Sacrament Meeting Shooting
Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2018 3:25 pm
In case any of you missed it, on Sunday July 22 a man walked into Sacrament Meeting after the Sacrament and killed a man. The man he killed was his home teacher/ministering brother. He then left and went home. He was arrested and is being arraigned.
This man is apparently newish convert, and according to different articles suffered with mental illness and drug problems. It seems at least around me that the only people the missionaries are finding are of the same sort. The missionaries are trying hard to find people to teach and the only people home during the day that will talk to them are those that seem to fit this profile. We have had the investigator that brought her yippy little dog to church because she could go outside with out the animal. The investigator that would suddenly start mumbling to themselves and rocking back and forth. A number of individuals strung out on various pharmaceuticals. In some of these cases the church might be able to make a difference if they provided services to these people, but since the missionaries are 19 years old, and the bishop is an accountant, there just aren't the resources available. Bringing people with sketchy backgrounds to church has always been seen as a great missionary opportunity, but is there some danger from this practice? What is the answer?
If we listen to general conference these people will change and become the next bishop, but it seems that the reality if far from that. They usually end up being a drain on the ward and in some cases even more. There was a case in my stake a few years ago where a convert was taken in by a family and fellowshipped, but ended up robbing their house. At what point do the members say enough?
Just wondering to myself.
Also this ward where the shooting took place has had a tough time over the past 5 years or so. They had a ward service project about 5 years ago cutting down some trees, and one fell on the bishop, sending him to ICU where he eventually passed away from the injuries.
This man is apparently newish convert, and according to different articles suffered with mental illness and drug problems. It seems at least around me that the only people the missionaries are finding are of the same sort. The missionaries are trying hard to find people to teach and the only people home during the day that will talk to them are those that seem to fit this profile. We have had the investigator that brought her yippy little dog to church because she could go outside with out the animal. The investigator that would suddenly start mumbling to themselves and rocking back and forth. A number of individuals strung out on various pharmaceuticals. In some of these cases the church might be able to make a difference if they provided services to these people, but since the missionaries are 19 years old, and the bishop is an accountant, there just aren't the resources available. Bringing people with sketchy backgrounds to church has always been seen as a great missionary opportunity, but is there some danger from this practice? What is the answer?
If we listen to general conference these people will change and become the next bishop, but it seems that the reality if far from that. They usually end up being a drain on the ward and in some cases even more. There was a case in my stake a few years ago where a convert was taken in by a family and fellowshipped, but ended up robbing their house. At what point do the members say enough?
Just wondering to myself.
Also this ward where the shooting took place has had a tough time over the past 5 years or so. They had a ward service project about 5 years ago cutting down some trees, and one fell on the bishop, sending him to ICU where he eventually passed away from the injuries.