NOM

I've decided not to post on Sunday, at least during tonight's episode of Victoria on Masterpiece, as seen on PBS.

S2 Ep5 Entente Cordiale, 8:00 - 9:00p, (1/28) The Queen attempts to deal with foreign relations by taking the royal court on a trip to France, where she goes toe to toe with Louis Philippe, king of the French.

Do any of you have special sacred cows on Sunday?

moksha wrote: ↑Sun Jan 28, 2018 4:14 pm S2 Ep5 Entente Cordiale, 8:00 - 9:00p, (1/28) The Queen attempts to deal with foreign relations by taking the royal court on a trip to France, where she goes toe to toe with Louis Philippe, king of the French.

Oh, la la! Prenez garde a vous, Victoire!

Usually my family and I binge watch something together in the evening so I try to stay off social media. Lately that has been Longmire.

This topic is very appropriate after the fourth Sunday lesson on the Sabbath. Our teacher, who is a bit on the slow side, thought it was a good idea to commit everyone in the EQ to keep Sunday holier than thou. He suggested no computer or video games among others.

Evil_Bert wrote: ↑Mon Jan 29, 2018 12:22 am He suggested no computer or video games among others.

That sounds a bit like heresy, does it not? Leaving the Commonwealth unguarded from marauding Super Mutants and Deathclaws seems unwise.

Evil_Bert wrote: ↑Mon Jan 29, 2018 12:22 am He suggested no computer or video games among others.

Has he suggested laying off NFL playoff games or the Super Bowl next Sunday? I would be interested knowing how a devout Eagles or Patriots fan will be dealing with the temptation of Sabbath Day observance next weekend.

Admittedly, I would avoid computer games before my apostasy. That was one of the first things back on the menu after a faith transition.

Corsair wrote: ↑Mon Jan 29, 2018 8:59 am

Evil_Bert wrote: ↑Mon Jan 29, 2018 12:22 am He suggested no computer or video games among others.

Has he suggested laying off NFL playoff games or the Super Bowl next Sunday? I would be interested knowing how a devout Eagles or Patriots fan will be dealing with the temptation of Sabbath Day observance next weekend.

Abrahamic trial.

Evil_Bert wrote: ↑Mon Jan 29, 2018 12:22 amThis topic is very appropriate after the fourth Sunday lesson on the Sabbath. Our teacher, who is a bit on the slow side, thought it was a good idea to commit everyone in the EQ to keep Sunday holier than thou. He suggested no computer or video games among others.

I'm fascinated by the smorgasbord of sabbath day observance within the church. I have known devout members who go out for dinner every Sunday and consider it merely "bending" the sabbath. On the other hand, I had an EQ instructor who said he had to stop his weekly ritual of cooking Sunday dinner for the family because he caught himself enjoying it and needed to repent (I always wonder if that meant dumping it back on his wife because she considered it appropriate sabbath drudgery). Some members see vacations as a get-out-of-church-free card and others will only vacation in places where they're certain they can find a Mormon congregation. I was on a camping trip with some friends who, when they realized the nearest ward was closed for business because stake conference, cancelled the rest of the trip, pulled up tent pegs and took off frantically looking for another sacrament meeting. There are no-TV families vs. Sunday-is-family-movie-night families, causal wear families vs. all-day-church-clothes families, visit-friends-and-relatives families vs. lock-'em-up families, and so many other permutations. What they all seem to have in common is a sense that they're doing it right juxtaposed with guilt that they're still not doing it well enough.

Hagoth wrote:

Evil_Bert wrote: ↑Mon Jan 29, 2018 12:22 amThis topic is very appropriate after the fourth Sunday lesson on the Sabbath. Our teacher, who is a bit on the slow side, thought it was a good idea to commit everyone in the EQ to keep Sunday holier than thou. He suggested no computer or video games among others.

I'm fascinated by the smorgasbord of sabbath day observance within the church. I have known devout members who go out for dinner every Sunday and consider it merely "bending" the sabbath. On the other hand, I had an EQ instructor who said he had to stop his weekly ritual of cooking Sunday dinner for the family because he caught himself enjoying it and needed to repent (I always wonder if that meant dumping it back on his wife because she considered it appropriate sabbath drudgery). Some members see vacations as a get-out-of-church-free card and others will only vacation in places where they're certain they can find a Mormon congregation. I was on a camping trip with some friends who, when they realized the nearest ward was closed for business because stake conference, cancelled the rest of the trip, pulled up tent pegs and took off frantically looking for another sacrament meeting. There are no-TV families vs. Sunday-is-family-movie-night families, causal wear families vs. all-day-church-clothes families, visit-friends-and-relatives families vs. lock-'em-up families, and so many other permutations. What they all seem to have in common is a sense that they're doing it right juxtaposed with guilt that they're still not doing it well enough.

And don't forget the ritual judging of other families who slack off on their arbitrary rules.

Hagoth wrote: ↑Tue Jan 30, 2018 7:42 amWhat they all seem to have in common is a sense that they're doing it right juxtaposed with guilt that they're still not doing it well enough.

And, there you have it: The entirety of Mormonism in a nutshell.

Here's the crap we got in email form from the EQP to prepare for the lesson on Sunday. I'm determined to continue skipping EQ indefinitely.

Good Evening! I hope you all are having a wonderful week.This Sunday’s lesson will be on keeping the Sabbath Day holy. We encourage each of you to come prepared to be enriched by the Spirit and gain personal insight on how to enjoy all the wonderful blessings that come from keeping the Sabbath Day holy. Some questions to consider before Quorum:

What is the Sabbath Day?

What blessings come from it?

What activities can we do during the
Sabbath in order to have the Spirit?

Is it an important commandment?

Can you do service on the Sabbath?

Is it lawful to purchase on the Sabbath if thy wife is pregnant?

Ok....maybe disregard that last one haha!

Just a friendly reminder, it’s getting close to the end of the month, so try to squeeze in those hometeaching assignments in. It’s a wonderful way to serve others and help spread joy within the Gospel. Not only does it benefit others, but it mostly benefits you. The joy that comes from serving others is something that will bless you throughout the week. Please report any visits you’ve done this month to your district leaders. If you have any questions, feel free to contact any member of the Elders Quorum.

And here's the RS schedule through April.

Are they really going to be endlessly talking about the Sabbath day?

This weeks topic for discussion:
1/28- The Sabbath Day

We also have provided the links for the next several Sunday topics so you can come prepared to participate in each weeks lesson and discussion.

2/4- 1st Sunday Council Meeting —Event Planning
2/11- Exceeding Great and Precious Promises by David Bednar
2/18- Be Ye Therefore Perfect...Eventually by Jeffrey R Holland
2/25- The Sabbath Day

3/4- Stake Conference
3/11- Value Beyond Measure by Joy D. Jones
3/18- Turn to the Lord W. Christopher Waddell
3/25- The Sabbath Day

4/1- General Conference
4/8- By Divine Design by Elder Rasband
4/15- Fear Not to do Good by Henry B Eyring
4/22- The Sabbath Day
4/29- 5th Sunday- Bishopric Lesson

This thread makes me appreciate teaching Sunbeams.

Red Ryder wrote: ↑Tue Jan 30, 2018 10:03 am And here's the RS schedule through April.

Are they really going to be endlessly talking about the Sabbath day?

[Sabbath Lessons Galore, like the Bond girl]

I don't get. Sabbath observance seems so tangential to anything Christian, Mormon, or any moral code. Why are they quadrupling down on Sabbath observance? An obedience test? So TBMs can better identify each other?

Linked wrote:This thread makes me appreciate teaching Sunbeams.

Red Ryder wrote: ↑Tue Jan 30, 2018 10:03 am And here's the RS schedule through April.

Are they really going to be endlessly talking about the Sabbath day?

[Sabbath Lessons Galore, like the Bond girl]

I don't get. Sabbath observance seems so tangential to anything Christian, Mormon, or any moral code. Why are they quadrupling down on Sabbath observance? An obedience test? So TBMs can better identify each other?

My theory is they see it as the essential glue that keeps TBMs in check. If the sabbath is observed and church attended, then all the cultural milieu control is in place. Someone keeping arbitrary rules weekly is more likely to have the mindset of keeping ALL the rules.

This whole "Sabbath Day Observance" focus is a joke. It just tells me that the powers-that-be at the top are completely clueless. They seem to think that getting people to jump trough "Sabbath Day" hoops will stop the exodus.

News Flash: People are not leaving because of their lack of "Sabbath Day Observance". People are leaving because "The Church" and the powers-that-be are dishonest, because the church is not what it claims to be, and never was from the beginning.


(Hi COB/SCMC lurkers. Go tell your bosses that they are clueless. )

Hagoth wrote: ↑Tue Jan 30, 2018 7:42 am On the other hand, I had an EQ instructor who said he had to stop his weekly ritual of cooking Sunday dinner for the family because he caught himself enjoying it and needed to repent (I always wonder if that meant dumping it back on his wife because she considered it appropriate sabbath drudgery).

Because everyone knows that Sunday is supposed to be a drudgery and one is not to take joy in service on that day. Frankly even as a TBM I would have called the man an idiot.

wtfluff wrote: ↑Tue Jan 30, 2018 2:50 pm (Hi COB/SCMC lurkers. Go tell your bosses that they are clueless. )

Please tell me this is not somebody's actual job. If you are reading this because you work for the church and this is your job, for the sake of your sanity go polish up the old resume and get a job that is more fulfilling and rewarding.

slavereeno wrote: ↑Tue Jan 30, 2018 3:12 pm

wtfluff wrote: ↑Tue Jan 30, 2018 2:50 pm(Hi COB/SCMC lurkers. Go tell your bosses that they are clueless. )

Please tell me this is not somebody's actual job. If you are reading this because you work for the church and this is your job, for the sake of your sanity go polish up the old resume and get a job that is more fulfilling and rewarding.

Maybe someone will come out of lurk-mode and let us know if it their actual job, or a fun(?) hobby!

wtfluff wrote: ↑Tue Jan 30, 2018 2:50 pm This whole "Sabbath Day Observance" focus is a joke. It just tells me that the powers-that-be at the top are completely clueless. They seem to think that getting people to jump trough "Sabbath Day" hoops will stop the exodus.

It appears to be further step in the emerging pattern that this is a church that wants you to worship the church itself; The Church of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. God and Jesus are required necessities of keeping it all inside the envelope of religion, but too often they seem to get lip service while the true objects of worship are the components of the institution: the church itself, it's leaders, temples, Sabbath observance, taking the sacrament, paying tithing, etc. Even our code of health isn't about health. Apart from tobacco most of the things it prohibits are actually healthy. These devotions are all about service to the organization and in-group signalling. The lesson material is becoming less scriptural and more circular with a focus on leaders who spend most of their time quoting each other. When they use the word "commandments" they are talking about obedience to the current leaders of the church. When they talk about what God wants/needs you to do they are talking about what the church wants/needs you to do. Sometimes I feel like Jesus is primarily a convenient marketing hook in this brand of Christianity.

For me a nap in a sacred, and of course Sunday night whoopy

Since DW and I stopped going to church, we discovered Sunday brunch. Basically now we do what most of Christianity does. A lot of the local eateries will do up special brunch menues, so it is a good way to try new foods and eating establishments.

So while the Mormons struggle to stay awake in Sunday School, DW and I are enjoying a good meal with the kids.