Jeremiah + favorite BOM characters! All this and a conversation on testimony meeting. Plus we were all super on edge because we were hungry because it was Fast Sunday.
My favorite thing about this episode is the idea of "confirming" someone's telephone number rather than asking for it. That had me going for awhile. It reminded me of when I had to finally stop saying "hello?" on my cell phone like I didn't have caller ID or something. There's no pretending anymore. Of course I know who you are.
I enjoyed the "confirm the number in the ward directory" joke too. Well done, Jon.
Fun fact: Queen of Heaven is a title for Mary in the Catholic Church. There's a Catholic prayer by that name. Interesting.
To me, if you don't really feel you should get up and bear your testimony, and you're only doing it because it was a New Year's resolution or whatever, that's garbage to me. It needs to be heartfelt and not forced by an ulterior motive. The bearing of testimony at F&T meeting is not a badge of honor or proof of personal righteousness.
The lack of actual testimony in the bearing of testimonies at F&T meeting drives me crazy. I learned as an EFY counselor that there are four pillars of testimony: the Atonement, the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, and living prophets. Please, people, mention at least one of two of those elements when you get up and speak. Please. My silent plea every month. But anyway...
I was in a family ward in Gilbert, AZ last February for F&T meeting. The bishopric counselor who was conducting bore his testimony first, as typical, but then proceeded to explain to the congregation the purpose of F&T meeting and what constitutes a testimony. It was fantastic...not in a chastising attitude, but more instructive and helpful. Should happen in more wards, more often. Might help. That F&T meeting was awesome, by the way...
Yes, we are the judge RIGHTEOUSLY. We are not meant to be doormats, but we are also not meant to be...well...Pharisaical. It takes constant effort to succeed in that effort.
Congrats to Joe on his creativity in using the bearing of his testimony to find where his fiancee was seated in the congregation.
Regarding polygamy, I think Peter should talk about what Brother Anderson said about polygamy at Institute last week...the real purpose behind it. That was good...instructive and mistaken-idea-dispelling.
My favorite BoM character, btw, is Jacob...Nephi's younger brother. Favorite BoM book, favorite BoM prophet, etc. I love how plain-spoken yet sensitive he was. Totally hot to me, if I may use such a descriptor in this situation. By the way, I would choose Hugh Jackman for the role. One of my faves.
I can agree with Jon on Alma's intellectual discussions of the Atonement, with his sons. Thought-provoking and insightful no matter who reads them, or when. That's the mark of a true prophet.
Potential Topics (strikethroughs have been brushed on already)
what temple stuff we should talk about
hymns that don't rhyme proper method for passing the sacrament
church attendance Book of Mormon geography amount of meat we should consume why Mormons tend to be Republicans proper church attire EFY
questioning our leaders
paying money for scripture apps responsibility of LDS artists Mormon movies proper method for passing rolls R-rated movies (115)
the Sunday three block schedule
ward choir home teaching
examples of when the scriptures are wrong role of women
phones in sacrament meeting. first day on the mission people we don't want in the Celestial Kingdom(93) caffeine crazy pulpit stories humility fasting favorite Book of Mormon characters
Mormon urban myths Halloween Christmas movies airing of grievances Battlestar Galactica Fast and testimony jokes
rapture -- what's happening? lava-lavas and kilts vacation on Sundays loud laughter
sex seer stones limbo (121) great and spacious building activities(120) outer darkness (112) depression (119) demonic possession(124) life on other worlds (123)
new LDS scriptures
OSC gay stuff
environmentalism
abortion
definition of seeking good things
Dungeons & Dragons
Ward conference
Ghosts
My favorite thing about this episode is the idea of "confirming" someone's telephone number rather than asking for it. That had me going for awhile. It reminded me of when I had to finally stop saying "hello?" on my cell phone like I didn't have caller ID or something. There's no pretending anymore. Of course I know who you are.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the "confirm the number in the ward directory" joke too. Well done, Jon.
ReplyDeleteFun fact: Queen of Heaven is a title for Mary in the Catholic Church. There's a Catholic prayer by that name. Interesting.
To me, if you don't really feel you should get up and bear your testimony, and you're only doing it because it was a New Year's resolution or whatever, that's garbage to me. It needs to be heartfelt and not forced by an ulterior motive. The bearing of testimony at F&T meeting is not a badge of honor or proof of personal righteousness.
The lack of actual testimony in the bearing of testimonies at F&T meeting drives me crazy. I learned as an EFY counselor that there are four pillars of testimony: the Atonement, the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, and living prophets. Please, people, mention at least one of two of those elements when you get up and speak. Please. My silent plea every month. But anyway...
I was in a family ward in Gilbert, AZ last February for F&T meeting. The bishopric counselor who was conducting bore his testimony first, as typical, but then proceeded to explain to the congregation the purpose of F&T meeting and what constitutes a testimony. It was fantastic...not in a chastising attitude, but more instructive and helpful. Should happen in more wards, more often. Might help. That F&T meeting was awesome, by the way...
Yes, we are the judge RIGHTEOUSLY. We are not meant to be doormats, but we are also not meant to be...well...Pharisaical. It takes constant effort to succeed in that effort.
Congrats to Joe on his creativity in using the bearing of his testimony to find where his fiancee was seated in the congregation.
Regarding polygamy, I think Peter should talk about what Brother Anderson said about polygamy at Institute last week...the real purpose behind it. That was good...instructive and mistaken-idea-dispelling.
My favorite BoM character, btw, is Jacob...Nephi's younger brother. Favorite BoM book, favorite BoM prophet, etc. I love how plain-spoken yet sensitive he was. Totally hot to me, if I may use such a descriptor in this situation. By the way, I would choose Hugh Jackman for the role. One of my faves.
I can agree with Jon on Alma's intellectual discussions of the Atonement, with his sons. Thought-provoking and insightful no matter who reads them, or when. That's the mark of a true prophet.
[End]