Comments on: My Visit to Deer Grove Covenant Church

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:40:32 +0000

Great post, Kevin. Just came across it today.

I made a habit of attending the worship services of other Faiths about twice a month as missionary in Wisconsin. My favorite was a African American Baptist church in Beloit (Immanuel Baptist Church). I’d go there once a month while I was in that area. I admit I probably liked this service the best because it was the closest thing I got to listening to pop/rock music on my mission (and it was my introduction to the enthusiasm and soulfulness of Black Gospel music) .

The habit has stuck with me post-mission and I still attend services of other Faiths on occasion. Like some other posters here, I now tend to gravitate toward high services and older liturgies. I used to be able to persuade my wife and kids to come with me on these excursions, but nowadays the three hour block is about all they can handle. I think a unique understanding of and empathy for people of faith can be cultivated through extending our own worship repertoire as Latter-day Saints. Especially for life-long Latter-day Saints like myself.

There’s a great little book, How to Be a Perfect Stranger: A Guide to Etiquette in Other People’s Religious Ceremonies, that has helped me negotiate through the unfamiliar worship services of other Faiths.

I still very much delight in the lay, unpolished, sometimes fumbling, and democratic structure of our own Sacrament Service.

By: Cort

Cort — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:38:01 +0000

My first experience going to a non-LDS meeting was singing with my high school choir for a Catholic Mass. I was thoroughly mortified when the congretation stood and recited The Lord’s Prayer from memory while I, the goody-two-shoes Mormon choir boy, couldn’t come up with more than the first line. There is much we can learn from our devout friends. Years later I married a girl who was a member of that Catholic congregation; we attend Mass with my mother-in-law whenever the occasion arises. I always enjoy the fellowship and was happy to hear my son remark a few days ago how much he enjoys going to Mass with his grandma.

By: Brian Duffin

Brian Duffin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:09:32 +0000

“I’m especially good at expectorating.”

As is my six-year old. ;-)

By: Ziff

Ziff — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:39:49 +0000

I love the LDS church and the restored Gospel, and I think it’s cute how we lay into a hymn and sing all the verses like sawing off a log, with that LDS work ethic and determination to give full measure.

Great description, Tatiana! You made me laugh too because it’s so true.

By: Kristine

Kristine — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:55:06 +0000

Dave, let me try that again: I’m sincerely sorry if my response made you feel unwelcome. It bothers me a lot that Mormons are generally not very appreciative of other styles of worship, and my response to your particular comment was pitched at the emotional level of the general problem, which was unfair.

By: Amy L

Amy L — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:46:10 +0000

It’s your insinuation that we’re out of touch with New Testament Christianity when New Testament Christianity is precisely what evangelical Christians seek to emulate.

I think this is precisely why Dave brought it up. Evangelicals are often talking about emulating Biblical Christianity (and this seems top be the main argument they bring up against Mormonism) – and yet there are many elements of the many different kinds of Evangelicalism that doesn’t square with the Bible.

Of course – Dave should also realize the many Mormon claims to a “restoration” of primitive Christianity – while at the same time disregarding many elements of the NT.

forgive my nosey mediating…

By: John C.

John C. — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:06:51 +0000

Attention all,
There have been no spittle and no hordes here today. However, if you would, I could supply some of both.

I’m especially good at expectorating.

By: Bridget Jack Meyers

Bridget Jack Meyers — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:33:27 +0000

Dave, it’s not your well-wishes for my church home or the fact that you don’t like our music that bothered me. It’s your insinuation that we’re out of touch with New Testament Christianity when New Testament Christianity is precisely what evangelical Christians seek to emulate. I have no doubt that you did not mean to be offensive—I’ve seen you posting long enough to know that you usually make a genuine effort to understand other the PoV of others—but do you honestly not see how that can be seen as a challenge to someone’s faith?

As to the “hordes” of people you’ve offended, I count three replies to your comment, two in disagreement and one in agreement. If that’s enough to chase you away from a blog, I can’t imagine there’s a lot of blogs that can keep you happy.

FWIW though, I still like you. Always have.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:29:21 +0000

The problem is that disagreement here isn’t expressed as “I have an alternate opinion” or “While I understand why you think that, you’re overlooking X.” It comes across as “You jerk, you’re totally wrong and only an idiot could possibly make such a stupid claim. Not that you’ll ever be as socially enlightened as I am, but if you were, you’d understand why I spit on you and your ridiculous statements.”

By: Kristine

Kristine — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:18:22 +0000

Dave, we weren’t offended. At least I wasn’t. I just disagreed with you and offered a contradictory experience. Your opinions are welcome here; just don’t expect them to go unchallenged all the time.