Need advice on how to help unhappy Mormon co-worker

[PaulDupre1]

It may not be an important calling but it could be a demanding one. It may be he has a depression/stress issue and that could easily stem from the demands of the LDS church. There is a lot of pressure when one is working towards godhood. “We are saved by grace after all we can do” (2 Nephi 25:23). There may be a lot of factors at work.

This is very true. At one point I was 2nd counselor in the bishopric (a very demanding calling), plus I was Home Teacher to 11 families, 9 of which were inactive and had substance abuse problems, criminal behavior, etc. What a mess. I was almost never home until after 10 PM. My wife resented it, and my kids hardly knew who I was.

It was very clear to all active members that to turn down a calling or to not perform it satisfactorily would mean the loss of celestial glory. We were on the hamster wheel running furiously to earn our godhood.

That can cause a lot of stress. Even without the bishopric, it would have been way too much time away from home.

By the way, I was gone so much that my Home Teacher never seemed to get around to visiting us. Even so, every month he reported to the EQ that he did 100% of his home teaching. He was a nice guy, but I’m sure he couldn’t bear the shame of being less than perfect, as Mormons are expected to be. It is a heavy yoke in the cult.

Paul (formerly LDS, now happily Catholic)

 

[kimg901]

This is very true. At one point I was 2nd counselor in the bishopric (a very demanding calling), plus I was Home Teacher to 11 families, 9 of which were inactive and had substance abuse problems, criminal behavior, etc. What a mess. I was almost never home until after 10 PM. My wife resented it, and my kids hardly knew who I was.

It was very clear to all active members that to turn down a calling or to not perform it satisfactorily would mean the loss of celestial glory. We were on the hamster wheel running furiously to earn our godhood.

That can cause a lot of stress. Even without the bishopric, it would have been way too much time away from home.

By the way, I was gone so much that my Home Teacher never seemed to get around to visiting us. Even so, every month he reported to the EQ that he did 100% of his home teaching. He was a nice guy, but I’m sure he couldn’t bear the shame of being less than perfect, as Mormons are expected to be. It is a heavy yoke in the cult.

Paul (formerly LDS, now happily Catholic)

It’s not suprising that Utah ranked near the top (or was #1) for anti-depression use. So much is put on the lds members. Let us pray.