Trying to Make it Work

[Tom Haws]

Roy wrote:

I am reminded of the words of a very dear pastor friend, “You can be saved and be Mormon, but it won’t be the Mormonism that saves you.”

I love this, Roy! Very charitable of him. Best evangelical perspective I’ve ever heard.

[Andrew]

Tom wrote:

Roy wrote:

I am reminded of the words of a very dear pastor friend, “You can be saved and be Mormon, but it won’t be the Mormonism that saves you.”

I love this, Roy! Very charitable of him. Best evangelical perspective I’ve ever heard.

I love that, too. The same could be said of any organized religion.

[Old-Timer]

Yeah, and, ironically, even if many orthodox members don’t understand the following, that also is what pure Mormonism teaches at the most fundamental level.

[SamBee]

Andrew wrote:

SamBee wrote:

I see you’re a fan of the late great Toshiro Mifune. That puts you up in my estimation already!

Mifune and Kurosawa were one hell of a combination, weren’t they?

Definitely! is that picture from Yojimbo or is it one of the other ones?

[Andrew]

SamBee wrote:

Definitely! is that picture from Yojimbo or is it one of the other ones?

You nailed it.

[Katzpur]

Andrew wrote:

Forgive the length.

I’m long-winded myself.

Quote:

At the same time, I was realizing that I was a liberal, politically and theologically. I’m just wired that way. As such, I felt increasingly out-of-place and even unwelcome at my local ward and in the broader church.

We appear to have that in common. I am really not all that much into politics, but am decidedly left of center (in comparison to your average Mormon) when it comes to social issues (e.g. Prop 8, etc.) and a great many of the LDS cultural issues (dress codes, beards for men, even the Word of Wisdom). Like you, that’s just how I feel I’m wired, so I can totally relate to this concern.

Quote:

I was teaching Gospel Principles, and while I loved the opportunity to be the first exposure to the institutional church for many seekers, I found the manual increasingly difficult to rely on. Doctrines are presented in such a literal, almost fundamentalist way that I had to be very careful in how I presented the material so as to feel comfortable with what I was saying but not straying too far afield.

I have that problem any time I teach any class. I’ve taught Gospel Principles and Relief Society, and people always tell me that I’m one of their favorite teachers. It’s just that sticking to the manual is always so painful for me. Every time I have a teaching calling, I inevitably get “reminded” at some point that “the brethren” have been inspired in their teachings and I am not to bring in any additional material — even material that is fully in line with what the manual says. It’s terribly frustrating.

Quote:

So I seek your friendship, encouragement, and wisdom.

I’ll be looking forward to seeing more of you.

[Author]

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