I learned in Church today

[LA Ute]

This letter was read in our ward today:

FPLTR.jpg

In a training session, our stake president added some guidance: "Brief" in this context means 3-5 minutes. Also, regarding children's testimonies, "old enough" means the child is able to come up to the stand by himself/herself, if a pass-around microphone is not being used. No "duets" with parents holding the child or standing by, whispering in the child's ear. Our bishop read the letter, then added the SP's guidance. I loved the whole thing. I guess this has become a problem in the Wasatch Front wards? That's usually what prompts letters like these. But I welcome the help even out here in the hinterland.

[Jeff Lebowski]

This letter was read in our ward today:

In a training session, our stake president added some guidance: "Brief" in this context means 3-5 minutes. Also, regarding children's testimonies, "old enough" means the child is able to come up to the stand by himself/herself, if a pass-around microphone is not being used. No "duets" with parents holding the child or standing by, whispering in the child's ear. Our bishop read the letter, then added the SP's guidance. I loved the whole thing. I guess this has become a problem in the Wasatch Front wards? That's usually what prompts letters like these. But I welcome the help even out here in the hinterland.

I am all for cutting back on testimonies whispered into little kids' ears. That is borderline creepy.

They had a letter just like this a few years ago. It made a difference for a few months and then people went right back to old habits.

[Rocker Ute]

I am all for cutting back on testimonies whispered into little kids' ears. That is borderline creepy.

They had a letter just like this a few years ago. It made a difference for a few months and then people went right back to old habits.

So years ago my nearly 90 year old grandfather decided to go out in a flame of glory. Apparently he got up in his ward of 50 years and went on a rant that reportedly included a chiding of parents "who get up during testimony meeting and whisper in their children's ears like they were the Holy Ghost." I believe that was some of the nicer things he said.

My dad got a call from an old friend who told him about the whole thing. A few weeks later he had a stroke and went to a care facility to live out the rest of his years. I've always thought that saying was awesome (despite losing his filter in his older years he really was a very remarkable and accomplished man), and think of it each time I see it. He was right.

[Sullyute]

This letter was read in our ward today:

FPLTR.jpg

In a training session, our stake president added some guidance: "Brief" in this context means 3-5 minutes. Also, regarding children's testimonies, "old enough" means the child is able to come up to the stand by himself/herself, if a pass-around microphone is not being used. No "duets" with parents holding the child or standing by, whispering in the child's ear. Our bishop read the letter, then added the SP's guidance. I loved the whole thing. I guess this has become a problem in the Wasatch Front wards? That's usually what prompts letters like these. But I welcome the help even out here in the hinterland.

I have never experienced this fast and testimony phenomenon. There has always been ample time for the same 10 -15 people to share their feelings. And there is usually plenty of silence between testimonies.

In fact I have always found it amusing to listen to the heavy breathing of a 3 year old as he puts his mouth on the microphone and waits for his mom to tell him what to say. I don't find it any less uplifting than listening to 15 minutes of someone testifying about indexing.

[Scorcho]

Clearly in the grand scheme of things what I about to complain about is nothing. It’s small, it’s virtually insignificant, but I need to beeyatch about it simply for my own sanity. Could they (the LDS Church) simply rename the Young Women’s Program.

I have been a member my entire life. I am a BIC Baby, and yet I still get confused about the YW Groups - Beehives, Mia-Maids and Laurels. I don’t mean to be insensitive (if there are significant reasons they are called that and I have missed it), but I have a daughter in one of those groups, I routinely forget which one, because these names are weird, bizarre and goofy. Is there any meaning behind them? I don’t know any great women in Biblical or BOM History named Laurel. And Mia-Maids what on earth is that? Is that a Missing-in-Action Maid? If that's the case my su-casa has had a Mia-Maid for far too long.

I would be happy with calling them Seniors, Juniors o r Sophomores. Level I, II or III. You could name them after famous women in the Scriptures (Ruth, Sarah and Mary), or any other division that creates an identity that gives our YW a sense of pride. The NHL realized years ago that the Patrick and Norris Divisions were out dated and confusing and renamed them, and the Big Ten quickly dropped the Legends and Leaders divisions because someone was smoking crack.

Can’t we rename the YW’s Program, so we don’t have to get more strange stares from our non-member friends. They already struggle so much with “Stake House.”

[LA Ute]

Not really something I learned in church, but important to know just the same:

Arsenio reveals Mormons' superpower

[Damage U]

For those of you getting out of church meetings today, after another Ute win and pics of Pres. Uchtdorf walking off the field at RES-south with Whitt, is the church still true or did the zoobs lock the doors to anyone wearing a hint of red?

[Scorcho]

The Scorcho’s packed up the family Truckster yesterday to see a friend perform a musical number in another ward. Sacrament meeting, at said ward, was simply several youth and their leaders reading from the For the Strength of the Youth Pamphlet from page one till the end. A somewhat lame Sacrament Meeting, but I guess it could have been worse.

Having never read For the Strength of the Youth in its entirety there are lots of great things in there. Its great advice for youth and adults, and certainly some things that I could do better. However, there was one part that troubled me. Naturally, there are several references to pornography and sexuality, and at one point it’s pointed out that sexual sin is second only to murder and denying the holy ghost in the hierarchy of bad things one can do. I’m not questioning the validity of that statement/BOM Scripture, I just feel uneasy about its place in the For the Strength of the Youth Pamphlet. It’s completely unnecessary.

I know this isn’t a new topic, but it seems that statement is more like a Scare Tactic than it is a warning. There’s no need to bring up the subject of murder, or denying the holy ghost when discussing sexual sin. It borders on the ludicrous IMO. Our youth struggle with enough guilt, most are already harder on themselves than they need to be. I don't see any need in comparing them to Charles Manson.

[Scorcho]

We had a great Priesthood lesson on social media yesterday. It was taken from Elder Uhctdorfs message that we should embrace and not shy away from Facebook, Twitter, etc. Essentially the lesson was that in order to be a true disciple of Christ, that we should use these tools to bear our testimonies and share eternal truths. Too many of us have shy'd away from these tools because we don't want to get involved in the controversial issues of today.

I've never had a Facebook account, but it definitely made me think that I probably should have one and use it to share my beliefs and feelings.