Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Ray,I thought about talking to the SP but it was his wife that made the rule and that is why the other leaders didn’t speak up even more. I think our bishop was talked to by some parents. I just wanted to say welcome to you. This is a good place to start your transitional phase. I an sorry for the difficult time you are having with your ex. At least it might be a little easier to figure out things with the church if you don’t have a spouse that will not support you durning this difficult time. I liked your chart. you may discover that it will change over the next couple of years. I know that I have changed many of the ways I believe and I am good with that. I am surprised how many people where effected by the Kate Kelly exing. I have some family visit us this last week and they too on on the verge of leaving over that issue along with many other issue but the KK one is the one pushing then over the edge. I look forward to hearing more from you. I like what SD said about finding others to talk to. I have a friend at church who stopped believing but still goes for now to Sacrament. We usually go to breakfast after that and I come back sometimes for priesthood and he goes homes. Anyways, just having one other person that gets you, who gives you the ” this is BS” look when someone says something completely false at church but you know that most in the congregation think the same, is just what I need to get through the meetings and I can leave and not have to discuss it with my wife and know that it is not just me. I have found others at church and amount family that feel the same way as me and it just makes it better. I live in Oregon and I believe it can happen other places also. Welcome Stan. Your statement about being a failure in raising new Mormons got me thinking. Are your kids responsible in their lives outside of church? If they are, you did a good job. Also I do believe that it takes a village to raise a child and the church with it’s imperfect leaders, teachers, policies, and programs also share in the success and failure of keeping kids in church. Don’t despair and be extra good to your wife durning all of this. I think that the two kind of goes hand in hand. There needs to be an obedience to some principles to be self reliant and some self reliance in your judgement to be obedient. I like everyone else thus far voted for self reliance. I appreciate that your SP indicated telling others that they have to leave and that you have the answers is what makes the difference between disagreeing and apostasy. I think that a meeting like that between you and the Sp and Bishop would probably work but I can’t for the life of me see a lively discussion like that going on in a high council meeting. In my stake in Oregon it couldn’t happen in SS, or RS or priesthood meeting, at least not yet. I think this essay like many of the others will probably help push some members out while helping other to stay for now, but the overall effect will be that it at least puts something out there for the church to say that they have addressed the issue. I don’t think for a minute that any of the essays will help garnish any new converts. They are weak at best and causes as many questions as they answer but again at least the church is acknowledging that there are some issues. I just want you to know that you are one of my heroes. Your posts have taught me (as much as posts can) about what it is like to be a gay mormon. I have shared them with others and I have seen attitudes change. Mine certainly did because of your willingness to put the real you out there. Bless you my friend. I added my profile on the day KK was exed, it has not been added yet. I heard that she stepped down as top leader maybe because she will be out of the country. The new leaders should just continue to respectfully go about their work. There might be a lot more support now that the whole world knows about it. The Brethren should have just let them go to the priesthood session. I am not too worried about this site because of what it is all about and I figure the church will go after Ray and hawkgrrl before they come after me. They are like the bird in the cage that miners take down in the mines. They will be the first to die. Thanks for taking one for the team if the time comes. Sheldon wrote:I see so much of the D&C as just Joseph Smith trying to get somebody to do something (go on a mission, sell some property, stop nagging about polygamy, etc) and then playing the “prophet card” to make them do it. With so much of the “I want you to do this, and the Lord said so” in the D&C, it’s hard to take the other parts seriously.
That how I read it now. Especially those dealing with Martin Harris. It sounds like JS is just playing him and using God to do it.
I was on the HC up unti about 7 months ago and my SP kind of asked me to do the same until I started doing it. I did say some things over the pulpit that got me called into his office. He read the talks and admitted that it was alright on the surface but he didn’t want to deal with the fallout and he could tell that it was hard on me, so I was released. As Ray has said that if the call you they get you and when it works they will let you know and when it doesn’t they will throw you under the bus and not think about you again. I was released, turned down a ward mission call and have slowed down my attendance in SS and PH and haven’t heard a word from a single member of the HC or stake presidency. I was very opened in my exit interview and with my bishop. I also told the Stake leaders that I would be willing to talk to other that are struggling but I haven’t heard a thing. I think that I am a lost cause when it come to church and I am ok with that.
