Lessons in Teaching

Today, we had a very fun lunch.  I gave in and took the kids to McD's with their play place.  Upon arrival, we saw one of Eli's preschool friends and his grandmother invited me to sit with her and another preschool mom I'd never met.  They are very nice ladies and the discussion ranged from Christmas to the school system and don't forget all the crazy people out there like the Jim Jones and Warren Jeffs.  In talking we exchanged the normal pleasantries like where are you from and where have you lived?  Being from Utah, one of the first questions I'm subjected to is, "are you Mormon."  I've never been afraid or nervous to respond in the affirmative, BUT it's the ensuing questions that make me nervous.

One of the ladies kindly apologized about Warren Jeffs and asked if we were affiliated with him. - no.  That sect broke off a LONG time ago.  (That's easy enough.)

Have you been to the big temple in Oakland- Yes- that's the temple we are assigned to go to (WHY did I answer like that- oh well)

Don't you have to give money to your church? Yes, it's a general tithe.  Not uncommon in religion in general. (How can you explain something you believe in so deeply to someone who doesn't, and may even think it's wrong that a church ask that of it's members?)

The thing is, I can totally understand how it sounds to someone from the outside.  We give the church money and we are assigned wards and such.  We go to temples to perform what some people believe are really weird things.  It's so hard to explain something that is so close to your heart and is only fully understood by having a personal testimony or a desire to KNOW, not just the satisfaction of curiosity.  I don't think I did horrible, but I know I probably could have done better.  I know the lds website has a link so we can know how to better answer the questions we receive from others.  I guess I need to make that part of my daily study.  I ALWAYS feel inadequate to the task.