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In my mind, there maybe several reasons: 1. Just to keep in touch on a personal level to see where you’re at.
2. If there are issues that come up: what can the Bishop or the ward do to help?
3. Is there a way to get you to make a commitment for the coming year?
For the many years I’ve been inactive, not one Bishop or Financial Clerk ever contacted me.
Mike from Milton.
If the church wanted to use temples as an economic benefit, the easiest thing for them to do is assign a temple to every Stake Center. At one point in time, I thought I heard that was an idea being circulated. For us in the mission field, the temple was a long range goal that took years to prepare for (spiritually & financially). It was a spiritual mystery that you looked forward to attend. If it became common place, you may see the initial increase in attendance & worthiness. But, overtime, it will probably drift back to what it was or even lower.
On a percapita basis, I would think that’s true.
If you compared church population (for a specific area) with temple attendance adjusting for the random tourists. It would be an interesting metric.
For example, Nauvoo.
Sounds like an Accountant talking.
Mike from Milton.
I had a good day at church. Then I screwed it up. Our ward had the Christmas program today. Lots of music & the primary children participated.
They’re always good.
The Sunday school lesson was on Revelations. Good discussion.
I talked with old friends I hadn’t seen in awhile.
Then came PH. Opening exercises were ok. They didn’t ask me to introduce myself again. Always good.
I’ve only been in the ward 30+ years. It tells you how often I come to Church.
Then we broke off for the lesson & I ran into the Stake President.
He introduced himself & wanted to know if I was visiting. I told him no. “I’m the inactive member of the ward”.
He asked me what brought me back? (I can’t keep my mouth shut.) I said I didn’t have a clue. Probably not the best thing to say.
I’m beginning to realize that you are either in it 110% or you’re an outcast.
I doubt if I can commit to the 110% level again. There is no such thing as being an impartial observer in this church.
Or, getting into activity slowly & gradually increasing as you feel comfortable.
I even went to the Bishop’s office to get a tithing envelop. No envelopes.
God’s trying to tell me something. This Sunday’s free.
Am I being too dramatic?
Mike from Milton.
SilentDawning, said the following: Quote:Some of the commitments one makes are HEAVY — much heavier than at baptism. Yet, you only find out about them in the temple, after family, friends are gathered to be there for your special moment!! Granted, you are allowed to withdraw by your own free will or choice, but that is before the ceremony really gets going, or you know the implications
Does anyone know a member who “withdrew” from a temple endowment because they couldn’t make the commitment?
I’ve been around for awhile & don’t remember hearing of anyone ever withdrawing.
I wonder what would happen then?
Mike from Milton.
sarah, welcome to the group. You will find that we are a very understanding & have gone through some of the same things you’re experiencing (or in the process). Feel free to express yourself. Mike from Milton.
For me, the things I like are: 1. Any sacrament meeting where the primarly children participate.
2. Music, music, music…
3. A Missionary who passionately bares his testimony.
4. Watching young families with small children.
5. Service. (I’m not doing much now. I miss it & plan to in the near future.
6. Our family looks forward to seeing our Home Teacher. That hasn’t always been the case.
All of these things make me feel good.
I hope that my list grows in the future.
Mike from Milton.
Red, thank you for your intro. The story sounds familiar. At this point in time, the only advise I would give is: don’t make a permanent decision when you
feel confused. Give it time & talk. Keep in touch. We want to hear more from you when you’re ready.
Mike from Milton.
wayfarer, the Missionaries came over tonight. I was going to ask the question…
Quote:What do you believe?
But, I decided not to do it. I did tell them about my project to define it for myself.They shared some general ideas & I left it at that.
It didn’t feel appropriate to go any further with them.
This project does seem interesting to me for some reason.
I woke up this morning, first thing, & thought of items I want to include.
Thanks again for getting me started.
Mike from Milton.
wayfarer, the missionaries come over to night. My goal is not to embarass them.
I want to see if they can think “outside the box”.
The “senior” seems very spiritual. He bore his testimony on Sunday.
It was very moving.
This isn’t going to be a test.
More later.
Mike from Milton.
I am at the beginning steps of this topic: Rediscovering my relationshop with God. Before I can do that, I have to define what I really believe.
Many of you, through this web site have helped take the first steps.
I will keep you informed of my progress.
I don’t think this is going to be an easy process.
It should be an interesting journey.
The missionaries of our ward are coming over for dinner tomorrow night.
I’m going to ask them this same question: What do you believe?
I’m not going to let them give me the “canned” response.
Mike from Milton.
GBSmith, I hate to sound so dumb but, when you say… Quote:A couple of years ago I was speaking to a retired BYU prof that had been a counselor in the MTC presidency who said that they weren’t excommunicating missionaries because of the
low return rate. I don’t know if it’s policy or if just a loosening of the old rule that if you committed a sexual sin excommunication was an automatic. What do you mean by “low return rate”? Is that the % of missionaries honorably completing their missions?
Mike from Milton.
In the many years that I’ve been inactive, it hasn’t been because I was offended. I don’t have major issues with doctrine, church history or leadership.
What surprises me is: no one asked me.
It is too easy to just assume that I was offended in someway.
We have a tendency to put people into neat, easily defined, categories.
It occurs when we meet someone for the first time & ask the standard questions:
1. Are you visiting?
2. Are you investigating?
3. Are you moving into the ward?
4. Ok, what’s the last unspoken category? (INACTIVE)
What’s interesting to me is how members treat you when you try to come back.
With investigators you are welcomed with open arms.
With inactives you get the cold shoulder, as if you are carrying a disease that can be caught like a cold.
This isn’t a rule chiseled in stone. There are some who will welcome you back. They are few.
I must admit too that I told our Bishop that I would like to be a “fly on the wall” & participate at my own speed.
Now, it sounds like I’m complaining because I’m being treated like the fly.
After reading this it sounds like Iam offended. I might be wrong after all.
Mike from Milton.
wayfarer, I like the way you think. Especially the steps outlined 1 thru 8.
Everything starts with #1:
Quote:Know what you believe.
I don’t have the recent experience that most of you do but, I remember when I was a Financial Clerk tithing $ on a reportor piece of paper are only numbers to most Bishops. The Bishops I’ve known don’t try to play detective.
Others may have a different experience.
Mike from Milton.
