Comments on: A New Mission: Caring for the Poor and the Needy. http://www.faithpromotingrumor.com/2009/12/a-new-mission-caring-and-the-poor-and-the-needy/ exploring Mormon thought, culture, and texts Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:39:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Jim Christensen http://www.faithpromotingrumor.com/2009/12/a-new-mission-caring-and-the-poor-and-the-needy/#comment-52087 Jim Christensen Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:25:25 +0000 http://www.faithpromotingrumor.com/?p=2536#comment-52087 A matter of semantics; sometimes I hear members say "self-sufficient," rather that "self-reliant, "which denotes to me someone who says he needs no one. That mindset causes an individual to become contribution-resistant, even when sharing work, food, testimony, etc. would be beneficial. I believe that the term "self-reliant" provides an individual the confidence to do what he can, ask for help, provide help within his abilities, etc. - to me, it connotes a proactive mindset. When coupled with insight, courtesy, charity and the spirit, I believe miracles can happen. We live in the mission field - a district located in the largest and most financially-depressed county in the great state of New York, and are beginning to deal with these issues. We're a three hour drive from a Bishop's storehouse, eight hour drive from LDS Social Services and only two hours away (and a passport) from the nearest Temple. We don't hear a lot of Faith-promoting rumors out here (unless we make them up) and I look forward to hearing what the Brethren say in the next conference; in the meantime, we're working to to get our members employed, solvent and stable. Thanks for hearing me today! A matter of semantics; sometimes I hear members say “self-sufficient,” rather that “self-reliant, “which denotes to me someone who says he needs no one. That mindset causes an individual to become contribution-resistant, even when sharing work, food, testimony, etc. would be beneficial. I believe that the term “self-reliant” provides an individual the confidence to do what he can, ask for help, provide help within his abilities, etc. – to me, it connotes a proactive mindset. When coupled with insight, courtesy, charity and the spirit, I believe miracles can happen.

We live in the mission field – a district located in the largest and most financially-depressed county in the great state of New York, and are beginning to deal with these issues. We’re a three hour drive from a Bishop’s storehouse, eight hour drive from LDS Social Services and only two hours away (and a passport) from the nearest Temple. We don’t hear a lot of Faith-promoting rumors out here (unless we make them up) and I look forward to hearing what the Brethren say in the next conference; in the meantime, we’re working to to get our members employed, solvent and stable.

Thanks for hearing me today!

]]> By: Ardis Parshall http://www.faithpromotingrumor.com/2009/12/a-new-mission-caring-and-the-poor-and-the-needy/#comment-28684 Ardis Parshall Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:13:23 +0000 http://www.faithpromotingrumor.com/?p=2536#comment-28684 I've just posted -- it may take a few more minutes to show up -- on the origin of the delineation of the church's mission. I linked back here, of course. I’ve just posted — it may take a few more minutes to show up — on the origin of the delineation of the church’s mission. I linked back here, of course.

]]> By: Chris Henrichsen http://www.faithpromotingrumor.com/2009/12/a-new-mission-caring-and-the-poor-and-the-needy/#comment-28682 Chris Henrichsen Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:04:14 +0000 http://www.faithpromotingrumor.com/?p=2536#comment-28682 Thanks Christopher. I saw that earlier today. Maybe David G should learn to not question my ability to discern between sources. :) Thanks Christopher. I saw that earlier today.

Maybe David G should learn to not question my ability to discern between sources. :)

]]> By: Christopher http://www.faithpromotingrumor.com/2009/12/a-new-mission-caring-and-the-poor-and-the-needy/#comment-28678 Christopher Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:37:40 +0000 http://www.faithpromotingrumor.com/?p=2536#comment-28678 Looks like this is official: http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_13965607 Looks like this is official: http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_13965607

]]> By: TStevens http://www.faithpromotingrumor.com/2009/12/a-new-mission-caring-and-the-poor-and-the-needy/#comment-28447 TStevens Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:54:27 +0000 http://www.faithpromotingrumor.com/?p=2536#comment-28447 Three Sundays ago our HC and the second counselor in the SP were visiting. The Stake Presidency had just had their training with the regional GA and the newly phrased mission of the church was shared. He shared it with us in PEC and then the ward as a whole. It does indeed refer to the care of the poor and needy now. I do have a copy of it at home and I will put it here later tonight if I remember. Three Sundays ago our HC and the second counselor in the SP were visiting. The Stake Presidency had just had their training with the regional GA and the newly phrased mission of the church was shared. He shared it with us in PEC and then the ward as a whole. It does indeed refer to the care of the poor and needy now. I do have a copy of it at home and I will put it here later tonight if I remember.

]]> By: DavidH http://www.faithpromotingrumor.com/2009/12/a-new-mission-caring-and-the-poor-and-the-needy/#comment-28234 DavidH Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:25:18 +0000 http://www.faithpromotingrumor.com/?p=2536#comment-28234 In the old, old days, the focus for the elders quorum was welfare, for the seventies groups it was missionary work, and for the high priests it was temple work/genealogy. I recall when President Kimball announced three missions of the Church how puzzled some of us were about precisely how welfare fit in--most of us concluded it must be a subset of perfecting the Saints. It certainly struck me as a significant de-emphasis, at least in rhetoric, about welfare. Later, the mission of the Church was rearticulated as bringing people to Christ, with three aspects (a Mormon trinitarian view--one mission in three aspects). Given the emphasis that Jesus, the Old Testament prophets, and Restoration scripture, all place on caring for the poor and needy, I would rejoice at a re-articulation and re-focus on that as a primary purpose of the Church. In the old, old days, the focus for the elders quorum was welfare, for the seventies groups it was missionary work, and for the high priests it was temple work/genealogy.

I recall when President Kimball announced three missions of the Church how puzzled some of us were about precisely how welfare fit in–most of us concluded it must be a subset of perfecting the Saints. It certainly struck me as a significant de-emphasis, at least in rhetoric, about welfare.

Later, the mission of the Church was rearticulated as bringing people to Christ, with three aspects (a Mormon trinitarian view–one mission in three aspects).

Given the emphasis that Jesus, the Old Testament prophets, and Restoration scripture, all place on caring for the poor and needy, I would rejoice at a re-articulation and re-focus on that as a primary purpose of the Church.

]]> By: Stephen M (Ethesis) http://www.faithpromotingrumor.com/2009/12/a-new-mission-caring-and-the-poor-and-the-needy/#comment-28230 Stephen M (Ethesis) Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:02:28 +0000 http://www.faithpromotingrumor.com/?p=2536#comment-28230 Calvinism taught that people were predestined and either saved or damned. The way you could tell the elect was that they had good fortune. The modern twist on that is that success indicates inherent virtue, so that all success = virtue. If I am wealthy or good looking or famous, then I am the elect of God. The group known as "The Family" literally teaches that, using King David as an example, and claiming his sins did not matter. But in modern society it tends to conflate to "the money I have made is the product of my own hands, my own virtue" and "who am I to deny the justice of God vis a vis the poor?" I refer to that sort of mind set as neo-Calvinism, as it combines the concepts of inherent virtue and the ability to detect or identify the elect by outward signs of worldly fortune. It is tempting, as it is self reinforcing. It is easy to believe that our good fortune is something we have earned and deserve. That we are not all beggars. Calvinism taught that people were predestined and either saved or damned. The way you could tell the elect was that they had good fortune.

The modern twist on that is that success indicates inherent virtue, so that all success = virtue. If I am wealthy or good looking or famous, then I am the elect of God. The group known as “The Family” literally teaches that, using King David as an example, and claiming his sins did not matter.

But in modern society it tends to conflate to “the money I have made is the product of my own hands, my own virtue” and “who am I to deny the justice of God vis a vis the poor?”

I refer to that sort of mind set as neo-Calvinism, as it combines the concepts of inherent virtue and the ability to detect or identify the elect by outward signs of worldly fortune.

It is tempting, as it is self reinforcing. It is easy to believe that our good fortune is something we have earned and deserve. That we are not all beggars.

]]> By: Chris Henrichsen http://www.faithpromotingrumor.com/2009/12/a-new-mission-caring-and-the-poor-and-the-needy/#comment-28160 Chris Henrichsen Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:38:41 +0000 http://www.faithpromotingrumor.com/?p=2536#comment-28160 "The problem is that it is easy to become a neo-Calvinist." Stephen, Could you explain that for me, even if just briefly. Thanks. “The problem is that it is easy to become a neo-Calvinist.”

Stephen,

Could you explain that for me, even if just briefly. Thanks.

]]> By: Stephen M (Ethesis) http://www.faithpromotingrumor.com/2009/12/a-new-mission-caring-and-the-poor-and-the-needy/#comment-28139 Stephen M (Ethesis) Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:42:11 +0000 http://www.faithpromotingrumor.com/?p=2536#comment-28139 Perhaps <b>resilience</b> is a better word than self-reliance. We need to cultivate resilience. <i>most treat King Benjamin’s discussion of the beggar as outdated</i> though publicly contesting it can get you released as a Bishop if the central audit committee finds out and you don't publicly back down. The problem is that it is easy to become a neo-Calvinist. I need to blog about that again. Perhaps resilience is a better word than self-reliance. We need to cultivate resilience.

most treat King Benjamin’s discussion of the beggar as outdated though publicly contesting it can get you released as a Bishop if the central audit committee finds out and you don’t publicly back down.

The problem is that it is easy to become a neo-Calvinist. I need to blog about that again.

]]> By: Ethan http://www.faithpromotingrumor.com/2009/12/a-new-mission-caring-and-the-poor-and-the-needy/#comment-27942 Ethan Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:47:05 +0000 http://www.faithpromotingrumor.com/?p=2536#comment-27942 Ardis, I did mean to acknowledge that explicitly but may have been unclear. To me, the greatest value behind the separation of the Church's mission (to prepare the earth for the return of the Savior and establish Zion) into three (now four) parts is to help us organize our efforts. Quorums divide their membership into committees for each of these missions, and it's that organizational structure that is the true value of the three or four-fold mission statement. To create another mission means to help create an organizational branch in every quorum of the Church devoted to that purpose. I think that would be great. Also, since the Church's mission is to establish Zion and a distinguishing feature of a Zion community is that there are "no poor among them" then it makes perfect sense to me that this would be an explicit mission. Ardis, I did mean to acknowledge that explicitly but may have been unclear. To me, the greatest value behind the separation of the Church’s mission (to prepare the earth for the return of the Savior and establish Zion) into three (now four) parts is to help us organize our efforts. Quorums divide their membership into committees for each of these missions, and it’s that organizational structure that is the true value of the three or four-fold mission statement. To create another mission means to help create an organizational branch in every quorum of the Church devoted to that purpose. I think that would be great. Also, since the Church’s mission is to establish Zion and a distinguishing feature of a Zion community is that there are “no poor among them” then it makes perfect sense to me that this would be an explicit mission.

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