annewandering Posted June 25, 2012 Report Posted June 25, 2012 Not talking about any candidates. On facebook, this morning, my cousin said she is not going to church much anymore. Her grandchild comes home telling her how wonderful certain political people are and how others HAVE to go. He was taught this in primary. Despite what our church leaders have said, members still seem to not get it. It is driving people out of church. Sure I know it shouldnt but no one likes to keep hearing how their political opinion is evil IN church. My own daughter, not talisyn, told me that you can not be liberal in the church. That it was AGAINST the church. Why do we insist on this when we are told over and over NO POLITICs in church? How can 'good, believing members think that no politics does not apply to them? It is damaging people. Quote
JesusParadox Posted June 25, 2012 Report Posted June 25, 2012 I would find the person talking politics and engage. By engage, I mean talk politics with them, in a one on one discussion. I would, to be honest, make them look silly. Which, either way, if they get mad or not, they would not talk politics in church no more. That is just me though, I enjoy talking politics. You could always take the easy and more appropriate way, which would be, tell your Bishop. Quote
NeuroTypical Posted June 25, 2012 Report Posted June 25, 2012 I've witnessed what Anne describes, and I feel similarly. Currently, my family lives in a ward with a lot of military and a lot of very staunch constitutionalists and conservatives - but we tend to not get all preachy about elections and candidates and whatnot when we're at church. To put it another way, I know personally of two or three ward members who commit the crime of Thinking-Differently-Than-Me about politics. My wife and I buddy up to these people immediately, and we put forth effort to guard their feelings against the ravening hoards of conservatives (even though we are otherwise part of the hoarde). It's a golden rule thing. I don't mind walking around amongst groups of people when I'm a oppressed minority, but it sure is nice to have one person come over to me and stick out their hand and say "Yeah, you're way wrong about a lot of stuff, but I'm glad you're here." Quote
norah63 Posted June 25, 2012 Report Posted June 25, 2012 Sometimes a topic may just be a verse and another might think it political. I agree the pulpit is for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet He also got in bad political trouble. What's the answer? Quote
Guest Posted June 25, 2012 Report Posted June 25, 2012 Sometimes a topic may just be a verse and another might think it political.I agree the pulpit is for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet He also got in bad political trouble. What's the answer?There's a big difference between discussing political science and engaging in politics. You can definitely discuss politics at Church - as in, political science not campaigning for a specific political candidate or position. Quote
annewandering Posted June 25, 2012 Author Report Posted June 25, 2012 Jesus never supported a political party or organization. On a side note, there are those who say Judas, a zeolot, turned him in, not for silver, but to force Jesus to be 'The Messiah' and rescue the Jews from Rome, BECAUSE Jesus would not get involved in that on his own. Quote
annewandering Posted June 25, 2012 Author Report Posted June 25, 2012 There's a big difference between discussing political science and engaging in politics. You can definitely discuss politics at Church - as in, political science not campaigning for a specific political candidate or position.Oh no you cant. Is that how people excuse their wrongdoing? 'Oh we were just discussing the science of how liberal is against God's laws?' Quote
mnn727 Posted June 25, 2012 Report Posted June 25, 2012 There's a big difference between discussing political science and engaging in politics. You can definitely discuss politics at Church - as in, political science not campaigning for a specific political candidate or position.We're there for the Gospel, not the politics. Why would you think you should discuss political science or anything at all to do with politics? If I wanted politics in any form I'd listen to talk radio instead of going to Church. Unless you're discussing the Kings/judges arguments from Mosiah PLEASE Keep ANY discussion of politics in any form out of Church Quote
Palerider Posted June 25, 2012 Report Posted June 25, 2012 The Leader or someone needs to give members a friendly reminder we are not to talk about politics or who they are voting for.....thats why you hear the letter read every year from the pulpit from Salt Lake. Quote
annewandering Posted June 25, 2012 Author Report Posted June 25, 2012 The Leader or someone needs to give members a friendly reminder we are not to talk about politics or who they are voting for.....thats why you hear the letter read every year from the pulpit from Salt Lake.Even in off election years we kept running into the subject in Gospel Doctrine along with the sly knowing smirks of we are with secret knowledge about how 'we' know how God stands and its with us on politics. Not every one has my big mouth and they tend to just let it go and then feel like they dont belong. Ok I feel like I dont belong but am too stubborn to let them stop me. Maybe why I feel less than bad that we cant go to church because of my husbands problems, which by the way are made worse by that. Quote
Guest Posted June 25, 2012 Report Posted June 25, 2012 (edited) Oh no you cant. Is that how people excuse their wrongdoing? 'Oh we were just discussing the science of how liberal is against God's laws?'We're there for the Gospel, not the politics. Why would you think you should discuss political science or anything at all to do with politics? If I wanted politics in any form I'd listen to talk radio instead of going to Church. Unless you're discussing the Kings/judges arguments from Mosiah PLEASE Keep ANY discussion of politics in any form out of ChurchYou did have Mosiah 29 and Alma 1-4 2 Sundays ago in Gospel Doctrine class, didn't you? That, my friends, is a political science discussion... the different types of government that the Teacher's Manual suggested the teacher ask the students and how Mosiah's vision of government is applied today... the entire Lesson 21 was all an exercise in political science - God's way.I was out of town when that lesson was taught, so I get to attend the class instead of doing my Primary Calling. The teacher was super excellent in teaching Lesson 21's views on government in it's application to today's American environment and steering clear from the minefield of this year's specific election issues. The words I heard from the class comments - "gay marriage", "socialism", "corrupt supreme court judges", "racial profiling", among other things. So, yes, I applaud the teacher for staying to the lesson and not engaging in politics. Interestingly, the gospel doctrine teacher is a lawyer! Edited June 25, 2012 by anatess Quote
annewandering Posted June 25, 2012 Author Report Posted June 25, 2012 I am sure there were cautions in the lesson to keep it apolitical. Quote
annewandering Posted June 25, 2012 Author Report Posted June 25, 2012 You did have Mosiah 29 and Alma 1-4 2 Sundays ago in Gospel Doctrine class, didn't you? That, my friends, is a political science discussion... the different types of government that the Teacher's Manual suggested the teacher ask the students and how Mosiah's vision of government is applied today... the entire Lesson 21 was all an exercise in political science - God's way.I was out of town when that lesson was taught, so I get to attend the class instead of doing my Primary Calling. The teacher was super excellent in teaching government and steer clear from this year's election issues.Gods way is having Jesus at the head. All else falls short. Quote
Wingnut Posted June 25, 2012 Report Posted June 25, 2012 I am sure there were cautions in the lesson to keep it apolitical.Not really, actually: Book of Mormon: Gospel Doctrine Teacher?s Manual Lesson 21: Alma-Did Judge Righteous Judgments Quote
annewandering Posted June 25, 2012 Author Report Posted June 25, 2012 Not really, actually: Book of Mormon: Gospel Doctrine Teacher?s Manual Lesson 21: Alma-Did Judge Righteous JudgmentsI can certainly see how that lesson could be twisted. Good thing it keeps talking about prideful. Over and over. Wonder why. Quote
Guest Posted June 25, 2012 Report Posted June 25, 2012 Gods way is having Jesus at the head. All else falls short.Jesus at the head doesn't wipe out politics.I'm starting to think there's a common misunderstanding of what "politics" mean... Quote
Wingnut Posted June 25, 2012 Report Posted June 25, 2012 Gods way is having Jesus at the head. All else falls short.I agree with the sentiment, but it's not the reality in which we live. Quote
annewandering Posted June 25, 2012 Author Report Posted June 25, 2012 I agree with the sentiment, but it's not the reality in which we live.It is ALWAYS the reality. We just fall short a lot. Quote
Guest Posted June 25, 2012 Report Posted June 25, 2012 I can certainly see how that lesson could be twisted. Good thing it keeps talking about prideful. Over and over. Wonder why.Because pride is what makes governments turn bad. But stripping pride out of government doesn't change the fact that it is still dealing with politics. Quote
Wingnut Posted June 25, 2012 Report Posted June 25, 2012 It is ALWAYS the reality. We just fall short a lot.No, it's not the reality in which we live. In the Millennium it will be. Currently, however, Christ is not the head of any secular government. Quote
annewandering Posted June 25, 2012 Author Report Posted June 25, 2012 Worse, its what turns people in the church bad. Prideful is not a good thing. Being prideful over politics is beyond stupid and arrogant and is incredibly shortsighted. Quote
Iggy Posted June 25, 2012 Report Posted June 25, 2012 Ever notice how during presidential elections in the United States, we in the Church are studying The Book of Mormon? Think about it.:) Quote
Vort Posted June 25, 2012 Report Posted June 25, 2012 A friend and fellow high priest group member often talks politics and extols the virtues of a particular LDS candidate. There is at least one member of our group who is, shall we say, less than enamored of this candidate and of his party. I wish my friend could learn to keep his political opinions separated from his spiritual insights. I realize that, to him, the two are closely related, but it would be nice for all involved if he could maintain the separation a bit more than he does. Quote
Wingnut Posted June 25, 2012 Report Posted June 25, 2012 A friend and fellow high priest group member often talks politics and extols the virtues of a particular LDS candidate. There is at least one member of our group who is, shall we say, less than enamored of this candidate and of his party. I wish my friend could learn to keep his political opinions separated from his spiritual insights. I realize that, to him, the two are closely related, but it would be nice for all involved if he could maintain the separation a bit more than he does.One benefit to living in one of the most liberal congressional districts in the country is that being on of those "other" members of such a group, I'm certainly not the only one. Quote
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