Joy In The Journey Radio
  • Home
  • Radio 4 LDS Singles
    • Recent Shows >
      • 9 Nov 22
      • 2 Nov 22
    • Archive 2022
    • Archive 2021
    • Archive 2020
    • Archive 2019
    • Archive 2018
  • LDS Singles Blog
  • Members
    • Members-only
  • World of TED
  • Firesides
  • Books
  • FAQ
  • Volunteer
  • Home-centered Church
  • Donate
  • Contact

continue the conversation

Include everyone

7/10/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Of course, that change won’t happen on its own.  And we LDS singles can help that along.
While riding the love train these past couple of weeks, I’ve encountered a fantastic article in the Liahona.  The article, entitled “How Can We Create a Culture of Inclusion at Church?,” hooked me with the second sentence: “What we don’t realize is that even among those who seem to fit in, there are many who feel left out.”

Instantly my attention was diverted.  After all, how long have I been saying that many singles feel excluded because of the way LDS culture views singleness and marriage?

And the article did not disappoint.  It lists signs that someone possibly feels excluded as well as ways in which anyone can be more inclusive and welcoming.  The article concludes with an illustration from the life of a single adult (yeah, you know I loved that) and some additional ideas for practicing inclusion.
Those tips at the end are the real icing on the cake.  They’re very detailed and specific — not to mention they suggest actions I’ve been recommending for years, like sitting next to people.  But the real delight is seeing the Church change its culture to be more inclusive of everyone, especially singles.

Of course, that change won’t happen on its own.  And we LDS singles can help that along.  When we include everyone — at church, at singles activities, and in our lives — we can bolster the movement to create a culture in which everyone can feel they belong.

At church

Picture
The Liahona article focuses on interactions at church, and rightly so.  It’s in the title of the article, which appears in an official Church publication.  What I really appreciate are the calls to action and their applicability to anyone, single or married.

For example, the article advises, “Don’t always sit by the same people in church.”  We’re all creatures of habit, so it’s not surprising everyone has “their spot” in the chapel.  But as I’ve changed my seat week to week, I’ve noticed I get different perspectives from sacrament meeting that make it more enjoyable.  And sitting by different people provides opportunity to interact with different people.

That’s just one example of a single adult applying one tip.  We could provide many such examples for the other tips because we singles have ample opportunity to take action.  We can change the culture within LDS society such that our traditional challenges will either disappear or be greatly minimized.

At singles activities

Picture
Of course, the tips offered for fostering inclusion at church apply just as readily to our singles activities.  Many would agree they’re needed just as much there.  I think they’re needed there even more.

With a few exceptions, singles activities are typically poorly attended.  That’s because we’ve transformed what should be a platform for ministering to one another into a meat market.  This is why I’ve decried the dating forum mentality.

We all know the drill.  When new people show up, instantly everyone in the room evaluates them for dating potential.  Since most people aren’t superstars on the surface, no one shows interest in having them there, and they’re left to fend for themselves to meet any needs for friendship and sociality.

I and many other LDS singles have experienced this.  But we have the opportunity to be the change we seek.  Instead of complaining about the meat market, we should employ our energies into creating the culture of inclusion we need.  When inspired by sincere love, our actions can transform singles programs focused on calendaring activities into singles groups focused on meeting individual needs by including every single one.

In our lives

Picture
And it shouldn’t stop there.  The Prophet Joseph once taught, “A man filled with the love of God is not content with blessing his family alone but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race.”  When the spirit of inclusion infuses within us a desire to love people at church and singles activities, we can’t help but extend that love to everyone else in our lives.

For example, the Liahona article advises, “When we enter our church building, we can look around and observe whom the Lord would have us bring into our circle of friendship that day.”  We can and should do that everywhere.  Doing so will bless us as well as others, filling our lives with joy.

Whether at church, at singles activities, or in our lives, let us do more to include everyone.  We will create the culture that transcends our current challenges.  And we will fill ourselves and those around us with the love of God.  And that will bring us more joy in our journey.

You can listen to the monologue from today's episode of Joy In The Journey Radio here.  Please also feel free to continue the conversation by leaving a comment below.  Want to hear more?  Listen to the whole show by going to the show page for this episode.
Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Author

    Howdy! I'm Lance, host of Joy in the Journey Radio. I've been blogging about LDS singles life since 2012, and since 2018 I've been producing a weekly Internet radio show and podcast to help LDS singles have  more joy in their journey and bring all Latter-day Saints together. Let's engage a conversation that will increase the faith of LDS singles and bring singles and marrieds together in a true unity of the faith.

    Comment

    Joy in the Journey Radio encourages the free discussion of ideas but reserves the right to remove and/or block comments which do not conform to LDS standards.

    Donate

    Joy in the Journey Radio offers many free resources to help LDS singles everywhere, but it certainly isn't free!  Help Joy in the Journey Radio in its mission to improve the lives of LDS singles by donating today.

    Posts by Month

    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014

    Categories

    All
    Adrian Ochoa
    Agency
    Assumptions
    Atonement
    Attitude
    Attraction
    Autopilot
    Balance
    Becky Craven
    Believe
    Best Life
    Bradley R Wilcox
    Camille N Johnson
    Change The Culture
    Changing LDS Singles Culture
    Christ
    Christmas
    Clark G Gilbert
    Confidence
    Conscious Choices
    Covenant Mindset
    Dale G Renlund
    Dallin H Oaks
    Dating
    David A Bednar
    Depression
    Dieter F Uchtdorf
    Discipleship
    Donald L Hallstrom
    D Todd Christofferson
    Face To Face
    Faith
    Family
    Family History
    Fear
    Filters
    Finances
    Focus Determines Reality
    Full Life: Body
    Full Life: Heart
    Full Life: Mind
    Full Life: Spirit
    Future
    Gary E Stevenson
    General Conference
    Gerrit W Gong
    Goals
    Gordon B Hinckley
    Gratitude
    Habits
    Happiness
    Hope
    Jack Gerard
    Jean Bingham
    Jeffrey R Holland
    John A McCune
    John C Pingree Jr
    Journey
    Joy
    Leaders
    Legacy
    Life Of Meaning
    Live In The Moment
    Marriage
    Marrieds
    Michael A Dunn
    Michelle Craig
    Miracles
    M Russell Ballard
    Natural Mindset
    Neil Andersen
    Opportunity
    Own Your Life
    Partner With The Lord
    Peace
    Personal Ministry
    Perspective
    Philosophy
    Proclamation On The Family
    Quentin L Cook
    Real
    Reformat And Reboot
    Relationships
    Ronald Rasband
    Russell M Nelson
    Sacrament
    Self Talk
    Self-talk
    Service
    Sharon Eubank
    Stories
    Support
    Surrender To Love
    Susan H Porter
    Taylor G Godoy
    Temple
    Thinking
    Thomas S Monson
    Trials
    Unity
    Valentine's Day
    Vision
    Walk By Faith
    Yoon Hwan Choi
    Zion

    RSS Feed

Offerings

Home
Radio 4 LDS Singles
LDS Singles Blog
Books
Speaking
Recipes
Home-centered Church

Production

About
Staff

Support

FAQ
Volunteer
Donate
Contact
Joy in the Journey Radio is a production
of Aspire Mountain Media LLC.
© 2014-2022 Aspire Mountain Media LLC.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  • Home
  • Radio 4 LDS Singles
    • Recent Shows >
      • 9 Nov 22
      • 2 Nov 22
    • Archive 2022
    • Archive 2021
    • Archive 2020
    • Archive 2019
    • Archive 2018
  • LDS Singles Blog
  • Members
    • Members-only
  • World of TED
  • Firesides
  • Books
  • FAQ
  • Volunteer
  • Home-centered Church
  • Donate
  • Contact