Hello from AZ!

[Ryazilian]

I'm new to the site and am glad to be here. I was born and raised in Sacramento, CA but I now live, work and raise my family in Arizona.

I served a mission in Brazil and then joined the Air Force shortly thereafter. I have deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom twice, Operation New Dawn once, and am about to head out on my 4th deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

My wife and I just welcomed our first son into the world and are starting our little family.

I am looking to be a part of this site to get input and advice on church etiquette, and hopefully offer some in return. I see a lot of habits in LDS culture that I want to break myself from (For example, using canned phrases in prayers, talks and testimonies). I also seek teaching ideas for my classes and input on things pertaining any other callings.

I look forward to being a part of this community! :)

[Blackmarch]

I'm new to the site and am glad to be here. I was born and raised in Sacramento, CA but I now live, work and raise my family in Arizona.

I served a mission in Brazil and then joined the Air Force shortly thereafter. I have deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom twice, Operation New Dawn once, and am about to head out on my 4th deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

My wife and I just welcomed our first son into the world and are starting our little family.

I am looking to be a part of this site to get input and advice on church etiquette, and hopefully offer some in return. I see a lot of habits in LDS culture that I want to break myself from (For example, using canned phrases in prayers, talks and testimonies). I also seek teaching ideas for my classes and input on things pertaining any other callings.

I look forward to being a part of this community! :)

Greetings and congratulations!

Looking forward to your posts :)

[pam]

Welcome to the site and thank you for your service.

I LOVE that picture you are using for your avatar!

[Vort]

I see a lot of habits in LDS culture that I want to break myself from (For example, using canned phrases in prayers, talks and testimonies).

Not sure if it's possible, or advisable, to do this. Any language that actual people actually speak involves idioms and specialized usages. This includes specialized group language usage, not just overall societal usage. Such usage marks you as a member of the group. If you like being a member of that group, I don't know why you would seek to ban identifying word usage from your speech.

My wife is from western Pennsylvania and often used "Pittsburghese". When we were newly married, I teased her about it -- until I saw that she was taking pains not to use such words and phrases. So I apologized to her and stopped. I liked how she talked and didn't want her to change. Similarly, Church members tend to have phrases and words they use in a specialized manner. Nothing wrong with that.

There are certain verbal "adornments" that I do try to avoid, such as "I know with every fiber of my being" or "I know beyond a shadow of a doubt". If you are talking only about these types of things, then actually I agree with you. Such unconscious hyperbole tends to reduce the credibility of the speaker while adding little or nothing to what is said.

[beefche]

Vort, he may be talking about "please bless those who are sick or otherwise afflicted.." or "bless the hands that prepared the food..." or other such things. Who uses afflicted in everyday language? Say what you mean--bless those who are sick or are having difficulties/problems. And why just the hands? How about "we are grateful to those who prepared this food"?

[Vort]

Vort, he may be talking about "please bless those who are sick or otherwise afflicted.." or "bless the hands that prepared the food..." or other such things. Who uses afflicted in everyday language? Say what you mean--bless those who are sick or are having difficulties/problems. And why just the hands? How about "we are grateful to those who prepared this food"?

Actually, this sort of phraseology or usage is exactly what I'm talking about. Personally, I do use "afflicted" in daily speech...but even if I didn't, it's clear in context what it means. If it's used only as a "prayer" adjective, so what? We use "thou" and "thee" as "prayer pronouns". In addition, "afflicted" means more than "having difficulties or problems". Everyone has difficulties and problems, but "afflicted" implies more than the mere daily vicissitudes of mortal life. I think it's a very useful phrase, and if its usage marks me as Mormon, I'm okay with that.

"Bless the hands..." is one I didn't hear much growing up, and I agree, it sounds sort of strange. Bless the hands, but not the forearms, elbows, or upper arms? We're not worried about the head, torso, or anything from the waist down, either? But again, if this is a "prayer form", I see no great harm in the usage, as long as its meaning is clear and sincere. If phrases like these are the things he's talking about banishing from his speech, I guess I don't disagree. I do sort of consider them useless adornments. I'm more in favor of plain speech, as you say. (But I still think "afflicted" is a perfectly descriptive and useful term.)

[beefche]

I guess I see him saying that he wants to make his prayers more personal. Although one can still be respectful in prayer, I think it's a good idea to try to make prayers more personal and more of how I would speak to a friend and I just don't use some of the words/phrases I hear in alot of prayers offered by Mormons.

I also can't judge another's use of words/phrases--I don't know if they are sincere or not. So, I don't get my panties in a twist if I hear them being used. Although I do snicker when I hear "bless the hands" because I imagine someone's hands starting to itch from the blessings being poured upon them.....

[ladybelle]

I agree with you beefche. I try to make my prayers personal while still being respectful. My parents taught me that when I pray I should envision that Heavenly Father is in the room with me like my earthly father. I try to say things as if I were talking to my best friend.

[Caseywac]

Welcome to the forums!