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Mom3, this is beautiful! I went through a period where Jesus was my bench buddy. I envisioned him sitting right next to me and that was the only way I made it through during that difficult time. I knew that He knew the situation perfectly. This article makes me sad. I feel KK has thrown herself on the spear for all of us. No, she did not let us have a vote, that is true. But I really don’t believe many of the changes we are seeing would have been so quick in coming without OW’s actions. It’s sad it had to get to this. When you study the history of RS, it has been stripped down and down over the years, to where it just does not compare to the earlier organization. I yearn for the RS lessons to be turned back over the RS General Presidency and board. Women used to teach each other how to live the gospel in real life in RS. For converts, that is vital. Now it’s all about men’s voices and no real relation to the challenges sisters are facing in real life, especially our new convert sisters. wornoutsneakers wrote:Hawkgrrrl commented online on “wheatandtares” that
Although many in the church agree with John and Kate’s pro-feminism and pro-gay rights stances….. I feel this is a complete assumption Hawkgrrrl. Where is the evidence to support that many do support this? What is the definition of many? 1%, 20%, or more? I dont recall ever being polled. I have talked about OW and other issues with many members at church and not one woman supports OW. Wornoutsneakers, I do think many are careful who they trust their opinions to. I know a great many in my area, especially among the younger generation. There may very well be some right around you who sense your contentment with the way things are and don’t wish to upset you or upset themselves to discuss it with you. Also, even many in the older group may not speak it just so, but I can promise you the underlying resentment that is often there towards the men. Surely some sister leaders have muttered around you things such as , “The wheels of the priesthood turn slowly. Ask the RS president, she’s really the one who knows everything going on. The women do the majority of the work in the church.” I could go on and on with this particular theme. As a sister leader on ward and stake levels for many years, I knew the men did engage and work hard in their callings too. I have always felt if a woman is going to mutter these things under her breath or to other sisters, she might as well be speaking it to the priesthood. That is the honest thing to do.
But then that leads to…..where is the avenue really to address these issues on a churchwide level? Because the ward and stake experience as far as sister leaders are concerned will always be affected by the particular group of men in leadership at the same time until something changes a LOT.
From my experience in my area, there are many, probably the majority, who want more respect for the sister leaders. Many may not care or want it to go all the way to ordaining to priesthood, but they want to be respected and to have a voice that actually carries some weight, to address issues and governance on the ward and stake level.
Life_Journey_of_Matt wrote:Quote:1. “You are loved and cherished, dearly, forever.”
2. “You have nothing to fear.”
3. “There is nothing you can do wrong.”
I am just finishing this book. I saw the “There is nothing you can do wrong” as a reassurance and applying to the place of existence he was currently in, not to earth life. And I was hopeful that meant once we are out of this mortal existence, we can no longer do “wrong”. I was very much impressed that a respectable neurosurgeon is willing to put himself on the line in the medical community with this book, since scientific people, for the most part, do scoff at NDE events.
Old-Timer wrote:My wife and I have paid with individual checks and tithing slips all year. Therefore, the money has to have been entered under each name individually. I’ll see how the reports come back to us and let everyone know.
Ray, when you say individual checks and tithing slips all year do you mean a separate check and tithing slip for each of you or two separate tithing slips and one check for both? I would really like to go back to writing one check for both. Since I have done two checks and two slips, we did get separate reports(statements) this year, but it’s aggravating to have to keep doing it this way.
So glad this was bumped up too! Since putting both of our names on the tithing slip only resulted in a statement with my husband’s name on it, I have been going to the trouble of separate tithing slips and two checks all year. When it came time for the statements to be handed out, I was handed an envelope with my husband’s first and last name written on it. Enclosed were both of our tithing statements. Really? A recent widow was handed her envelope, with her deceased husband’s statement of tithing and then one with her name which started after his death this year. Really?
I don’t think this is just a clerical error in the particular ward we live in. After reviewing this thread though, I am going to bring this up to someone. This really needs to stop. One statement should be in both names if they are both written on the tithing slip, just like our taxes if we file jointly.
So sorry Ray! I have not been able to really be here for a bit, so just now seeing this. My prayers are going up for your whole family. Joydiva wrote:Hello: I recently had an experience with the bishop, that I feel was a clear example of unrighteous dominion and spiritual abuse. It was covert and veiled, though clearly intended to “put me in my place” as a woman, and to silence me and intimidate me into compliance. I prefer not to discuss details here, though I will say I have only expressed my opinion about certain topics that are presently controversial, and declined assignments from time to time, as I have felt guided to do so. I am very clear that I will not allow him or any other man in the church to treat me that way again. I am considering options for how I might respond to him and this situation. I do not know the stake presidency well, and don’t know other women in the ward well enough to seek input from anyone about which of these men I might approach. While I want to address this, and set a clear boundary, I also don’t want to spark retaliation toward myself. I am considering writing a letter to Elder Holland and the general RS president, expressing my concerns and stating my boundary. Would they be likely respond in a helpful way, that was not the male “circling the wagons” like I have observed men in the church doing with others?
Not sure what exactly happened, but a higher up letter will most likely accomplish nothing. Two options: take someone trusted with you and discuss the situation with the bishop directly. Be willing to share with him specifically what was said or done to make you feel he was putting you in your place. I would not advise doing this without an impartial third party. Or go about your life and stay out of his office and out of his path, knowing that the Lord certainly knows all that is going on and being willing to leave it with Him. I know when you feel trampled on by someone in leadership, it can be very difficult to not let it influence your spiritual life. But if he meant to do what you think he did, why give him the satisfaction? The best payback is to pursue doing the good you are here in the world to do. Some things are shifting and on certain days, it seems too slow. Depending on the group of people involved, any group of leadership can easily slip into being guilty of gossip. That can also include RS presidencies, bishoprics, and even stake presidencies. I try to believe everyone is trying to do their best but I know there may be one or two in the crowd that can mishandle things. Good luck! Please feel free to vent to us as you need to.
1) Worshipping with my family 2)How callings have grown me, so to speak and spiritual experiences I had while in those callings which I cannot explain away 3)I love some of the theology that I did not find in other churches 4)the family history emphasis….I don’t think I would ever have sought out my ancestors on my own (and the closeness it enabled with older members of the family as I did that 4)the Relief Society organization and what it taught me about charity 5) the temple and the time it allows me to step away from the world and meditate (it’s hard for me to carve out that time in regular life) 6) the close friendships I have made through the visiting teaching program that have lasted for years 7) the booklet RS gave out eons ago that taught sisters to set goals in 5 areas of life -that was extremely helpful to me as a young adult who had come out of a chaotic family 
the teachings on living within your means and striving to be self-reliant. Again, those were not taught by my immediate family, although emphasis was given by grandparents. 9)My husband and I are a little better after we have been to the temple. Please don’t scoff… temple sessions refocus us on our commitment to each other, our family members and others in our vicinity we can assist.I am really grateful for this thread as it has given me time to reflect when I am also at a time of great frustration with other things happening in our church setting.
Jazernorth wrote:It is confusing, I agree.
Here is a link to the handbook – see if you can find where it says you have to attend “your ward” to get a temple recommend. None of the questions asked are about attending your ward.
https://www.lds.org/handbook/handbook-2-administering-the-church/introduction?lang=eng This link is just to handbook 2. We need a look see at handbook 1 to determine what they are going by. Anyone have any connections to handbook 1? Bishops and stake presidents get this one.
Jazernorth wrote:There is no requirement to be in any particular ward to get a temple recommend.
I wish someone with access to the handbook could look this up. I was told this goes all the way back to Salt Lake Leadership.
Donna wrote:how do you get your recommend. I may just to tell the Bishop how I feel. We need to serve . If the ward doesn’t want us I am sure we can volunteer some where. It is sad that people that want to serve in their ward aren’t given the opportunity. In our ward when your released you don’t get another calling soon sometimes it years.Its not that the ward have more people than callings. It that some people have 3 or 4 callings.
Hoping to move out of Utah before I die. LOL
Depending upon the local leadership, some can and will withhold the temple recommend if you do not attend your geographical ward. They justify if in the sustaining your leadership part of the TR question. But I encourage you to talk to your bishop about the whole matter. I do know of others who were dying on the vine so to speak, who did that and the situation turned totally around for them. Sometimes local leadership becomes used to knowing that certain people will do their callings, call it inspiration and they forget to open their eyes to new move in’s.
:crazy:
