Is this how the Lord treats elderly widows?

[blitzinstripes]

I just found out that a sweet, elderly widow in our Ward will be losing her temple recommend because after her husband died a few years ago, she recently sold her home (limited income) and moved into a small apartment in the neighboring ward boundary (because it was what she could afford.)

Her daughter's family is in our Ward and she has lived her entire life in our Ward. This is her home. She simply wants to attend with her daughter's family and her good friends in her "home ward". We even all meet in the same building. Our Bishop is sympathetic, but apparently not so much the other Bishop and the SP.

So for this, the "true and living church led by the Lord himself", is going to mistreat a sweet and faithful elderly widow, and take her temple recommend. Because of a Pharissean handbook that has become the law that they worship.

Not one of them can look each other, or her, in the eyes and honestly say that this is how Jesus would treat a widow. One of the counselors in the other ward has resigned. At least he has a conscience.

[Wolfwoman]

Losing her recommend on what basis? That she’s not attending her meetings because she’s attending the other ward?

[blitzinstripes]

Losing her recommend on what basis? That she’s not attending her meetings because she’s attending the other ward?

Yes.

[Subcomandante]

I just found out that a sweet, elderly widow in our Ward will be losing her temple recommend because after her husband died a few years ago, she recently sold her home (limited income) and moved into a small apartment in the neighboring ward boundary (because it was what she could afford.)

Her daughter's family is in our Ward and she has lived her entire life in our Ward. This is her home. She simply wants to attend with her daughter's family and her good friends in her "home ward". We even all meet in the same building. Our Bishop is sympathetic, but apparently not so much the other Bishop and the SP.

So for this, the "true and living church led by the Lord himself", is going to mistreat a sweet and faithful elderly widow, and take her temple recommend. Because of a Pharissean handbook that has become the law that they worship.

Not one of them can look each other, or her, in the eyes and honestly say that this is how Jesus would treat a widow. One of the counselors in the other ward has resigned. At least he has a conscience.

This leader is taking arbitrary rules over justice and mercy. If this happened in my ward, I would have no qualms about giving the offending bishop a tongue lashing. Everything needs to be done with justice, mercy, and faith. The offending bishop has none of that and needs to repent.

[Good & Global]

People think the pharisees in the bible could never happen in our times or within our church.
It's always oh those terribly wicked people. I would have never done that if I lived during Christ's time.
I guess it makes life easier without real introspection.

I never understood ward boundaries anyway. It made sense broadly speaking but never once you dug deeper.
It always seemed like a micromanager's dirty little vice. It did nothing to solve class inequality. It was not truly geographic but based on specific people and where they lived. Seen more gerrymandering with this than political voting districts I swear.

Then after they assigned the boundaries, they would send everyone to go a building that was a distance away even if they lived right next door to one. I guess make it seem hard people will think they are making a sacrifice and stick with the church. It just always reeked of having control over people.

If you go to church, you go to church. Shouldn't matter where you go. No one does their calling anyways. Sunday school teacher, EQ, HP, RS, etc you all read out of a book never study the lesson and 90% of the time it is rehashing what you heard RMN say 6 months ago. There are only a few people that actually do all the work. So what gives?

[Arm Chair Quarterback]

I just found out that a sweet, elderly widow in our Ward will be losing her temple recommend because after her husband died a few years ago, she recently sold her home (limited income) and moved into a small apartment in the neighboring ward boundary (because it was what she could afford.)

Her daughter's family is in our Ward and she has lived her entire life in our Ward. This is her home. She simply wants to attend with her daughter's family and her good friends in her "home ward". We even all meet in the same building. Our Bishop is sympathetic, but apparently not so much the other Bishop and the SP.

So for this, the "true and living church led by the Lord himself", is going to mistreat a sweet and faithful elderly widow, and take her temple recommend. Because of a Pharissean handbook that has become the law that they worship.

Not one of them can look each other, or her, in the eyes and honestly say that this is how Jesus would treat a widow. One of the counselors in the other ward has resigned. At least he has a conscience.

What a farce

[spiritMan]

Now think of all those older members living on social security giving 10 percent to have the money go into the stock market....

[Good & Global]

Now think of all those older members living on social security giving 10 percent to have the money go into the stock market....

Now think of all those old people paying gross tithing on their income to now have to live on social security and pay 10% gross on that. So they are paying tithing on the government benefits that came from paying their taxes. Tithing upon tithing. Here a little there a little. Pretense upon pretense.

The church has no boundaries of good taste even in abusing the elderly.

[Ymarsakar]

Not one of them can look each other, or her, in the eyes and honestly say that this is how Jesus would treat a widow.

They feel guilt or shame because they know this implicates their entire ward.

All they have to do is to act and dam the consequences, but do they have the courage to do that? The bishop is the one that hands out recommends, right, and where does the bishop come from, Russel? No, a lay priesthood does not come from Utah.

[Lizzy60]

The Stake President holds the most blame in this situation because he can override the Bishop. He has the power to move the woman’s records to the ward she wants to attend. Problem solved. He is abusing his office.

[Jashon]

Yes, SP overrides used to happen. Growing up in the '70s a family attended our ward even though they lived in a neighboring stake. They were treated like other ward members. Problem solved. Simple. But today we have blatant cases of abuse by SPs and Bs, and this abuse is referenced clearly in D&C 121, which all leaders know.

[BeNotDeceived]

Simple solution is for her to be a dual resident of both residences.

[Reluctant Watchman]

Simple solution, don't worry about the judgement of men.

[blitzinstripes]

The Stake President holds the most blame in this situation because he can override the Bishop. He has the power to move the woman’s records to the ward she wants to attend. Problem solved. He is abusing his office.

He's afraid to color outside the lines. Who knows? Maybe he'll get promoted someday by towing the line.

[nightlight]

The letter killeth

[InfoWarrior82]

The Stake President holds the most blame in this situation because he can override the Bishop. He has the power to move the woman’s records to the ward she wants to attend. Problem solved. He is abusing his office.

He's afraid to color outside the lines. Who knows? Maybe he'll get promoted someday by towing the line.

It's the very reason he was called to be a SP in the first place. "Church-broke"

[captainfearnot]

The Stake President holds the most blame in this situation because he can override the Bishop. He has the power to move the woman’s records to the ward she wants to attend. Problem solved. He is abusing his office.

The stake president doesn't have the authority to grant exceptions on his own. They require First Presidency approval. I have no idea how often such requests are granted.

I do agree that it's stupid that the church is so anal about its unit boundaries. But if people were able to vote with their feet that would be a huge power shift from the leadership to the members. So you can see why they don't allow it.

[Pazooka]

WWJD

Jesus wouldn’t have his mother, who is living on a fixed income, living off alone in an apartment.

Forget the red tape of the church…where is the family?

[randyps]

You guys are missing the point. Will you do whatever it takes to follow Jesus?
Apparently this "Sweet old lady" will not.

Lehi was told to leave his home and possession to wander in the wilderness. Think about it!

[randyps]

The Stake President holds the most blame in this situation because he can override the Bishop. He has the power to move the woman’s records to the ward she wants to attend. Problem solved. He is abusing his office.

The stake president doesn't have the authority to grant exceptions on his own. They require First Presidency approval. I have no idea how often such requests are granted.

I do agree that it's stupid that the church is so anal about its unit boundaries. But if people were able to vote with their feet that would be a huge power shift from the leadership to the members. So you can see why they don't allow it.

If the people could vote with their feet it wouldnt be a church run by God, but by the people.

[Lizzy60]

WWJD

Jesus wouldn’t have his mother, who is living on a fixed income, living off alone in an apartment.

Forget the red tape of the church…where is the family?

Her family is in the ward she has attended her entire life, and although she has moved over the boundary line into the ward that shares the building, she wants to attend the same ward as her daughter’s family, and her friends. She can do this, of course, but they are holding her temple recommend hostage. She probably enjoys living alone in an apartment since she has family and friends nearby.

[captainfearnot]

If the people could vote with their feet it wouldnt be a church run by God, but by the people.

On this forum, a lot of people think it's more likely that God is talking directly to the rank and file than to the GAs. So they would say that a church run by the people is a church run by God, versus a church run by the leaders.

So probably better to leave God out of it and just observe that, for better or worse, and unlike a lot of other churches, the LDS church is an authoritarian organization with a chain of command and the members have no say.

[BeNotDeceived]

Simple solution, don't worry about the judgement of men.

Solves nothing in this instance.

[silverado]

You guys are missing the point. Will you do whatever it takes to follow Jesus?
Apparently this "Sweet old lady" will not.

Lehi was told to leave his home and possession to wander in the wilderness. Think about it!

It isn't about following Jesus, its about following a handbook rule. In my area the ward boundaries change every few years. I have been in and out of the ward with the same people several times.

So the elderly widow should go alone to church because of an arbitrary rule?

What happens if she gets unable to drive? Will her ministering sisters bring her? Maybe, maybe not, but her friends and family would.

[Libertas Est Salus]

If the people could vote with their feet it wouldnt be a church run by God, but by the people.

On this forum, a lot of people think it's more likely that God is talking directly to the rank and file than to the GAs. So they would say that a church run by the people is a church run by God, versus a church run by the leaders.

Frankly, this is probably accurate, and also true.

Or perhaps more accurately stated that, as in Christ's day, the rank and file were more receptive to the voice of the Lord.

The leadership mean well but are too steeped in the institution as if it were the religion. It has a deafening and blinding effect. True then and true now.