The Mighty Builder wrote:I feel qualified to make these statements because I turned down a calling to be Bishop because of my questions about the Mormon Church.
Just think: If you had accepted the calling, you could've shared your questions with the flock. As a bishop, they would've taken you seriously.
Doc, you know that simply is a fantasy.
I mean sure, a few members would take a bishop like that seriously, but the majority would have him strung up by his garmies
New name: Boaz The most viewed "ignored" poster in Shady Acres® !
by the way, Everybody Wang Chung, I wish you all the best in your calling.
From reading your posts here I can see that you will be a much more kind and loving bishop than I was as a branch president. When I think back (30+ years) on how I handled things I wish that I had been more sympathetic and less hardline.
I think that your ward members are fortunate to have you looking after them.
NOMinal member
Maksutov: "... if you give someone else the means to always push your buttons, you're lost."
I'd like to bear my testimony that I know the church is true. I know my Heavenly Father loves me. I'm thankful for the bishop. I'm thankful we have a prophet to guide us.
I hardly knew you, but good luck with your calling. I'm sure you'll be lurking here often.
If the Holy Spirit is busy, I'm sure you'll find answers here. That you can dress up.
Seriously, all the best with your new role. I hope it is more rewarding than painful, and you know that there is a place to come to (as a sockpuppet, probably) so you can vent.
Good luck Wang Chung... we all live our lives based on what we believe.
2 Tim 4:3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. 2 Tim 4:4 They will turn their ears away from the truth & turn aside to myths
I'm not ultra-familiar with Wang Chung, but from what he has said in this thread if true I have SERIOUS problems with him both being and accepting a call to be Bishop.
He has stated that he has many serious issues with Mormonism, AND he has issues with most LDS apologists. That doesn't sound at all like someone who is true to the faith, and especially someone who is going to be standing as a watchman over his Ward ensuring orthodoxy etc.
Have you made the Stake President fully aware that you have all these problems? I cannot believe at all that someone with the "depth" of problems that you have, that any Stake President would call you as Bishop if they knew. Thus, it sounds like you are in fact lying and not being true to yourself taking this call, that you are deceiving the Church.
I find that to be without honor and character.
Have you referred them to your posts on this forum, to see if they approve of your judgments against the Church and it's members, such as LDS apologists?
If not, then you are doing evil by downplaying your lack of belief and lack of orthodoxy.
"Socialism is Rape and Capitalism is consensual sex" - Ben Shapiro
ldsfaqs wrote: He has stated that he has many serious issues with Mormonism, AND he has issues with most LDS apologists. That doesn't sound at all like someone who is true to the faith, and especially someone who is going to be standing as a watchman over his Ward ensuring orthodoxy etc.
Even Jesus expressed doubt and anguish at Gethsemane. Perhaps he shouldn't have been the Messiah?
My BIC wife and I had a long and very interesting conversation about your decision as we were out for our Sunday walk on the beach today.
Here are three things that were done / said by various Bishops and Stake Presidents, which she specifically mentioned as contributing to her current NOM status. She offered these as examples of counterproductive decisions made by fundementalist hardliners and hopes that you will think twice before making such decisions, edicts or pronouncements.
1. No hot chocolate is to be served at youth functions, even when these functions involve spending most of the evening singing Christmas carols outside in freezing weather. Warm spiced cider (arsenic and all) is to be served instead.
2. Women will not be allowed to use the Ward House for exercise classes because of the distraction it causes to men who may be engaged in other activities in the ward house. Church leadership would prefer that women stay at home during the day and attend to their families anyway.
3. Women who wish to return to school to finish their college degrees once the kids are all in school should understand that this is not what the Lord would have them do. The Lord wants them to remain without marketable skills so that when their TBM husband leaves them for a younger woman, they will remain humble and destitute.
My wife was fascinated by your decision and, as NOM herself, cannot imagine how you would handle being bishop (unless you live in a more liberal region like Western Washington or Northern CA).
She wishes you the best, and asked me to tell her if you return and report. (She is nowhere near ready to participate on these boards herself.)
So again, best wishes.
We (both) hope you will return and report.
David Hume: "---Mistakes in philosophy are merely ridiculous, those in religion are dangerous."
DrW: "Mistakes in science are learning opportunities and are eventually corrected."
ldsfaqs wrote:I'm not ultra-familiar with Wang Chung, but from what he has said in this thread if true I have SERIOUS problems with him both being and accepting a call to be Bishop.
He has stated that he has many serious issues with Mormonism, AND he has issues with most LDS apologists. That doesn't sound at all like someone who is true to the faith, and especially someone who is going to be standing as a watchman over his Ward ensuring orthodoxy etc.
Have you made the Stake President fully aware that you have all these problems? I cannot believe at all that someone with the "depth" of problems that you have, that any Stake President would call you as Bishop if they knew. Thus, it sounds like you are in fact lying and not being true to yourself taking this call, that you are deceiving the Church.
I find that to be without honor and character.
Have you referred them to your posts on this forum, to see if they approve of your judgments against the Church and it's members, such as LDS apologists?
If not, then you are doing evil by downplaying your lack of belief and lack of orthodoxy.