tickalily

My preference would be to NOT play on Sunday, but the deciding factor was BYU developing professional athletes and Super Bowl & pros being mentioned as positive example in LDS Conference talks. Are they sabbath breakers? So, why does BYU develop professional athletes? (First Presidency sits on BYU Board of Directors) It can't be "right" ONLY if you're making money.

High School never plays on Sunday (games are during the week and Friday night). Also, preparing to play HS ball in Texas is like preparing for college. They play on MLB size fields at age 15. It's NOTHING like Little League. It's CRAZY!! If he doesn't play in High School, he doesn't play at BYU. (He's already being scouted for Duke, Texas State, and OSU. He doesn't want to make baseball as career...he wants to go to BYU Law School)

Thanks, everyone. You've given us some good advice to think about. We HAVE decided already that our son will attend our own Ward every Sunday and then, if HE chooses, he can catch up with his team in the afternoon. ***************** Here's some answers to your questions: I did check out that story on the BYU player getting kicked out. From what it sounds like, he did not attend his BYU Ward. Not quite sure WHY he did not attend his own student Ward. There may be more to that story...or there could be a pompous bishop? My husband attends our own Ward 2-3 times a month in spring & summer and ALL the time the rest of the year. What gets me is the comment that if he did this coaching as part of his living, it would be okay. So maybe he should start "charging" the families so he can count it as income and get his recommend back? This discussion did not come up until the very end of the TR questions when my husband answered that there was nothing in his conduct that should keep him from attending the temple worthily. The Bishop paused, shook his head and said "Well, I do" and then explained that the lack of attendance to his home Ward made him unworthy. This Bishop has been in for 9 months. He has made many inappropriate comments to my son- (One time he said "I don't know of anyone who plays baseball for a full week" when our family got back from a tournament in Cooperstown, NY) He called a joint RS/PH meeting to talk about baseball on Sundays and "how immoral and unrighteous is a coach that would play his team on Sunday" (we had members call us for 2 weeks afterwards apologizing because they knew this was directed at my husband). And during a setting apart, the Bishop pronounced ME to be "the spiritual and temporal leader of your home because your husband is not here today." (My husband had just given me a kiss in the church hallway 30 min. before as he was leaving the earlier Ward he had just attended). What's amazing...my husband is NOT discouraged by this. He likes to use the same phrase Pres. Hinckley used, "It'll all work out."

For the first time in 19 years, my husband's temple recommend was taken away by our new Bishop. Here's the story: My husband is a volunteer head coach of a MAJOR level baseball team that is preparing for high school (fall '08). In the 5-A HS these kids will go to, we've had 3 drafted directly into the MLB and 100% of varsity starters play in college. The HS has only been open for 7 years. It's competitive!! My son wants to play for BYU after his mission (even though BYU is not a "baseball college"). The only way to get there is to play in HS. Long story short, my husband's temple recommend was taken away because he coaches for free. Bishop said that if it was "part of his income, it would be different." His team NEVER practices nor plays league games on Sundays (they forfeit). He commits his players and parents (by signature) to adhere to LDS standards at ALL times while playing on the team. But because his team is VERY good (State and National Major Champions), they do play in the championship rounds of tournaments (only) on Sunday. Our family attends church together, even if we're out of town or across the country. We pack ALL food in coolers (no purchases) and we do not attend the victory-party after the final game. We do everything else we've been asked to do (FHE, scriptures, prayer, VT, HT, callings, Scouts, Duty to God, etc). But because the Bishop does not see my husband in our OWN Ward at all times, he says that his "behavior is not in harmony with the gospel." Our Bishop also "hinted" that if our son continues to play on Sundays, he will not be allowed to do baptisms or prepare/pass the sacrament anymore. We have 4 other young men in our Stake who play AAA or Major ball, and some of their Bishops actually encourage them to do their BEST. (The boys who play AA or rec ball do NOT play with their teams on Sunday) I just don't understand. Is it a black & white commandment? That would mean ALL people would need to obey. We'd have no LDS athletes and no fireside-talks by these athletes. AND there would be no sports programs at BYU because BYU would then be considered trainers of "sabbath breakers". - OR - Is it up to each individual family to decide what works for them in their circumstances? It's no different than Peter Vidmar (Olympic Gold). He never had a workout on the Sabbath, but DID competed on Sunday because it was necessary. That's the nature of tournaments...they cannot be played 6 other days of the week. Luckily, we are extremely strong members and this in NO way shakes our faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My husband DID truthfully answer every TR question and KNOWS the Lord finds him worthy to attend the temple. We know this is our Bishop's private interpretation. As coach, he has an obligation to these young men and does not see that his service is contrary to the Gospel. WHAT SHOULD WE DO???