Searching_For_The_Truth Posted September 9, 2011 Report Posted September 9, 2011 Ok I am not sure if this is the right place to put this, but I am curious... I was talking with one of the Elders and another Brother and it was brought up that I might not be able to recieve the Priesthood as I have a female roommate. I don't understand the signifigance of having a roommate of the opposite gender and why that would impact recieving the Priesthood. Some background. This person that is my roommate has her own room, and we are NOT involved in anyway. She has been one of my best friends and needed a place to stay when she lost her job, and I needed another adult in the home to deal with leagality issues with me taking custody of my minor sibling after our father passed away. I was invited to participate in Baptisms for the Dead and I am really excited about this as I have only been a Baptized member for 5 days. I feel it would be a great honor, but the way I understand it I need to recieve the Priesthood first. This is really bothering me as I am excited to be a member and to serve and would really like to do the work and research to be Baptised for my father who passed away. Quote
bytor2112 Posted September 9, 2011 Report Posted September 9, 2011 I am sure that a conversation with your Bishop during your interview for the Aaronic Priesthood will clear everything up. I do not think they will withhold the Priesthood from you, but may counsel caution regarding your living arrangements. Welcome to the fold.... :) Quote
Searching_For_The_Truth Posted September 9, 2011 Author Report Posted September 9, 2011 I am sure that a conversation with your Bishop during your interview for the Aaronic Priesthood will clear everything up. I do not think they will withhold the Priesthood from you, but may counsel caution regarding your living arrangements.Welcome to the fold.... :)Actually the Elder I was speaking to said that the Bishop said I wouldn't be able to get the Priesthood until either I or my roommate move out. I plan to talk to him early next week..Thank you for the welcome :-) Quote
bytor2112 Posted September 9, 2011 Report Posted September 9, 2011 Actually the Elder I was speaking to said that the Bishop said I wouldn't be able to get the Priesthood until either I or my roommate move out. I plan to talk to him early next week..Thank you for the welcome :-)When you say Elder, are you referring to a missionary? He doesn't have any business talking to you about this....really this is between you and the Bishop. Quote
Searching_For_The_Truth Posted September 9, 2011 Author Report Posted September 9, 2011 When you say Elder, are you referring to a missionary? He doesn't have any business talking to you about this....really this is between you and the Bishop.Yes, I had a lesson with an Elder (Missonary) and I want to say the Mission President as a 'New Member Meeting'.. and the Elder said that the Bishop asked him to talk with me about it and to let me know.....I am really kind of bumded by it... Quote
bytor2112 Posted September 9, 2011 Report Posted September 9, 2011 Yes, I had a lesson with an Elder (Missonary) and I want to say the Mission President as a 'New Member Meeting'.. and the Elder said that the Bishop asked him to talk with me about it and to let me know.....I am really kind of bumded by it...Interesting. Did you speak with the Mission President before you were baptized? If it wasn't an issue for baptism... it won't be an issue with the Priesthood ordination. Quote
Searching_For_The_Truth Posted September 9, 2011 Author Report Posted September 9, 2011 Interesting. Did you speak with the Mission President before you were baptized? If it wasn't an issue for baptism... it won't be an issue with the Priesthood ordination.Actually, I had my interview with a Missionary that was a week from finishing his mission, and it was not brought up, but on the day of my baptism my Bishop found out about her and we had a discussion about it and he said "I need to pray on this a bit". This was litterally minutes before the baptism was to start. When all was said and done the bishop said that I could get Baptised and Confirmed the following day at Sacrament.. Now this.. :-( Quote
bytor2112 Posted September 9, 2011 Report Posted September 9, 2011 You should be good to go....I wouldn't worry. If it was an issue they wouldn't have went ahead with baptism. Quote
Searching_For_The_Truth Posted September 9, 2011 Author Report Posted September 9, 2011 You should be good to go....I wouldn't worry. If it was an issue they wouldn't have went ahead with baptism.Ok, like I said I plan to have a talk with the Bishop early next week to clear things up, but I feel a bit easier about it.as a side note, the Mission Pres thought that I would still be able to get the Aaronic Priesthood, but not any higher till the "issue" got resolved. Quote
bytor2112 Posted September 9, 2011 Report Posted September 9, 2011 Ok, like I said I plan to have a talk with the Bishop early next week to clear things up, but I feel a bit easier about it.as a side note, the Mission Pres thought that I would still be able to get the Aaronic Priesthood, but not any higher till the "issue" got resolved.Well, good luck. FYI, the Mission President has no say in whether you receive the Aaronic Priesthood or the Melchezdec Priesthood. Those decisions will be made by the Bishop for the Aaronic and ultimately the Stake President for the Melchezedec and if you are true and faithful to the baptismal covenant, you will be worthy of both. Same worthiness standards....... Quote
Blocky Posted September 9, 2011 Report Posted September 9, 2011 I really think this is a case of where each situation needs to be weighed individually and that's what the bishop plans on doing. In my area we have extremely high rent and it's common to rent a part of a house. I've done it myself and it's never been an issue for the worthiness factor because it really wasn't an issue at all. Perhaps there's something not as cut and dry about your situation? Remember, they're not being hesitant to punish you for something, they want to make sure you're really ready and worthy for the priesthood. I hope it all gets sorted out. I realize attitudes might be different there where it's not as common. Quote
skippy740 Posted September 9, 2011 Report Posted September 9, 2011 It sounds like an 'exception' should apply to this circumstance. However, I would recommend that you "formalize" your 'lease agreement' with your tenant. It would protect you and show the nature of your relationship with this woman - even if the rent was "$50", it shows the nature of the relationship. I hope you do understand why the church has this kind of standard. It's mainly to avoid the appearance of evil (co-habitation looks like violating the law of chastity). Quote
bytebear Posted September 9, 2011 Report Posted September 9, 2011 Understand that this is not a punishment by any means. The reason there is some trepidation at ordaining you to the priesthood is because any sins you may fall into as a priesthood holder are more serious than if you had not been ordained. "For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation." - Doctrine and Covenants 82:3 Quote
Guest gopecon Posted September 9, 2011 Report Posted September 9, 2011 I'll second what bytor2112 said, the worthiness standards for the priesthood and baptism are essentially the same. It shouldn't matter, although different people will apply rules differently. Your baptism was under the authority of the Mission, priesthood ordination is a ward level function that the bishop is responsible for. Quote
Guest mysticmorini Posted September 9, 2011 Report Posted September 9, 2011 Ditto to what has been said, If you are worthy for baptism you are worthy for the priesthood. I remember a Brother in college who was in a similar situation. Basically they came to the conclusion that as long as they are not now and never were romantically involved it was ok and in the future if they do develop feelings someone needs to move out. Quote
beefche Posted September 9, 2011 Report Posted September 9, 2011 You should be good to go....I wouldn't worry. If it was an issue they wouldn't have went ahead with baptism.I am really, really uncomfortable with anyone speaking on behalf of someone's bishop or stake president. Although the intent is to reassure based upon our own experiences, we are not able to tell someone what another bishop may or may not do. The best course of action is to talk to the bishop directly (as the OP is planning on). Quote
bytor2112 Posted September 9, 2011 Report Posted September 9, 2011 I am really, really uncomfortable with anyone speaking on behalf of someone's bishop or stake president. Although the intent is to reassure based upon our own experiences, we are not able to tell someone what another bishop may or may not do. The best course of action is to talk to the bishop directly (as the OP is planning on).Opinion...not on behalf.:) And my initial comment affirms that he should speak with his Bishop..... Quote
Guest mysticmorini Posted September 9, 2011 Report Posted September 9, 2011 I don't think anyone was trying to speak on behalf of his Bishop or SP, in case that was unclear my comments is my opinion, the OP's bishop is the one with the gift of discernment. Quote
Blackmarch Posted September 9, 2011 Report Posted September 9, 2011 (edited) Ok I am not sure if this is the right place to put this, but I am curious...I was talking with one of the Elders and another Brother and it was brought up that I might not be able to recieve the Priesthood as I have a female roommate. I don't understand the signifigance of having a roommate of the opposite gender and why that would impact recieving the Priesthood.Some background. This person that is my roommate has her own room, and we are NOT involved in anyway. She has been one of my best friends and needed a place to stay when she lost her job, and I needed another adult in the home to deal with leagality issues with me taking custody of my minor sibling after our father passed away.I was invited to participate in Baptisms for the Dead and I am really excited about this as I have only been a Baptized member for 5 days. I feel it would be a great honor, but the way I understand it I need to recieve the Priesthood first.This is really bothering me as I am excited to be a member and to serve and would really like to do the work and research to be Baptised for my father who passed away.THe reason why such arrangements are generally discouraged is because they've lead to problems in the past... and also that we are counseled to avoid the appearance of evil (in this case "living with" someone youre not married too, yes i know youre not, but it could easily be seen that way). I'd suggest the same advice that Bytor is, i'd also suggest pray fervantly (maybe even fast) and ask God to provide the bishop with the right inspiration and advice... and to also provide a way for things to work out if something does have to change (just in case, altho i don't think that's what is going to happen)... and when you meet the bishop be very clear on your situation, when you explain it.God also generally recognises that sometimes situations aren't changeable for the time being and can provide a means of accomplishin what you need. Edited September 9, 2011 by Blackmarch Quote
rameumptom Posted September 12, 2011 Report Posted September 12, 2011 Wait a minute. You say you do not hold the priesthood, but went to the temple for baptisms for the dead? That is not possible, unless you already hold the Aaronic Priesthood, which is a requirement for men to go. The Elder and the Mission President have nothing to do with you right now, in regards of whether you can/cannot receive the priesthood. It is all under the Bishop's jurisdiction. You need to speak with him. Quote
Searching_For_The_Truth Posted September 12, 2011 Author Report Posted September 12, 2011 You say you do not hold the priesthood, but went to the temple for baptisms for the dead? That is not possible, unless you already hold the Aaronic Priesthood, which is a requirement for men to go.This is most defiantly NOT what I said..What I said was....I was invited to participate in Baptisms for the DeadAs for:The Elder and the Mission President have nothing to do with you right now, in regards of whether you can/cannot receive the priesthood. It is all under the Bishop's jurisdiction. You need to speak with him.The Elder was passing along information from the Bishop, and the Mission Leader was just voicing his opinion that it should not affect me receiving the Aaronic Priesthood... Quote
Vort Posted September 12, 2011 Report Posted September 12, 2011 The Elder was passing along information from the Bishop, and the Mission Leader was just voicing his opinion that it should not affect me receiving the Aaronic Priesthood...I think the bottom line here is that most of us see things like your mission leader, but ultimately the decision belongs to your bishop. His say is the important one, not ours. Quote
Searching_For_The_Truth Posted September 12, 2011 Author Report Posted September 12, 2011 Thank you for your words of encouragement and helping relieve what I made to be more stressful than it needed to be. The Bishop and I spoke on Sunday after Sacrament, and he said that he has no problem with me being ordained into the Arronic Priesthood, as long as I am living a life of chastity, am working to resolve the roommate situation, and I abide by the rules (oath) of the Priesthood. So I went through the interview for the Aaronic Priesthood and the interview for my Temple Recomend and I will be Ordained into the Priesthood this coming Sunday after Sacrament Meeting during Elders Quorum. Quote
Guest mysticmorini Posted September 12, 2011 Report Posted September 12, 2011 Thats Awesome, enjoy the temple. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.