Rumors?

[Rob4Hope]

I've got a friend in MoTab. He says there is a big rumor circulating that BIG CHANGES are coming to the visiting/home teaching programs. That is the BUZZ happening in lots of places.

This friend also works in the LDS tech center in Riverton (or wherever it is out there)....

Any other rumors circulating about pending changes?.....that have at least some possible source that is not prepper?

[Red Ryder]

Two hour block!

SM = 40 minutes
SS = 40 minutes
3H = 40 minutes

Sunday school stays, everything is shortened to 40 minutes for a total of 2 hours.

All the talk about keeping the sabbath day holy is in preparation of losing that 1 hour of church.

Operating costs go down, member morale goes up, everyone wins!

[wtfluff]

Any time I hear rumors about stuff LDS-Inc. has planned that might benefit my believing family members, or even me, any hopes that I have get blown to oblivion.

That was just a long explanation of saying: I wouldn't get my hopes up.

[Hagoth]

Don't forget, there's a difference between changes and changes for the better.

[Thoughtful]

They just announced a change to girls camp enabling camp to be held in chapels or backyards, with no certification, and the YW taking more responsibility. Sounds like a way to cut $ to me.

[Red Ryder]

I heard Joseph Smith was in the barn with Fanny Alger last week.

Probably just a rumor though.

[Rob4Hope]

I heard Joseph Smith was in the barn with Fanny Alger last week.

Probably just a rumor though.

I've been listening to the Lindsay Hansen-Park "Year of Polygamy" podcasts when I can. The episode on Fanny was interesting. There is a debate about whether she was a wife or not (if I remember what Lindsay said correctly).

Who knows what to believe about half of this stuff....
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I will try to find more details out about this one. But (speaking for myself), Its fun to kind of delve into some of these things. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if there is something going to happen in this regard.

Is the church currently involved in any law-suits out there that are big ones? Does anyone have any speculation of policy items coming down that may be related to shoring up legal justification for anything out there?

[Rob4Hope]

Any time I hear rumors about stuff LDS-Inc. has planned that might benefit my believing family members, or even me, any hopes that I have get blown to oblivion.

That was just a long explanation of saying: I wouldn't get my hopes up.

What they do doesn't affect me at all, so I have no hopes with regards to the church in the first place. The shelve has fallen, and it ain't going back up. The church failed me. I no longer look to them for anything other than interest (like a hobby) ((((OH CRAP!...I HAVE A RELIGIOUS HOBBY!?...I'm going to hell. Oh wait,...I already knew that...the church already told me that))) <<sigh>>

OK, back on topic. (I'm laughing over here)...

Something RFM said out there on his podcast related to the church recruitment numbers flatlining DOES provide a contextual framework to understand policy changes. This 18 year old policy for missionaries, the policy of putting these young people on a goal system when they get home from their missions--it all speaks to 'retention'. The church is losing this generation, and they are freaking out about it.

It because of this development that the changes become interesting to me. I wonder what the 'think tank' will do next?...what policy will they come up with now to fiddle with things in an attempt to keep people IN THE BOAT?

So yeh...I like the rumors.

You see, this guy is a FULL ON TBM! He is a long time MoTab member and works FOR THE CHURCH. The rumors he has also show an anxiety that he doesn't understand -- because I am pretty sure this guy is not aware of the numbers game the leadership is struggling with -- that speak to what is going on in the TBM circles.

What would have lead this guy to think there is an overhaul coming with regards to the home/visiting teaching program?

Everyone who is in the church in the Utah corridor knows that in a general way, the home-teaching program is a complete failure. There are pockets of success out there--I know that; but generally, the program is a failure. It certainly has been in the 5 stakes I've been in.

[alas]

They just announced a change to girls camp enabling camp to be held in chapels or backyards, with no certification, and the YW taking more responsibility. Sounds like a way to cut $ to me.

Girls camp in a backyard????? Or in the chapel? Nope they can't do it in the chapel because they already made that against rules because of liability for sleepovers in the building. So, what they mean is that the girls all sleep over at Br and Sister X house, then mosey over to the chapel/cultural hall for activities and devotional/testimony baring. That way, there is no liability for transporting the girls to far away interesting places. No liability for what happens with the sleeping arrangements because volunteer loophole and bro & sis X are taking all that risk on themselves. And all they are liable for is what is happening at the church building, which is pretty much the standard liability for church meetings.

That would save a lot of time and money for the YW leaders and lots of liability risk for the church.

But, talk about making the difference in the fun stuff the boys get to do, compared to the lame stuff the girls do even lamer. The boys get high adventure camping through scouts and the girls get a back yard sleepover. The boy do scuba and rock climbing and white water river rafting and the girls get to go to church for another lecture on modesty and to put together some cheap craft in the cultural hall (no paint, no glue, nothing that could damage the cultural hall)

So, they are doing all they can and grasping at straws to keep the YM in the church, meanwhile they continue to treat the YW like 4 year olds. [s]Yup, gonna keep the YW active. This is such a terrific idea.[/s] Where the YW go, the YM go.

My only active child is my son, who was kept active by.....yup a girl he had a thing for. Went on a mission to live up to her expectations. My girls were both out before they got out of HS, and after maybe one Mormon guy who treated them like sh**, carefully dated nonmembers.

[wtfluff]

What would have lead this guy to think there is an overhaul coming with regards to the home/visiting teaching program?

I, like you, am well-acquainted with current LDS-Inc. employees, and I also know someone very well who is a former employee of LDS-Inc. Rumors are still rumors, whether the come from the inside or the outside, and the rumors are constant, both inside and outside. Rumors always pop up in more abundance as General Conference approaches. The vast majority of rumors are just that: Rumors that never come to pass.

Everyone who is in the church in the Utah corridor knows that in a general way, the home-teaching program is a complete failure. There are pockets of success out there--I know that; but generally, the program is a failure. It certainly has been in the 5 stakes I've been in.

The "program" has been broken all over the world FOREVER. It my have been a fairly decent idea in the agricultural age when people lived miles and miles apart, but in today's society, I think it's completely useless to assign friends. Another useless opinion of mine: In reality, the "program" has next-to-nothing to do with fellowship, community or retention; It's just one more guilt-trip that the church uses to beat it's followers into submission. Again: I won't get my hopes up that they'll make any changes whatsoever that will allow LDS-Inc. to lessen their ability to heap guilt on their followers. Guilt really is one of their most powerful tools to keep believers in their believing bubble.

[2bizE]

I've got a friend in MoTab. He says there is a big rumor circulating that BIG CHANGES are coming to the visiting/home teaching programs. That is the BUZZ happening in lots of places.

This friend also works in the LDS tech center in Riverton (or wherever it is out there)....

Any other rumors circulating about pending changes?.....that have at least some possible source that is not prepper?

They are now going to make 100% completion mandatory for TR.

[Rob4Hope]

I've got a friend in MoTab. He says there is a big rumor circulating that BIG CHANGES are coming to the visiting/home teaching programs. That is the BUZZ happening in lots of places.

This friend also works in the LDS tech center in Riverton (or wherever it is out there)....

Any other rumors circulating about pending changes?.....that have at least some possible source that is not prepper?

They are now going to make 100% completion mandatory for TR.

I smiled when I read that.

On a more serious note, I have an aged relative. This person is now in a care-center. His HT hasn't come in the past 5 months that I am aware of. Its a joke. Too bad.

[Rob4Hope]

You guys are all saying to treat rumors as rumors, and not speculate on it.

AHHHH.....where is the fun in that!?

OK...ok....ok....

drats!

[Rob4Hope]

You are all gunna eat humble pie when the whole HT/VT program is overhauled this coming conference,...and I was RIGHT ALL ALONG!

Remember THAT!!!!!

And if they don't do it?....well, it was just a rumor anyway.

[Thoughtful]

Why would MoTab have a special inside track?

[Random]

I thought they already overhauled VT with the new "lessons" that are not lessons at all. Essentially, you say anything you want to. What else could they do to it?

Beginning January 2018, changes to the monthly visiting teaching message will help sisters “minister” to each other in a more personal way.
 Rather than providing a specific message, each month a “Visiting Teaching Principle” will provide ideas to help sisters minister more effectively to each other.

. . . .

The new format will encourage women in the Church to stop worrying about “what counts” for visiting teaching and will share ideas to help visiting teachers focus on strengthening each woman they visit.

“Since each one of us is unique, each sister will need something different,” Sister Bingham said. “In [Handbook 2], it says ‘phone calls, letters, email, or other means to watch over and strengthen sisters’ are appropriate ways to find out their needs and help them. That’s the focus—we want to make sure that we are strengthening sisters in the gospel and each sister feels valued, needed, and included.”

Effective visiting teaching can be as simple as listening with love, as Sister Reyna I. Aburto, Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, noted. “About two weeks after I was sustained in my calling, I went to the home of one of the sisters I visit. As she opened the door, she gave me a big hug, and asked me how I was doing. Feeling the sincerity of her question and her love for me, I broke down in tears as I shared how inadequate I felt. She allowed me to cry on her shoulder and lovingly listened to me as I let out the emotions that I had been holding inside. I came to see how I could strengthen her, but she strengthened me.”

“We want sisters to have that same understanding,” Sister Bingham said. “Visiting teaching is genuine caring; it is compassionate service. It is making the bishop and the Relief Society president aware of the needs of the sisters that they visit.”

Recognizing that a spiritual message is important, Sister Bingham said visiting teachers should look for messages catered to the women that they visit.

“It can be [a quote] from the First Presidency, it could be from something you read in your scriptures, it can be something that you know this particular sister has an interest in,” she said. “It should be for that sister. What does she need?”
https://www.lds.org/church/news/learnin ... g?lang=eng

[Rob4Hope]

Why would MoTab have a special inside track?

I don't want to reveal more. There is a connection that goes beyond this. There is a source of information, and I am not gunna reveal more because I don't want to get anyone in trouble when LDS.inc reads this post.

Its a rumor. Nothing more.

Good thing there are places like Mormon Leaks that post things. And good thing there isn't anyone on the inside that ever leaks stuff either...

OOPS. sometimes there is.

[Rob4Hope]

I got more info. It appears it involves the singles mostly. But may spill over into other groups. The impetus is to remove the VT/HT and replace it with a Family Teaching program. Husband/Wife teams will be authorized to visit.

Perhaps there is a logistic change being suggested as well with how they report these things. We know the church is all about keeping up on its numbers....right?

Now that I have more details, it seems lame. Most wards in the area already do things like that....they are just thinking about making it more formal. Will see how it pans out and if there is any truth.

I've got one source that says something like this may have been piloted in Arizona? Don't know for sure. That may be "rumor" as well. But, its been fun to speculate anyway.

[2bizE]

Rumors are the basis of all things Mormon. There is a rumor for everything, which is appealing.

[moksha]

The episode on Fanny was interesting. There is a debate about whether she was a wife or not (if I remember what Lindsay said correctly).

So when Emma caught Joseph and Fanny in the haystack going at it, they may or may not have just performed a pantomime routine of a marriage ceremony?