Post
by startpoor » 25 Oct 2014, 15:21
Glad you posted this, I have been thinking about this a lot lately, as SM has become much more painful lately and I now skip Sunday School altogether. I don't think I hate the people themselves--I just hate all the perpetuated ignorance. I get frustrated because I believe that if they knew the hard truths about JS etc, the enthusiasm expressed on his behalf at the pulpit would almost vanish. Not everyone would leave the church though, many would stay, but they would be bearing their testimony about something else.
When it's people who do know their history, I don't get nearly as irritated. My bishop for example, knows his history better than me, but still has a largely orthodox testimony that regularly offends me (and I tell him that) but I don't get angry. I respect him and we can talk openly.
I heard a Lutheran pastor/radio talk show host do a show about Mormon Missionaries, and he made a good point (from a Lutheran perspective), which was: don't get angry at them when they show up at your door, try and understand that they are products of their institution, and believe they are doing the right thing. Take them in, be kind, feed them, and bear your beliefs about Christ's "true" nature.
I try and have that approach--while it may be wrong for me to only respect the beliefs of those who know their history--I still try and love them, and if I can, learn from them, and try and teach them too. But only out of the spirit of love.
Happiness (n.) The state of being in compliance with Mormon norms, regardless of one’s actual resulting emotional state
George, Sr.: Faith is a fact. No, faith is a facet. I almost said faith is a fact.