There are a group of women who are wearing pants to sacrament meeting this Sunday as sort of a "civil obedience" form of protest that they want to be treated the same as men and given equal opportunities to serve in in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. I was asked how I felt about this. These are strictly my opinions and I will not be pulling in any quotes from others to support my opinions.
First off let me say that I think we are talking about two completely different issues here. What anyone wears to church is completely different from everyone holding the priesthood, male or female.
What we wear is to church is a cultural manner. By dressing up we are showing our Heavenly Father respect and adoration. Just as we wear our best to a job interview, fancy party, or to impress someone, we do the same for the Lord. But the definition of "our best" has changed over the years, Many churches no longer require best dress to worship in their churches. It is come as you are.
The LDS church has encouraged its members to dress to show their respect to the Lord. However we are becoming a world wide church and it seems to me that members across the world dress in their cultural best when they go to church so we can't say that dresses and suits are always the norm.
However, many new converts and members without sufficient means to buy dress clothes cannot always wear "Sunday best" to church. Does the Lord (or should we) think differently about these brothers and sisters? Absolutely not.
A few years ago I was in Saint George, Utah after the marathon there. John had had a serious heart attack at the end of the race and was in intensive care at the local hospital. I was staying with my sweet niece Dianna in her collage apartment because she didn't want me to be alone after everyone left when we knew John was going to make it. I woke early Monday morning, but couldn't get in to see John until 10:00 am. I didn't want to sit around with a bunch of collage girls, no matter how good their intentions were, so I left their apartment and started driving around St George. They lived just a few blocks away from the temple, so I pulled over and started walking around and having my own little pity party. I noticed people entering the temple with their little suitcases like they were going to do a session, but it was Monday and I didn't think the temple was open on Mondays. I followed thinking if I could do a session it might help my wounded heart. As I walked up the steps and realized I had jeans on I and almost turned around. But I girded my proverbial loins (jeans) and entered. As always there were cute senior couples working the front desk, I walked up to the desk feeling very conspicuous in my jeans, told my story and asked if I could enter the temple even though I wasn't dressed appropriately. The elderly brother looked me in the eye, put his hand on mine and said some people might mind but the Lord doesn't care what you wear, please enter and find peace. I started to cry, and felt wrapped in the comforting arms of my Savior.
I tell this story because although I know He will love me no matter what I wear, I always want to show my love and honor to Him through what I wear when I am in His house. So when I go to church to partake of His holy sacrament and ordinances, I will wear the best I can: be it jeans or Sunday best.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Seventy Times Seven
This past week I had an experience with forgiveness that I also hope will always stay with me.
In the past I have usually associated forgiveness with wrongs done to me. I need to to forgive when some one hurts me, or those I love. To be honest, I have lived such a blessed life that all the hurts done to me have been very minor and easy to forgive and forget.
My mother (she just told me it was my dad's concept, but she was the one that taught us) always taught us that most things that are said or done to hurt us are not done intentionally or maliciously. They maybe be said unthinkingly or because someone has had a bad day, (or is an idiot) but are rarely said to actually hurt or be mean. She told us if we considered the source we wouldn't be hurt. I have tried to live my life giving people the benefit of the doubt and thus don't get my feelings hurt very easily.
However when it comes down to me that needed to be forgiven I don't think I have always been so honest with myself. Our family has been blessed (or cursed) with a good self confidence. We were taught to always know the reason why we acted the way we did, "I don't know" was never a good answer when accounting for our actions. We have accused Thomas with being "blissfully overconfident" because he always thinks he is right, usually is and life hasn't had time to give him a few knocks. My brother Roark is famous for the non apology apology, ie: "I am sorry you don't think I am right, but I still am." So admitting we are wrong and asking for forgiveness does not come naturally
Anyway this past week I said something about someone I shouldn't have; I didn't have all the information to say what I said and made some assumptions that just were not true. I was over heard and my comments spread and got back to the offended party and that person was very hurt to the point of not wanting anything to do with us for a while.
After analyzing what happened I realized it was my comment that started the whole chain of events that ended up in such hurt feelings. I was heart sick, truly overcome with remorse.
We just had had a lesson in Relief Society lesson last Sunday from the Teachings of President George Albert Smith on forgiveness. The the sister taught it from the point of view that if we have unity and charity in our hearts forgiving and asking for forgiveness could come easier for us. As I thought back on that lesson I realized that I wanted the unity and love back we had always felt and I would do anything to make it right.
So I called and begged for forgiveness and hopefully was forgiven. And I realized that asking for forgiveness is just as important as forgiving someone. That the seventy times seven commandment to forgive also applies to asking for forgiveness, no matter what. I did not mean to hurt anyone with a thoughtless comment, but I did and I had to ask for forgiveness to start the healing process.
In the past I have usually associated forgiveness with wrongs done to me. I need to to forgive when some one hurts me, or those I love. To be honest, I have lived such a blessed life that all the hurts done to me have been very minor and easy to forgive and forget.
My mother (she just told me it was my dad's concept, but she was the one that taught us) always taught us that most things that are said or done to hurt us are not done intentionally or maliciously. They maybe be said unthinkingly or because someone has had a bad day, (or is an idiot) but are rarely said to actually hurt or be mean. She told us if we considered the source we wouldn't be hurt. I have tried to live my life giving people the benefit of the doubt and thus don't get my feelings hurt very easily.
However when it comes down to me that needed to be forgiven I don't think I have always been so honest with myself. Our family has been blessed (or cursed) with a good self confidence. We were taught to always know the reason why we acted the way we did, "I don't know" was never a good answer when accounting for our actions. We have accused Thomas with being "blissfully overconfident" because he always thinks he is right, usually is and life hasn't had time to give him a few knocks. My brother Roark is famous for the non apology apology, ie: "I am sorry you don't think I am right, but I still am." So admitting we are wrong and asking for forgiveness does not come naturally
Anyway this past week I said something about someone I shouldn't have; I didn't have all the information to say what I said and made some assumptions that just were not true. I was over heard and my comments spread and got back to the offended party and that person was very hurt to the point of not wanting anything to do with us for a while.
After analyzing what happened I realized it was my comment that started the whole chain of events that ended up in such hurt feelings. I was heart sick, truly overcome with remorse.
We just had had a lesson in Relief Society lesson last Sunday from the Teachings of President George Albert Smith on forgiveness. The the sister taught it from the point of view that if we have unity and charity in our hearts forgiving and asking for forgiveness could come easier for us. As I thought back on that lesson I realized that I wanted the unity and love back we had always felt and I would do anything to make it right.
So I called and begged for forgiveness and hopefully was forgiven. And I realized that asking for forgiveness is just as important as forgiving someone. That the seventy times seven commandment to forgive also applies to asking for forgiveness, no matter what. I did not mean to hurt anyone with a thoughtless comment, but I did and I had to ask for forgiveness to start the healing process.
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