Drifting wrote: I think most people want it to be the way you describe.
Also, outside the Mormon corridor, it takes gas money to visit wayward members. No one wants to head to someone's home, spend the gas money and not be allowed in. It has nothing to do about caring for the person but time is precious these days and bishops have enough on the plate to be bothered.
It is interesting that quark is interested in the catholic mass. I was born catholic and I do go to the catholic church. But if I weren't born catholic and converted to mormonims, I don't think that I could attend the catholic church because the situation is the same. Mormons have a prophet and catholics have a pope. And when it comes to history, catholic history is not that faith promoting. Also, a devout catholic is more than just a sunday mass goer. One must go to masses of obligation, go on retreats, take an occasional pilgrimage, say the rosary, and have a religious statue in the home or a crucifix over the bed. One knows when one is in a catholic's home.
I think the other problem is one of numbers. There are just too many less actives to try and get too. Conservatively two thirds of every ward is non attending. That's just an insurmountable number. I think that is why selected individuals/families get a disproportionate amount of attention. Ward projects are commonplace. The Bishop looks at who is the best prospect of getting a result (re-activation) and throws all the attention of each relevant auxillary at them.
“We look to not only the spiritual but also the temporal, and we believe that a person who is impoverished temporally cannot blossom spiritually.” Keith McMullin - Counsellor in Presiding Bishopric
"One, two, three...let's go shopping!" Thomas S Monson - Prophet, Seer, Revelator
quark wrote: You know that part of the movie "Finding Nemo" when a big, scary fish swims in front of Marlin and he says, "Good feeling's gone"? Well, that is how I felt after we started chatting. I could tell they were very sad we weren't active and seemed very uncomfortable. They wanted to say so much and I wanted the conversation to be over. I kept having to say, "No, we are doing just fine. Thanks anyway."
Well, here is the bright side: they cared enough about you and your wife to pay you a visit and to welcome you to church. And in the end, that is what the gospel is all about. I have no idea why people such as yourself find this to be very unusual and a discomfort. I would think that you would be grateful. However, if you tell them that you don't want to be bothered anymore, they will leave you alone. No problem. Or you can have your names removed from the rolls. However, don't dump on people who just meant well.
I'm sorry, but I have always felt it was rude for someone to just drop in without calling first. This seems to be a uniquely "Mormon" thing, and I find it is very poor manners. I can understand a possible "pop-in" visit by a home teacher or visiting teacher if there have been a ton of calls a and they honestly have not been able to get a hold of the person, but this is a different situation.
This is something I really wish people in the Church would work on.
why me wrote:Well, here is the bright side: they cared enough about you and your wife to pay you a visit and to welcome you to church. And in the end, that is what the gospel is all about. I have no idea why people such as yourself find this to be very unusual and a discomfort. I would think that you would be grateful. However, if you tell them that you don't want to be bothered anymore, they will leave you alone. No problem. Or you can have your names removed from the rolls. However, don't dump on people who just meant well.
I'm sorry, but I have always felt it was rude for someone to just drop in without calling first. This seems to be a uniquely "Mormon" thing, and I find it is very poor manners. I can understand a possible "pop-in" visit by a home teacher or visiting teacher if there have been a ton of calls a and they honestly have not been able to get a hold of the person, but this is a different situation.
This is something I really wish people in the Church would work on.
Exactly. Typically you make an appointment before showing up at someone's door, unless you are family or a close friend. Going to someone's house uninvited and asking to come in and talk to them is awkward for most people, especially if you don't know them. I think Mormons tend to be comfortable with it because they spent 2 years doing it as missionaries. I was always uncomfortable doing it because I could read the non-verbal cues such as rolling eyes, tapping feet, crossed arms, glaring. I was always amazed at the people who ignored those cues, and expecially when they ignored the verbal cues such as "f off." I don't think this is the last time the quarks will get an uncomfortable visit from church representatives. People are praying for them to return to the fold. Do you really think this bishop will let those prayers go unfulfilled?
"We have taken up arms in defense of our liberty, our property, our wives, and our children; we are determined to preserve them, or die." - Captain Moroni - 'Address to the Inhabitants of Canada' 1775
quark wrote:Dear Wife told me the bishop started to cry right before I got home. It made her very uncomfortable.
Why was he crying?
(Nevo, Jan 23) And the Melchizedek Priesthood may not have been restored until the summer of 1830, several months after the organization of the Church.
I'm fine with friends stopping by unanounced whenever they like. Love it, in fact. I too get annoyed when people I barely know feel obliged to stop by unanounced. I don't care who it is, or what position is held, that just is poor manners. And yes, people in Church feel its appropriate and fine for some reason. Don't get it.
Love ya tons, Stem
I ain't nuttin'. don't get all worked up on account of me.
why me wrote: In most cases, people are extremely busy to be worried about those who longer want to come.
It is statements like this that tell me Why me is unfamiliar with how the Church operates. Either that or he lives in a ward unlike I have ever seen They are never too busy, they are never too far away, they are never concerned about gas money, they don't know what "leave me alone" means. They will continue to try to bring the inactive back into the fold forever. In order to be left alone you have to notify them that you want your name removed from the records. Short of that there will always be someone who thinks God will soften your heart.
By the way, I do not mind that the Church still tries to activate me, nor do I mind when they just drop by. In fact my home teacher has a standing invitation to come by when ever he likes. I consider him a good friend and I enjoy our conversations. I am not sure his wife likes our conversations though since we usually talk Church history.
"Any over-ritualized religion since the dawn of time can make its priests say yes, we know, it is rotten, and hard luck, but just do as we say, keep at the ritual, stick it out, give us your money and you'll end up with the angels in heaven for evermore."
Drifting wrote: I think most people want it to be the way you describe.
Also, outside the Mormon corridor, it takes gas money to visit wayward members. No one wants to head to someone's home, spend the gas money and not be allowed in. It has nothing to do about caring for the person but time is precious these days and bishops have enough on the plate to be bothered.
It is interesting that quark is interested in the catholic mass. I was born catholic and I do go to the catholic church. But if I weren't born catholic and converted to mormonims, I don't think that I could attend the catholic church because the situation is the same. Mormons have a prophet and catholics have a pope. And when it comes to history, catholic history is not that faith promoting. Also, a devout catholic is more than just a sunday mass goer. One must go to masses of obligation, go on retreats, take an occasional pilgrimage, say the rosary, and have a religious statue in the home or a crucifix over the bed. One knows when one is in a catholic's home.
Other than the Masses of obligation nothing you listed is required of Catholics they are just some choices available in Catholic spiritual practice. I do see again how you take every opportunity to say negative things about the Catholic church though.
why me wrote: In most cases, people are extremely busy to be worried about those who longer want to come.
It is statements like this that tell me Why me is unfamiliar with how the Church operates. Either that or he lives in a ward unlike I have ever seen
Maybe Why me has never had a calling. What happens is the bishop decides a family needs to be re-activated. He then notifies the Home Teachers to contact the family and invite them to church, activities, etc. This rarely works, because most home teachers don't go, or when they do they aren't pushy. So then the bishop sends in the big guns. Members of the bishopric or high council may be called to go visit the family. Also, if the family has kids, the YM/YW are usually asked to try to fellowship the kids and invite the kids to activities. Once they get the kids coming, then they start working the parents. Why me is correct that Mormons tend to be busy, but it is because they are busy with their callings, and often times their calling involves bugging inactive people. Remember, every member a missionary.
"We have taken up arms in defense of our liberty, our property, our wives, and our children; we are determined to preserve them, or die." - Captain Moroni - 'Address to the Inhabitants of Canada' 1775
why me wrote: It is interesting that quark is interested in the catholic mass. I was born catholic and I do go to the catholic church. But if I weren't born catholic and converted to mormonims, I don't think that I could attend the catholic church because the situation is the same. Mormons have a prophet and catholics have a pope. And when it comes to history, catholic history is not that faith promoting. Also, a devout catholic is more than just a sunday mass goer. One must go to masses of obligation, go on retreats, take an occasional pilgrimage, say the rosary, and have a religious statue in the home or a crucifix over the bed. One knows when one is in a catholic's home.
Another completely ignorant and off topic post delivered by my favorite Catholic Latter Day Saint. (Bizarre!)