My brother Shawn (Elder Sloan, that is) rebuked me and a couple of my siblings today for not “pursuing eternal companions”. Dang it, I’m a sinner!
the apostles have spoken that after a mission, there is nothing that should prevent you from starting a family, Elder Oaks speaks very very strongly about that. He even says in an ensign that if they are that age and not doing their part to seek an eternal companion, they are sinning and need to repent. That was a real “wow” statement, seems a bit harsh, but it was spoken by the mouth of an apostle of the Lord. So, get going siblings, do your part!
I guess I better do my part, huh? Maybe tomorrow.
Edit: ahhh, Marianne comes up with a winning idea… contrasting words from Sister Kato Sloanie from last week:
Ok, I had the funniest personal study the other day. I was reading in 1 Corinthians 7, and I was thinking “This is SO for my brothers!” In verse 8 it says “I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.” Then in verse 27 it says “Art thou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. ART THOU LOOSED FROM A WIFE? SEEK NOT A WIFE.” Haha! That made me laugh so I thought I’d share it. I know Paul is likely speaking of not getting married after a divorce, but whatever. I interpretted it as “Art thou single! Live it up!” Haha! Sorry, that was lame and I know it didn’t make Soogs happy, so I apologize! =)
Actually I was thinking I should just get me a man-servant to go find me a wife. You know, like when Abraham’s servant goes and finds a wife for his son Isaac. Hmm….
Comments
13 responses to “Sinner.”
That’s a far-cry from Kate’s biblical reference of: Art thou single? Live it up!
Live it up? Amen and amen! Hallelujah!
And I likes Sloanie’s idea of a servant finding me a wife, but I’m worried what calliber of girl would happily marry me sight unseen. *shudder*
I love the guilt-trip to get married. It’s my favorite part about going to church! (sarcasm here).
But, seriously, I’m trying to date more again, after about a year-long hiatus (I’m not being ultra successful at it, but at least it’s on the table again). Sometimes I think it just has to be the right timing. Sometimes I really DON’T think the Lord wants me to be dating – because I need to focus on becoming a better person, or getting over the latest rejection, or whatever. But, yeah, there’s also that part about the Lord requiring “the heart, and a willing mind.” I figure that if I show the Lord I’m willing to do something about my marital situation, He will eventually place someone in my path who will be right for me. I think the biggest thing is just to be looking. And, it doesn’t even have to be ultra frenzied dating-every-week kind of looking either. It reminds me of this poem by John Milton, especially the last line:
When I consider how my light is spent
Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodg’d with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest he returning chide,
“Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?”
I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies: “God doth not need
Either man’s work or his own gifts: who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed
And post o’er land and ocean without rest:
They also serve who only stand and wait.”
That is all. Good luck with dating!
Heebs. What’s the worry? As long as your servant knows your “type”, you should be in good shape 😉 Maybe it just means she has great faith (or your servant is just really convincing, hehe).
Travis– thanks for sharing the poem. My problem is that it’s easy to avoid. I believe in balance, but I tend to only be able to focus on one serious thing at a time– be it work, school, or dating. I had intentions to get to work on it this summer but some other things have come up that have seriously distracted my focus from that idea. Excuses, right? But I’d rather not be making new friends or making attempts at relationships when I’m not totally there mentally and emotionally– harder to be myself.
It was funny. My dad asked me last night for a straight yes/no answer– to “are you dating?” and I just said flat “no.” He was just checking because no one ever really knows what I’m up to, hehehe…
Hurry up and get married allready! Man! I’m just kidding no pressure here. However I do think that you are passing up on some pretty cute girls. There are girls all over Utah that I bet are just wishing you would CALL THEM!!!!!
It’s true, Mike – no one knows what you’re ever REALLY up to! 🙂 Half the family swears you have a girl on the side you’re not telling anyone about! 🙂 But I’m sure girls need to do their part – keep in mind that Shawn said “siblings” – not just “brothers”!! 🙂 So us girls (I guess that pretty much means me and Seesa… huh…) need to do our part too!
It’s true, Meloo… I’m just not pointing fingers at anyone but myself since that’s the only constructive thing I can do 😉
It would be pretty sad if I had a girl on the side I wasn’t telling anyone about. If I were in smit I think it’d be tough to hide 😉 Then again…
Ha! I got chided for the very same thing this week. However, I like to think Elder Oaks comments are only applicable to Utahns 😉 I can’t be held to the same expectations when 23 is practically a teenager around Las Vegas, rather than the spinster it is in Utah, right?
remember, I am not saying that if you arent getting married quick you are sinning, it is if you arent doing your part to look. Funny, the reason I mentioned that is because of Kato’s e-mail, all I could think is “Kato is playing devil’s advocate!” hehe. So, do what you gotta do, and that doesnt mean devote your life to dating and nothing else, just be “actively seeking”.
Awww man! I knew I would get in trouble for that e-mail!!! Well, honestly, for a long time I’ve been wanting to send an e-mail to all three of my older brothers chastising them for not doing their part to progress toward exaltation, but I thought that that was kind of hypocritical on my part, with all of my brothers knowing of my own disinterest in marriage. But maybe I’ll still work on that e-mail anyway…we shall see…
pfffft, i am not gonna pressure myself until mike and dan are married, when that happens, then i’ll panic. 😛
Good grief, people. So much angst! I promise, marriage is a blast.
We aren’t allowed to accept gifts from someone we’ve officially rebuked!!