controversial

You know when someone makes a statement at church that has to be clarified or dispelled by a member of a presidency? Today I made that statement. Though, I don't think it needed to be softened by the presidency and it was really frustrating.

We were talking about George Albert Smith and how he said we must follow the commandments with strict obedience to have happiness.

I gave the example of Bergen yesterday...how if he'd obeyed me and stayed away from the bigger kids he'd be okay, but he didn't and ended up getting in a fight...

then, I expounded I said the spirit cannot follow you into, for example, a bar. So the minute you walk in, you are left to your own devices.  I also said it's like the second you pick up a cigerette the spirit leaves and you are left on your own.

I didn't think that was controversial...but in our ward...apparently.

I had 3 comments about how people have felt the spirit teaching in bars and how a lot of good conversations come up because they choose not to drink.

Okay.

I'm not self righteous. but I still believe the Spirit checks out.  And...leaves you to your own devices. If you are a good person, you'll choose good.  If you're not so good...well... anyway.

THEN, the presidency member said "I think we all need to remember we all have our personal standards that we set for ourselves and we need to follow those personal standards." WHAT?

Yeah, don't worry about the commandments of For the Strength of Youth pamphet we just discussed in Sacrament meeting... you can set your own "personal standards."



Tonight I got an email for our realtor/mom of the boy we teach in sunday school. She told me she liked my comment and said we have a lot of different opinions in this ward. She said one of the sisters who commented made a statement a while back about how she used to cheat in school and they all did it and it was okay because they all turned out okay. Well.... anyway.


I'm re-dedicated I guess.