I'm Comin' Back to Church. You have Been Warned.

[Blackmarch]

Thanks for the kind words, all. I think if you guys were in my ward I wouldn't have had these problems :)

:)

what'd be scary is if you knew what a trial of bloodright was

[FunkyTown]

Actually I heard through the grapevine that it happened once. June 23, 2007.

Oh, yes. June 23rd...

I always knew that day would come back to haunt me.

[mnn727]

#1 remember you are seeing these other members for 3 hours on a Sunday when they are at their best.

#2 who says you can't wear short sleeves and colors, we have a former Bishop (who was honorabley released after serving 5+ years) now teaching SS that never - ever wears long sleeves or white shirts. I never wear long sleeves - ever! anywhere (except the Temple and I have to rent those) I do wear a suit coat and tie, but I had to wear ties at work for 25 years so no biggie to me.

#3 I have played D&D in the past (for about 15 years) and only quit because everyone in our group moved cross country and I havn't found any here that are decent to play with. I do play WoW but it does take a lot of time away from my family so I limit myself to x hours a month.

What I'm trying to say is if you love the Gospel, then come on back, thats what its all about - not white shirts and RM's

[unixknight]

#1 remember you are seeing these other members for 3 hours on a Sunday when they are at their best.

This is true, although I do remember one of the events that triggered all this was a guy from my ward. I was his home teacher and had agreed to give him a ride one day to someplace he had to be. (He didn't have a car.) Well my radio was on when he got into my truck and he immediately reacted with surprise that the radio was playing *gasp* Magic Carpet Ride. "Brother, should you really be listening to Steppenwolf?"

#2 who says you can't wear short sleeves and colors, we have a former Bishop (who was honorabley released after serving 5+ years) now teaching SS that never - ever wears long sleeves or white shirts. I never wear long sleeves - ever! anywhere (except the Temple and I have to rent those) I do wear a suit coat and tie, but I had to wear ties at work for 25 years so no biggie to me.

I'd love to meet that Bishop. :)

#3 I have played D&D in the past (for about 15 years) and only quit because everyone in our group moved cross country and I havn't found any here that are decent to play with. I do play WoW but it does take a lot of time away from my family so I limit myself to x hours a month.

Well if you're in my area you'd be welcome to join our AD&D group.

What I'm trying to say is if you love the Gospel, then come on back, thats what its all about - not white shirts and RM's

Roger that.

[beefche]

This is true, although I do remember one of the events that triggered all this was a guy from my ward. I was his home teacher and had agreed to give him a ride one day to someplace he had to be. (He didn't have a car.) Well my radio was on when he got into my truck and he immediately reacted with surprise that the radio was playing *gasp* Magic Carpet Ride. "Brother, should you really be listening to Steppenwolf?"

Haha! See, I'm just the type that would have said, "Yes I do! I also listen to Queen, Aerosmith, Nickleback, and even KISS! Want me to put one of those in instead of Steppenwolf?" That would probably make him never ask me for a ride again--not necessarily a bad thing.

[beefche]

I think you should look at this as an opportunity to help others be less judgey and accepting. I mean, seriously--embrace your differences.

Whenever someone gets all judgmental on me, I don't take offense and think of it as an opportunity to teach someone about tolerance.

So, when I get that judgmental, "I can't believe you of all people would watch a movie like that!" I tend to react, "I know! And I still keep my temple recommend! It's awesome how the Lord gives us agency and expects us to make our own decisions! And I'm glad there are people like you to watch all the sloppy love story movies so they need to be kept in business too."

Of course, I tend to love to shock people, so I buck the system often--I drink caffeine (Mountain Dew rocks!), listen to pop music, watch movies others may never choose to watch, dress fashionably, etc. It's so fun to see non-LDS people find out I'm Mormon (their image is of a Laura Ingalls impersonation) and to see LDS folks find out I'm an active, temple going Mormon. It's dang fun, let me tell you.

[Dravin]

Haha! See, I'm just the type that would have said, "Yes I do! I also listen to Queen, Aerosmith, Nickleback, and even KISS! Want me to put one of those in instead of Steppenwolf?" That would probably make him never ask me for a ride again--not necessarily a bad thing.

I'm a little more direct:

"If you don't like it you are welcome to walk."

[Guest]

So, my 9-year-old kid is playing Halo. His friend from church comes to visit and says, "I'm not allowed to play Halo". My son says, "Okay" and continues to play.

So, I say, "Yeah, you shouldn't be playing Halo.". And my son says, "Well, dad gave me the game." So, I go to my husband, "Ah, dear, I don't think our son should be playing Halo. Even his friend says so." And my husband goes, "They're fine. I have fun playing with them on it. One of these days, I'm going to beat him on it."

Sigh. You win some, you lose some. At least they follow my imposed rule of video games is only for Saturday. I don't know how this is related to Steppenwolf, but somehow I thought it was.

[unixknight]

My son has been locked in an ongoing debate with a (member) friend over the issue of movie ratings. His friend *absolutely* will not watch R-rated movies. It doesn't matter the subject, the content or the reason for the rating. Meanwhile, one of his favorite movies is Austin Powers.

Now, anyone who's watched Austin Powers knows that movie is about as morally bankrupt as you can get without tipping over into an R rating.

My son loves the movie Saving Private Ryan. Now, whatever your position is on movie content I'm pretty sure that most members, if forced into one or the other, would rather have their kid see Saving Private Ryan over Austin Powers.

The one film promotes courage, duty, compassion and patriotism. The other promotes hedonism, immorality and is utterly morally bankrupt.

Now, I know the Church leadership has said "Avoid R rated movies" and this is one of those areas in which I do not align with my fellow members. Movies are rated by the MPAA which is a secular organization that may or may not value the things I do. Therefore, when choosing what movies I'd let my kids watch, I ignore the rating and I look at the content itself.

This shocks many of my fellow wardmembers who regard the R rating thing as an absolute commandment.

[beefche]

Church doesn't say no rated R any more....they tell us to beware of what we watch.

Don't attend or participate in any form of entertainment, including concerts, movies, and videocassettes, that is vulgar, immoral, inappropriate, suggestive, or pornographic in any way. Movie ratings do not always accurately reflect offensive content. Don't be afraid to walk out of a movie, turn off a television set, or change a radio station if what's being presented does not meet your Heavenly Father's standards. And do not read books or magazines or look at pictures that are pornographic or that present immorality as acceptable.

Youth Materials of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

[Matthew0059]

unixknight-

I am glad to hear you're coming back to church. I remember fondly some of your posts over the time I've been on the forums (with a few screen names) and have always enjoyed your postings.

I can't add much to the wisdom and insight that has been shared, so I will say that what really matters is whether you aspire to be like CHRIST, who is the REAL ideal Mormon Man, Peter Priesthood, and Man In General. If you do, and make what changes HE asks of you when HE asks you to make them, you will always be accepted in the true faith. It may sometimes be hard to differentiate the fakers from the real deals, but you will receive all the support, help, acceptance, and real friendship (mutually beneficial and spiritually uplifting relationships) that you'll ever need.