I haven’t found not observing the rules to be a big issue, when I was attending. So long as you are not taking the sacrament or seeking a temple recommend, you can do as you like and go to the meetings. So long as you are playing nice and not detracting from others’ experience, you should be OK. I tried to ignore silly stuff and focus on the good stuff. Plenty of good stuff is there. People who really annoy you in some ways can be very nice and admirable in other ways. There are always those people you won’t get along with or agree with, but don’t let them spoil it for you. Look for the good in it, and I think you’ll do great.Free Ranger wrote: ↑Tue Apr 05, 2022 8:28 pmThank you for sharing. Thanks for your respectful dialogue and support in whatever I end up choosing to do.
Your comments are exactly what I'm looking for to help me think about things. I did try experimenting with going to the Church three years ago before the pandemic, and I just remember being irritated at the scriptural literalism. But I have been rethinking that issue more and more. I think it's kind of necessary for a degree of supernaturalism and literalism among most of the members to keep the whole system functioning. I thought about how the Episcopal church, who are more highly educated and non-literal (on average than compared to other denominations), but does not have the same organizational/fraternal power that Mormonism has; as Shawn Mccraney explains in the video link I shared in this thread.
I've also been drinking coffee, which I started doing about 5 years ago and I think I've benefited from the energy boost. So I may never go back just because of coffee! LOL.
I am also annoyed at some of the culty stuff like not using the word Mormon. But the truth is there's always going to be something I don't like with any organization. I didn't like McConkey Mormonism but now there is Terryl Givens type Mormonism. And Nelson will be replaced by somebody else. It's all relative in my mind.
At the end of the day, if I want to be part of a group with high-minded goals, as you put it, I'm not finding better alternatives.
I do like the Givens and other so-called neo-apologists. I went to one of their meetings for doubters in Utah, and I liked their overall attitude and approach. The Church is an established club with its own rules, dues, and norms. Don’t rock the boat, and you can enjoy it quite a bit. And, you are right, no organization, no culture, no country is going to be perfect. We all give ourselves to something that will not live up to our highest ideals. I think many of us are frankly kind of unrealistic, and we end up throwing out the baby with the bathwater, so to speak. This is the kind of discussion zone where you will see a lot of continuing affirmation of doing just that.
But we all have our different tolerance levels, expectations, and histories. There are plenty of good people here, just as there are in the ward you are thinking of attending. The difference is that you can actually sing with, pray with, chat about spiritual things with those people in the ward. Sure there are some downsides to it, but there are real benefits as well. I have been here on this board for years, and it is a community I appreciate having, but it is no substitute for an in-person spiritual community.