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When Is It Okay To Get Angry?

There always comes a time when people just do not get the point and you have to get angry to stir emotion. The lord, Jesus Christ showed this in His Father's house.

John 2:14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves,
and the changers of money sitting: 2:15 And when he had made a scourge
of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep,
and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the
tables; 2:16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things
hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

John 2:17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of
thine house hath eaten me up.

The lord was not merely mad, he actually took the time to make a whip before driving them all out, this suggests Him being 'furious'? However the point of this is... when should we get mad? Is there an appropriate time?

Angry To It When

This is an important topic, JB. I've seen Bishops, High Councilors, Stake Presidents, use their righteous anger to "cry repentance" unto the Saints in different circumstances. When the rate of tithe paying slips, or when people are not contributing to fast and other offerings, I've seen the Brethren admonish the Saints from the pulpit. I understand recently with our ward boundary changes that a couple of the wards are having a hard time adjusting, and so the leaders repeatedly admonish them to work together and quit causing strife.

Another time may be if you know of an instance of abuse or neglect, particularly of children or the elderly. Get angry, and get help for them.

I'm sure there are more...

Roz

When Is It Okay To Get Angry? Studies Doctrine Mormon

I think we often confuse getting angry with staying angry or getting bitter. The Savior had no problem getting angry, but he was quick to forgive as well.

Anger is a very normal emotion. I think we need to control what we do with our anger, but I think it is o.k. to get angry in any situation that causes such an emotion to rise. It is not o.k. to let that anger control how you behave if it is in a negative manner. In my opinion.

Angry To It When

tena said:

Excellent point! Which makes me think more about the example JB gave with the Savior.... the fact that he took the time to make a scourge may indicate more that he was in control of his anger, rather than how angry he was?

Roz

Angry To It When

You both made very good points, however this thread is not about forgiveness nor if we should have a grudge or not, this thread is if we should get angry in the first place. What you ladies are focusing on is the aftermath or when the person is mad and how they should act. I would like to focus on if getting angry to the degree that was shown in the first post is justified.

When Is It Okay To Get Angry?

I think we should get mad when someone does something to hurt a loved one. I think we should get mad when someone does something to offend our religious beliefs. I think we should get mad whenever we are hurt. I think it is a natural, God given emotion and I don't think there is anything wrong with it. Heavenly Father created us with this ability to feel anger.

I think if someone were to seriously hurt or kill a member of my immediate family, I would be furious, and I think it would be acceptable for me to be so.

I think we should get angry more often at people for their behavior that is contrary to the Gospel, when it is done in our presence. I think we too often worry about being friends with everyone and about how we will be perceived. The Savior wasn't worried about how others would view him when he drove the money changers out of the Temple. What he knew was they were degregating a sacred place and that Heavenly Father, his Heavenly Father, would be offended.

When It To Angry

I disagree and agree with some parts of your post, but it may be that because posting here is limited to a few words it might just be the expression rather than you actual thinking. However, let me ask some questions / make comments if I may to understand you better...

1. You gave some reasons to be mad, I can agree about being mad about the death of a family member and if a friend is doing something bad and we want to 'wake them up' because we care, but I am not sure I understand being angry in general because someone does not live the gospel. To me that is a form of judgement, as who are we to get mad?

We are told to turn the other cheek, we are also told to be kind to others despite the things they may say about us.

If you can elaborate on those it would be helpful, thanks.

When It To Angry Mormon Doctrine Studies

I don't mean mad, but angry. Semantics, yes.

What I mean is, we shouldn't pretend it is o.k., such as "Live and Let Live."

So, I in some cases was talking about outright anger like when a family member is hurt, and in some cases of righteous anger like when people don't live their lives the way they should.

For example, I don't think pornography is o.k. Period. I don't care whether you are a member of the Church or not. I think I should get angry about it in the sense that I should do whatever I can to prevent it's spread and not simply look the other way or say, "well, they don't have the Gospel in their lives so they don't know any better."

We can turn the other cheek and still be angry. That is what I meant earlier when I said we needed to control what we do with our anger.