[wileecoyote49]

Great thoughts, i’m new to this group so i’m just astounded that there are other people who actually dare to talk/think this way. i’m hoping for change as well, but guardedly pessimistic. I’m afraid that as long as we have the gerontocracy that we do, and a leadership that is still largely Utah bred, we will always be behind the curve on doing what’s right. We aren’t a bunch that likes to stick our necks out, rather preferring to let others lead the charge for social change and then adopting it as our own once its reached general acceptance. I’m afraid we may need a shakeup in the general leadership of the church to see any real change in any near future.

[wileecoyote49]

Minyan Man wrote:

Welcome, we are glad that you found us.

For me, I don’t expect that this is the one true church or religion.

I don’t expect the leadership to understand or help me with issues I’m facing or experiencing.

Thanks for your insight. This is what has lead me to where I am today. I’ve always been told and even believed for a long time that this was the true Church and I expected (because that’s what we’re taught) that leadership is supposed to help. During my time in leadership positions I did my best to help when I could, though I also noticed that it was difficult to get others to help me.

For me, this view has come over a long period of time.

There are issues that the Leadership & members have difficulty understanding & addressing.

Such as:

– Abuse.

– Addiction.

– Questions of early doctrine. Such as polygamy.

– etc.

I also have difficulties here, and perhaps i’ll address this in another forum. If the leadership of the Church is truly inspired by God, why has it taken the Church so long to address issues such as abuse and addiction? The Church now says that one of the biggest challenges we face is pornography addiction but as far as I can tell other than a few talks where someone stern faced like Richard G. Scott spoke about staying away from pornography. If they are truly inspired, I would think they would have been more prepared to deal with it up front.

Today I believe that:

– This life & the experiences we face are difficult. This is part of the design.

– I don’t look to the leadership (or the general membership) to give me guidance, comfort or peace.

I agree with you now, but this part is very hard for me to accept. What’s the point if you can’t look to leadership for real help?

– I found small callings where I can serve & contribute on my own terms.

– I found close friends & relatives who I confide it & know that our discussions are private & confidential. (This includes this site.)

I’m still looking for this, hopefully i’ll find it soon.

– If I am not being feed spiritually, I find something else to do.

Keep coming back. I hope you find what you’re looking for.

Thank you and I will.

[wileecoyote49]

Always Thinking wrote:

Has this all been in the same stake or has this all happened over many stakes?

I’ve been to many wards and stakes, some better than others. Interesting enough, it seems the wards/branches where people are less informed about the church or are newer members seemed to be more friendly and in-touch with the spirit even though they may not know all the terminology or what “normal” Mormons say or do. When I was on my mission, there were smaller branches in the more rural areas where this seemed to be the case. they reached out to investigators and each other in a more real and sincere capacity. Then in the Wards that were in more suburban or urban locations where a lot of members were long-time, they seemed to care less, we had a harder time getting them to engage with investigators and even though they said all the right things and did all the right things that a “normal” “Utah Mormon” would they just seemed to be less in-touch with the spirit and less intuitive. I’ve seen the same thing here in the states, not to say that rural is better than urban, but it seems that the newer the member or the more “diamond in the rough” type member is much more in touch. I’ve been to wards where there is a great concern for each other, but often they are also less typical “Mormon”. I’ve been to single’s wards in Orem, UT where you couldn’t get someone to give you the time of day if you life depended on it. While visiting my parents ward in Alpine, I introduced myself to someone and when he found out where I was from lambasted me for electing Obama (I did vote for Obama but that’s not the point). That ward is full of former stake presidents, mission presidents and even a few Emeritus GA’s but I get that same lack of Spirit when I go there. They say all the right things but something is lacking. My ward where I live is the same. A lot of otherwise “good” people but other than delivering some meals and sometimes helping out solid members when they need it (not struggling ones), I don’t feel the spirit with them. And they make sure to tell everyone from the rameumptom what they did.

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