An LDS Blog with Observations about Mormon Doctrine and Culture
Heavenly Father,
Could you please help me find my golf ball? I know it is around here somewhere. I’ve looked everywhere, and it is time to either find the ball, or take a penalty stroke and a drop. Could you PLEASE help me find the ball?
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Many members of the church seem to have a contradiction in their beliefs and attitudes when it comes to patriarchal blessings and the foreknowledge of God.
Continue reading ‘Patriarchal Blessings and the Foreknowledge of God’
My oldest son turned sixteen a couple of weeks ago. This is the age that young men can be ordained as Priests in the Aaronic Priesthood. This carries with it the authority to baptize, but more frequently the opportunity to bless the sacrament in our weekly worship services. I was pleased to be able to ordain him to that office.
We live in a small and spread out ward in southern Michigan. And we frequently will need to scramble to find people to help with the sacrament. Sometimes we have enough young men, sometimes we don’t. My son thought that the chances of him being asked to bless the sacrament were pretty high. Because of this, he read over the sacrament prayers several times during the week.
Sure enough, on his first Sunday as a priest, there were no other priests on time for church. And he was asked if he would handle the blessing of the sacrament. He looked as white as a ghost and said that he was not ready. I offered to go up with him, and we could bless the sacrament as father and son. He cautiously agreed.
While we were sitting behind the sacrament table, and the announcements were being given, I began explaining how things were usually done in the blessing of the sacrament. And I pointed out where the cards were that contained the sacrament prayers. I explained that these prayers need to be word-for-word. I suggested that he read really slow, and to read every word. He then asked me what I found a profound question. He asked, “How am I supposed to read it with my eyes shut?”
This explains why he was so nervous. He thought that he had to have these prayers memorized perfectly, and that if he didn’t get it right he would have to try it over and over again in front of everybody.
This also explains my oldest boy. He is a blindly obedient young man. He has been told that you close your eyes during the prayer, and he does that, every time, without exception.
I am not sure how ‘heroic’ this all is, but when I consider his mindset going into this experience, and his willingness to go up there in spite of this, I am quite proud of him. Well done, son.
Church leaders have long encouraged members to get all the education that they can. And with emphasis on men taking a primary role as providers, and my having four sons, encouraging my boys to get a good education and picking a good career has been frequently on my mind.
Continue reading ‘Mamas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Engineers’
With my limited experience and training in project management, I have been able to learn a few things about conflict resolution. This has been a significant benefit in helping me understand myself and others when it comes to conflict. One helpful source for sorting this out is the Thomas-Kilman survey which is a nice and easy way to analyze how an individual usually deals with conflict.
I was reviewing my results of this survey, and found myself wondering if this might explain how many Mormons behave during times of conflict. I realize that defining what is a typical Mormon is getting more difficult as time goes on. Perhaps it is impossible. I also realize that much of this will reveal my personal perceptions of what is considered stereotypical Mormon behavior. But I thought it might be fun and useful anyway.
‘Boooo-ooooys, F. H. E. roooooom, Nooooo-ooooow!’, Dad bellows the customary announcement down the staircase. Boys number 3 and 4 race up to see who can get ‘the chair’. Boy 1 walks slowly, obeying the instructions. Boy 2 really drags his feet, he would prefer to play the PS2.
Remembering names can be an important initial step in developing good human relations. It is a subtle compliment that shows that you care about this new person in your life. This can have positive affects in nearly every aspect of life. This skill can come in especially handy in fellowshiping efforts for investigators and new members. How great it would be to meet an investigator that the missionaries bring to church one week, and to remember their names the next week – or during the week if you run into them at the grocery store or something.
Unfortunately, many people feel that they are terrible with names. It is common to hear someone say this. But anyone with a desire to remember names can greatly improve their abilities in this area by using a few simple techniques.
My number three son is learning to take a shower and wash his hair all by himself. After a few times of doing this it became evident that he was not doing a very good job of washing his hair. I told him to get in the bathtub and fill it up. I told him I would be back in a few minutes to show him how to wash his hair again. He agreed without complaint.
How far would Brigham Young have to go to cause you to have a crisis of faith or weaken your testimony?
From my limited observations, it appears that if a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints stops going to their church, they often do not begin attending another church. They simply do not go to any church. I have observed this with family, friends, and various inactive members in the many wards I have lived in. I think that would be the case for me as well. I have no intention of ever being inactive, I’m just thinking hypothetically.
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