Hopefully I spelled that right. My younger brother (and only brother) received it on Sunday. Tomorrow he will graduate from high school.
Sometime during this summer, I plan to compile talks/quotes/stories etc for him that deal w/honoring the priesthood. Maybe I will find some of the top talks that talk about the priesthood or blessings, etc. I will include D & C 121, etcAnyway, I know I am years late in doing this, should have probably done this the years prior to him beocming a deacon,etc
For those who don't know my whole family story, my family is a part-member family, while my dad is a wonderful man and attends church, he is not a member of it at this time. So my brother has experienced learning about hard work and family love/dedication from my dad, most of the "priesthood learning" has been from the people at church.
As older sis, I do see more of the frustrating/immature aspects of my brother and in my holier than thou view I feel and hope he will learn a lot before he goes to college and his mission. I need to do better in many ways to help him.
Anyway, just looking for things you wish you'd known way back when. Thanks.
If your brother honored his priesthood while only holding the Aaronic Priesthood, the probability he will most likely do okay honoring it now that he is ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood is pretty high. No guarantee of course, but if he has good influences on him from fellow priesthood holders who have mentored him, that is really all any boy / man gets insofar as "training", even when there are mothers, sisters, girlfriends, or wives who give their righteous influence.
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It seems to me the only thing you've learned is that Caesar is a "salad dressing dude."
Nita, I was in a pretty similar situation as what you had in your family. My family is also part member. My dad has never joined the church although he knows a lot about it. Most of our (my brother and I)Priesthood experience and knowlege came from watching hometeachers and being in the Aaronic Priesthood. If he was an active priest in a decent young men's program he should already have been exposed to this. Seminary would also help, especially the Doctine and Covenants ciriculem.
The best way to learn about and honor one's priesthood is to serve. Hometeaching, service projects, stake welfare farms, etc. Hopefully he will also be teamed up with a good elder as a home teacher. You learn the most about the priesthood by doing.
There is a snobbish attitude by some LDS folks that those who are converts or come from partial member families somehow won't be as good members or Priesthood holders as those who come from 10 generations of pioneer heritage. Humbug! Even Joseph Smith was a convert and had to learn about the Priesthood.
I don't think there's a snobbish attitude. I think there's a cultural understanding that comes with generational priesthood, that is neither here nor there. That has its own problems, though. I think it's a mistake to compare oneself to anyone in the priesthood, other than to study the life and ministry of Christ.
--Ray
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I'm not slow; I'm special. (Don't take it personally, everyone finds me offensive. Yet somehow I manage to live with myself.)
Ray, my brother and I are converts and have run into these multigenerational snobs and have had things said to us that were not only ignorant but insulting. I was frankly told by a member of the Bishopric years ago that they couldn't figure out why we turned out so good coming from a partial member family and it wasn't a compliment. I've sat in meetings where people talked about their pioneer ancestry how they were related to so and so and watched them act all high and mighty because they were from a Utah pioneer family while I was not from as good of stock because my ancestors crossed the plains looking for gold and not the variety that comes on plates and contains scripture. Its these same folks who move in and tell us how nice it is to be living in the mission field. Frankly, it is snobbish. My priesthood is the same as anyone else's in the church with the same office. My membership is no less valid or strong than theirs because of some pedigree. So Ray, I respectfully disagree about this cultural understanding that you refer to. It is a snobbish attitude that there are some members that are better than others. Of course, I really like to play jokes on these folks to help reinforce their stereotypes. Makes it easier to avoid the callings that are more work! LOL!
You do realize you're painting with the same broad brush you accuse all generational mormons of using?
You're right. No member should be treated the way you were in Christ's church... and I'm sorry for your personal victimhood, but honestly, cut the generational members of the church a little slack! After all, their only option is to remain true to the faith they were born into ... or fall into apostasy...
--Ray
-- Edited by rayb at 18:44, 2007-06-13
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I'm not slow; I'm special. (Don't take it personally, everyone finds me offensive. Yet somehow I manage to live with myself.)
But they're so much fun to mess with. Like when you ask them if it is ok to bring your own beer or if I'll be expected to share at the ward picnic. I get looks that would peel paint from these folks.
I love getting the "Oh" response from uptight mormons
Many years ago when my wife and I were both students at Ricks, we announced our engagement to classmates and friends. Inevitably the presumptuous question was, "Which temple are you getting married in?" I would reply, "Umm....we're umm...gettingmarriedinourbishop'sbackyard."
"Oh."
The following year, when my wife became pregnant and we were still at Ricks, total strangers would sidle up and place a hand on her six-month-large belly and inanely ask, "When is your baby due?" My wife would uncomfortably reply with the due date, and then I would grab her hand and exclaim, "And we're getting married next month!"
"Oh."
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The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life. - Julie Beck
thanks for the replies. I definitely feel anyone can be a good priesthood holder. My concern w/my brother wasn't so much our family membership status. Rather just here and there, he has shown in the past some immaturity/other things that concern me. I've referred to it more at the other city. While he does lots of good and while I see lots of his good potential, sometimes I've been frustrated w/how he acts to me, my mom, my dad, etc. Anyway, past is past. But those misgivings were sort of what inspired this thread.
I love getting the "Oh" response from uptight mormons
Many years ago when my wife and I were both students at Ricks, we announced our engagement to classmates and friends. Inevitably the presumptuous question was, "Which temple are you getting married in?" I would reply, "Umm....we're umm...gettingmarriedinourbishop'sbackyard."
"Oh."
The following year, when my wife became pregnant and we were still at Ricks, total strangers would sidle up and place a hand on her six-month-large belly and inanely ask, "When is your baby due?" My wife would uncomfortably reply with the due date, and then I would grab her hand and exclaim, "And we're getting married next month!"
"Oh."
Oh, that's fantastic Roper! I wish I had been there to see that! LOL!!!!
Nitasmile, cut him little slack. If he is worthy enough to recieve the Melchezedeck Priesthood then he probably didn't get into too much mischief. Most guys act like idiots during their teens. I certainly did. Most outgrow it. Ray and I didn't but it's still OK. There are plenty of mentally slow women out there willing to marry guys like us!
If he is worthy enough to recieve the Melchezedeck Priesthood then he probably didn't get into too much mischief. Most guys act like idiots during their teens.
And those of us who didn't act like idiots during our teens were acting like nerdy self-righteous stuffed shirts!
Whew! I am sooo glad I eventually and almost completely graduated from that into just acting like an idiot!
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It seems to me the only thing you've learned is that Caesar is a "salad dressing dude."
You all do have a good point about cutting him some slack. I just get frustrated when I see some selfishness at times and want him to be a brother that is more focused on others. I do need to work on praising him and supporting the good he does instead.
I remember this guy in my sr. year seminary class. (the only year I took seminary). Well one guy was so obnoxious, often either sleeping or walking in late w/McDonald's breakfast. Fast forward several years, he returned from a mission and was speaking at a missionary fireside (for potential missionaries). I was at that fireside as a potential missionary.
When I heard that guy was going to speak, I mentally shook my head based on the only thing I knew of him, how he had acted in seminary. Often the teacher was frustrated w/him and certain other class members.
Anyway, I listened to his presentation- and saw what a wonderful missionary he had been. I know from conversation w/a friend he has turned into a great dad as well.
Anyway, so somehow that helps me think good things can happen here as well. Thanks for the good advice.
