Welcome to NeedExplanations.com
These are are my thoughts and questions related to various aspects of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS Church, Mormons, etc.) that NEED Explanations.
The intent of this blog is to put my thoughts and research into a space in which I can find it again, as needed, in the future, as well as a place for others to add their thoughts, opinions, and experiences.
My Church Background & Maybe TMI
Forethought: I tend to ramble, change topics regularly, and share personal experiences. I have ADHD and don’t usually try to mute it or control it. I grew up in the United States. I’m a cisgendered Caucasian male that hasn’t often gone without. My experiences, background, and opinions will not be the same as others. I’m not an English major but I feel that I can explain myself fairly well in written form.
I grew up as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I went to Primary, was baptized when I was 8 years old, went through all the levels of the Aaronic Priesthood as a young man, received my Patriarchal Blessing, went on a mission, got married civilly, then in the temple, and had children born under the covenant with my wife. I have mostly paid tithing starting when I was a child. I was not given an option to go to church as a child or even as a teenager. I only stayed home when I was sick. I did not participate in various activities on Sundays unless I was with my family, and even then, just minimal activities and visiting relatives. Oh, and lots, and lots of naps, sometimes for several hours and most of my family did the same thing. I remember being bribed by my mother to stand up in front of the congregation to bear my testimony at the pulpit in fast and testimony meetings. My siblings and I would receive a doughnut, or some other form of treat or reward for doing it.
I did not fast, mostly because I was heavily involved in sports when I was a teenager and my parents did not force me to. I considered it non-essential for me since I was trying to maintain certain levels of calories, etc. Looking back on it now, it would have been fine to do so (for the most part.) I grew up getting migraines and vomiting on occasion. We always just assumed they were the flu. I didn’t start to fast until I was on my mission and also started having more, and regular migraines. The twist was that I was getting them after playing soccer or some other sport on our “P-Day” (preparation for the week day,) and only on P-Days following fast Sunday (first Sunday of the month.) I wished I had known starting as a child that my electrolyte levels drop lower than most peoples. It could be because I drink a lot of water, that I’m a bit heavier than other people, more muscle mass, who knows. The migraines would be exacerbated by the lack of food/salt/potassium, etc. followed be high exertion. When I get a bad migraine I’m down for a few days. If I try to read anything it starts the process over. In addition to a terrible headache it affects my vision as well as my speech (my wife thought I was having a stroke one time when I was trying to talk to her on the phone.)
I was not allowed to go on many dates as a teenager. My mom was heavily against me dating someone outside of our religion. Even the girls I like that did go to our church “weren’t good enough” and I was not allowed to spend much time with them. It was very frustrating and I ultimately still went out with girls in secret hidden by spending the night with a friend and going on a date from their house. I feel that I missed out on a lot of opportunities to build better relationship skills and interpersonal skills, some of which I still haven’t developed well. I lack some important and basic communication skills that I may or may have not picked up had I been allowed to have girlfriends.
I have had many experiences that I would consider special and along the lines of stories people tell in church meetings that inspire members to be good people, help others, and make the world a better place.
I believe in God. I believe that the Earth didn’t come from a grand banging together of space rocks and resources by chance. If that’s how our Earth and Universe were formed I believe it was orchestrated by someone or individuals that knew what they were doing and had a purpose in mind.
“I remember years ago when I was a bishop I had President Heber J. Grant talk to our ward. After the meeting I drove him home … Standing by me, he put his arm over my shoulder and said: ‘My boy, you always keep your eye on the President of the Church and if he ever tells you to do anything, and it is wrong, and you do it, the Lord will bless you for it.’ Then with a twinkle in his eye, he said, ‘But you don’t need to worry. The Lord will never let his mouthpiece lead the people astray.’” (Conference Report, October 1960, p. 78.)
President Heber J. Grant
Seventh President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints