"But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,"
This verse meant something to me today, because I was talking to someone that felt alone in a crowd of people. They are an introvert like me, and it was agony for them to try to be an extrovert. While we were talking about this the spirit taught me a truth. I was impressed to say, "I could never force myself to be an extrovert when it's not my nature. It would require me to have pride and a desire to be seen of men. If that is the case then the Lord would have me an introvert and work with it." That settled the matter for them, because they knew they needed to fit in their own skin, and work with the Lord. For the Lord's opinion of us is the only one that matters.
From there we discussed how for a natural extrovert it is not an issue of pride, it's in their nature to be outgoing. Though crossovers on either side can suffer from the same issue as the scribes and Pharisees. We can't do things insincerely to be seen of men. We have to bloom where we are planted, even in an introvert body. If we focus on the Savior and serve where he has sent us to serve opportunities open up to interact with others naturally. He knows where we need to be.
Besides all that, visiting with others in the chapel just isn't what the Lord wants us to do. There is to much of that, and it's getting far to loud and destroying the peace we are coming to seek. Seriously, I debated bringing ear plugs with me to church today so I could quietly sit and read the scriptures before our meeting began. If we are focusing on how others have lots of friends and are visiting and having fun, then our hearts are not in the right place on why we came to worship. If you want to get up and go join in with the crowd then that is exactly what the adversary is trying to make you do.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland even made an apostolic plea about this in April's General Conference talk "Behold the Lamb of God".
"In that same spirit, we make an apostolic plea for the reduction of clamor in the sanctuary of our buildings. We love to visit with each other, and we should—it is one of the joys of church attendance—but it ought not be pursued so vocally in space specifically dedicated for worship. I fear that visitors not of our faith are shocked by what can sometimes be noisy irreverence in a setting that is supposed to be characterized by prayer, testimony, revelation, and peace. Perhaps heaven is a little shocked as well."The place to visit is outside of the chapel. That is the blessing of ministering and having callings. Of all places where it's good to feel alone is in the chapel. We need to take that time to focus on our relationship with Christ. In fact we both left feeling it was a blessing to be an introvert. It's like a special blessing being given us, to help us avoid pride and irreverence if we let it. Trying to understand humility and relying on Christ takes on deeper meanings. We will never feel alone. Things are just the way they are suppose to be.
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