Ok, so this kind of hearkens back to my "Contention" post a few weeks ago, but...
I hate rivalries. I remember a couple years ago when a friend and University of Utah alum made several adversarial posts on Facebook about BYU just prior to the annual BYU-U of U game. It felt personal, and I struggled not to become angry with her. Anyway, it really bothered me.
Today I read an article in this week's Sports Illustrated magazine and came across this:
"Heated rivalries are part of what makes college football so special, and the annual BYU-Utah clash has become one of the the nastiest, most personal rivalries in the nation. Last year while working on the book, The System: The Glory and Scandal of Big-Time College Football, I attended my first BYU-Utah game. At the time I had no intention of mentioning the game in the book, but the extreme profanity and vile abuse I witnessed that night caught me off guard. Utah fans spit on BYU players and taunted BYU fans by mocking the school's honor code. In one sense it reminded of the 1980s when the Notre Dame-Miami rivalry was cast as The Catholics versus The Convicts. But the BYU-Utah rivalry has a certain us-versus-them tone. Only it is Mormons versus Mormons."
From http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-football/news/20130925/spencer-hadley-byu/#ixzz2g625Sqpr
Anyway, this probably doesn't qualify as something "lovely or of good report," but the subject of contention is something I keep returning to in my thoughts lately. So I think I will be talking about contention in my next RS Presidency lesson. Anybody have any favorite talks on the subject that they can refer me to? Especially talks about overcoming contention or teaching children not to be contentious? I've already got Elder Holland's "The Tongue of Angels," but that's it so far.
First of all, sorry for the facebook post of the BYU baby hitting the Ute baby. I promise that I wasn't trying to be contentious. :)
ReplyDeleteSecond, I am not sure about any contention talks but it did make me think of President Monson's talk, "Charity Never Faileth." I can't think of anything that combats contention better than charity. Here's a favorite quote, "Rather than being judgmental and critical of each other, may we have the pure love of Christ for our fellow travelers in this journey through life." And also, "I consider charity—or “the pure love of Christ”—to be the opposite of criticism and judging. In speaking of charity, I do not at this moment have in mind the relief of the suffering through the giving of our substance. That, of course, is necessary and proper. Tonight, however, I have in mind the charity that manifests itself when we are tolerant of others and lenient toward their actions, the kind of charity that forgives, the kind of charity that is patient."
http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/general-relief-society-meeting/2010/09/charity-never-faileth?lang=eng
Ha ha. No worries about the FB post. I wasn't offended. :o)
DeleteSpeaking of rivalries reminds to be more humble and less defensive and to recognize the merit in others. I wish fans would cheer for their team more, and mock the opposing team less. I will always remember Elder Holland's words, "You never check your religion at the door!"
ReplyDeleteOk. So I plan to teach next month's Relief Society lesson on the topic of contention. Here are some sources that I've found. I may post an update once I have more time to study them all. Let me know if you have any insights you'd like to share! :)
ReplyDeleteElder Nelson: The Canker of Contention - http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1989/04/the-canker-of-contention
Elder Ashton: No Time for Contention - http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1978/04/no-time-for-contention?lang=eng&query=contention
Elder Orton: The First and Great Commandment - http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2001/10/the-first-and-great-commandment?lang=eng&query=contention
FHE Resource Book: Contention - http://www.lds.org/manual/family-home-evening-resource-book/lesson-ideas/contention?lang=eng&query=contention
Helaman 1 - http://www.lds.org/manual/book-of-mormon-seminary-teacher-manual-2013/helaman/lesson-106?lang=eng&query=contention
Brother Thornock - Contention--And How to Eliminate It - http://www.lds.org/ensign/1980/08/contention-and-how-to-eliminate-it?lang=eng&query=contention#pop_001-03125_000_005
President Uchtodrg - The Merciful Obtain Mercy - http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/the-merciful-obtain-mercy
*President Monson - Charity Never Faileth - http://www.lds.org/ensign/2010/11/charity-never-faileth (also found in DIMK)