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Why does the church teach us not to share past indiscretions?
we are taught this very clearly on our missions.
Yet doesn't it say in D&C that sins should be confessed in front of the whole church? People that are struggling can feel like they are the only ones really struggling, that no one else that is active have had these problems. I mentioned this to a Bishopric member the other day, and he said he was in EQ meeting, and a member mentioned that he had been previously disfellowshipped for adultery. Took everyone by surprise, because this is not the thing that people admit or talk about or bring up. The Bishopric member said there must have been some spiritual purpose for him to say that at the time. The Mormon mindset of not admitting sin is so very different than many other Christian faiths, where the mentality is "I am a sinner." |
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But I do agree that the above has been twisted into never talking about anything and putting on an air of perfection. Some of the best lessons I have been in have been where either the instructor and/or class members have shared experiences where they struggled with the principle being taught (sin or otherwise). |
I've known people who have said that because they repented of the sin, the sin actually never occurred.
In this case, you could never talk about it or admit to it, because it never happened. |
I think the practice of confessing your sins before the whole church was part of the process to gain forgiveness for recent sins and not a repetitive chronicling of past misdeeds for which you had already repented and gained forgiveness.
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How many LDS believe that a fornicator who has repented is just as virtuous as someone who is literally a virgin? If not, why not? |
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That doesn't mean we need to make pretenses to perfection. All of us ought to acknowledge our fallen state. And there may be times when a story of repentance, especially when fresh, can spur multitudes to action. But it seems to me that when that water has flown under the bridge, it's best not to go chasing after it time and again. |
I don' tthink it is the fact of repentance or past imperfecti0on as much as it is the detailed nature of the indiscretion that we are advisewd to avoid. IMO, this is [probably for severla good reasons:
1. Stops the sinner from dwelling on what has been left behind; 2. Prevents the listener from dwelling on sins; 3. If the sinner is in leadership or is a missionary sharing an indiscreiton might tend to demean the office or th erole the sinner is in; At the right time and place, revelation of some past indiscretion might be appropriate (although I think this is likely to be a rare circumstance). As a general rule, however, I agree that we should avoid it.. |
Interesting you bring this up. I had a business lunch on Friday with one of my best clients and we got to talking about religion at least a little because he has a degree in theology and had taken a correspondence course from BYU. He is a JW, mostly (I get the feeling) because his wife is. But as we were talking doctrine he very frankly shared with me some very serious misconduct in his past and sequed right into how the teachings of his church had assisted him in overcoming them. There was something very disarming about that candid confession and it really made his humility show through.
I don't think that public confession should be a requirement nor do I think that such things should be shared in settings where they are not age appropriate. That said, I don't think anyone us ought to feel uncomfortable with others sharing these things in the right setting. I'm not so sure that the discomfort isn't at least a little cultural. |
I agree with Mike again. Seriously, I think this is a cultural thing about the Morom church that bugs me. Nearly EVERYONE in the church puts on the air of perfection while amidst other members. The makes it even more difficult for those that are struggling (in other words, everyone.) to feel that they are not alone. We are taught to love and not judge sinners (in other words, everyone), but do we really follow that teaching in church? I don't think we do and that is sad.
If Brother so and so comes forth bravely and admits to a porn problem, it seems that many members will shun him as a perv rather than help him. |
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I guess my point was more that people are even afraid to repent to the bishop because people will judge them. People see those who aren't taking the sacrament and judge. Then there is the Mormon Grapevine. It would be nice to see more support for everyone as nobody is perfect. It seems we put such a high stock on perfection, that nobody stops and thinks that perfection ain't happenin' in this lifetime.
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I thought he had a massive set of balls to admit to such, and was surprised to feel the spirit so strongly as I did considering how seldom I feel it in Sunday School. I was also surprised that the spirit would stay with me when I was contemplating the size of another man's balls. |
The same reasons I don't tell my kids. When they return from their missions I plan on sitting them down and telling them of my struggles after my mission because I figure they will be mature enough to handle it but until then I keep it to a minimum.
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My kids once believed I was an angel, and only after a mission will I advise them I was not. |
Question: Is it a breach of confidentiality for the bishop of a singles ward to disclose to the entire ward that virtually every male in the ward had confessed to viewing pornography, and many of the women had also confessed to this sin?
This particular incident made me feel quite righteous, as I may have been the only male never to have confessed to viewing pornography. Perhaps this is why I was called to be ward webmaster. |
Why does the church teach us not to share our past indiscretions?
Perhaps because the church teaches that once we've truly repented for them, they are forgotten in God's eyes and there is no reason to bring them up. |
The primary purpose is for the benefit of the sinner. If you continue to talk about your misdeeds, you may be tempted to repeat them.
"Gosh, darn, I remember when I went down on three gals at one time, I sure am sorry about it now, but ....." Not a good idea IMHO. |
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Seems to me if recounting your sins leads to longing to continue to sin, there probably wasn't repentance |
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Wow, I'd love to attend a singles-ward fast and testimony meeting where sin confession is encouraged.
They may have to charge admission. |
After the confession would high fives with men sitting on the aisle as he was returning to his seat ruin the spirit of the thing.
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