An Experiment

28 June 2007
My bishop sometimes comes up with the most harebrained ideas to help me out with my problems. The funny thing is that all of his ideas have helped me out so far. I talked to him last night about certain issues I am having and he came up with another harebrained idea. I am really surprised that it is working and helping me out a lot!

Talking with him last night was really kind of weird. Everything that we have been trying has not really helped me out, except for one of his new ideas last night. I am still having the same problems and I keep falling into the same pitfalls. I am not going to tell you what my problems are and what I have to do to help me get away from them, but I will tell you about his crazy experiment that he wants me to try.

His experiment involves enlisting a guy from our ward to be my close friend. I know what you are thinking, a forced friendship, hooray! It is something that we all want in this life, NOT! This friendship is different though. The bishop and Elder's Quorum President is going to pray and find someone special for me. He is going to know that I need some help. Our first meeting as "friends" is going to be with the bishop. In this meeting, I am going to tell this "friend" pretty much everything about myself and my dealing with "SSA" or being gay. This "friend" is supposed to try to be there whenever he can for me. I am supposed to call him when I need help, when I need to talk, or when I just need a friend. My bishop wants me to have other friends who know about my situation who are not gay. It is going to be interesting to see how this experiment works out.

Last night, I was really scared and told him no. I was in tears the whole time he was telling me this. I felt like I could never tell someone who I did not know at all. I have already been hurt enough lately and I did not think that I could handle more hurt by having someone know who I did not trust. I eventually got over this through reading the scriptures, praying, and talking to Brady. I called my bishop today and told him that I am willing to give it a try. To be honest, I am really scared and excited at the same time. Brady told me today that people say when you follow a Priesthood leader, you cannot go too wrong. I am hoping that he is right!

9 comments:

Kengo Biddles said...

To be honest, I think this could be a good thing, if they are truly prayerful and find someone for you that way. I've heard of much good coming from similar things, if that helps you at all.

Max Power said...

I think that's a great idea! It's a very important principle of faith to learn to trust in your priesthood leaders. Bishops truly are inspired, and can offer great counsel to help all of us out. Sometimes they do seem a little crazy, but in the end remember that they are always just trying to help you stay on the path that will lead you back to your Heavenly Father - and I can't fault them for that.

And if your new friend can't turn you straight, maybe you can make him gay. :P

Michael said...

Lol Max. I don't think that's the goal of this experiment, but it would be painfully ironic and hilarious.

The way my mission president explained it to me is that the Lord blesses us for following our leaders. Even if they're wrong, by us following Priesthood leaders we are showing a desire to be obedient and respect for the organization God created. And for that, we will be blessed, whether or not what they say is actually inspired or not. You will be blessed for trying to do what's right.

Anyway, I hope it all works out! If it's really successful, maybe we'll all have to start finding unattractive straight guys to come out to...

Sean said...

I guess that I will have to see what happens. I'm really kind of scared to do it though.

Max, I probably can't turn him gay, which is a sad story... wait, I can't say that! I can, however, educate him a little better in fashion and other greater aspects in life, besides sports.

I still don't know who he is going to be and it makes me wonder if he is going to be cute. I guess that it doesn't really matter that much. I wonder if he will like to shop...

I'm so gay!

playasinmar said...

It's a cool idea. And I'll bet money your new special friend is closeted.

Hey, you two might really hit it off!

Abelard Enigma said...

My bishop sometimes comes up with the most harebrained ideas to help me out with my problems.

This reminds me of a story from my mission. I've always had serious self esteem issues. It was a lot worse when I was younger and when I left on my mission. My mission president brought my companion and I together and gave me my marching orders. Every morning, the first thing I was supposed to do - before I did anything else - was to go into the bathroom and look at myself in the mirror and tell myself what a great person I was and to list all of the things that are great about me. And, I was supposed to say it out loud, and my companion was to make sure I did it and to report back if I didn't. And, I was supposed to do this for 5 minutes! Do you know how long 5 minutes is? It felt like an eternity each morning. But, in the end, it really worked. I came out of my shell and was a better missionary because of it.

Max Power said...

Abe,

LOL! Remember "Daily Affirmation with Stuart Smalley" from old Saturday Night Live? "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and gosh darnit, people like me!"

-L- said...

Yeah, I always thought that SNL skit wasn't based on anything real. Who knew?

Plus, I want the bishop to force someone to be MY friend. I'm going to have to put in an order.

Good luck, Gimp.

Silus Grok said...

I'm out to anyone invested enough in my life to care… so it shouldn't be a surprise, then, when my bishop asked me to befriend someone in my ward who, too, was gay. But it did, and I was honored and humbled beyond measure.

I hope this helps, Gimple, and isn't just another layer of complexity in an already complex life.

Keep us posted!