I’m a good complainer. If you’ve read my blogging for any length of time, you know I like griping about the Church almost as much as I like graphs and charts. But it’s almost Thanksgiving (in the US, anyway), so I thought I’d break with my usual and list some things about the Church that I’m thankful for.
- Helping people move. I’ve been on both the giving and the receiving end of this. I used to live in a college town in a ward with a lot of students, so I got to do a lot more of it than I have in my current ward. I love being on the giving end in particular, I think, because I find moving to be so incredibly stressful, and I like that it’s a chance to help relieve a little bit of someone’s stress in a very concrete way at what can be such a difficult time. And when people are moving in, it’s a great way to welcome them to the community. When they’re moving out, it’s a great way to send them on their way with a reminder of how much we care for them.
- President Uchtdorf. I find President Uchtdorf’s view of the gospel and the Church to be wonderfully hopeful and optimistic. He is all about trying to lift people up and encourage them to be better rather than punishing them for not having done well enough. His Conference talks are a consistent string of home runs.
- My mission. I’m not a terribly outgoing person. I sometimes find talking to people–particularly people I haven’t met before–terrifying and exhausting. But as a teenager, I had far more difficulty than I do now. By forcing me to go into a ton of new and uncomfortable social situations, my mission really increased my comfort level with all kinds of social interactions. Once I got used to going into places where everyone was pretty much guaranteed to dislike me and think I was nuts, I learned to appreciate all the social situations that are less stressful than that.
- Public speaking. Being a Church member and being asked to give talks in sacrament meeting and having teaching callings has taught me to be (somewhat) comfortable speaking to groups of people. I used to have a teaching job, and I really never worried about the performance aspect of teaching because by the time I got the job, I had been teaching classes in church for years.
- The Bloggernacle. I’ve been reading and participating here for almost ten years. I have so enjoyed reading all kinds of interesting new ideas and ways of thinking about Church-related topics and issues. Even more, though, I have loved getting to know many other people who also blog and comment. There are so many fascinating, hilarious, wonderful people on the blogs. I love that Mormonism introduced us, even when people may be in different places when it comes to the Church.
- Deification. The idea that we’re fundamentally like God, and that we can become like our Heavenly Parents has always felt very right and comforting to me.
- The Book of Mormon. There are many passages in the Book of Mormon that speak to me. One of my favorites is Moroni’s series of pointed questions addressed to his latter-day readers.
O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world? Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?
If you’re so inclined, I’d love to hear what Mormon things you are most thankful for.
Thanks for this post, Ziff. It’s been a rough couple of weeks, and it’s good to be reminded of this stuff. My own list:
1) The teaching that we’re all children of God. I feel like that really grounds how I see the world, and though it unfortunately doesn’t always inform my actions, it is the basis for the kind of person I want to be. I love that the worth of each soul is great. It’s a good thing to remember when thinking about Syrian refugees, gay Mormons, or even conservative Republicans.
2) The emphasis on personal revelation. I love that everyone has direct access to God. Even with all the ambiguity and contradictions and struggling to discern what’s actually from God, that’s been a vital part of my life.
3) Local communities. When wards are good, it really can be amazing to be a part of them. In all my hospitalizations in the last few years, I had numerous visitors from my ward, which was especially important to me because my family was so far away. It really made a difference.
4) Priesthood blessings. I’ve had some really powerful blessings in my life, ones that have greatly strengthened my connection to God. So many times I’ve found that getting a blessing has given me at least a window of peace.
5) The idea that there’s truth everywhere. I love that we’re told to seek after anything that is virtuous or lovely or of good report, that God speaks to everyone in their own language. I appreciate a vision of the gospel that’s expansive enough to collect all truth, from whatever source.
6) Fun callings. There are plenty of callings that stress me out, but I’ve particularly enjoyed teaching callings, and the chance to teach Relief Society and Gospel Doctrine in various wards.
7) Blogs and the online Mormon world. When we started this blog ten years ago, I had no idea just how much it was going to impact my life. I love that there’s a space to talk about all kinds of stuff that people are hesitant to bring up in church. And like Ziff, I’ve met so many cool and amazing people over the years. It’s made me feel like I’m part of Mormonism, even if it’s sometimes of the less orthodox variety.
8) Eternal relationships. I love the idea that relationships with each other aren’t just means to some greater end, but really matter in and of themselves, and can last beyond this life. I’ve never quite seen the appeal of kingdoms, powers, and what-not, but I do love a vision of the next life in which I’m still able to have relationships with the people who matter to me.
Thank you for this post, Ziff. You and Lynnette have hit on the points I would have mentioned, but I’ll happily second them!
In addition to all the you’ve mentioned, I love the sheer audacity and expanse of Mormon theology, encompassing an eternal life before this life, and an eternal life after this one. And I love the infinite scale of Mormon redemption, the hope that all that we know and love here, all that is good, can go on forever–our knowledge, learning, and growth, the character we develop, the people we become, and the relationships we have with one another.
I love the complexity, the richness, the depth of the Gospel; how it intertwines and fits all together like a gorgeous tapestry. I don’t see that in other faiths.
I love this post. I left church activity several years ago, but it’s great to think back about the many things I’m grateful for about my Mormon upbringing. Primary is probably the biggest thing. I had a tough childhood, but I always felt loved and cared for in primary. It was generally the brightest spot of the week. I served in primary during the last six years I attended church, and it was really lovely to be able to give back.
I am thankful for excellent statistical analysis by Ziff.
I like to be able to come here and discuss weird trends and other things that are not core gospel principles, but that are connected to a big part of my life.
I love the community that encourages us to welcome everyone (everyone!) as family. I love the questioning and seeking of our faith tradition. I love that we ask people to share their stories – every week, and especially every Fast Sunday (even if that call goes unheeded, or only encourages the crazy). I love that we expect people to converse with God. I love that we think of children as people – with their own eternal spirits, that happen to be in young bodies – and not as people-to-be. I love the messy nature of theology in our church, because it allows growth and change. Mostly, I love the people, and the chance to interact with others who are also paying attention to the spiritual web that connects us all. It’s a special thing.
Late to the party, but I’ll add:
1) Our music
Our unique voice
2) Our art
We have some beautiful masterpieces
3) Our old architecture (SL Temple, Assembly Hall, early tabernacles, etc.)
4) Our food -including Mormon Scones : p
5) Our quirkiness
Have you ever noticed that we have a lot of saints that don’t march to the beat of a different drum, they actually polka? Seriously, we have some of the strangest collections of interests and hobbies and professions.
6) Our prophetess-poetesses (Eliza, Carol Lynn, Emma Lou Thayne, etc.)
7) Our dancers and love of dance
8) Our log cabin humor
9) Our fascination with astronomy
10) Our Invictus-like unconquerable souls (cough cough stubbornness)