Many of you here are dyed in the wool former or current members. Question is how does one achieve elite member status? I know that wealth goes a long way but isn't necessarily the only thing.
He smoked, drank, never came home actually, so my aunt was raising the kids herself. Got it straight from her mouth. She was very active was R.S. president and mutual president. When her husband was about 50, the bishop called them both in and challenged him to go to church and give up his ways. We always had alcohol at family parties and he served it. As my sister says, this side of the family are heretics. Very few active mormon.
So my uncle took the challenge. He was wealthy. He made good land purchases and was able to sell them for a huge increase eventually and became a millionaire. So he became bishop (his first counselor was my boss and he was a much better man than my uncle) and then a stake president. When he'd give talks it was so boring. I had one of the bishops under him ask if he had dementia. He had no clue how to give a talk. It was actually quite funny as I knew he didn't have dementia.
So a lot of it is money. He didn't come from mormon royalty. I found out I was mormon royalty when I came here, but we were never treated as such. I'm a Christensen (my family name) and that was one of the first names someone said on here when talking about mormon royalty names. My aunt was a Christensen--so maybe he married into it. I'm chuckling.
A LOT has to do with money. Others are depends on what ward you live in (this ward doesn't have any rich people, so they are all blue collar workers who are bishops and no RMs).
The current boss was the doctor to a dead prophet. Seems fairly random and "inspired." A lot of roads with the same destinations. Not where I would want to be in life.
The true definitions of extrovert and introvert are not understood very well by most. Extroverts often claim to be introverts and I have read many articles as to why. This mainly because they can be shy at times or even lack confidence or wish to appear to have those two traits for very extroverted reasons that serve a purpose. Shyness and lack of confidence are not necessarily introvert traits.
To be Mormon elite being an extreme extrovert is an asset as extroverts get their power from others. (Introverts get their power from within). Watch Bednar for example. He is literally feeding off his admirers in the pews. The congregation is a buffet for him.
Wealth is critical to the the equation but is number two.
Three is accomplishment--real, or Paul H. Dunn style accomplishments. Impressing the little people is critical. My brother needs to be called Dr. or President by everyone.
But above all you must crave to be the Mormon elite. It needs to be your talent in life. We all have natural talents and we usually get what we want when we go for them.
Being a good Mormon in the Jesus sense is of no value whatsoever in a climb to the top.
Maybe Anointed One should chime in here, but I strongly suspect that beyond the other traits listed above, a lot depends on who you associate with. Probably more than most other jobs, who you know is more important than what you know when seeking to ascend the ladder of Mormonism.
Edit to remove Anointed One's actual name, though it is published elsewhere--I thought my point was more important than leaving it in the post.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/19/2021 11:52AM by blindguy.
>> Question is how does one achieve elite member status?
I don't think it can be "achieved" by the individual member. Its the other members that see the person as elite....they bestow the title.
Like when the Beatles were asked what they think of their image and John replied that they don't have an image, its others that project the image on them.
So if you hold a TR and are very wealthy you are a shoe in for "Elite" status. It seems interesting that you all equated elite status with callings such as stake pres etc. But what happened to "It doesn't matter where you serve but how you serve"?
Seems fairly random and "inspired." A lot of roads with the same destinations.
"Question is how does one achieve elite member status?"
Elite status whether a calling, money, or whatever you are getting at - Seems fairly random and a lot of roads with the same destinations. Some leader is inspired to grant you elite status but you will end up with every other Mormon - just some member number standing aged in a temple waiting to help someone dead or living get a whole lot of nothing from the hierarchy.
PHIL Wrote: ----------------------------------------- > what happened to "It doesn't matter where you > serve but how you serve"?
Had the member neighbors over for a fire pit last night. At one point the discussion turned to the callings neighbor wife had. She detailed how she prefers doing something she dislikes which is teaching the youth over the previous important calling. Why? Because she hated dealing with the politics of the position.
So you wonder what happened? I'll tell you. If you want to be considered elite in Mormonism it will have to be in your mind only going for "how you serve." You get a calling you hate but still do it to the best of your abilities. I guess that is eliteness to you PHIL. Mormonism makes needlessly suffering a high virtue. Your kingdom is assured in suffering Mormonism.
Dad and mom paid for a lot of missions for poor kids and made sure poor families had groceries...and raised a couple hippie hellraiser sons...so maybe...but with an asterisk.