On Saturday October 3rd in the Saturday Afternoon session of the 185th Semi-Annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints history was made.
Three new apostles (#NewApostles) were called - Donald A. Rasband, Gary E. Stevenson, and Dale G. Renlund, the 98th, 99th, and 100th Apostles in the Last Dispensation.
In some respects things went as expected, while at the same time things did not go as expected. What this shows is that the expected is never what you get. Common man is not at the helm of the church. These calls were purely by revelation, not by voting, political pressure, best guess, political correctness, or the like.
In each case these men that have been selected to fill the vacancies in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles have been prepared for some time. Each has a unique though extensive period of Church service. In all cases unique service as full missionaries, members of the 1st quorum of Seventy, and more......
Over time we will find that this prior service will be of a blessing to the worldwide church. Just because they all grew up in Utah does not mean they do not have global experience, or experience.
For example Elder Steveson served a mission in Japan. Latter he served again a as a mission president. Then as a general authority the president of the Asia North area. Has this brother been prepared for some time as of yet unfulfilled activity in Asia?
It is these type of experiences that will ultimately help as they fulfill their callings as members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
As always someone had to ask why these guys were called and not someone from say South America or another area. Why not some that does not fit the 80% norm of Utah Caucasians with a different skin tone. To get that answer you'll need to ask the source.... Yes, even if you agree with the recent changes you should get your own personal confirmation that this was indeed a call from the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
For if we believe this to be the true and living church we must accept the fact there is continuing revelation and that the person that can receive that revelation is Thomas S. Monson.
To see more information on why the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true and living church please see my blog post on the subject.
The following is a repost. I take no credit for writing any of this material. To view the original post please click here The Divine Institution of Marriage
The Divine Institution of Marriage
Introduction
In 1995, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints published
“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” which declares the following
truths about marriage:
We, the First Presidency and the Council
of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is
ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for
the eternal destiny of His children. . . .
The family is ordained of God. Marriage
between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are
entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a
father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity.[1]
Since the publication of that statement, there have been many
challenges to the institution of marriage. Prominent among these
challenges has been the recognition by several national governments and
some states and provinces that same-sex marriage—formal unions between
two individuals of the same gender—are the equivalent of traditional
marriage. Yet God’s purposes for establishing marriage have not changed.
One purpose of this document is to reaffirm the Church’s declaration
that marriage is the lawful union of a man and a woman.
Another purpose is to reaffirm that the Church has a single,
undeviating standard of sexual morality: intimate relations are
acceptable to God only between a husband and a wife who are united in
the bonds of matrimony.
A third purpose is to set forth the Church’s reasons for defending
marriage between a man and a woman as an issue of moral imperative. The
Church’s opposition to same-sex marriage derives from its doctrine and
teachings, as well as from its concern about the consequences of
same-sex marriage on religious freedom, society, families, and children.
A fourth purpose of this document is to reaffirm that Church members
should address the issue of same-sex marriage with respect and civility
and should treat all people with love and humanity. The Vital Importance of Marriage
Marriage is sacred and was ordained of God from before the foundation
of the world. Jesus Christ affirmed the divine origins of marriage:
“Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them
male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and
mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one
flesh?”[2]
From the beginning, the sacred nature of marriage was closely linked
to the power of procreation. After creating Adam and Eve, God commanded
them to “be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth,”[3]
and they brought forth children, forming the first family. Only a man
and a woman together have the natural biological capacity to conceive
children. This power of procreation—to create life and bring God’s
spirit children into the world—is divinely given. Misuse of this power
undermines the institution of the family.[4]
For millennia, strong families have served as the fundamental
institution for transmitting to future generations the moral strengths,
traditions, and values that sustain civilization. In 1948, the world’s
nations issued the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, affirming that
“the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society.”[5]
Marriage is far more than a contract between individuals to ratify
their affections and provide for mutual obligations. Rather, marriage is
a vital institution for rearing children and teaching them to become
responsible adults. Throughout the ages, governments of all types have
recognized marriage as essential in preserving social stability and
perpetuating life. Regardless of whether marriages were performed as a
religious rite or a civil ceremony, in almost every culture marriage has
been protected and endorsed by governments primarily to preserve and
foster the institution most central to rearing children and teaching
them the moral values that undergird civilization.
It is true that some couples who marry will not have children, either
by choice or because of infertility. The special status granted
marriage is nevertheless closely linked to the inherent powers and
responsibilities of procreation and to the innate differences between
the genders. By contrast, same-sex marriage is an institution no longer
linked to gender—to the biological realities and complementary natures
of male and female. Its effect is to decouple marriage from its central
role in creating life, nurturing time-honored values, and fostering
family bonds across generations.
In recent decades, high rates of divorce and out-of-wedlock births
have resulted in an exceptionally large number of single parents. Many
of these single parents have raised exemplary children. Extensive
studies have shown, however, that a husband and wife who are united in a
loving, committed marriage generally provide the ideal environment for
protecting, nurturing, and raising children.[6]
This is in part because of the differing qualities and strengths that
husbands and wives bring to the task by virtue of their gender. As an
eminent academic on family life has written:
The burden of social science evidence
supports the idea that gender differentiated parenting is important for
human development and that the contribution of fathers to child rearing
is unique and irreplaceable. . . . The complementarity of male and
female parenting styles is striking and of enormous importance to a
child’s overall development.[7]
In view of the close links that have long existed between marriage,
procreation, gender, and parenting, same-sex marriage cannot be regarded
simply as the granting of a new “right.” It is a far-reaching
redefinition of the very nature of marriage itself. It marks a
fundamental change in the institution of marriage in ways that are
contrary to God’s purposes for His children and detrimental to the
long-term interests of society. Threats to Marriage and Family
Our modern era has seen traditional marriage and family—defined as a
husband and wife with children in an intact marriage—come increasingly
under assault, with deleterious consequences. In 2012, 40% of all births
in the United States were to unwed mothers.[8]
More than 50% of births to mothers under age 30 were out of wedlock.
Further, the marriage rate has been declining since the 1980s. These
trends do not bode well for the development of the rising generation.
A wide range of social ills has contributed to this weakening of
marriage and family. These include divorce, cohabitation, non-marital
childbearing, pornography, the erosion of fidelity in marriage,
abortion, the strains of unemployment and poverty, and many other social
phenomena. The Church has a long history of speaking out on these
issues and seeking to minister to our members with regard to them. The
focus of this document on same-sex marriage is not intended to minimize
these long-standing issues.
More recently, the movement to promote same-sex marriage as an
inherent or constitutional right has gained notable ground in recent
years. Court rulings, legislative actions, and referenda have legalized
same-sex marriage in a number of nations, states, and jurisdictions. In
response, societal and religious leaders of many persuasions and faiths
have made the case that redefining marriage in this way will further
weaken the institution over time, resulting in negative consequences for
both adults and children.[9]
A large number of people around the world recognize the crucial role
that traditional marriage has played and must continue to play if
children and families are to be protected and moral values propagated.
Because the issue of same-sex marriage strikes at the very heart of the
family and has the potential for great impact upon the welfare of
children, the Church unequivocally affirms that marriage should remain
the lawful union of a man and a woman. Unchanging Standards of Morality
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that God has
established clear standards of morality for His children, who are
accountable before Him for their behavior. Such standards cannot be
changed by the reasoning, emotions, personal interests, or opinions of
mortal beings.[10] Without the higher authority of God, as revealed in scripture and by His prophets, secular society will flounder and drift.
Many advocates of same-sex marriage argue that traditional standards
of sexual morality have changed and that “tolerance” requires that these
new standards be recognized and codified in law. If tolerance is
defined as showing kindness for others and respect for differing
viewpoints, it is an important value in all democratic societies. But as
Elder Dallin H. Oaks has observed, “Tolerance does not require
abandoning one’s standards or one’s opinions on political or public
policy choices. Tolerance is a way of reacting to diversity, not a
command to insulate it from examination.”[11]
The Savior taught that we should love the
sinner without condoning the sin. In the case of the woman taken in
adultery, He treated her kindly but exhorted her to “sin no more.”[12] His example manifested the highest love possible.
In addition to using the argument of tolerance to advocate redefining
marriage, proponents have advanced the argument of “equality before the
law.” No mortal law, however, can override or nullify the moral
standards established by God. Nor can the laws of men change the
natural, innate differences between the genders or deny the close
biological and social link between procreation and marriage. How Would Same-Sex Marriage Affect Religious Freedom?
As governments have legalized same-sex marriage as a civil right,
they have also enforced a wide variety of other policies to ensure there
is no discrimination against same-sex couples. These policies have
placed serious burdens on individual conscience and on religious
organizations.[13]
Same-sex marriage and anti-discrimination laws have already spawned
legal collisions with the rights of free speech and of action based on
religious beliefs. For example, advocates and government officials in
certain states have challenged the long-held right of religious adoption
agencies to follow their religious beliefs and place children only in
homes with both a mother and a father. As a result, Catholic Charities
in several states was forced to give up its adoption services rather
than be forced to place children with same-sex couples.[14]
In the United States, the First Amendment right of free exercise of
religion is coming under pressure from proponents of same-sex marriage.
Some of these proponents advocate that tax exemptions and benefits
should be withdrawn from any religious organization that does not accept
such marriages.[15]
The First Amendment may protect clergy from being forced to perform
same-sex marriages, but other people of faith have faced and likely will
continue to face legal pressures and sanctions. The same will happen
with religiously affiliated institutions and educational systems. For
example, a Georgia counselor contracted by the Centers for Disease
Control was fired after an investigation into her decision to refer
someone in a same-sex relationship to another counselor. In New Jersey, a
ministry lost its tax-exempt status for denying a lesbian couple the
use of its pavilion for their wedding. New Mexico’s Human Rights
Commission prosecuted a commercial photographer for refusing to
photograph a same-sex commitment ceremony. When public schools in
Massachusetts began teaching students about same-sex civil marriage, a
Court of Appeals ruled that parents had no right to exempt their
students.[16]
Similar limitations on religious freedom have already become the
social and legal reality in several European nations, and the European
Parliament has recommended that laws protecting the status of same-sex
couples be made uniform across the European Union.[17]
Where same-sex marriage becomes a recognized civil right, it inevitably
conflicts with the rights of believers, and religious freedom is
diminished. How Would Same-Sex Marriage Affect Society?
The possible diminishing of religious freedom is not the only
societal implication of legalizing same-sex marriage. Perhaps the most
common argument that proponents of same-sex marriage make is that it is
essentially harmless and will not affect the institution of traditional
heterosexual marriage in any way. “It won’t affect your marriage, so why
should you care?” is the common refrain. While it may be true that
allowing same-sex marriage will not immediately and directly affect
existing marriages, the real question is how it will affect society as a
whole over time, including the rising generation and future generations.
In addition to undermining and diluting the sacred nature of
marriage, legalizing same-sex marriage brings many practical
implications in the sphere of public policy that will be of concern to
parents and society.[18]
When a government legalizes same-sex marriage as a civil right, it will
almost certainly enforce a wide variety of other policies to enforce
this. The implications of these policies are critical to understanding
the seriousness of condoning same-sex marriage.
The all-important question of public policy must be: what environment
is best for the child and for the rising generation? While some
same-sex couples will obtain guardianship over children, traditional
marriage provides the most solid and well-established social identity
for children.[19]
It increases the likelihood that they will be able to form a clear
gender identity, with sexuality closely linked to both love and
procreation. By contrast, the legal recognition of same-sex marriage
may, over time, erode the social identity, gender development, and moral
character of children. No dialogue on this issue can be complete
without taking into account the long-term consequences for children.
As one example of how children will be adversely affected, the
establishment of same-sex marriage as a civil right will inevitably
entail changes in school curricula. When the state says that same-sex
marriages are equivalent to heterosexual marriages, public school
administrators will feel obligated to support this claim.[20]
This has already happened in many jurisdictions, where from elementary
school through high school, children are taught that marriage can be
defined as a legal union between two adults of any gender, that the
definition of family is fluid, and in some cases that consensual sexual
relations are morally neutral.[21]
In addition, in many areas, schools are not required to notify parents
of this curriculum or to give families the opportunity to opt out.[22]
These developments are already causing clashes between the agenda of
secular school systems and the right of parents to teach their children
deeply held standards of morality.
Throughout history, the family has served as an essential bulwark of
individual liberty. The walls of a home provide a defense against
detrimental social influences and the sometimes overreaching powers of
government. In the absence of abuse or neglect, government does not have
the right to intervene in the rearing and moral education of children
in the home. Strong, independent families are vital for political and
religious freedom. Civility and Kindness
The Church acknowledges that same-sex marriage and the issues
surrounding it can be divisive and hurtful. As Church members strive to
protect marriage between a man and a woman, they should show respect,
civility, and kindness toward others who have different points of view.
The Church has advocated for legal protection for same-sex couples
regarding “hospitalization and medical care, fair housing and employment
rights, or probate rights, so long as these do not infringe on the
integrity of the traditional family or the constitutional rights of
churches.”[23]
In Salt Lake City, for example, the Church supported ordinances to
protect gay residents from discrimination in housing and employment.[24]
The Church’s affirmation of marriage as being between a man and a
woman “neither constitutes nor condones any kind of hostility toward
gays and lesbians.”[25]
Church members are to treat all people with love and humanity. They may
express genuine love and kindness toward a gay or lesbian family
member, friend, or other person without condoning any redefinition of
marriage. Conclusion
Strong, stable families, headed by a father and mother, are the
anchor of society. When marriage is undermined by gender confusion and
by distortions of its God-given meaning, the rising generation of
children and youth will find it increasingly difficult to develop their
natural identities as men or women. Some will find it more difficult to
engage in wholesome courtships, form stable marriages, and raise another
generation imbued with moral strength and purpose.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, along with many
other churches, organizations, and individuals, will continue to defend
the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman, because it is a
compelling moral issue of profound importance to our religion and to the
future of society.
The final words in the Church’s proclamation on the family are an
admonition to the world from the First Presidency and the Quorum of the
Twelve Apostles: “We call upon responsible citizens and officers of
government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and
strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.”[26] This document is a revised and updated version of “The Divine Institution of Marriage,” first published by the Church in 2008 (.pdf file). References
[1] “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102.
[4] See M. Russell Ballard, “What Matters Most Is What Lasts Longest,” Ensign, Nov. 2005, 41–44.
[5] United Nations, “Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” General Assembly Resolution 217 A (III), Dec. 10, 1948.
[6] David Blankenhorn, Fatherless America: Confronting Our Most Urgent Social Problem
(New York: Basic Books, 1995); Maggie Gallagher and Joshua K. Baker,
“Do Moms and Dads Matter? Evidence from the Social Sciences on Family
Structure and the Best Interests of the Child,” Margins Law Journal
4:161 (2004); Mark Regnerus, “How Different Are the Adult Children of
Parents Who Have Same-Sex Relationships? Findings from the New Family
Structures Study,” Social Science Research 41:4 (July 2012):
752–70; Regnerus, “Parental Same-Sex Relationships, Family Instability,
and Subsequent Life Outcomes for Adult Children: Answering the Critics
of the New Family Structures Study with Additional Analyses,” Social Science Research 41:6 (Nov. 2012): 1367–77; W. B. Wilcox, J. R. Anderson, W. Doherty, et al., Why Marriage Matters, Third Edition: Thirty Conclusions from the Social Sciences
(New York: Institute for American Values and National Marriage Project,
2011); M. E. Scott, L. F. DeRose, L. H. Lippman, and E. Cook, Two, One, or No Parents? Children’s Living Arrangements and Educational Outcomes around the World (Washington, D.C.: Child Trends, 2013; worldfamilymap.org/2013/articles/essay/two-one-or-no-parents); Andrew J. Cherlin, The Marriage-Go-Round: The State of Marriage and the Family in America Today (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2009).
[7] David Popenoe, Life Without Father (New York: The Free Press, 1996), 146.
[8]
See J. A. Martin, B. E. Hamilton, M. J. K. Osterman, et al. Births:
Final Data for 2012. National Vital Statistics Reports; vol. 62, no. 9
(Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics, 2013).
[9] See Sherif Girgis, “Check Your Blind Spot: What Is Marriage?” Marriage, Feb. 15, 2013; thepublicdiscourse.com/2013/02/7942/; Lynn Wardle, “The Attack on Marriage as the Union of a Man and a Woman,” North Dakota Law Review, vol. 83 (June 2008): 1364–92; David Blankenhorn, The Future of Marriage (2007); Lynn Wardle, ed., What’s the Harm? Does Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage Really Harm Individuals, Families, or Society? (2008); R.R. Reno, “The Future of Marriage,” First Things, Jan. 2013, 3–4; Richard Neuhaus, “Disingenuousness and Clarity,” On the Square, May 30, 2008; firstthings.com/onthesquare/2008/05/disingenuousness-and-clarity.
[10] See Dallin H. Oaks, “No Other Gods,” Ensign, Nov. 2013, 72–75.
[11] Dallin H. Oaks, “Weightier Matters,” Ensign, Jan. 2001, 17.
[13] See Douglas Laycock, Anthony R. Picarello Jr., and Robin F. Wilson, eds., Same-Sex Marriage and Religious Liberty, Emerging Conflicts (Lanham, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield, 2008).
[14] See usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/fortnight-for-freedom/upload/Catholic-Adoption-Services.pdf
[15]
See Jonathan Turley, “An Unholy Union: Same-Sex Marriage and the Use of
Governmental Programs to Penalize Religious Groups with Unpopular
Practices,” in Laycock, Picarello, and Wilson, eds., Same-Sex Marriage and Religious Liberty: Emerging Conflicts, 59–76.
[16] Sherif Girgis, Ryan T. Anderson, and Robert P. George, What Is Marriage? Man and Woman: A Defense (New York and London: Encounter Books, 2012), 62–64.
[17] See Roger Trigg, Equality, Freedom, and Religion
(London and New York: Oxford University Press, 2012); The Observatory
on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe, Report 2012 (Vienna, Austria, 2013); “European Parliament Resolution on Homophobia in Europe,” adopted Jan. 18, 2006.
[18] See Girgis, Anderson, and George, What Is Marriage? Man and Woman: A Defense.
[20]
Charles Russo, “Same-Sex Marriage and Public School Curricula:
Preserving Parental Rights to Direct the Education of Their Children,” University of Dayton Law Review, vol. 32 (Spring 2007): 361–84.
[21] Gerry Shih, “Clashes Pit Parents vs. Gay-Friendly Curriculums in Schools,” The New York Times, Mar. 3, 2011, page A21A; John Smoot, “Children Need Our Marriage Tradition,” Public Discourse, June 13, 2013; thepublicdiscourse.com/2013/06/10344/; Challenging Homophobia and Heterosexism: A K-12 Curriculum Resource Guide, Toronto District School Board (2011).
[22] Parker v. Hurley, 514 F. 3d 87 (1st Cir. 2008); Fields v. Palmdale School District, 427 F.3d 1197 (9th Cir. 2005).
As is common with our Sunday school study we will be hitting the book of Isaiah shortly since we are studying the old testament this year. The Book and writings of Isaiah are to most very hard to follow and understand.
Could it be that since he wrote it in such a older style; cryptic to a point his writings have stood the test of time. Many other writings throughout the old and new testaments have obviously been modified down through the ages. We can clearly see differences in translation and for that matter content depending on the writer and/or source.
Thus what can we do to help us understand the writing and prophecies of Isaiah?
Here is a list of a few good articles that can help. Beyond that I'll dive into some additional ideas and helps provided over the years by the modern prophets, seers and revelators.
Isaiah is truly hard because his writings do not contain stories, they don't follow a common narrative. They clearly more like a compilation of prophecies. Thus it is hard to really follow.
Here are a few points to keep in mind when dealing with Isaiah.
1. You may know more then you think. Much of what Isaiah covers is the basics of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You may be familiar with many of the basic. Also many of his prophecies have been fulfilled. This makes things a bit easier to understand....
2. Know the main topics. You have to know the main areas that are covered by Isaiah. One suggestion is to mark various verses with different colors by topic. You might use Yellow for Jesus, Blue for the Holy Ghost, or Purple for Gospel restoration, etc. The topics could be limitless since the topical guide in the scriptures cover everything and anything. Simplify things down and cover more broad topics. You can get more detailed as you begin to understand things better. You may also find that a given verse could have several colors running though it. Many topics can be covered in just one verse.... keep this in mind.
3. Get help from Modern Prophets and Teachings. There is a lot of material out there in regard to Isaiah. There are the manuals and helps given to the teachers and students of say seminary or Sunday School. Many leaders have also made references to Isaiah in conference talks and other settings. These references depending on the source may have explanations given especially if it comes from an Apostle. Nephi also gives a run down of the verses he had included in the Book of Mormon.
4. Learn about the life and times of Isaiah. What do I mean by this. If you want to understand for example why Hitler promoted what he promoted and did what he did you need to learn about what was happening in Germany around the time he came to power. Quickly you find Germany had lost World War I. They were broke, in the dumps, rebuilding and wanted someone to blame for all their problems. He played on those needs and the fears and the anger to his advantage. You need to do the same with Isaiah. You need to find out who was in power (Locally and globally), what were some of the traditions of his people at the time. Why were they doing what they do? Once you begin to understand the people and culture you can begin to understand his style of writing. Just as Shakespeare wrote about historical and current events of his day, his plays use a language no longer in daily use. I'm not saying Isaiah used slang but, reference to certain places, things or habits would make sense to readers of his day but, not necessarily to us.
5. Study by the Spirit. The writing of Isaiah contain many prophecies. What better way to study them then in the attitude or prayer and fasting. As you ask for the spirit in your study you will be enlightened. It definitely will be easier to understand the writings of Isaiah when you have a spirit filled environment. Kind of hard to to get tuned in while listening to loud, hard pounding music with other distractions present.
6. Apply his teachings in your life. Take the time and see how you can apply the teachings of Isaiah in your life. It might not be as easy as say some of the teachings of Christ. However, you can clearly look for prophecies that have occurred or appear to be occurring. Then you can say - How does this apply to my life. You might be surprised what you find out. Think of prophecies that apply to the restoration of the Gospel, or the Second Coming of Christ. Look to the blessing of the fulfilled prophecies. You be happy as you see your on the right path. Not feeling your on the right path? Then do something about it.
Isaiah does not have to be extremely difficult or pie in the sky material you can't understand. There are so many helps available that you need not feel left out of the blessings of reading Isaiah and understanding his many teachings. Don't get left out of the Banquet! Come to the feast and really get filled up..... you can can do better then to just pick at a few thing here and there.
Renewed focus and attention has been brought to the Home Teaching program used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to minister to their members. This is because President Thomas S Monson talked on the subject during the Priesthood Session of The Semi-annual general conference of the Church.
This program or priesthood duty has been around for some time. A good 100 years at least in more or less the same format that is currently present. The corresponding program for the Women of the church called Visiting Teaching has also been around for an equally long time.
The Basic idea behind home teaching is that one or more priesthood holders are assigned to a family (can be anything from an individual to more individuals) to visit on a monthly basic. The idea is to visit them at least once during the month and more if there are any special needs or the like. They assess the spiritual and physical needs of the family and pass this information back up to the their group leadership. That information can then be passed on to the local unit leadership if additional assistance or follow-up is deemed necessary.
The church is well know for keeping track of its members. Much more so then a lot of other churches out there. For a detailed record is kept of the member and this follows the member around as they move the world over. Units in Asia for example don't have to guess if a person is a member. They simply request their records and they then know their standing. If you move back to Utah then they would request your record as well. Technology developed over the last 50 or so years has surely helped in this process. Though record keeping has been important from the moment the church started.
This is a very basic and simple thing that helps keep uniformity within the church. And ever member is assigned to a unit based on a geographical region. Does not mean I can not ever attend another unit outside my area. However, certain things can not be handled without ones record. Since this is based on area you have to see your leader in your area and not the neighboring city, county or state.
WE DO NOT CHOSE WHERE WE ATTEND SERVICES BASED ON THE PASTOR or WHO IS SPEAKING (this changes from week to week anyways).
So as we have stewardship over our fellow members we are very unique.
We do not have a perfect system since there are human beings involved. People moved and don't tell someone and in reality sometimes we just don't get out and do our visits. We get caught up with other things in life like work, family and the list goes on.
I do remember though once a local leader of the church was able to go to some type of forum or religious panel for high school students as a representative of the church. At this meeting a pastor of another denomination was impressed by the whole structure of the youth and home teaching programs. He thought he'd like to implement something similar in his church and asked a lot of details of how this was all setup. A couple months later the same two people were able to met again in a similar setting. So our church leader asked him how things went with implementing a youth and home visiting program. It is very interesting what he responded. He basically said that things started out very well. He went out and lined up a couple of people to be the youth's leaders. He also put in place the system for home visits. However, in as much as things went well the first couple of months it began to fall apart in a short period of time. People started to wonder why they needed to visit someone every month if there were regularly showing up at church services. The youth leaders not being paid caused problems. They kind of could not see volunteering so much time. The whole thing basically fell apart in as little as 6 months.
He then said that this church's new programs did not function since they lacked Priesthood Authority.
We sure do a lot of things as members of the church of Jesus Christ. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf explains this perfectly.
Yes, we do home teaching in general to a wide variety of members active and less active alike.
And many units get on average more then 50% visits per month. It can vary widely from location to location depending on the number of members and other circumstances.
The challenge is HOW DO YOU GET BETTER NUMBERS IN HOME TEACHING. OR BETTER YET...... HOW DO YOU REALLY THE MET THE NEEDS OF THE DYNAMIC MEMBERSHIP?
I'd like to talk a bit about this. In our local area we have some lack luster figures. But, are these figures true figures. In many cases there is an issues with reporting.
Could it be that people are so busy with life's challenges that they do not have the time or ability to get out visit more then 35% of those they have stewardship over. In a typical unit that means we are visiting around 2 of 6 people assigned.
So what might be the lack of motivation? If you have faith and a testimony of the Gospel some would think you would always do your home teaching. That you would have high numbers of visit on a consistent basis. But, that is not always the reality.
Are there factors that you can take into account to make sure that the number of visits is consistently better month upon month.
Here are some things to consider that might be impeding better visits.
1) People are assigned to visit someone very far away. Geographical assignments help beyond the regular visit in cases of emergency.
2) Are your assigned families all unknown. It is hard to keep yourself motivated when you are chasing people down all the time. Regular spiritual experiences are needed in this program.
3) Keep the number of assignments manageable. We all have lives and there is a point of diminishing returns
Then once we have the basics in place and any major impediments out of the way we can concentrate on why we might be getting low numbers.
For starters we need to follow up. The hallmark of the Home teaching program is that it involves individuals and families. That it is a personal program. We try as best we can to actually visit the person in their home. To actually present a spiritual message and access their needs, to be a friend for more then the 3 hours we attend church.
We have to personalize things. We have have to get beyond figures and numbers and talk about people. Once we start talking about people we will surely improve things.
Here are a few things to consider beyond the obvious to help improve the quality and as a result quantity of visits.
1) Make the undesirable desirable. Hard though possible. You have to change the way people look at doing visits, their focus, and help them see they are having some effect.
2) Utilize ability. Some may not know how to do a good home teaching visit. Do we just pass off assignments and hope for the best? Maybe you need to go with them on a visit.
3) Peer pressure. Some times we need to bring attention to our successes. That can come in many forms. As others see things are happening they will gain a desire to join the band wagon. They may even feel guilty for one reason or another.
4) We many need to hold people accountable and reward good work. Though promising donuts does not always work or seem appropriate.
5) Change the environment. That means are certain companionships not working? Does someone have a friendship already that can be used to your advantage? Maybe people are having a hard time identifying those they home teach. Providing pictures if possible might help. Attack the problem in a different way. If the old method is not working then something has to give.
Once we line up our home teaching using the above ideas we can truly become Active shepherds instead of the passive ones referred to in President Monson's talk.
"If you seek truth, meaning, and a way to transform faith into action; if
you are looking for a place of belonging: Come, join with us!" Come, Join with Us By President Dieter F. Uchtdorf Second Counselor in the First Presidency
For those that want to see the blessings that come from this inspired program, come and find out. And for those that already know its benefits let's make that extra effort to get out there and bless the lives of those we have stewardship over.
So yesterday there was a visitor at church. He was doing some kind of report for his anthropology class. He had lots of questions. It was unclear if he had attended a meeting in the past or not. He claimed to work with a member and was familiar in a general sense with some of the basic teachings.
So why do I bring this up? And what does a person coming to do a anthropology report on a church have to do with gay marriage?
Well as always the issues of polygamy was brought up. Polygamy was at one point practiced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints up until the Official Declaration 1 was published.
So due to various pressures the practice was given up. It was not a wide spread practice and I've read maybe no more then 10% of the population was engaged in it. A person entering into take a 2nd 3rd or 4th wife would have to have the financial means to support said additional family. I happen to come from strong LDS families on both sides but, there was only one that practiced plural marriage.
One explanation given to the visitor at the time was the lack of able bodied men. The need to care for many widowed or single women. The Lord had his purposes at the time and those purposes were fulfilled years after the Salt Lake valley was settled.
I always like to refer back to Abraham. Almost everyone will agree he was a prophet. And he had more then one wife. So over time and due to differing circumstances the Lord may authorize plural marriage. In other times and circumstances he does not.
Currently there are a few splinter group that practice plural marriage in some form or another and claim to be Fundamentalists. That in itself could be a whole other topic of discussion.
So what then is the connection to Gay Marriage?
Well people are getting so bent out of shape over the need/desire to have men marrying men and women marrying women that they have decided to push it on the whole of the populous. They sit and make claims that it is their God given right, that they were born that way and can not help having an attraction to people of the same sex, etc.
This all defeats the purpose for why were are here on earth.
Genesis 1:27-28 So God created man in his ownimage, in the image of God created he him; male and bfemale created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
it is interesting to note that he created first Adam and then Eve. he did not not create Adam and then Steve. For that would not allow them to procreate and "multiply and replenish the earth."
So keeping that in mind we have a clear idea as to why go did what he did. This is also why we can not support gay marriage.
For this will never allow for us to multiply and replenish the earth.
So again why the link between these to types of marriage.
If they in the end decide that Gay marriage or marriage of two persons of the same sex is legitimate.... they must also reexamine a plenitude of other types of marriage. Why then can not one say they want to be married to their dog Fido, or that getting married to their sister is wrong. Also you have to reexamine why polygamy is banned. You have to say why can't more then one guy get married to one lady, or a man have more then one spouse.
This whole thing opens up a can of worms that I think a lot of people including the Supreme Court of the United States of America do not want to touch.
One of them stated something when hearing oral arguments that we would be messing with centuries of proven case history and "this has been around for less time then the cell phone and the internet". Due to this unproven situation many don't want to try. Also some got the other direction and say due to the fact we don't have any case history to the contrary why not?
Well in that case Bob might as well marry Fido so he can have relation with said Fido.... we have no case history on that as well.
We do have a bit of case history on Polygamy. Real plural marriage with consenting adults of proper age and the like. We also have some case history with those having plural marriage with under aged not so consenting persons.
We can provide and not provide documentation on the harms and unknowns all day. So it comes down to what marriage in the end really means. Is it a legally defined act that really has nothing to do with religion or religious beliefs or is it something more.
That's the issue the Supreme court has to look at.
At what point do you draw the line. At what point to do you say the this will not provide for "multiplying and replenishing the earth"?
So the next time someone tries to ram down your throat or forcefully claim your being discriminatory by apposing gay marriage just throw out there polygamy. Find out what their opinion is on this type of marriage. Then you'll find they they may very well have some biases and hopefully they will find how much they have reservations as well.... that their own point of view is a little narrow.
And frankly let's get this monkey wrench out into the works. Let's gum up the gears and force people to look at things a little differently...... and after they have just do the following:
P.S.
It has come to my attention that I am not the only one seeing a link between the Same-Sex marriage argument and Polygamy.
See the following article for more......
This last Sunday in our Elders Quorum we were afforded the opportunity to go over the Ordinances and blessings we perform as priesthood holders. One thing that came up is the distinction between power and authority. Many of us there were present are authorized to perform the ordinances but we may not have the power vested in us. This is due to circumstances occurring in our lives etc.
So this brings up several interesting points. First we must acquire the authority (i.e. receive the Priesthood) then learn our duty and at the same time do all in our ability to be vested with the power of the Priesthood as we go about doing our duty through our righteous living.
Many may not bring into this discussion much the area of Duty. Some times it seems they are talked about separately. Duty and power of the Priesthood.
The duties of the Priesthood vary as do the offices which are held within the Priesthood. A Deacon will have very different duties to that of a Bishop. Can one say that the duties of the Bishop are greater then those of Lowly Teacher? Yes, they can but, it is no more important to fulfill your duty as a Teacher then it is those of a Bishop. The Bishop has no more opportunity to obtain the highest levels in the Celestial Kingdom then does the Deacon if they fulfill their duties to the fullest. A very interesting concept, right.
We discussed a situation were a missionary had hurt himself badly in a sporting accident. He was pending surgery and the possibility that he may have to return home early. At the time Elder Holland of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles was in the area and the missionary felt impressed to ask him for a blessing. His chance slipped away due to circumstance beyond his control. Eventual, his mission president asked if he'd like a blessing as he was looking a bit depressed. They all came to the realization that the power and authority of the Priesthood vested in that mission president was the same at the member of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles. Great results came from that blessing and a grand lesson was learned. You will not be further blessed simply because a general authority gives you the blessing. We might think so since they seem to have more faith and possess what seems like more power via their righteous living. The Young worthy 12 year old Deacon has just as much right, Power and authority to call down angels to assist him as a Seventy in an area presidency does. As long as it is the will of the Lord it can be done. If it will help accomplish his aims he will let it happen.
At times we may feel overwhelmed. We may feel inadequate etc. That is natural since we to often are not properly instructed. Too often those of us that have the Priesthood do not understand our duty or let alone the power the Lord has vested in us. Remember this is not something we go seeking after. Not something we proposition the congregation for. Thus because all of us as leaders and followers are mere mortals we have our faults and short comings. We strive to progress and become better. We begin to see the grand picture and not just that which is in front of us or comprehensible by our small minds. The Lord can see the begin and the end. His wisdom and knowledge is thus far greater then our own.
"At times the wisdom of God appears as being foolish or just too
difficult, but one of the greatest and most valuable lessons we can
learn in mortality is that when God speaks and a man obeys, that man
will always be right." Willing and Worthy to Serve Thomas S. Monson
Hopefully we are instructed just as well as Elder Uchtdorf was as a young Deacon.
"Instead, he spent time with me and helped me understand not only the what of my assignment and new responsibility but, much more important, the why."
No wonder he did not take his duty and assignment lightly. He had been instructed in what his duty really was. What power and authority he really had received. He as given the WHY.
When you have the WHY you will want to do your best, and not some half masted job. My grandfather always did his home teaching on the first Sunday of the month. He had the vision, and it helped he was living in a small town of a couple hundred. But, irregardless of circumstances he was blessed just as much as the brother living in a metropolitan city of millions doing his duty to the fullest. Same blessings and responsibilities, different circumstances.
This is well summed up by George Albert Smith.
“I have not wanted this position. I have not felt equal to it. But it
has come to me, and I will fill it to the best of my ability. I want you
all to know that, whatever you are doing in the church, from [home]
teaching to presiding over a stake, if you do it to the best of your
ability, your position is just as important as mine.” The Life and Ministry of George Albert Smith
But, we are not alone in figuring out what our duty is and how to be vested with true Priesthood power. The scriptures are full of examples and information. Section 107 of the doctrine and Covenants is full of information on our duties and responsibilities.
Conference talks are also a great place to learn more of our duties and become more endowed with the power god has given us.
As we become more aware of our duties and have that increased desire to help our fellow man we will begin to full espouse the true power of the Priesthood. For in true reality the Priesthood is given to help others. For we do not place our own hands upon our head and pronounce a blessing. We must ask for another to do that.
The Lord has a vision for each and everyone of us. He wants us to succeed, though he know it will not be easy. And thus he provided his authority so that we on earth may be blessed. And what a blessing it is to have the Priesthood. Hard as it may seem to understand it fully.
The following are several good ways to live our lives. They come from George Albert Smith and if society would lives by these 11 statements it sure would be a better place.
"When
he was 34 years old, George Albert Smith made a list of resolutions
that he called his “personal creed”—11 ideals that he committed to live
by:
“I would be a friend to the friendless and find joy in ministering to the needs of the poor.
“I would visit the sick and afflicted and inspire in them a desire for faith to be healed.
“I would teach the truth to the understanding and blessing of all mankind.
“I would seek out the erring one and try to win him back to a righteous and a happy life.
“I would not seek to force people to live up to my ideals but rather love them into doing the thing that is right.
“I would live with the masses and help to solve their problems that their earth life may be happy.
“I would avoid the publicity of high positions and discourage the flattery of thoughtless friends.
“I
would not knowingly wound the feelings of any, not even one who may
have wronged me, but would seek to do him good and make him my friend.
“I
would overcome the tendency to selfishness and jealousy and rejoice in
the successes of all the children of my Heavenly Father.
“I would not be an enemy to any living soul.
“Knowing
that the Redeemer of mankind has offered to the world the only plan
that will fully develop us and make us really happy here and hereafter, I
feel it not only a duty but also a blessed privilege to disseminate
this truth" Chapter 1: Living What We Believe
Are you curious to find out more the Priesthood? Do you have questions on who can be ordained? Then you might just need to talk with the missionaries. They'll come and visit you no strings attached.
In about 2 months our only daughter will turn 8 and have the opportunity to be baptized. This is a big day for her and she is getting very excited for the whole process.
It is amazing to see how much more now she questions things and is wanting to learn and understand how things work.
She had a great question the other night when we had the full time missionaries over for dinner. She asked: "Why do ladies not have the priesthood?". Boy that is not your typical question, and is rather deep on some levels. This was a first for the missionaries so my wife specified that females have a different calling to be mothers and such. That solved the problem and gave her the answer she needed. We could have gone into scripture and the like but, it would not have helped all that much more.
Now we have been planning the baptismal ceremony. We confirmed with the bishop of the local unit the basic parts.
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints there are 2 parts to a baptismal ceremony. The first is the actual baptism performed by a Aaronic priesthood holder of the office of Priest or by a holder of the Higher or Melchizedek Priesthood. The second portion is the confirmation as a member of the church and the receiving of the Holy Ghost. If it is a convert baptism that part is now taken care of in the next Sacramental meeting on a Sunday. In my daughter's case it is handled the same day shortly after the baptismal ordinance has been handled since she is a child of record and not yet 9 years old.
Along with the ordinances you usually have someone give a short talk on the importance of the ordinances. This helps the people present to understand the significance of what is occurring. They maybe combined or separate as we will do.
So the only major thing we are trying to resolve is what to do while the people that were involved in the baptism are changing their cloths. We originally though about having a slide show involving pictures from the life of our daughter. Then we came to the conclusion this would be a bit pushy and not very appropriate. Then we turned to things we have seen at other baptismal services. There have been missionary invites, bearing of testimonies, singing of music and short video presentations. We are opting for a short video presentation as this makes sure there is not an awkward time of silence where people are wondering what is going to happen. This also helps if we take a bit long in changing our cloths. There have been short missionary invites that leave a strange amount of dead time when done if the people are not back yet. We also witnessed a pianist and chorister that were not prepared with the needed additional music and it became again awkward.
So we have been thinking hard of a video presentation that would be appropriate while at the same time not too long. It needs to be around 10-15 minutes time so some films like "Prodigal Son" would not work. "Together Forever" is great and has several shorter pieces but, again it is hard to cut it off in the middle of something. So we have turned towards the famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir. We are thinking that a video presentation of them singing along with some inspiring vistas or scenes would be the best. Now we just have to come up with one that fits the best. We want to avoid one of the many wonderful Christmas DVDs that will not fit very well with a June baptism.
Likely it will be their "Historic Nauvoo" or "Songs of America" presentations. But, who can beat their music right? It will just be a great uplift to the service. And in reality they are so famous that several current artists have recorded with them for their Christmas albums - Josh Groban, and Andrea Bocelli
Want to find out what it takes to make an album with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir? Check out here a great article!
I'm going to include links to the two songs we will be using as the opening and closing. Also we are lucky to the a very excellent singer in our unit that happens to be a birthday buddy with my daughter who will sing "I'm trying to be like Jesus". I'm including a like to that as well.
If you'd like to be able to review some of the other wonderful songs in the Children's Songbook and even download digital copies you can do so here
If you'd like to know a little bit more on why we do not baptize our children until they have reached at least 8 years of age - check out these verses in Moroni 8.
If you'd like to get the straight scoop on what members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints really believe you can request to have a missionary visit you - Missionaries Request for Visit
