Would this change your decision to be active or not?

[_charity]

SALT LAKE CITY

In order to better meet the needs of "our most average members," church representative Howard S.. Jeppeson announced the creation of a new slow-track membership program. "This program caters to those members of the church who may not be top-level celestial material but who are still willing to put in a nominal effort toward their own salvation," he said.

The slow-track program includes the same components of normal church membership, but at a more relaxed pace. Members who sign on for the program are required to read scriptures and have personal and family prayer once a week, attend church once a month, visit teach or home teach four times a year, and watch one session of general conference every other year. Slow-track members also receive a discount on tithing--5% of net income.

If slow-track members can commit to these requirements for five years, they can earn a temple recommend stamped with an S for "slow track," after which they are expected to attend the temple semiannually. According to Jeppeson, the church may create a shorter, condensed version of the temple ceremony for S-track members "in order to better accommodate those members' shorter attention spans and lower levels of ambition."

Social historian Jane Schippen, PhD, a long-time scholarly observer of Mormon society, hails the new slow-track program. "Mormonism pays a great deal of attention to its high achievers, like those who are stake president before they turn forty or women who have eight children and maintain a spotless house," she observed. Similarly, she continued, "Mormons spend a lot of time and energy worrying about those on the other end of the spectrum, the less-actives." She sees the slow-track program as "a way to acknowledge and honor the vast majority of Mormons, those who will never hold high positions of leadership but who are nevertheless active - the sloggers, if you will."

Logan Stake president Gary L. Hackett agrees with Schippen and says that the new slow-track program "will prod the lazy ones into progressing at least a little bit, which is an improvement." He estimates that implementing the slow track will cut administrative tasks, such as nagging phone calls to complete home or visiting teaching, by as much as 75 percent. "It's about time we recognized that not everyone in the church is that top ten percent of the celestial kingdom material," he notes. "And, really, that's okay. I mean, the bottom two levels of the celestial kingdom are supposed to be pretty good too, right?"

Most members seem happy with the soon- to-be-implemented system. "Let's face it," says local member Larry K. Whiting. "I'm not cut out for this high-paced, pressure-oriented Mormon lifestyle. I mean, home teaching four families every month? The scheduling alone takes way too much time. And then I have to go over there and pretend I care about these people when I'd rather be home watching ESPN? Give me the slow-track program any day."

Local member Kendra Koenig agrees. "Do you know how much fun it is trying to roust five kids out of bed for family scripture study and prayer at 6:30A.M .? I am sick to death of nagging them about it, and you can believe it's not doing our family harmony any good." She praised the slow-track system for offering a more realistic temple-attendance schedule. "Like anyone who has a life can manage to get out there twice a month? This slow-track program is the answer to my infrequent prayers."

One Elders Quorum President read this announcement to his Quorum. He had so many wanting to sign up that he had to tell them it was just a Joke!
__________________________________________________

[_Runtu]

OK, this is motivating me to come up with a parody.

[_harmony]

SALT LAKE CITY

In order to better meet the needs of "our most average members," church representative Howard S.. Jeppeson announced the creation of a new slow-track membership program. "This program caters to those members of the church who may not be top-level celestial material but who are still willing to put in a nominal effort toward their own salvation," he said.

The slow-track program includes the same components of normal church membership, but at a more relaxed pace. Members who sign on for the program are required to read scriptures and have personal and family prayer once a week, attend church once a month, visit teach or home teach four times a year, and watch one session of general conference every other year. Slow-track members also receive a discount on tithing--5% of net income.

I got right here, and knew without a shadow of a doubt that this was not true. No way under heaven would anything less than 10% be allowed. Sorry, charity. Parodies are only funny if they're believable.

[_Yoda]

LOL!

This is great, Charity!

:)

Did you post this on MAD, too?

[_Trevor]

As I've always said, slow and steady wins the race!

[_Sethbag]

Charity: good parody, and I appreciate the humor, but seriously no, this would make no difference in my decisions with respect to the church. Because it's not about having difficulty doing all that the church requires. It's whether the church is true or not. The church could pay me 10% tithing and send the bishop to hold sacrament meeting with me on a golf course every Sunday where we chatted about the Gospel between holes, and yet ultimately it would still not be true.

[_the road to hana]

and yet ultimately it would still not be true.

No sense hitching your wagon to a faulty star.

[_Yoda]

The church could pay me 10% tithing and send the bishop to hold sacrament meeting with me on a golf course every Sunday where we chatted about the Gospel between holes...

Where do you sign up for THAT Church?

;)

[_Trevor]

The church could pay me 10% tithing and send the bishop to hold sacrament meeting with me on a golf course every Sunday where we chatted about the Gospel between holes...

Where do you sign up for THAT Church?

;)

Yeah. After all, all churches are false, so you may as well find one that includes some pleasant golfing!

[_evolving]

Wow - Charity has been reading FeministMormonHousewives - next step - admitting the Book of Abraham is an obvious hoax -

Church Unveils “Slow-Track” Program
By Amy Chamberlain
SALT LAKE CITY
http://www.feministmormonhousewives.org/?p=751