It's a Party in the YSA (Ward)

[For the first time ever, I'm tagging a blog post. From now on, my posts in which I, in some roundabout way, encourage my readers to prepare for the upcoming Sunday School lesson will receive the tag BASOTRUSSL. This, of course, stands for Blog About Something Only Tangentially Related to the Upcoming Sunday School Lesson. I started using that unwieldy acronym a few weeks ago on my Facebook fan page. Yes, that's right--you can now become a fan of Jeff Hofmann the Entertainer, which is slightly different than being a friend of Jeff Hofmann the Person. Go on, do it. You know you want to.

A few reasons for using the tag: hopefully it will help me recognize when there's been a dearth of non-BASOTRUSSL posts (like this month) and motivate me to write more often; some people might come to my blog looking for something to aid them in their preparation for Gospel Doctrine class; or, more likely, the opposite is true--some of you probably like my writing but aren't interested in the posts with religious connotations. Well, starting now, whether zero or one or more of those reasons apply to you, you'll know that some posts are at least peripherally about church.

Now, on to this week's BASOTRUSSL.]

Did you ever notice that if you reversed the order of the major events in 1 Nephi 16-18, Nephi's story would resemble pretty accurately a typical guy's experience in a Young Single Adult (YSA) ward? You didn't? Well, it's true. Check it out:

Nephi is a YSA, active in the church. He'd like to get married sooner rather than later, but his dating life has become stagnant in his current ward. So he moves to a new apartment in a new ward, hoping that this will be his dating "promised land." (1 Ne. 18:23)

Trying to make friends and a good impression, Nephi volunteers his car when drivers are needed for FHE and other activities. (1 Ne 18:22)

It doesn't take Nephi long to realize that his new ward, like the ward he just moved from, has an entrenched social clique. Despite the efforts of people like Nephi and even the bishop, it's tough to make any progress towards a more inclusive group. (1 Ne. 18:17)

Nephi tries to set a good example for the other Elders in the ward, but it's not like he's their father. He can control what he does and says, but otherwise it's like his hands are tied. (1 Ne. 18:11)

A group of roommates in the ward hosts a karaoke party, and a bunch of people come. Nephi is having a great time until, as it inevitably goes at Mormon karaoke parties, people make some song selections that make the other partygoers uncomfortable (like the first time I hosted a party after I got my karaoke machine, and my friend Brad sang "Love Bites," or when my friend David literally cleared the room with his rendition of Poison's "Talk Dirty To Me"). (1 Ne. 18:9)

One day, Nephi realizes that he's gotten so caught up with serving in the ward and, you know, "life," that he's been in the ward for a year and he's still not any closer to getting married. He's not the new guy anymore, and the guys who just moved in seem to be getting all the attention from the ladies. (1 Ne. 18:7, 19)

Seeking comfort and guidance, Nephi starts going to the temple more often. (1 Ne. 18:3)

Whether it's the energy from the new move-ins, or the efforts of Nephi and other diligent ward members are paying off, or something else entirely, the ward starts showing a greater sense of unity and brotherhood. (1 Ne. 18:1)

Having developed a reputation as a nice guy but kind of uptight and humorless, Nephi performs a shocking feat at the ward talent show, leaving his peers stunned and gaining a new level of respect. (1 Ne. 17:48-55)

Since it's clear that Nephi is comfortable in front of large groups, he soon gets called as a Gospel Doctrine teacher. His lessons on the Old Testament are mesmerizing. (1 Ne. 17:23-47)

The Elders Quorum arranges a service project: helping a local elderly couple move. Nephi is disappointed, but after years of YSA EQ service project experience not really surprised, that only a few people show up. (1 Ne. 17:17-18)

To make matters worse, Nephi realizes the elderly couple have not arranged for any kind of moving truck. (1 Ne. 17:8-11)

More time goes on, and still Nephi seems to be getting nowhere when it comes to dating. Why are girls so hard to understand? Why are so many of them attracted to "bad boys?" (1 Ne. 16: 35-37)

A break-the-fast potluck is held. Not enough food is brought, and everyone gets really cranky. Another chance to meet new girls is wasted. Nephi is a broken beau. (1 Ne. 16:18-21)

Some great leaders employ some creative teaching methods, and Nephi renews his commitment to find "the one," exercising faith and diligence even though he can't tell how things will work out or where he'll end up. (1 Ne. 16:9-11, 26-29)

After about eight years of wandering through the dating wilderness, Nephi's faith and diligence are finally rewarded. He falls in love with a great girl and they get married. Almost immediately, Nephi gets called as a counselor in the bishopric of a YSA ward. (1 Ne. 16:7)

See? There's probably at least a half-dozen guys in every YSA ward who relate to most or all of that. But if you're the type who doesn't like to read the scriptures backwards, here's some info that will help you as you prepare for this Sunday's lesson.