Abe Lincoln & Yardwork
One of my three callings in the ward is preparing the Sacrament meeting programs each week. I do my best to magnify this calling, making sure the printed program (at least) is Christ-centered and looks like some care and thought went into it. I always include a scriptural quote that’s topic-related and Christ-centered. I also pick the hymns for Sacrament meeting (under the hat of my 2nd calling). So that I can shape the hymn choices and program around the topic du jour, as well as name the correct speakers for the week, I have requsted that the bishopric provide me with a schedule of talk/meeting topics for a couple of weeks out or, if I’m lucky, a couple of months.
Last Thursday, I got the latest schedule. It’s not complete, but it does go through April. As I was looking it over, I noticed that next week’s talk topics are, 1: Free Agency and 2: Abe Lincoln. Abe Lincoln? Well, he was a good guy, generally, and a faithful one I believe, but the gospel connection… ? I admit, I’m already a little frustrated with the lack of Christ-centered Sacrament meetings in my ward, but rambling on about home teaching or girls’ camp at least has some relevance to our LDS-ness. But Abe Lincoln? And yes, I realize that Presidents’ Day is coming up. But they’re not talking about Groundhog’s Day tomorrow, are they? Well… it IS Fast Sunday. I suppose somebody might.
I went on, turned over the page, and noticed that one of the topics in April was “Neat Yards Invite the Spirit.” Huh. Weird topic, one that one of our neighbors would probably pick to target us because our back yard is a work in progress (but we have dogs…) and we don’t mow the front yard as often as she would like. She likes it scalped, we do not. Ah well. Then I saw the date: April 16th. It occurred to me that April 16th this year is Easter Sunday. So our Easter Sunday worship service this year is going to be focusing on… yardwork? Yup. Yardwork.
Am I the only one who finds this disturbing? This–a non-observance of Easter–basically happened last year as well, both in my ward, my sister’s ward, and my parents’ ward, and we ended up discussing it over our family Easter dinner. We were all rather frustrated. My sister is convinced that ‘church headquarters’ doesn’t realize this kind of thing is widespread (maybe just in Utah) and at one point was entertaining the idea of writing to them to ‘raise awareness’. I also finally decided to call the bishop and respectfully tell him my concerns, which I did this morning. He seemed to take it well, but also seemed interested in changing the subject. He did mention that April 16th is High Council Sunday, so I gave him an easy out and said that maybe the stake had just overlooked that Easter was that day. (Never mind the fact that the stake is apparently ‘just overlooking’ THE Most Important Holiday on the Christian calendar.) The bishop said he’d look into it. Maybe something will happen. Who knows?
But I’m still feeling deflated, frustrated, and a little depressed that my church, the one that claims to be Christ’s authoritative church, gives so little attention to Easter. And generally has so little Christ focus during our weekly “worship” meetings. Even the missionary sacrament meeting last week focused on programs, not the Heart of the gospel, and believe me, the lack of Christ-centered meetings definitely deters me from inviting investigators to church. And even if I did, the meetings would just turn them off, so it doesn’t help out either the church or the souls it’s trying to save.
What happened to offering our oblations weekly unto the Most High? What happened to talking, rejoicing, preaching, and prophesying of Christ? What happened to Easter in the Church? And what can we do about it?
The Church is ignoring the holiday, or your ward (and the rest of Utah, which does not constitute the Church, thank heaven) is ignoring it?
As for our part of TGSOT, we’re already preparing the Easter choir program.
Comment by queuno — February 4, 2006 @ 12:47 pm
I realize it’s not the Institutional Church that is ignoring the holiday, though I think it’s possible that it is not without blame in a ’sin of omission’ way, i.e., they’re not leading or encouraging an emphasis on Easter in local meetings.
I also realize and am glad that there are many wards and stakes that DO celebrate Easter. But I know it’s not just my ward and stake that doesn’t.
Comment by Artemis — February 4, 2006 @ 1:36 pm
One of the things I’ve found fascinating about being involved in theological studies with people from a variety of traditions is to see the immense amount of effort that goes into Easter services for many churches. People have frequently asked me, so what does your church do for Easter? And I’ve had to admit that it really depends on the ward–you might go to church that day and have an Easter program, but you also might go and hear talks about tithing.
I kinda think that the liturgical year (Advent, Christmas, Lent, etc.) is a cool thing; I’ve sometimes wished that we had something similar.
Comment by Lynnette — February 4, 2006 @ 2:57 pm
Neat Yards Invite the Spirit
Begin Twilight Zone music…..
You are kidding, Artemis, right?
Comment by Ronan — February 4, 2006 @ 4:02 pm
That’s one of the things I do miss about the other churches I attended growing up as a non-member. (Especially Palm Sunday-my girls would look dang cute in their dresses and waving their palm fronds around.) Luckily, most Easter Sundays since my baptism have been celebrated properly in Sacrament meeting. What I have to remind myself is: Do I want pomp and pageantry or the true gospel of Jesus Christ? (Though I agree that He should be more emphasized in our meetings.) I was glad that the small branch where we recently moved did the suggested Primary Christmas program on Christmas Day. It was cute, touching, and really impressed the non-member in-laws of one of my friends who had been told Mormons didn’t do such things.
Comment by Melessa — February 4, 2006 @ 4:04 pm
Ronan, I wish I were. Oh how I wish I were.
Comment by Artemis — February 4, 2006 @ 4:20 pm
“What happened to Easter in the Church?”
My understanding is that Easter was not widely celebrated in Christian churches in America until after the LDS had moved to Utah and had become somewhat isolated. The whole concept of a liturgical year with particular seasons and holidays was seen by most U.S. Protestants as a Catholic innovation, and began to be adopted by non-Catholic Christians in the U.S. kind of piecemeal, gradually, starting in the mid to late 19th century. So it shouldn’t be surprising that the LDS are late-adopters, as it were. (Sorry I can’t find the good website I read a while back that explained all of this in a level tone. All I can find by googling are particular Christian denominations’ apologetic arguments against celebrating Easter.)
Comment by Beijing — February 4, 2006 @ 5:04 pm
I just moved but my most recent calling was Music Director, so I picked the hymns. I agree that the hymns should be on topic somehow but I always made sure the opening hymn came from the celebratory section of the hymnbook (from the beginning to roughly the high 60s, iirc). I felt this brought in the joyous aspect of worshipping our Father and our Savior.
Easter celebrations were always more prominent in the non-Utah wards of which I’ve been a member.
Please report back after “Neat Yards Invite the Spirit.” My first thought is to hate this topic. “Put your shoulder to the wheel, mow your lawn…do your raking with a heart full of song, Yards are always work, let no one shirk, lest the Spirit be then gone.”
Comment by Cyl — February 4, 2006 @ 5:31 pm
“What happened to offering our oblations weekly unto the Most High? What happened to talking, rejoicing, preaching, and prophesying of Christ? What happened to Easter in the Church? And what can we do about it?”
Thank you for so beautifully expressing the biggest “shelf issue” I have. What CAN we do about it? I’ve been pondering this for months, and I haven’t come up with much, but I have a few ideas. The person choosing the hymns, as Cyl pointed out, can choose hymns that address and praise God. The person choosing the topics can at least be aware of the calendar while they are doing so- didn’t yall have a post a while back about a Mother’s Day where the topic was “honoring the priesthood?” The talks should be Christ-focused, not program focused, and not focused on “rules” (like keeping a well-groomed yard… is this a problem in your ward, or is it one of those topics that come from nowhere?) The prayers offered in all of our meetings should be genuinely directed to God, and not rushed through. Each of us can try to be Christ-centered in our callings. The biggest one, I think, is that we can choose to worship the Lord at home with our families. Our families will bring that habit to church on Sunday, and hopefully influence the rest of the ward.
You aren’t the only one who finds this disturbing. I had a very serious crisis of faith when, as a teen, I attended a friend’s evangelical church. The people there actually worshipped the Lord, and I still can’t figure out why most LDS wards put their focus elsewhere.
Please do report back after Easter Sunday and let us know what they really talk about. And if they really do speak about yardwork, let us know how it goes…
Cyl, that’s too funny…
Comment by Ariel — February 4, 2006 @ 6:07 pm
Artemis - I’ve written about this before and am so there with you. I would really like a liturgical calendar and we try in our family to do one of sorts. We’re in a ward right now that has a special Easter program every year (the ward music director is an Anglican convert, which helps). But it still doesn’t change that RS and SS will probably have very little. Actually, it’s the 3rd Sunday, and I’ll be teaching RS, so it’ll be a lot about Easter!
Comment by Rebecca — February 4, 2006 @ 7:00 pm
May I suggest that those who need more Easter (or whatever) holiday do something at home? Watch for a post at T & S on this . . .
Comment by Julie in Austin — February 4, 2006 @ 7:18 pm
Hey, we faithfully sung “praise to the man” for 3 solid months last year to celebrate the Church’s founder and lead prophet, St. Joseph. You would think they’d at least give Jesus one weekend, you know, to acknowledge His ultimate sacrifice to bring salvation to all [wo]mankind and all…
I’m totally with you here Artemis, this is a chronic problem in the Church, and I’m sick and tired of it. We’ve been asked to read the B of M many times, but I have never been asked to have my family read any of the Bible, which I find about 10 times more beautifully written and inspiring.
Okay, my rant is over (and y’all can put down your “blasphemy!” signs) now.
Comment by Rich the heretic — February 4, 2006 @ 9:00 pm
I hear you about Easter - our lack of a YW lesson on Easter urged me to write one myself a few years back, one that showed how important women were in Christ’s ministry. We did it as a reader’s theater and everyone in the class (including the visiting bishopric member) had a part to read - it was very powerful and is called “Were You There? The Women Testify”
Comment by LRC — February 4, 2006 @ 9:16 pm
Oh, and as for things you can do about it - have you pointed out to your local leaders that they’ve scheduled a message about yardwork on Easter Sunday, the most important holy day in the Christian calendar? Maybe they think you need to have well-trimmed lawns and hedges so the Easter Bunny has a spot to hide the eggs.
Comment by LRC — February 4, 2006 @ 9:18 pm
LRC - Thanks for that link. Our ward choir actually sang “Were you there?” last year I think. It’s a beautiful hymn
Rich - I agree with you. I like the BoM, but not to the exclusion of the Bible. I instead try to follow the counsel of my PB with the scriptures. It mentions 2 sections specifically for me to study and they’re both in the Bible.
Comment by Rebecca — February 4, 2006 @ 10:05 pm
Well, if you’re going to do the whole Catholic/Protestant liturgical calendar, then why not Groundhog day [aka Candelmas]?
I personally think the Jewish calendar makes more sense from a Modern House of Israel/restoration point of view. OTOH, I know I’m in the minority here.
N.O.
Comment by not ophelia — February 4, 2006 @ 10:08 pm
Artemis,
Our ward suffers the same problem. This last Thanksgiving Day, instead of having talks on gratitude or generosity or some other attribute we can trace back to Christ, we had a full program on Emergency Preparedness. Yup. Emergency Preparedness. Apparently it was the last week to hock the Em. Prep. kit that was going to help fund camp. I thought the meeting was a travesty. Completely uninspiring in all ways.
As to what we can do about it - well, I think the only thing is to do what you did Artemis - tell your bishop. My husband is the employment specialist and he gets invited to ward council every month. His plan: next time the topic of missionary work comes up, he’ll bring up the fact that so many of our meetings don’t have anything to do with Christ and how that can be a real impediment to missionary work. I think (desperately hope) that line of reasoning might get some results.
Comment by Caroline — February 4, 2006 @ 10:48 pm
Rich, you should come to my stake. The Stake Pres. just passed out a daily schedule for everyone to read the Bible this year. (The whole thing, not just the OT for Sunday School.) It then goes on to schedule the D&C and PoGP for next year. It’s quite a schedule–and I’m not following it because I’d already planned my study, but maybe after I finish my current project!
There are some things we can do about a dearth of Easter worship in our wards, but the Sacrament topics really come down to the bishop, don’t they? Our current bishop is very organized and business-like about the talks; everyone gets a letter detailing exactly how long to speak, how to cite sources, how to use visual aids, and everything. The topic is invariably “Coming to Christ through…XXX” and the letter has quite a lot to say about bringing everything back to the Savior. I’ve never seen this done before, but I must say I think it’s great and the talks have really improved. I have no idea what’s on for Easter, though. But I’ve never been in a ward that ignored it. (Yard work?)
I have a fondness for the liturgical calendar myself, but I would not want to follow it every year; maybe just every so often. Maybe I’ll do it myself sometime! But it’s not surprising that we don’t have it, given our roots in the particular Protestant tradition that spurned all such pomp and ritual.
Comment by dangermom — February 4, 2006 @ 11:42 pm
Thanks, Ariel.
I said to hubby that I thought whoever picked that topic lives next door to someone who has a busted car up on blocks in the front yard, and he’s sick of it. He, being from Louisiana, totally agreed.
Brigham Young spoke about the yard:
“Young men, fit you up a little log cabin, if it is not more than ten feet square, and then get you a bird to put in your little cage…Strive to make your little home attractive. Use lime freely, and let your houses nestle beneath the cool shades of trees, and be made fragrant with perfume of flowers.” (Discourses of Brigham Young, 195)
“…get married to a good sister, fence a city lot, lay out garden and orchard and make a home…if your husband takes you to live in ever so small and humble a cottage, make it neat and nice and clean, and set out flowers around the doors, and let the husband plant fruit trees and shade trees…” (Discourses of Brigham Young, 196)
No mention of the yards inviting the Spirit, not directly. It could be implied, I guess.
Comment by Cyl — February 5, 2006 @ 12:20 am
I see nothing wrong with talking about yards, as Cyl pointed out, because there is something very spiritual about making your space beautiful.
However, I am totally with you on the lack of focus on the true gospel. After all, it is our faith in Christ that should be key to everything we do. I have said it before, but there is just too much focus on “the chruch” and not enough on the gospel. The church is like a car, it’s the vehicle to help us get back into the presence of God, but ultimately, what drives the car should be our faith in Christ and the power of repentance.
I am glad to see that you had the guts to say something about it. And, maybe it needs to be addressed to those high in command, because sadly, there is a lack there at times as well.
Comment by Aimee — February 5, 2006 @ 12:37 am
My favorite example of the disconnect between religious holidays and the topics addressed in church occured a few years ago during Relief Society. It was a few days before Christmas and instead of discussing Christ’s birth, we had a very detailed lesson about food storage!
Comment by Martine — February 5, 2006 @ 1:55 am
Part of it is that April Conference is seen as the date of the true Easter and part of it is that the moving Easter (generally the Catholic one and not the Eastern or Coptic one) holiday is not part of the Protestant heritage that once made celebrating Christmas punished by time in the stocks.
Comment by Stephen M (Ethesis) — February 5, 2006 @ 8:15 am
That chaps my hide in so many ways. I am embarrassed that Utah does not recognize Martin Luther King Day as they should. I have nagged my husband that they should put up flags on that day. They don’t. He won’t buck the tide.
They would never ask me to do anything like that because, oh, could I wax poetic on clean yards.
I would ask “do neat yards reflect spirituality?” Then I would extrapolate on all the non-members and Jack Mormons who have nice yards and the assholes who bear their testimonies and their yards look like the town dump.
I get so sick of the whole superficiality of this crap. Bad mood today.
Comment by annegb — February 5, 2006 @ 9:56 am
My yard would look better if I skipped the three hour block and cleaned up my flowerbeds.
I didn’t start noticing the lack of Christ-centric meetings until last year. I think the celebrating of Joseph Smith brought it out of the woodwork, The end of the year expecially seemed like every hymn, testimony and talk was centered around the Prophet. It seems to have slowed down now, but it still bothers me when we go through a sacrament meeting with the only mention of the Savior being the sacrament prayer.
Comment by jjohnsen — February 5, 2006 @ 11:42 am
Good grief Artemis!
I sometimes think we go to different churches. Which religion are you in again?
These guys are out of line. If the regional rep knew about it, he probably wouldn’t be too pleased.
If the Bishop doesn’t make a few changes, I wouldn’t hesitate to take it to the next level of authority. If the Stake, doesn’t care, maybe your sister should write that letter.
Normally, I’m all about “towing the line,” but I happen to know these guys have had direct instruction from Salt Lake to keep the Sacrament Meetings more Christ-focused within the last couple years. Bishops get these directives in the mail from Church Headquarters.
Yardwork …
Do you, perchance happen to live in a gated community? Those things are notorious for this kind of behavior.
Comment by Seth R. — February 5, 2006 @ 1:53 pm
Seth, I agree with your assessment. I often hear comments in the DaMU and even here in the ‘nacle that lead me to wonder, “What PLANET are these people living on?” My ward…well, they’re so normal. Appropriate talks at appropriate times and a nice Jesus focus that sometimes gets swallowed up in other subjects for a while but always re-emerges intact.
Yard work? Yard work. That is freaking nuts.
On another matter, I e-mailed my bishop two weeks before Mother’s Day and suggested that perhaps it would be better to have women talking about the role of women, rather than men. He was very positive in his response, and our Mother’s Day speakers were the Primary President and the RS President.
Sometimes they do listen. It’s been my experience that they OFTEN listen.
Comment by Ann — February 5, 2006 @ 3:43 pm
Artemis, this goes to the very heart of a struggle I have been having lately. So much in our church practice seems to place culture ahead of gospel. Almost every week, in Sacrament Meeting and/or Sunday School, members expound on the culture of the church, completely ignoring the scriptures and the teachings of Christ. And so much of this culture seems to be in direct opposition to the gospel. Still, without any basis on scriptural truth or prophetic revelation, the culture continues to propogate and strengthen, while the gospel is pushed to the side.
I believe there are many in the church who are at risk of becoming “cultural Mormons”. They may obey the Word of Wisdom, love Joseph Smith, and put the Pioneers on an unnaturally high pedestal, but they don’t stop to think about the real “meat and bones” of the gospel. I know from experience that this can lead to those outside of the church thinking that we worship Joseph Smith. (I once met an investigator who had been going to church meetings but who had not yet met with the missionaries who actually had to ask me why we worshipped Joseph Smith. This was a sincere man, intent on seeking and finding the truth, who honestly believed, after a month of church attendance, that we worshipped Smith and not Christ.) I, too, long for a renaissance, for a renewed interest in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Comment by Quimby — February 5, 2006 @ 6:25 pm
I would love to see the presidency of the church give direction to the stakes and wards that there should always be an Easter focus in sacrament meeting on Easter Sunday. I think it’s shameful that some wards neglect what should be one of our most profound religious observations. I think it’s probably just an oversight, but if the church as an institution were to direct the local leaders to focus on Easter appropriately, perhaps that would help. I wonder if a few thoughtful letters from a number of different people, directed to church leadership, might prompt them to give some direction? Or at least to think about it?
Comment by Sue — February 5, 2006 @ 7:09 pm
I’m getting pretty sick of everyone ragging on “Utah Wards” it’s an unfair stereotype that needs to be stopped. I’ve been in many different wards in and out of Utah and they all have their good qualities as well as their problems.
Comment by Camille — February 5, 2006 @ 7:48 pm
Utah wards are ragged on because of the Mormon culture that permeates into the community as well as the ward boundaries. I was raised in a predominantly Mormon town in Idaho and we had the same “Utah” problems there —I now live in Utah and I can understand the stereotype. Of course, it’s not true for everyone. But it is more typical. It’s a cultural thing, not a doctrinal thing.
When I was put in as Primary President last year, my counselor, who has been in several Primary presidencies was very adament about this subject.
Her biggest beef was that her children would often come home from Primary on Easter Sunday and find out they had learned about tithing and then played hang-man. Same for the “Christmas” lesson, too.
Not gonna happen in my “reign”! We’ve already informed all the teachers that they need to teach an Easter and Christmas lesson.
There’s nothing wrong with letting the Stake Presidency know how bothersome it is that they would assign a High Councilman to speak on something so temporal on the Day that we Celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord. Yeah, all things temporal are spirtual, but Yard work? What a stretch!! Like it’s been said before, it was probably just an oversight…
Comment by Cheryl — February 5, 2006 @ 8:58 pm
If the bishopric assigned me a topic on yard work, I would just give a talk on something else, say like…. the Savior. What are they going to do? Stop you in the middle of your talk? And it’s not like they can get down on you after the talk either, unless they want to look like asses. “Why did you talk about Jesus in sacrament meeting? It was supposed to be about yard work!” Right… I say buck the system and not talk about the assigned topic. I’ve noticed that most people in church are too wussy to confront people on disagreements in order to avoid the spirt of contention, so they’ll probably won’t say anything at all if you disregarded the assigned topic.
Comment by Brett — February 6, 2006 @ 12:16 am
I love what Brett said!
Comment by Aimee — February 6, 2006 @ 12:50 am
I don’t get it. What does yard work have to do with spirituality at ALL? And, tangentially, what about the people in the ward who live in apartments? Sacrament talks are supposed to be for the benefit of the whole congregation’s study of the gospel, and yards have absolutely nothing to do with the gospel, or even with the structure of the church.
I agree that if talking to your bishop about it doesn’t make a difference, you should speak to someone in the stake presidency. Even if it was scheduled for a Sunday that wasn’t Easter, I’d be concerned. I know if I got to church and someone got up to talk about yard work, I’d be likely to think I could spend my time better roaming the halls or going home and sleeping.
Comment by stacer — February 6, 2006 @ 3:33 am
your ward gives notice of scacrament talks?? wow!! here we are lucky if you have 24 hrs notice ( and no i’m not kidding!!) frequently the speaker will start by saying i got home last night to find a message on my phone…..and we often have “lets have a few testimonies now..” hubby got a call 3 days before the sunday to give a talk and he said “no” more notice is required please , the shock reverbreated around the branch. then i got a call to give a talk in 5 weeks yeh!!!!..but apparently this understanidng, it seems, it is just for us..
also, just to continue my weekly moan, does anyone have problems with half the congregation walking out after the sacrament has being passed??? its such a regular thing here in a our very small branch and frequently the same 5 families either all or at least 2 of them we are trying to grow ( not had a baptism for years) it so irrated me on sunday, especially when i realised that my son was the only child left in the congregation that i just had to say something about first impressions to investigators etc etc…I am awaitng phone calls!!! all that plus i was asked to teach gospel doctrine as the teacher was away, (weeks notice - no problem) four familes arrived really late one toddler screamed constantly during the lesson and mother appeared oblivious (then i discovered dad was out in the foyer “chatting”) then 3 familes left the lesson after ten minutes!!!! aargh!!
Comment by debra — February 6, 2006 @ 4:03 am
This is a challenge to my everything ties in argument on the other thread, right?
Okay, here’s a brainstorm…
Pres Kimball on yards and gardens; The earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof; All the sowing and planting and vineyard analogies; Bloom where you’re planted; Make place for a seed; I go to prepare a place for you; She who is faithful in little things…; Consider the dandilions of the yard.. they toil not, neither do they spin; Don’t be untimely figs; I am the vine, ye are the branches…
I think I would probably start with the earth is the Lords and stewardship/ accountability for what we’ve been given (probably with an environmental spin), quote lyrics from All Creatures of our God and King, and end up talking about the parable of the seeds landing in various soils and preparing our hearts to accept tilling/ tutoring by Christ, and the earth (including our yards) being utterly wasted (useless) at his coming if we haven’t made use of Christ’s atonement to improve upon our “lot” in life. I might mention whited sepulchres/ problems with overfocus on outward appearances somewhere in the middle (like just a one-sentence deal).
Yeah, it’s a stretch. And I definitely wouldn’t assign something like that for Easter Sunday. I know you don’t have the perrogative as conductor to speak and make the topic applicable to the gospel of Jesus Christ Artemis. But I like recycling (creating something useful out of garbage) when I am given the chance.
As far as picking hymns goes, one approach might be to forget about picking hymns that fit the various themes, and focus just on hymns of praise since they are so underused and would bring worship of Christ in to every sacrament meeting regardless of the focus of the talks. I agree that every sacrament meeting should have at least one hymn of praise in addition to the sacrament hymn. A few of my faves are On This Day of Joy and Gladness, Glory to God on High, Sing Praise to Him, Redeemer of Israel, Jesus Savior Pilot Me, and The Lord is My Light. If nothing else, that approach would draw attention to the absence of the gospel in some of the talks and topics since we ARE supposed to preach of Christ in every meeting and lesson.
Julie and I are on the same wavelength on personal and family rituals. I’ve been turning a family rituals posts around in my head and it’s on my list…
Comment by LisaB — February 6, 2006 @ 8:12 am
Artemis, I’m with you all the way. Easter Sunday gets short shrift in our church, and that seems kind of strange for a church that calls itself after the Savior.
As for the yard thing, I think I know where it might be coming from. In the mid-1970s, President Kimball made it a pet cause of his. I did a little searching, and found an Ensign talk from May, 1975, in which he says:
“Keep in good repair and beautify your homes, your yards, farms, and businesses. Repair the fences. Clean up and paint where needed. Keep your lawns and your gardens well-groomed. Whatever your circumstance, let your premises reflect orderliness, beauty, and happiness. Plan well and carry out your plan in an orderly and systematic manner.”
And in General Conference the following year, he said:
“We are most grateful for the excellent response by the people of the Church to our urging that gardens be planted and that fruit trees be cultivated and our places cleaned up and made more livable.”
So I guess there’s a precedent. Just not on Easter Sunday.
Comment by Cathleen — February 6, 2006 @ 8:23 am
All right, apparently LisaB and I were typing at the same time. Sorry about that — didn’t mean to be repetitive here!
Comment by Cathleen — February 6, 2006 @ 8:24 am
Thanks for the quotes Cathleen. I don’t think you were repetitive at all!
Comment by LisaB — February 6, 2006 @ 8:30 am
If I were being asked to talk that Sunday I might get really sassy (if they didn’t respond to complaints) and start my talk with “On this beautiful Easter Sunday where we Celebrate the Atonement and Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, the Bishopric have asked that I talk to you about the importance of Yardwork. I hope you will choose to study the meaning of the Easter celebration at home, because it won’t be happening here today.”
It might also guarantee that I wouldn’t be asked to speak in church until there is a new Bishopric, or ward boundary change.
Comment by Starfoxy — February 6, 2006 @ 9:09 am
Starfoxy, please move to my ward, so I’m not the only one. It can be such a burden to be the big mouth broad. And every ward needs at least one. We dance around so much in this church it just chaps my hide.
Comment by annegb — February 6, 2006 @ 9:29 am
I was asked once to speak on service and church callings when I’d been in the ward for a year with no calling. I mentioned that at the beginning of my talk, and had a calling the following week.
I really don’t know what I’d do if I were asked to speak on yardwork. I just don’t think I could bring myself to do it, and not only because we don’t have a yard. I’d go Brett’s route, I think.
Comment by Susan M — February 6, 2006 @ 9:52 am
Posted without any editorial comment:
LDS Bible Dictionary on “Easter”
Comment by Bryce I — February 6, 2006 @ 10:40 am
Thank you for all the responses! I have enjoyed reading everybody’s feelings and suggestions. Cyl, I loved the hymn adaptation.
I did end up calling one of the stake high councilors–he’s in our ward, was the bishop before the current one, and is a good friend of DH’s and mine. He looked up his high council speaking schedule and confirmed the topics (assigned by the stake), though in a much longer, wordy form than the Cliff’s notes version I apparently got–apparently the topic is essentially ‘Neat Yards and Neat Homes Invite the Spirit’. Not that that changes much. But he responded well to my concerns and told me he’d start by talking to the councilor who plans these things. I’m hoping he’ll put a bug in the Stake Presidency’s ear. Meanwhile, DH is planning to say something to one of the SP counselors (see, I can keep my councilors and counselors straight!) when he goes to do his membership clerk work tomorrow night. I’ll keep you all posted.
As for where I live, well, this is one of the odder stakes I’ve lived in. I will say that the frustrations do provide a form of entertainment as well–my sick sense of humor, I guess.
In answer to some of the burning questions: We do not live in a gated community. And while our ward has the occasionally dumpy yard, it’s mostly pretty good; I’d even say some people overgroom and over-fertilize, over-pesticide-ize, etc., but I realize that’s partly the environmentalist in me. DH and I manage to keep ours respectable, keeping the cars off the cinderblocks, etc. The stake itself does cover some lower income areas, some apartments and a number of small houses w/yards where the occupants, I suspect, are slightly more concerned with making sure they have enough money for the bills than with applying for Extreme Home/Yard Makeover. Or having the leisure of spare time and money to do their own projects, which necessarily take more of each. But if the stake is targeting these people, then I have other objections, such as, these people are already (most of them) stretched really thin just trying to make it. Assuming they’re coming to church regularly, which you must if you’re planning a talk to reach them, then why would you tell them their spirituality is lacking because they simply don’t have the resources to do that One More Thing and magically transform their yards into Martha Stewart showcases? Wouldn’t it be great if the Evangelicals caught hold of this one and started telling everybody we believe that commandment-work 5,296 necessary to get to Heaven is a well-groomed yard. Hoo boy, that’s just what we need.
As for the hymns–actually, I have a secret mission to make the meetings Christ-centered in spite of themselves, so I’m heavy on the Christ-centered hymns and throw in some that have a link to the theme, but mostly focus on the Savior. If I know the assigned speakers are the type to ramble and not focus on the Reason for the Topic, then I choose even more overtly Christ-centered or Christ-praising songs. You know, to make up the difference. The idea is to get people used to making Christ the center of our worship without rocking too many boats–though without more guidance on the talks, I can only do so much. DH & I also coach our Sunday School kids on how to give Christ-centered testimonies (instead of weepy friend-centered testimonies, travelogues and too long, TMI soul-bearing confessions).
Shall we start a letter-writing campaign? I’m game if you are.
Also, I like the idea of sending Easter cards to our fellow Saints–you know, make the holiday something to rival Christmas, plus give people something else to put and keep it on their minds. There aren’t any LDS themed Easter cards that I can find (ahem!), but I can find individual Hallmark-types at grocery stores when Easter’s approaching. I haven’t been able to find boxed ones yet, though, which would be more economical, though I did find a package of 8 one year. Last year I used a collection of Deborah Shenck blossom blank cards and wrote in my own verse and message. I guess creativity is key. As for me and my house, my new goal is to get our ward to start a yearly Easter program. ‘Tis lofty, I know, but that’s where all the fun is, right?
Comment by Artemis — February 6, 2006 @ 10:49 am
Well, the Bible Dictionary doesn’t even list Christmas. What’s wrong with adaptation and synthesis, anyway? Here’s some info. from a handout I give to my Sunday School kids:
History of Easter
Easter was first celebrated as a pagan holiday to the Teutenic goddess, Estre. Estre was the goddess of the rising light of day and spring. The month of April was called Eostur-monath.
The Hebrews stated to celebrate the Passover in the month of April. The Passover was the night the angel of death “passed over” the homes of the Israelites and spared their first born.
Jesus, a Jew and the Son of God, was celebrating the Passover in Jerusalem. He was scourged, crucified, died and buried. On the third day, He rose from the dead. Christians remember this event and call it Easter. Easter was celebrated on different days of the week. However, in 325 AD, the Council of Nicaea was convened by emperor Constantine and Easter was changed. Now Easter is on the fist Sunday after the first full moon or the Sunday after the first day of Spring. So Easter will be celebrated anywhere between the dates of March 22nd and April 25th.
Easter Symbols
The Lamb Lambs were used as sacrifices. Christ is the Lamb of God and He was the lamb that was sacrificed for us.
The Butterfly The butterfly is an ancient Easter symbol. Like the butterfly emerging out of the cocoon, so did Christ rise out of the tomb.
The Rabbit /Easter Bunny The pagan festival of Eastre, the goddess, her earthly symbol was a rabbit. The rabbit was a sign of fertility and new life. The Easter Rabbit that lays eggs came from a Germany tradition around the late 1500’s. It was believed that the Easter bunny laid red eggs on Holy Thursday and the night before Easter Sunday, it laid multi-coloured eggs.
The Easter Egg The egg represented the rebirth of the earth. Pagans believed it had special powers. French brides stepped on an egg before crossing the threshold of their new homes. Burying an egg under the foundations of a building, would ward off evil. Roman women that were with child would carry an egg to tell them what sex the child was. To the Christians the egg represented rebirth of mankind. The tomb of Christ, he rose, a rebirth like the egg and the chick, life comes from it. Exhanging eggs in the springtime is a custom that was centuries old when Easter was first celebrated by Christians.
The Easter Lily The Easter lily is also called the Passion flower or Pasque flower. It was used in the early Christian time and was a symbol of the resurrection.
Comment by Artemis — February 6, 2006 @ 10:59 am
We once had a guest speaker (GA) talk about the architectural symbols used on some of our buildings (temples and chapels). He pointed out one used quite a bit on our building–the egg and dart, and talked about the egg as a rebirth symbol. There’s also Christ as the mother hen tie in to the egg, and the lost lamb and shepherd tie-in to lambs.
I really like the idea of sending Easter cards. I’m doin’ it! Good opportunity to respond to our Baptist neighbors’ Christmas card which included a “be saved” tract. They know we are active Mormons. Their daughter went to a religious university that has as part of its religious curriculum a course with an anti-Mormon section. I wanted to reply in a way that indicates we too believe in, worship, and celebrate Christ, but not in an in your face kind of way. So this would be a perfect opportunity.
Comment by LisaB — February 6, 2006 @ 11:20 am
Annegb, I hate to disappoint you but I’m not really as sassy as I indicated. I would have to be *really* mad and overcome with reckless abandon to actually say that. I’m the annoying sort that dreams of saying stuff like that out loud but never does. I’m working on building up some moxy though ’cause I agree we do need more loud-mouth broads at church. Especially the kind that don’t tell you what a bad parent you are.
There is a great lady who lived across the street from me when I was a kid who would say stuff like that though. But she stopped coming to church because she couldn’t stand the lady who was relief society president at the time. I think once the RS pres. dies then she might start coming again, but she’s one of those ladies that just never dies. I think you and my neighbor would get along famously.
Comment by Starfoxy — February 6, 2006 @ 11:41 am
LisaB–yes, it’s a great statement of belief. My impetus for Easter cards came after I got married and wanted to clear up some misconceptions (benign and otherwise) that some of DH’s family had about dem moh-mans. His step-mom thought maybe we didn’t celebrate Christmas, Easter, or any other holiday (her family was JW), and was worried about offending us. Then there was the Evangelical cousin-in-law who told us flat out we were going to Hell. So we build bridges, go to church with the fam. when we visit, and… send Christmas and Easter cards.
“What are we going to do today, Brain?” “Same thing we do every day, Pinky. Try and take over the world.”
Comment by Artemis — February 6, 2006 @ 11:45 am
Whenever I give a talk or a lesson, I manage to bring it back to Christ in a major way, not just mention the connection. For example, when I was Teaching for Our Times teacher in the RS, I would use a few quotes from the talks, then find scriptural stories on the same themes as the GC talk and dive into the scriptures. This way I avoided sending sisters on guilt trips, and managed to focus more on Christ.
Similarly, when my husband and I were invited to speak in sacrament meeting on “sustaining our leaders” or any other topic we felt comfortable speaking about, we both chose to talk about Christ.
Reactions are sometimes overwhelming in people thanking you for your talk or lesson. I don’t think I’m that talented of a speaker; they’re responding to the subject matter. Mormons are starved to hear more about Christ and they love it when they hear it.
Comment by Melinda — February 6, 2006 @ 12:46 pm
I’m also against the non-Christ sacrament talk. The worst thing about this at a time like Easter is that you might be more likely to get a visitor to come with you at that time. The Church that’s got tithing talks on Easter isn’t going to be real appealing to nonmembers, especially those that are already Christian. This isn’t just a bad talk problem, it’s a missionary/PR problem.
I haven’t experienced it in my ward though.
Comment by D-Train — February 6, 2006 @ 2:19 pm
dangermom (18)
“Coming to Christ through…XXX” sounds like an awesome topic!!!
Comment by TrailerTrash — February 6, 2006 @ 4:00 pm
Though if we aren’t going to take April Conference as an Easter celebration, we ought to discuss which Easter. I notice everyone here seems to just assume the Catholic Easter date rather than the Passover date (which differs) or the Eastern Easter date.
Basically substituting one culture for another.
Comment by Stephen M (Ethesis) — February 7, 2006 @ 7:21 am
If we’re gonna be particular about our refusal to adapt to others’ calendars, then we should only be celebrating Joseph Smith’s birthday in December, and be celebrating Christ’s birth, Passover, and his Atonement in the Spring. So all the more need to emphasize Christ at “Easter” time!
Comment by LisaB — February 7, 2006 @ 8:56 am
Then there’s the story of my dad, a former mission pres., who put together a fabulous Easter musical program. When I submitted it to my then-bishop a few years ago, I was told that the SP would only allow music from the hymns, and nixed the whole thing. You know, “Oh Divine Redeemer” just wasn’t fit for Sacrament Meeting…
Comment by Rich (still a heretic) — February 7, 2006 @ 10:59 am
I’m sorry I didn’t take the time to read the comments (blogging time limited and all). So, if someone already covered this, forgive the redundancy.
Frankly, I think your concerns merit a written letter sent to your bishop, Stake President, High Council, and Area Authority. Ok, so it means 15 stamps, but, seriously. You have brought up a very valid point here. The idea that the three-fold mission of the church is actually being hampered by the nature of the meetings is serious. The joys of having a lay clergy and all–mistakes get made; people, even groups of people can get off track.
If your letter is sincerely and humbly worded, and you are careful to include the point that you hesitate to bring investigators to sacrament meeting because sacrament meeting as it is in your ward does not accurately reflect the Christ-centered nature of the gospel, and you are careful to avoid confrontational, challenging, or rebellious language, that your letter may be received in humility, and perhaps, a change would be made immediately.
Holy cow.
It can be tricky footing, to criticize church leaders, but, we are all human, and we do make mistakes from time to time, and it does look as if a reminder is in order here.
Sorry again for the hasty comment, especially of I’m off base.
Comment by Naiah Earhart — February 7, 2006 @ 12:38 pm
It is possible to unheretic, Rich.
I’ve done so myself.
Comment by LisaB — February 7, 2006 @ 3:55 pm
Maybe you missed the subtitle to the lesson, Artemis.
“Neat Yards invite the Spirit. How shrubbery is a symbol of Christ’s resurrection.”
I dunno–could be interesting!
Comment by Heather O. — February 7, 2006 @ 4:23 pm
You may wish to read the short story “Palm Sunday” in the Winter 1995 issue of “Dialogue”.
http://content.lib.utah.edu/cgi-bin/docviewer.exe?CISOROOT=/dialogue&CISOPTR=27086
click on page 159
Comment by Phouchg — February 7, 2006 @ 10:04 pm
Slihgtly related, but… In my last ward there was a recent convert from the Philippines (former Catholic). She had taken the lessons, been baptised, and had been coming to church for several months. Her work schedule changed and she came less and less until we didn’t see her for several months. When she came back it was Christmas time and our ward had a large decorated Christmas tree in the foyer. As we were talking she took me aside and said, “I noticed the Christmas tree downstairs. Do Mormons celebrate Christmas? She had been a member for more than a year.
Comment by meems — February 7, 2006 @ 11:49 pm
Perfect story Pouchg! Thanks for the link!
Comment by LisaB — February 8, 2006 @ 12:56 pm
LDS mebers always celebrate Easter, not in one hour-long sacrament meeting, but over a two day conference lasting over 10 hours (11 if you count the YW meeting the weekend before). The next is called The 176 Annual General Conference. It’s held this coming April on the anniversary of the Savior’s resurrection; as revealed by His latter day prophet Joseph Smith, Jr.
“The liturgical year, also known as the Christian year, consists of the cycle of liturgical seasons in some Christian churches which determines when Feasts, Memorials, Commemorations, and Solemnities are to be observed and which portions of Scripture are to be read. Distinct liturgical colors may appear in connection with different seasons of the liturgical year.
The dates of the festivals vary somewhat between the Western (Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Protestant) church and the Eastern (Orthodox) church, though the sequence and logic is the same. In both traditions the dates of many festivals vary between years, though in almost all cases this is due to the variation in the date of Easter, and all other dates follow from that. The extent to which the fasts and festivals are celebrated also varies between churches; in general Protestant churches observe far fewer of them than Catholic and Orthodox churches, and in particular are less likely to celebrate feasts of the Virgin Mary and the Saints.” Wikipedia Online
I’ll take General Conference over all those traditions anytime.
Comment by CeeWright — February 23, 2006 @ 3:26 pm
Just a fun aside - kind of reminded me of this post.
After church at an impromptu primary meeting, we were told that the mother’s day Sacrament and Primary program would be held on May 28 this year. Why? Because on actual Mother’s day the Branch Presidency (or maybe it’s coming from the Stake - don’t know) has said our theme is going to be “Restoration of the Priesthood.” Heh!
Comment by meems - Isn't Life Funny? — April 16, 2006 @ 5:15 am