General Conference Report, ‘Relief Society Attendance,’ pp 9-10 “Now to the sisters in the Church I say that attendance at Relief Society, in an important way is not really optional. It is as obligatory upon a woman to draw into her life the virtues that are fostered by the Relief Society as it is an obligation for the men to build into their lives the patterns of character fostered by the priesthood”. – Boyd K. Packer, September 30, 1978
Romans 12:1, 4-9 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good”.
There are a few key items to take note of in our bible passage today.
The definition of dissimulation is hypocrisy. If you’re serving out of love, isn’t it hypocritical to serve because you’re told to do so?
Paul tells us that while we’re all members of one body we all have different callings. It’s just like a family. There’s a mom, dad, and kids with each filling their unique role. Sadly, Mormons have a difficult time grasping this concept.
Likewise, the body of Christ works cohesively because the HS is working through each of us with different callings God laid upon our hearts. Ministries, churches, missions, etc, all have a different focus, but our callings are tied together by glorifying God, and serving as an extension of His power through our hands.
Being ‘obligated’ to attend Relief Society, or Priesthood Meetings isn’t the work of God. This is the work of man! If I have to show up every Tuesday night for a meeting because I ‘have to’ I won’t be there serving God, nor would I be there willingly. God’s power is manifested to others by caring hearts, and outstretched hands of His people.
It certainly won’t be seen in callings dealt out by those in charge who haven’t a clue as to what purpose God has called you for. Furthermore, it’s painfully obvious they’re trying take the place God should have in your life.
Share with a Mormon how the Lord works through His people. Many times new ex-Mormon Christians don’t understand how this is done.
With Love in Christ;
Michelle
Note: This post is an update from original posting in 2014.
Sounds to me like another message based in sagging attendance numbers. For Packer to say that attendance at RS meetings is not optional, but is obligatory, is the very kind of rhetoric that has likely caused a lot of women to quit going to church
I know that if I was told that it’d be the last meeting I’d attend.
Just like the Catholic church. I played for a wedding a few years back (I play the Highland bagpipes) on a Saturday at a huge Catholic Church. The bride & groom had chosen to include the Eucharist in their ceremony. At the end of the service, when any normal new bride and groom is anxious to start their honeymoon, the priest reminded them that this service did NOT absolve them from attending Mass the next morning!!!!
Exactly!!!!!
If the priest had told me to stop my honeymoon to attend mass, I would have laughed at him. The Mormon Church takes up so much of a person’s time, and yet, they claim to be family friendly. There are some callings that require meetings mid week (Wednesday, Thursday etc), another meeting before church, perhaps a few minutes with the Bishop after church, campouts that last for several days, church cleanings twice weekly, cooking and preparing food, setting up and taking down tables/ chairs. it’s all about serving the needs of the church. Meanwhile, you have the General Authorities scratching their heads in wonderment, trying to figure out why people are leaving the church in droves. ALSO, Sacrament meetings are about as spiritually uplifting as a Saturday morning cartoon show.
It’s really sad that people allow these cults and cultic religions to control their lives rather than allowing the Word of God to teach them truth.
In 1 Corinthians 12, God talks about the different spiritual gifts that he bestows on his people. Some members are given perhaps one gift, while others may have two or more gifts. The Mormons don’t seem to recognize this. If they did, they would only have certain people giving talks and certain people teaching Sunday school. Same thing with the Five Fold Ministry as discussed in Ephesians 4:12. Not every member is cut out to do certain tasks. Only people that God has appointed as “Teachers” should be teaching Sunday school. If the Mormon Church were to realize and accept that teaching from the BIBLE, then perhaps their church services would become something more than exercises in pure boredom