Back again

Won't make any promises about "coming back for good" because I never hold up to that. Instead I just make the promise that when I do feel the urge to write I won't avoid it.


Religion & People

It has come up quite often about how people view the church. I have found that the majority of the time it isn't because of our beliefs that they ridicule us...it is quite often based off the actions of those in the church.

To start of describing my feelings towards this we will start with Missions.

I fully support the idea of the mission. If you have felt the promptings to go on one and to serve the lord I support you for doing so. What I don't support is parents pushing their kids to go on these missions. Incentives ( I see them as bribes ) to go on missions is disturbing. I have seen things from buying cars, down payments on homes, to paying an entire college tuition! This is simply unacceptable. You are not rewarding them for serving a mission, you are bribing them to go. From a young age the kids go out and sing songs " I want to be a missionary ". From an early age we are telling them not that they should go if they feel prompted by the Lord, but that they WANT to go regardless!

Again, I don't want to seem anti-mission or anything...I just don't believe its for everyone! I didn't server my mission because I didn't want to. Plain and simple. However, I have known people that have served because they felt prompted to ( by the right people ) and served happily! There are great blessings in store for those that do go, but there are reasons for people not to. I know that if I would have gone on a mission I would not have been an influential factor for my fiance to join the church. I am sure that if I did go I still would be marrying her (I'd fight off anyone that tried to take her when I got back, even if that means homewrecking). I believe my MISSION was to get her into the church and eventually into the temple with me.

But oh, the trouble I got in...

The disgusted looks of priesthood leaders, the angry faces of leaders of the church. It was hard to even go to church with a smile on my face because I knew the kind of things people were thinking when I said I wasn't going to serve a mission. This is my life and my decision and I think everyone is entitled to it.

On the next note... Callings

This is one thing that I have never been able to work out in my head. The church needs these callings filled in order to run properly...got it. However, certain callings I have held have made other aspects of my life suffer due to them. Many times I have had to sacrifice study time on tests in order to plan a lesson for church. I missed out on study time in order to go to mutual because I was the president of my quorum and "had" to be there as a leader.

I know many of them are beneficial for aspects of your life but some of them hurt too much for the benefit that they hold.

I have never turned down a calling, nor do I plan on doing it. However, the right calling for the right person is something I don't think is always fully considered. Someone enrolled in 18 credits working full time shouldn't have a high-demand calling. It happens....a lot.


I guess in short is, the church should be a bit more understanding.

Not every able-bodied male should have to serve a mission. I know that's not the official position the church holds, but it might as well be.

Not every calling should be available just because someone is without a calling. The right calling for the right person at the right time.

I want this to be known though more than anything else.

I FULLY LOVE MY RELIGION AND EVERYTHING IT STANDS FOR. AT NO POINT OR TIME HAS THAT CHANGED. THERE ARE JUST A FEW THINGS THAT LEADERS/MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH DO THAT DISAPPOINT ME AS A WHOLE.

-SM