Inspiring New Video Gives the Secret to Strengthening Testimonies

tecumseh Jan. 2013

I just had a link for this sent to me by the Stake Executive Secretary with a request to forward it to ward leaders. [ Admin note: This video is designed to strengthen Mormons' testimonies about cleaning the church toilets. This is over the top serious with music!! ]

https://www.lds.org/callings/meetinghouse-care/reverence?lang=eng

Great stuff in there!

You can also now print out 3x5 or 5x7 cards with Jesus' approved method for cleaning toilets and emptying trash cans.

https://www.lds.org/bc/content/ldsorg/callings/meetinghouse-care/cleanin...

Great as Christmas Cards or Pass Along Cards!


yorkie
Re: Inspiring New Video Gives the Secret to Strengthening Testimonies
OMG!! I'm Speechless, or as we would say in the north of England - gobsmacked!

lydia
Re: Inspiring New Video Gives the Secret to Strengthening Testimonies
I would suggest that if a programme is going well you would not need to make a video like this!


Levi
Re: Inspiring New Video Gives the Secret to Strengthening Testimonies
I'm. So. Glad. I'm. Done.

My brain hurts just watching that stupid video.

"He could have hired someone, but then they would get the reward and I wouldn't be able to get the reward." OMG.

How brainwashed did we all used to be?


sherlock
Re: Inspiring New Video Gives the Secret to Strengthening Testimonies
Oh boy. Where to start? Maybe I have a hardened heart but listening to people testify and well up about the blessing of cleaning toilets, combined with 'heart-sell' music just turns me right off.

Three things that were conspicuously missing from the video:

1) One of the laid off janitors testifying how their life has been blessed immeasurably despite losing their job and income.
2) Anyone questioning what the church actually spends their 10% tithe on.
3) A shot of one of the 12/GAs mucking in and scrubbing the loo.

If the people in the video were real and not just actors, then it's truly scary how brainwashed they are. These are exactly the kind of people that wouldn't hesitate to lop off Laban's head if a voice in their mind / or the prophet told them to.


gladtobeme
Re: Inspiring New Video Gives the Secret to Strengthening Testimonies
UNBELIEVABLE. That might just be the stupidest church video I have ever seen. And yet another example of mormons throwing out "mormomy phrases" while not even thinking about what they actually mean: Camera shows several small children cleaning, and then the mother talks about how "They're learning a pattern of being obedient to the prophet" (poor kids) "and KEEPING COVENANTS". What is she even talking about? How does cleaning windows teach them to keep covenants? What covenants has a four-year-old child made that he needs to keep?

This video boggles the mind.


Eric K
Whoa - It could be a parody, but it's real
"The first thing I do is grab the toilet brush" and other incredible comments. The joy of cleaning the toilets and restrooms are testified to in this film. This video is way over the top with the interviews and music. I had to stop half way through. Did any one stomach watching the whole thing?


shannon
They make cleaning toilets look fun and spirchul all at the same time!!
And the ward members are drinking the Kool-Aid . . . I wonder how many janitors the church could have paid for with all the money that went into producing that PR piece?

;o)


shannon
HAR! And the very first thing you have to do before cleaning a toilet is . . .
FLUSH!

duh.

;o)


summer
Re: Inspiring New Video Gives the Secret to Strengthening Testimonies
I think that the church leaders -- the first presidency, the Q12, and the 70 -- should lead from the front. Let's have video of them in the church every Saturday scrubbing away. I want to see Thomas Monson tackling a toilet for the spiritual benefits that provides.


scully
Re: Inspiring New Video Gives the Secret to Strengthening Testimonies
Tecumseh, you have just made my day!!
I am cackling so loud my husband wants to know why.

At 6 mins in I love the comment about getting blessings and if the hired janitors did the work they would essentially abscond with those blessings. (Not to mention the wages that might support their family in this down economy!)

In a serious reflection, however, I do remember cleaning the bldg and after you have vacuumed the Cheerios out of the pew seats, you don't feel more reverent or spiritual at Church the next week. Nope, instead I watched and resented those little grubby hands that dropped or crushed snacks into the upholstery during sacrament the next week - and those were my Kids making the mess. LOL.

That was awesome seeing people feel the spirit by cleaning toilets. How do I get my house on the list for that kind of service?


Yaqoob
Re: Inspiring New Video Gives the Secret to Strengthening Testimonies
I can't do 30 seconds worth.

Why in the hell is he crying at the 25 second mark? Jeez us!


ladell
Re: Inspiring New Video Gives the Secret to Strengthening Testimonies
It doesn't take much to make an old mormon weepy.

scarecrofromoz
Re: Inspiring New Video Gives the Secret to Strengthening Testimonies
I couldn't watch the whole thing. I just skipped forward here and there. The one thing I noticed was how many minorities were receiving the blessings of cleaning the church. Almost every scene I saw.


WakingUpVegas
Re: Inspiring New Video Gives the Secret to Strengthening Testimonies
Think they'll wait for a fifth Sunday meeting to guilt-trip, I mean, inspire the members? Or show this video ASAP to kick off the new year? I think it really says something about the church that most people DON'T have that pride in their building to want to come in and clean it up. So they need something to "soften their hearts" or humble them.

Any laid-off janitor is probably fuming watching ths! I know I would be.


southern should login
Re: Inspiring New Video Gives the Secret to Strengthening Testimonies
That's astonishing... I double checked the website because I thought it was a parody.
shannon
I know, right? ;o

lydia
Re: Inspiring New Video Gives the Secret to Strengthening Testimonies
just showed to my 19 year old, and I quote: " how do they manage to be partronising and self righteous at the same time?"
Think that boy's gonna be okay.


southern should login
Re: Inspiring New Video Gives the Secret to Strengthening Testimonies
Hahaha ok, the full orchestra music is just way too much! Do you think that this video was proposed sincerely or in laughter? And then someone's idea of a joke on the members became real... You know, I grew up in a wealthy baptist church and we prided ourselves on being able to hire people who needed the work to clean our church buildings. You could specifically put your tithe towards building maintenance expenses and I know that several families are supported in part by being on the payroll of that church. It baffles me that people could somehow think it's better to do the cleaning work themselves rather than hire it out to someone in need. Especially in this economy.

rainwriter
Re: Inspiring New Video Gives the Secret to Strengthening Testimonies
There's a huge contradiction here. They say they need to clean it well to take good care of it so that it's nice and representational of their love of Christ, but they also say that it's okay if the kids do a crappy job because it's indoctrinating them to keep doing it.


yorkie
Re: Whoa - It could be a parody, but it's real
If I'd seen this anywhere else other than TSCC's official website, I would have seriously questioned whether it was for real or a send up.
Gazelam
I like the quote that pops up when the movie ends...
"Apply the ideas expressed in this video as directed by the Spirit and your Priesthood leaders."

And the quote about "well, he (the Lord) could hire someone to do it, but then they would get the blessings, not me."

So we're supposed to be selfish blessing hoarders? Clawing, screaming and elbowing our way to the toilet bowl brush so we can get the blessings before everyone else does? Sheesh, I guess they gotta do something to save money to pay for the mega-mall...

I hope that someday someday this pattern of manipulation is going to backfire.


Cinnamint
Re: Inspiring New Video Gives the Secret to Strengthening Testimonies
Oh, I hafta watch this thing....I will return and report.

Cinnamint
Re: Inspiring New Video Gives the Secret to Strengthening Testimonies
Hahahahaahahahaha, GOOD HOLY HELL! Watching the woman wipe the oven reminded me that my singles branch was not allowed to use it at all, because the women in the other wards didn't want us to. Our tithing went to the church coffers, but We had to heat our food in crock-pots and other devices. It wasn't like we used it once and left is messy, We never got to use it ONCE! Those pious old windbags (Lee's Summit, MO) hated the YSAs.


joan
Re: Inspiring New Video Gives the Secret to Strengthening Testimonies
lydia Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> just showed to my 19 year old, and I quote: " how
> do they manage to be partronising and self
> righteous at the same time?"
> Think that boy's gonna be okay.

lydia, I like your son. You must be relieved.
Now he knows the secret combination that make up a testimony.


tecumseh
Re: Inspiring New Video Gives the Secret to Strengthening Testimonies
I also found it interesting that the video is embedded into the church website and not hosted on their "Mormon Messages" YouTube channel. I would think people the world over would want to know about this faith promoting opportunity.

This must be another instance when the old rule applies: It's not secret it's sacred.


icanseethelight
Re: Inspiring New Video Gives the Secret to Strengthening Testimonies
What a mind f*ck.


rainwriter
Re: Inspiring New Video Gives the Secret to Strengthening Testimonies
And the kitchens aren't even supposed to be used for food prep, just heating stuff up and demonstrations. How can an oven get that dirty if it's (1) being cleaned every month (haha, yeah right) and (2) noting's being cooked in it anyway.


dogeatdog
Re: Inspiring New Video Gives the Secret to Strengthening Testimonies
Exactly!

Lydia
Re: Inspiring New Video Gives the Secret to Strengthening Testimonies
Joan, thank you, I like him too!


Cynthia
Re: Inspiring New Video Gives the Secret to Strengthening Testimonies
Since today is fast and testimony day I would be remiss if I didn't bear my testimony.

I have an unshakeable testimony the church is true, JS was a prophet, the BoM is a true book translated by divine means, and we have living prophets today because god inspired them to lets me scrub toilets in his beloved building, god truly does love me (sniffle,sniffle) in the name of JC amen.


seeking peace
Re: Inspiring New Video Gives the Secret to Strengthening Testimonies
If you clean God's toilets today--then tomorrow you will be worthy of a far greater "weight and glory" and those evil apostates who did not live up to their covenants will clean yours in heaven. It is all part of the great plan of happiness!!

"Recovery from Mormonism - www.exmormon.org"