Anyone here go to the "wrong" ward long term?

[Newbutoldmember]

Just curious? I am talking about doing this for a few years not weeks.

I have just found out that I will have to work on Sunday's from now on. I am thinking about just using my lunch hour at 9am to attend a ward close to my office.

I live 40 miles from work so attending my home ward using my lunch hour won't work.

I can't quit my job and seek new employment do to a very serious health issue but I really want to feel the spirit and partake of sacrament each week.

Any else ever have to do something similiar or have other thoughts or advice?

[Guest]

I went to the Singles Ward for something like six months without moving my records.  I could take the sacrament, but I was preparing for a mission and I was informed that I had to attend my proper home ward to get my temple recommend, since I was technically "inactive" by not going to the ward with my records.  

So, if you decide to go this route, do tell your leaders what you are doing, so you don't go in for a temple recommend only to be denied for being technically "inactive".

[Guest MormonGator]

21 minutes ago, Newbutoldmember said:

 

Any else ever have to do something similiar or have other thoughts or advice?

Go to the ward you are most comfortable in. That simple. If you are unhappy at a ward, there is a much, much greater chance you eventually won't bother going to service at all. 

[Sunday21]

4 minutes ago, MormonGator said:

Go to the ward you are most comfortable in. That simple. If you are unhappy at a ward, there is a much, much greater chance you eventually won't bother going to service at all. 

Very true! It is better to attend the wrong ward then not to attend the right ward!

[Newbutoldmember]

It's just an idea. This Sunday will be my first that I actually have work.

So thinking i can attend "work" ward and still perform my calling (scouts related) and home teaching etc at my "home" ward.

For the record I really enjoy my home ward. Not wanting to leave.

[zil]

Let your bishop know the situation, so he knows you're not going inactive.  Keep your mind open to revelation.  You may think a new job, or attending your home ward, or not working Sunday, or whatever is not an option, but the Lord knows the truth of it - whether it's just to help you maintain your Spiritual strength until you don't have to work Sunday, or something else, don't shut out any options just because you can't imagine it right now.  Your idea of going to church somewhere until / unless a better option is shown to you, is a good idea.

[Jane_Doe]

I second the "better to attend the 'wrong' ward than no ward" camp!

I once had a job where I was required to work Sundays.  After moving up the ranks, I negotiated starting until later in the morning so I could attend a 9 AM near there (which was totally not my ward).  So I for a couple of months I was an active "member" of 2nd ward.  Come New Years and time rotations, I was suddenly an active "member" of 3rd ward.  No one ever scolded me for it, or showing up to church in my uniform occasionally.  Everyone was simply happy to have me there, including myself and the Lord.

[Guest]

13 hours ago, Newbutoldmember said:

Just curious? I am talking about doing this for a few years not weeks.

I have just found out that I will have to work on Sunday's from now on. I am thinking about just using my lunch hour at 9am to attend a ward close to my office.

I live 40 miles from work so attending my home ward using my lunch hour won't work.

I can't quit my job and seek new employment do to a very serious health issue but I really want to feel the spirit and partake of sacrament each week.

Any else ever have to do something similiar or have other thoughts or advice?

I'd say just inform the bishop what you're doing so he is aware.  I don't see why he would have a problem with it.  The home teachers need to know about your unusual schedule so that they can properly plan for visits.  That's about it.

It appears you're doing your best to perform your calling.  So, that's great.  You're still associating with your ward.

[anatess2]

Yes, we have an elderly couple in our ward that used to live with their inactive son who lives in our ward boundaries.  So they've been attending our ward.  Well, their son decided to put them up in their own apartment and the apartment is beyond the ward boundaries and even beyond stake boundaries.  They wanted to stay in our ward because they already have a support system they rely on in our ward.  So they approached the bishop and the stake president and they decided to go ahead and stay in our ward and they held on to their records.  They also had to talk to the Mission President because the missionaries in our ward couldn't go visit and check on them as they are beyond ward boundaries.  The Mission President gave our ward's full-time missionaries an exception so they can visit them.

They did this for almost 10 years.  They're in their 80's now and my husband decided they need to be living with younger people who can take care of them.  They're Filipino and it is Filipino culture for the elderly to live with the younger generation, so my husband arranged for them to live with us.  So, my kids gained a new set of grandparents and they're, once again, back in our ward boundaries like they're supposed to.

So, I say go talk to your bishop and tell him what you want to do and see what he says.

Edited February 3, 2017 by anatess2

[Traveler]

 

When I was a deacon, myself and the other deacons in my ward got into a fight – brawl – with the deacons of the other ward in our building.  The fight was over which ward was the true ward.  Many on this forum may not understand what it was like to grow up in Utah when the large majority of the members lived in Utah and any inactive or non-member was in the obvious minority.  There were not enough to talk to about which church was true so we argued over which is the true ward?

 

The Traveler