Comments on: Judging People; Judging Behavior

By: sweetisthepeace

sweetisthepeace — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:15:25 +0000

Thanks for sharing that story, Hazumu. That’s exactly what I would hope to see not happen. Those who are members of this Church and who have taken upon themselves Christ’s name by solemn covenant ought to be the first examples of Christian charity. Those who take upon them that Name will have to make an accounting to Him whose Name it is. Doubly so those whom the Lord has called to serve Him in positions of leadership, for He has the highest expectations of them. If all you say is true, I think this Bishop and those who helped him failed to live up to that expectation. Certainly, they were not showing the Christlike love Elder Wirthlin taught us in the address MoSop linked to. It’s a sad, sad story, and I hope your friend has found some peace wherever she is.

I thank the Lord that I have been blessed with a number of good, compassionate Bishops who have lovingly counseled me when I have faced difficulties and have helped me get through some very trying times. I am always sad to hear of Bishops who are not like that and I pray that those who are lacking in compassion will gain more of it.

By: Hazumu Osaragi

Hazumu Osaragi — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:48:21 +0000

A friend of mine was voted a Son of Perdition because she was ‘observed’ using an unused ladies’ room at work. She had already legally changed her name. She had already begun wearing women’s clothing. Her supervisor later admitted he had started a campaign to run her out of the company, or get her to suicide, if she didn’t renounce her wicked ways. This supervisor’s actions put the high tech company at severe risk of liability through these actions, and my friend was awarded a large settlement to go away and take the ‘problem’ with her. It helped her re-establish herself elsewhere and further her transition. The supervisor gigglingly told the negotiating attorney from the home office that he had succeeded in ‘running the little faggot out of here’ (an accurate paraphrase, the supervisor used the word ‘faggot’.)

By the way, the supervisor was then a Bishop of the LDS church, and was aided and abetted in his campaign by other church hierarchy.

Whose action is worse, mu friend for transitioning, or the bishop for trying to destroy her?

Sincerely;

Hazumu

By: sweetisthepeace

sweetisthepeace — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:07:37 +0000

Thank you for linking to Elder Wirthlin’s talk. It was beautiful, and much needed. When I first heard him give it at conference, I wanted to shout for joy. Elder Wirthlin is looking a little physically frail these days, but when he speaks, it is powerful, and I think he trembles from the Spirit as much as from age. I heaard in Elder Wirthlin’s talk a loving plea for more love and understanding. How many more people might we bring to Christ if we would just love them without worrying about whether we agree with their choices.

Something else that’s been pricking me since I wrote this last night. If you are assigned as a home teacher for Sister Jones, please, please, please be sure to go visit her faithfully. Remember that she is in a situation where it is unlikely that she will ever have Priesthood in her own home. That means that you are the Priesthood in her home. Chances are she will need Priesthood blessings sometimes, and you are the one who will need to give them. If she is a convert, she is trying to understand a new place and culture, and one where, frankly, she might not be well received. She is probably struggling to understand how her own feelings of gender fit in with the teachings of living prophets. How do I know? Because I have felt that way, and I’ve been taught this stuff and steeped in the culture since I was born. She doesn’t need you to remind her that there is a disconnect. She is surely already painfully aware. What she needs is unconditional love while she figures out between herself, the Bishop, and the Lord, where she fits in His Kingdom. Don’t let your discomfort with her situation be an excuse for shirking your duty as a Priesthood holder. You have received the Melcizedek Priesthood and covenanted with the Lord to magnify your calling. Keep that covenant. Be there for Sister Jones. And of course, that applies regardless of whether Sister Jones is transgendered or whether it’s something else about her that makes you uncomfortable. Go do your home teaching. Help her. Lift her. Strengthen her. If you shirk this duty, you rject the Priesthood no less than she does.

By: mormonsoprano

mormonsoprano — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 06:16:44 +0000

“We are not competent to judge the states of others’ souls”

I couldn’t agree more.

Thanks for the link to Elder Oaks masterful ‘deposition’ on judging. In October 2008 Elder Wirthlin gave a beautiful talk which I have read many times. It is a plea for showing tolerance and Christlike love. http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-851-6,00.html