Swallow my pride, or stand on my own.....

Our ward has had a wonderful bishopric the past 5 years. Men I respect, love, and have fully sustained in their callings. So it was with sadness that it was time last Sunday to release them.

Of course, when you know this is coming, you speculate on who will be called to be the next Bishop.

A person in my ward mentioned to me that she had heard rumors that "Brother John Doe" might be one of the considerations.

My response was "If John Doe is called as Bishop, then I no longer believe in divine revelation and I am not going to church anymore. That man is one of the reasons all of my sons quit going to church."

So guess what? Sunday morning I sit in the chapel and the name they announce as our new Bishop is "Brother John Doe".

I seriously got sick to my stomach and I almost walked out. But decided making a scene was not my thing. However, when they raised their hands to sustain him... I did not. I did not oppose it... but I did not sustain it.  I will have to come to terms with it. In my own way and in my own time.

After the meeting I walked by the person who I had said the above to, and she said "The church is still true Michelle!"   I just rolled my eyes and said, "It may be, but I'm not too happy with it at the moment."

I went home and I have prayed about him and for him and asked to get my own confirmation and so far I feel nothing but my animosity is calming down a little.

This man had the gall to say to my face years ago when I was going through a divorce, that my children were lazy and would amount to nothing. They would end up in trouble because they didn't have a father figure in the house. I was so ANGRY at that.

10 years later guess what?  Whose daughter got knocked up by the handyman? Not mine.
Whose daughter then lost the baby and divorced the handyman two months later? Not mine.
Who did not attend the daughters wedding because he was so angry she had got knocked up? HIM.
Whose son tried to commit suicide and was put in a mental institution for a long time? Not mine... but oh... let's see... HIS WAS.

Whose two married children were married in the temple? Oh...  MINE.
Whose kids are all extremely talented, smart, and have amazing good jobs and productive lives? OH.. MINE!!!
Who has a very good father figure even if he doesn't live in the same house? OH... MINE!!!!!

So up yours Mr. John Doe.  Maybe being the leader of all of us imperfect people will humble you a little bit and make you realize you don't need to be so judgemental.

Meanwhile... I may find another ward to attend.