My high priests "lesson" today

[_Runtu]

I attended our high priests group meeting today, and as it was "Teachings for Our Times" week, we each received a copy of Elder Holland's talk about the nature of the Godhead from last conference. As we have a lot of retired BYU professors in the group, I thought it might be an interesting discussion.

About 5 minutes into the lesson, they started talking about Romney's chances in the Republican primaries and how his candidacy has been a real blessing to the church. One brother came very close to saying that Heavenly Father was behind the candidacy because not only does the country need a Mormon president, but his candidacy and possible presidency would bring people into the church in droves. And thus it went for the rest of the hour.

I enjoy political discussion, but I'm still shaking my head over that priesthood "lesson." Does anyone else find that kind of discussion inappropriate in priesthood meeting?

[_Scottie]

Meh.

Church is boring. Lessons are boring.

If it's something fun and everyone is into it, let em talk about it.

[_Gazelam]

I enjoy political discussion, but I'm still shaking my head over that priesthood "lesson." Does anyone else find that kind of discussion inappropriate in priesthood meeting?

yes, the teacher obviously lost control of the class. Very sad.

[_Boaz & Lidia]

I say they were hanging by a thread.


When I lived on Canyon Road in Provo 17 years ago, EQ lessons very often would end up in a discussion about who BYU played the night before or the next game. Not being a sports fan I was bored. Then again, the actual lessons were boring as well.

During my next decade and a half of EQ attendance, many of the lessons would quickly get lost in some other discussion. I felt at the time and now that this was probably due to the lack of interest in the boring lessons by most if not all in attendance. At least 1/4 of the class had PDAs that kept them entertained. They all claimed they had the EQ manual and scriptures on it and that was the reason they were fiddling and staring it all EQ meeting long..

[_Coggins7]

I attended our high priests group meeting today, and as it was "Teachings for Our Times" week, we each received a copy of Elder Holland's talk about the nature of the Godhead from last conference. As we have a lot of retired BYU professors in the group, I thought it might be an interesting discussion.

About 5 minutes into the lesson, they started talking about Romney's chances in the Republican primaries and how his candidacy has been a real blessing to the church. One brother came very close to saying that Heavenly Father was behind the candidacy because not only does the country need a Mormon president, but his candidacy and possible presidency would bring people into the church in droves. And thus it went for the rest of the hour.

I enjoy political discussion, but I'm still shaking my head over that priesthood "lesson." Does anyone else find that kind of discussion inappropriate in priesthood meeting?

Inappropriate. What might take this teacher aback would be the degree that conservative/libertarian Mormons like myself are not certain regarding Romney's conservative credentials, and his ability to provide the country with some real reforms in this area. My first choices in this election have been, as always, the unelectable Alan Keys, followed by Fred Thomson. Romney, for many conservatives is the default position now that Thompson's gone. I can't say that I would be holding my nose when voting for Romney, as I did for Dole and Bush, but if McCain is the candidate I won't be voting at all. I couldn't sleep at night were I to do so.

As a believing LDS, I don't know if God is somehow behind Romney or not. Certainly, just because he is LDS his presence in the race does not require such a belief.

I have a suspicion this may be more of a Utah Mormon thing. I'm skeptical given Romney's history of flip flopping on some core social issues, but his explanations for this are certainly better then McCain's, who's flip flops have come virtually overnight.

[_Boaz & Lidia]

I attended our high priests group meeting today, and as it was "Teachings for Our Times" week, we each received a copy of Elder Holland's talk about the nature of the Godhead from last conference. As we have a lot of retired BYU professors in the group, I thought it might be an interesting discussion.

About 5 minutes into the lesson, they started talking about Romney's chances in the Republican primaries and how his candidacy has been a real blessing to the church. One brother came very close to saying that Heavenly Father was behind the candidacy because not only does the country need a Mormon president, but his candidacy and possible presidency would bring people into the church in droves. And thus it went for the rest of the hour.

I enjoy political discussion, but I'm still shaking my head over that priesthood "lesson." Does anyone else find that kind of discussion inappropriate in priesthood meeting?

Inappropriate. What might take this teacher aback would be the degree that conservative/libertarian Mormons like myself are not certain regarding Romney's conservative credentials, and his ability to provide the country with some real reforms in this area. My first choices in this election have been, as always, the unelectable Alan Keys, followed by Fred Thomson. Romney, for many conservatives is the default position now that Thompson's gone. I can't say that I would be holding my nose when voting for Romney, as I did for Dole and Bush, but if McCain is the candidate I won't be voting at all. I couldn't sleep at night were I to do so.

As a believing LDS, I don't know if God is somehow behind Romney or not. Certainly, just because he is LDS his presence in the race does not require such a belief.

I have a suspicion this may be more of a Utah Mormon thing. I'm skeptical given Romney's history of flip flopping on some core social issues, but his explanations for this are certainly better then McCain's, who's flip flops have come virtually overnight.

Really?

When was the last time you attended any Mormon church meeting?

[_karl61]

I'm kind of worried about the next ten years. I think about the thought about the elders stepping in to save the country. I think it really had to do with out civil war not in the last days. I think Romney is going to pound mccain on tuesday and with that momentum get the nod to run for the party. Then he will clean whom ever's clock in the debates. you will then have a Mormon in the white house.

[_Mary]

Runtu,

Over here in the UK it seems that the British Media is presenting Clinton and Obama as the front runners for the democrats and actually, now, Romney and McCain are the front runners for the Republicans.

If Romney does become president (and I'd be surprised because I think the US will go for a democratic leader rather than Republican) then I think it will prove a great curse as well as a great blessing.

All of the more controversial issued of Mormonism, such as the theology surrounding Polygamy, 2nd Anointings, blacks, Joseph Smith, Endowment Sessions, and links with Masonic rights, will become of great public interest. Monson (if he becomes next president of the church) will have to learn how to deal with all the secrets becoming known...

I wouldn't like to be him right now, because I think that if Romney does succeed the church is going to have to do some adapting.

Mary