We’ve probably all been there at some point. You’re sitting in Sunday School and the teacher asks a seemingly benign question, when someone raises their hand with an answer that makes you cringe. It could be bigoted, non-doctrine presented as fact, or just completely off topic, but its potential for derailing the lesson is undeniable. What do you do?
It can be hard to sit through opinions that you don’t agree with, or maybe you just really want to cover what was intended in the lesson, but it’s not always any easier to speak up. What experiences have you had with lessons going off topic? Or have you ever shared a controversial opinion in class? What was the reaction?
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6 Responses
One time someone made a comment about not having enough young men to pass the sacrament in our huge ward. I raised my hand and said, “If the priesthood was extended to the young women then we wouldn’t be short individuals to pass it.” A lot of people laughed because they thought it was a joke. Some people were very uncomfortable. Two weeks later I was released from being young women adviser.
Ouch!
Where are the options for:
Fidget uncomfortably
Lose myself into my iPad (scripture-reading, of course)
Volunteer to take fussy baby into hallway
🙂
“Completely off-topic” I don’t necessarily mind. Sunday School is boring, anyway. (No offense, Sunday School teachers.) “Bigoted” or “non-doctrine presented as fact” is something else entirely. That needs to be addressed. I wouldn’t let that slide, and I am the least confrontational person I know. Those situations don’t come up often in my ward, though. I am more likely to be stuck in a conversation about doctrines that I’m just not particularly fond of. Perhaps this is why I am bored.
I don’t so much mind off topic discussions either, but in the last Sunday I spent at church, I heard both a bigoted remark AND a statement of cultural opinion presented as doctrine. shudder Sadly though, I have to admit that I didn’t say or do anything as it was a newly split ward and I didn’t know anyone or feel very confident in my postpartum state. It was also the last time I went to church for a while. I’m hoping to get myself to a place where I can speak up in those types of situations though.
I’ve seen those ward members who have a way of tactfully, seamlessly contradicting the bigoted/non-doctrinal/insulting comments without hurting the person who made said comment, and it’s an amazing skill! Wish they would teach a class on THAT during Enrichment meeting. =) Whenever I’ve encountered this and had the guts to say something, it ends awkwardly. I don’t know how to do it without it seeming confrontational or defensive.
But anyway, I feel better saying something poorly than not saying anything at all, and I’m improving a little at a time in terms of communicating effectively. I’ve been the person who was crying in some meeting, wishing someone tougher and more emotionally-together would raise their hand and make a comment. When I’m that emotionally-together person, I feel like it’s my responsibility to say something.