"That there should be no schism in the body"

What follows are the notes I made while preparing to teach the Elders' Quorum this Sunday past. (Aside: Almost every week, I see a paper come through the quorum that says "Elder's Quorum." PET PEEVE!) While we discussed some of what's here, most of it only made it into my head and my notebook. So you, my friends, are privy to an insider's look!

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Primary texts of my pondering and for class discussion: D&C 20:53-55; 1 Cor. 12:25-27

Thoughts on my assignment (posted on AMV 28 July)

(Notes from 28 July)

Watch over—observe vigilantly—care for, be given care of

Care—nurturance—to care for another is to be aware of their needs—discernment—To care and be caring

1 Cor. 12:25—caring for the whole—precludes possibility for exclusion—using inclusionary language—the rhetoric of exclusion is language that excludes or privileges as it reaches into the world—Rhetoric of inclusion—inclusive rhetoric—language that cares, that supports the act of caring for others, for God’s Church—language that edifies—that builds others, builds the kingdom—“that there should be no schism in the body” of our language

BE WITH—counsel of similar linguistic construction to:

1 Cor. 12:26—suffer with, rejoice with

Mosiah 18:9—mourn with

To be inclusive emotionally, intellectually, rhetorically, physically—to help others feel included

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(Notes from the morning of 2 Aug.)

THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO SCHISM IN THE BODY

WATCH OVER—to have charge of—implies stewardship—to have charge of the Church, which is:

1) Institution/organization directed by God; includes people, programs, policies

2) for administering salvation through Gospel ordinances, covenants, principles, doctrines

3) to [an expansive group of] people; the Saints

[In Church] ongoing, big focus, high priority: teaching & learning. WHY?

“A man [or woman] is saved no faster than [s/]he gains knowledge.”

So: how best to watch over the Church—full and vigilant fellowship—always

*Discernment

To BE WITH the Church—support its organization—doesn’t mean blindly obeying

At least two other places w/similar grammatical construction:

mourn w/those that mourn—Mosiah 18

suffer w/ & rejoice w/—1 Cor. 12

also suffer w/Christ—Rom. 8:17

Entering the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings—Philippians 3:10

To strengthen w/our presence, our words (teachings), our faith, our prayers—[focus:] full fellowship & gospel instruction

ALWAYS: used in relation to at least 3 commandments:

1) Here [D&C 20:53]

2) Pray always

3) Always remember Christ

FELLOWSHIP (n)—community of interest, activity, feeling, or experience; a company of equals or friends (as in 1 Cor. 12:25)

[Fellowship] (v)—to join in fellowship—the action associated w/the above

BODY OF CHRIST—all have responsibility to endure it ([as] the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings), to keep it pure (word & deed) teaching by word & example, w/whole soul, whole-souledness

1) body (discipline)

2) mind (vision)

3) heart (passion)

4) spirit (conscience)

TO MINISTER—[elders are] standing ministers—D&C 84:111, 124:137

In Quorum, yes—to other elders—ALSO—to rest of ward, stake, church—ministry starts [with individual, in home], ripples outward from there

—Body—representative of our presence in the kingdom, in the world—serving others w/our presence (not in any “grace you w/my presence” sense) But in sense that, as we work to perfect ourselves, our discipleship—our influence/presence extends into the world—filling the gaps between bodies w/our influence—the influence of our presence, our fellowship, our faith, our words

[All of this] implies[/depends upon a] lifetime of discipleship—of full & vigilant fellowship w/Christ, his Gospel, his Saints—also responsibility to teach