People Confuse Me

I don't understand people. I understand people who disagree with the Church. They disagree with our stand on moral issues, our doctrine, any number of things. But when people who are *members* of our Church begin dissing it with "innocent" questions, that really really bothers me.

There are people around that do that all the time. Just little complaints here and there, but said in a way that undermines what they are supposed to believe in. They don't attend anymore--but that's because the ward is unfriendly. They don't go to the temple--but that's because the bishop expects them to pay tithing on a meager income. Or they ask questions of active members in a way to sound innocent, but the questions don't feel that way. "The Church spent 22 million dollars on Prop 8 in California?!? That's what the protesters at Temple Square said." Well yeah...let's believe the protesters who stand outside our temples and mock those attending. When looking for answers about the Church, ask its enemies. Good idea.

I don't get it. If you don't believe in the basic fundamentals of any church, why keep your membership? Not just our church--any church--or any organization, for that matter. Would it be rude to fire back and say, "You just really don't like the Church anymore, do you?"

The whole thing bothers me on many levels, but mostly it makes me sad. It makes me sad for what could have and should have been with families. It's the parable of the sower--which if I were any good, I'd be able to quote exactly which type of ground they were/are or I'd look it up, but I'll leave that to the reader.

I'm thinking that the only way to end this post is to pose a question: Which type of ground are you?