Raggman84

I recall short time after being out of High School I was called to be the Elders Quorum Secretary. During this time there was a great curiosity among the Elders and High priests of my ward to know where the inactive members stood with the church. Elders and High Priests would meet up once a week and go out in groups to try to find these people. We had sheets of paper which had simple questions to find out the following. If they wanted to be contacted. if they wouldn't mind receiving a ward news letter. If they wanted home teachers to stop by regularly. There was plenty of room on the paper to write down quotes and actions of these members. Some were rather friendly, others were so so about seeing us and sadly there were also some who had a flaming spark of hatred appear in their eyes when they saw us. During this time I was assigned to make an excel spreadsheet with all of these members that we knew little or nothing about. I wrote down all the quotes actions and answers to the simple question on this spread sheet. It was a lot of work especially since I only knew the very basics of working Excel. Fortunately I had plenty of free time on my hands for reasons that at this point in my life I had no job and wasn't really doing anything to further my education. When it was all finished both the Elders and High priests were pleased. The curiosity had been lifted with the collected knowledge that had been put into a neatly made spreadsheet. Those who wanted the news letters received them by mail. Those who wanted home teachers got them. Those that seemed to not like us we unfortunately had to meet again. This time however it was the job of the Elders Quorum to see these people again. We were advised to ask if they wanted to be put on the Do Not Contact list,which seemed to last for 5 years or so. We also offered them an opportunity to have their church membership removed. Since I was without a job my EQ President knew that my schedule was pretty much open. On many occasions I was the one who went out with him to see some of these people. Some felt the need to keep his or her records in the church but wanted to be placed on the no contact list. Others calmly accepted the offer of having no contact and removal of church membership. I recall two different men that we visited one night. Both these men who lived in two very different locations had the same look of anger towards what we represented. Although one was a bit more hostile than the other. With the both of them we couldn't get our point across because they didn't give us a chance to speak. Eventually in one way or another both these men received letters with information of what we were trying to present to them. The more hostile man eventually wrote a letter to our Bishop requesting his records to be removed forever and ever. If memory serves me right the other man later apologized for his behavior and allowed a news letter but preferred not to be contacted in any other form. I was always curious about the ones who seemed angry when they saw us. I wanted to know the stories behind the hostility but I suppose some stories aren't meant for me to know. I do know that all these people were good. I'm sure that had we met on different circumstances they would be friendly. Since we were in suits and traveled in twos they knew who we were. They weren't necessarily angry at us but rather at the church at we represented. The source of that anger I do not know. It is good to read that there are some people who do come back and have the desire to join the church again.