Comments on: The role of individuality in narratives about Mormonism http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2008/02/the-role-of-individuality-in-narratives-about-mormonism/ Truth Will Prevail Fri, 25 May 2012 00:34:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jonovitch http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2008/02/the-role-of-individuality-in-narratives-about-mormonism/#comment-249599 Jonovitch Mon, 11 Feb 2008 05:18:15 +0000 http://www.timesandseasons.org/?p=4377#comment-249599 manaen (25), you nailed it -- it bears repeating: "individuality is doing/thinking/saying/believing what you decide, without consideration of whether everyone/someone/no one else does the same." I couldn't think of a more perfect definition of true individuality. And, as others have noted here, it is only in becoming exactly as God is (an act of perfect conformity with the ultimate individual) that we too can become perfectly individual, i.e., able to make any choice at any time without any hint of influence whatsoever by the choices of others. As we become more like God, we attain more individuality. How's that for a true paradox? dangermom (47), I don't think anyone is ever really ready to live in Provo. ;) Jon manaen (25), you nailed it — it bears repeating: “individuality is doing/thinking/saying/believing what you decide, without consideration of whether everyone/someone/no one else does the same.” I couldn’t think of a more perfect definition of true individuality.

And, as others have noted here, it is only in becoming exactly as God is (an act of perfect conformity with the ultimate individual) that we too can become perfectly individual, i.e., able to make any choice at any time without any hint of influence whatsoever by the choices of others. As we become more like God, we attain more individuality. How’s that for a true paradox?

dangermom (47), I don’t think anyone is ever really ready to live in Provo. ;)

Jon

]]> By: Ellis http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2008/02/the-role-of-individuality-in-narratives-about-mormonism/#comment-249577 Ellis Sun, 10 Feb 2008 22:49:40 +0000 http://www.timesandseasons.org/?p=4377#comment-249577 I express my individuality by making my own choices. Sometimes that choice is to conform an sometimes it isn't. As long as it is my choice and not a choice someone makes for me a foists off on me my individuality is not compromised. I express my individuality by making my own choices. Sometimes that choice is to conform an sometimes it isn’t. As long as it is my choice and not a choice someone makes for me a foists off on me my individuality is not compromised.

]]> By: SilverRain http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2008/02/the-role-of-individuality-in-narratives-about-mormonism/#comment-249351 SilverRain Fri, 08 Feb 2008 12:01:13 +0000 http://www.timesandseasons.org/?p=4377#comment-249351 The only way to truly be an individual is to realize that you already ARE one. Nothing you can do either way will change your own individuality. Then, you have to let it go and stop worrying about it. The only way to truly be an individual is to realize that you already ARE one. Nothing you can do either way will change your own individuality.

Then, you have to let it go and stop worrying about it.

]]> By: dangermom http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2008/02/the-role-of-individuality-in-narratives-about-mormonism/#comment-249241 dangermom Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:04:51 +0000 http://www.timesandseasons.org/?p=4377#comment-249241 31 said: "This is why I could never live in Utah. I feel like I am self-aware enough to recognize a tendency in me to always want to be against the grain. I’m afraid that if I went to Utah, against the grain would push me OUT of the church. Whereas out here in “non-Zion,” being an individual pushes me INTO the church. I freely admit it’s a weakness on my part. But sometimes wisdom is knowing our weaknesses." I have this weakness too, and I'm trying to work on it. I don't think it's a good trait to want to do the opposite of what everyone else is doing, regardless of the actual rightness or wrongness or the activity. Although it's benefited me in many ways, I think it's time to start trying to grow out of it! Maybe someday I'll be ready to live in Provo... 31 said: “This is why I could never live in Utah. I feel like I am self-aware enough to recognize a tendency in me to always want to be against the grain. I’m afraid that if I went to Utah, against the grain would push me OUT of the church. Whereas out here in “non-Zion,” being an individual pushes me INTO the church. I freely admit it’s a weakness on my part. But sometimes wisdom is knowing our weaknesses.”

I have this weakness too, and I’m trying to work on it. I don’t think it’s a good trait to want to do the opposite of what everyone else is doing, regardless of the actual rightness or wrongness or the activity. Although it’s benefited me in many ways, I think it’s time to start trying to grow out of it! Maybe someday I’ll be ready to live in Provo…

]]> By: Ray http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2008/02/the-role-of-individuality-in-narratives-about-mormonism/#comment-249218 Ray Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:18:09 +0000 http://www.timesandseasons.org/?p=4377#comment-249218 Because I don't want to? *grin* Because I don’t want to? *grin*

]]> By: Bob http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2008/02/the-role-of-individuality-in-narratives-about-mormonism/#comment-249215 Bob Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:16:07 +0000 http://www.timesandseasons.org/?p=4377#comment-249215 #44: No..the question is why aren't YOU coming over and doing! #44: No..the question is why aren’t YOU coming over and doing!

]]> By: Ray http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2008/02/the-role-of-individuality-in-narratives-about-mormonism/#comment-249210 Ray Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:10:28 +0000 http://www.timesandseasons.org/?p=4377#comment-249210 Wrong, Bob. Your wife is more important than not doing the yard work, so you really do want to do it. Wrong, Bob. Your wife is more important than not doing the yard work, so you really do want to do it.

]]> By: Bob http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2008/02/the-role-of-individuality-in-narratives-about-mormonism/#comment-249200 Bob Thu, 07 Feb 2008 19:33:30 +0000 http://www.timesandseasons.org/?p=4377#comment-249200 #41: Ray...if only it were that simple. I DO NOT for any reason, want to do yard work today. But my wife wishes me to, (and I DO want to keep her happy), THEREFORE: I will be doing something I REALLY don't want to be doing. #41: Ray…if only it were that simple. I DO NOT for any reason, want to do yard work today. But my wife wishes me to, (and I DO want to keep her happy), THEREFORE: I will be doing something I REALLY don’t want to be doing.

]]> By: BHodges http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2008/02/the-role-of-individuality-in-narratives-about-mormonism/#comment-249197 BHodges Thu, 07 Feb 2008 19:19:23 +0000 http://www.timesandseasons.org/?p=4377#comment-249197 Josh: It is a very fascinating paradox. We are coupling the eternal certainty of individuality with the expectation of community. Get that to work and you might have Zion. Josh: It is a very fascinating paradox. We are coupling the eternal certainty of individuality with the expectation of community. Get that to work and you might have Zion.

]]> By: Ray http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2008/02/the-role-of-individuality-in-narratives-about-mormonism/#comment-249180 Ray Thu, 07 Feb 2008 18:47:37 +0000 http://www.timesandseasons.org/?p=4377#comment-249180 My dad used to say that every single one of us does exactly what we REALLY want to do - that you can hide behind your words, but you can't hide behind your actions. Whatever we do, in the end it's what we wanted to do more than the alternative. We can convince ourselves otherwise, but we are "deceiving our own selves". If you want to do something badly enough, you'll do it. My dad used to say that every single one of us does exactly what we REALLY want to do – that you can hide behind your words, but you can’t hide behind your actions. Whatever we do, in the end it’s what we wanted to do more than the alternative. We can convince ourselves otherwise, but we are “deceiving our own selves”.

If you want to do something badly enough, you’ll do it.

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