I have noticed that those with political views contrary to the Constitution, and those with doctrinal views contrary to the Gospel, have become more and more outspoken of their political and doctrinal views, yet they seem get the leadership callings in the ward and the assignments to organize ward activities. They seem to be the 'cool' crowd in the ward and either gain a following because they are 'fun', or drive out some with weaker testimonies or even those with stronger testimonies who don't want to be involved in their drama.24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
My own personal experience with this is in my ward I've observed a clique of people who serve in the elders quorum presidency, the primary presidency, and in gospel doctrine. They extend callings only to those who are in their clique, or friendly to them, and actually exclude those who aren't. They are also involved with activities outside of church like school activities and recreational sports. They pick and choose certain members to join them in activities and openly deny others. They back-stab, back-bite, lie, and gossip about people, and actively engage in campaigns to alienate people. If you try to stand up to them they come together and make you their target. I've seen many who have fallen prey to this group of people. Other members in leadership positions either don't see the drama, choose not to get involved, or they turn a blind-eye because they don't want to become their targets. It has been incredible to watch and now my wife and I are their targets because we stood up to them. The members of the bishopric and stake presidency are such 'sweet spirits' that they don't seem to grasp the degree of pain these people cause. I sent an email to my bishop and explained just a little bit about my observations and experiences, and immediately afterwards, my wife and I were released from our callings. I also no longer home teach families from the elders quorum but now have a high priest as a companion and teach high priest families. I've considered going to another ward, even outside of the stake, but because of our situation it would actually make things worse. My wife has had a few couples approach her about our situation. One couple said they tried to stand up for us but now they are being targeted. Another couple even cried to my wife because they were "bullied" into targeting us.
I've watched these people act so malicious that I cannot sustain them in their callings. I don't want to be around them. I don't want my kids anywhere near them, or their kids. And I don't want to make things worse in my ward, in my neighborhood, in our activities outside of church, and with my family, so we've stopped going to church. We've even stopped attending activities outside of church that involve these people.
To paint a picture of how ruthless these people are: imagine you serve in a leadership position in the ward and were assigned by the bishopric to put together a Christmas program in Sacrament. While you and your counselors plan the program you receive word from members of this clique that they want their children to have important roles in the program. You tell the parents in this clique that you want to be fair with all of the children involved in the program. The next thing you know you get a call from the stake president (not the bishop) requesting that you come to his office before you do anything else with the Christmas program. Turns out about a dozen families have informed the stake president that you've been mistreating the children in the ward and they no longer want to come to church. This is just one example of what these people have done to others in the ward.
I know I'm not alone and I constantly hear from friends and co-workers that they have observed or even experienced the same types of things in their wards.
So my two questions are: what are we to do with the tares among us? And second, how do the wheat and tares co-exist in the same ward?
