Svithe: The Me-First Fallacy (and its amazingly simple solution)

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Never make a principle out of your experience; let God be as original with other people as he is with you. ---Oswald Chambers

I've been thinking a lot about this issue lately, in part because of my Elna Baker posts and in part because of friends of mine and in part as I reevaluate my own thinking, and rediscovering the above quotation has gelled it together for me.

When I speak to people who are mildly or severely disenfranchised with faith, they often blame that disenfranchisement on the affliction called Other Believer's Expectations for True Believers.

Often, as humans, we make the mistake of believing that we are in fact the center of the universe, that we are in fact the archetypal human, that we are in fact perfectly average and merely typical. All of these assumptions are varieties of the same sin, an accidental, almost negative version of pride.

About ten years ago I was plotting a book written for teenaged Mormons about sex. Because I had figured out what I had needed to know when I was a teenager and I was going to take my wisdom and lay it out for the next batch of teenagers.

I'm glad I never got more than a few paragraphs written down, because the hubris of the concept appalls me now.

The whole point of this life is to figure some things out for ourselves (within doctrinal guidelines if possible, but those things are rather vague if we're being honest). If there was a single correct answer applicable to every question, we'd have nothing to figure out.

And when we do figure out an answer it feels so good that of course, being good people, we want to share. And that's when we make our mistake: assuming that the answer God has shared with ME is also therefore the same answer he would share with YOU.

Why in the world would he do that?

The reason that answer felt so good was because it was, of all possible answers, the best one for me. And I am not you.

We can also make this fallacy in regards to ourselves. Learning at age 15 that X is a huge error, then assuming that X will be an error of equal magnitude at age 45, does not necessarily hold true. Sometimes, sure. But the subtle details of life are everchanging and God knows what we need.

So the solution?

Be open to God's will for you now.
Expect God's will to differ for others.
Don't presume to judge the quality of God's various answers.

Or, at least, that's the answer I seem to have today.

What thinkest thou?

this svithe on thuopia
last week's svithe

Svithe: Stand on Your Head

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The Berkeley Ward has its own legend: J. Ed Johnson, who stood on his head.

He stood on his head at funerals, in testimony meetings and, most famously, at a Berkeley City Council meeting where his antics won the ward the permission to build a modest parking lot next to the building.

He did a lot more than just stand on his head of course, but just being a stellar Saint might not be enough to ensure legendary status. You might also need to stand on your head.

This is our stake's 75th anniversary and we've had a variety of theses and thatses to celebrate, Today, at our our Priesthood/ReliefSociety/YoungMen/YoungWomen meeting following a Stake Sacrament Meeting one of J. Ed's granddaughters showed slides of him standing on his head in cemeteries and national parks and spoke of his diligence.

So when we speak of creating a spiritual legacy for your dependents, yes provide for the widows (another Johnson trademark) but also come up with some grand, photographable quirk. Because that's the stuff of legends people. Then people will remember you.

(And if your example was in the right things, then they will also remember He whom you served.)

this svithe on thutopia
last week's svithe

#svithe #ldsconf

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If you're not following Thwitter, you're missing out, folks. Not because I tweet such interesting things, but the conversational nature of Twitter is a marvelous way to build relationships and knowledge. Dandy stuff.

Anyway, bit of background for those of you who merely observe the Mormonness of this blog with a bemused eye, but last week was the Church's semiannual General Conference (my blog notes, response to my twitter notes). For that moim we get together worldwide and leadership speaks from Salt Lake City. It's covered by a goodly number of tv and radio stations and is streamed online). Anyway, it's kind of a big deal. That's my main point.

Watching Conference and taking my notes and then being on Twitter at the same time was an unusual experience. On the one hand, all these things distracted me for the other things. On the other hand however, it was a great way to find other Saints also watching #ldsconf. (Well over 10000 tweets over the weekend.)

I had been mulling a post over the so-called Twitter Stake experience, but I got busy and didn't type anything up.

So I'm going to take my cues from Tyler and make this week's svithe a response to his blogpost on #ldsconf. (Or, more accurately, a reply he made to a comment left for him.) Specifically, he was discussing how Saints can bear (t)witness during the #ldsconf offseason:

I don't think it needs to be anything excessive or overbearing, such that we become twitness bearing zealots. For me, as on this blog, that means not being afraid to discuss spiritual/religious matters when they come up or when I feel compelled to share some experience I've had with God. In the past, I've tried to implement a weekly svithe (a neologism combining seven and tithe) as Theric (also know as Thmazing) and others have done---and that I really should pick up again---as a means to devote one post in a week to spiritual/religious matters. Perhaps a #twitness hashtag (though I see it's already been co-opted for other purposes; let's take it for ourselves!) or some such label might encourage Mormon tweeters to do the same, to share their resolve to live and share the Gospel in real time, to be a support system for other Twitter-day Saints.

Adding a hashtag is the easier way to draw attention to a regular occurrence on Twitter and we have a few options here. One is #ldsconf although that seems necessarily limited to references back to Conference (as if that were a bad thing.

Another is #svithe which I am leery of promoting. Although I'm always happy when someone finds svithing a useful concept, promoting the concept to others seems self-promotional somehow.

The third is #twitness which has hardly been strongly used by anyone to this point --- it could certainly be repurposed. The problem I see is that bearing witness is a phrase less used by Mormons than bearing testimony (though #twestimony is kinda lame).

Anyway, I'm not promoting any particular concept, nor am I convinced the Twitter Stake had enough mass to make something like this a solid phenomenon. But I do think that Mormons (or any serious religious denomination, for that matter) should think about their presence online. And that's best done by the plebes, not the hierarchy. So it's worth discussing and experimenting with and figuring out.

That's all. Dicuss. Here or on Twitter. Remember, I'm @thmazing.

this #svithe on thutopia
last week's #svithe[tacular]
thwitter

Svithetacular 179.5

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SATURDAY MORNING

President Monson

Five new temples. I was fighting the computer, so I only caught Brigham City, Chile and Sapporo. I'm sure I could check Twitter though.

Lady Steed's Mac won't kill the hiccupping video feed so we've got two off feeds going at the same time. Still, it's better than my laptop. I was going to take notes there, but the keyboard doesn't work.

His blessing for us as we listen.

Elder Richard Scott

What can we do to enhance our capacity to be led to correct decisions in our lives?

Father in Heaven knew we would be faced with decisions beyond our capacity to choose correctly. Ergo, Holy Ghost.

Use the HG consistently --- that's what God wants.

There's no consistent formula to be guided by the Spirit.

Spirituality yields two fruits: inspiration to know what to do, the power to do it.

Those come together.

Cf 1N3:7.

Beware those who choose to impress rather than become a conduit for inspiration.

"Is there more I should know?"

Best to write down inspiration as it comes.

Big O holds the baby. The baby cries. Elder Scott should really either give us a minute or at least Speak Up a Little!

No porn, folks

We can learn the principles of being guided by the Spirit

and thus live lives of great peace and happiness

Didn't catch who this lady is---40m later, via Twitter: Sister Matsumori

The missionaries stop at one last house, a home teacher calls someone he had just visited, a YW decides to ditch the party

How did they know to do that?????

The Holy Ghost!

She cops to not feeling different immediately upon being baptized or confirmed.

It takes time to understand what and when the Spirit is.

Trying to find a still small moment in our edays is not easy.

a warm blanket

Thanks to Twitter, we know this is Elder William Clayton

firewood in burlap, rope around forehead

now for metaphysical burdens

some no fault of our own
---natural
---other people

whatever the burden, from heaven's perspective, last but a short while

cursed is the ground for our sake
work a continual burden for our sake

if we are compelled to be humble, well, blessed are we

Twitter says.....Russell T. Osguthorpe?

Missionaries like doctors.

Sunday classes not about pouring in info.

Are overintellectualized Sunday schools becoming a big problem or something?

teaching that teaches about then shows how to take action

He's a recovered giverupper.

Elder Bednar (twitter is awesome --- wish I'd thought of it earlier to fill my temple and speaker gaps)

ExPRESS LOVE

We know we should, but do we do?

"such love is the desire of the soul"

bear testimony in the home

When did you last?

we should look for and create opportunities to bear testimony

testimony creates light out of the dark

some lessons will fail, but CONSISTENCY is the greatest lesson

Comparing what's getting tweeted with what I'm hearing, I'm about five minutes behind.

President Dieter F Uctdorf

What do people think of Mormons?

Geez. Mormons are weird.

Baby screams, boy sings, I can't hear anything.

love of good things the source of joy
love of the notsogood the source of notjoy

since God is love, the closer we approach him, the more profoundly we experience love

an earnest desire to become more like Him because we love Him
thus becoming born again, cleansed in the blood

How can we hear the Father's voice?
He will answer us.
As you read the scriptures, or conference or are in the temple or at church, listen for his voice. In nature, listen. In daily interactions with others, in a hymn, in a child's laugh, listen for his voice.

His voice will lead you on a course to the pure love of Christ.

Love the path to consecration.

What should be THE defining attribute of members of CJCLDS?
Let us be known as a people that love our God and love our neighbors as does Jesus Christ.

And as we do, we become aware of what it truly means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON

Elder DHOakes

Sorry. Further computer issues. Trying to get caught up.

Basically, true love doesn't take hostages and sometimes life sucks, but God still loves us no matter what you think. (Basically.)

The general consensus on Twitter at the moment is that if Elder Oakes is talking about the connection between love and law, then, as he is particularly qualified to do so, we should listen.

This is a different take on the God-is-like-unto-your-own-parents simile. It's an interesting exploration he's taking. I'll definitely need to reread this more closely in future weeks.

plug for agency

"courageous confrontation" --- love often requires that, rather than giving in to indulgent self-destruction of the beloved

love of children does not require rejection of God's laws

Elder RBHales

Belief in God --- why is it so important?

Why did Jesus say that life eternal is to know God and the christ he sent?

I think Elder Hales is missing a chance here. Atheism is becoming a more layered and positive philosophy. Rejection of God is not a clear connection to a lack or morality anymore. It would be good, I think, not to reject atheism as an error outright but, as we do with other faith systems, say bring what you have and let us see if we cannot add more.

The reality and physicality of God.

"we know the father and the son have feelings for us"

The god-weeping verse needs more discussion. I recently learned that Joseph Smith may have intended to remove that from Moses.

"according to the dictates of our own conscious"
"and allow all...the same privelege"
"worship how where and what they may"

if we do not yield to the gentle influence of the HG we risk becoming like Korihor

seek a testimony of God now

these lessing to your family forever

Elder Zeballos

If you keep my commandments and endure to the end, you shall have eternal life.

This divine promise POSSIBLE to ACHIEVE

isn't promise, you know, pretty awesome incentive?

all ye that embark in the service of God, see that you serve him with all your heart might mind and strength
(with all our being)
that we may stand blameless before God at the last day

the command to become perfect as He is *encourages* us to do our best, to uncover our talents, etc

eternal life for all mankind

not requisite to run faster than we have strength

be diligent to win the prize

God cannot expect more than our best nor accept less.

our saviour to whom we owe everything

by grace we are saved after all we can do

faith dedication enthusiasm love --- use all to achieve what is impossible without divine assistance

the most glorious of realities: to live forever with god and our families

Like Paul, to fight the good right, finish the course, keep the faith

Yes! It's possible to be happy now and forever!

Brother Callister

I'm now holding the baby who seems like it might be coming down with a fever. May impact my notetaking.

I'm glad to hear about angels.

Elder Anderson

the joy of something (I was interrupted midtype)

repentance a blessing to all of us

"a period of riotous living" lol

do we listen less upon praying?

why does sadness sometimes live past repentance

Why do they always insist that we will remember a story?

President Packer

Another truly distinctive voice, even as it ages.

cow, chicken, lots of children

all beings with bodies have power over those who do not

adding to the stage metaphor, P now intoduces a mental delete key

SATURDAY EVENING















SUNDAY MORNING

President Eyring

Every Latter-day Saint an optimist

My family agrees that "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus" a homerun Primary song. Who wrote it...?

Love of God leads us to keep his commandments
Love of others is at the heart of our capacity to obey him

Family given as an example of an ideal place

SURPRISE!!!! This talk is about love too! (Anyone catching a theme, here?)

Pray for the love that allows you to see the good in your companion, that makes the less than great things seem small, that makes you want to bear her/his burdens

Hen/chickens

Prodigal son

Orson F Whitney: Promised that parents who stay true, tentacles of divine providence, pray for kids, etc

How nice to be asked about one's family, ah, ah, whip out the pictures, ah.

Gift through loving obedience, great shall be the peace of your children.

THE WAY lies through Jesus Christ

Elder Perry

He and the wife went to the Mormon Miracle Pageant this summer in Manti

15000 in one night! Wow!

Incidentally, in Manti, great little ice cream place. Only licorice ice cream I've ever had.

There's something about facing the lessons of the past that prepares us to face the future.

Embracing the gospel results in a complete change of life

That turn of phrase was confusing. Did he mean they knew it would be barren or that they were used to green hills etc.?

Having converted one desert, get out of here, go to a fresh desert, start over

It is curious, the placement of the Manti Temple. If there wasn't one there, don't you think the best they could hope for today would be a small one? Probably in Ephraim instead?

Use the lessons of the past to meet the future:
shipbuilding leads to roofbuilding
(waterproofing, etc)
I'm pretty sure this wasn't a new innovation---they already knew this was how to build. They're Norwegian!

Bishop Burton

We here at the Thteed house are thinking maybe Primary should be a little more intensive.

"Virtue Traits" the outward manifestation of the inner man

The Ity Virtues, ITY means.....ARE YOU LISTENING HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMEN???

In our society, you never admit to wrongdoing unless it has already been proven beyond dispute already.

Abandoning these Christcentered virtues will be DISASTROUS
could even result in the rule of law being set aside

This isn't a typical Burton talk at all. But I like it.

Shame on the donut scamming little girl.
Shame!

Did he say that parents suffer more than the children they endeavor to teach? What does that mean?

Integrity is the light that shines from a disciplined conscious.

I am constantly astounded by how little integrity some of my students have. And saddened. You can't play on some kids' sense of honor because they haven't one.

Dignity honesty and integrity are more important that revenge and rage. Another thing some kids just don't know.

I didn't watch what all the lost and forgotten thing was about. Did I miss something or was that just a really weak bit of figurativeness?

May we have humility responsibility opportunity etc. It actually worked pretty well. With a different reading, you might not even notice it.

Sister Dibbs Second Counselor of the YW and allegedly Pr Monson's daughter

Nothing like a good disaster story to kick off a talk.

Those damages had safety equipment but Chose Not to Use it. I can't imagine what the lesson here is going to be.

PrMonson: Remember: You have access to HFather's guidance.

Hold fast to the rod of iron.

I hear on Twitter that Sis Dibbs never stops smiling and frequently speaks of disasters. I love it.

Use the safety equipment!

She confirms the daughter rumor.

Elder RM Nelson

"Wireless telephones"?

Prayer has no roaming fees! Awesome! Sign me up!

Illegible midnight genius --- ah, we've all been there

Don't steal, kill, bear false witness. (please)

Some commandments for specific moments (eg, build an ark)

Put off the natural man and become a Saint through Jesus and become as a child willing to submit to all things

BOLDNESS

Read the story about the son's father and Elder Nelson's prophecy to him

DISCERNMENT

callings not for aggrandizement

line upon line, precept upon precept

TSM the Living Prophet
that we may heed his counsel is my prayer in the name of....

President Thomas S Monson (speak of the, ah, prophet?)

renewal of the No Retirement theme, this time in medicine instead of church
(but I'm sure they will merge)

Those who lose their lives in service grow and flourish and in effect save their lives.

at our best when losing our own lives for others

How often has daytoday living interfered?

Take a step back and take a good look at what we're doing.

We spend too much time caring for things that do not matter.

We are the Lord's hands upon the earth with a mandate to serve.

The ideal gift to Pr Mons is to serve someone in need

warm fuzzies in a jar

it isn't easy for those who are young to understand when life changes from a time of prep and perf to a time of putting things away, standing on the sidelines watching the procession pass by
you have to live a long time to learn how empty is a room filled with nothing but furniture

When saw we thee hungry and fed thee?

He speaks to you and to me, Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavyladen and I will give thee rest.
For I am meek and lowly of heart and you shall find rest unto your souls.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Elder Holland

I am very very sad that my, ah, emergency conflicted with the beginning of this talk. I love Elder Holland's talks.

I have never heard this portion of the Martyrdom before. And he uses it to striking effect.

"none of these frankly pathetic explanations for this book" (book of mormon)

No wicked man COULD right it and no RIGHTEOUS man would (unless commanded to) -- JRH's grandpa

You cannot leave this church without crawling over or under or through the Book of Mormon.

It is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to those who wish not to believe in this work.
(can't wait to read pathetic exmo reaction to that line)

Holland is a masterful speaker, both in the writing and the presentation.

His clear clear witness echoes Nephi's: hearken to these words and believe in Christ, or, if you don't believe these words, at least believe in Christ, and if you do believe in Christ, then you will believe in these words.
He will show you that these are his words in the last day.

Elder Quentin Cook

Hey! Love pleasure more than righteousness? Tch.

Some serve because they believe it is the right thing to do.
While good, a higher motive is when we serve our fellow man because God wants us to.
Said someone, missed who, but that person said the LDSs seem to serve for that latter reason.

We will be accountable for our own sins in our day of judgment.

Two stewardships: ourselves; poor and needy. Those for discussion today.

Keeping up the spring
Restoring the spring

God's standard of morality the same for all his children

We are accountable to God. So how silly to rationalize. Like hiding our eyes and thinking mommy can't see.

managing priorities, what putteth thou first?

religious observance in the home as important as food clothing and shelter

children unaware that they are accountable of the time talents etc at a disadvantage

our stewardship for those in need inspire some of the strongest language in all scripture

some members will always respond, no matter the sacrifices required

No, of course you shouldn't run faster than you have strength, BUT BE DILIGENT

Lebrand N.Neilson?

Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost.

The Finnish/Soviet border and one more prophecy fulfilled

NO GREATER WORK no greater call THAN teaching the NATIONS of the EARTH

so leave your fishnets straightway and follow Him, ladies

name

heart transplant as metaphor --- avoiding organ rejection

the ultimate operation is a, wait for it, CHANGE OF HEART
(clever)

It's swiftly become clear that there is not enough room in this bed for all of us.

Ringwood

easiness and willingness to believe in the word of God

another talk about soft hearts. curious.

I will Go and Do.

Funny turn of phrase. Sounded like God wanted Lamoni's dad's sins. Maybe to try something different for a while.

live worthy of the HG

Elder Sitati

The Tower of Babel

we are currently in the middle of many many many familial distractions; these last three talks are a blur

allegory of the olive tree
all nations become members of Israel

"ready heckoning"? LS suggests 'beckoning'

I never realized how much 'married' sounds like 'murdered'. Let's keep but one in the temple, shall we?

Elder Christofferson

I do not believe there is a double standard of morality (faust) (that is, OUR faust)

disciple and discipline's rootword relation suggests that one leads to the other

moral certainty the foundation of moral discipline

today we need laws to stopgap genteel traditions

unethical conduct led to much of our current financial problems

we can never have enough good-enough rules (or enforcement thereof) to stop bad people from being bad --- so just a reduction or freedom for the good

we would not accept the burden of Christ so we must accept the burden of Caesar

moral discipline learned at home

those who don't want to 'impose' the gospel on their children with the idea that this is a better honoring of agency --- but without knowledge of the gospel, how will they compare it to the devil's hardball proselyting?

curious thing: admitting sins only allowed when the occurred in childhood or were of the most minor-indiscretion type of sin

President Thomas S. Monson

Phew! Print edition forthcoming!

winds and waves and floods that can destroy
HE is evermindful of us and will bless us as we do what is right

how grateful we are that the heavens have been opened and the gospel restored

We are a blessed people.

And here's one more....

He loves us and prays for us and asks for the same in return.

May God bless us and his promised peace be with us now and ever.

Oh, divine Redeemer!

PREVIOUSLY:

Thutopia svithe: last svithe
Weekly Svithe: last svithe

General Conference Svithetaculars at Thutopia
176.0 176.5 177.0 177.5 178.0 178.5 179.0 179.5

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General Conference Svithetaculars at The Weekly Svithe
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