This is exactly the same as former bishops who hold the ordination of bishop but previously belonged to the high priests quorum and considered themselves high priests. Just a side note.

Edited October 31, 2018 by Hamba Tuhan

[The Nehor]

45 minutes ago, Hamba Tuhan said:

My thoughts: Your elders quorum really needs to lift its game and actually call and set apart instructors instead of calling for volunteers (but rejecting others). Whenever we get things wrong in the Church, we almost always end up hurting someone.

By the way, I don't consider myself a high priest, and I don't refer to myself that way. I'm a member of the elders quorum. This is exactly the same as former bishops who hold the ordination of bishop but previously belonged to the high priests quorum and considered themselves high priests. Just a side note.

Incidental but in a consultation with the handbook a while back we found one remaining difference between a High Priest currently in an Elder's Quorum and an Elder. You still have to be a High Priest to fill in on a disciplinary council to replace an absent member on either the ward or stake level. One reason to stay an elder.

[Hamba Tuhan]

Just now, The Nehor said:

You still have to be a High Priest to fill in on a disciplinary council to replace an absent member on either the ward or stake level.

This is true.

Quote

One reason to stay an elder.

Too late for many of us. I was a member of a disciplinary council just a few weeks ago ...

[The Nehor]

54 minutes ago, Bill "Papa" Lee said:

"When Youth Departs! May Youth Be Enough", this is a quote made by the Great, Winston Churchill. He was someone with great leadership skills, skills needed during the Great War (WWII), When the crisis had  past, those of Great Britton,  no longer wanted him. If I may, I wish this serve as a metaphor   

The Church is changing fast, as fast as the Internet, many made changes without waiting for an instruction or direction in General Conference, even Message boards, who have no affiliation to the Church, as their disclaimers denote. We are no longer "Mormons" despite almost 200+ years, (well we still have the "Mormon newsroom" and other things, Mormon, for clarity's sake, I have always referred to myself as a Latter-day Saint, it is only after many tries to figure out who (or what I am) only then do I say, I am a Mormon. I did have done this ever since President Hinckley addressed this in a sermon, decades ago. Pageants are beening  scaled back or stopped all together, the Pioneer Trek, is also being scaled back and changed. Much is changing and changing rapidly. About 18 miles from my house that lies a road 23 miles long, at the opposite end, of where I live, a new Branch building sits. It sits at (again) the end of the road, so in another county, so it is not my Ward. One of  my oldest friends did the design, and oversaw the construction . Some had suggested that the old building should remain bullet holes and all. One family wanted to buy it if the Church would not preserve it. The first Sunday the Saints meet in their new building, they were informed the old building had been torn down, every stone removed, and racked clear. There were many tears, none more bitter than at the site, where beside the Church generations of Saints are buried, but now just an empty field. When I ask my friend about the "hast" of doing this so quickly, his reply was that the Church is moving away from historical sites, instead looking to the future. 

So is it time to "pass the touch" (so to speak), to our younger members, at Church, and on such websites? Most who are old, just work the Temple, or serve as Prophets and Apostles. I fear I m a dinosaur, and have outlived my usefulness on the debate stage. I also found out that more than one High Priests, in my Ward have been asked not to volunteer to teach in Priesthood either.  

Thoughts? 

You are not a dinosaur. The Church is not leaving you behind. If you have frustrations I hope I can say this without offense you are probably not too far away from joining a much busier Church with much more ancient traditions then an old church building. That building was at most a few hundred years old. When you are inducted into the Church on the other side you will be strong and hearty in a way you may not feel now working with people thousands of years older then you from many dispensations. And you will be a spring chicken in comparison to most.

Papa, in eternity youth is the rule and age is the exception. What I mean by that is we have eternity to feel the vigor and strength of youth and only a few years in mortality to be older or elderly so try to enjoy it. That is what I try to tell myself as I start getting older. You are not useless and your current limitations (whatever they are, and we all have some) are temporary.

And remember the words of Elder Holland: that faith looks forward. No matter how good the past was faith looks to the future that will eventually be even better.  

[Guest]

9 hours ago, Hamba Tuhan said:

My thoughts: Your elders quorum really needs to lift its game and actually call and set apart instructors instead of calling for volunteers (but rejecting others). Whenever we get things wrong in the Church, we almost always end up hurting someone.

By the way, I don't consider myself a high priest, and I don't refer to myself that way. I'm a member of the elders quorum. This is exactly the same as former bishops who hold the ordination of bishop but previously belonged to the high priests quorum and considered themselves high priests. Just a side note.

I seldom use the term High Priest in many circumstances, but I am one.