Comments on: My blogging life: how blogging continues to change my faith

By: fluiniUnite

fluiniUnite — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 21:23:40 +0000

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By: queuno

queuno — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 04:55:34 +0000

There have been a lot of Sundays in the last year when I haven’t been able to worship properly (work issues and Church calling responsibilities), and the ‘nacle keeps me afloat at times…

By: MCQ

MCQ — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 22:52:02 +0000

When I read of JS’s interactions with members, I sometimes wish he were around today

Sometimes?

By: Henry George

Henry George — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 20:43:45 +0000

Natalie–

Please understand that I say this respectfully, but your post has crystalized my discomfort with the bloggernacle. When I say my discomfort, I mean my own personal discomfort, not my sense that there is something generally problematic with LDS blogs. My problems with the church are extremely localized, highly dependent on the context I inhabit. This could have something to do with spending so much time in branch presidencies and bishoprics. Anyway, let me try to illustrate what I’m talking about: while there may be a testimony meeting crank in every ward or branch, each crank has a different hobbyhorse and their words have a different impact. If I really want to talk about what my crank said in my fast and testimony meeting, I’ll need to talk to someone who is in my ward and who will appreciate all the nuances. Otherwise, it’s a general conversation about testimony meeting cranks that threatens to degenerate into a game of top-the-bizzare-testimony: commenter 34′s crank keeps obsessing about polygamy, while commenter 35′s crank keeps talking about having a seven year supply of food storage. While that’s potentially amusing, it doesn’t really help me shoulder the very real burdens my very real cranks place on my shoulders.

By: brandt

brandt — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 05:35:31 +0000

I’m a regular reader (yet not an active commenter), and I find this post to really echo my feelings.

I think that many times, writing and reading has not only helped me to vent my frustrations about what happens in my ward (and in my life in general, going to a less-diversified school like BYU-Idaho). It has also helped me to articulate better my own personal beliefs and convictions, opinions and thoughts.

Also, it helps to know that I’m not the only one who secretly cheers every time that crazy lady gets up in testimony meeting. It adds a spice to the sometimes somber atmosphere.

By: kristine N

kristine N — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:55:54 +0000

The bloggernacle has spoiled me, too–I keep expecting to see more diversity in opinions and more acceptance of those with differing opinions. This apparently silly expectation bit me after the Prop 8 thing when I voiced a contrary opinion on my blog and suddenly found myself in the middle of a not always friendly firestorm (though nothing like the firestorms Steve started). I kept expecting someone to agree with me; after all, I’d heard many people around here questioning the wisdom of the church aligning itself with the issue and with the other organizations pushing it, but nobody ever publicly did. The experience has made me quieter in my real ward (if that’s possible) and made me appreciate even more the diversity of opinions, the respectfulness of most commentors toward one another, and the thoughtfulness that’s a hallmark of this little corner of the blogosphere.

By: TonyD

TonyD — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:02:25 +0000

I can’t help but wonder…if Joseph Smith were alive today, would his primary communication tool be a blog?

When I read of JS’s interactions with members, I sometimes wish he were around today…he seemed to try to answer questions as best he could for those who inquired. That seems ideal for this format.

By: Natalie

Natalie — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 20:34:54 +0000

So, this morning, for the first time ever, I took a neighbor to church with me. Never before have I thought more closely about how everyone in the ward behaved, because I kept trying to think about how she would feel. Looking at the ward through her eyes made me truly value what a real ward can mean. I was so struck by the diversity of experiences that the ward accomodates and by the power in diverse people coming together. Anyways, it was very uplifting, and it made me definitely think that I need to work on being a better real-ward member.

By: MikeInWeHo

MikeInWeHo — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:02:25 +0000

Oh yeah, and you get to learn new fifty-cent words like persiflage.

By: MikeInWeHo

MikeInWeHo — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:01:35 +0000

re: 32 “…on the internet you don’t have to put up with people you don’t like.” Are you sure?

My guess is there are plenty of bloggers like me who for whatever reason aren’t part of a real-life ward at all. Without bearing some crazy-sounding testimony of the Bloggernacle, suffice to say I’m very happy to be in here. The Mormon blogs have positively impacted my life.