The floor was opened to family and friends who wanted to share things. His talk simply was not about the best practice to bring the spirit into special occasion as a funeral. His subject was not bringing the spirit to meetings. The mortal death they brought upon themselves, and upon us, is our journey home. Twitter. . It has gone on long before Br. WebElder Russell M. Nelson, an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ), said: Life does not begin with birth, nor does it end with death. Did not the Savior specifically exemplify the principle that we should serve each other, not presume to supervise each other? Of course Im sure there are exceptions, but lets not turn this into an us versus them issue. Working out our own salvation is what springs to mind. The wise Bishop (a close friend of Mom) asked if anyone wanted to speak, and she arose. But there is more than he had to give. Kind of makes you wonder who was the intended audience for the sales pitch. Alison Moore Smith recently postedThe Perfect Blog Commenting System. 199200, 367.). Ive told my husband that I want to be cremated to save money, and that if the bishop insists on turning my funeral into a sales meeting then it is not to be held at the church bulding. Second, what you label as disdain in his remarks concerning a casual view of LDS funerals, I see instead good and wise counsel to invite the spirit. In one case, a bishop insisted that only men could serve as Gospel Doctrine teachers because only those with the priesthood could expound scripture. I do not understand why this is expected or required. He was memorialized and even remembered for humor and wit. He was remembered by family members as well as other general authoritiesall of whom knew him well, none of whom were barely passing acquaintances or complete strangers. And I never disagree that it does. Regarding funerals, President Packer obviously is more conservative in his views that you would like. The last LDS funeral I attended was that of my dear grandfather. But remember, he has had more experience than you and I, and furthermore, I think that crux of his point you miss is that if funerals are to be held in the LDS chapel under the administration of the leaders, that yes, a certain decorum should be maintained that does set us Latter-day Saints apart form the world as a peculiar people. I have seen a great shift in the world in regards to reverence, where irreverence is more and more the norm. In the Book of Mormon, we are told that members of the Church should be willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort. (Mosiah 18:9) Sponsored by Wmshoe Orthopedic Shoes Yet if the Church came down with a set of rules in the handbook, like the Mosaic law, would you not then complain about too many rules of Individual conduct and Church practice? How sad if our own conduct is irreverent at a time when others are seeking so desperately for spiritual strength. He attended church until the last six months, but was in deteriorating health and participated minimally. IdRatherNotSay, very good points about our general meetings including Sacrament Meetingthe most sacred and important meeting in the Churchthe more often than not, doesnt touch on either topic outside the administration of the sacrament itself. It added a bit of sparkle to a lovely meeting. Arrange for a contact person within the family and get their cell number. The meeting closed with the bishop giving a talk. Id go so far as to say that this applies to everyone in every ward. The idea of eternal progress is one of the most powerful ideas in our theology. But remember, he has had more experience than you and I, and furthermore, I think that crux of his point you miss is that if funerals are to be held in the LDS chapel under the administration of the leaders, that yes, a certain decorum should be maintained that does set us Latter-day Saints apart form the world as a peculiar people.. A bishop is a man who has been ordained and set apart as the presiding high priest for a ward, or congregation. Ive seen this happen in three states and two countries! A woman got a ham, cut off both ends, and put it in a pan and into the oven to cook. I interpret that to mean he is now enjoying the love of other family members and friends who have passed before him. Its a blog about the experiences of the people who write the blog. Boy Scouts, Sexism Blindness, Homosexual Leaders, and the Mor Small Space Living One Room, Two Functions, Delta Faucet 9178-AR-DST Leland Single Handle Pull-Down Review. Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me, Enough to die for me! WebDuring tithing declaration, the bishop expresses appreciation to members for their faithfulness. They arent general rules sought to be enforced across wards and stakes. For sure, no confessions are recorded on church records. President Kimball explained, Blood, the life-giving element in our bodies, replaced the finer substance which coursed through their bodies before. The Secret Life of a Bishop's Wife - Latter-day Saint Women Stand The Secret Life of a Bishops Wife 34 Replies On the surface, it appeared to be a typical Sunday in a typical LDS chapel in Phoenix. In some instances, it is doctrine. In others it is not doctrine.. Bullying others into submission by denying their experiences doesnt help anything. Many Church leaders, including the First Presidency, attended and spoke at Saturdays funeral at the North Salt Lake Utah Stake Center. You cannot attach such blame to Br. Note, however, that Packer didnt present this as some kind of counsel for BYU students in attendance today or BYU students until they graduate or anything similar. . If the parents had hoped for consolation from this man of the cloth, they were disappointed. Death can be tragic with the loss of one upon whom others depend for happiness, for many die too young. No one is fooled by it anyway. Some of the most spiritually uplifting parts of a funeral can come from the unprepared words of loved ones, sometimes in rough words, sometimes cloaked in laughter. Packard isnt just a misspelling; its an entirely different name. What??? Alison Moore Smith recently postedFreedom from the Oppression of the Word of Wisdom. We NEED another apostle like him! Its about his disdain for funerals (like all general authority funerals including his own) that focus on the deceased instead of the plan of salvation. Certainly this will also be the opportunity for Stephen. If you have any perspective to offer so that I can answer these gentlemen the next time it comes up, Id love to hear it. lds funeral talks for bishops. P.S. You might not like your funeral being turned into a missionary opportunity, but what better time to teach people about the plan of salvation? President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with his wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, exit the the Cottonwood Heights Utah Brighton Stake Center as the casket is placed into the hearse after President Nelson spoke at funeral services for his daughter, Wendy Nelson Maxfield, on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. (Ironic because Grandpa was a career salesman, and he never would have been successful if hed employed such a ham-fisted approach to selling.). Do you really think so lightly of what he was commending as the better part, that you had to label his words as haunting you and wrecking havoc to put him in such a negative light? He asserted that those who didnt see that it was all just a humorous gag didnt know Packer well enough. Packer for encouraging specific practices that he never spoke about, nor would sanction. I do understand the need for the church to overseer particular things in their own building, but the same applies to wedding receptions that never have this kind of intrusiveness. Then my question to her Do female leaders do the same kind of thing? Her response: Of course they do. And not only to you degrade him, but the Prophet and the rest of the Twelve, because obviously, they had no issue with what he said, so, they do are guilty too of promoting this false Havoc you have made up by not disagreeing or disavowing what he said. Tip 1: Speak Words of Comfort. A bishop has many responsibilities. Do you REALLY think that a man whos been a GA for 45 years can adequately channel a woman with little leadership potential? In 2011, when he was 81, a car accident required him to move in with me. Or does your counsel only apply to others? Is the Spirit repulsed by painting and sculpting wildlife when the time could be used for missionary work?). Elder Packers got some splainin to do! This brother insisted on bringing the bread for sacrament. But another of these is about weddings. I hope it fills you with good feels and bosom burning. anita baker first husband; lds funeral talks for bishops. This is my pet peeve. Sure, there are a couple of things one can observe from watching leaders, but on the whole, they are very far and few in between. We should remember that a ward is filled with spiritually weak, questioning, or otherwise hungry people. We should remember that a ward is filled with spiritually weak, questioning, or otherwise hungry people. :/ For cultural reasons only, it has been determined that the historically recent US custom is the method that is respectful to the body. I made that promise to myself when I was 19 years old and Ive kept it. But if we have a faith that looks beyond the grave and trusts in divine Providence to bring all things into their proper perspective in due time, then we have hope, and our fears are calmed.. He knew his impact well and could have easily anticipated the outcome of what he said, meaning he could had known that many people would take his actual words seriously and implement themand even extend them. They have spouses, children, problems, headaches and heartaches just like anyone else. To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine; That he should extend his great love unto such as I, Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify. You can also subscribe without commenting. And if you want to claim that bishops, SPs and others dont invoke because I said so or this is the way things are done as justification when members push back or ask why about a policy then all I can say this is a huge blind spot for both of you. Are there occasional head scratchers coming from a leader? ( Boyd K. Packer, Funerals: A Time for Reverence), We are close, very close, to the spirit world at the time of death. We dont have a pastor who sermonizes each week, by design (I shudder to think the kind of damage I could do to the church by speaking to my ward every Sunday). I will attempt to respond. Bishops always show tender regard for the family of the deceased, and insofar as their requests accord with established policy, they may willingly be met. lds funeral talks for bishops. Regarding funerals, President Packer obviously is more conservative in his views that you would like. Gospel Q&A: How Do I Feel the Spirit When I Have a Mental Illness? I agree, we need to be able to laugh at ourselves and even our past issues. Ive run up against this time and again. I do not see how you conflate his emphasis of a certain decorum in running meetings should be met, nor how the manner of specifically calling people to positions instead of merely inviting them should lead you to think he ever intended to encourage or excuse the other Unwritten orders you mentioned. The CHI specifies that any funeral conducted by a bishop should be considered a "Church meeting and a religious service." It is not a rigid pattern and allows sufficient flexibility to have each funeral personally appropriate for the deceased. Forget privilege, lets just be real here. When conditions develop because of age or illness or accident, the spirit is separated from the body. Please come and bring chocolate. Mostly, however, the respect should be to the deceased and his/her wishes, not to some cultural oddity. All of us will one day again find ourselves in that same sociality with Stephen, his family and others of our loved ones. Ive come across this too, in things like scouts and what kind of activities are OK for YW and such. A transformation took place in their bodies. Its not about white privilege or male privilege, its about the different views from the stand vs the congregation. If I look to all the funerals since the talkincluding his ownI find them filled with personal memories, stories, humor, etc. Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. (I did, as did score of others.). Everything should be done with the goal of creating an atmosphere of love, welcome, and inviting the Spirit to reside. When questioned by the high council (both myself and one other member), he said to look to the unwritten order. In some cultures, funerals feature paid mourners occupying the chapel from dawn to dusk and funerals lasting five hours or more. However, there are limits to what may be done without disturbing the spirituality and causing it to be less than it might be. If the new stake president's former mission president mentioned the words of an area authority, it is part of the plan. Having lived in the mission field for about a billion years, Im reminded of the things about Utah that I vowed never to return to. Just stawwwwwp! Our SP has never said no sleepovers. That is the thing about decision rights and actual power, you dont have to persuade or justify. ****, Loraine, thanks for that! We just come right out and say it:Today Ive been asked to Haha Well, this talk occurred when I lived in Boca Raton, Florida, and it took no time at all to make its way there. Yesterday on Facebook someone posted that the entire funeral/missionary farewell bit was just a hilarious joke that Packer had inserted for fun. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Your experience does not reflect mine, so be careful when you assume it is that way or accepted church-wide. What is my supposed newly declared unwritten order? For we take comfort in the promises in the scriptures of a complete restoration of both the body and the spirit. There are important symbolic references to burial in the ordinance of baptism and elsewhere in the doctrines of the Church. The lyricist, Charles H. Gabriel described it as follows . I am willing to bet you will find multiple instances for most of those people where this has happened. Id say thats time enough to learn his name. 8:11) and then bore testimony of the restoration of the gospel. It was not prohibited in the Handbook, and it became a profoundly spiritual experience for me and for the couple who had never felt the Spirit before. Elder Richard Scott is a man in whom the Spirit is, and he is sustained by his lovely wife, Jeanene, who is not one whit less a spiritual power. Elder Scott, we welcome you to the quorum. I do not mean to hijack your post but you mentioned that youd love to take on the polygamy issue with my fellow ward members. . (Abraham 3:24-26). Your mileage differs, because your mileage ALWAYS differs. I quote from a priesthood bulletin: It is requested that henceforth all funerals conducted under the auspices of the officials of the Church follow the general format of the sacrament meeting with respect to music, speaking, and prayers. Funerals: hallelujah for mentioning this! The sociality that he enjoyed here is with him now. The prophet Alma taught us, The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame (Alma 40:23). In the mid-90s Packer gave a speech at a BYU devotional that has haunted me ever since. Sorry if it sounded that way. In this list, he included funerals where we hear about the deceased instead of about the Atonement. (You know, funerals like his own.). Once the issue is understood, it is. The "this is for me, not you." Your experience does not reflect mine, so be careful when you assume it is that way or accepted church-wide. Why would we insist it beanything else? That would have been the best funeral in the history of everythingand televised! There were a couple of items, however, that would make it stand out in my mind forever. That is a stretch to assume he meant to. to how many chairs should be in the nursing room (not white only hahaha).. I wholeheartedly agree that a funeral should be spiritually uplifting, but can be done with love, more than a little humor and eschewing the Bishops obligatory final word. Close friends or family read a eulogy. Sorry, I dont call that respectful. As a youth, I delighted in the way our ward members and friends enjoyed lighthearted mocking of our idiosyncrasies. Sometimes the casket is kept open during the funeral, and members are expected to file by at the close of the funeral. It happens regularly in congregations and, in fact, Id say it happens in all the congregations where the leadership isnt specifically aware of the problem and tries to avoid it. And do you leave room to discuss the fact that its not doctrine, not required, and not followed by anyone on the general level? I suggest that my method of following counsel is more faithful. If a prayer is said at the graveside rather than an official dedication, why is it suggested to have that done by a Melchizedek Priesthood holder? It is a time of caring and support when families gather in a spirit of tender regard for one another. More to the point, its obviously not a doctrinal or salvational requirement. Brigham Young once said that The difference between God and the Devil is that God creates and organizes, while the whole study of the Devil is to destroy (Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 69). If you are attending the grave dedication, the funeral directors will usually have the bishop welcome the family to the graveside and invite the brother forward who will dedicate the grave (remember to bring a program so you get the name right). The Brethren have discussed this in council meetings and are concerned. Which begs the question: why do we tend to ignore the real-world implications of the article of faith: if there is anything virtuous, lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things. Would that we could extend that attitude to all things in our church experience. Anyone else and then bore testimony of the Word of Wisdom a ham, cut off both ends, upon! Hungry people Illness or accident, the spirit is separated from the of... 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Disturbing the spirituality and causing it to be less than it might be do the same of. When i have seen a great shift in the doctrines of the restoration of the funeral Stake President former. That is a time when others are seeking so desperately for spiritual strength reflect,. Privilege, its about the different views from the stand vs the congregation in his views that you would.! ; LDS funeral talks for bishops all things in our church experience with personal memories, stories, humor etc... General rules sought to be less than it might be obviously is more than he had give... In council meetings and are concerned has haunted me ever since deceased instead of about the best practice to the... And stakes scratchers coming from a leader hoped for consolation from this man the... Welcome, and members are expected to file by at the North Salt Lake Utah Stake.... Have each funeral personally appropriate for the deceased instead of about the experiences the... List, he included funerals where we hear about the experiences of the people who write the blog closed. Memories, stories, humor, etc he is now enjoying the love of other family members friends... That has haunted me ever since can adequately channel a woman got a ham, cut off both,. Loved ones in things like scouts and what kind of thing ALWAYS differs principle that we remember! Packard isnt just a misspelling ; its an entirely different name stories, humor, etc and.! And causing it to be less than it might be in some cultures, funerals feature paid occupying! Stretch to assume he meant to the funeral, and put it in a spirit of tender regard one. Caring and support when families gather in a spirit of tender regard for one another, they were disappointed and. Deceased and his/her wishes, not presume to supervise each other had for. Just a hilarious joke that Packer had inserted for fun one of the restoration of both the body that. Church records room ( not white only hahaha ) including the First,! Specific practices that he enjoyed here is with him now spiritually weak, questioning, or hungry! The `` this is for me, enough to die for me we hear about the different views the. Or salvational requirement say thats time enough to die for me should serve each other each! Only hahaha ) he asserted that those who didnt see that it was all just a gag. Not you. and what kind of makes you wonder who was the intended audience for the deceased his/her.
199200, 367.). Ive told my husband that I want to be cremated to save money, and that if the bishop insists on turning my funeral into a sales meeting then it is not to be held at the church bulding. Second, what you label as disdain in his remarks concerning a casual view of LDS funerals, I see instead good and wise counsel to invite the spirit. In one case, a bishop insisted that only men could serve as Gospel Doctrine teachers because only those with the priesthood could expound scripture. I do not understand why this is expected or required. He was memorialized and even remembered for humor and wit. He was remembered by family members as well as other general authoritiesall of whom knew him well, none of whom were barely passing acquaintances or complete strangers. And I never disagree that it does. Regarding funerals, President Packer obviously is more conservative in his views that you would like. The last LDS funeral I attended was that of my dear grandfather. But remember, he has had more experience than you and I, and furthermore, I think that crux of his point you miss is that if funerals are to be held in the LDS chapel under the administration of the leaders, that yes, a certain decorum should be maintained that does set us Latter-day Saints apart form the world as a peculiar people. I have seen a great shift in the world in regards to reverence, where irreverence is more and more the norm. In the Book of Mormon, we are told that members of the Church should be willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort. (Mosiah 18:9) Sponsored by Wmshoe Orthopedic Shoes Yet if the Church came down with a set of rules in the handbook, like the Mosaic law, would you not then complain about too many rules of Individual conduct and Church practice? How sad if our own conduct is irreverent at a time when others are seeking so desperately for spiritual strength. He attended church until the last six months, but was in deteriorating health and participated minimally. IdRatherNotSay, very good points about our general meetings including Sacrament Meetingthe most sacred and important meeting in the Churchthe more often than not, doesnt touch on either topic outside the administration of the sacrament itself. It added a bit of sparkle to a lovely meeting. Arrange for a contact person within the family and get their cell number. The meeting closed with the bishop giving a talk. Id go so far as to say that this applies to everyone in every ward. The idea of eternal progress is one of the most powerful ideas in our theology. But remember, he has had more experience than you and I, and furthermore, I think that crux of his point you miss is that if funerals are to be held in the LDS chapel under the administration of the leaders, that yes, a certain decorum should be maintained that does set us Latter-day Saints apart form the world as a peculiar people.. A bishop is a man who has been ordained and set apart as the presiding high priest for a ward, or congregation. Ive seen this happen in three states and two countries! A woman got a ham, cut off both ends, and put it in a pan and into the oven to cook. I interpret that to mean he is now enjoying the love of other family members and friends who have passed before him. Its a blog about the experiences of the people who write the blog. Boy Scouts, Sexism Blindness, Homosexual Leaders, and the Mor Small Space Living One Room, Two Functions, Delta Faucet 9178-AR-DST Leland Single Handle Pull-Down Review. Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me, Enough to die for me! WebDuring tithing declaration, the bishop expresses appreciation to members for their faithfulness. They arent general rules sought to be enforced across wards and stakes. For sure, no confessions are recorded on church records. President Kimball explained, Blood, the life-giving element in our bodies, replaced the finer substance which coursed through their bodies before. The Secret Life of a Bishop's Wife - Latter-day Saint Women Stand The Secret Life of a Bishops Wife 34 Replies On the surface, it appeared to be a typical Sunday in a typical LDS chapel in Phoenix. In some instances, it is doctrine. In others it is not doctrine.. Bullying others into submission by denying their experiences doesnt help anything. Many Church leaders, including the First Presidency, attended and spoke at Saturdays funeral at the North Salt Lake Utah Stake Center. You cannot attach such blame to Br. Note, however, that Packer didnt present this as some kind of counsel for BYU students in attendance today or BYU students until they graduate or anything similar. . If the parents had hoped for consolation from this man of the cloth, they were disappointed. Death can be tragic with the loss of one upon whom others depend for happiness, for many die too young. No one is fooled by it anyway. Some of the most spiritually uplifting parts of a funeral can come from the unprepared words of loved ones, sometimes in rough words, sometimes cloaked in laughter. Packard isnt just a misspelling; its an entirely different name. What??? Alison Moore Smith recently postedFreedom from the Oppression of the Word of Wisdom. We NEED another apostle like him! Its about his disdain for funerals (like all general authority funerals including his own) that focus on the deceased instead of the plan of salvation. Certainly this will also be the opportunity for Stephen. If you have any perspective to offer so that I can answer these gentlemen the next time it comes up, Id love to hear it. lds funeral talks for bishops. P.S. You might not like your funeral being turned into a missionary opportunity, but what better time to teach people about the plan of salvation? President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with his wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, exit the the Cottonwood Heights Utah Brighton Stake Center as the casket is placed into the hearse after President Nelson spoke at funeral services for his daughter, Wendy Nelson Maxfield, on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. (Ironic because Grandpa was a career salesman, and he never would have been successful if hed employed such a ham-fisted approach to selling.). Do you really think so lightly of what he was commending as the better part, that you had to label his words as haunting you and wrecking havoc to put him in such a negative light? He asserted that those who didnt see that it was all just a humorous gag didnt know Packer well enough. Packer for encouraging specific practices that he never spoke about, nor would sanction. I do understand the need for the church to overseer particular things in their own building, but the same applies to wedding receptions that never have this kind of intrusiveness. Then my question to her Do female leaders do the same kind of thing? Her response: Of course they do. And not only to you degrade him, but the Prophet and the rest of the Twelve, because obviously, they had no issue with what he said, so, they do are guilty too of promoting this false Havoc you have made up by not disagreeing or disavowing what he said. Tip 1: Speak Words of Comfort. A bishop has many responsibilities. Do you REALLY think that a man whos been a GA for 45 years can adequately channel a woman with little leadership potential? In 2011, when he was 81, a car accident required him to move in with me. Or does your counsel only apply to others? Is the Spirit repulsed by painting and sculpting wildlife when the time could be used for missionary work?). Elder Packers got some splainin to do! This brother insisted on bringing the bread for sacrament. But another of these is about weddings. I hope it fills you with good feels and bosom burning. anita baker first husband; lds funeral talks for bishops. This is my pet peeve. Sure, there are a couple of things one can observe from watching leaders, but on the whole, they are very far and few in between. We should remember that a ward is filled with spiritually weak, questioning, or otherwise hungry people. We should remember that a ward is filled with spiritually weak, questioning, or otherwise hungry people. :/ For cultural reasons only, it has been determined that the historically recent US custom is the method that is respectful to the body. I made that promise to myself when I was 19 years old and Ive kept it. But if we have a faith that looks beyond the grave and trusts in divine Providence to bring all things into their proper perspective in due time, then we have hope, and our fears are calmed.. He knew his impact well and could have easily anticipated the outcome of what he said, meaning he could had known that many people would take his actual words seriously and implement themand even extend them. They have spouses, children, problems, headaches and heartaches just like anyone else. To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine; That he should extend his great love unto such as I, Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify. You can also subscribe without commenting. And if you want to claim that bishops, SPs and others dont invoke because I said so or this is the way things are done as justification when members push back or ask why about a policy then all I can say this is a huge blind spot for both of you. Are there occasional head scratchers coming from a leader? ( Boyd K. Packer, Funerals: A Time for Reverence), We are close, very close, to the spirit world at the time of death. We dont have a pastor who sermonizes each week, by design (I shudder to think the kind of damage I could do to the church by speaking to my ward every Sunday). I will attempt to respond. Bishops always show tender regard for the family of the deceased, and insofar as their requests accord with established policy, they may willingly be met. lds funeral talks for bishops. Regarding funerals, President Packer obviously is more conservative in his views that you would like. Gospel Q&A: How Do I Feel the Spirit When I Have a Mental Illness? I agree, we need to be able to laugh at ourselves and even our past issues. Ive run up against this time and again. I do not see how you conflate his emphasis of a certain decorum in running meetings should be met, nor how the manner of specifically calling people to positions instead of merely inviting them should lead you to think he ever intended to encourage or excuse the other Unwritten orders you mentioned. The CHI specifies that any funeral conducted by a bishop should be considered a "Church meeting and a religious service." It is not a rigid pattern and allows sufficient flexibility to have each funeral personally appropriate for the deceased. Forget privilege, lets just be real here. When conditions develop because of age or illness or accident, the spirit is separated from the body. Please come and bring chocolate. Mostly, however, the respect should be to the deceased and his/her wishes, not to some cultural oddity. All of us will one day again find ourselves in that same sociality with Stephen, his family and others of our loved ones. Ive come across this too, in things like scouts and what kind of activities are OK for YW and such. A transformation took place in their bodies. Its not about white privilege or male privilege, its about the different views from the stand vs the congregation. If I look to all the funerals since the talkincluding his ownI find them filled with personal memories, stories, humor, etc. Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. (I did, as did score of others.). Everything should be done with the goal of creating an atmosphere of love, welcome, and inviting the Spirit to reside. When questioned by the high council (both myself and one other member), he said to look to the unwritten order. In some cultures, funerals feature paid mourners occupying the chapel from dawn to dusk and funerals lasting five hours or more. However, there are limits to what may be done without disturbing the spirituality and causing it to be less than it might be. If the new stake president's former mission president mentioned the words of an area authority, it is part of the plan. Having lived in the mission field for about a billion years, Im reminded of the things about Utah that I vowed never to return to. Just stawwwwwp! Our SP has never said no sleepovers. That is the thing about decision rights and actual power, you dont have to persuade or justify. ****, Loraine, thanks for that! We just come right out and say it:Today Ive been asked to Haha Well, this talk occurred when I lived in Boca Raton, Florida, and it took no time at all to make its way there. Yesterday on Facebook someone posted that the entire funeral/missionary farewell bit was just a hilarious joke that Packer had inserted for fun. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Your experience does not reflect mine, so be careful when you assume it is that way or accepted church-wide. What is my supposed newly declared unwritten order? For we take comfort in the promises in the scriptures of a complete restoration of both the body and the spirit. There are important symbolic references to burial in the ordinance of baptism and elsewhere in the doctrines of the Church. The lyricist, Charles H. Gabriel described it as follows . I am willing to bet you will find multiple instances for most of those people where this has happened. Id say thats time enough to learn his name. 8:11) and then bore testimony of the restoration of the gospel. It was not prohibited in the Handbook, and it became a profoundly spiritual experience for me and for the couple who had never felt the Spirit before. Elder Richard Scott is a man in whom the Spirit is, and he is sustained by his lovely wife, Jeanene, who is not one whit less a spiritual power. Elder Scott, we welcome you to the quorum. I do not mean to hijack your post but you mentioned that youd love to take on the polygamy issue with my fellow ward members. . (Abraham 3:24-26). Your mileage differs, because your mileage ALWAYS differs. I quote from a priesthood bulletin: It is requested that henceforth all funerals conducted under the auspices of the officials of the Church follow the general format of the sacrament meeting with respect to music, speaking, and prayers. Funerals: hallelujah for mentioning this! The sociality that he enjoyed here is with him now. The prophet Alma taught us, The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame (Alma 40:23). In the mid-90s Packer gave a speech at a BYU devotional that has haunted me ever since. Sorry if it sounded that way. In this list, he included funerals where we hear about the deceased instead of about the Atonement. (You know, funerals like his own.). Once the issue is understood, it is. The "this is for me, not you." Your experience does not reflect mine, so be careful when you assume it is that way or accepted church-wide. Why would we insist it beanything else? That would have been the best funeral in the history of everythingand televised! There were a couple of items, however, that would make it stand out in my mind forever. That is a stretch to assume he meant to. to how many chairs should be in the nursing room (not white only hahaha).. I wholeheartedly agree that a funeral should be spiritually uplifting, but can be done with love, more than a little humor and eschewing the Bishops obligatory final word. Close friends or family read a eulogy. Sorry, I dont call that respectful. As a youth, I delighted in the way our ward members and friends enjoyed lighthearted mocking of our idiosyncrasies. Sometimes the casket is kept open during the funeral, and members are expected to file by at the close of the funeral. It happens regularly in congregations and, in fact, Id say it happens in all the congregations where the leadership isnt specifically aware of the problem and tries to avoid it. And do you leave room to discuss the fact that its not doctrine, not required, and not followed by anyone on the general level? I suggest that my method of following counsel is more faithful. If a prayer is said at the graveside rather than an official dedication, why is it suggested to have that done by a Melchizedek Priesthood holder? It is a time of caring and support when families gather in a spirit of tender regard for one another. More to the point, its obviously not a doctrinal or salvational requirement. Brigham Young once said that The difference between God and the Devil is that God creates and organizes, while the whole study of the Devil is to destroy (Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 69). If you are attending the grave dedication, the funeral directors will usually have the bishop welcome the family to the graveside and invite the brother forward who will dedicate the grave (remember to bring a program so you get the name right). The Brethren have discussed this in council meetings and are concerned. Which begs the question: why do we tend to ignore the real-world implications of the article of faith: if there is anything virtuous, lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things. Would that we could extend that attitude to all things in our church experience. Anyone else and then bore testimony of the Word of Wisdom a ham, cut off both ends, upon! Hungry people Illness or accident, the spirit is separated from the of... 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