I’m a Mormon, So…

Chel Owens 16 Comments

I’m a Mormon, so I -along with the 16,805,400 worldwide members and their families and friends- listen to and/or attend General Conference twice a year.

©LDS Church

Currently, General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is held the first weekend in April and the first weekend in October.

About 30 members were present at the first conference called by the Prophet Joseph Smith on June 9, 1830. Today 21,000 members fill the Conference Center adjacent to Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. The words flowing from the Conference Center go far beyond this audience as they are translated into 93 different languages and reach members worldwide via radio, television, satellite, and Internet connections.

“General Conference – Then and Now,” Ensign of the LDS Church, October 2012

But, what is General Conference? How does it differ from regular attendance on Sundays? Who may attend? Is attendance mandatory?

Basically, General Conference is a special meeting. Members of the higher-level leadership positions of the LDS church give sermons on whatever subject they feel inspired to speak on. Since its being completed in 2000, the entire program takes place in The Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The conference follows a similar format to normal church services, in that it begins with an opening prayer; has a member of the highest priesthood there to conduct the services; contains an opening song, rest hymn, and closing song; and ends with a closing prayer. Each speaker has been asked ahead of time, in order to prepare, and is requested to talk between 5 to 20 minutes.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, described his experience in preparing as follows:

Perhaps you already know (but if you don’t you should) that with rare exception, no man or woman who speaks here is assigned a topic. Each is to fast and pray, study and seek, start and stop and start again until he or she is confident that for this conference, at this time, his or hers is the topic the Lord wishes that speaker to present regardless of personal wishes or private preferences. Every man and woman you have heard during the past 10 hours of general conference has tried to be true to that prompting. Each has wept, worried, and earnestly sought the Lord’s direction to guide his or her thoughts and expression.

Jeffrey R. Holland, “An Ensign to the Nations,” May 2011 General Conference

General Conference takes the place of Sunday worship on the weekend it is held. There are always morning and afternoon sessions. Historically, an evening session on Saturday for the men also occurred (with the women’s leadership holding one the Saturday before the October session for most of my life); the Saturday evening meeting is going through an awkward un-assigned phase at this point, being listed as an extra meeting. This April, the schedule is:

Saturday, April 1

10 a.m.* Saturday morning session
2 p.m. Saturday afternoon session
6 p.m. Saturday evening session

Sunday, April 2

10 a.m. Sunday morning session
2 p.m. Sunday afternoon session

*Mountain Daylight Time

As to who may attend (and whether any must attend), ALL are welcome. This is more-easily realized with the vast reach of communications devices. Anyone with internet or radio access may tune in, and is encouraged to do so. The talks given (obviously) discuss LDS gospel topics; but those topics hold a wide appeal. This is evidenced by a popular activity sheet suggested for children, Conference Bingo:

©LDS Church

And, as with any doctrine or teaching or commandment given in the LDS Church, attending General Conference is a commandment -but no one will chop off your hands if you choose to miss -or fall asleep.

General Conference is where we members receive news of inspiration given to our leaders, learn of new temples being built, hear statistical reports, watch and enjoy the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square or one session’s worth of a guest choir, and enrich and expound our understanding through others’ experiences and advice.

Final note: April’s session is this Saturday and Sunday, April 1 and 2. I encourage everyone to give it a listen. You’ll be able to hear it live from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 2 p.m.-4 p.m. and 6 p.m.-8 p.m. on Saturday; then 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 2 p.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday (all MDT).

©2023 Chel Owens

……

We Mormons are officially members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and are to drop any name but that. Since many recognize the nickname of ‘Mormon’ and it works with the alliteration so well, however, I will use the term.

My other note is that I will keep to official doctrinal practices. I will add my own application of them, especially in response to comments.

My final note is that I LOVE discussing anything I write. Don’t be rude, obviously, but any and all queries or responses are welcome.

My final note beyond the final note is that I do not seek to convert anyone. I am motivated by forming connections, answering curiosity, and straightening pictures. So, you’re safe.

Cultural Appropriation Sounds Appropriate for Some Terrible Poetry

Chel Owens 9 Comments

Hip

You see I’m not a native; yeah
I’ll try anything
But I’m still degradative; ja
You see I’m not a native; yeah
I’m über connotative; da
I’ll wear everything
You see I’m not a native; yeah
I’ll try anything.

Photo by Clem Onojeghuo on Pexels.com

—–

Clueless

She wears mah kilt; she drinks green tea.
He tries hopak; says, “Holi krishna!”
They all shake hands; pop ojigi.
She wears mah kilt; she drinks green tea.
He hears adhan; Kashrut‘s his eats.
They rain-dance, and then read the mishna.
She wears mah kilt; she drinks green tea.
He tries hopak; says, “Holi krishna!”

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels.com

©2023 Chel Owens

These weren’t that terrible and I know you can do better. Think up something that can pass for a poem and turn it in! The Deadline is March 30th.

Your Favorite: Updates!

Chel Owens 21 Comments

I’m getting old.

No, really. Where, in the past, I folded the laundry at midnight then wrote the last week’s worth of blog posts at 5 a.m., I no longer can. I’ve gotten cranky without sleep. Most accurately, probably, is that I’ve gotten less sleep so I’m cranky.

Most most accurately, I’ve undertaken a lot more life. We’ve started a remodeling project on the house (finally). Hole-in-the-bucket-style, we now need to build a kitchenette and laundry room downstairs. We need candle-making stuff for the business shifted to make room for those…. etc.

And, of course, we need to run said business, keep our children alive and dressed, and ….you know, life.

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

So, I’m sorry for flaking a lot during this month I’m meant to be ‘on.’ I’ll write when I can and read when I can’t.

I promise.

….

How’s your life? Anything exciting?

—–

Look! It’s last week’s stuff:
Friday, March 10: Friday Photo! Just gross.

Saturday, March 11: Shared Mary Oliver‘s poem.

Sunday, March 12: Quoted Audrey Hepburn. Funny lady.

Monday, March 13ish: Mormon Monday: Financial responsibility, the first area of self-reliance I’ve ever discussed.

Tuesday, March 14th: Responded to Carrot Ranch‘s prompt with a poem.

Wednesday, March 15th: This post.

©2023 Chel Owens

Echoes, Shadows, Whispers, and Dreams

Chel Owens 21 Comments

Echoes are all that resound down these halls;
Echoes of voices still young, still young.
They’re laughing or talking or screaming –
Or still.
But only sometime, long ago.

Shadows are all that still walk ‘cross these floors;
Shadows of children come late, come late.
They’re flashing to catch up their friends, else
Catch up.
But only sometime, long ago.

Whispers are all that still push dangling swings;
Whispers of glee-songs in play, in play.
They’re jumping and pumping and flying
Away.
But only sometime, long ago.

Where are the echoes, the shadows, and whispers?
Only in dreams, long ago.

©2023 Chel Owens

Photo by Wendelin Jacober on Pexels.com

Inspired by Carrot Ranch‘s prompt:

March 13, 2023, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about a place where children once played. It can be a field, a playground, or any place that attracted children to play. But now it is empty. Abandoned. Go where the prompt leads!

I’m a Mormon, So…

Chel Owens 11 Comments

I’m a Mormon, so I am self-reliant in personal finances. I am financially responsible and temporally prepared.

The official brochure the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints uses in self-reliance courses regarding personal finances.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints defines self-reliance as “the ability, commitment, and effort to provide the spiritual and temporal necessities of life for self and family” (LDS General Handbook, 22). Self-reliance, itself, is not solely about finances.

With help from the Lord, members build self-reliance in the following ways:

  • Develop spiritual, physical, and emotional strength.
  • Gain education and employment.
  • Improve temporal preparedness.
LDS General Handbook, 22.1, “Build Self-Reliance”

This blog post is about temporal preparedness and monetary stability, however; the other aspects will be covered in future posts.

Freedom from financial obligations brought on by irresponsible spending habits is important for building one’s character, removing one from limiting life choices, and paving the way for future endeavors. In short, financial responsibility is financial freedom.

©LDS General Handbook

We LDS are encouraged to seek an appropriate education, approach financial goals in a unified manner with our spouse, pay tithes and offerings, set up and live within a budget, protect against possible hardship, avoid debt, and save for the future.

Besides lessons on these topics and the expectation of meeting these goals, the LDS Church offers self-reliance classes. Classes are free and run by a volunteer. I’ve attended a program called Pathways, which includes financial budgeting in its section on life skills; Kevin has attended a business-related course.

All resources and information are available online.

I feel an important addition is that self-reliance isn’t connotative or unreasonably demanding. “Being self-reliant does not mean that we can do or obtain anything we set our mind to. Rather, it is believing that through the grace, or enabling power, of Jesus Christ and our own effort, we are able to obtain all the spiritual and temporal necessities of life we require for ourselves and our families. Self-reliance is evidence of our trust or faith in God’s power to move mountains in our lives and to give us strength to triumph over trials and afflictions” (LDS Study Manual).

©LDS Church

©2023 Chel Owens

……

We Mormons are officially members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and are to drop any name but that. Since many recognize the nickname of ‘Mormon’ and it works with the alliteration so well, however, I will use the term.

My other note is that I will keep to official doctrinal practices. I will add my own application of them, especially in response to comments.

My final note is that I LOVE discussing anything I write. Don’t be rude, obviously, but any and all queries or responses are welcome.

My final note beyond the final note is that I do not seek to convert anyone. I am motivated by forming connections, answering curiosity, and straightening pictures. So, you’re safe.