A thought, I truly believe stories that are difficult or unresolved have every ability to help others, since so many of the circumstances we face do not resolve in mortality. Stories of the mentally ill can teach us symptoms, which may end up saving someone's life. Or can motivate someone to pick this field for research. Or a politician to provide funding. I see your point, but I do not accept it. People who live in functional LDS families do not want to face the realities that some of their brothers and sisters are dealing with. That is why the Book of Mormon warns us against saying that a man has brought his problems upon himself so I do not need to help him. To remind us that that is the usual response of the natural man.
Chemo Okazaki was correct. We accept certain trials as valid and judge others as undeserving.
A thoughtMarch 6, 2019
@Randi, I think Saroo felt to share his story because he thought it would inspire hope in someone else's search. I don't think the point is just to share things just to get them out there, nor do I think it's about people only liking happy endings. I think this particular article is talking about sharing stories that might help someone else. Stories that are unresolved or difficult without clear purpose or uplift might be cathartic for someone to share, but also might not be helpful to anyone else. There's still a place for that in terms of understanding each other better and connecting with one another, but I think that's something different than what he was talking about/hoping would come from sharing what happened to him.
RandiMarch 6, 2019
As someone who never remarried following my divorce, I spent most of my time in the Church in singles wards. So many of the people there had had very difficult lives, abusive parents, alcoholic parents, mentally ill spouses or parents, gay ex-spouses who died from Aids, or they themselves were struggling with these issues.
Did anyone in the family wards really want to know these people's stories? No, they did not. Instead they found these stories embarrassing to the perfect LDS society they wished to project to the world.
And the fact the mentally ill had been repeatedly excommunicated without the bishops realizing what was happening is not a story we wish to advertise.
So yes, it is important, but no, it will not be welcomed. We only want to hear stories with happy endings.
Comments | Return to Story
JackieMarch 6, 2019
A thought, I truly believe stories that are difficult or unresolved have every ability to help others, since so many of the circumstances we face do not resolve in mortality. Stories of the mentally ill can teach us symptoms, which may end up saving someone's life. Or can motivate someone to pick this field for research. Or a politician to provide funding. I see your point, but I do not accept it. People who live in functional LDS families do not want to face the realities that some of their brothers and sisters are dealing with. That is why the Book of Mormon warns us against saying that a man has brought his problems upon himself so I do not need to help him. To remind us that that is the usual response of the natural man. Chemo Okazaki was correct. We accept certain trials as valid and judge others as undeserving.
A thoughtMarch 6, 2019
@Randi, I think Saroo felt to share his story because he thought it would inspire hope in someone else's search. I don't think the point is just to share things just to get them out there, nor do I think it's about people only liking happy endings. I think this particular article is talking about sharing stories that might help someone else. Stories that are unresolved or difficult without clear purpose or uplift might be cathartic for someone to share, but also might not be helpful to anyone else. There's still a place for that in terms of understanding each other better and connecting with one another, but I think that's something different than what he was talking about/hoping would come from sharing what happened to him.
RandiMarch 6, 2019
As someone who never remarried following my divorce, I spent most of my time in the Church in singles wards. So many of the people there had had very difficult lives, abusive parents, alcoholic parents, mentally ill spouses or parents, gay ex-spouses who died from Aids, or they themselves were struggling with these issues. Did anyone in the family wards really want to know these people's stories? No, they did not. Instead they found these stories embarrassing to the perfect LDS society they wished to project to the world. And the fact the mentally ill had been repeatedly excommunicated without the bishops realizing what was happening is not a story we wish to advertise. So yes, it is important, but no, it will not be welcomed. We only want to hear stories with happy endings.
ADD A COMMENT