In my post earlier today, with poetry for the Come Follow Me readings, I discussed the tension in our relationships between assenting and agreeing with others and differentiating from others (which sometimes appears as rebellion). This tension is a part of all of our lives—every relationship we have is about how much we agree with and get along with the other person, and how much we are independent of them. This also shows up in Church.
The tension between assent and difference often depends on how passive we are, or how much we participate. While it is certainly a social faux-pas to stand up and say you disagree during a sacrament meeting talk, it is welcome (or should be) in classes. And nothing can prevent you from mentally noting and examining what you think, even if you don’t say it. And, I would argue that you should do so! Thinking through what you understand, believe and know about a topic is important, and not just for your differentiation from others. Its part of the process of figuring out what you think and why.
So, what are you thinking in reaction to what happens in Church?
In these posts I am trying to suggest that each of us can have better experiences at Church if we take responsibility for our experiences, and if we are open to what we can be taught to us in many different ways. We can choose to learn and benefit from what happens regardless of whether it fits our perception of what is “good.” Thinking about our reactions and what we understand allows for revelation and for better understanding.
In this vein, I like the statement that President Hugh B. Brown made in a 1969 BYU devotional, President Hugh B. Brown declared that the Church is “not so much concerned with whether your thoughts are orthodox or heterodox as we are that you shall have thoughts.” We should be carefully considering what we hear at Church, regardless of whether what we heard is right or wrong, orthodox or heterodox.
A lot of our thought depends on how we look at it. It is not different from what many artists figure out—they understand that how you see the world before you is more important than what you see. You might call it ‘active listening’ or shifting perspective. It just means that you see differently. And seeing differently reveals a different world.
In my case, I tend to focus narrowly, thinking about groups of words or sentences, sometimes taking them out of context and thinking about what they say, even if the speaker didn’t intend what I heard. It’s not at all like what we’re taught in school, where the focus is on understanding accurately and completely what the speaker or text says. Its about pulling out useful or inspiring thoughts in spite of what was said.
So, if you aren’t thinking this way, maybe try it next Sunday, or the next time you are in a class or meeting. If you have already thoughts inspired by what happened at church, what are they? How did you react to what happened in Church yesterday? What did you notice? Did you end up thinking differently? Do you think your reactions were what they should be? Were they looking for what God had to tell you? Did your reactions make things better?
This is the latest invitation for reactions to local meetings, continuing a series of weekly posts that started with my post on September 25th about how we receive what happens in Church meetings—sermons, lessons and anything else—and enter a conversation with them, magnifying what was said or adding what we think. In these posts I’m asking us all to think about how we listen and receive what happens at Church. If we only listen for mistakes, or things that bother us, what does that say about us? Is it most important to criticize others? Or to try to change ourselves?
The point here is that no matter how poorly prepared the speaker or teacher is, or no matter how what happens triggers us, or is objectively or doctrinally wrong, we can still find elements in what is said and what happens that inspires and edifies us. Even if church meetings aren’t conducted in a way that reaches us, we can take responsibility and find a way to feel the spirit.
So please, write down reactions and thoughts to what happened in Church. You might keep your own ‘spiritual journal’, or, if you like, you can post your reactions below. I’m adding my own reactions and thoughts as a comment to this post — instead of as a part of this post, because my reactions aren’t any better than anyone else’s.
Let me emphasize that this is NOT a place to criticize what is wrong with church or your fellow congregants. The point is to post what you learned because of what happened at Church or how that led you to think. It’s about the good things we can get out of Church, not the negative things that disturbed or upset us. It doesn’t have to be orthodox, traditional or even on topic.
If you like, make your response in the format, “They said or did this, and I said or thought that.” Even the things you dislike the most can be turned into lessons for what the gospel teaches we should do.
My hope is that these reactions serve as an example of a better way to treat what happens at Church instead of the perennial complaints about speaker or teacher preparation or ability, or complaints that the Church should do things differently.
Comments
4 responses to “What Was Revealed to You In Church (Or What Did Church Lead You to Think About Yesterday), 4/26)?”
Because we had Stake Conference, I ended up with thoughts from meetings on both Saturday (4/25) and yesterday (4/26):
It was just my daughter and I who attended, as my wife was visiting family. I missed being with her. It helped me understand more of how singles and part-member families feel at Church.
A young man spoke for the first time ever. He said it was the worst day of his life (but smiled as he said it)
A woman from Mexico spoke entirely in Spanish. I used Google Translate and it worked quite well. I am grateful for these sorts of tools. We can all worship together, and generally can all understand each other.
There was a good discussion in EQ about temperance. I did find the class to feel kind of long. I’m thinking that a shorter class time in September will keep things focused without so much repetition. I’m feeling optimistic about the change.
Kent Larsen, your thoughts about burnout are insightful. Culturally it is interesting that that symbol of Utah is a beehive and not a lotus bloom. It is indeed cultural and at times not helpful.
I realize as I read this that for me, generally, I’m letting the messages of the sabbath wash over me, rather than sink into me, much. Sunday services tend to be intense and exhausting (as organist, Primary Music Leader, and choir accompanist), from prelude to choir practice I’m in near constant motion. A lot of my sabbath thoughts occur when i plan preludes and prep my Primary lesson; i’m just too busy watching and responding in the moment otherwise.
What i did delight in, Sunday, was the recent convert, called upon to pray for the first time, who basically bore a testimony as his prayer, and ended with “in the name of the Father. And the Son, and the Holy Ghost.” I was happy to give him a loud Amen from my seat at the organ. I hope desperately that nobody “corrected” him unkindly, for it was beautiful.
And I loved the question a 9 year old asked right at the end of Singing Time, about whether his (school, I think) teacher had broken a commandment when she took a toy away from a child in class and would not return it until the end of the school year. I knelt beside him after the closing prayer as we reasoned together on that. Kids really think about what we teach them, and it is so important to honor that!