mountain_trails

I have deciced that IF I ever find myself in a situation like this again, this is what I'll do.

This was brought up. The wording "at least monthly" allows for it to happen *more* often. And maybe there was some intention that it would last in the 90 minute range, but the talkers would get talking, tangents were explored, and nothing (or little) ended up being accomplished other than three hours off the clock.

Maybe. I'm not sure though what another solution would have been, given the circumstances I found myself in (which I realize I haven't communicated-not the topic of the thread) :)

The problem persisted through multiple changes in exec sec so I tend to beleive the "plan to have no plan" originated further up the chain, so to speak.

This is a sore spot for me. We were having them for at LEAST three hours twice a month. Here's why I think it was happening, maybe you can find some help in dealing with it. No agenda: Probably the biggest culprit "magnifying" calling: Hey, if one hour once a month is good, THREE hours twice a month should be AWESOME!!! Personality types: Some folks really like hanging with the saints/feeling important in a meeting/avoiding problems, responsibilities at home. Coupled with no agenda, and the meetings would really drag on. Boyd K Packer had a talk in a training meeting about overloading members and compared it to loading a camel. You can load a camel to a point, but one thing too much and the camel will just sit down and won't move at all until it is completely unloaded. A three hour meeting is disrespectful of a members time (particularly Sunday-sacred time) to be with and edify family and self. Anyway, good luck. I ended up quitting my calling over this very issue.

Well, I can't help you much other than to say that we have the same policy...well, I don't know about the only M/W/F part but definitely the must eat at 5 part. The result is what any elementry kid could tell you: missionaries don't get fed. (and why I don't know about the MWF part) I know many people in our ward (like us) that would feed the missionaries, but due to the fact that we have to work for a living, are unable to. Sometimes I think there is a disconnect between upper leadership and regular working stiffs.

I like the change!

Mountain biking.

FWIW, when I played the first time, a few years ago, our Stake President was visiting and seated on the stand. My guitar was out before sacrament meeting began, so if he would have had an issue with it he could have headed it off before hand.

I've played acoustic guitar twice in sacrament meeting. Once, Jesu, Joy of Man's desiring, and another time "In Humility, our Savior" and "The Morning Breaks".

INFP. The "I" is nearly 100%, and even is 100% in one test I have taken.

Ha ha, same here. I just walk home between classes.

So this mtbi thread got me thinking. Unless I missed it, everyone that responded is an introvert. Surprise, I am too. However, I find the church EXTREMELY extrovert oriented, and not very friendly to introverts. So how does everyone do it? I went through a period for a few years of having callings that nearly put me on psychiatric meds to deal with the strain and stress. My health was even affected. Frankly, it was a VERY dark time in my life that I am still struggling to overcome. I'm not the only one, right?

Infp

I have a few thoughts on these lines, perhaps you may find something useful here. The first verse in the Book of Mormon has Nephi stating that he was "highly favored of the Lord". It would seem obvious that if there are some who are "highly favored" that there would also be some who are not. After all, if everyone is highly favored, no one is. Here may be where you see church leaders and others who profess to "know" God answers their prayers. While they may have had trials, God has come through for them, at least a number of times. So from their framework of reference, God answers prayers because that's what they feel and see. These would be the "highly favored". Those that are not so highly favored probably won't stick around long enough to be called into any kind of leadership or general authority position. Now, why the discrepancy in the way we (God's children) are treated? I believe at least part of the answer lies in the D&C: "For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation." Perhaps those of us who do not find answers to our prayers are being protected because we might be predisposed to "sin against the greater light". Example: it's possible I would find living the law of chastity difficult if I was even of average looks. However, since I'm plain ugly, opportunities to stray are non-existent. (thankfully) I don't know how I would handle being attractive, and I'm sure God knows this. This doesn't mean I don't struggle with what I see in the mirror everyday. In other words, perhaps some of us are not given answers to prayers, inspiration, etc. for our own long term good. Even if it doesn't make a lot of sense to us. BTW, looks isn't one of the main things I struggle with, just seemed like a handy example. Hopefully this makes sense. I'm not very good at expressing thoughts in writing.

Hmm..I can weigh in on this. We have a framed picture of Christ in our chapel. I was just thinking on Sunday that I hadn't noticed something like that in any other chapel. It's up front, behind the stand, centered on the wall. Probably 20x30. Building was built in the mid 60's, the picture looks to be of the same vintage, so perhaps it falls under the "works of art that have been on display for many years in the chapels of existing meetinghouses."

Pretty much what happened to me. I'm active, but EXTREMELY uncomfortable at church, and for that matter, most social situations anywhere. But church is by far and away the worst.

We hosted a foreign exchange student for a couple of weeks last year. The one Sunday she was able to come to church with us was fast and testimony meeting. She definitely was left with the impression that Christ was rarely mentioned, and then only in periphery. I noticed this too, as I was trying to be attuned to what her experience might be. We might KNOW everything is focused on Christ, but the casual and perhaps not so casual observation can appear to be something different.

From a practical standpoint, if everyone were to go to any ward they chose, staffing, administering, and even teaching the gospel would be chaotic. No doubt this is large part of why it is discouraged to attend a ward outside your boundaries. I do wish there was a little more consideration of the impact these boundaries can have on members though. When my oldest was 13, our ward was split, and she became the only young woman in the ward (this is in Utah, BTW). As she entered high school, instead of having a "ready made" group of friends from the ward, she was on her own. She pleaded with me to move but that was not a reasonable solution at the time. Now as an adult, she has a testimony but little activity in the church, and all her friends are non-lds. Of course she is responsible for her own choices, but I believe that had a major impact (she has told me that it did, also). 6 months after the stake president that split the ward was released, the ward was dissolved back into the neighboring ward. It just wasn't (and really never was) viable on it's own. To the OP, most wards I have been in have at one time or another had someone attend from out of the area. We even have a family that refuses to do 1-4 church. When we move to that schedule, they change to the early ward. We're all in the same building so I don't think their records actually move, but they hold callings (on a yearly basis, I guess), and I've seen them at the temple, so they must have that worked out. This has been happening for several years and to my knowledge nobody even questions it now. I would encourage you to pray about it and if you feel that the ward that is close to you is the ward you should attend, make an appt with the Stake president and explain your position. I believe that by counseling together with him that you will come to a solution that you can feel good about.

Exactly how I feel. I'm "active", but only because I have a firm testimony of the truthfullness of the Gospel. Church is a fairly miserable place to actually be. The temple and general conference are awesome though! Yes, I do not enjoy social situations at all.

They bring them inside in my building. Lean them up by the coat rack.

^^^^^ Glad I'm not alone!

I stay because I have a firm testimony of the gospel. I stay because of the beauty of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I stay because of the wonderful blessing of eternal families. I stay because I have seen many people morally, spiritually and even physically lost without the framework the gospel provides. The gospel is wonderful!!! I do struggle with going to church, however. Oh, I'm active, but actually attending ranges from moderately uncomfortable to absolutely miserable. If I didn't have such a strong testimony I would have left long ago.

Well, I travel a bit but mostly (so far) in the western half the united states, from Canada to Mexico. I love being in the mountains and enjoy the peace I find there.

Lurked a long time before I joined, and then finally joined a year ago. Now this is my first post. :) Lifelong member of the LDS church. Um, that will do for now.