[OBW]

Changes. Let’s see.

For one, when I left, there was not yet HWMR replacing actual reading of the Word and being the guiding focus of meetings. There was no such thing as “ministry meetings” that were not something under the control of the local saints/elders. There was no “one publication” edict. The ramifications of that in Dallas will not be what they are somewhere else. I have no idea exactly how that plays out in Dallas.

Oh, I think that the Church in Dallas rocks along in some ways as it always has. But it has also been strongly influenced by BP and the proximity of the Irving publishing arm of the LSM (although I’m not certain that is actually still ongoing since they are trying to get the airport to buy their property).

The little that my parents (now only my dad) would talk about the LC, other than in very vague terms or through mentioning seeing specific LCers for dinner or whatever, suggested that at least they did not buy into all that was going on concerning the HH lawsuit.

But they were oblivious to so many things. That any quarantine was happening was almost off their radar. It just didn’t exist.

But I recall how my mom used to read the Word every day. But in the last few years of her life, I’m not sure it was as prevalent. And when I mentioned something about a verse in a manner that was not necessarily consistent with Lee’s teaching, she essentially said that we just can’t trust our own understanding of scripture.

My sister made some comment once encapsulated with “surely you believe Bro Lee was right when he said ...” My response was a simple but straight “No, I do not.” I think she expected that I would simply agree with anything Lee had taught. I do not recall the particular issue, but I was not being flippant when I said “no.”

When I joined the LC, we were taught to read the scriptures and study (as well as pray-read them). When I left, it was almost only pray-reading. Scripture was never read with the intent to consider what it said. It was pray-read to get out of your mind. The ministry was read to “gain from Christ.” This was the effect of only 14 years. It has now been another 21 years.

That is the problem. I cannot put my finger on everything that I might expect other than to say that I am sure that if I decided to attend a meeting in Dallas, I’m fairly confident that it would not resemble what I left 21 years ago. Some of the changes will be irrelevant, some for the better. But with the other downturn in LSM-affiliated localities, I have a hard time believing that Dallas has managed to stay that far out of the norm.

I just would like to have something of substance so that I am not just moving in the dark when I talk to my Dad, sister, or brother. I would like to know how strongly they toe the LSM line. How mainstream they are. How much they are or are not under the influence of one or more FTT graduates and all that might entail. Were they truly behind the HH lawsuit or was it just done as something presumed to be requried.