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The Republican party is corrupt and self-serving. It seeks primarily to perpetuate its own power. The very best thing that can be said about the Republican party is that it's not the Democratic party. Unfortunately, this is actually a big deal. Most Latter-day Saints find that the Republican party, with all its warts and stupidity, is an immensely better match for their values than the Democratic party. There is a reason the Democratic party's core values are watered down in Utah, and they still can't win an election outside of Salt Lake county. Given the choice, I'll pick the Republicans ten times out of ten.

I'm a city person, too. IMHO, SLC is a typical American city, although the streets are very wide and parking isn't the nightmare that it is in Manhattan or San Francisco. I visited SLC for the first time in my life last year as a middle-aged man. Temple Square is definitely worth seeing, but you can easily see the whole thing in one day. If you can choose the time of year to go, I would avoid winter. The air pollution, sadly, is much worse than I imagined, and the air seemed bitterly cold. But if you must go in winter, the Christmas lights in December in Temple Square are quite nice. I know nothing about SLC nightlife or things that might appeal to a college student, sorry. If you appreciate architecture, the LDS Conference Center is fascinating, and hear the SLC public library is also a marvel. SLC was in the upper third of my list of desired U.S. travel destinations, right between Monterey, CA and Honolulu. On the surface, SLC is a bit less Mormon than I expected, but I didn't interview for a job or have to live with LDS neighbors, so I'm not getting the big picture. Outside of Temple Square, the only evidence of the LDS Church that I saw was on two billboards: a tourism billboard for Temple Square, and a billboard for some inexpensive local attorney that said, "Because your home teacher isn't a lawyer." (That last one puzzled me for a few moments.) Happy travels.

As I read this I had the thought that maybe it means it's not a day of many word because IT IS A DAY OF ACTION!

something that makes me quite angry these days, is the constant gridlock of the GOP, and the Democratic party. As a History major who minors in Political Thought, this is nothing new since the days of our fathers' fathers. What angers me the most in this day and age, is the taking advantage of certain causes, and straying from classic morals to new trends that the parties are taking. I feel they are almost taking advantage of the American people by making them believe for ages that we can only go both ways, and watch them arguing like buffoons in Parliament. Here is how my frustration has broken down: -the core values of the Republican party are small government, personal liberty, and various libertarian views upon that it was based upon. Ironically enough, the Republican party has hosted sects of members that WANT to have a say on personal liberties, even though both parties should stay out of it. As a Libertarian, I believe the government should not even have a say, period, on marriage, and should be dictated by the people. Yes, I am gay, but I don't think its right that many of these states didn't vote on the topic of gay marriage. I am totally happy with getting married in Massachusetts. Why make those boring states down in the south conform? No fried-chicken honeymoon for me Joking aside, I find the Democratic party to blame as well. While the Republicans have been straying farther from their morals, Democrats stand strong on national government control, and are enforcing it now than ever. With the Democratic party of the past stressing socialist ideals, they now put on the face of "equality." Equality, privilege, and health are the brand they endorse, but are simply a mask hidden by lobbyists to gain the minority vote. The Democrats are constantly praised on how progressive they are, but it took them 100 years to even get to the point of where the Republicans and Libertarians stressed the original importance of personal liberty and freedom. The Democratic party is using this equality front to gain the votes of the blacks, gays, latinos, and repressed minorities to give them hope for a better future, but are continuing our gridlock by taking away the rights of other individuals. These minorities on the extremist side constantly preach that the minority cannot turn into the oppressor, but you can just look at the Bolshevik's influence on Russia's working class to know that is indeed very wrong. These two transgressions have created the gridlock that has spanned hundreds of years since the birth of the terms "Anti-Federalist," and "Federalist." Regardless of your political views, how do you feel about the American party system, and its current situation?

For the family drama remember the following scriptures D&C 42:22 Thou shalt love thy wife(Husband) with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her(him) and none else. Matthew 10 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And since you asked also about forgiveness D&C 64:10 I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men. But it does not require you to be a doormat and continue to take abuse. The Lord is more then happy to forgive us. But that is not the same as allowing us to be in his presence. For that he does require us to stop our abusive and self-destructive behavior (Or at least to be seriously trying to). I think that is a perfectly acceptable standard to hold to.

My favorite clean game is Garfield 2: A Tale of Two Kitties. My favorite part is when you eat lasagnia and when you have distate for mondays

You need to be in charge of the conversations, when you say that you are going to spend xmas eve at the inlaws house you can't allow it to be brought up anymore. If you are visiting and she mentions it you leave. If you are visiting and she says something mean you leave, if she is visiting and says something inappropriate you ask her to leave. Or come up with an errand to run. Take the high road, a normal conversation with this type of person clearly does not work the only thing you can do is hope that she gets the message about whats out of bounds. I assume that she wants to see her grandchildren but it has to be on your terms.

I like gridlock also. When groups of people get together to rule, there may be legitimate platforms and beliefs and agendas they seek to forward, but there is also a lot of nonsense that goes along with it. I remember when the presidency and both houses were republican. Yay - maybe we can finally make govt. smaller! Yeah, that happened. I remember when presidency and congress were both democrats. Yay, my liberal friends said, maybe we can solve all these social maladies! Yeah, that happened. From where I'm standing, anything that makes people in the federal govt have a harder time passing new laws, the better.

I think it's important to note that we aren't really less civil than we've been throughout history, politically speaking (look at historical political cartoons sometime. Some of them were positively vile--and they were ubiquitous). I'm a mixture of paleoconservatism and libertarianism; and as far as I'm concerned "gridlock" is a good thing more often than not. It's there by design--the whole notion of checks and balances is rooted in the concept that governmental power is an inherent threat to a free people; and therefore it's supposed to be hard to get things done unless those things are clearly worth doing. As far as I'm concerned, any day that John Boehner, John Roberts, and Barack Obama are fighting each other is a day that they can't gang up on me.

You took that very well. :) Recently I was in a religious debate with an individual that was trying to argue that all religions and philosophies have some truth but no one particular paradigm is the right G-d supported undisputed true religion. So I asked to be sure - "So you do not believe any particular notion has any advantage over all the others?" Absolutely they responded. Then, I said, your particular notion - by its own projection must be wrong. Because if it is right there is no advantage in believing it or thinking such a thing and if it is wrong then you just wasted your all your effort to discover anything and every conclusion you reach because of such thinking must be wrong or at best misleading. There must be something that can be relied upon. There must be truth that is correct by which the value of all other things can be measured. If that truth is not empirical it cannot be used or even considered for use. We must believe that we can identify truth by some infallible means - otherwise there is no purpose in trying to consider truth. Some try to argue that G-d is the infallible means of knowing truth. But we are not G-d and thus we are left with trying to discover the infallible means to know G-d and his truth granted to us. There must be some empirical means. Jesus taught that if we empirically apply the principles - we will know of such principles if they are granted to us by G-d. Alma suggested the empirical means of "planting a seed". Though he uses suggestive symbolism - the method is still empirical. In essence we must believe there is infallible truth and that we are capable of discovering it and recognizing it. If we cannot believe that - there is no purpose in seeking truth. But there is a most interesting caveat - and I think you understand that caveat better than most - that is that the infallible truth is always masked by pride and the refusal to consider that something may be better than what you currently understand. For that reason alone your are my best and most trusted friend on the forum. You make me see better things. :)

Ha ha! I love it when virus softwares fight with each other. The meaning "malware" is a pretty broad definition. Avast is a fairly well known well used piece of software. What Bitdefender considers malware is Bitdefender's opinion. Whether that opinion is valid or not depends on YOUR idea of what malware is. Some people (and software) consider anything with any sort of ad in it malware. At any rate, I'd stick with Windows Defender and forget the rest. Just me though.

My point was not, necessarily, that someone can overcome homosexuality in this life. But, rather, that someone can, by turning to the Atonement through repentance and obedience, be healed from the hurt of it -- just as someone who is a quadriplegic may also be healed in their hearts and souls despite perhaps never actually gaining usage of their full bodies again in this life. As to the overcoming of homosexual or not...claiming that one cannot is every bit as invalid as claiming one can. All evidence one way or the other is entirely anecdotal and therefore invalid. If I'm not allowed to use anecdotal evidence based on people I've known to support my ideas in this regard then neither is anatess. In short, comparing homosexuality to something like Autism (or permanent paralization of some sort) may be valid in some cases, but it just as well may not be, and putting it into those terms in such an adamant way is therefore potentially harmful. In other words, stating that it isn't productive to claim we can be healed from such things is assuming a black-and-white reality that remains to be proven, and will likely never be proven. And if such thinking is universally adopted, and if homosexuality, in reality, is entirely alterable, then we put ourselves into a state of blindness and lies based on political sensitivity. Dangerous. There's way too much "from what I've seen" behind this issue going around. What we've seen is what people say and do. And what people say and do proves nothing. People, as we well know, are quite capable of corruption, sin, naivety, mental disorders, and a host of other weaknesses that keep them from being, as a whole, very good witnesses of much. And they are all generally blind to reality until they put off the natural man and come to Christ and gain truth by the only sure means of gaining pure truth and light, which means is through the Holy Spirit. So even if everyone living on the earth adamantly claimed that they knew they could not change something that ultimately accounts to nothing more than taste, is not particularly swaying as an argument.

This is my take. But it's a very, very hard thing to do. In today's world respect, love, and tolerance are in the eye of the beholder. If you've hurt someone's feelings it is always your fault, seems to be the attitude. Tough love has been all but railroaded out of town.

Please don't listen to this advice.

Here's some other scriptures on the matter: Alma 3432 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. 33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed. Alma 421 ...for ye do try to suppose that it is injustice that the sinner should be consigned to a state of misery. 10 Therefore, as they had become carnal, sensual, and devilish, by nature, this probationary state became a state for them to prepare; it became a preparatory state. 13 Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice. Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God. 22 But there is a law given, and a punishment affixed, and a repentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth; otherwise, justice claimeth the creature and executeth the law, and the law inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be destroyed, and God would cease to be God. 23 But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be judged according to their works, according to the law and justice 25 What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease to be God. 28 If he has desired to do evil, and has not repented in his days, behold, evil shall be done unto him, according to the restoration of God. Alma 4110 Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness. 15 For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored; therefore, the word restoration more fully condemneth the sinner, and justifieth him not at all. Alma 2017 But Ammon stood forth and said unto him: Behold, thou shalt not slay thy son; nevertheless, it were better that he should fall than thee, for behold, he has repented of his sins; but if thou shouldst fall at this time, in thine anger, thy soul could not be saved. Mosiah 2 33 For behold, there is a wo pronounced upon him who listeth to obey that spirit; for if he listeth to obey him, and remaineth and dieth in his sins, the same drinketh damnation to his own soul; for he receiveth for his wages an everlasting punishment, having transgressed the law of God contrary to his own knowledge. 38 Therefore if that man repenteth not, and remaineth and dieth an enemy to God, the demands of divine justice do awaken his immortal soul to a lively sense of his own guilt, which doth cause him to shrink from the presence of the Lord, and doth fill his breast with guilt, and pain, and anguish, which is like an unquenchable fire, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever. 39 And now I say unto you, that mercy hath no claim on that man; therefore his final doom is to endure a never-ending torment. 41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

You need to research facts. Some of those drinks may contain more caffeine, but not all. And I will say it for the last time because it seems clear you won't give up coffee and tea for any reason....it is not about the caffeine so that argument is meaningless and doesn't justify the consumption of coffee or tea.

What do you mean by "don't go there"? You don't want anyone disagreeing with your misguided point of view? Is that what you say to your bishop, too? Church leaders have made it VERY clear that coffee and tea (except for herbal tea) violate the WoW. The fact that that they may - or may not - contain less caffeine than pop is irrelevant. It's not abouth the caffeine. Besides, you are simply wrong. And it's pretty common knowledge. There is 95-200 mg of caffeine in 8 oz of coffee and 25-35 mg in a 12 oz Coke. But - again - it's not about the caffeine. It is irresponsible and inappropriate for you to tell anyone that it is okay to drink coffe and your advice about the temperature doesn't make it magically okay. Or are you okay with someone jeopardizing their temple recommend based on your advice? You can make the choice to jeopardize your own, but to lead someone else astray is not cool. Drinking coffee is not more important than attending the temple.

Well, I'm not afraid of the calling. To fear it has never occurred to me. My concern is the negative feelings that the leaders over the organization seem to have over me being in the position. I've never doubted that I could do the calling successfully, as long as I get the support from my leaders. I do intend to enter into the position in faithfulness. As I mentioned, I have prayed about it and felt the Spirit, so my faith is not the issue.

I've accepted more than one calling that absolutely terrified me. Tests of faith are important, Silhouette. Either this church is led by Christ or it isn't. Why not throw yourself forward in faith and see what happens?

When I think of this quote these are the scriptures that enter my heart and mind: 1) 2 Nephi 33: 5-6, "And it speaketh harshly against sin, according to the plainness of the truth." Sin is sin. Gay marriage, adultery, fornication, etc...is sin, and plainness of speech is something we glory in, "I gory in plainness; I glory in truth." We do not need to justify before the world God's laws and commandments. 2) Jacob 4:13, "For the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls." 3) Matthew 5:37 (already mentioned), "But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. Wrong is wrong. Right is right. Rationalization leads to more than "Yea, yea, Nay, nay." 4) "The Family: A proclamation to the World", not many words but sufficient for the spirit of truth and plain, "WE WARN that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets." 5) Alma 41:10, "Wickedness never was happiness," is an excellent warning and not of many words. 6) The statement God will not be mocked brings to my heart and mind the question, "Who do I love more -- mammon or God"? Do I invert the first two great commandments, and if so, "I mock God," because I fear men who can destroy my body, rather than revering deity who could destroy my soul.

Silhouette, I'm not sure why you think you are not wanted. From what you've said it sounds like the others are just concerned that you've been given too much all at once and they're worried the calling itself might make you become inactive again. M.

Oh, dear. I would probably do the following: -tell the bishop you'll do it for 6 months and reassess in case it really isn't working out -act as though you're completely oblivious to how they feel* -and PROVE THEM WRONG! All the best - you can do it! *a few benefits to this: - one being that as long as you're friendly and helpful, it's on them if they're not - unity is important so fake it till you make it - starting off on the right foot can make all the difference

This is what I think of when I hear "many words"; Joseph Smith History; " 5 Some time in the second year after our removal to Manchester, there was in the place where we lived an unusual excitement on the subject of religion. It commenced with the Methodists, but soon became general among all the sects in that region of country. Indeed, the whole district of country seemed affected by it, and great multitudes united themselves to the different religious parties, which created no small stir and division amongst the people, some crying, “Lo, here!” and others, “Lo, there!” Some were contending for the Methodist faith, some for the Presbyterian, and some for the Baptist. 6 For, notwithstanding the great love which the converts to these different faiths expressed at the time of their conversion, and the great zeal manifested by the respective clergy, who were active in getting up and promoting this extraordinary scene of religious feeling, in order to have everybody converted, as they were pleased to call it, let them join what sect they pleased; yet when the converts began to file off, some to one party and some to another, it was seen that the seemingly good feelings of both the priests and the converts were more pretended than real; for a scene of great confusion and bad feeling ensued—priest contending against priest, and convert against convert; so that all their good feelings one for another, if they ever had any, were entirely lost in a strife of words and a contest about opinions." Then it was later described to him this way; "19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” In other words (not many), we don't want to dance around the truth or pretend to have the truth, the truth is direct and in preparation for the second coming. The warning is related to the whole reason for the restoration of the gospel, to prepare for the second coming. Introduction of the Book of Mormon, "Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is His revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the Second Coming of the Messiah."

Perhaps, be blunt, but with love?

Agree with what Vort says. Plus, drinking coffee and tea can preclude you from getting a temple recommend. Caffeine consumption will not.

Iggy, I can't agree. Current Church teachings make it crystal clear that "hot drinks" refers to coffee and (tea leaf) tea, whatever the temperature. Individual exceptions might possibly be approved by a bishop or stake president, but in general that's the standard. As a general rule, iced coffee and iced tea, even decaffeinated versions, are prohibited by the Church's interpretation of Section 89.

A love a good cat fight, meeooow

Many sinners don't see what their sin is. And it's been said in this forum what the counterfeit of real love is: it's lust. And what we can see here is the deception consisting in the fact that one mistakes (same gender) sexual desires for love. I wouldn't argue so many different religions' standpoints, because there are not so many really important. And concerning your personal doctrine and own beliefs: I wouldn't be sure the bridge you're talking about is of great architecture.

Sure you shouldn't seek it out, but it certainly does not rise to a "I need to see the Bishop to confess" status. Not for what the OP has described. Let me be clear if you are making this a habit then yes please see your Bishop and get some help. This sounds like a one or two off occurrence aka no biggie Clearly you have not seen the picture in question, You see more nudity on late night TV.

22. He's hungry (be hospitable)

Sinners are not justified. Only the repentant.

Dang Folk Prophet, I think you may have just solved one of my problems inadvertently. One thing is for sure, the Spirit only gives us information that we are ready to understand, and ready to accept. Failing otherwise, he's just gonna give us warm fuzzies about what we already know... until the time comes that are open to the truth.