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Hi it is very funny that you put a picture of a stuffed big foot. When I was little I saw a plush Bigfoot at a yard sale and it was one of those "I've got to have it" moments. I ran home and emptied out my piggy bank and ran back. I had hidden the plush toy so no one would take it. When I got back the toy was gone and I was upset. Then the lady who owned it came to me and said she took it and put it aside and although I didn't have enough money for it she still let me have it for whatever I had. It was probably like $2 or something I don't remember. I loved it and took the thing wherever I went. I am all grown up now and still have it. I don't take it everywhere anymore, but it still has a special place in my heart. So yeah, when coming up with a name I saw old Ted sitting there in a corner and Stuffedbigfoot it is.

I think that this is kind of where I am getting on this issue, too. As interesting as it is to discuss whether Mormons are Christians, I'm no longer sure it is worth the effort to try to "force" the issue one way or the other. One interesting thought -- This might be one of those "essay" questions where, there really is not a "right" or "wrong" answer. The bulk of the "score" is in how well you demonstrate understanding through your arguments for or against.

I'm posting this as an interesting discussion point. The site has no forums. The couple who run it say that they prayed and separately received revelation from God that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christian in its foundation. They still have important doctrinal disagreements. However, they conclude that the church is essentially Christian. They include links to the official church website, cite books like the one I recommend (How Wide the Divide) and call upon evangelicals to be much kinder. They also encourage LDS to recognize that other Christian churches contain much truth (which most here have said to me). Take a look and see if content gives much room for hope in our interfaith relations. Evidence that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church or LDS) has a Christian Foundation - Evangelicals and Mormons for Jesus

Three times a year I post a link to a guest talk I give at my home church. If you use firefox the link may not work well. Internet Explorer does. http://www.anglelake.org/resources/online-sermons/?sermon_id=291 GIVING UP LIFE’S RAGS FOR GOD’S RICHES Introduction: We love rags to riches stories. Americans believe in upward mobility—that we are not bound by our race or our social class.We really can become whoever we want to be.As Christians, we believe that we are children of God.We really can become all God intends us to be, regardless of where we came from, or what we’ve done in the past! Amen?Proposition: Jesus uses the worst to accomplish his best. Scripture: Matthew 1:3, 5; Luke 19:10; John 10:10; Romans 8:38-39; Jeremiah 29:10-14; Luke 4:16-21 Transition: If you’ve ever been called the lowest of the low, keep in mind that in Jesus’ own lineage were, not one, but two prostitutes! Jesus came from lineage that included two prostitutes. Matthew 1:3, 5: 3Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar … 5Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, The first committed a kind of incest, and the second was a traitor to her own people. Retell the story of Tamar. Gen 38 tells us that Tamar was Judah’s daughter in law. She married his first son, but he was wicked, so the Lord killed him. The second son took her, as was his duty and custom. However, he would not make her pregnant. The Lord was angry, and killed him. Then the father told her to live as a widow, for he feared that if his third child married her, he would die too. So, she dressed as a prostitute, and Judah hired her. When she became pregnant, and Judah was told, he ordered her executed. However, she provided proof he was the father, and he admitted that she was more righteous than he. Though that be true, and though she was surely a victim, the fact remains that she prostituted herself for a kind of incest. The fact also remains that she was an ancestor of Jesus, and scripture openly describes it. Retell the story of Rahab. In Joshua 2 – 6 Rahab is a prostitute in Jericho. Israel sends spies into the city, and Rahab helps them escape detection. Ultimately, because of her treason, she is spared. We might agree that she chose wisely in protecting God’s spies. Nevertheless, she was a prostitute and a traitor. She also became an ancestor of Jesus!Transition: God found no reason to withhold the story of these two prophets from us. Neither did he exclude them from the lineage of his Son. Would Jesus follow in his Father’s footsteps? What of the Apostles—all handpicked by Jesus? What If Jesus Used An Employment Service To Hire The Twelve Apostles Posted on January 21, 2012 by Reverend Fr. Jerome Kwasek To: Jesus, Son of Joseph, Woodcrafter’s Carpenter Shop, Nazareth From: Jordan Management Consultants, Sudan Interior, Nazareth Dear Sir: Thank you for submitting the resume’s of the twelve men you have picked for managerial positions in your new organization. All of them have now taken our battery of tests; and we have not only run the results through our computer, but also arranged personal interviews for each of them with our employment psychologist and vocational aptitude consultant. The profiles of all the tests are included, and you will want to study each of them carefully. It is the staff opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking. They do not have the team concept. We would recommend that you continue your search for persons of experience in managerial ability and proven capability. Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper. Andrew has absolutely no qualities of leadership. The two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interest above company loyalty. Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale. We feel that it is our duty to tell you that Matthew has been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better business Bureau. James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus definitely have radical leanings, and they both registered a high score on the manic depressive scale. One of the candidates, however shows great potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness meets people well, has a keen business mind, and has contacts in high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious and responsible. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your controller and right-hand man. All of the other profiles are self-explanatory. We wish you every success in your new venture. Sincerely Yours, Jordan Management Consultants Transition: Jesus might choose rough people to work with, but the church today isn’t like that, is it? The Maury Davis Story (from Regent University Chapel appearance)Maury Davis, senior pastor of Cornerstone Nashville in Tennessee, looks like a run-of-the-mill, ordinary preacher. He is neatly pressed, stacked with a bright smile and accompanying humor. But, to see Davis certainly isn't to know him. The crooked pinky on his left hand is the only hint from his former life, a permanent relic from his years spent as a drug dealer, a meth addict and a convicted murderer. …After committing what he described briefly as a "brutal, horrible" murder, Davis came head-to-head with pleading guilty for his crime. His family hired a lawyer, who told Davis plainly that he "didn't need an attorney" but "needed God." "I was terrified; I knew if an attorney was coming to talk to you about God, the next step would be the electric chair," said Davis. "And the city of Dallas could get you there." But then through his time in jail, God "came in like a flood" for Davis. He believes the hopeful people he met while incarcerated who loved God were "lights in the darkness," despite their life-sentences in prison. "God took the scales off of my eyes then," said Davis, who remembers his first few months as a born-again Christian. Through his experience, his family members also came to Christ. And though he still had 20 years to serve in prison, he said that God melted his heart of stone and gave him joy and radical redemption through it all. Davis has spent the latter part of his life proclaiming this news and encouraging his congregation to seek the Holy Spirit and to live life in full-throttle for Christ, as he continues to be living proof that "nothing can separate" anyone from the love of God.EPILOGUE FROM NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) - (OCT 2014): A local pastor is opening up about his decision to hire the man convicted of killing former Grand Ole Opry star David “Stringbean” Akeman and Akeman's wife. John Brown will be released from prison soon after serving 40 years behind bars.When he's released, he'll have a job at Cornerstone Church.It may sound controversial, but Pastor Maury Davis is making no apologies, saying he's only doing what someone once did for him.Transition: What a story! Still, Davis’ troubles happened decades ago, and his far from here. How about something closer to us? What about me? Unchurched home In my circle of loved ones I saw alcohol abuse, drug abuse, divorce and suicide. In my ordination class 20 out of 40 were the children of ministers. 36 out of 40 grew up in strong Christian homes. I was one of the remaining four. During my teenage years the head of a political party told us Christians that the Pacific Northwest is the anti-Bible belt. So how does an unchurched kid, growing up around substance abuse and divorce, who lives in a part of the country that could care less about religion end up becoming a preacher? Transition: You might be thinking, “That’s okay for you preacher, but what about me?” What about you? Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." Jesus sought you out. That is why you are finding God. He came save us, but for what? John 10:10: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. Satan promises fun, freedom, and a sense of personal godhood. He delivers pain, incarceration, death, and the destruction of all we hope to accomplish. If we come under Christ’s protection will I be safe? Romans 8:38-39: 38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Yes, you will be safe. Satan cannot separate us from God and his love. Transition: So what exactly is God offering me? God is offering restoration—normalcy with provision Jeremiah 29: 10This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.b I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” God will bring us back to our citizenship. Israel was taken into captivity, but promised a return to the kingdom God established Likewise, we, who were captives to sin, can come to God’s church and his kingdom. We can be established, and regain hope for the future. Luke 4: 16He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:18“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”f 20Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Jesus came to make the cooked paths of our lives straight. He came to transform us from sinners generating death to Christians demonstrating and offering life! CONCLUSIONS Jesus came from lineage that included both an incestuous prostitute and a traitorous one.Jesus chose to surround himself with leaders who had little that the world valued.Jesus turned a convicted murderer into a megachurch pastor, who in turned, is hiring a convicted murder to work for his church.Jesus took an unchurched kid from a no-account, godless neighborhood and made him a prison chaplain—and your speaker this morning!And now Jesus is coming for you.Jesus seeks you and will save you.Jesus will establish you in his kingdom.Jesus will free you, and give you vision.What is the meaning and purpose of life? To love God and obey him. Jesus has made the way.He says in John 14:6: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.BOW FOR SINNER’S PRAYERIF YOU ARE READY TO ABANDON ALL EXCUSES…IF YOU ARE READY TO RECEIVE POWER FROM THE HOLY GHOST…IF YOU ARE READY FOR TO LIVE LIFE IN UNDER GOD’S DIRECTION AND FOR GOD’S GLORY … STAND WITH ME!

If anyone thinks caffeine is non addictive they can talk to me. I had bad withdrawal symptoms and cravings. I had migraines, vomited, and was fatigued for two weeks after going cold turkey. It was worth it. My blood pressure went down, I have fewer caffeine crashes, etc...

I'm usually happy to help gratis, but there are certainly lawyers who would have a more cynical take about things. Like this:

I have the right to remain silent.

Incorrect. Caffeine use does not result in addiction.[1][2] By definition, a "caffeine addiction" would involve compulsive caffeine use despite significant adverse consequences.[65][66] The compulsive state associated with an addiction arises through pathological positive reinforcement.[65][66] Long term high-dose caffeine intake has not been shown to cause drug addiction in experimental models, nor has compulsive consumption of caffeine or caffeinated beverages been observed in humans.[1][2] Caffeine addiction was added to the ICDM-9; however, its addition is contested since this diagnostic model of caffeine addiction is not supported by evidence.[1][2] Evidence from research models suggests that caffeine does not act upon the dopaminergic neural mechanisms that give rise to an addiction.[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caffeine M.

Just to throw a wrench in this whole discussion, if LDS theology is correct, there will be a lot of non-Christians in the same Terrestial heavenly kingdom as all of us Trinitarians. If others here have taught me correctly, there may even be a few LDS.

He hasn't sent you a bill yet for the services provided .... Lol

I just know there is some sort of hidden message in that video...backward masking....where is Al Gore and Tipper when you need them. :)

Haha, haven't thought of that one for a long time

Elder Packer may have said something to that effect, but if he did I'm betting he was quoting President Kimball, who wrote in his book (The Miracle of Forgiveness): "Another error into which some transgressors fall, because of the availability of God's forgiveness, is the illusion that they are somehow stronger for having committed sin and then lived through the period of repentance. This simply is not true. That man who resists temptation and lives without sin is far better off than the man who has fallen, no matter how repentant the latter may be. … His sin and repentance have certainly not made him stronger than the consistently righteous person." Elder Dallin H. Oaks gave an address at BYU in 1990 (See the July 1992 Ensign) where he said this: "Some Latter-day Saints who wrongly think repentance is easy maintain that a person is better off after he has sinned and repented. "Get a little experience with sin," one argument goes, “and then you will be better able to counsel and sympathize with others. You can always repent.” I plead with you, my brothers and sisters, my young friends and my older friends, avoid transgression! The idea that one can deliberately sin and easily repent or that one is better off after sinning and repenting are devilish lies of the adversary." Hope this helps!

Perhaps Mack Wilberg needs to do an arrangement that would be appropriate for a congregation to sing.

Vort Thanks, but no thanks. I got over Led Zeppelin long ago. I had one of the, I guess the one with Stairway on it, and I played it over and over for a while, way back when, and then I realized it was going to drive me insane, so out it went. I'm long over all that now. Today it's Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Bartok, and plenty of Chopin to spice it up. Not on the record box, just on KUSC which is the only thing I will listen to. dc Khachaturian, Wagner, whatever they put on.

I don't eat any breakfast. Just a glass of orange juice. Maybe mid morning a Krispy Kreme donut, jelly filled. Today I did have two English muffins. I eat a good lunch and a light dinner. Wait, how did this get started? Oh, eggs. Egg allergy. So have something else. I used to have grapefruit juice. Too much acid. So I now go with orange juice. dc

All those who would like extend a vote of thanks to Sister Twain: I'm dressing up for church - I lost my white shirt Why is it so hard to find? But it's unusual to be punctual Meetings never start on time. What's that he's preaching - I think he's teaching Something about salvation Give up telest'ial; let's act celest'ial I only want exaltation. BRIDGE: The best thing about being a Mormon Is the spirit on that Sunday morn and... CHORUS: Oh, oh, oh, the Elders' quorum - and High Priest forum - Sisters - brothers - Oh, oh, oh the Restoration - and revelation Oh, oh, oh, worlds without e-end - raised on the Frie-end - Testimony of Gordon B Oh, oh, oh, I wanna be free - yeah, to practice Agency. Man! I feel like a Mormon! The ushers need a break - maybe I'll just shake Some hands and give them a 'hello'--. Offer them a ride - to the fireside Show them all the kinds of Jello-- (BRIDGE) (CHORUS) (BRIDGE) (CHORUS) Enjoy your next talent show (but only if you post a video here).

What follows is something that I’ve thought about from time to time but haven’t until now made any attempt to write out. I’m writing it out now because it is related to the topic of this post, although its not exactly the same set of issues that this post deals with. I’m trying to decide for myself whether there is still any legitimacy to the claim that the people who make up the nation of Israel are entitled to the land they now live on because God gave it to them. There may well be other reasons to claim why they are entitled to this land, and I’m not arguing for or against any of those claims, this thought is just about whether there remains any divinely granted right to the land. My reading of the scriptures is that whenever God has given away a piece of land to a particular group, the right of that group to maintain possession of that land has always been conditional upon their righteousness and obedience. The Jaredites were given America and they lost it due to their disobedience and wickedness and they were replaced by the children of Lehi, who, for a time were more righteous than the Jaredites. The same promises that had been made to the Jaredites were also made to Lehi’s children, but after time, through their rejection of God and His teachings, they also became dispossessed of their land. Prior to the children of Jacob occupying what is now Israel, the land was inhabited by Canaanites. The Lord makes clear that part of the reason why the Canaanites were dispossessed of the land was because of their wickedness and rejection of the Lord. Certainly there were numerous times when some, and then all, of the children of Jacob were dispossessed of some or all of their land, and every time it was because of their rejection of God. So there seems to be good evidence for the ideas that continued possession of a piece of land by a group of people to whom God has given it is dependent on their acceptance of, and obedience to, God, by that group of people, and that rejection of God by that group of people nullifies any claim to that land based on divine right. If that is a correct conclusion, can it then be argued that by their rejection of Christ and His gospel, the children of Jacob no longer have any divinely based right to the land of Israel? Please note that this is not a question about Israel’s right to exist – I don’t have a view on that question and I don’t feel the necessity to develop a view on that question. It is a question about whether there is still any legitimacy to the claim that the people who now live on the land that is known as Israel have a divine right to that land. ps I'm not trying to take any right wing or left wing or Republican or communist or Fox or Guardian or European viewpoint either.

One of two church fights that begins and ends with a prayer. The other one is Family Home Evening. Lol!!!

I am absolutely clueless about eating beans for breakfast. I have never heard of it, (until now) or tried it. How are the beans prepared? What kinds of beans? Tell me all you know about beans for breakfast.

Well, I think it's good to be ridiculed now and then. Keeps us humble. So if no one else will do it, what choice do I have? Just for a few minutes I'd like to talk to you as one Mormon to another---as someone who should at least be TRYING to show kindness and understanding toward a fellow Saint. You and I obviously aren't going to have many agreements regarding politics, at least until the Lord comes and explains the truth of all things. But in the meantime I'd like to attempt to explain something. You accused me of ranting about communism and that it seemed to be a common theme in many of my posts.Perhaps you're right. It is in fact something that concerns me a great deal, and as I said, I'd like to explain why. We know from the scriptures and messages from modern-day prophets and apostles that the principle of "agency" is not just essential, but CRUCIAL to the Plan of Salvation. Agency was the very precept we fought over in a pre-mortal heavenly war; a war Satan continues to wage here on earth today. He understands full well that the only way he can frustrate and impede the Plan of Salvation is by limiting agency. When we as Mormons fully appreciate the significance of the War in Heaven, we should immediately recognize the similarity between the forced righteousness program of Lucifer and the current program of collectivists here on earth. Whether they be Fabians, Socialists, Communists, Fascists, Welfare Staters or whatever; the essence of the collectivist philosophy is that people just aren't intelligent (or benevolent) enough to do what is right. To remedy this problem, the collectivists (who believe they are the intelligent ones) seek for power to force the rest of mankind to adhere to their "enlightened" programs. Once we understand the great struggle over agency that occurred in the War in Heaven, we have the key for understanding the greatest conflict of our age, which is the struggle of free men against the all encompassing and supposedly all-wise state. This struggle and conflict is, as President David O. McKay said, "the problem of our time. It overshadows all other problems." We know from the BOM, that two great nations and peoples (Jaradites and Nephites) who previously occupied America, were destroyed prior to the arrival of the "Gentiles". Mormon tells us that an organization the Nephites referred to as the Gadianton Robbers were responsible for the overthrow and destruction of the Nephites (Hel. 2:13), while Moroni tells us this same organization was also responsible for the destruction of the Jaradites. (Ether 8:21) So who were these Gadianton Robbers?It's a certainty they didn't refer to themselves as robbers; in fact we know they considered themselves, their society and their works to be "good". (3 Nephi 3:9) As to who or what they were, their own words provide us with clues. Here is what one of their proponents (Giddianhi) wrote to the leader of the Nephites: "yield up unto this my people, your cities, your lands, and your possessions…Or in other words, yield yourselves up unto us, and unite with us…and become our brethren that ye may be like unto us---not our slaves, but our brethren and partners of all our substance." Now I ask you, does that not indicate that the Gadiantons weren't just some band of robbers, as robbers need victims to plunder, but rather, an organization based upon communistic/socialistic principles??In point of fact, both President David O. McKay and President Ezra Taft Benson have cited the marked similarities between communism and the Gadianton conspiracies in the BOM. Moroni pointedly warned us that when (note he said "when", not "if") we shall see these conspiracies come among us , we should "awake to a sense of [our] awful situation." For it cometh to pass, he said, "that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil…" Think about it, LG. Satan was successful in destroying the two previous nations that occupied America by overthrowing them using a conspiracy based upon collectivism. Does it not make sense that he would use the same exact conspiracy to overthrow and destroy us today? This is a conspiracy so subtle and so ingenious, that in the days of the Nephites it was able to "seduce the more part of the righteous" until even THEY "had come down to believe in their works and partake of their spoils." (Hel. 6:38) Can you not see the similarities?We have righteous members of the Church today who have come down to believe in communist/socialist principles, and even partake of their spoils (money and property taken from one person by force and subsequently received and accepted by themselves.) To wrap this little discourse up:I firmly believe that the Gadianton Robbers, who were responsible for the overthrow and destruction of the previous two nations that occupied America, are the equivalent of modern-day collectivists in the form of communists and socialists today. I believe that is why so many modern-day prophets and apostles have spoken vehemently against communism and socialism. I believe that is why Moroni so forcefully warned us not to "uphold" them and allow them to "spread over the nation". He saw what the result of such a course was for his own people, and he obviously doesn't want the same thing to happen to us. So if it appears that I spend an inordinate amount of time vilifying communism and socialism in my posts, I hope now you can understand why. Thanks for listening.(Or if you haven't got the audio version, thanks for reading.)

Girl, after eating that I doubt you would live a long life, let alone die happy.

She was a fast machine she kept her motor clean She was the best dang wookie that I ever seen

baked beans, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam and spam could also be an option... (Cue the vikings in the corner...)

I do love crumpets - and who does any dairy products better than the Brits, honestly? Okay, maybe the Swiss. I never cared much for drinking milk as a child but I loved that we had our milk delivered in those terrific glass bottles every day. I also loved fish n chips and pastys which we had whenever we were traveling, or out for a village market day. Those are actually probably the least "exotic" British foods of all. Maybe things would be different if I had lived there past the age of 11. The sweets I definitely miss, especially with the new restrictions on Cadbury chocolate here in the states. Apart from licorice allsorts, I think their candy is infinitely better than ours. Mint Aeros, Jaffa Cakes, Cadbury Flakes, Fruit-tella, etc.

This is a topic that has weighed heavily on my mind for the last couple of years, motivated by the all my non-LDS friends, and Evangelical in-laws. I used to really get irked when people said I wasn't a Christian. It's just irritating when I devote my life to Christ and His teachings to be told "oh, you don't know Jesus". But then... I realized it doesn't matter what other people think, only Christ, and He knows my heart. So today I try to show/tell others I'm a Christian, and if they insist on not listening... well, that's their loss. Through the years, labels have grown to mean very little to me. I don't need someone else to be "Mormon", "Christian", or anything else for me to talk about spirituality with them. I see you as a person, and I want to know you as a person, not a label.

aka church sponsored fight club

Idumea, as it appears in D&C 1:36, does not refer to "planet earth", but to "the world"--which, of course, is often simply a generic term for "the wicked". From a historical standpoint: Idumea was the Roman name for the area immediately south of Judea. In Old Testament times, the region had been known as "Edom" and was inhabited by descendants of Esau--the brother of Jacob/Israel, who sold his birthright to Jacob for a mess of pottage. Herod the Great, the king at the time of Jesus' birth, was himself an Idumean; and was widely despised by the Jews as not having a legitimate claim to the throne of Israel (he ultimately claimed it through his marriage to Mariamne, a Hasmonean princess; in conjunction with the approval of the Roman emperor). So in the context of D&C 1:36, "Idumea" can be referred to as "the world"--those who have rejected God and have sold their birthright, but nevertheless seek to usurp authority over the covenant people.

Ahh, silly Americans. You think there are only certain foods for breakfast. I loved living in Bulgaria on my mission. I could eat a cheese sandwich and no one (other than my American companions) gave me a hard time. I do not like "breakfast" foods in general. I have absolutely no problems eating foods considered to be lunch or dinner foods for breakfast. Leftovers, sandwiches, whatever strikes me. One of my families on my mission was from Cambodia. They ate spicy Ramen noodles for breakfast--a family after my own heart!!!

lol I was trying to figure out what the heck he was doing. Barbecuing on a xylophone? That was my first thought.

I still don't have a definitive answer as to why Stairway to Heaven isn't in the hymnbook.

Woohoo! This time the dance around words (being politically correct) isn't from my Left Wing self I don't think it's a big deal, as a tea party or tea time, is just another term for sitting down in a social setting and eating. Whenever we're visiting family in England, the phrase is typically used in this sense, and they are active LDS. So it could just be a cultural thing. On the same thought, my daughter has played "tea party" with friends and cousins who come from active LDS households, and their parents have never made a fuss about it - in fact - their mums also use the wording.

In many European countries, having tea is very much a customary part of the culture, and members of the Church do not give up all tea when they join, only the types of tea that actually have the tea leaf in it, as required by the modern interpretation of the WoW. On my mission in Russia, every time we went to anyone's house, it was basically a tea party, as we were always served herbal tea and some sort of snack. We missionaries also regularly drank it back at our apartments, as well, and were really quite partial to certain brands or flavors. It was a big thing. Missionaries not into herbal tea before their mission came home very into it. Herbal tea is great and very good for you. There really shouldn't be a problem, imo. I do wish that black or green tea wouldn't be part of the WoW, there are so many other things we do that are worse for you. Coffee too, for that matter. But whatever, I get it and I can go along with it. And I get that that point of view is where your concern is...you don't want the temptation to arise to start drinking actual tea. But I feel like that's sort of like saying, let's not drink Root Beer because then we'll want to drink caffienated drinks, and then if we drink caffienated drinks, we'll be tempted to drink coffee. People can make their own decisions, but meanwhile, I don't think we need to shun a good thing just because someone, on their own, might make an association and might find a personal temptation there. Temptations are everywhere, every day, and we all will deal with them. Tea parties with herbal tea are okay, in my opinion. The more one makes a big deal about the concern, the more of a conscious thing it becomes anyway. And that's what you'd actually want to avoid. So my feeling is just don't make a big deal about it. That, and I'm personally against over-sensitivity. If people like the idea and want to do it, go with it, have fun, and if anyone is offended, that's their own personal problem. At some point, zealotry stops having a net benefit. The other question that needs to be asked is, not IF people will be offended/tempted, but SHOULD they be offended/tempted? And follow-up question: What kind of culture do we want to nourish within the Church? What kind of member do we want to build? One that only feels safe in a super-Mormon culture that shuns anything that is too similar to aspects of the world we don't participate in, or one that can be comfortable and (within reason) fit in with the world around them and be able to participate in it, still keeping the commandments, but also still feeling perfectly at home? Without making non-members uncomfortable because "oh, you're Mormon..." - because they can sense that. I think this is a perfect case where the boundaries should be pushed and people exposed to what is, all in all, a wholesome cultural activity.

It was much more than 2,500. After the first visit with approximately 2,500 people he showed himself again the next day.

My wife just did a Tea Party with our granddaughter, her friend and friend's mother. They had a blast. It was held at a victorian home. They were dressed in their finest when they left the house but when they got there they went into a dress up room and tried on a dozen different hats, gloves, costume jewelry. The hostess held a lesson on proper manner and custom of when to wear the hat and when to wear the gloves, and how to use the napkin and how to wash one's hands with a cloth at the table. I was lucky enough to see this part because my wife forgot her camera and I ran it over and took some pictures. I missed the rest of the party, which I understand was fantastic. Lots of finger sandwiches and little cakes. It was a valuable lesson on the customs of a golden era. The word "Tea" should not offensive to us. Anyone offended by such simply doesn't understand and frankly would be the one most needing the lesson.

I was especially intrigued by the couple's statements that each of them separately had been praying, and believed they received a revelation from God about the Christian-ness of the LDS faith. This sounds quite similar to the challenge missionaries usually give, and fits well with the couple's Charismatic faith.

I think they did a great job at writing this. At least SOMEONE is willing to take a look at what we believe and realize that we are Christians.