Youth fireside ?

[lostinmiddlemormonism]

any idea what the topic is for the Russ and Wendy show this evening?

[Reuben]

Follow the prophet for the Lord has preserved him unto these latter days to reveal ministering so we don't get deceived by anti-Mormons or stop paying tithing or catch gay marriage.

[Mormorrisey]

Oh, I watched it with Sister M and one of my kids. I can sum it up like this - we didn't talk about it afterwards. It was...interesting.

Basically, he called the youth "the lord's youth battalion" and told them to take a larger role in the gathering of Israel. It was kinda creepy how he tried to tell them how exciting it was, and that it should mean EVERYTHING to them, this gathering. Basically told them to do five things to help in the work:

1) Do a seven day social media fast.
2) Sacrifice something you like for 30 days to participate in the gathering of Israel.
3) Stay on the covenant path - self-assess how you are doing, repent and come back on it.
4) Pray that the gathering of Israel will accelerate.
5) Stand out and be a light - be an example.

The major challenge I had with it is the amount of pressure this puts on the kids - and the virtue signalling that will go along with all of this. Luckily my kid has a good head on her shoulders and won't stress about being in the lord's battalion, she'll just kinda go along. But I really feel about how some YM/YW leaders are going to interpret this, and how many activities are going to be geared to this purpose, and the kids are going to hate life. Jeez. I know they're losing kids but the boatload, but just letting them be kids seems like the better course of action to me.

Don't think this is going to work.

[Red Ryder]

Geez... The group texts have already started from the youth leaders. "I encourage everyone to go on a 7 day social media fast and I will be going to the temple every Saturday for the next 30 days to do baptisms. All youth are invited to come with me. We are so lucky to hear the words of our Prophet!"

"Parents, please encourage your children to follow the words of our prophet and do a social media fast for 7 days."

[cpy911]

We have youth in deep depression, anxiety, suicidal tendencies and social pressures. The best that a prophet tells them is to stay off social media?

My message would be: you are deeply, deeply loved by God and precious. God loves you so much just the way you are. You are God's creations and your life has purpose and meaning. We love you as church leaders and will stand by you in your trials. Your mistakes do not define you and God is with us.

[jfro18]

They're just using the BITE model now to craft their talking points... not even trying to hide it anymore.

[wtfluff]

3) Stay on the covenant path - self-assess how you are doing, repent and come back on it.

The "covenant path"...

Do they really think these stupid little catch-phrases and buzzwords actually accomplish anything?

Seriously, how much of their billions are they paying some marketing schmuck to come up with this idiocy?

[Thoughtful]

I just grounded my 13yo from social media and it's been very healthy for her. Actually I see social media as a contributor to a lot of problems and getting kids off it is probably good, even for a week.

The cynical side wonders what news will break this week, if they want everyone off social media....yanno?

Giving up something for 30 days? Stop telling people to sacrifice for sacrifice sake. Allow people to love what they love and feel good about living! Geez.

[MoPag]

The cynical side wonders what news will break this week, if they want everyone off social media....yanno?

Probably russ snaking on something during the prayer!!!

https://www.reddit.com/r/exmormon/comme ... uring_the/

[Reuben]

The cynical side wonders what news will break this week, if they want everyone off social media....yanno?

Just Utah Pride Week.

It could be a coincidence. But it occurs to me that the social media fast is one of the few things that doesn't seem even tangentially connected to gathering Israel. But on the other hand, President Nelson told the youth to choose when to start. But on the third hand, he had to know that the most valiant youth would choose to start immediately.

I think it's very classy that he's asking the youth to do something that will give those in Utah extra time to participate in Pride Week. It shows how much he loves the gays.

[Not Buying It]

Oh, I watched it with Sister M and one of my kids. I can sum it up like this - we didn't talk about it afterwards. It was...interesting.

Basically, he called the youth "the lord's youth battalion" and told them to take a larger role in the gathering of Israel. It was kinda creepy how he tried to tell them how exciting it was, and that it should mean EVERYTHING to them, this gathering. Basically told them to do five things to help in the work:

1) Do a seven day social media fast.
2) Sacrifice something you like for 30 days to participate in the gathering of Israel.
3) Stay on the covenant path - self-assess how you are doing, repent and come back on it.
4) Pray that the gathering of Israel will accelerate.
5) Stand out and be a light - be an example.

The major challenge I had with it is the amount of pressure this puts on the kids - and the virtue signalling that will go along with all of this. Luckily my kid has a good head on her shoulders and won't stress about being in the lord's battalion, she'll just kinda go along. But I really feel about how some YM/YW leaders are going to interpret this, and how many activities are going to be geared to this purpose, and the kids are going to hate life. Jeez. I know they're losing kids but the boatload, but just letting them be kids seems like the better course of action to me.

Don't think this is going to work.

Well that's weird. I really can't think of any other word to describe it.

[Red Ryder]

The prophet said jump.
The members jumped!

The thinkers said, huh? What? Why?

My kid said, "what's Israel?"

[wtfluff]

My kid said, "what's Israel?"

OK, that's one of the most awesome things I've heard in a while.

Proud dad moment if I've ever seen one.

[shadow]

3) Stay on the covenant path - self-assess how you are doing, repent and come back on it.

The "covenant path"...

Do they really think these stupid little catch-phrases and buzzwords actually accomplish anything?

Seriously, how much of their billions are they paying some marketing schmuck to come up with this idiocy?

Nelson has been on a gathering Israel/abrahamic covenant kick forever. He gave a talk with the same themes to my mission decades ago. The gathering of Israel will be how he frames all of his actions.

[wtfluff]

3) Stay on the covenant path - self-assess how you are doing, repent and come back on it.

The "covenant path"...

Do they really think these stupid little catch-phrases and buzzwords actually accomplish anything?

Seriously, how much of their billions are they paying some marketing schmuck to come up with this idiocy?

Nelson has been on a gathering Israel/abrahamic covenant kick forever. He gave a talk with the same themes to my mission decades ago. The gathering of Israel will be how he frames all of his actions.

Do you (or anyone else) know how "Staying on the covenant path" actually helps "gather Israel"?

While we're at it, someone please explain to me what the "covenant path" is?

[GoodBoy]

Lots of evidence to show that sacrificing for something increases your devotion to that thing. Fasting during the entire month of Ramadan increases devotion to Islam. Selling all of your property and waiting for a missed second coming of Christ increases your devotion even though Christ didn't come... So President Nelson's asking them to sacrifice is actually a smart thing to do.

[Red Ryder]

While we're at it, someone please explain to me what the "covenant path" is?

It's the name of the boat the members are supposed to stay in!

[foolmeonce]

Dang it. Now I won't be sufficiently spiritually prepared to build my wagon and head to independence.

Should have held out longer.

[nibbler]

I interpret staying on the covenant path as members checking all the cultural check-boxes.

Stay active and be obedient enough to get baptized.
Stay active and be obedient enough to receive the age appropriate PH offices.
Stay active and be obedient enough to serve a mission.
Stay active and be obedient enough to receive your endowments.
Stay active and be obedient enough to get sealed in the temple.
Stay active and be obedient enough to raise prosperity to do the same.

You're making covenants as a part of ticking some of the boxes, hence covenant path. And you can't go inactive, which many youth are doing, if you are staying on the covenant path. As if doing nothing more than telling people not to leave will convince them to stay?

One of my main issues, and the church does this top to bottom, is how the goals like staying off of social media, doing the 30 day thing, etc. don't come from the person, they come from the leaders. That's just how the church operates though. You don't set goals for yourself so much as the church sets the goal for you. Maybe the thought process is that people wont set goals for themselves if left to their own devices so we have to come along and set specific goals for people.

Maybe this is the result of church leaders setting goals rather than the individual but more often than not the goals predominantly benefit the church. Hand out a for strength of youth booklet to a non-member, gather Israel for 30 days, etc. Pretty obvious how that helps the church. How does it help the individual?

Also, how does heaping tasks on the youth make them want to remain active into adulthood? Pushing goals that are self serving busy work doesn't make the church a fun place people want to be. At least it doesn't for me. It would probably help the church retain people if we put in minimal effort into making the experience better... or just laid off on all the attempts at sucking the fun out of the room.

The fireside also saw a return of the chosen and super special generation reserved for the last days language. You'd think that Jesus was coming back any day now, what with the world as wicked as it is. The fireside reinforced the us vs. them mindset and left the youth with several new goals that they will be constantly measured against in coming months.

[nibbler]

The cynical side wonders what news will break this week, if they want everyone off social media....yanno?

Just Utah Pride Week.

Makes you wonder.

Usually when the church wants the youth to be member missionaries (which was the overall theme of the event) they tell them to flood social media with Mormony things.