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Ordinary Members

Ordinary Members

"For more than 40 years, my wife and I have traveled over the earth. We know members of the Church in perhaps a hundred countries. We have felt the power in their simple faith. Their individual testimonies and their sacrifice have had a profound effect on us. . . . The great work of moving the gospel forward has in the past, does now, and will in the future depend upon ordinary members."
-- President Boyd K. Packer, "The Least of These," Ensign, Nov. 2004, 87

Members Ordinary

If the great work of moving the gospel forward has in the past, does now, and will in the future depend upon ordinary members? The church is full of Ordinary members, So here's a question how would we define an extraordinary member?

Ordinary Members Studies Doctrine Mormon

Rather than change the topic of the thread I feel a better question to ask is 'Who is...' or 'What is... an ordinary member?', by defining that everything else can be found. Actually, I am rather surprised by the terminology and I wonder if callings is a factor here.

Members Ordinary

I wasn't trying to change the subject but an ordinary member is someone who is attending church and doing what is right that is an ordinary member. Calling or not.

Members Ordinary

Actually, why even use the word 'ordinary', I do not think anyone, in any position is 'ordinary'. To me there are Members and those who are not yet Members. Once a Member you are supposed to be equal to every other Member therefore not ordinary at all, but quite unique and peculiar.

Ordinary Members

This is an interesting topic.
Let me quote from Isaiah, concerning our Savior When I discuss the word ordinary.
From Isaiah 53:2

Jesus did not have the qualities of worldy beauty that are so prevalent today, but he was the greatest man, and our God.

To the world the average Latter Day Saint does not have the qualities of worldly greatness. They are not glamorous, proud, famous, vain, flaunting, the Brittany Spears or the Brad Pitt's of the World (no offense to any fans out there).

The Latter Day saints are ordinary (none of the qualities listed above).

But to the Lord the Saints are His and he wants us to incorporate his qualities into our lives. Humility, compassion, Faith, Hope, Charity, and ultimately Divinity. These were his "ordinary" attributes that made him who he was

Ordinary to me implies someone who does what is expected of them without the expectation of praise and adoration, whatever the calling. If all of the Saints were ordinary in this respect there would be no stopping the work of the lord.

Edited: dbackers on 12th Jul, 2007 - 6:14pm

Ordinary Members

How did you arrive at the idea that it implies that? Keep in mind that there is no need for translation or interpretation, this is a quote in English. Here is an interesting understanding of the main forms of the word 'ordinary':

Ordinary Members Mormon Doctrine Studies

Good point.
I believe an ordinary member or "the customary,usual, normal" member is one who is incorporating the qualities of a Latter-day-Saint. He or she is not seeking to be above another is stature or position (as we are all equal in the sight of the lord) but is struggling every day to do what he can to better himself and his family. To be considered an ordinary Latter Day Saint is indeed a compliment as the Lord himself has set a very high standard for his Saints and expects us to strive to live up to the title of "Saint"

Luke 9:48