Grunt

She was banned. I still talk to her from time to time.

I sincerely wasn't judging, just offering my perspective when approaching parents with unruly children.

I can't speak to that ward, nor am I casting judgement. I will, however, share my experience as a member of the bishopric and the struggles we have with serving the one vs the many. I'm in a small ward, so it may be different here. We have several children that require special attention. They are often loud and boisterous. Some families have several of these children in the same family. The parents walk in and you can see the weariness in their face. They've probably spent the entire morning trying to get those children dressed, fed, and to church. They do this faithfully every week. Then they spend the entire Sacrament meeting trying to keep those children quiet and in their seats. They know other people are looking at them disapprovingly. They get up and walk the halls with their children, hovering at the door during moments their children are quiet, trying to get some of the message they need but they miss most of it. We try so hard to get them help, but it rarely works out. My heart breaks for those parents and I've spent many hours on my knees asking for ways to serve them and the ward.

It is VERY difficult getting people to show up for their cleaning assignment.

Ahhhh. Got it. Here we have a Building Representative who's calling is also responsible for creating the building cleaning schedule.

That's a calling? Interesting. Who cleans the rest of the chapel? Does each area have a calling?

I can't think of a single thing that would occur in the 3rd trimester that would require killing the baby to save the life of the mother.

I think this is where it likely rests and I even remember reading something written decades ago when I started my "why" research, after we were asked to shave, that mentioned current culture and negative associations with facial hair.

I'd argue that Americans haven't largely cared about moral character for decades. Conservatives still claim it does (as of the 2018 Gallup Poll, anyway) but I believe it's just lip service for most of them as well. That said, even for those that it does really matter for it's a tough choice. Take the last, or upcoming, election. I don't personally believe that either candidate has a moral character that I'd support. However, one of them is going to be president so I have a choice of voting for who I believe will be best for America or I write in a candidate that has character I can support. In a national election, that's a safer way to stand on moral high ground and say "it wasn't me" because my one vote likely isn't going to change the outcome. In my local election, where candidates win by 10's of votes and sometimes less, doing so could have serious negative impacts on my life.

It wasn't dropped in my area as recently as last year in my area. I really don't have any information outside that, nor do I fully understand how far that person's stewardship extends.

That's probably my largest issue with most politicians. However, if I draw a very hard line around this criteria I believe I'll rarely get a chance to vote OR be forced to vote for someone I believe won't be able to do the job.

Sure, and others. That doesn't mean we should continue to share it. There is SO much to criticize Trump for we don't need to push a false narrative. That said, I can't imagine 4 years under Trump would be worse than another 4 under Biden, or whoever takes over after he's elected.

This is the propaganda headlines that drive me batty. I'm not a huge fan of Trump, but a small group of protestors OUTSIDE the venue that likely showed up from who-knows-where to specifically boo Trump doesn't mean "that's an issue". Did you see the clips where the stadium erupted in cheers when he walked onto the field? Nah. People wouldn't want to report that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqy2U6Xk4Rg I won't vote for him in the primary, but I will without regret if he wins the nomination.

Depends on the kid. 😇

I've had kids wander on the stand during Sacrament and plop on my lap or give me a fist bump. I think the generally accepted rule is "kids be kids, yo"

The handbook states who should be invited to sit on the stand. It doesn't specifically prohibit anyone, but I personally wouldn't work outside of those listed in the handbook. I've never seen anyone else work outside that, either.

I've seen reports going around, linking a paywalled article in the SLT, that this was put out by an area authority. I didn't know this was a thing. Does the entire Ward Council sit on the stand during Sacrament in other places?

To you as well!

I think it's likely a miscommunication that if you and I were sitting around a table, or even on the phone, would have a much different result. I've said a million times that I don't express my thoughts well in print. I'm sure the issue isn't with you, it's with my inability to put my feelings and thoughts down correctly. I'm not sure how I can do better since I've tried several times. Maybe I'll start asking my wife to read things before I hit "submit".

It's hugely offensive (and very unchristian of you) to assert I did something I didn't and deliver your unrighteous judgement of me. I don't assume anything about you or your wife. You do you. It's not my business. Nothing in my post was misleading or offensive. Me? I'll follow my priesthood leaders example, regardless whether or not they give me direct instruction. YMMV.

Then I have zero idea what you're all wound up about. I don't take issue when people do what they want. I do take issue when they do what they want and assert there is nothing wrong with it. I don't care if you shave. I don't care if you don't shave. I find the assertion that people won't join the church unless we proclaim loud and proud that facial hair is great to be ridiculous, particularly when that isn't true. Nobody, that I've ever seen, preaches to non-members that they have to shave. The things we preach to non-members is fairly narrow, at least in my personal experience being preached to as a non-member. As I grew to understand the gospel better, I also grew to understand the greater expectations of someone who follows Christ. What is true is that there are many positions of important note where people are asked to shave. I wonder why that is? Those people are generally those who have some type of stewardship over me or others. I wonder why that is? Those people are generally those whose example I should follow. I prefer to follow the example of priesthood leaders as best I can. YMMV. I won't bat an eye if you drink coffee, soda, have a beer, or whatever. I will speak up if it's asserted that those things are fine, or that you shouldn't ponder for personal revelation before doing something of the sort. I don't care what mental gymnastics are used to say it's a "good thing". If my wife suggests I should start drinking a beer with dinner I'm not going to start doing it because the prophet suggested I should listen to my wife. Again, YMMV.

I don't know what to tell you my friend. I never meant anything of the sort. My post that you initially took issue with was speaking specifically towards this: I personally find it more "problematic" that thinking they can't have facial hair would drive someone away from the Church. That was what I stated. I went further by asserting I thought it foolish that someone would give up coffee, alcohol, and finances to follow Christ but facial hair would be where they drew the line. Your only response was "we don't have to shave every week". I pointed out that was a factual statement. We don't have to. We don't have to do anything. You got a little snarky. I further, again factually, explained why I feel the way I do. To be fair, I feel bad it bothers you so much, but I don't assume guilt. I hold myself responsible for poor delivery from time to time, maybe even now, but I don't hold myself responsible for hurt feelings when asserting we should follow the examples and counsel of our priesthood leaders. Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy your day.

I'm not trying to be antagonistic at all. I've been told by priesthood leaders, directly, that certain callings are expected to be clean shaven. Do I have to follow my priesthood leaders? Of course not. Should I follow the guidance of people called by God to lead His church? Of course I do. People get so caught up in what they don't HAVE to do they neglect to think "hmmmm, should I follow the example of the Prophet?"

We don't HAVE to do anything.

It's sad to watch people defend the 2020 election. That year really changed the way we hold elections. You can argue whether it was by design or not, but non-traditional voting was through the roof. You can also argue whether or not this is a good thing, but I don't see how you can argue that it doesn't open the door to wide-spread fraud and ballot harvesting. There would be little way to tell if this happened or not.