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Change Mormon Curriculum Because Members Are Lazy?

My dear friends, I need to rant. I just spoke with my Relief Society President and she told me something that pissed me off.

Sometime ago there was a fireside in my Branch where the new Mission President and his wife were in charge (we do not have a Stake, only 2 districts). My family and I were not there but he announced that from next year we will not have Sunday School anymore but a joint Gospel Principles class where investigators, new members and old members will be together. The basic principles of the Gospel will be taught. He also announced that the Relief Society will learn from the Latter Day Saints woman's book. (I do not know the Priesthood) so it seems like we are not going to study from Pres. Kimball's book.

Now the reason for these changes he said, are because members do not know the basics and if we wish to become a Stake soon we have to go back to them. He also mentioned this is not Utah therefore he needs to make the changes that he fits convenient for the people here.

The Church has been here since 1977. Its not "New" per se, yet most members know the basics in the sense that they know the answers, the problem is that they do not live it. Trinidad is like a small version of Sodom and Gomorrah where adultery is extremely common, fornication and issues of that nature outside and inside the Church.

Others are just plain lazy they do not want to learn, if you try to teach them with the best intentions, they reject you and the message and they gossip around on how you think you are better than them and that you cannot force them to do anything, etc etc etc. They want to live and commune in the Church with this mentality because they do not want to forsake Babylon and they use the Church as means of welfare.

I feel uncomfortable enough living in this country andin the Church to now have to be sitting down in a class and not able to participate much because of fear that an investigator or new member may get confused for something I may say and to be completely honest with you, I am not interested in discussing the Principles of the Gospel every single Sunday, that's why the old members have their own class...to discuss more in depht the Scriptures and now that is being taking away from me!

I am pretty sure the members are happy with that, that's what they want...to remain in the basics and not move their lazy butts.

I do not blame the Mission President either, any normal person that comes to Trinidad and commune with the members here will see the primitiveness of their behavior. When you go to Church, you have to prepare yourself to buy medications because you will be sick, people are NOT hygienic at all.

Gosh, I really wish to be living in a little peaceful town in Utah with my family...I am sure is not perfect and they have lots of issues but anywhere but this, will make it look like a true Heaven, specially in the Church.

Lazy Members Curriculum Mormon Change

My friend, I feel for you and your situation. While I agree, probably a little Utah town would be more peaceful, you may find that members everywhere are rather apathetic these days.

One example of the apathy everywhere: I'm planning a 13-stake single's activity, and we won't get more than 100 people. We have 700 singles in our one stake alone!

It's frustrating all over, but I know in your area, from your descriptions here and in other threads, that it's much worse where you are.

Change Mormon Curriculum Because Members Are Lazy? Studies Doctrine Mormon

Thanks for the thoughts Roz, I just re-read my message and I know it may sound harsh and even judgemental but is so frustrating! From next year I will feel basically like I just joined the Church even though I have been a member for almost 20 years. It is also frustrating to see that the members are okay with it, of course that's what they want like one sister put it: "I am so happy for the change because we will all learn at the same pace without anybody going ahead or behind us"

Lazy Members Curriculum Mormon Change

As I have commented before, I now view religion and churches as being structured like the US school system.

In general, I view most religions and churches as being various levels of elementary school. Some are slightly more advanced than others. However, none of them (major religions such as Hinduism, Taoism, etc., down to minor sects and denominations) can move beyond the elementary school level.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, however, moves into Junior High School (Middle School) through High School. But it can't move beyond that level either.

Now, if we "zoom in" on the subject, we can look at the entire LDS church along the continuum of the education system.

Of course, Gospel Essentials is the bare foundation in this case. It is Kindergarten, possibly 1st or 2nd grade.

Gospel Doctrine gets clear through Middle School. However, it is still only foundational.

Finally, Priesthood and Relief Society gets us into about 10th grade.

So, where is the final part of the High School experience? It is supposed to be in General Conference. But, since so many of the people insist on staying at the elementary school level, General Conference is continuously held back, and it becomes no more than a symposium of "Middle School" subjects, urging the elementary students to move up to Middle School, and eventually to High School.

So, what all this rambling has been about is to point out that the "classes" in many places are restricting themselves to the Kindergarten level. The people don't want to advance beyond the 1st grade, as it is "fun" and easy. You don't really have to think much, or try very hard, to do well in Kindergarten. Play, have stories read to you, take a nap, enjoy cookies and milk. What more would the people want?

Personally, I think that we (the Church) have spent far too much time in the last 100 years or so catering to the lowest common denominators, instead of demanding that the people move upwards. Brigham Young, in particular, was well known for telling things like they are, telling the people that it was completely unacceptable for them to stay where they were, and that they needed to move onward and upward.

I find this attitude to be missing these days. Everywhere.

By the way, I don't consider myself to have really moved beyond the same 10th or 11th grade level.

Oh, yes. How do we move beyond High School? Well, it is completely self-paced, independent studies from that point on. We are guided in our studies by the Holy Ghost. As we graduate each course, we are given our certificate of completion by the Lord, Himself. And full graduation is ONLY with honors. When we graduate, we have had our "Calling and Election Made Sure", as the Lord tells us directly, "well done, my faithful servant."

OK, enough of the extended analogy.

I find it sad that the leadership of the church is so interested in "numbers" that it is willing to allow the members of a region to stay in the bare basics, and not push them to advance. As noticed before, this is a real disservice to those who have advanced further.

But the only thing I can think of to do for those who are further advanced is for them to quickly get involved in the advanced self-study courses. It sure seems to me that they are left on their own, with no real resources.

Lazy Members Curriculum Mormon Change

Let me tell you how I heard this all started locally. The Mission President went to a Branch and took over Elders Quorum. He asked the Elders present to perform a blessing and the Elders present were unable to do it for lack of knowledge. Now because of this the whole country passed the price for ignorant Elders or do we?

When I go to Church I go for two things really...

1. Pay my tithes
2. Partake of the sacrament

My upliftment comes from my personal research and study. Discussing the Doctrine here is a big part of that, so if they want to go back to 'primary' as Nighthawk illustrated with the school system, let them, because in some ways I think they like it there, it does not bother me, because I will come home and still do my thing.

Change Mormon Curriculum Because Members Are Lazy?

I understand, but this is not how is supposed to be. It does not make you a little sad? It makes me very sad because I want to experience Church in a normal setting, is that too much to ask? I really want things to be different but I am not sure if things would ever change and if they do, it will probably take many generations.

Change Mormon Curriculum Members Lazy

My sadness for the Saints here left long ago. They have chosen their own fate, who am I to get in the way of the path they want to be on.