Nothing to do with Mitt. It was an attempt at humor, you know, the dominion voting machines were supposedly switching votes...unrighteous dominion? Get it?
On fast Sundays my stepfather put a lock on the refrigerator with a sign that said, "Fast Sunday!" He kept snacks in his pocket so he could hide in his car in between church meetings on fast Sunday and eat butterscotch candies. Food was forbidden for everyone but him. Maybe it's hypocrite dominion.
. . . and then realized for there to be "domination" one must be "dominated" -- which is an internal state/mindset, which have never experienced. Always a nidus of resistance, "bad seed" thing probably, who knows.
But later in life figured out these are just undeveloped people who organize their world by clinging to belief - and because that cling is tenuous, these must surround themselves with like-clingers - and this is why they strive to force others to comply with their belief. That's the attempt at "dominion" but - don't have to play along.
The single incident that invited me to leave their building and never come back was the EQ demanding in front of much of the ward that I meet with him immediately for a PPI. He said if I didn't he would go talk to the bishop. I told him don't bother and headed to that office and told the bishop I needed to talk to him. I had to wait until he was free to see me and then after listening to my concerns he asked for my recommend.
If I recall correctly, PPIs were mandatory quarterly meetings with priesthood leaders. Lot found them intrusive and told the EQP he would not do them. He incidentally refused to do his home teaching/ministering for the same reason.
It sounds like EB was likewise refusing to submit to the police state and his overlords would not accept it.
I calmly detailed my concerns in my inability to believe. I expressed a desire to continue attending sacrament meeting with my wife. I hadn't attended EQ in many many months. I had never had a PPI with this guy in my life and he had been pres for probably going on a year.
The bishop would not accept my proposal. I'm still curious why not. I told him that I would not resign for my wife's sake. I said excommunicate me if you would like. And at one point he was red faced and almost yelling at me in front of my wife.
She was surprised and upset with the way I was treated. But I know I can't blame them for doing what they thought was their duty. They actually did me a service.
I've run into a few jerks like that although not quite that bad. On behalf of the Tuscaloosa third ward I offer this apology and invite you to attend our ward this week whenever the air conditioning is fixed.
Funny, I'm friends with members of "my" ward. My neighbor has become miffed about it I think. He is a member of the ward. He was mostly the only member I talked to until my wife made new friends and we have branched out.
I think you are calling people jerks where it is more behavior members find tolerable and acceptable. The men of my unrighteous dominion were doing these behaviors. I don't blame them as much as the culture Mormonism promotes. Many people don't behave like this. Your ward must be full of them. Good luck on the ac.
One thing you have to realize is that The Famous Tuscaloosa Third Ward doesn't exist. They used to have 2 because of the UofA but it was discontinued . I heard they started it up again but that may be a rumor. I don't live too far away but every thing I have said about it were actual occurrences but elsewhere.
I had a YW calling. The bishop told YW leaders that we had to earn money for girls' camp through fundraisers. We had a yard/bake sale that was very successful. The girls and leaders did all the work. We earned enough money to pay for camp plus some pretty fun activities throughout the year. But it was not to be. The bishop took half of what we earned and gave it to the young men. As usual, we were stuck with activities like learning how to fold a fitted sheet. The young men went water skiing and such because they had half of our money plus scouting funds.
Great way to put it...bishop was YW's pimp! To my knowledge, I'm the only one who lost faith in the church over this. Although who knows, the YW girls are all adults now and I know a couple of them have left the church. So this may have weighed down a shelf or two.
When you think about it, just about everything that occurs in Mormonism is based upon domination. Every conference talk is really about guilt and shame. Every book written is about guilt and shame. Tithing settlement, PPI's, interviews with the bishop, going on a mission indoctrination, temple attendance, etc........all of it is guilt and shame wrapped in glittery paper to make it look appealing.
Emotional manipulation is the basis and always has been. Once one peels off the emotional skin of religious devotion, it is easy to see how you and everybody about you is or has been used.