I think this Sunday they are going to change ward boundaries again. Its a combined meeting with another ward in the building. The ward I am in is decreasing in numbers. Older member not attending, etc. The other ward is much larger. So I think this is what happening. Could I stand up and not sustain the ward boundary change or is it a waste of time.
Here is my reasoning. I just got to know the Bishop and shared vi email a couple of important private things going on in my life. I also shared why I can not support Dusty Rusty over the SEC stuff. Bishop is a dentist and looked like he had no clue of what I was talking about. I also shared I did not pay tithing because I am a still trying to get a handle of how the top guys are not dishonest for doing this.
I am tired of shift ward boundaries and Bishops over the 6 years. Just as I feel comfortable along comes a shift.
Would I be wrong in opposing a change. I know it will mean nothing except shock the members in the meeting. Then I would get quality time with a stake President who is stone cold. No one talks to my wife and I anyways so the shunning would not be a loss. I am trying to maintain honesty and integrity in my these days. To not do something other than not attend does not feel like I am being honest.
I could end up in a new ward with a new Bishop. So what happens to what I have shared with the old Bishop? Has this even been thought through by the top brethren what effects this has on members. I am sure I am not the only one who thinks this way but I have never anyone do an opposing vote for ward boundary shifts.

I would attend where you feel comfortable. In many parts, the church is hurting for members so while it's a technicality, I think smart church leaders will let people be.

My mom's former home teacher crashed her car on his property. She refused to allow him to fix it through his back alley mechanic. He became so butt hurt over it because my mom refused to apologize. He chose to leave the ward for several years to save face.

Gone are the days the votes matter.

I remember when contrary votes, while uncommon, were taken seriously.

I remember about 15 people voting against a change in boundaries as the new chapel was not wheel chair accessible and many members would not be able to attend. The end result was a change so everyone had access.

Alas that was 50 years ago.

Just before I left we sere told in sacrament meeting that the voting was merely our promise to help the person sustained or to do our duty to implement a policy.

After that I never voted again in any church meeting.

procedures, policies & other 'things' are Seldom if Ever proposed for 'sustaining' (a nice word substitute for VOTING); the last item that I'm aware of was changing the WoW to a commandment, that's been decades ago.


People are proposed for sustaining, not any other items

Stand up, declare your new ward boundaries as "None" and walk out. Don't look back.

Toronto Boy,

I apologize for responding so late. I feel your pain. Honestly, I do. You should like you still find good in the church and in many of its people. If you find value and benefit there then that is wonderful.

I would point you to a few of the things that you wrote though:

1. You mention that you shared a few private things with him. Why? He's a dentist. Would you share the same things with another dentist? This is the problem with a lay clergy. They have 0 relevant training for the job that they have been asked to do. It should not surprise you that he had no clue about the SEC issues. He isn't focused on church financials he is focused on the best way to fill cavities in teeth.

2. You ask about sustaining a boundary change. Why would we do such a thing. Can you think of another church that tells people what building they have to attend? I can't. Go where you want. What are they going to do about it?

Regardless of your belief status or desire to believe, one of the most powerful things I learned about the church is that they only have the amount of power over you that you give them. No more. No less.

All the best as you navigate your journey.

-tig

"It has been decided"



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/17/2024 09:26PM by GNPE.

I know this is not this simple for you, but who cares. Just don't go back to church.

Just do your own thing, the Church is so hard up for active members they will accomodate you.

Where I grew up on the Wasatch front, ward boundaries usually involved horizontal or topographic slices of similar elevations, that meant the more humble real estate owners didn't have to mix with the wealthy folks building high on the foot hills. When I was about in 9th grade they broke this tradition and took a vertical slice for my new ward. I was the only mutual age kid who ended up having to mix with the wealthy kids from the higher kingdoms on the foothills. Most of these kids were pretty stuck-up as we used to say and I had no friends at Church activities. I started attending what was left of my old ward with the friends I had known all my life. At first I got called in by quorom leaders and bishop in the new ward and reprimanded. I still kept attending the old ward, and my old Bishop told me I was always welcome, but it caused problems for Scout Advancement because I wasn't a bonafide member of the teachers quorom, whose president was the Senior Patrol Leader. You needed that leadership position to become an Eagle scout. My old bishop pulled some strings and let the scouts vote and I was made Senior Patrol Leader even though that was against the church policy then. My old bishop warned my mission president that I was somewhat of a "radical", my MP read me a short letter my old bishop had sent, it included some activities I had completely forgotten about, I always got sent to the zones with other "radicals" after that. I was sort of glad my old bishop had done that. Yes Brothers and Sisters the Church is a very wierd institution and has been for as long as I remember.