One thing I love about the Doctrine and Covenants is how so many of the revelations are directed to specific individuals. Sure, we read what is written and apply the lessons in our own lives, generalizing the counsel and direction given from the particular instance to our own lives and to the church membership at large, but many of the great doctrines of the church are often found in sections beginning with statements like, “Oliver Cowdery, verily, verily, I say unto you…” You know, the kind where you just insert your own name and voila! You’ve likened the scriptures unto yourself.
Some of these revelations are oddly prosaic for canonized scripture — important instruction at the time, to be sure, but do future generations really need to know that Sidney Gilbert should open a store? Also, many of the revelations contain strong chastisements of those named, a very public airing of sins and failings that for most people would be taken care of in private (I’m too lazy to find examples, but they’re all over the place).
I’ve always tried to imagine myself in the shoes of one of these early Saints when reading the D&C, and I’ve gained something by the exercise. Today, however, I find myself having to work a lot less to place myself in their shoes.
In case you haven’t heard, the First Presidency issued a letter dated April 19th which reads as follows:
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
Some members of the Church teach their children at home rather than sending them to a public or private school. Groups of these parents often combine to offer activities for their children and increasingly request that Church meetinghouses be made available to host such activities.
While the Church strongly encourages education, Church facilities are dedicated for the purpose of worship, religious instruction, and other Church- related activities. Church meetinghouses should not be used as home school or day care facilities, or for hosting home school activities. Adherence to this policy will help avoid safety and tax liabilities for the church.
Sincerely yours,
The First Presidency
I happen to be one of those members who teaches his children at home. There are only three other homeschooling families currently in our ward, and only ten or so in the stake. We have a co-op group that meets one morning a week at the church for various activities. Last Thursday we had a talent show there. Tonight we find ourselves suddenly wondering where we’re going to meet this upcoming Thursday morning.
While I agree that the policy, though regrettable, is probably the wisest way to handle such requests, I can’t help but feel as though I’m being singled out publicly for doing something wrong by the prophet of the Lord. Everyone in the ward knows that we homeschool, and there aren’t many of us in the ward. The letter might as well have my name on it. The text of the letter seems to suggest that no non-Church related activities are appropriate, but I don’t see the weekly karate practice being singled out for correction via a First Presidency letter. Why not just re-emphasize that church buildings are to be used for church activities only?
I have my guesses as to the reasons why, but really, it doesn’t matter. I believe in a church led by inspired leaders, and while this latest letter seems to be less a matter of inspiration than of legal liability issues, it comes from the desk of the men whom I have promised to sustain as leaders of Christ’s church, and whom I believe to be called of God. If I can’t accept their judgment on a small matter such as this, how likely am I to be able to submit my will to the Lord when He asks for true sacrifices through his prophets?
At any rate, how often does the prophet speak to you personally these days? I know that I’ll never read the Doctrine and Covenants in the same way again. It’s a small price to pay for that increased understanding, given the possible alternatives. If the Lord wants to speak to me personally through the prophet, I’d rather hear that I shouldn’t use the church building for homeschool activities than receive a call to leave my family to serve a mission for a couple of years.
I appreciate feeling the testimony behind this post you wrote. Good luck in finding a way to fulfill your family’s homeschooling needs.
Second Danithew. Maybe you could find a local community center and pony up some money betwixt all of you. Also, maybe you could use the local school building after school. A lot of school districts and states are getting more open to that sort of thing.
Thanks, Dan and Jordan. I should clarify a bit — We’re not devastated by this, merely inconvenienced. It’s a relatively small group. I don’t think it should be too hard to find a new place to meet. Besides, with the summer coming up, we probably won’t be meeting anyway for a few months.
The main point of the post (for me at least) was to think about how the Lord speaks to us individually through his prophets. Discussion of the actual policy re: homeschoolers is probably best had over at the Times and Seasons thread.
Do you really think the Lord interrupted the prophet and said, “hey, no more home-schooling stuff in my church buildings”? I don’t think this is inspired at all. It’s just a policy the lawyers came up with. Then the Brethren rubber-stamped it. They do that sometimes.
Janey, it seems like that question is wholly immaterial to Bryce’s response. Notice that he never claimed that this letter must be inspired. He said it came from the desk of the man he’s committed to sustaining as a prophet.
I think it’s interesting to ponder the implications of each of these tests– the one you’ve suggested (is it revelation?) and the one Bryce follows here (did it come from a prophet?). Although they are closely related questions, they end up leading to very different results. It seems that in all the stories one hears about the history of the church, the people who end up falling out of the church are the ones asking the former question, and the ones who are most committed to the Kingdom are those asking the former.
Bryce, I loved this post by the way. It made me think of two times I was publicly chastised on my mission, neither of which I thought was objectively justified. I have no doubt that the Lord watches us through such tests, and hopes we’ll grow from them, rather than sulk and moan. Thanks for the post.
Janey, even if the First Presidency did just “rubber- stamp” it, shouldn’t we sustain them?
Bryce, a thoughtful post. I think we often forget how important being humble is. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be mentioned by name in a rebuke for all generations of church members to see in the scriptures. That’s some serious humility.
Ryan, looks like we posted the same thing at the same time only now I would like to erase mine and just say “ditto” to yours.
I’ve thought about this issue all day, and I just don’t think it’s fair (I know, life isn’t fair plus we have to sustain our leaders). That said, isn’t there any way a member could help amend this policy? Which goes to a general question I have, which is – who makes these sort of administrative decisions, and do they ask any lay member groups for their input before formulating the policy? I know the church isn’t a democracy where interest groups weigh in to help formulate legislation, but I think it would be nice if the Church had a committee or group or something of members who would give meaningful feedback to these proposals (that someone important would read and take seriously) before these kinds of policies were released to everyone.
tess–
my understanding is that the national lds homeschool association is talking to someone.
I suppose the letter doesn’t bother me (we are homeschoolers too) because I have enver considered using the Church for homeschool activities. I have always understood that it is strictly for Church activities, wedding receptions and Church related meetings and that’s it, so I have never assumed we could haev homeschool or other activities at the Church and would only seek out another venue.
I wish there were other homeschoolers in our ward.