Want to voice your opinion? Here's the chance....

[_solomarineris]

Ensign Magazine is asking readers opinion....
http://ldschurch.inquisiteasp.com/cgi-b ... idx=4M5X9M
Give them piece of your mind.

[_ludwigm]

Ensign Magazine is asking readers opinion....
http://ldschurch.inquisiteasp.com/cgi-b ... idx=4M5X9M
Give them piece of your mind.

What is Your problem?
They don't ask for the barcode of Your Temple Recommend.

[_Inconceivable]

Thanks Solo,

It's nice not to remain silent as a former member that used to read it from cover to cover.

[_solomarineris]

What is Your problem?
They don't ask for the barcode of Your Temple Recommend.

Geez...Where do I begin?
Can I book a session with you?

[_harmony]

I took the survey. Here is what I wrote on the last page, where comments were solicited:

I am a convert of 38 years. My husband was born in the church. We are temple married, active in our ward, and temple worthy.

The Ensign has little relevance in my life because it rarely addresses my life as it really is. It never gives a second opinion, never acknowledges the reality or efficacy of a different way of living other than the standard LDS way, which in my own life has been significantly less than successful. It spoonfeeds history, patronizes faithful though questioning LDS, and never deviates from the inaccurate and completely impossible to achieve representations of the supposed ideal LDS life. It is one of the most depressing magazines I've ever read, because it allows for no individuality, no personal inspiration, and certainly never addresses any of the hard questions we are asked every day by nonLDS.

There is no explanation of doctrine, even such elementary issues as why coffee is not allowed but hot cocoa is. "The Prophet said so" is simply not a sufficient answer to questions now. Difficult issues with church history, social issues like same sex attraction and youth suicide, personal issues like public stigmas related to bankruptcy, obesity, or the choice to not marry until later in life or not at all could be addressed here, but are not, so members are forced to either spend a lot of money on books that carry no stamp of official approval or resort to the internet with all of its pitfalls and traps.

The Ensign fails miserably as a means of teaching correct doctrine, when it could be the most important magazine to ever enter a LDS home. It is fluff, when it could be meat.

Some suggestions:

1. an indepth study of polygamy, from Joseph's earliest involvement through post-Manifesto marriages.

2. a serious look at the multiple accounts of the First Vision.

3. an explanation of Brigham's Adam-God doctrine.

4. an explanation of the unevenness of prophetic revelations, especially why the revelations have virtually ceased since the death of Joseph Smith.

5. a list of officially approved books and websites that are doctrinally sound.

6. a look at church finances including what tithing is used for, our humanitarian efforts and the dollar amounts we contribute to those efforts, and why the average member is not allowed access to a standard financial report.

7. an examination of the myths of the church, like the myth that we have no paid clergy.

8. an examination of the relationship between wealth and callings. Christ was a carpenter, a blue collar worker, yet we have no blue collar workers in our highest leadership.

9. an explanation of the actual processes that determine where temples are built, where missionaries are sent, and how policies are made and changed.

10. an examination of the missionary program, warts and all. The current rosey portrayal is neither accurate nor helpful. We do our missionaries a huge disservice when we don't tell it like it really is. Using only faith-promoting stories is both inaccurate and misleading.

11. an examination of the current trend among the 20-somethings to delay marriage until later in life or who choose to not marry at all; the why, the ramifications, what the church is doing to support those who find no mate through no fault of their own.

12. an in-depth look at the way the First Presidency and the Twelve operate. The united front they present to the world is both disheartening and misleading. If they all think alike, we have no need of more than one of them, and if they all don't think alike, then let us see them as they really are.

I doubt it ever is read by anyone and I doubt anything ever changes, but at least I took the opportunity to say what I wanted to say.