Comments on: That Time of Year http://mormonmatters.org/2008/12/12/that-time-of-year/ A weekly podcast exploring Mormon culture and current events. Wed, 23 May 2012 11:40:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Velska http://mormonmatters.org/2008/12/12/that-time-of-year/#comment-51152 Velska Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:35:46 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=3341#comment-51152 I am somewhat of a Grinch, I confess. First of all, my childhood Christmases were painful. Then, when I found Christ and started understanding the miracle that we celebrate at Christmas, I was bothered by the crass commercialism so deeply associated with it. Now I'm just happy to ignore almost every custom about Christmas (except that we have an excuse to have turkey). To make up for it, I celebrate the miracle of the Babe of Bethlehem every Sunday as I partake of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. The low point in Christmas programs was when I was a missionary, and the two wards that used the same building had a combined Christmas Sacrament program - where both bishops and their counselors droned on and on... and on (it was supposed to be 90 minutes, it was almost 120!). I am somewhat of a Grinch, I confess. First of all, my childhood Christmases were painful. Then, when I found Christ and started understanding the miracle that we celebrate at Christmas, I was bothered by the crass commercialism so deeply associated with it.

Now I’m just happy to ignore almost every custom about Christmas (except that we have an excuse to have turkey). To make up for it, I celebrate the miracle of the Babe of Bethlehem every Sunday as I partake of the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.

The low point in Christmas programs was when I was a missionary, and the two wards that used the same building had a combined Christmas Sacrament program – where both bishops and their counselors droned on and on… and on (it was supposed to be 90 minutes, it was almost 120!).

]]> By: Rigel Hawthorne http://mormonmatters.org/2008/12/12/that-time-of-year/#comment-51104 Rigel Hawthorne Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:14:37 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=3341#comment-51104 Six days until our Ward Christmas program. We have such exciting things as two hastily rehearsed primary songs, two vocal soloists (one of questionable talent), a relief society choir number and a congregational hymn with a narrator in-between numbers. I can't say that I am really looking forward to it, but maybe it will get me off the stand so I can sit with my family! :) Six days until our Ward Christmas program. We have such exciting things as two hastily rehearsed primary songs, two vocal soloists (one of questionable talent), a relief society choir number and a congregational hymn with a narrator in-between numbers. I can’t say that I am really looking forward to it, but maybe it will get me off the stand so I can sit with my family! :)

]]> By: Valoel http://mormonmatters.org/2008/12/12/that-time-of-year/#comment-51070 Valoel Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:09:24 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=3341#comment-51070 We used to live in a Stake in Maryland. Years ago, they used to put on a performance of Handel's Messiah -- like with a full orchestra, professional soloists and the audience was the choir (got to sing along). I am no singer, but I loved going to this event. I think someone from a university music department made it all happened, and the Stake Center was a convenient venue to host it. It died out after a few years, but was really cool while it lasted! We used to live in a Stake in Maryland. Years ago, they used to put on a performance of Handel’s Messiah — like with a full orchestra, professional soloists and the audience was the choir (got to sing along). I am no singer, but I loved going to this event. I think someone from a university music department made it all happened, and the Stake Center was a convenient venue to host it. It died out after a few years, but was really cool while it lasted!

]]> By: No Way will I tell you my name http://mormonmatters.org/2008/12/12/that-time-of-year/#comment-50988 No Way will I tell you my name Mon, 15 Dec 2008 05:00:02 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=3341#comment-50988 Does anyone know how to publish a new subject? Does anyone know how to publish a new subject?

]]> By: Ex-Member http://mormonmatters.org/2008/12/12/that-time-of-year/#comment-50982 Ex-Member Mon, 15 Dec 2008 04:19:37 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=3341#comment-50982 ho hum, christmas again, when's easter? ho hum, christmas again, when’s easter?

]]> By: Stephen Marsh http://mormonmatters.org/2008/12/12/that-time-of-year/#comment-50974 Stephen Marsh Mon, 15 Dec 2008 03:23:05 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=3341#comment-50974 Locally we've had a number of beautiful Christmas programs ever since we moved into this ward. Joyous. Locally we’ve had a number of beautiful Christmas programs ever since we moved into this ward. Joyous.

]]> By: wayfarer http://mormonmatters.org/2008/12/12/that-time-of-year/#comment-50862 wayfarer Sat, 13 Dec 2008 23:25:47 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=3341#comment-50862 I think the worst was when someone considered it appropriate to celebrate Joseph Smith's birthday the sunday before Christmas-not sure if this was church policy but it rankled even with me as a convert.Amazing how we veer between railing at the hijacking of the festival by commercialism and omitting to mention the Saviour's birth at all,let alone celebrating the joy of the experience.I guess it's the tension between distinguishing ourselves from other denominations and finding our own meaning and culture.Generally ambivalent about celebration I think,these mormons. I think the worst was when someone considered it appropriate to celebrate Joseph Smith’s birthday the sunday before Christmas-not sure if this was church policy but it rankled even with me as a convert.Amazing how we veer between railing at the hijacking of the festival by commercialism and omitting to mention the Saviour’s birth at all,let alone celebrating the joy of the experience.I guess it’s the tension between distinguishing ourselves from other denominations and finding our own meaning and culture.Generally ambivalent about celebration I think,these mormons.

]]> By: Ty http://mormonmatters.org/2008/12/12/that-time-of-year/#comment-50793 Ty Sat, 13 Dec 2008 04:35:39 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=3341#comment-50793 Here’s a million dollar question – If you were to die right now, would you qualify for the celestial kingdom? If you’re like many Mormons, you’re not sure. You try hard to be as good as possible, but you still don’t know if you’ve done enough. If the Book of Mormon is really scripture, this hope will always elude you. Alma 11:37 says God cannot save you in your sins. Are all of your sins forgiven? Moroni 10:32 says you must be perfected in Christ, which can only be done by denying yourself of “all ungodliness”. Have you done that? Do you repent on a regular basis? Is so, then it is clear that you sin on a regular basis, since only those who break the commandments need to repent. 1 Nephi 3:7 states that you are able to keep His commandments. In fact according to D&C 25:15, you are required to keep them continually! Since you haven’t done this so far, why assume you will in the future? Of course, we should all try to be holy; but if you think that sinning less will qualify you to live in God’s presence, you are mistaken (Gal 3:1-11). The assumption that good works are required for forgiveness only cheapens Christ’s atonement, making it nothing more than a partial payment. God chooses to justify us by faith. Jesus alone does the “perfecting” (Heb 10:14). God gives peace to those who trust in Him alone. If you don’t have this peace, it’s probably because at least a part of you trusts in yourself. Questions? Visit us at www.gotforgiveness.com Here’s a million dollar question – If you were to die right now, would you qualify for the celestial kingdom? If you’re like many Mormons, you’re not sure. You try hard to be as good as possible, but you still don’t know if you’ve done enough. If the Book of Mormon is really scripture, this hope will always elude you. Alma 11:37 says God cannot save you in your sins. Are all of your sins forgiven? Moroni 10:32 says you must be perfected in Christ, which can only be done by denying yourself of “all ungodliness”. Have you done that? Do you repent on a regular basis? Is so, then it is clear that you sin on a regular basis, since only those who break the commandments need to repent. 1 Nephi 3:7 states that you are able to keep His commandments. In fact according to D&C 25:15, you are required to keep them continually! Since you haven’t done this so far, why assume you will in the future? Of course, we should all try to be holy; but if you think that sinning less will qualify you to live in God’s presence, you are mistaken (Gal 3:1-11). The assumption that good works are required for forgiveness only cheapens Christ’s atonement, making it nothing more than a partial payment. God chooses to justify us by faith. Jesus alone does the “perfecting” (Heb 10:14). God gives peace to those who trust in Him alone. If you don’t have this peace, it’s probably because at least a part of you trusts in yourself. Questions? Visit us at http://www.gotforgiveness.com

]]> By: Lisa Ray Turner http://mormonmatters.org/2008/12/12/that-time-of-year/#comment-50762 Lisa Ray Turner Fri, 12 Dec 2008 22:40:55 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=3341#comment-50762 This sounds wonderful! I'm jealous. This sounds wonderful! I’m jealous.

]]> By: Michelle Glauser http://mormonmatters.org/2008/12/12/that-time-of-year/#comment-50742 Michelle Glauser Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:39:43 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=3341#comment-50742 The Christmas program is hard core in Leipzig. First of all, it's on the 24th. Everyone comes to it before they go home and celebrate! The whole stake sings together and it's AMAZING. We've practiced every Wednesday since September, and these aren't songs that a normal choir could sing. The Christmas program is hard core in Leipzig. First of all, it’s on the 24th. Everyone comes to it before they go home and celebrate! The whole stake sings together and it’s AMAZING. We’ve practiced every Wednesday since September, and these aren’t songs that a normal choir could sing.

]]> By: Ricercar http://mormonmatters.org/2008/12/12/that-time-of-year/#comment-50739 Ricercar Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:50:37 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=3341#comment-50739 I am usually not a fan of the Christmas program for the simple reason that there isn't a lot of feeling. In almost every ward there has been the same stale performance over and over again. The one exception was while I was missionary in West Virginia: A man and his daughter sang "Oh Holy Night" while he played Guitar. I was amazed. Unfortunately the scandal of someone playing a guitar in church was too much for many in the ward. I was visiting some clients who are 'guests of Her Majesty' at the regional jail. The earliest appointment I could get was Sunday Morning. My family dropped me off at the allotted time; however, my meetings ended at about 11am - a full 40 minutes before it was supposed to. It was cold and snowy so I sought refuge at the local 'Christian Life Centre' - a church that doesn't call itself a church. It was their Christmas Gala and it was stunning. I confess I don't like protestants. It is a prejudice brutally learned as a missionary in Virginia. The service was only musical and punctuated by a prayer here and there. The Children's choir had every race and social class I could think of, the sound system was as good as a theatre and the feeling was amazing. The music varied between a classical musical piece by violin / guitar / flute, to a Christmas Christian Pop song with interpretive dance (no joke). It was a cool experience and really brought in the spirit of Christmas. I wonder why that hasn't happened in any Ward I have been to. That is the only question I left with. I am usually not a fan of the Christmas program for the simple reason that there isn’t a lot of feeling. In almost every ward there has been the same stale performance over and over again. The one exception was while I was missionary in West Virginia: A man and his daughter sang “Oh Holy Night” while he played Guitar. I was amazed. Unfortunately the scandal of someone playing a guitar in church was too much for many in the ward.

I was visiting some clients who are ‘guests of Her Majesty’ at the regional jail. The earliest appointment I could get was Sunday Morning. My family dropped me off at the allotted time; however, my meetings ended at about 11am – a full 40 minutes before it was supposed to. It was cold and snowy so I sought refuge at the local ‘Christian Life Centre’ – a church that doesn’t call itself a church. It was their Christmas Gala and it was stunning.

I confess I don’t like protestants. It is a prejudice brutally learned as a missionary in Virginia. The service was only musical and punctuated by a prayer here and there. The Children’s choir had every race and social class I could think of, the sound system was as good as a theatre and the feeling was amazing.

The music varied between a classical musical piece by violin / guitar / flute, to a Christmas Christian Pop song with interpretive dance (no joke). It was a cool experience and really brought in the spirit of Christmas. I wonder why that hasn’t happened in any Ward I have been to. That is the only question I left with.

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