a few years ago my friend miss bell invited me to go camping at glacier national park.* during the drive on the way to our campsite, we started discussing religion. all of us had differing opinions, though we were all practicing mormons. eddie** strongly advocated assimilation to a zion culture. i was and still am adamantly against that.
now there's something to be said about cohesion of culture and brother- sisterhood within an organization such as the church. i have no problem with people believing and acting in a way that allows them to identify and feel one-ness with their faith or other organization (as long as those acts aren't illegal or bring harm to others). my problem arises when the culture is assumed to be doctrinal and those who don't assimilate are shunned or otherwise made to feel bad. we are given principles and can govern ourselves. there are many paths of righteousness within the church. my path is not your path is not his path is not her path.
i guess i bring this up because i have to remind myself of these things every general conference. this is something i've fought hard to come to terms with. for so long i wanted to be on whatever "right" path everyone around me was on. kind of difficult when that changes depending on who you're with. i finally figured out that i have to follow my path no matter what everyone else is doing and as long as i've consulted the lord and have his approval, then i'm good. even if sister so-and-so*** is on a different path. yes, i need to follow the prophet and i love listening to the inspired messages and getting pumped to change myself for the better. i love setting goals and forgetting striving to keep them. one of mine this conference is to be more service oriented and to think of what i can give to {people, organizations, events} instead of what i'll get from them.
so, uh, what are your conference thoughts?
*this is a whole other story in itself. if i remember, i'll post it someday. reminders welcome.
**name has been changed to one i don't like. actually i didn't like his real name, either. (my apologies if your name is eddie. please don't take it personally)
***when i was little, i thought sister so-and-so was someone's real name. but i don't anymore.
9 comments:
i think our brain waves were mingling somewhere over the mountain west during conference; we shared some thoughts. another one i've been having lately is this:
faith, and people of faith, have taught me most of the finest and most important lessons of my life. charity, hope, trust, discipline, scrutiny, etc.
here's something i learned recently from an atheist (part of a panel re: spiritualality and thought on an NPR program): live in the day you're in, without hoping to be rewarded at some future time here or hereafter.
it sounds a lot like what you'd read in the New Testament (or hear in an old blues song: 'never let your left hand know what you're right hand's doin' :-0).
except that the culture does dangle rewards for doing what might have been right in the first place, and worse...artificial punishment for not doing what it wants you to do.
isn't religion an artificial (if necessary) construct anyway? would God use the words "mormon religion" or would right just be right? and wrong, wrong? and could this atheist i was listening to have a really good point?
act well, as you know in your heart is right and good. not because of the rewards or punishments your culture offers, but for its own sake. for your own sake.
i think, if i could do that, God would be pleased. if i'm reading you right, i think you're saying something like that.
ah yes, this is exactly what i'm thinking. funny how the atheist made you think of the new testament - at fhe (yes i actually went) yesterday we all talked about our impressions of conference and the things everyone kept saying reminded me of secular speeches, discussions and shows i'd been thinking about lately. had it been a more private discussion, i would've brought them up. as it was, i kept silent, so as not to drive out the spirit with my secularism.
i like to think that god thinks in terms of right and wrong and not, you belong to this religion, ergo you are right.
and this is the hardest part for me: "act well, as you know in your heart is right and good. not because of the rewards or punishments your culture offers, but for its own sake. for your own sake." because i get so sidetracked on what Others - individuals or cultures - think is right or wrong. and its difficult to stay on track, especially if they punish you for so doing. although that happens not all that frequently to me; i think i fear it more than it actually happens.
great thoughts, sherry. thank you.
i know what you mean--the fear of being confronted is worse than what actually happens, which is usually...nothing. :-)
just telling the truth gets easier all the time, i think.
amen to that.
Like. Glade to have thinking friends.
And spelling friends. Very "glade" indeed.
I've been uncomfortably dealing with this on my own. I'm so glad not to. Is that horrible?
I'm glad to hear of your uncomfortable 'ness'?
I like your thoughts, Annie and Sherry. Wish I could express myself that well. There were a couple of things from conference that didn't sit too well with me but I think I am finally learning how to sift and glean.
I also would love to be able to act well always. The golden rule comes to mind. I just wish it wasn't so blasted hard.
louise - i heart you
jbs - no not bad at all. i think we all feel some relief when we realize we aren't the only ones feeling a certain way. not that i'd wish uncomfortable-ness on anyone, but if they're already going through it, it eases the burden somehow to know someone else is feelin it too. ya know?
auntie - i wish that, too. but then, if it weren't so hard, we wouldn't have to be here (on earth in mortal bodies learning stuff), right?
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