tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2822536793429561090.post8322540516528383866..comments2022-12-11T03:06:12.765-07:00Comments on with a Z...: Response Memo... Linze Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02582872576098960151noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2822536793429561090.post-63478213749691404042012-12-12T19:43:23.026-07:002012-12-12T19:43:23.026-07:00I read that article you posted on fb this afternoo...I read that article you posted on fb this afternoon-- and honestly-- it made me really sad. I've sat through church when it was fulfilling and moving, and deeply enriching and also, when I felt judged, that I didn't belong, and bored.<br />You know what the difference was? Me.<br />When I take the time to read my scriptures during the week, to have meaningful prayer, to begin my Sabbath with purpose and go to church with a full and repentant heart-- the difference is night and day-- church is 300% more amazing. The description of being filled isn't adequate enough. It's like my cup runneth over, maybe at least like 4 times over.<br /><br />You know what I think is hard for American LDS congregations today? I think our services are the only time in a given week when we aren't being saturated by media, and when the pace isn't dictated by the information retrieval around you. And I think they're supposed to work that way. There's great things that come with technology, but one of the not so great ones is the constant intrusion that literally disrupts deep strains of thought and feeling over and over. It's like our generation never gets past the shallow depths of emotion and thought, because it's constantly being replaced with something new. Going to church and being truly present is anachronistic. And I don't think we need to apologize-- I think we need to man up. The spirit is there waiting for us, if we can shut off, put down the phone and be accepting of its invitations.<br /><br />(Though, I think we could use a little music education and public speaking communication too. Though, one of my BYU wards told us that we were expected to learn to direct music and speak appropriately in church and taught us those things. So, there's some education going on somewhere.)jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00227192851641650190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2822536793429561090.post-49853527491276386702012-12-12T19:42:54.128-07:002012-12-12T19:42:54.128-07:00I read that article you posted on fb this afternoo...I read that article you posted on fb this afternoon-- and honestly-- it made me really sad. I've sat through church when it was fulfilling and moving, and deeply enriching and also, when I felt judged, that I didn't belong, and bored.<br />You know what the difference was? Me.<br />When I take the time to read my scriptures during the week, to have meaningful prayer, to begin my Sabbath with purpose and go to church with a full and repentant heart-- the difference is night and day-- church is 300% more amazing. The description of being filled isn't adequate enough. It's like my cup runneth over, maybe at least like 4 times over.<br /><br />You know what I think is hard for American LDS congregations today? I think our services are the only time in a given week when we aren't being saturated by media, and when the pace isn't dictated by the information retrieval around you. And I think they're supposed to work that way. There's great things that come with technology, but one of the not so great ones is the constant intrusion that literally disrupts deep strains of thought and feeling over and over. It's like our generation never gets past the shallow depths of emotion and thought, because it's constantly being replaced with something new. Going to church and being truly present is anachronistic. And I don't think we need to apologize-- I think we need to man up. The spirit is there waiting for us, if we can shut off, put down the phone and be accepting of its invitations.<br /><br />(Though, I think we could use a little music education and public speaking communication too. Though, one of my BYU wards told us that we were expected to learn to direct music and speak appropriately in church and taught us those things. So, there's some education going on somewhere.)<br />jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00227192851641650190noreply@blogger.com