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I hate yard work. But I've found that it's a little better if, while going as fast as the riding mower will go, you make vrooming noises.

Sounds most unpleasant to me. Sorry you didn't have a better day. Assuming I'm not in the "fast lane", if someone does this to me, I put on my emergency flashers (where the "turn signal" on both sides blink at once) and let off the gas a bit. That usually works for tailgaters and folks who think I'm going too slow - no one wants to be behind someone whose car is about to break down. (Don't tell @mirkwood, but anyone who thinks I'm going too slow is likely being reckless.)

I don't believe this is possible. An introvert is not someone who dislikes people, or prefers to be alone, or is shy, or is socially awkward, or is anti-social. (Although such things are often a part of introverts, they're not inherent. Rather, they're present because the introvert grew up without knowing what they were or how to manage their introversion - or worse because no one around them knew the cause of their reactions to over-stimulation and treated them as if they were purposely misbehaving.) Introversion and extroversion aren't preferences or choices, they are inbuilt personality types that can be controlled and pushed beyond their limits to a degree, but we're stuck with them for life. That said, introverts sometimes "act like extroverts" either to function in a world more designed for extroverts, or because they are doing something they love / are excited about. But this "state" has a "limited duration" (and a price). ("Act like extroverts" is in quotes because that's not really what's happening, it's just what it looks like, mostly because society at large still seems to think these are choices / behaviors, not inbuilt energy charging/expending methods and default mental stimulation levels. If someone wishes, I can expound.) So if "predilections toward extrovertedness" just means that you enjoy being around / interacting with people, that's not "predilections toward extrovertedness" - that's just enjoying being around / interacting with people. This is introversion. Interacting with humans is draining, while at the same time sending an introvert's brain into overdrive. It takes hours for the brain to "come down" to normal function (which is an extrovert's overdrive), and more hours to "recharge" before being ready for more human interaction. Extroverts find interacting with others energizing, and time alone draining. They need others in order to reach optimal mental stimulation, and quickly get bored or depressed when in isolation. FWIW.

I didn't mean to suggest you were. That's because you're not an introvert. I am partly joking here, but also very serious about how an introvert would respond to the events you described. An introvert might like you and even look forward to the time you planned to get together, but then something comes up on your end and you call the introvert and say, "Sorry, I have to postpone." The introvert will make sympathetic noises, express concern for whatever came up, say they're disappointed, but as soon as you hang up the phone, they'll sigh in relief. Their feelings and words will be sincere, but they'll still be relieved at not having to get together (most of the time, and assuming they're more than just mildly introverted).

An introvert would say this is proof of God's mercy and kindness and go home celebrating. (It's all about perspective. )

Not sure all that represents efficiency in my mind, but I also don't think it's worth the time to try hashing it out.

And if you're thinking, "There are too many. I can't do it." Pick one, just one, and work on that person until the Spirit tells you to pick another.

Care to give an example?

He mentions "becoming". We talk more like this in the church than we did for the first 3/5ths of my life thus far, when we talked about "doing" instead. It may be that the people in your ward will be blessed by more focus on becoming: e.g. the kind of person who is in the scriptures daily the sort of person who communes with God the sort of person who loves to God with all their heart the sort of person who serves others when they can the sort of person who cares for their body as a temple for the Holy Ghost etc. IMO, the minute you start to see things from this perspective, rather than from the perspective of "scripture study" or "prayer" or "service" or "word of wisdom" or whatever, it takes on new meaning. It stops being about tasks and starts being about becoming who God wants you to be. It's less discouraging when you mess up because you realize you're a work in progress, and giving up wouldn't just be giving up on a task, but giving up on yourself, and few of us want to do that - not really. Just another thought.

That doesn't mean you can't make suggestions, even if only to the EQP and let him decide whether to suggest something in Ward Council. There are reasons we council, and among the reasons are that not everyone notices everything, and each may receive distinct impressions on how to resolve a problem. No reason not to respectfully speak your concerns and suggestions. Respectfully, you don't know what they're thinking. Maybe they know full well they're falling short and are content to do so. Maybe they're two negative experiences away from attempting suicide. We just don't know what others are going through. All we can do is extend mercy and generosity, and continue to invite and encourage greater discipleship - preferably in a variety of ways, in hopes that eventually, one of them will "click". Patience and long-suffering are virtues for a reason. 😊

In any given group of people, it's almost certain there are those who will: Never volunteer Always volunteer Volunteer if they believe no one else can / will step up instead of them Of the first group, a very small number might accept an assignment now and then. Of the third group, if the second group don't beat them to it, they may volunteer, and most will accept an assignment. Yes, it's harder to convince leaders to make assignments than it is to pass around sign up sheets, but doing the harder thing might be to everyone's benefit. Finally, a story... As an extreme introvert, and one who went to work very early in the morning, I rarely volunteered for things. I got better after I quit working. But one day, I was reading in the Book of Mormon, and came across this: (See also Helaman 7:7 and James 3:17.) ...and it struck me what "easy to be entreated" means. It doesn't mean "always say yes when asked". It means, "make it easy for people to ask". If you say no, don't do it with a whine and excuses. Don't huff and moan about how busy you are, or ask if there isn't someone else who could do it. Be gracious, be cheerful. Make it easy on the person whose duty it is to ask you. Interestingly enough, that simple shift in thinking has also made it easier for me to accept assignments and even to volunteer. (Though mostly, it's not having to go to work every day that made it easier.) Anywho, perhaps suggest to your bishop that someone should give a sacrament meeting talk on "easy to be entreated". All of us can change. Sometimes, we just need help understanding why or how...

Häagen-Dazs

When I was called as RSP, the programmer and database developer in me wanted to make things efficient. I quickly learned that the Lord really doesn't care much about efficient. He cares about individuals.

And then the trap door is released.

That's from Google's AI, but it's not the only place I've seen it. Harmless my eye.

Elder Shumway would like a word. "Participate to Prepare for Christ's Return", specifically, the section of his talk titled "Help Others Receive and Rejoice in the Gift of Callings". I think there are likely some parallels with the parable ( ), but they may or may not be the obvious assumptions.

Someone probably forgot to fully update LCR.

For as long as I can remember, I've designed my talks to be adjustable. I also volunteer to go last, knowing that I'm conscious of time and have planned to adjust to however much time is left. I tell whoever I'm speaking with that I'll take as much time as they leave me (I never tell them I'd like them to take extra time - I like to speak in Church). A few years ago, I was given some reference for my talk (perhaps a GC talk, but I'm not sure any more). The source material naturally divided into three areas of focus. I initially made notes for each of the three areas, but the more I prepared, the more insistent the Spirit became that I focus on the third. There wasn't enough in the third for a long talk, so I kept my notes about the first two, but focused my efforts on polishing the third. The other speakers left me just barely enough time to cover the third - I think I went a minute or two over. The Spirit knows.

Welcome, @Spiro!

Ah. I guess it didn't tie those things together tightly enough for me to pick up on it. Or the delivery might make the difference - you decide. Wow! Mysterious ways. So glad everyone survived and hope your little family are all well! Sharing how you felt was indeed very moving, and something we all feel at times - I think that was a good include. You're welcome! Good luck when you give your talk (or more importantly, I'll pray for you to have the Spirit - good is guaranteed when the Spirit is there.)

I would scratch the first 2 paragraphs. (Or somehow tie them more tightly to becoming a father, or something. If you need the talk to go longer, you can always search the scriptures for fathers to use as examples.) The first line of the currently 5th paragraph is powerful. (I'm going to assume your wife knows what you wrote about the birth of your daughter and that she's OK with it. If I'm wrong, make me right! And I suppose your ward knows, but it left me wondering if the C-Section was needed or not - it was sort of vague at the end. Whatever the case, glad mom and daughter came through it well.) I like the D&C 20 paragraph - tying together the priesthood duty and your talk. CRAP This is also how we learn from each other! Bonus points for adding your wife in at the end - there is no father without a mother. It's a good talk!

Personally, I think the podium should have some sort of count-down lights or timer, visible only to the speaker, that kicks in when the speaker's assigned time is almost up so they know they have to start wrapping up. Maybe @Just_A_Guy can tell us where to find those three lights you see in courtroom dramas where each side only gets so long to speak... This works: Let's face it, our sacrament meeting model will unavoidably introduce some issues. Think of them as opportunities to practice various virtues.

Alas, only leadership and certain other callings get this. The only report I have is "Class and Quorum Attendance" (but I only see RS and I think it's because I'm an RS teacher - since I see everyone's attendance, not just mine, and I don't see my SS class/attendance).

Wrong Jesus, you cultist!

Perhaps in today's world (literally 2025), we women are the first to see that this statement isn't as true as it once might have been? Alternately, the comment can be made empty when spoken by a man who otherwise shows little to no interest in hearing anything a woman has to say. If they are so much more faithful, then why on Earth would you refuse to consider what they have to say? Back to that "perhaps", @Carborendum recently mentioned a study showing that for the first time, men outnumber women in the Church (I think the stat was for us, but maybe it was for Christianity). He, and others (I've seen the same study discussed on X), seemed to assume that the stat indicated women were leaving the Church faster than men. But I wondered whether it might indicate that men, who have been disenfranchised by the world, are now flocking to the Church as the only place where they are appreciated, whereas the women of the world would not be flocking to the Church, thus the imbalance. Alas, I don't know the source of the graphic / info, so I can't go research the data behind it. FWIW