Conference tecrus::mormonism

    I'm not sure but I think I sort of fall in and out of this category.
    
    I too was raised as a "Mormon" (by this I mean I was blessed, baptised,
    attended all meetings, took seminary, etc).  I never went on a mission
    however.  My parents encouraged us to go to church, but did not attend 
    too often themselves.  At 17 or so I fell into inactivity.  I became
    what they call a "Jack Mormon".  
    
    After 20+ years of being inactive, my husband and I decided it was
    time to come back into the fold.  A lot of water had gone under
    the bridge and we soon found out that it is very difficult
    to convert someone who has become inactive and been out "in the world".
    We asked a lot of questions and scrutinized every doctrine.   We
    wanted to be sure so we studied and prayed.  In the end, we knew what
    was right and on October 11, 1987 we were sealed in the temple for
    all time and eternity.  Since that time, we have found great
    contentment and we know this is where we belong. 
    
    Our two younger daughters were sealed to us, but our three older 
    daughters have to make the choice for themselves.  I am confident 
    that they will.  The reason we were put down here on earth is to
    make our own choices.  Some of us take a different path and the road is
    more difficult.  As for myself, I just had to "Check it out".  I
    guess I knew in my heart the truth all along.  I know where you are 
    coming from and my heart goes out to you.  I believe that in the end, 
    you will come back as we did.  We will be waiting for all the lost
    sheep with open arms.   
    
    Louise

    
    Hi Brent,
    
      You have stirred me to reply to your question.I was baptized in
    1981,in Augusta,Maine.I was very active for several years.I was
    asked to serve in several offices,which I did.I met my second wife
    in the church,but,that was the beginning of my slow movement away
    from church.Due to severe problems in my marriage,I became very
    angry and hurt,which turned me spiritually away from GOD.Despite
    my effort to reconcile with my wife,my marriage failed.I had no
    other option left,but to file for divorce.During my hardest time
    When I needed help,despite asking for support,I was not.I stopped
    going to church,and,nothing changed.It was as if I had never been.
    Noone came or contacted me,except for the Bishop,who asked if I
    wanted home teachers.I told him no,but,it would be nice if some
    of the brethren would drop by.No one did,so,I stopped asking,and,
    became inactive.I have since remarried and,am very happy with the
    lady I have been searching for for years.I have no good reason to
    go back to church.This is all I have time for right now.
    
    Peace
    Michael
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    I'm not inactive - but I visit-teach people who are inactive.  I've
    also watched people decrease their church activity for a variety
    of reasons....I'd like to hear the hows and whys....so talk away...
    you can send mail to MCIS3::SALESDEV....
    			Sheryl Glass

    I, too hometaught a few people who are inactive.  They've moved
    so my route is going to be added to.  Anyhow, IMHO, people go/remain
    inactive for several reasons.  
    
    1. They just don't care anymore about being active in the church.
    Other things are more important to them, like doing things on sunday
    which are not in keeping the sabbath day holy or the commandments
    are too hard to keep.
    
    2. They're lazy.
    
    3. They have too many other things going on.  I think it would be
    hard to be involved in too many other activities/organizations and
    be able to successfully juggle all our other responsibilities. 
                         
    scott

    
    Hello again,
    
      During my active stage,I spent a lot of time in the Elders Quorum
    presidency,overseeing the home teaching program.I discovered just
    how frustrating it can be to administer a program that required
    a lot more time and help than I had.If any of you have been involved
    with this,you know what I am saying.There were so many things involved,
    It was like an amateur climber taking on MT. Everest!I learned a
    lot during that time,about people,and,myself.I found that,in the
    church,it was no different than other organizations I had been involved
    in,in that,I saw the same problems of activity/inactivity,as I did
    in the others.People loose interest in things for many different
    reasons.I lost interest,I think,because I didnt feel a part of the
    "Family".I felt left out,rejected,and alone.I didnt feel needed.I
    was a lost sheep,but,noone came to find me.If a member of your family
    was lost,woulnt you seek them out,especially if you knew where they
    might be?
       Another reason I think I lost interest,was,I grew in a way that
    made me rethink and evaluate my life.I became disenchanted with
    certain things in the church,my feelings changed,that made it more
    difficult to do certain things.
       This is all I have time for right now,so,bye for now.
    
    Peace
    Michael
    

    Howdy Michael!
    
    I know where you're coming from.  It seems like there's just not
    enough time or resources to always reach out to the 'lost sheep' like
    we should.  Serving in the Bishopric, I'm particularly mindful of how 
    hard it is to keep track of the nearly 600 members in our ward.  With
    home teaching hitting only about 50%, there's around 300 members that 
    don't get a visit each month from their home teachers.  Yet, 'lost
    sheep' tend to need a lot more than just one visit per month.

    Each day, I try to reach out, especially on Sundays.  In our leadership
    meetings we are always trying to address the needs of individuals.
    I know the Bishop in our ward is particularly involved with counseling
    of troubled individuals.  And, with my role and the leaders I work
    with, we are always trying to improve upon the services made available
    to members.  But, all of this means little unless the home teachers
    do their job.
    
    I home teach several who are not active in the Church.  It may be
    a while before they do become active.  But, they can count on seeing
    me at least once per month.  They know I love them, and I think
    about them, not just when I visit.  They know they can count on
    me for help and a kind word.  Though this can take a long time, this
    is the best way I know for someone to again become active in the
    Church - to be loved and encouraged by an active member.    
    
    Another issue that I've come to realize is that the Church pretty
    well addresses our needs for society with only a few holes.  I've
    noticed lately that in our ward, the men don't really get to socialize
    very often.  So, I've recently started having what I'm calling 
    "Boys' Night Out".  We're having our first one tonite.  We're going
    to have a rowdy video (Iron Eagle tonite) on the wide screen in
    the overflow area of the Church, stereo sound cranked up as high
    as we want and munchies.  Da' wimmin are not invited.  Anybody else
    is welcome to drop in, but attendance is not required.  It's just
    another way for us to fellowship each other.  
    
    I think we need to always keep an eye out for each other.  Without
    that Christian fellowship that we all need (maybe some times more than
    others), it's awfully easy to let things slide.
    
    Steve

    
    Hi Steve,
    
     I can relate so well with what everyone has said.Being active for
    4 years,and,inactive for 3,I can relate to both sides.Can you imagine
    how nice it would be if all of the members lived within the same
    town or,the same couple of blocks?Boy,could we be GREAT Home Teachers!
    This is what its like in Utah in a lot of places.It is hard to maintain
    Family ties as the children move away.So it is in the church when
    the family is spread out 400 or 500 square miles.A lot of people
    tend to get left out and forgotten except for a name on a membership
    list.People need to be needed and loved.This is the only way to
    keep people together in a family.There are a lot of dedicated,loving,
    caring people in the church,but,they tend to not have enough time
    to do what they would like in the church.They have so many callings
    that they do too little spiritual work and too much organizational.
      This is a complex question to come up with a good answer.I dont
    think there is one answer,but,several.All for now.
    
    Peace
    Michael
    

    Regarding my visit-teaching of inactive members:
    
    	I have been told nearly *every* time I'm given an inactive member
    that she has requested that she not be visited.
    
    	Sometimes when I call, the person is out and out rude. 
    	The person I'm current Visit-teaching was so drunk the first
    time I called her that she could not give coherent directions to
    her house.  I love her dearly, and it'd be nice to re-activate her,
    but I'm just satisfied for the moment making sure she's ok.
    
    	One person I introduced to the church was baptized, and had
    a strong testimony.  Her husband was baptized - only to keep his
    wife from leaving him, we thought, but it turned out he *did* in
    fact, have a testimony.  Unfortunately, he didn't give up his cocaine
    addiction, so his wife left.
    
    	Because they didn't want to run into each other in the ward,
    they *both* stopped going to church.  She started dating a non-member.
    Now she feels 'funny' going to church, she says, and has asked to
    stop being visited.  Apparently she is not still living according
    to gospel standards.  
    
    	One elderly woman ranted and raved at me on the phone about
    how no one had come to visit her in the hospital.  We didn't even
    *know* she was in the hospital!  She had gotten herself all ticked
    off about how 'The Church' didn't care about her anymore.  She told
    *me* she didn't want to be seen.  One other member stopped over
    to see her anyway a few weeks later, and she told her that "No one
    ever comes to see me!"  When this sister reminded her that I had
    asked to come to visit, she said 'Oh, yeah...well I don't know her.'
    
    	I'm awfully sorry Michael that no one reached out to you.  What
    if *your* home teacher had been one of the people I described above?
    Inactivity, and failure to do what our Heavenly Father wants us
    to frequently hurts others more than it hurts us.  When you stopped
    going to church, did you continue to home teach?  Did you get formally
    released from your callings, or did you just kind of stop?    Please,
    I'm not saying this *at all* in a critical manner...perhaps people
    just thought you had gotten temporarily tied up, or were very hurt
    and needed some time alone to heal, etc.  And by the time they realized
    what had happened, you had been gone for a long time.  I think people
    are afraid to reach out because of fear of being rejected.  We need
    to use all of our creativity to reach out sometimes.  In the case
    of the elderly lady who had told me that she didn't want to be seen,
    I mailed her things.  At least she knew I was thinking of her...and
    if I hadn't gotten reassigned to a new branch, I probably *would*
    have met her by now.  
    
    	Jesus doesn't reach out and grab you by the arm and pull you
    towards Him.  He says "Come unto me...." In other words, if we want
    to be involved, it is our responsibility to make it that way.  The
    Lord does not come to *us* and say "Hey, do you have a problem?"
    The responsibility rests on our shoulders alone.  Although there
    are lots of people out there who are perfectly willing to help,
    if you don't say, "Hey, can I sit down and talk to you?  I'm feeling
    a little bit disturbed!" then they can't help.
    
    	I feel guilty about the little things that I haven't done. 
    A good friend of mine in the ward was diagnosed of having lung cancer.
    I wanted to go and see him, but just never found the time in the
    next few months.  I had the usual excuses....my kids were sick,
    I had just started back to work after having a baby, I had be
    reassigned to the branch and had really heavy callings, etc, etc.
    The Spirit impressed on me several times that I should write or
    call, but I ignored the promptings.
    
    	I asked a mutual friend one day how Bob was doing.  He told
    me he had passed away several weeks before.  That was in March.
    I am still repenting.  Sometimes there's not a second chance for
    some things, and sometimes there is.  Although it's not possible
    to give you the support you needed before, perhaps it is now.
    Let us know.
    
    		With love,
    		Sheryl
    

 Hi Sheryl,
    
    Thank-you for your concern.Your stories are very familiar to me.Some
    of the families I home taught were inactive.It seems that the longer
    people are inactive,the harder it is to get them interested again.One
    family was out of the church for 10years,and,they would tell me
    about when they were active,and,the people they knew.Many times,most
    all the people they had known were either dead or not in church
    anymore.They would say "We dont know anyone,anymore" Its just like
    starting all over again.Its like going to a family reunion after
    10 years,and,finding you dont recognize anyone.You feel like an
    outsider,especially if they dont know who you are,and,shy away from
    you.I have felt that way a few times at Priesthood meetings,where,
    people didnt seem friendly,and,were huddled in little groups,which,
    I didnt feel comfortable breaking into.
       I think inactives feel they are being judged,especially if you
    come all dressed up,and,you havnt called ahead,so they could prepare
    for you.I have a gentleman,who is a High priest,that occasionally
    comes for a 10 minute visit,once every 3-4 months.I had asked him
    to call ahead,which he did a couple of times.Then he showed up one
    night around 7:00P.M. without calling.Now,my wife likes to take
    a shower and get into her night clothes before then.She didnt want
    to be seen,so,she stayed in the bedroom until he left.She also knows
    about the word of wisdom,but,she drinks coffee.If any lady was in
    GODs favor,she is.She thinks of everyone else before herself.She
    doesnt see the need to stop drinking coffee,after all,there are
    much worst things than that.These are some of the things,I feel,
    inactives think about.In my view,the way someone could get me
    interested in the church again,and,this is the way I would approach
    it also,would be:
    
       First,establish a friendship.Fit yourself in their invironment.That
    is,dont make them feel out of place with you.Be on their level,as
    a friend.You can still have your standards,without judging theirs.They
    must make changes as they see for themselves,by your example.
       Find out as much as you can about their interests,and,find a
    common one that you can share.
       Do not ask them to change,or,to come to church.No pressure.They
    will make that discision when and if it comes.
       Do try to slowly get them to know other members,through outings,
    cook-outs ect..
       Even if they dont return to church,they may be influenced indirectly
    by it.
       This means a big committment,which most people cannot or willnot
    do.But,we all know the value of one soul.It would be better to
    concentrate on one soul,and,succeed,than a thousand,and,fail.
    
    All for now.
    
    Peace
    Michael
    

    
    
    Hi!
    
    I've thought of responding here but didn't know quite what to say;
    so many feelings to mull over.  You see, I was inactive for 10
    years out of the church from 1972 to 1982. Lot of water passesd
    over the dam during that period and, if not for the efforts of 
    one individual and the sweet spirit the person brought, I probably
    would still be inactive.  Today I am as active as one can get in
    the church.  During my period of inactivity, with the exception
    of this one person, I was never contacted by the church or by members,
    never home taught, or fellowshipped.  You see, many church members
    ignore inactives. In my case, my parents are not members and I was
    the only active member in my family, (sister-inactive).  While
    I was  first active, I was largely ignored by the membership, 
    I then, imagined it was due to parents not belonging and myself
    a teenager. I wasn't advanced in the priesthood, never interviewed
    by the branch president, or counseled by leadership. Traveling was
    tough- 35 miles one way to church on Sundays and Wednesdays. I lived
    outside of the general population of the branch, and if not for
    the efforts of a kindly older couple I would never have attended
    for they transported me to and from church--they cared.  First,
    came inactivity from sunday services and then out of MIA. By age
    17 I was inactive and investigating other faiths who appeared to
    care more for me as an individual. I found that they were more in-
    terested in converting me from LDS to Baptist or Pentecostal or
    whatever. I found myself defending the Prophet constantly and my
    beliefs, up against adult members of other faiths and their pastors.
    I dare say their arguments were shallow and didn't shake my testimony
    of the gospel, and did not feel good about attending their church. I
    felt a detached feeling for most of those people. I missed the LDS
    church yet had a reluctance to return, due to Word of Wisdom problems,
    that I developed. I felt I wasn't good enough for the church. In
    '75 I reactivated for a short time, and tried, and failed to remain
    active due to family conflict, my then girlfriend's family was
    Catholic, and was adamantly opposed about her marrying a Mormon. 
    I chose the girl over the Church. A personal tragedy in 1981 found
    me yearning for church felloship and reconciliation with the Lord.
    The same person who had helped me reactivate in '75 helped me 
    reactivate in '82. I had married my Catholic sweetheart, and she
    decided on taking the discussions after attending church with me
    a few weeks. I simply told her "I'm going back to The Church, I'd
    really like to have you attend with me."  It took her some doing, for
    her father prior to his death made my wife promise NOT to convert
    to LDS. I baptised her a year later, a year and a half later we
    we married in the Temple of The Lord for time and eternity.   
                                                                 
    I love the Lord and the restored gospel and it has given my family
    countless blessings. I have a strong testimony of the priesthood,
    have seen miracles happen through it's administrations and blessings.
    This IS the Lord's church restored, he brought me back into it.
    
    I found that it takes time for members to warm up to people, (Maine
    people, that is). But our testimonies are strong. I can empathize
    with Mike Pushard, for I know him personally and have experienced
    some of the things he's gone through. I have a witness that told
    me that I needed to take the first step back. My exaltation depended
    on my actions, not other members. We all are imperfect. We have
    our shortcomings, and the Lord takes that into account, but we need
    not blame others like I did for many years. We need to not feel
    unworthy to wish to commune with the Lord or his children, or to
    feel we're not good enough for others.  For the active members,
    we need to care for others and show true charity as Moroni speaks
    of. We NEED one another, there are alot of Mikes out there, and
    We are no better than them, we should TAKE THE TIME to fellowship
    and not be concerned so much on getting our own "ticket punched"
    for the Celestial Kingdom, but helping others receive their blessings.
    
    It starts by giving 110 % of your time, energies, and efforts to
    the Lord and his kingdom, and that is done by serving your fellow
    man. Any less and you're making excuses for youself.  True there's
    only 24 hrs in the day, but you decide your schedule, nobody else
    except maybe the spouse! Get out there and fellowship! Go to others
    homes for more than just home teaching visits.  Make it a point
    to make friends with those you do not know as well in the ward.
    Invite them over for dinner or activities. Make you home a temple
    of the Lord where His love is made manifest....
    
    
    I could go on forever. But for now, I've got to go.
    
    Kevin St Thomas
    

    I found these last few notes particularly touching and insightful.
    Thanks for posting them!
        
    Steve

Hi, everyone, 

I too am particularly touched by this discussion. Thank you for sharing
your thoughts and feelings, which obviously are very deeply felt. 

I have some random thoughts I'd like to toss in also. This is from my
perspective as a brand new Elders' Quorum President currently struggling to
get Home teaching organized in a brand new branch. 

First and foremost, everyone is imperfect. So far as I can see, there isn't
much difference between actives and inactives on that point. So when
dealing with each other, we must make allowances for being imperfect and
not always living up to expectations. Inactive persons must try and 
understand this about active persons every bit as much as active persons
must try and understand inactives. 

The question isn't whether someone has trespassed against us. You can
*expect* a trespass here and there along the way. PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE!
Everybody sins. The question is: are they willing to repent? 

And do we give them a *chance* to repent? If an errant Home Teacher finally
comes knocking one day, should we say "Where the hell have you been the
last n years?" or should we say "Your visits are important to me and I'm
glad you're here." 

Be a blessing to others. Whether you're active or not. "Do unto others..." 
even if it means swallowing a perceived injustice. Reach beyond your guilt 
or embarrassment or shame or whatever other bad feeling you may have, and 
show others, and yourself, and the Lord, that *You* know you are a Child of 
God, and that everyone else is too. 

Try to love. *That* is what being a Christian is, not whether you're active
or inactive. Following a path of love leads stright back to Christ, no 
matter from what point you start the journey.

Witnessing of Christ's pure love,
/kevin

    
         I guess I had better reply here to my own topic.
    
         I was a very active member of the church until about 2 years after
    my mission.  I've always looked at the church as having a lot of
    *control* over my life.  Rarely did a day go by that at least some of
    the time wasn't spent in church.  With Seminary, MIA, Welfare Projects
    (which took up 2 evenings a month) Home Teaching, then came the Sunday
    meetings, engulfing all of Sunday.  It controlled what I ate, what I
    said, how I acted, how long I chose to wear my hair (at the time it was
    a big deal, now that I have no hair who cares) and eventually it
    controlled what clothes I was to wear.  When I finally *dropped out* it
    was because I had succeeded in rationalizing that I didn't want the
    church controlling the rest of my mind.  I had attended BYU for a
    couple of semesters and wasn't comfortable with my time there and I
    left the church with a chip on my shoulder.
         I've been inactive for about 8 years now.  I have mellowed
    considerably since that time and harbor no ill feelings towards the
    church.  The *control* that I felt were about things that were for my
    best.  Nothing in the Church is designed to harm or bring anyone down. 
    Quite the contrary.  It's only since I have moved to Arizona that we
    have had Home Teachers.  He comes by more often than once a month to
    check on the family.  I don't get a chance to see him that often
    because I work evenings.  
         My wife is Catholic and we have had our 2 girls Baptized in that
    faith and blessed in the Mormon faith.  The conversations that I have
    had with members lately have been around the topic of *Faith*.  All my
    life I went through the motions of going to church.  I did things
    because it was in the normal course of life.  I even worked all through
    High School to save enough money to pay my own way on my mission and
    went on a mission to Sweden because that's what Mormons do.  I never
    bothered to develop the *Faith*.  
         I like to study theology and see the logic in the scriptures.  I
    like to piece things together to help them make sense.  I think Hugh
    Nibley does that better than anyone and he is my favorite speaker (LDS
    or otherwise).  I tend to dabble in the mysteries a little more than is
    necessary though.  I always had a distaste for the word *Jack-Mormon*
    because I do not fight against the Church, quite the contrary, I often
    find myself sticking up for the Church.  BUT, I don't think anybody is
    able to be a partially active member.  It's either all or nothing and I
    don't want to make the Church my all.  I just don't believe.  Maybe I
    never did.  Right now in my life I don't want to.
         Right now this Notes file is my main contact with the Church.  I
    enjoy the conversations going on and I'm learning a lot.  Maybe now
    that I've broken the ice I will contribute more often.
    
      Brent Thank_you_for_putting_up_with_my_rambling Hughes         

    Re: Note 241.13 by BLKWDO::HUGHES

    Hi Brent,
    
    Boy, your note brought back some memories. When I was in my teens, I
    began to be rebellious. I still went to church, but I would often argue
    with the Sunday School teachers for the fun of it (I was a pretty good
    debater), and began to question if all that I had been taught was
    really true. 
    
    I remember when my oldest brother went on a mission. He told me that
    the only reason he was going was please Mom and Dad. He wasn't sure
    whether the church was true or not. We had heard a lot of missionaries
    come home from their missions and express their testimonies, and how
    "great" their missions were. He told me that, when he was on his
    mission, he would write me and tell me what it was "really" like
    (thinking that it wouldn't be as great as all those missionaries had
    said). 
    
    I'll never forget the change that came over him within a week after he
    entered the mission home. We saw him off to his mission, after his time
    in the mission home, and he virtually glowed. He had been instructed by
    apostles, had been immersed in the scriptures, and had prayed
    earnestly. He had been powerfully touched by the Holy Ghost during
    those few short days, and had come to know that the church was true.
    Even though he had been cynical, he now was a committed member of the
    church, and still is some twenty years later. 
    
    But his testimony was not sufficient to convince me. Such testimonies
    are intensely personal experiences, and do not automatically transfer
    from one person to another. As I grew a little older, and the time for
    my mission approached, I was not sure if I wanted to go on a mission. I
    could not say that I knew the church was true. 
    
    Then one of the best things that could have happened to me did. I got a
    scholarship to the University of Wyoming, some 500 miles from Logan,
    Utah, where I grew up. I did not know a single soul in that place.
    After my parents dropped me off and returned home, I was struck with
    the reality that in this place I must choose who I am and what I
    believe in. I must choose whether to attend church and live its
    standards, because Mom and Dad were not there to make that decision for
    me, and neither was anybody else. 
    
    I arrived at the conclusion that I must find out for myself if the
    teachings of the church were really true. I determined that I would
    make a study of the scriptures and pray to know if they were true. I
    really wanted to know. I'll never forget the wonderful joy that I felt
    that first time of many that my soul was filled with the witness of the
    Holy Ghost that these things *are* true. I could not deny that witness.
    Before, I did not know if I wanted to go on a misssion. Now, there was
    no way to keep me from going. Before, I was ambivalent about the
    teachings of the church. Now, I was enthusiastic. 
    
    Most of the missionaries I served with had their own personal testimony
    that the church was true. A few were just going through the motions,
    which seemed so sad, to me. I witnessed several who, as my brother,
    came on their missions without such a testimony, and received while on
    their mission. 
    
    One thing is clear to me. Such a testimony is a thing that must be
    desired earnestly, and sought after. It doesn't come from parents or
    anyone else. We have go get our own. We must have 'real intent',
    meaning that we are willing to live up to all that is implied by the
    church being true, if the Lord shows us that it is true. 
    
    God Bless,
    Rich

    Time for me to enter a few thoughts because I have been so touched by
    the notes so far.
    
    I am a convert to the Gospel, having lived the "way of the world" for
    23 years.  When I embraced the Gospel, the influence of the Lord was so
    powerful in giving me hope, forgiveness, direction and purpose that I
    wanted never again to live as the world told me I should.
    
    I have never been inactive, though I have had my share of misgivings,
    hurt feelings, and quasi rebelliousness.  But I try to stay faithful
    because the Lord and My Heavenly Father do not need me, I need them.
    
    Because I have felt the goodness and mercy of God through the Gospel, I
    do not want to leave this fellowship.  Because I have learned so much
    about myself and my relationship with God and about  my destiny, I do
    not want to loose his influence.
    
    It is neither the people, nor the programs, nor the Church as an
    organization that keeps me active (nor would they be my excuse for
    inactivity).  Rather it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ
    that keeps me actively involved. It is a deep and abiding relationship
    with God that drives me to want to stay close to him and his son. 
    
    Until next time,
    
    Regards to all
             

	When I first saw this note open up, I thought "What a great idea", 
but I probably won't keep up with it since I've been relatively active in 
my 7+ years in the church. But then I read a couple of the replies and it 
sparked a genuine interest. Since then I've read all of the replies and I 
have to say that this topic has really touched me deeply. I can really FEEL 
the Spirit of the Lord in the Brothers and Sisters who have replied.

	About 8 months after I had joined the church I was called as Elders 
Quorum Secretary. I remained in the presidency for more than 3 years. Our 
ward had a very high inactivity rate, so I plunged head first into the home 
teaching program and got very involved with "trying to bring back the Lost 
Sheep". Unfortunately I had absolutely no concept of why people really 
became inactive. This was very much to the detriment of these poor Brothers 
and Sisters.

	Since that time I have had a lot of personal growth and had 
bordered on inactivity myself (burnout I guess). I have to give credit to 
our Heavenly Father for straightening me out. I guess what I'm trying to 
say is that whether your called to Home/Visit Teach an active family or an 
inactive one, by far and away the MOST IMPORTANT thing that you can do for 
them is to simply love them. Once you can honestly say that you do love 
them then you must manifest that love by actions. If you visit a family on 
a monthly basis out of duty only then, in my opinion, you had better pray 
for guidance and then learn to love that family as your Heavenly Father 
loves you. You may never know it, but you might actually love somebody back 
into activity.

	Sorry to runoff at the mouth but this is something that really is 
important to me. Let me tell one quick story and then I promise to slip back 
into quiet oblivion.

	One of the families that I had home taught several years ago had a 
semi active husband. The wife was very faithful and the kids were "just 
hanging in there". I was blessed to be their home teacher for about 3 
years. In that time the husband and I had become friends, not close, but 
friends never the less. The whole time that I was with that family he never 
did come back into full activity. About 2 years after we had move away I 
received a call from him. He told me that he had totally turned his life 
around and he and his family were going to be sealed in the temple in a 
couple of weeks and my wife and I were invited. You can imagine my total 
excitement.  I take absolutely no credit for his becoming active again. But 
one thing's for sure; if I had ignored him because he wasn't active he may 
never had become active again. 


I love you all from the bottom of my heart,

Frank
    

    Re:  241.2 - (Mike Pushard)
    
    Dear Mike,
    
    I sense a great hurt in your heart regarding the members who
    neglected you when you needed them the most during your trying
    first marriage and divorce.  I understand how you grew to feel
    this way.  I sometimes feel resentment for my home teacher who
    has not called or visited me for 6 months.  I too feel hurt when
    I realize that new visiting teachers, who were called to teach me 
    some four months ago have not contacted me either.  HOWEVER, a statement
    that was made to me by a strong member of my ward, rings lowdly in
    my ears and mind when I let resentment take over my thoughts.  He
    took my family aside and warned us that many brothers and sisters in
    the Church would offend us from time-to-time with no real intent to
    harm or judge us......simply human nature!  HOWEVER, he warned, "the
    GOSPEL is true, not the people."  "Learn to forgive them and study, 
    learn and live the gospel and you will overlook what you see as
    their faults and the ones they see in you won't matter."  
    
    I have learned that resentment is destructive to ME, not the person
    I'm resenting.  The best antidote for resentment is the continual
    practice of gratitude.  
    
    This is not a sermon for you, but a reminder for me to forgive those
    who have not had time to visit me for some good reason.  I may not
    know their circumstances and I don't want to let assumptions about them
    run wild in my head.  
    
    I have a husband who left the church four years ago.  Yup, two years
    after we joined he left the church because he felt resentment for
    everyone on everything.  He refuses to allow Mormon's in our home.
    I spent about 3 years resenting him for this and all it did was 
    make me more angry and kept me from truly living the gospel.  My
    home teachers used to meet me once a month after the block of meetings
    and we'd have our monthly visit.  I was called to another ward to
    serve a two year stake mission (4 miles from my home) four months ago.
    My home teachers live in my town and could easily call me on the phone,
    but they do not.  I could easily succumb to resentment over this but
    I keep busy with my new calling, reading my scriptures, and have begun
    to attend Al-Anon meetings to help me understand my husband's problems.  
    Al-Anon goes hand-in-hand with the gospel and helps me to remember
    daily that I am far from perfect and need to humble myself and allow
    my husband his free agency and his choices.  It's very painful to see
    him so hateful and inactive but he has decided that resentment for
    those members of our ward who he did not understand, not did they
    fully know or understand him, is the best way to travel the road
    of life.  I pray that seomeday he will see otherwise.  However,
    my trying to control him made things worse.  I pray that someday
    he will be able to separate the members from the true gospel of
    Jesus Christ.
    
    May God's choicest blessings and great happiness be yours in
    your new marriage.  I know only too well how difficult it is
    to live life to its fullest in a difficult marriage.
    
    Penny
    
    

         It sounds like the overwhelming attitude is to bring everybody
    back to the good graces of the church.  It is an underlying theme of
    just about every note.  Having been active in the church for so long I
    know that this is the correct and desired result.  It is certainly what
    my parents and brothers and sisters want for me.  I just don't think
    that I want it for myself.  
         I recall a former Prophet (Brigham Young, I think) saying that he
    had gotten a glimpse of the Terrestial Kingdom and it was so great that
    it was all he could do to keep from taking his own life so that he
    could go and be there.  I won't go that far but I realize that the way
    I'm living my life right now I don't qualify for the Celestial Kingdom,
    that's not even my goal.  I'd be just as happy in the Telestial.  As a
    supervisor of others I realize that rewards are passed out in according
    to performance.  I am not willing to do Celestial work and am willing
    to accept the consequences (which in this case isn't too bad).  
         Since I've moved into this new area, where the Mormon population
    is much higher, I've had to explain my position to the Bishop, the
    Elders Quorum Presidency and my home teachers.  I've enjoyed each of
    these conversations.  I've outlined my stand to these people to let
    them know what to expect and to save them the frustration of banging
    their heads up on the wall trying to figure how to activate me.  My
    home teacher still comes around because he says I have some "unique"
    philosophies and he doesn't believe my situation is hopeless.
         I don't want to shoo these people away because I enjoy their
    occasional company, but their attitude is always one of bringing me
    back into the fold.  Their goals for me will never match my goals for
    me.  It's just a good thing that they are not too pushy or the result
    would be AMEN to our contact.
         Why are members so focused in their attempts.  Why do people no
    longer hold fast to the doctrine of "Teach them correct principles and
    let them govern themselves".  
    
            Brent who_wants_to_govern_himself Hughes
    
    
    
    

    Re: Note 241.18 by BLKWDO::HUGHES

    Hi Brent,
    
>        Why are members so focused in their attempts?

    Because they care.

    Though you comment about how wonderful even the Telestial and
    Terrestrial Kingdoms are said to be, those who have failed to repent in
    this life must first suffer according to the justice of God, if they
    will not take full advantage of the mercy of God through repentance and
    obedience. 
    
         Therefore I command you to repent -- repent, lest I smite you by
         the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your
         sufferings be sore -- how sore you know not, how exquisite you
         know note, yea, how hard to bear you know not. 
         
         For behold, I God, have suffered these things for all, that they
         might not suffer if they would repent; 
         
         But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; 
         
         Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to
         tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer
         both body and spirit -- and would that I might not dring the
         bitter cup and shrink -- 
         
         Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished
         my preparations unto the children of men. 
         
         Wherefore, I command you again to repent, lest I humble you with
         my almighty power; and that you confess your sins, lest you suffer
         these punishments of which I have spoken... (D&C 19:15-20) 
    
    
    Those who are trying to help you return are heeding the teachings of
    the Savior to leave the ninety and nine to go out and seek the one lost
    sheep. They want you to repent so that you might enjoy all of the
    blessings that God has for you, and so that you might avoid the
    suffering that comes to those who will not repent. 
    
    But, as you say, it is ultimately your choice whether you will return
    or not. They can only persuade, but you must choose. I'm glad they are
    not too pushy with you, and I don't mean to be, either. I'm just trying
    to answer your question "why?". 
    
    In Christ's Love,
    Rich



		I would like to comment on a couple of things that I have 
	read in the past couple of replies.  In my periods of inactivity, (yes,
	there have been more than one), the Lord seemed to work on me even 
	though I was unaware of it.  However, during this time I still read 
	the scriptures and I continued to receive, and read, the ENSIGN.

		This is the key to all who are inactive.  The so called 
	*church* organization is nothing more than a place for people to grow 
	and develop.  When a person truly gets converted to the Gospel, (and
	every person - raised in the church or not - has to go through it!),
	they seem to be committed to be committed.  Even then, it is not all
	easy in a bed of roses.

		The purpose of reactivation is to "invite all to come unto 
	Christ."  Then the basis for our life should be embedded in the
	scriptures; for here we can learn how to live our lives to the fullest
	degree possible.  When we are converted and committed, then we can be
	as were the sons of Mosiah, who "... could not bear that any human 
	soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should 
	endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble." 
	(Mosiah 28:3)

	It is not so much that members want to bring "everybody back to the 
	good graces of the church" as it is to bring them back to Christ.
	Remember that the "Church" is not the driving force, but God.
	However, from Adam down to our day and time, men "... are agents unto
	themselves" (Moses 6:57) , and they will " ... enjoy that which they
	are willing to receive, because they are not willing to enjoy that 
	which they might have received." (D&C 88:32)

		Home teachers have a responsibility that the Lord Jesus Christ
	gave them to "watch over the Church."  The members of the Church who
	do not want any contact with the Church also do not want to write a 
	letter to the Bishop asking that their name be withdrawn from the 
	rolls of the Church.  Sometimes it puts members who are trying to do
	their duty in an awkward position.  I feel sorry for those members of
	the Church who do not do their duty in home teaching.  In both cases,
	these people are falling short in what they are - children of God.

		People do not offend other people.  A person takes offense of 
	another persons actions (or inactions, as the case may be).  However,
	there is a remedy for this if the offended person *wants* it :

      D&C  64:   9. Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one
		    another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his 
		    trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there
		    remaineth in him the greater sin.
		10. I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you
		    it is required to forgive all men.
		11. And ye ought to say in your hearts - let God judge between
		    me and thee, and reward thee according to thy deeds.

	Shout it out on the roof tops, "I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will 
	forgive, but of you it is *REQUIRED* to forgive all men."  This is the
	hard part.  I have had to apply this many times in these last few (10)
	years, but the cancer of anger and hatred are expelled and life is 
	much more pleasant.  When I allow people their agency, and I allow
	God to be the judge of their actions, then I have peace inside.


	At a priesthood leadership meeting here, President Gorden B. Hinckly
	taught a very good principle.  He said, "Feed the opportunities and
	starve the problems."  To me, it means that I should put my time and
	efforts in to those who have not yet hardened their hearts against 
	God, and let those who have alone.  It seems that the deeper I get
	into the work of the Lord, the sadder I get.  I no longer get angry
	against those who reject God, but the sorrow I feel is sometimes too
	great and the Spirit is the only thing that can buoy me up.  Reading
	the scriptures helps a lot by bringing the Spirit of God close to me.
	I have to constantly remind myself to allow every person their agency
	in their lives, but it does not mean that I stop loving them, and I
	continue to invite them to come back to Christ.

		Resentment, anger, hatred are all cancers to our souls.  We
	must learn to extract them from our lives.  They are the most common
	causes of inactivity - and not one of then came from God.  The Lord 
	will help those who *allow* Him to help.  May we all be able to learn
	the lessons of our probationary period, I pray in the name of our Lord
	and savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

    This is GREAT discussion!
    
    If I might add, there's another reason why (from bishopric's
    perspective) it is important to us to reach out.  When somebody
    is not 'active', they are usually not living the principles of the
    Church.  That doesn't mean they are 'bad' people or 'going to hell'.
    What it does mean is that by not living the principles of
    righteousness, they may leave themselves open to the consequences
    of mistakes that could be avoided.  I know that the Bishop carries
    a lot of load.  One of my responsibilities is to carry a lot of
    the burden of management of the Ward so that he can be freed up
    to counsel members.  So MUCH of his burden involves folks who have
    not lived by righteous principles and have put themselves into
    positions of needing counseling or other assistance.
    
    Mind you, we LOVE these people and much effort is expended to help
    them get back on their feet.  But, it would be a lot less effort
    if they would just live right.  Believe me, hard as it is to do
    home teaching and visiting teaching, it is not nearly as hard as
    dealing with the difficulties encountered by individuals who do
    not live by Gospel principles.
    
    Steve

    
    re: 21
    
    Amen!
    
    Being in a Bishopric myself I agree with you wholeheartedly, Steve.
    
    Kevin

    
    Penny,
    
      I have been on vacation the last 2 weeks,so,I just read your note.I
    appreciate your reply.At the time,I was hurt deeply by the lack of
    concern from fellow members,whom I had known for a couple of years.I
    felt that I was no longer a part of the church,like,falling off a wagon  
    full of people into a ditch,and,shouting for someone to help me,but,the 
    wagon continued on,and,nobody looked back.What a lonely feeling I had.
    These people were suppose to be my friends.We are suppose to look after 
    one another,like a family.I no longer felt like a member of that
    family.I couldnt chase the wagon because I felt abandoned,and,hadnt the  
    disire to,anymore.
        I have always welcomed members into my home.I dont resent any
    member of the church,I just dont want to be involved in it enough to 
    get hurt again.I believe in the Gospel,and,try to live my life in a way 
    that would be pleasing to the Lord.I have grown to another stage in my 
    development,and,find my philosophy different from the church,in some  
    areas,making my involvement limited.
    
    Peace
    Michael
    

    Re: .19
         Fire and brimstone never worked on me, even when I was active.  
    
    I was just wondering why members don't treat you as real friends.  It 
    would be nice to just sit down and exchange philosophies without that
    underlying realization that these people's goals are to "Reactivate"
    me.  My *friends* and I talk, argue, disagree, agree, exchange life
    experiences without ever the thought of convincing the other to think
    like me.  There is no hidden adgenda there.  It sounds in some of the
    notes like it would be so much easier on the active members for all the
    inactives among us to decry their memberships and be expunged from the
    records.  Rest easy, when I get in trouble and need help, I'll work it
    out.  
    
         Brent getting_a_litle_uneasy_about_this_note Hughes

    Re: Note 241.24 by BLKWDO::HUGHES

    Hi Brent,
    
>   Re: .19
>        Fire and brimstone never worked on me, even when I was active.  
    
    Sorry, didn't mean it to come across that way. I was just trying to
    answer your question about "why". Fire and brimstone don't work very
    well on me, either. 
    
>   I was just wondering why members don't treat you as real friends.  
    
    Some do it better than others. Being and having real friends is a rare
    gift. I agree they (we) ought to be willing to accept you as you are. I
    also happen to think that it ought to be ok for them (us) to try to
    persuade you to see things their (our) way, but only if they (we) are
    not obnoxious about it, and if you are agreeable to such a discussion.
    They (we) should also be willing to hear your philosophies. 
    
>   It sounds in some of the
>   notes like it would be so much easier on the active members for all the
>   inactives among us to decry their memberships and be expunged from the
>   records.  
    
    Perhaps some feel that way, but most don't. I think that members of the
    church ought to be welcome to participate or not participate just as
    much as they choose. If they don't want to be members of the church,
    that's their free choice and they should request to have their names
    removed from the records of the church. But if they desire to remain a
    member, albeit inactive, then they should be allowed to do so. 
    
>   Rest easy, when I get in trouble and need help, I'll work it out.  
    
    There may be times when we all need help, in spite of how much we want
    to work it our ourselves. Indeed, all of us should try to be as self
    sufficient as possible. But, if you *should* need help, then I would
    encourage you to call upon your home teacher or bishop or other members
    of the church. The Lord expects us to be of service to those in need,
    whether or not they are active members of the church. 
    
    In Christ's Love,
    Rich

    Brent,
    
      I agree with what you say about being friends.A home teacher must be
    your friend first,and,teacher,second.I believe the best teacher is one
    who teaches by example,not,words.That is a considerable committment.I
    have been asked by my Bishop to be a home teacher,even though I am
    inactive.I told him I would take a couple of families within my town,
    that I could establish a friendship with.I have the opportunity to meet
    some new people.
    
    Peace
    Michael
    

    To Brent:
    
    You bring up a good thought when you talk about the motivation of
    active members to re-activate others. I would like to share an idea
    with you.
    
    As a convert and a New Englander to boot (you know what that means -
    "fences make for good neighbors") home teaching was and still is a hard
    thing for me to do.  Who was I to barge into somebody's home and try to
    reactive them.  I kinda felt that it was up to the individual to
    choose their level of activity.  If they were less active, then so be
    it.  Live and let live.
    
    Then I moved to Salt Lake.  Now, Utahns take no offence here, please,
    but I deduced a cultural note.  I found Utahns to be very "groupy",
    "cut out of the same mold", a lot of conformity to a single standard.
    I used to think it came from what I called the "wagon train mentality". 
    You know coming across the plains there was no room for the iconoclast,
    the loner, the dissident.  So what evolved culturally, was this idea of
    one standard, a common goal.
    
    To anchor this perception, I lived in a small Utah town, Springville, 8
    miles south of Provo, where this commonality was rampant.  I remember
    being warned that "they" (the townspeople) were suspicious of me
    because I was an Easterner with very different ideas.  I remember the
    Honors English Teacher in the high school where I taught telling me
    that I was a breath of fresh air because I had told students to test
    ideas, search and find out for themselves.  She was totally inactive,
    because she felt there was no room for her and her ideas.
    
    Living back in the East again, I have noticed that while it is a
    natural desire to see people active, it is not culturally embedded.
    What I mean is this.  Of course we want to see people actively enjoying
    the fruits of Church membership.  I enjoy the spirit of
    brotherhood I received from the men in my Church.  I enjoy the ward
    parties, dinners, plays, scout activities, etc.  But the motivation for
    being active is to partake of the spiritual and social feast of Gospel
    living with others we call "brothers and sisters".  Also here in the East
    there is much more room to be different.  I live in the Boston Stake
    which has a reputation for its "difference".
    
    Well, this note is long enough!  Just some thoughts of mine and mine
    only.  The Gospel is like a giant feast.  All are invited.  Each
    chooses to eat and drink as much as they want.   Some just peck a
    little here and there.  Some feast.
    
   Paul
    

    
    I found a very interesting quote by Marvin J. Ashton, in his book
    "Be of Good Cheer".  
    
    	"I'm thinking of a five-year-old boy who fell out of bed during
    	the night and came crying to his mother's bedside.  To her question
        "Why did you fall out of bed?" he replied, "I fell out because
    	I wasn't in far enough!""
    
    	"It has been my experience over the years that, generally speaking,
    	those who fall out of the Chruch are those who aren't in far
    	enough."
    
    
    	By the way, crew, this is one of the best books I have ever
    read...one you can re-read over and over.
    
    	This may be one of my last notes....I'm a contractor and will
    	be very possibly finishing my contract up here in MRO3 somewhere
    	between the end of June and the end of July.
    
    	I may or may not end up at DEC again soon...anyone wants to
    contact me may do so at PO Box 1463, Manchester, MA 01944 or
    508-528-7520.
    			Sheryl Glass
    

    Re: .26
    Mike,
         I haven't gone as far as accepting a job as a home teacher yet,
    but I have said that I will be glad to be a counselor for some Merit
    Badges in the Boy Scout organization.  It's something that I can really
    get involved in.  
             Brent who_enjoyed_Boy_Scouts_as_a_kid Hughes

    ref. Cheryl,
    
      Hi,best wishes in whatever you do.In my case,I was very active during
    my first 3 years,then,stopped after my marriage failed.
    
    Brent,
      It sounds to me like you would like to be doing something in the
    church,but,not too much.Many times people overlook what talents we
    have,that would contribute,and,at the same time involve an inactive
    member.I have a talent in music,and,have entertained at a dinner a
    while back,and,I would love to do it again,but havnt been asked.You
    see,We want to be needed,and,in this way we feel loved.This is the
    key,and,it always will be.
    
    Peace
    Michael
    

    
    
    	As a follow-up on this note that I started over 2 years ago I guess
    I should up-date my status.  A year and a half ago my oldest daughter
    was old enough to start Primary as a Sunbeam.  Her teacher talked to us
    about having her come to church and since my wife is a non-member and I
    was inactive she even volunteered to pick up Sara and drop her off
    after church.  My mother even dropped some hints that it might be a
    good idea to begin some church teachings with the children since they
    weren't getting it at home maybe this Primary route was the way to go.
    	I couldn't quite bring myself to let somebody else take my child to
    church so I took her myself.  My other daughter was even learning great
    stuff in the nursery.  So for a year and a half we went, and are still
    going.  Until recently I wouldn't even admit to myself that I actually
    was enjoying going.  I got involved in basketball and softball but not
    much else.
    	4 weeks ago the missionaries were knocking on the doors of
    part-member families and they stopped at our house.  My wife wasn't
    home but they asked me to ask my wife if she would like to take the
    discussions.  5� years of marriage and I had never asked her that. 
    When she got home the kids told her of the missionaries visit.  When I
    told her what they wanted she said,"Sure, I'll tell them tomorrow in
    Church.  Since then she has taken all 6 of the discussions and has set
    an August 31st baptismal date.  Our lives have certainly changed over
    the past month.  We feel that we are finally headed in the right
    direction.  And it's the same direction.
    
    	Brent_you_never_know_what_will_change_Hughes

Thanks, Brent, for sharing with us, and congratulations to you and your
family.  A family centered on Christ is certainly going in the right
direction!

Allen

    Hi,,
    
    Just recently I have become active in the church. I have a testimony of
    my own. I didn't want anyone to tell me or "force" me into the church
    because I needed to find my own way back home. What I mean by that is
    my husband joined the church with myself and our 4 children. At the
    time I couldn't find enough information about the church to fill my
    soul. In time the excitement wore off and I was left with an emptiness
    I couldn't fill. Well my husband thought it was in the best interest to
    fight with me about going to church and all it did was push me further
    away. You see my husband and family are converted..We have been
    members about 6 years now. I will testify to you I have learned through
    my Father in Heaven that he does live and he does love me. I wanted
    that feeling of belonging again and it just wasn't there. I blamed
    everyone for this even my husband I would roll my eyes when he would
    use a princable to teach my children something or anything for that
    matter. He would ask me to pray with him and I wouldn't. I was a very
    nasty person. I just didn't want to be pushed into any religion and I
    would of done anything to make that happen. I was in need of something
    I just can't explane. I felt everytime my husband opened his mouth he
    was giving a sermon. I couldn't stand for my friends and family to hear
    how they weren't worthy and we were. I know my husband never meant to
    sound that way but he did,! I still can't tell him some of these thing
    s because I believe he don't think he's that way. But let me asure you
    he is. But getting back to how I came to know Christ again is he came
    to me and I don't mean in vision. I mean into my life is he loved me
    no matter what I did or what I said he "NEVER" left me. I can only say
    if the Lord wants me to do whatever I will do it. Because I know he
    would never lead me astray. I had to find this all out  for myself
    because I don't think I would of listened to anyone. My heart told me
    to believe and I did. I'm so grateful for the love of God. I ask for
    forgive-ness for being cruel and closing my heart and ears to anyone
    who so desperatly tried to bring me back home. I truly wasn't ready.
    I am greatful for the gospel not only because it's Mormon but because
    it's a way of life. 
                           I say this in Jesus's name,
                                      Lois

	Well Lois, welcome back home. It is good to have you here.  I think
	the hardest thing a person has to come to understand is that Christ
	loves us as we are, and that as he allows us our agency so should we
	allow others theirs.  A man has the hardest with D&C 121, but it has
	to be learned.  Hold not back your love for your family, but strengthen
	them and help them to walk on the straight and narrow path because it
	takes courage nowdays to fight against the worldly influences which
	tend to drag us down.  Good luck and much happiness to you and yours.

	Charles

    
    
      Thanks it's great being home..........
    
    
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