Ok, so I haven't been able to find a link to the 'sad news' I referenced in the last post, so I will just post what I know/have learned about it. As of 6/10/11:
Sigma Gamma Chi and Lambda Delta Sigma are no more
For those of you that don't know what that is, they were the LDS Fraternity and Sorority at the U
We found out last Saturday at dinner (one of our friends was the VP of Iota and got the call about it before we started eating). Needless to say, everyone was shocked, although it definitely gave us something to talk about due to the fact that everyone at the table was either an Active or an Alumni of SGC/LDS. All of my siblings have met their spouses through the program, My parents were both in the program, I have made some of my best friends through the program, and best of all, that's how Michael and I met. There was a lot of talk (just among the small group of us) about various things: "WHAT?!" "If there's enough protest, they'll bring it back," "I'm disappointed. SGC/LDS really helped me turn my life around, as well as helping out some of my friends," "There will be enough of a decline in Institute attendance that they'll HAVE to bring it back" (since it was a requirement to be enrolled in Institute to be in a Sorority/Fraternity), etc. I am still a little in shock that it is no longer around. I don't think it will be reinstated (although one can hope right?) and this is why (this is a message that was sent out to members of SGC in the past week):
Dear Members of Sigma Gamma Chi and Lambda Delta Sigma,
There is much being said of the recent decision to discontinue Sigma Gamma Chi and Lambda Delta Sigma. The Leaders of Sigma Gamma Chi (Interchapter Officers, Chapter Presidents and Advisors) have met this past weekend and discussed the changes affecting our organization. The truth of the matter is that Sigma Gamma Chi and Lambda Delta Sigma will not be continuing in the future. We sympathize with each person affected by this decision, but want each of you to be assured that our current Fraternity and Sorority leaders are proceeding with faith by sustaining this decision.
We've made efforts to keep Sigma Gamma Chi and Lambda Delta Sigma in existence, as we were asked to draft a report of what we have been participating in this past year. This report was reviewed at a meeting this past week by the General CES Board, which contains the entire First Presidency, 3 members of the Quorum of the Twelve and all Auxiliary heads (General Young Women President, General Relief Society President, General Sunday School President, General Young Men’s President...) After much deliberation in the meeting, President Monson made the decision that this matter needed to be discussed with the entire body of the Quorum of the Twelve and First Presidency. After these men, whom we sustain as Prophets, Seers and Revelators, reviewed this matter, the decision was made to transfer our focus to the new Singles Wards system in the Salt Lake Valley.
This decision does not affect only Sigma Gamma Chi and Lambda Delta Sigma, but it reaches to all Institute Men’s and Women’s Associations at each Institute of Religion in Utah, Idaho and eventually Arizona. Our church leaders have received revelation pertaining to the Young Single Adults in these areas. In Salt Lake and Davis County, there are some 80,000 Young Single Adult members of the Church. Less than half are enjoying the blessings of being active in the Gospel. We have been issued a call to participate in a historic rescue effort. For this to be fully successful we needed to change a few things, including the need for more focus to be placed on the Young Single Adult wards and stakes. While many of us are still working towards an inner-confirmation that this new system is right, please look deeper inside yourself for support of the Church Leaders. We invite each individual to seek a spiritual witness that this church is led by The Savior of the World, even Jesus Christ, whom leads and guides it through revelation to Prophets and Apostles in our day. These men can see over the hill, where we cannot. They make decisions that are not popular, but in the long-run will benefit us the most.
Please be faithful and optimistic about the future. We must focus our efforts in remembering how Sigma Gamma Chi and Lambda Delta Sigma have blessed our lives. We have all learned much from these organizations, but let it not be in vain. Use these experiences to bless the lives of others in your Young Single Adult wards and Stakes.
There is much being said of the recent decision to discontinue Sigma Gamma Chi and Lambda Delta Sigma. The Leaders of Sigma Gamma Chi (Interchapter Officers, Chapter Presidents and Advisors) have met this past weekend and discussed the changes affecting our organization. The truth of the matter is that Sigma Gamma Chi and Lambda Delta Sigma will not be continuing in the future. We sympathize with each person affected by this decision, but want each of you to be assured that our current Fraternity and Sorority leaders are proceeding with faith by sustaining this decision.
We've made efforts to keep Sigma Gamma Chi and Lambda Delta Sigma in existence, as we were asked to draft a report of what we have been participating in this past year. This report was reviewed at a meeting this past week by the General CES Board, which contains the entire First Presidency, 3 members of the Quorum of the Twelve and all Auxiliary heads (General Young Women President, General Relief Society President, General Sunday School President, General Young Men’s President...) After much deliberation in the meeting, President Monson made the decision that this matter needed to be discussed with the entire body of the Quorum of the Twelve and First Presidency. After these men, whom we sustain as Prophets, Seers and Revelators, reviewed this matter, the decision was made to transfer our focus to the new Singles Wards system in the Salt Lake Valley.
This decision does not affect only Sigma Gamma Chi and Lambda Delta Sigma, but it reaches to all Institute Men’s and Women’s Associations at each Institute of Religion in Utah, Idaho and eventually Arizona. Our church leaders have received revelation pertaining to the Young Single Adults in these areas. In Salt Lake and Davis County, there are some 80,000 Young Single Adult members of the Church. Less than half are enjoying the blessings of being active in the Gospel. We have been issued a call to participate in a historic rescue effort. For this to be fully successful we needed to change a few things, including the need for more focus to be placed on the Young Single Adult wards and stakes. While many of us are still working towards an inner-confirmation that this new system is right, please look deeper inside yourself for support of the Church Leaders. We invite each individual to seek a spiritual witness that this church is led by The Savior of the World, even Jesus Christ, whom leads and guides it through revelation to Prophets and Apostles in our day. These men can see over the hill, where we cannot. They make decisions that are not popular, but in the long-run will benefit us the most.
Please be faithful and optimistic about the future. We must focus our efforts in remembering how Sigma Gamma Chi and Lambda Delta Sigma have blessed our lives. We have all learned much from these organizations, but let it not be in vain. Use these experiences to bless the lives of others in your Young Single Adult wards and Stakes.
So I don't think it will ever be brought back, but those of us that participated in it will always have the great memories!
That does sound rather permanent. Too bad--it was great while it lasted for a WHOLE bunch of people
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