tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968505312902376041.post5411336421038055937..comments2020-03-10T10:01:03.062-07:00Comments on I’m Dence: Withdraw and Mourn (?)I'm Dencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12799412727349868102noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968505312902376041.post-31180203235949918272020-03-10T10:01:03.062-07:002020-03-10T10:01:03.062-07:00Dear Dence
spent some time reading what you have...Dear Dence <br /><br />spent some time reading what you have to say and think. we come from a similar background, discussion and learning what others have to say becomes a very good time if contention can stay out of the conversation. it is especially fun to talk with those who can articulate clearly why they have a different perspective, and if new better information comes to light then we should be grateful to anyone who therefore is able to pull off the blinders that got us into a ditch. you seem to be very well equiped to have a discussion and give good information to others. trying to change an institution that is profiting from tithing funds is not going to change to scriptural mandates, the party is to good 3nephi 16: 10. they will not change unfortunatly. my advice is work on those you can influence - wife, children, close friends. show scripture, show history, show modern day policy and contradictions, and soon the evidence neccesistates a change of thought. find Christ as he is the only way 2 nephi 25:26, 2nephi 31:21, 2nephi 9:41, 3nephi 11:39-41, love god with all your heart might mind and strength, and your neighbor as your self, and d and c 64:10. everything else is superfluous. it was miserable for a while, while i was out and the wife and children were in, but to get out from under the priestcraft has been one of the most miserable times in life, but the greatest blessing ever. i am a lousy typer and worse speller, but if you wish to speak in person give me a call 928-243-2777 don shumwayAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17053544866827830666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968505312902376041.post-42393236314608280162019-04-28T20:18:02.296-07:002019-04-28T20:18:02.296-07:00Lori:
Welcome. And thanks for the comment.
Please...Lori:<br />Welcome. And thanks for the comment.<br />Please read my original posts from 2015 if you want a sense of who I am, and how I think about stuff.<br />You'll also know that I've tried the attempt to participate and thereby influence. It doesn't work. I've tried the middle-road of just sit there and shut up. I can no longer do that either. But I can withdraw and mourn, and feel that is what I have been called to do.<br />I appreciate your suggestion to serve others, but as my Christmas talk (https://imdence.blogspot.com/2017/02/christmas-talk.html) made clear (at least to those who listened or read it) “If ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? ” Matt 5:47. <br />I honestly prefer focusing my time/attention/resources elsewhere. “The Church™” has only ever used me, and everyone I know, to its selfish benefit, and I've never felt I fit in, or they were my people/tribe. In fact, apart from my family (who I'll not comment on) I can count on 1 hand the number of "members" that I think are actually "good people." And I've known thousands of "members" in my over half-century in “The Church™.” Those you would have me serve, are modern Pharisees, those who have scriptures that they refuse to study, preferring instead to abdicate their agency (THE gift of God to us in mortality) to trust in the arm of flesh, and "leaders" who don't even bother to mingle scripture with their philosophies of men any more. <br />I don't think you are "fussing." In fact I appreciate the fact that you reached out, and had a concrete suggestion. <br /> However, I've wasted too much of my life with them, with no good fruit to show for it, to think your suggestion is more than well intentioned, but misinformed. <br />To be clear, I believe in (and love) my wife, I am just finding it hard that she doesn't appear to value truth over comfort. (Especially since I have personally suffered greatly for truth.) <br />The folks in my ward/stake are another story. In the scriptures the Lord appears to give up on lots of folks. I bear them no ill will (well, except maybe former TBM EQ Pres - read some of my "most popular" blog entries to see why) but due to their iniquity, neither do I have any "hope" that they can be saved. <br />Perhaps I'm just weary of the pride, the priestcraft and the polyandry, the rest of the unsettling history, the hypocrisy and the hysterical homophobia.<br />Or maybe I'm just Dence I'm Dencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12799412727349868102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968505312902376041.post-28451401330876277312019-04-28T13:53:05.424-07:002019-04-28T13:53:05.424-07:00Followed the link from Rock's blog. I don'...Followed the link from Rock's blog. I don't think I've ever been here before so I'm not familiar with anything you've written beyond this single post. <br /><br />We share concern over where the church is and where it is going. I just wanted to suggest that perhaps we ought to learn to love and serve others--family, friends, neighbors, church people, rather than trying to respect them? You know, charity is the greatest of all? That's the lesson I am learning as I continue to attend church. Not quite enjoyable, but I care about these people and still consider them "my people." I pray never to be exed. It would hurt so many people who love me and just wouldn't understand. <br /><br />Maybe also consider sharing your thoughts and testimony at church, if you haven't already. Ya never know who might be actually listening. I also don't believe in giving up on anyone until they tell me to shut up. Though I confess my heart is weak, so I get where you are coming from. <br /><br />I'm not fussing here. Just wanted to encourage you to keep believing in your wife and the folks in your ward. I wouldn't want anyone to give up on me no matter how slow I am to hear. Lorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17155664862229733620noreply@blogger.com