Alright, so this week. .. we went and saw a lot of apartments and have been trying to decide where to move. It's been busy. And then we cooked (jambalaya) for institute and the institute choir sang. George got sick and is still sick-poor guy. He has a cough. He is fighting naps though and as a result is conking out earlier in the evening. He has gone to bed between 8:30-9:30 for three nights now and has slept till 4 am (a great stretch! )
For Easter, I went to the dollar store to pick up a few things. I hid eggs for jon to find and then left a bag and told him to hide some for me. I read a thing about making Jesus baskets instead of Easter baskets. .. so I found some fake candles to represent Christ and then George got some Christian board books (an Easter one from mom and a bible ABC book from me)- the rest was normal easter stuff, so not exactly the Jesus baskets described. I also got bubbles for George- not quite ready for that but we'll keep them and try again in a few months. He watched them but we didn't get any other reaction. He really liked the fake grass.
We had the sister missionaries and a recent convert over for the first session today. We had the entemanns cheese coffee crumb cake thing for a snack. This morning jon sang at another church but I stayed home with George (since he's sick). We had ham and potatoes for dinner.
So conference- I liked many of the talks. Some talks I heard snippets of and thought I'm going to need to re read that one when I'm not distracted with George. I felt like there were many needed talks. I don't know if you're aware but there's a huge ordeal here with indiana passing a religious freedom restoration bill or a RFRA. So many people have called it unconstitutional, but this country was founded on religious freedoms. Making a law to help protect those rights is not unconstitutional. It has reminded me of prop 8 and done of the hostility then. I'm also surprised at how many members here have spoken out about the bill, and many of those I thought were intelligent enough to base their opinions on the actual law instead of celebrities that are not known for being brilliant law interpreters or even that brilliant in anything. Anyways, there were good talks that I felt said things that needed to be said with the RFRA bill being passed.
We were having connection problems with our Internet so we actually missed the live clip of "any opposed? ". Jon and I read up about a few things on their page. First, on their page, they were helping people get tickets so they could go to oppose and encouraged them to oppose out loud since the general authorities would probably not be able to see their hand with the lights on their faces and with how many people are there. Makes sense. But, general conference isn't the only time we sustain our leaders. Are they not active to attend their local meetings throughout the year to oppose them in a setting where they don't have to be disruptive or thought to be rude? I'll say more on opposing leaders in a minute. Next I need to quickly mention another thing that is on their page. They say there are many different reasons people oppose. One of which, is concerning LGBT, and how they are denied sexual needs "fundamental to human happiness". To put it bluntly, there are two reasons for sex - one is for procreation (which only happens between a man and a woman) and the other is to strengthen our relationship with our partner. There is no need to strengthen a relationship sexual that will never, on earth or in heaven, be able to procreate. And as for fundamental to one's happiness? I didn't know Sheri Dew (as one example) was incapable of achieving happiness because she has been denied this "need". Our happiness is not dependent on anything sexual. The natural man is an enemy to god. One of our purposes in this life is to learn to control our bodies. To bridle our passions and let our spirits have control. Anyways, I'm choosing not to go on there.
Members have the right to oppose our leaders. Reasons to oppose are if we feel they are unworthy to receive the necessary revelation to fulfill their calling. If we oppose, we are pulled aside after to discuss our concerns. Our leaders are still human and capable of making mistakes. But, even if we have the right to oppose, it is only to let our concerns be known. It is by no means a vote, but it gives the chance to reaffirm revelation. Let's use an example from the early church. Let's say I knew someone was conspiring against Joseph in the 12. If I opposed and told Joseph afterwards, then they may have been released/excommunicated. But just because I don't like what they say doesn't mean it's not from God. "Whether by mine own voice or the voice of my servants the prophets, it is the same. " (possibly not the exact quote, it's in D&C 1). Some of our core beliefs include the Savior's Atonement and resurrection. And because he lives, he still lives us enough to call a prophet. This is where we differ from other churches. We believe our prophets and apostles are called of God and that when they speak to us (especially in general conference and any message with the seal of the first presidency) it is what God wants said. If we don't like what's being said, well that's tough. The wicked take the truth to be hard. We do not believe that mankind, imperfect, know more than God and to say that what he is telling us through his prophets isn't right is to tell God, Himself, that He is wrong. In that case, what point is there in changing a church run by God, if one feels they know better than Him. It doesn't matter if we understand why a commandment is asked of us, it matters that we follow because we have faith in God knowing more than we do. It doesn't matter if the world is different- we believe we should be in the world but not of it. It doesn't matter if we don't like what's being said, our duty is to trust God. God trusts His prophets and apostles; and if God trusts them, who am I to know better than Him? I know Christ lives and that he had restored His church on the earth with a prophet leading it. I know Christ talks to His prophets and apostles. I know that when they speak, they are speaking for Him, whether I like it or not it's what I need to hear and what I need to do. My job is to pray for understanding and help in being faithful to what is said. If I legitimately know of something that makes an apostle unworthy to receive the revelation needed to fulfill his calling, then and only then, will I oppose, temporarily. I will relay what I may know and then trust in God's servants. If the calling remains the same, then it is my duty to sustain them. God has forgiven them and so must I.
I want to end on a less intense note since today was easter. There has been a lot happening recently and honestly I could've vented even more than I did. With everything happening it has reaffirmed a few things to me. This Church is true. What that really means. There is no need for love and tolerance unless there are different views to be tolerated and loved. It is important for us to stand up for what we believe in. The loudest voice isn't necessarily right. There was one talk that said that the media portrays things that aren't mainstream, but they are the loudest messages. This is what is happening with the RFRA bill. Those who support religious freedom are silenced or drowned out. Today in one of the talks, I don't remember what the speaker said, but I started to think of the prodigal son and how we are all prodigal sons. And then, sure enough the speaker then brought up the story and then related how we are all prodigal sons. We all squander our inheritance in different ways, and we all return at different times (this reminded me if the parable of the laborers who were all paid the same amount despite how much of the day they worked). But there is always a celebration, for us, when we return. This is because we have a loving heavenly father. The one brother who stayed behind and didn't squander his inheritance is the one who atoned for us and died for us. He will allow us to be joint heirs with Him. In our stories, both the Father and Son who remained both run to meet us and prepare the celebration.
