This weekend is the LDS Church’s General Conference. It happens twice a year–first weekend in April, first weekend in October. I call it TV church, because I get to wear comfy clothes and hang out on my couch all weekend, as it’s broadcast right into my living room.
These are examples, I believe, of what Paul was talking about in I Corinthians 12, the great chapter on spiritual gifts, where he teaches that all the parts of the body of Christ, the Church, are needed for their separate gifts—and, in fact, that those with “less honorable” and “uncomely” gifts are more needed and more in need of attention and honor because the world will automatically honor and use the others. It is in the Church especially that those with the gifts of vulnerability, pain, handicap, need, ignorance, intellectual arrogance, social pride, even prejudice and sin—those Paul calls the members that “seem to be more feeble”—can be accepted, learned from, helped, and made part of the body so that together we can all be blessed. It is there that those of us with the more comely and world-honored gifts of riches and intelligence can learn what we most need—to serve and love and patiently learn from those with other gifts.
I’m part of the body of Christ–my single, childless, bleeding heart liberal self is somehow needed, even if I don’t always feel that way, and there’s bound to be one or two talks this weekend that will really make me feel I don’t belong. But I am needed, and I need to “serve and love and patiently learn.”
If you want to see what General Conference is all about, visit lds.org for all viewing/listening opportunities.
Thanks. l love how strong you faith is even, or especially, when you are expressing your feelings of disaffection. It is inspiring to me. Hope you enjoyed your weekend.
Aw, thanks, Sarah! I could've done without most of the Saturday morning session but the Sunday morning session reminded me why I stay. 🙂