Sunday, 21 June 2009

Help....

Ok so this is my ranting post. My Dark post. My I need help, the Lords help post. I hate my ward. A number of you will know why. One reason is the fact that no one talks to us. Lee and I have been put into a calling some would call a shut me up calling. We teach the Valiant 11's and guess how many kids are in our class..... 2. We walk into church and from the moment we walk in until the moment we leave no one talks to us. Except to tell us that we cant leave Spencer in the Nursery because they know he will cry. I feel no spiritual upliftment from or ward. Some of you may think that I am imagining it but I will tell you this, ever since my post about Prop 8 life in our ward has been hell. That is the post which made me go private on my blog. After the bishop told me that I did not have Freedom of Speech and that if I want to continue living in the UK I need to forget about being an American because it is not a part of me anymore I lost a lot of respect for him. I didnt understand how a man called of God could be so against me saying my feelings about this proposition on my own blog. I got calls from members of the ward telling me what a terrible person I was. And since then life in our ward has been literally hell. This is not the only thing that has happen. At the same time I was in YW presidency and asked to be released because I wasnt able to attend the weekly activities because Lee was away a lot. I did attend all that I could but after getting a sister from the ward to watch the children one night and it being a terrible experience I decided that my family would have to come first. I was then told that since I wasnt attending the mid week activities I would not be entitled to a Temple Recommend. Obviously at that point I asked to be released. But that didnt go over with the bishop. He told me to just try it out for a bit longer. I then had spent over £100 in one month on YW, for petrol and a few supplies then the YW president asked if I would take the girls to the seaside. Lee was home this week in particular so it wasnt a problem but I said to her I need to be reimbursed for the cost of the gas. That day while announcing the activity to the Young Women she said (and I am not exagerating) We were going to provide a BBQ at the beach but sister whitfield cant afford the petrol so instead of us providing a BBQ you all need to bring your own food so we can pay for her petrol. Is there anything more embarrassing that than? I went straight to the bishop and said I want to be released now. So all this together was not a good thing in our ward and ever since no one talks to us. If people catch our eyes then they do say hi. But no one goes out of their way. I know people keep saying you just need to try harder, but I dont know how much harder I can try. I cant stand being at ward activities by ourselves, I cant stand being looked through. Once I was standing in the hall talking to a member of the RS presidency about something I was doing for enrichment (they do talk to us if they need us to do something or if their computers are broken, we have 2 broken computers in the hall way of ward members now) and another sister walked up and said to the other a bunch of us are going to the cinema on Friday do you want to go. I looked at her and she said oh it is just us who have been in the ward a while. I've been here 4 years when do you finally get to be a part of the ward?

I dont know how much more I can take of this. I will be honest with you I hate going. When I feel just a little sick or one of the kids has a little cough I stay home. As often as we can we go to other wards. I pray all the time asking Heavenly Father to Please bless me Please give me the strength to get over this trial. I just dont know what else to do. I dont want this to beat me. I have a very strong testimony but I feel like I get nothing from being at church. I am fighting with Spencer during lesson time and sacrament. On a sunday morning I feel angry. In fact I dont just feel it but I am short with Lee and the kids. We dont have the TV on before church and have church music playing We have even been saying a prayer before we go to church to help us feel the spirit We have fasted for strength but I dont know what else to do. Please someone help. Please let me know what I should do. I really need help. I dont want to feel like this on a Sunday anymore. But I honestly dont know what to do!!

10 comments:

Cram Family said...

I remember after Brian and I moved to phoenix I felt the same way. We were in the ward for 3-1/2 years and we were never asked to talk in church, never gave a prayer and never even had a calling the entire time that we were in the ward. I eventually started having asthma attacks every sunday morning so I would stay home as an excuse. Then I realised it was satan doing this to me and I made it easy for him to have the power over me enough to make me stay home. The thing you have to remember is that the gospel is not about the people in you ward. It is about your relationship with our heavenly father and jesus christ.I know that you hate your ward but you cant take it out on your family on sunday mornings you have to be happy no matter what its not their fault your ward is crappy!! The most inportant thing is that your relationship with our heavenly father grows. Take spencer to nursery leave him tell them this is what nursery is for. Walk away and let him be that is the only way he will get used to going. Good luck I love you. Dez

Our Loved-up Family said...

I'm so sorry Alisha, I've never experienced a ward like that, so don't have much good advice. There's a quote a like about Sunday Meetings, here: http://spirituallythinking.blogspot.com/2008/10/boring-sunday-meeting.html. I taught a RS lesson on Forgiveness last week, and how we need to forgive even before they repent, forgiving your ward will help you get rid of the anger and sadness you feel. I had a mission companion that didn't like me at one point. I really had to control my thoughts and work on replacing negative ones about her, me, the situation, with positive ones, after a while I started believing the positive thoughts and I prayed for her daily, and my heart was softened. You're obviously in that ward for a reason, you just need to figure out why and grow from it. You are loved by many people!

Tiffini said...

I had a similar situation when we were living in SLC. We hated the ward we were in. When we finally realized that we needed to change our attitude, and that we were there to strengthen our testimony not those around us we ended up loving the ward and didn't want to leave. It's a hard thing to do and of course easier said than done. The one thing to remember is that the Lord is always there, of course Satan is most the time to. Be strong and know there other people who do care for you, and pray for you as well. You are a strong family, you'll make it :)

Kelly Krew said...

Or you can be like me and realize it is a cult. I know we were raised different from how I look at the church now, and it is not the church it is the people and only some not all. I am sorry that you are going through this and I feel bad that your kids are as well cause we know that the parents are sharing their feelings with the kids which shares the attitudes and it is not fair to any of you. I am sure you will continue to go cause well it is what you were taught, but my opinion leave, go again when you get back to the states, keep reading your scriptures and praying but if you are that unhappy and being treated that why I am sure "They" will understand why you took a break. What will you miss anyways.... screaming kids, can you even hear or understand the lesson in sacrament when dealing with your kids and listening to others. You teach the lesson after instead of going to class so what are you really getting out of it? ANYWAYS, I guess enough is enough... everyone knows how I feel! I love you I am sorry.... good luck!

Us said...

im so sorry that you have to go through so much because of your ward. they are supposed to be your support. i cant imagine why they would treat you that way. your such a fun, sweet, outgoing person. im not good at advice but one thing i believe is that service goes a long way. challenge yourself to find someone in your ward that you can serve once a week or once a month or something. ask heavenly father to help you find the one who needs your service and then do something for them in the true attitude of service. im sure you've probably heard it all, you know, love those that hate you, pray for those that despitedfully use you. the things christ taught are true. they will make your life happier. i really hope it gets better.

Our Loved-up Family said...

Don't stop going.

Kelly Stoddart said...

I am so sorry that you are feeling this way! I felt kind of the samething when we lived in Oregon, but I just thought it was because we lived in apartments and they figured we wouldn't stay very long. Which we didn't. I'm sorry I don't know what to say to help. It sounds awful

Rachel said...

You know what?! I think it's because you're so amazing and that people in that ward (I won't say which ward..), are threatened by you because you do so much for them and know how to be a great leader! I remember when I first met you, you guys had just moved from Chorley (I think). I couldn't help but always think how you reminded me of my parents. I don't mean to brag, but my parents have taught me how to be a leader and that you do everything and go the extra mile..no matter how much you don't want to, or how hard it is, you do it. I'm sorry you're still struggling, I wish I was there with you. I'm not sure how to help, but I can tell the people in that ward aren't helping you and need their hearts softened. A ward works together, NOT pushes people way..Hang in there! Love you and miss you.

Anonymous said...

This is a totally late post but I haven't really kept up with people. It's a hard decision to make. People can say, ya give up it's a cult but in all honesty, you need to continue to go to church. Weather it be the YUCKY ward or to a different one. The only thing that you need to do is to continue to strengthen your testimony. This may be or is already a learning experiance but the Lord would not want you to give up. If you go to a different ward, the Lord will be greatful for you even going. But you can't just give up or take a break from it because that isn't going to get you anywhere. My dad is stake pres and I'm gonna ask him about this and I'll let you know what he says.. Love ya

Hizzeather said...

Here's my 2 cents (or pence...or whatever you have there :) Take it or leave it...

There's always 3 sides to a story, so there's your version, their version, and somewhere in the middle is the truth of what really happened. I offend people all the time inadvertently. But if they leave the church it is their fault, not mine. You can't control people's actions, but you can control your reaction. I think you need to try and start over. You need to be super honest with these people, starting with your bishop. You can say that you have been offended, you don't feel love and support, and that you will forgive and forget, and that you hope that they will start making an effort to do the same. I'm sure it's a misunderstanding and that culture is a big part of that. People tend to love or hate Americans...no middle ground. I know I can't understand the exact situation, but I do know that we are commanded to forgive over and over again...if we don't, we are the sinner as well.

There are people in my Stake that I can't stand and avoid, people who have said hurtful things to me, but when we do have to come in contact, I just act like nothing is wrong and do my best to work well together. This is because I know it is MY fault that I am upset with them! :)

I felt that my ward in Orange County was very conceited and not friendly. They were all well off and church was a fashion show. But not until I started putting in an effort did I start to get to know them better and make lifelong friends. I was judging them. My bad! :)

I feel kinda weird saying all this, but hopefully you know that I love you and I know that you are not fully at fault. But until you realize that you ARE partly at fault, you won't make any progress. Look closely, see your faults in this situation, and fix them. Be honest with those in your ward. They are your family. It will take some humility, but that is what the Lord requires of His chosen people. I know you can do it and turn things around. Try to change your perspective and start looking at things in a more positive light.

It's going to be hard, but worth it for you and your family! Start with being 100% honest with your bishop. Tell him in a humble way your struggles. I know he will step up to the plate and help you! If not...give me his number...no joke!

Best wishes darling! I want you to be happy!!!!!!