Gospel Culture

[pretty_in_pink]

What do you think of gospel culture? What should we do about it?

*In my opinion, I believe that gospel culture should be practice. Old traditions should be taken away and replace with the reality of what we see and choose the right actions. We are in this new generation and we should live the way the Lord wants us to live our lives. Let's be aware of our old traditions. *

[HiJolly]

Originally Posted by pretty_in_pink

What do you think of gospel culture? What should we do about it?

*In my opinion, I believe that gospel culture should be practice. Old traditions should be taken away and replace with the reality of what we see and choose the right actions. We are in this new generation and we should live the way the Lord wants us to live our lives. Let's be aware of our old traditions. *

I think I agree with the quote, and am curious as to where it comes from.

The Church cannot avoid a 'culture' -- it is too much a part of people. Most of us grow up and cannot even really evaluate our own culture, unless they travel abroad or otherwise shake themselves out of complacency and habitual routine, even in thinking and feeling. Pretty tough thing to do.

And not all traditions are bad.


HiJolly

[puf_the_majic_dragon]

Jolly is absolutely right, you can't break out of the mold of tradition and culture until you've experienced one radically different. And some traditions are good traditions.

However, I think there's a lot that is culturally accepted as "doctrine" that is entirely nonsense. This is one of the reasons that our church leaders constantly emphasize the basics. We have to continually remember that what we think we know may not be true at all - so practice earnest prayer and scripture study so the important things always stay fresh in our minds.

[Moksha]

The term gospel culture is still hard for me to grasp but if it involves putting the high ideals of Jesus' teachings into practice, then I am all for it.

Although I am not certain if it was ever a tangential part of Gospel culture, I miss going out to the KFC restaurant on North Temple for Sunday dinner. Good memories from yesteryear.

[puf_the_majic_dragon]

To me "Gospel culture" means things that we find acceptable or unacceptable that have no basis in doctrine or revelation. I have heard it said that it is official church policy any man holding a priesthood calling must always be clean shaven - while policy for SOME callings, it is not policy for all. But being clean shaven has become part of our culture and wearing a beard is no longer acceptable, especially for someone in authority.

Wearing hats is another example. 50 years ago a man would have been half naked without a hat, but today they are generally never worn. It has even become policy in our missions to not wear hats.

Gospel culture can also be seen in the way we pray. It's even taught in our primary lessons that we should pray in a specific format: greeting, gratitude, desires, closing. While this is all well and good, I doubt Joseph Smith ever said such a prayer. And how many times do you hear the opening "Dear Heavenly Father". It's almost mandatory. I've heard prayers started "Good morning, Father" and I totally endorse being personal with Him.

Another bit of Mormon culture is the "missionary fairwell" sacrament meeting. This has even been spoken agianst by general authorities yet it still happens. It's tradition to have a departing missionary and his/her family speak in sacrament, and heaven forbid even a prophet should try to change that! (notice the sarcasm? )

[MichaelPAGuy]

Is it true that the LDS church does not like/prefer beards? I say as long as they are kep trimmed. My former bishop shortly after I left the church had a beard. He always has.

[puf_the_majic_dragon]

As I said, it's part of culture. As far as I'm aware personally, it is only policy for missionaries to be clean shaven. I have also heard that it's written in a manual somewhere that bishops are supposed to be clean shaven, but I've never found any such manual. And there have been bishops and stake presidents, and even modern prophets, with beards.

A search on LDS.org turns up one article from 1971 from a speach by Dallin H Oaks when he first became president of BYU. This was regarding grooming standards for BYU and shaving and short hair were encouraged, not because beards and long hair are inherently wrong, but because they identified people with the hippie counter culture of the time. However this was specifically for BYU students about BYU rules.

I suspect in other countries and cultures, beards are more common or more accepted. Generally in the U.S., and especially out west, they are sufficiently uncommon to make you wonder if someone made a rule about them.

[Moksha]

Originally Posted by puf_the_majic_dragon

To me "Gospel culture" means things that we find acceptable or unacceptable that have no basis in doctrine or revelation. I have heard it said that it is official church policy any man holding a priesthood calling must always be clean shaven - while policy for SOME callings, it is not policy for all. But being clean shaven has become part of our culture and wearing a beard is no longer acceptable, especially for someone in authority.

Ah, you mean like white shirts as a general policy just because the IBM corporation does it that way. Just think of those apostates at Apple that don't even wear a tie and some even have beards. When you allow such individuality to flourish are you not sowing the seeds of creativity and thinking, which leads to all sorts of things.

[puf_the_majic_dragon]

Originally Posted by Moksha

Ah, you mean like white shirts as a general policy just because the IBM corporation does it that way. Just think of those apostates at Apple that don't even wear a tie and some even have beards. When you allow such individuality to flourish are you not sowing the seeds of creativity and thinking, which leads to all sorts of things.

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

[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.