puff needs advice

[puff]

recently the hp grp ldr has rang and asked for a ppi , i was knocked off balance but declined , i wondered if there searching for info to excommunicate me , any ideas

[dogzilla]

Well, puff, we can't know what's in someone else's head, thank all the gods and the Flying Spaghetti Monster for that. I have seen, especially on RfM, posts about stake prezzies and other higher-level morg types trying to ingratiate themselves to the inactives and apostates. Frankly, my opinion is that the numbers are down, conversions are down, and resignations are up. The morg (my guess - no facts to back this up) taking a shotgun approach and doing everything they can think of to fill the wards. I'm sure they have rolls 500 families long, but still, on Sundays, the parking lots are mostly empty and maybe 10% of the membership actively participates. As we all know, god is a poor money manager, so the morg needs tithing! It needs to activate people! The prophet margin is shrinking!

My guess is this fella wants to know one of three things: 1) What offended you, 2) Which sin (exactly and in great detail) you are committing that prevents you from being a TBM, or 3) What is that other nonsense reason TBMs trot out when they can't understand why people think the doctrine is false?

Anyway, they can excommunicate you behind your back, but I think they have to notify you of, and invite you to, a bishop's court. The PPI that the HPGL wanted to schedule was probably a probe to see if they needed to schedule a court. My opinion is that declining that PPI was the best possible choice you could have made. Go about your life and don't worry your pretty little head about it.

[peter_mary]

Puff,

High Priest Group Leaders SHOULDN'T be in the business of drumming up suspects for church courts. A PPI is typically pretty benign, and I would expect he is simply trying to do his duty to extend the hand of fellowship. I wouldn't worry about it at all, and agree that declining to meet was probably a smart move.

However, depending on how you ultimately feel about the church knowing what you believe in, meeting with a guy who just wants to know if he can help might prove to be an opportunity to extend yourself to him, too. It never hurts to have friends, and since you still go to church on occassion, chatting with the guy might be good for establishing at least some semblance of a relationship. But that's entirely up to you and your comfort level in those kinds of situations.

But if the Bishop calls you and wants your ass in his office...THEN you can start wondering if you should have resigned your membership by now! ;)

[helemon]

recently the hp grp ldr has rang and asked for a ppi , i was knocked off balance but declined , i wondered if there searching for info to excommunicate me , any ideas

Maybe he was wanting to extend a calling to you? On RfM there was a guy who was called to be a member of the bishopbric even after confessing his disbelief to the SP. He suspects that it might have been due to the fact that he is a highly paid VP of a Fortune 500 company and hasn't been paying tithing for several years.

What is the worst that could happen if you have this interview? I say go ahead with it if you are curious.

[helemon]

The morg (my guess - no facts to back this up) taking a shotgun approach and doing everything they can think of to fill the wards. I'm sure they have rolls 500 families long, but still, on Sundays, the parking lots are mostly empty and maybe 10% of the membership actively participates. As we all know, god is a poor money manager, so the morg needs tithing! It needs to activate people! The prophet margin is shrinking!

I thought it was interesting that there was a recent survey that found that conservative religious people donate more to charity than non-religious people. I wonder if that would be true if you removed the money that went to their church. I don't consider it charity if the money is going to a super wealthy religon or religious leader.

[elder_nomo]

I thought it was interesting that there was a recent survey that found that conservative religious people donate more to charity than non-religious people. I wonder if that would be true if you removed the money that went to their church. I don't consider it charity if the money is going to a super wealthy religon or religious leader.
I couldn't agree more.
a) LDS Inc is more like a private club than an actual charity, and
2) I don't see how the LDS church, for one, can be considered non-profit. Most businesses would love to have a bottom line like theirs.

Puff, about your question... I'm too long gone to even remember for sure what a PPI is (personal priesthood interview?) but if it's what I think it is, good for you for declining. I'd tell the nosy little weasels to step off. Nobody has the right to pry into your personal life.

[puff]

Well, puff, we can't know what's in someone else's head, thank all the gods and the Flying Spaghetti Monster for that. I have seen, especially on RfM, posts about stake prezzies and other higher-level morg types trying to ingratiate themselves to the inactives and apostates. Frankly, my opinion is that the numbers are down, conversions are down, and resignations are up. The morg (my guess - no facts to back this up) taking a shotgun approach and doing everything they can think of to fill the wards. I'm sure they have rolls 500 families long, but still, on Sundays, the parking lots are mostly empty and maybe 10% of the membership actively participates. As we all know, god is a poor money manager, so the morg needs tithing! It needs to activate people! The prophet margin is shrinking!

My guess is this fella wants to know one of three things: 1) What offended you, 2) Which sin (exactly and in great detail) you are committing that prevents you from being a TBM, or 3) What is that other nonsense reason TBMs trot out when they can't understand why people think the doctrine is false?

Anyway, they can excommunicate you behind your back, but I think they have to notify you of, and invite you to, a bishop's court. The PPI that the HPGL wanted to schedule was probably a probe to see if they needed to schedule a court. My opinion is that declining that PPI was the best possible choice you could have made. Go about your life and don't worry your pretty little head about it.all good answers i have decided to just ignore them , even if they call a bishops court , that way i don,t acknowlege their authority , same people turned up for a visit after i told them not to , i read their message after an on the back was a love blessing to my wife , my name mysteriously omited , i,m sure the gossip is going round and their winding up for the big moment

[helemon]

all good answers i have decided to just ignore them , even if they call a bishops court , that way i don,t acknowlege their authority , same people turned up for a visit after i told them not to , i read their message after an on the back was a love blessing to my wife , my name mysteriously omited , i,m sure the gossip is going round and their winding up for the big moment

Is this the same puff who was complaining a while back that the members of the ward ignore him and never talk to him? What's that old saying about being careful what you wish for. :D

[puff]

Is this the same puff who was complaining a while back that the members of the ward ignore him and never talk to him? What's that old saying about being careful what you wish for. :Dyeah right , still no missionaries tho , thank god . amazing how fast it all disapears , like lightning

[helemon]

yeah right , still no missionaries tho , thank god . amazing how fast it all disapears , like lightning

Hey Puff,
I heard on NPR a few days ago about the NZ hum. Have you heard it? The people who can hear it saw it is a constant low frequency humming noise. Scientists have been able to detect it but can't explain it. What do you think?