Gospel Culture

[Moksha]

Originally Posted by puf_the_majic_dragon

You mean like visions and dreams and rich and fulfilling lives? Absolutely!

A little over a month ago I wore a kimono to church (samurai outfit ). My bishop joked that he was ready to check my sword at the door - but I left it in the car. That kind of individuality, I think, comes directly from our spirits - who we were before we came here and it's a huge part of who we are now. Prophets say that the strongest spirits were saved for the Latter Days, and I think that also means we have strong personalities too

I love this! You undoubtedly have a strong spirit.

[abqfriend]

I am a Catholic here. I think some traditions are helpful. Traditions from man alone can get in the way of change and truth. Some traditions are good. Some of the songs/hymns in my church are over 1000 years old-they are beautiful. Sometimes our hymns/songs get stuck in the 1800's rather than today-perhaps there should be room for both. I like some modern Christian hymns/music-but I do not like others. In my church, some of the services have different kinds of music than others-so that can be helpful too.
The Gospel-or "Good News" culture should be one of love and joy.
-Carol

[HiJolly]

Originally Posted by abqfriend

The Gospel-or "Good News" culture should be one of love and joy.
-Carol

AMEN. I love some of the poetry of the mystics of middle-age Catholicsm, especially when set to music. Mack Wilberg, the director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir The Official Site of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, has done many of these. He also wrote his own Requiem two years ago (the CD was just released a few months ago) and had a spiritual experience while composing it.


HiJolly

[richlittell]

"The gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to change. "Repent" is its most frequent message, and repenting means giving up all of our practices—personal, family, ethnic, and national—that are contrary to the commandments of God. The purpose of the gospel is to transform common creatures into celestial citizens, and that requires change."
Dallin H. Oaks Repentance and Change

Being an American LDS living in Taiwan, I think culture is the single greatest obstacle to gospel progression. Culture has such a strong influence over people, an influence that most are not even aware of, and it influences even those who try to take a sincere and objective view of the gospel.

I do think that those who are truly trying to follow the gospel will/should certainly move towards a common culture.
Traditions are a little different. In America, we have the tradition of Christmas, which I think, even with Santa Claus, which is the spirit of giving, is itself within the spirit of Christ. In Asia, families have the tradition of honoring their dead ancestors, a tradition I hope is never lost even among those who convert. One can still participate in a ceremony or ritual honoring the deceased as long as they know in their hearts, that it is showing respect only and they don't pray to their ancestors or any other gods or participate in the movements of such rituals. It is really touching how much reverence is given to one's ancestors over here--compare that to the "American" way; very different.

[LolaBella]

I think LDS culture has good and bad points, but sometimes church 'culture' can overtake the teachings. This is one of the reasons I am not active at the moment. When you are stopped from having callings/taking part in the church just because you don't conform to church culture, is in my eyes very sad and dangerous. It then becomes a church of men and not of God. This is proved by going to different stakes and different wards where there so many differences sometimes I wonder if its the same church atall!

[checkerboy]

Getting back to the whole facial hair thing, I once had an EQ Pres. that had a full beard. He commented that he told the Stake President that the only time he was gonna shave it off was if they added it as a requirement to be clean shaven to obtain a temple recommend.
I have heard of Stake Presidents challenging their members to not have facial hair which to me is hilarious. Something as trivial as facial hair shouldn't be a sign of whether or not you are faithful. That is just our lovely LDS "culture" rearing its ugly head. I think some people think I have a beard cause I wanna be rebelious. Pahlease. I simply look fabulous with a beard.

[Misshalfway]

Originally Posted by pretty_in_pink

Well, we have different opinions. And we're all entitled to our own opinions. It's a message came from President Dallin Oaks. In our country we have so much cultures and traditions and one of Pres. Dallin Oaks message to us is about this topic "Gospel Culture". I myself believe that some of our cultures is not helping us to progress. I can say that its true we have to change good to better.

Would you mind clarifying what you see are cultural norms that are NOT helping us progress???

[BenRaines]

So if I am reading this right there are those who don't go to church because there are human beings presiding in wards and stakes instead of Gods? Is that right? So if someone expresses their personal opinion and is a Bishop or Stake President then this can't be God's church?

Please help me to understand. Because someone says we should follow the leadership of the church and priesthood holders should wear white shirts at church and you disagree then you should leave the church, or not wear facial hair, etc.

My testimony is based on more than that. It is founded on a belief in Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father.

Ben Raines

[LolaBella]

checker, I agree with you. I think beards are a bit yuck but its nothing to stop you progressing spiritually is it?
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So if I am reading this right there are those who don't go to church because there are human beings presiding in wards and stakes instead of Gods? Is that right? So if someone expresses their personal opinion and is a Bishop or Stake President then this can't be God's church?
Because someone says we should follow the leadership of the church and priesthood holders should wear white shirts at church and you disagree then you should leave the church, or not wear facial hair, etc.

You're contradicting ureself a little there Ben. Firstly you say people are human and make mistakes, then you say we should follow our leaders anyway. So even if you know something a leader says isn't from God do you believe you should still do it? Because I personally do not. I have left the church because I was sick every Sunday of people chasing me for numbers, paper, and having lessons based on how oh-so-righteous we are as LDS and how wicked the rest of the world are. I class myself as Christian and felf uncomfortable with this sort of thing. I began to feel going to church was actually DAMAGING my testimony. Of course I dont expect people to be perfect but that to me, is taking away the spirit of what true cristianity is.

[BenRaines]

Give me an example of a message from a leader that is not from God that I get when I get direction from my Bishop or my Stake President?

Most of the lessons I attend are on how we can be better christians, how we can avoid sin and how can we love our brothers and sisters. Not sure where the lessons are or which class on how better we are than others. I think they are covered in the Zoramites and the rameumpton and that was not a good thing. Don't recall it being the topic of the lesson that we should be like that but how to avoid being like that.

Hopefully we are all, myself included, looking to improve our understanding of what we should do in this life to better prepare to meet God.

Personally I have never been a number nor chased a number. They are all children of God to me.

Ben Raines