Comments on: “all their connections”

By: Mark IV

Mark IV — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 21:53:21 +0000

Thank you for the kind comments, everyone.

chimera, I guess there are reasons why someone under church discipline would not be fellowshipped. Sometimes they want no contact, sometimes the ward or branch is swamped and simply doesn’t get it done. But I have seen it done well in some of the wards where I have lived. In one case, the EQP made assignments, so the man in question would get contact from his quorum each week. In another ward, the bishop had a standing appointment with the excommunicated member every month for over two years. I think that we are under obligation to show forth an increase of love after a strong rebuke, but you are correct to point out that we often fall short.

By: Tracy M

Tracy M — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 01:46:53 +0000

Very nice, Mark. This perspective is one of the things I really like about you.

By: chimera

chimera — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 01:42:47 +0000

Beautiful post, however, I am confused how you would still be on your quorum’s roll as an excommunicant – and in our ward, excommunicants are not usually assigned home teachers. I don’t see that reaching out to ex members you are talking about.

By: Kristine

Kristine — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:49:57 +0000

Mark, thank you!

I think if pressed to choose a single bit of scripture that carries the emotional essence of Mormonism for me, I’d likely choose Section 109, and I love the way you’ve used it here.

By: kevinf

kevinf — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:12:32 +0000

As I have attended other wards either while traveling, or in my church assignments in our stake, there is always something comforting about the familiar look and feel of our ward congregations and meetings. Even as our membership grows more diverse, there is still a comfortable feeling, like putting on a favorite jacket at the first touch of frost in the fall. I have especially enjoyed my stake calling that puts me in other wards on a regular basis, and expanding my community of friends.

The challenge is, as Mark stated, to consider “all our connections”, not just those in our own culture and community. Thanks for helping me to re-examine what my community really means.

By: Ray

Ray — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:09:48 +0000

“It seems clear to me that Mormonism is about creating connections and expanding boundaries.”

Wonderfully stated, Mark.

By: green mormon architect

green mormon architect — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:37:11 +0000

I really like how individual bishops are responsible for all those living within their ward boundaries – not just the members. We are to be involved as a community – not just to other members we live around, but to all we live around.

By: Howard

Howard — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:11:27 +0000

Thanks for broadening my perspective Mark, this caused me to pause and reconsider.

Interesting that JS’s and “all their connections” prayer necessarily included those inside and outside the church.

By: Steve Evans

Steve Evans — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:54:49 +0000

wow! Really, really nice.