Leaderboard

I think what Night is trying to say is that if someone needs the Church to help them by paying their electric bill, that frees up funds from their paycheck to buy cigarettes, when they may possibly have been able to pay that particular bill themselves if they didn't smoke.

In my experience in the RS presidency, I am fully confident that the Bishop is aware of the smoking. It is the Bishop's responsibility to determine the distribution of sacred funds. I'm also confident that it isn't church funds paying for the smoking. Just continue to sustain the bishop and allow him to use his God given discernment in allocating sacred funds, So, I say, leave this alone. Let the man deal with his sins as he is capable. I applaud the man for continuing to go to church even though he continues to smoke. Too many think they aren't worthy to attend church.

Pam, your picture is an obvious forgery. Unlike my genuine photograph, which I took on vacation last month in a little New England town called Passamaquoddy:

And that may be correct. But, my point is that the Bishop is aware of this. Trust me, that Bishop isn't a clueless nimrod who is being swindled out of money. It is the Bishop's responsibility for the sacred funds of the fast. My experience is that bishops take that very seriously. If he wants to tell the bishop that this guy is smoking, fine--have at it. BUT, he then needs to let it go. If that individual continues to receive church assistance, it is the responsibility of the bishop, not the member to make that call.

Hey I believe in Elliot. :)

I would just point out that on your list of "things that don't exist"--all three of those things are basically fanciful human interpretations, but rooted in things that do in fact exist (I believe the common wisdom is that "mermaids" got their start from sailors who saw manatees in the distance. There are large reptiles that look an awful lot like dragons; and of course those photos of the Nessie show something--even if it's just a stick of wood, rather than a serpentine sea monster). The problem of "who created God?" is speculatively intriguing to me--and of course, Mormonism's view is unique in that it basically ascribes to God (and to all mankind) an uncreated, eternally existing core which developed (evolved?) into its current form with the assistance of some "higher being", and that the chain of higher beings--so far as we are aware--stretches back into infinity. It's certainly mind-boggling; but ultimately but I have a hard time seeing it as logically more problematic than either the mainline Christian idea of God who "was just always there". And the secular scientific notion of a "big bang" encompasses an ongoing debate that is really pretty analogous to the Mormon/mainline Christian views of God's past. The idea, as I understand it, is that prior to the big bang the universe consisted of an immensely dense particle of mass existing in a void so empty that there was not even such a thing as "space" or "time"; and that either this particle was "just always there" (analagous to the mainline Christian view of God), or was this particle was the most recent result of a perpetual cycle of expansions and contractions that stretches back into infinity (analogous to the Mormon view of God).

Here are three references that I found...the talk by President Uchtdorf was wonderful. Sorry for the mad copy/paste job I've done, I'm too tired to figure out how to do it all properly :) Are we on autopilot, going through the motions, attending our meetings, yawning through Gospel Doctrine class, and perhaps checking our cell phones during sacrament service?By President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency url: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/the-gift-of-grace?lang=eng Habit Number 3: Make Time to Set Aside Your Mobile DevicesIt is refreshing to put aside our electronic devices for a while and instead turn the pages of the scriptures or take time to converse with family and friends. Especially on the Lord’s day, experience the peace of participating in a sacrament meeting without the constant urge to see if you have a new message or a new post. The habit of setting aside your mobile device for a time will enrich and broaden your view of life, for life is not confined to a four-inch (10 cm) screen. By Elder José A. Teixeira, Of the Seventy url: https://www.lds.org/ensign/2015/05/sunday-morning-session/seeking-the-lord.p1?lang=eng In many ways the world today is more challenging than it was 13 years ago. Our young men and young women have many more distractions to sidetrack them in their preparations for both a mission and a future happy life. Technology has expanded, and almost everyone has access to handheld devices that can capture the attention of the human family of God for both great good and unconscionable ill....Are you careful with your time—avoiding inappropriate technology and social media, including video games, which can dull your spiritual sensitivity? By Elder M. Russell Ballard, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles url: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/the-greatest-generation-of-young-adults?lang=eng

Elder Oaks made a reference to texting during the presentation of the sacrament in his Saturday morning session talk. Young people, if that teaching seems too general, here is a specific example. If the emblems of the sacramentare being passed and you are texting or whispering or playing video games or doing anything else to deny yourself essential spiritual food, you are severing your spiritual roots and moving yourself toward stony ground. You are making yourself vulnerable to withering away when you encounter tribulation like isolation, intimidation, or ridicule. And that applies to adults also.

I think the answer to this might depend on your definition of evil. If evil is defined as choosing to act against God's will then evil emerged when (a) we first became aware of God's will and (b) when we developed the capacity to choose and act. I'm guessing that both our awareness of God's will and our capacity to choose and act occurred gradually, over a period of time. If the existence of evil is dependent on the existence of sin, and sin is defined as acting contrary to law that we are subject to, then evil would have come into existence no sooner than the existence of law. I suspect that law, in some form or another, has always been around.

Before we can answer this question... 1. What is God? 2, What does it mean to exist? I don't totally know how to answer the second question except to give some examples... Things that exist: Kangaroos Blue whales The North Star Things that don't exist: Mermaids Dragons The Loch Ness Monster (probably) So what is God? The creator? If so then God must be that which determines which of the two above lists any given item belongs to. Or to put it another way, any entity obtains its property of existence or nonexistence from God. So which list does God belong to? If God does not exist then nothing exists from which anything else could have derived its existence. But if God does exist, then from what did He obtained that property of existence? From Himself? If so then He is himself a part of His own creation. This makes a nonsense out of anyone who says "Where did everything come from? A creator must exist! That is God!". In bestowing the property of existence upon God, they include Him within creation. We're left with the same question: "What created creation?" (in which "creation" now includes God). It reminds me of a question I used to wonder about when I was a kid: "Is water wet?" A thing becomes wet from contact with water; if it has not been in contact with water then it is dry. If water is that which determines wetness or dryness, is water itself wet or dry? Most people thought I was an idiot for asking such a question, but maybe the question "Does God exist?" is no different.

And His disciples asked Him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?" John 9:2 Obviously the disciples felt that there was pre-mortal sin or they wouldn't have asked the question that way. In the Pearl of Great Price we read: "For from this time forth thou shalt be the father of his lies; thou shalt be called Perdition; for thou wast also before the world." Moses 5: 24 So we can see that the atonement must apply to both mortality and pre-mortality. Now D&C 88:37-38 states: "And there are many kingdoms; for there is no space in the which there is no kingdom; and there is no kingdom in which there is no space, either a greater or a lesser kingdom. And unto every kingdom is given a law; and unto every law there are certain bounds also and conditions." So apparently your "Laws induce opposition" are in effect and Joseph Smith taught “Is it logical to say that the intelligence of spirits is immortal, and yet that it had a beginning? The intelligence of spirits had not beginning, neither will it have an end. . . . Intelligence is eternal and exists upon a self-existent principle.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp.353-354). I lean towards intelligences having good or evil dispositions prior to being born as spirit children of our Heavenly Father.

I sometimes believe that the loudest people (whether religious or not) are the least confident. Quiet people tend to be the most confident and the least likely to convert, one way or the other.

No clue.

If you're outraged over the riots in Baltimore, you should be. If you're also not just a little concerned about how a man can be taken into custody for 'acting suspiciously' and somehow, during transport, while handcuffed, end up with a severed spine and a crushed voicebox then you're also part of the problem.

Faith is the actuality of what we hope for. We hope for eternal life; that actuality is faith. We hope God hears our prayers; that actuality is faith. We hope Santa comes; that actuality is non-existent, so by definition we cannot have faith in it. At least, that is my understanding of Paul's teaching. I would note here that faith is much more than this; Paul's teachings help us understand faith, but they do not totally explain it. They are barely a beginning.

It's none of your business. Especially as his boss, it's none of your business. You are desiring to meddle in an employee's personal life. You are way out of bounds. And it seems you are motivated by a desire to pass judgment on someone else.

The JST has this a little different JST Heb. 11:1 … assurance of things hoped for …

I would like to mirror those that have said to just stay out of it. All you know is that he is receiving help, trust the bishop to aid in that. You have already done your part, it would seem, by giving this man a raise. I would simply respect the fact that he felt comfortable telling you about it and leave it at that. There are many that while receiving assistance still have internet, cable, cell phones payments, go out to dinner every once in a while, go to the movies, etc... there are many many things that one could give up and save every penny, and the bishop, the EQ, the RS... are all aware of them and help them along their way. Yes that includes smoking.

I disagree. You clearly have been healed, otherwise you couldn't have written this post. This being said, do not suppose that your hospitalization wasn't part of the healing process. Not all healing is miraculous/instant. For that to happen, you would have to believe in miracles, which I do not.

I'm pretty certain that every single person that is on church assistance is sinning in some way or other...you know...just like all those people that aren't on church assistance. I am grateful that the Lord never predicated charity on the perfection of the recipient.

Is it really a misconception, though? I mean, technically, the exact dollars given were not used for the cigarettes, but let's look at this differently: If I have $20, and need to pay an $18 bill, want a $7 pack of cigarettes, and thus borrow $5 from you, is there really any difference between making sure your actual $5 bill and $13 of my money pay the bill, and spending your $5 and $2 of my money on the cigs while using only my money to pay the bill? As someone who has quit smoking more times than I can count, I don't ask for charity until I've given up everything that I can possibly do without in the meantime to do as much as possible for myself. I'd rather take my chances on being able to bum a few smokes to keep from chewing holes in the furniture than ask for food so I can save my money to buy a pack. That said, yes, it is a very tough addiction to break, and I'm certain the bishop can smell that the guy is still smoking. If you want to help the guy, he's obviously pretty deep in the addiction, so why not help him change it? If there's a vape shop nearby, offer to help him get started on the condition that he has to cut the regular cigs down to zero within a month or pay you back every cent of the initial cost. It's been working for me, though slower than I'd hoped; changing the nicotine source is sort of like redirecting a force rather than directly resisting it. Once I've fully moved over to the ecig, I can start buying lower nicotine juice until I'm at zero, and have only a habit, rather than an addiction to break.

Wait..dragons do exist:

Pam is correct... the church does not hand people cash... It will provide food, it will write checks to cover existing bills. This means his smokes come from the pay check you give him for his work. Now the bishop might or might not be aware of the guys Word of Wisdom issues. In many cases its is not our place to confess on behalf of another. If you feel this case warrants an exception (and some do) then you simply inform the bishop and then drop all concern about it. Leave it to the bishop to follow the spirit on what this brother needs right now in his life.

Having been someone who had to ask for help such as this person in the past, never was I ever just given funds to go out and purchase the things I needed. If it was food I was sent to the Bishop's storehouse. If I needed help paying rent or utilities, a check was made out directly to those organizations. But again, I was never just given funds to do with as I pleased. So I'm not sure if it is necessary to bring it up to the Bishop.

I would say evil has always existed. Evil is simply based on the law of cause and effect. That which we call evil is what in the eternal scheme brings disorder and chaos. However, sin first conceived in us at birth, "And the Lord spake unto Adam, saying: Inasmuch as thy children are conceived in sin, even so when they begin to grow up, sin conceiveth in their hearts, and they taste the bitter, that they may know to prize the good" (Moses 6:55). The reason sin conceives in us at birth is because it requires illusion. Sin implies we are at odds within ourselves. In other words, at the core we know what is right and yet we do not what is right. Paul says it this way: We do not what is right because we are weak, not because we are bad. See, the fall did not make us weak it simply exposed our weakness by placing us in an environment where we had to struggle (see TPJS p 354). Such is not the case once we are resurrected. In that state we will do exactly what we intend to do. The internal war is at an end and the confusion and darkness which covered us on the earth will be gone. However, to the extent that we did not overcome the enemy of our soul, we will continue to be lacking. We will not have the power, light and understanding others have obtained and to that extent "evil" will remain with us.

My understanding is that all proselyting assignments for senior sisters have been done away. It is in the general section of information for Senior Sisters. After the quote I listed above, there is then a big list of different assignments for the senior sisters. The list changes from time to time, just as it does for the Senior Couple opportunities. It has been that way for at least over a year. That's when my husband and I first started looking at the Senior opportunities.

As to my knowledge and understanding of the concept of "evil" a few passages of scripture enter into my heart and mind. The first is 2 Nephi 2: 13, which specifies the importance of laws. Laws induce opposition, contrast between light and dark, truth and error, good and evil, joy and sorrow. The second scripture is a few verses later, 2 Nephi 2: 16, clarifying the ability for the sons and daughter of God to act for themselves, or to be acted upon. In order to act for ourselves we are enticed to keep the law or break it. When then did evil conceive in us? The moment we were enticed by evil and chose to act in accordance with evil's temptations. To some degree, I would assume, evil intentions were manifest as intelligences before our mortal probation. Satan's rebellion is an obvious example that enticed the sons and daughters of God between truth and error, right and wrong, good and evil.

The implication that you believe that the beings who became sons and daughters of God are the same type of beings as became plants and cats? I think not.

You forgot the piano...it is a string instrument. The Church I grew up in canceled a gospel singing because they would not allow string instruments. The Pastor got angry when my uncle reminded him that a piano was a string instrument. :)

I agree that it sounds like a marriage that can be saved. Unless there is abuse or abandonment or adultry or something serious like that divorce should not be considered, or threatened.

My nephew had bagpipes played at his ring ceremony, which was held in the chapel. M.

I see Vort has posted this but I think it is important for people to know and understand that Satan had no plan. He was a liar from the beginning. He knew that the only way we could return back to Heavenly Father would be through THE Plan of Happiness. He knew that rebelling against God's plan would not save but damn God's children. So, Lucifer had no plan. There is only ONE plan that works. Only ONE way to return back to Heavenly Father. -Finrock

I've seen people do all sorts of things during Sacrament meeting, like reading novels, doodling, snoozing, reading Scripture, reading Dungeons & Dragons sourcebooks, reading E-books... It seems to me that singling out mobile devices is a little odd unless the use of the device is disruptive to others. I would think if the issue is that the youth aren't paying enough attention, then it's better to address that generically, and let the mobile device issue attend to itself.

"Whenever the God of heaven establishes by revelation his design, Satan always comes among men to pervert the doctrine, saying, “Believe it not.” He often establishes a counterfeit system, designed to deceive the children of men. His aim, as it was before the foundation of this earth was laid, is to thwart the agency of man and to subjugate him." "A Vision and a Hope for the Youth of Zion" Ezra Taft Benson

When My Mother Prays When my mother prays Angels take their flight, To guard my way by day To protect me in the night. When I forget in whom I trust And bow on bended knee, There is one who won't forget To plead my case to Thee. In darkness I have walked, Not knowing well the cost. A voice is heard on high, Before my soul is lost. In sickness and in health Circumstances though they be, My name Thou can't forget When my mother prays for me. In the purest form of love Her prayers for me are heard. In language know to Angels, In the simple spoken word. And yet these words ascend To Thy throne exalted high, Request for promised blessings, Which Thou cannot deny. Blessed is her name, Her devotion knows no bounds. In her quiet secret place, On her knees she will be found. With courage I will face, The trials of coming days. The heavens shake for my good, When my mother prays. Dedicated to my mother...Norma Francis Lee October 30, 1932 -- March 24, 2014 Fill free to cut and past if you like the poem...my only request is that you leave my mother's name on it. God bless.

A few clarifications. This is the oft-told story, the one I grew up with and believed, but it's only approximately true. To be clear: At some point during our premortal life, the Father presented THE plan of salvation. There was only one. That plan required a Savior to redeem mankind. The First, whom we know today as Jesus the Christ, responded "Here am I. Send me, and the honor be Thine [that is, the Father's]." The Father did so. At least one other responded, "Here am I. Send me. I will redeem all, that none shall be lost. Since my plan is superior, give me the honor." He was rejected. He and those who followed him then rebelled and were cast out, having failed to keep their first estate. Nowhere in scripture is mentioned any idea of "competing plans" or (as I have often heard in my life) that we "voted". Our only "vote" was to decide whether we championed the Father's plan or Satan's rebellion. And it is crystal clear, at least to me, that Satan's only "plan" was to usurp the Father's honor and glory. He, Satan, had no "plan" to bring all to exaltation. Such is impossible, a defiance of the very meaning of the word "exalt". Satan's only "plan", if you care to call it that, was to usurp the Father's honor and destroy the agency of mankind. That is the selfsame "plan" he pursues today. I would say our main point of decision was whether we loved and sought to follow the Father (or equivalently, his Only Begotten), or whether we loved and sought to follow other voices. Same point of decision we have now.

Does the LBGT community generally oppose polygamy? If so, why? Frankly, it has a stronger historic tradition, and there are religious motivations. Why deny those? Why would an LBGT person--especially one who insists on same-sex marriage--dare judge the loving, committed relationships of a man or woman and his/her spouses? My tongue is not in my cheek. I'm completely serious. Personally, I've always thought polygamy had much stronger grounds to stand on than same-sex marriage.

I would say the exact same thing about homosexuality -- except for replace theocratic with secular.

With all due respect, Godless: If you're going to play the moral relativism card, ya gotta go whole hog. There are something like two billion bigamists in the world today. That's almost six times the total number of gay people on the earth (350 million, if you assume 5% of a population of 7 billion); and the majority of the polygamists would say that it's actually people in homosexual relationships who are being enslaved by their cultures and by their own baser instincts. But, coming back to the US: If state-sanctioned marriage really is just about formally recognizing who's "in love" with whom--then logically, you have to validate that "love" wherever, and in whatever form, you find it. On what basis do you deny legal recognition to the several tens of thousands of polygamous American families who have zero affiliation with any sort of Mormon or Mormon offshoot group? Why are their constitutional rights inferior to the rest of ours? And, come to think of it, couldn't one make an argument that serial monogamy is just as oppressive to women as outright polygamy? Have we not already created a culture where a man can get what he wants from a plethora of willing women, without having to incur the expense and inconvenience that traditionally ran with maintaining a harem?

?? Polygamy has been practiced for centuries and is practiced today around the world . . . unless you consider being Muslim a religious cult and/or theocratic coercion and brainwashing. A blanket statement like the above, indicates a lack of research into this topic.

When one is Godless, it is easier to justify most anything.

Why is romantically bound a requirement? Or only two individuals? Why must the state do it the way u suggest here?

I find it interesting that the concept of the state has been around as long as it has, and Godless' notion has only existed for less than a dozen or two years. Yet he states it with such surety, as if the notion was so obviously above reproach, it needs no justification or persuasion.

Why should the state have any sort of obligation to formally recognize who's (purportedly monogamously) shacking up with whom? It's very nice that the state does it--I'm not complainin'--but to say that the state must not only permit me to have a sexual relationship with someone (via my right of private association), but affirmatively say "hey, JAG! Nice little relationship ya got there. Let us give you formal praise for your choice, memorialize the relationship in the state archives, and give you a few pecuniary taxpayer-subsidized benefits as well--and all because we, the State, are just hopeless romantics!"? That seems . . . well, unpersuasive. Government often allocates benefits to specific groups, for the purpose of attaining a particular goal; and in general terms it is perfectly fine for government to deny those benefits to those who are unlikely to attain that goal (which is why I don't get that contract to produce F-35s that I keep bidding for). Where marriage is concerned, it should be enough that government makes some basic efforts to deny marriage to those straight couples that it knows are incapable of procreating healthy children. That's what government has done by--for example--prohibiting marriages within a certain degree of consanguinity, and allowing for annulment when it turns out that one party or the other is demonstrably sterile. It's just that these steps haven't caught up with the times--up until a few decades ago, there was just no way of knowing who was fertile and who wasn't. (Well, you could tell with a menopausal woman, I suppose; but if you deny marriage to menopausal women but not men of a particular age--there's gender discrimination; and the simple fact is that a man can be fertile very late in life--probate law didn't come up with the concept of a "fertile octogenarian" in a vacuum.) But they already pay taxes on those particular earnings. Surely you aren't saying that religious institutions should be double-taxed merely because they are religious institutions? And, do you think all nonprofit entities should lose nonprofit status? Or just churches? If the latter--on what grounds do you give a group non-profit status?

Prophecy of Brigham Young: The nations will consume each other, and the Lord will suffer them to bring it about. It does not require much talent or tact to get up opposition these days. You see it rife in communities, in meetings, in neighborhoods, and in cities. That is the knife that will cut down this Government. The axe is laid at the root of the tree, and every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit will be hewn down. (Source: Journal of Discourses, 8:143) Prophecy of John Taylor (General Conference, 1879): Were we surprised when the last terrible war (the Civil War) took place here in the United States? No . . . You will see worse things than that, for God will lay his hand upon this nation and they will feel it more terribly than ever they have done before. There will be more bloodshed, more ruin, more devastation than ever they have seen before. Write it down! You will see it come to pass; it is only just starting in . . . There is yet to come a sound of war, trouble and distress, in which brother will be arrayed against brother, father against son, son against father, a scene of desolation and destruction that will permeate our land until it will be a vexation to hear the report thereof. (Source: Journal of Discourses, 20:318) Another Prophecy of John Taylor (1879): We have got this kingdom to build up; and it is not a phantom, but a reality. We have to do it, God expects it at our hands . . . We have got to go on and progress in these things. We have got to establish a government upon the principle of righteousness, justice, truth and equality and not according to the many false notions that exist among men. And then the day is not far distant when this nation will be shaken from centre to circumference. And now, you may write it down, any of you, and I will prophesy it in the name of God. And then will be fulfilled the prediction to be found in one of the revelations given through the prophet Joseph Smith. Those who will not take up their sword to fight against their neighbor must needs flee to Zion for safety. And they will come, saying, we do not know anything of the principles of your religion, but we perceive that you are an honest community; you administer justice and righteousness, and we want to live with you and receive the protection of your laws, but as for your religion we will talk about that some other time. Will we protect such people? Yes, all honorable men. When the people shall have torn to shreds the Constitution of the United States the Elders of Israel will be found holding it up to the nations of earth and proclaiming liberty and equal rights to all men, and extending the hand of fellowship to the oppressed of all nations. This is part of the programme, and as long as we do what is right and fear God, he will help us and stand by us under all circumstances. (Source: Journal of Discourses, 21:8) Prophecy of Wilford Woodruff: The Congress of 1862, and the Supreme Judges of 1879, in their acts and decisions, have taken a dangerous and fearful step; their acts will sap the very foundation of our government, and it will rent asunder, and the God of heaven will hold them responsible for these things, for 'what men sow they will reap, and the measure they mete unto others will be meted unto them', saith the Lord. The Constitution once broken by the rulers of the land, there will be no stopping place until the nation is broken in pieces, and no power beneath the heavens can save this nation from the consequences thereof. (Source: Millennial Star, 41:243) Another Prophecy of Wilford Woodruff (1880): The Lord . . . poured out His spirit upon me and opened the vision of my mind so that I could comprehend in a great measure the mind and will of God concerning the nation and concerning the inhabitants of Zion. I saw the wickedness of the nation, its abominations and corruptions and the judgments of God and the destruction that awaited it . . . On January 18th I was again given in a vision. It concerned the destiny of our nation and of Zion. My pillow was again wet by a fountain of tears as I beheld the judgments of God upon the wicked. I was strongly impressed that the Apostles and elders should warn the inhabitants of the earth. (Source: Matthias F. Cowley, Wilford Woodruff, p. 393. SLC, Deseret News, 1916) Prophecy of Moses Thatcher (an early apostle): I have seen the end of this nation and it is terrible . . . I will tell you in the name of the Lord that a secret band will sap the life of this nation. (Source: Franklin Ward Historical Record, Franklin, Idaho. June 16, 1882; Crowther, Duane S., Prophecy-- Key to the Future, p. 53, Bookcraft, SLC, 1962) Statement of Erastus Snow: We were told by the prophet Joseph Smith, that the United States Government and people would undermine one principle of the Constitution after another, until its whole fabric would be torn away, and that it would become the duty of the Latter-day Saints and those in sympathy with them to rescue it from destruction, and to maintain and sustain the principles of human freedom for which our fathers fought and bled. We look for these things to come in quick succession. (Source: Journal of Discourses, vol. 26, p. 226, May 31, 1885) Statement of Charles W. Nibley: My brethren and sisters, I hope that we will go home from this Conference determined as a great body of people, to stand for law, order, righteousness, justice and peace on earth and good will among all men. I believe as the Prophet Joseph has written, that the day would come when there would be so much of disorder, of secret combinations taking the law into their own hands, tramping upon Constitutional rights and the liberties of the people, that the Constitution would hang as by a thread. Yes, but it will still hang, and there will be enough of good people, many who may not belong to our Church at all, people who have respect for law and for order, and for Constitutional rights, who will rally around with us and save the Constitution. I have never read that that thread would be cut. It will hang; the Constitution will abide and this civilization, that the Lord has caused to be built up, will stand fortified through the power of God, by putting from our hearts all that is evil, or that is wrong in the sight of God, by our living as we should live, acceptable to him. (Source: Conference Report, October 1922, p.40) Another statement by Charles W. Nibley: Brethren and sisters, let me say in closing that we have it of record, that the prophet Joseph Smith said the time would come when through secret organizations taking the law into their own hands, not being governed by law or by due process of law, but becoming a law unto themselves, when, by those disintegrating activities, the Constitution of the United States would be so torn and rent asunder, and life and property and peace and security would he held of so little value, that the Constitution would, as it were, hang by a thread. But he never said, so far as I have heard, that that thread would be cut. I believe, with Elder Richards, that this Constitution will be preserved, but it will be preserved very largely in consequence of what the Lord has revealed and what this people, through listening to the Lord and being obedient, will help to bring about, to stabilize and give permanency and effect to the Constitution itself. That also is our mission. That also is what we are help to bring about, to stabilize and give permanency and effect to the Constitution itself. That also is our mission. That also is what we are here for. I glory in it. I praise God with all my heart and soul that I am a member of it. (Source: Conference Report, October 1923, p.62) Statement of Ezra Taft Benson: America is a choice land. God raised up the Founding Fathers of the United States of America and established an inspired Constitution . . . I testify that wickedness is rapidly expanding in every segment of our society. (See D&C 84:49-53; 1:14-16.) It is more highly organized, more cleverly disguised, and more powerfully promoted than ever before. Secret combinations lusting for power, gain, and glory are flourishing. A secret combination that seeks to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries is increasing its evil influence and control over America and the entire world. (See Ether 8:18-25.) (Source: "I Testify", General Conference, October 1988) Prophecy of Heber C. Kimball: J. Golden Kimball wrote: "Heber C. Kimball said it was revealed to him that the last great destruction of the wicked would be on the lakes near the Hill Cumorah." (Source: N. B. Lundwall, Inspired prophetic warnings to all inhabitants of the earth, 1940, p. 52). Statement of Joseph F. Smith: As I stood upon the summit of the Hill Cumorah, in the midst of a vast multitude, only a few of whom belonged to the Church, I tried to picture the scenes of former days. Here were assembled vast armies filled with bitterness and bent on destruction. I thought of the great promises the Lord had made through his prophets concerning those who should possess this choice land, and how these promises were not fulfilled because the people violated his commandments. Here a people perished because of their extreme wickedness. There must be something in the destiny of things that would cause a repetition of this terrible scene on the same spot many centuries later. I reflected and wondered if this unhappy time would ever come when another still mightier people would incur the wrath of God because of wickedness and likewise perish. If so, would this same spot witness their destruction? (Source: Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. III, p. 242) Prophecy of Heber C. Kimball: I am very thankful that so many of the brethren have come in with handcarts; my soul rejoiced, my heart was filled and grew as big as a two-bushel basket. Two companies have come through safe and sound. Is this the end of it? No; there will be millions on millions that will come much in the same way, only they will not have handcarts, for they will take their bundles under their arms, and their children on their backs, and under their arms and flee. (Source: Journal of Discourses, 4:106) Prophecy of Brigham Young (1868): By and by there will be a gulf between the righteous and the wicked so that they cannot trade with each other and national intercourse will cease. (Source: Journal of Discourses, 12:284) Prophecy of Heber C. Kimball: Lay up your stores, and take your silks and fine things, and exchange them for grain and such things as you need, and the time will come when we will be obliged to depend upon our own resources; for the time is not far distant when the curtain will be dropped between us and the United States. When that time comes, brethren and sisters, you will wish you had commenced sooner to make your own clothing. I tell you, God requires us to go into home manufacture; and prolong it as much as you like, you have got to do it. (Source: Journal of Discourses, 5:10) Statement of Heber C. Kimball: I will tell you a dream which Brother Kesler had lately. He dreamed that there was a sack of gold and a cat placed before him, and that he had the privilege of taking which he pleased, whereupon he took the cat, and walked off with her. Why did he take the cat in preference to the gold? Because he could eat the cat, but not eat the gold. You may see about such times before you die. (Source: Journal of Discourses, 3:262) Statement of David Whitmer: Question: When will the temple be built in Independence? Answer: Right after the great tribulation is over. Question: What do you mean by that? Answer: A civil war more bloody and cruel than the rebellion. It will be the smashing up of this nation, about which time the second great work has to be done, a work like Joseph did, and the translation of the sealed plates and peace all over. (Source: Interview by Dr. Poulson with David Whitmer, Deseret News, Friday, August 16, 1878) Statement of Rex E. Lee: A final area of constitutional interest unique to Latter-day Saints finds its source in the well-known "hanging by a thread" statements by the Prophet Joseph Smith. Similar statements have been reiterated by no fewer than six of his successors, including the current prophet . . . But in none of those quotations . . . has any Church leader ever been very specific as to the metaphor's meaning. Unfortunately, some members of the Church have been all too ready to offer their own explanations. The only thing consistent about these explanations is that in each instance, it was the Church member's own unresolved, often very private, grievance that supplied evidence that the thread was beginning to fray, sometimes beyond repair . . . In my view, this is another instance in which going beyond what our leaders have said can be misleading at best, and potentially fraught with mischief. Even though we have not been given the exact meaning of the prophets' statements about the Constitution hanging by a thread, the scriptures do define the conditions on which freedom in the land of America ultimately depends. I am satisfied that whatever else may eventually hang in the constitutional balance, this much is clear: The continuation of the blessings of liberty depends finally on our spiritual righteousness. As the Lord told the Jaredites in the Book of Ether, this is a "land of promise." And "whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, . . . if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ." If the people fail to keep this covenant, they "shall be swept off when the fullness of his wrath shall come upon them. And the fullness of his wrath cometh upon them when they are ripened in iniquity" (Ether 2:9-12). (Source: Rex E. Lee, The Constitution and the Restoration, BYU Speeches, 1991.) Statement of Eliza R. Snow, Ogden, Utah, 1871: I heard the prophet say, ‘The time will come when the government of these United States will be so nearly overthrown through its corruption, that the Constitution will hang as it were by a single hair, and the Latter-day Saints—the Elders of Israel—will step forward to its rescue and save it. (Journal History, MSF 143 #28, July 24, 1871; D. Michael Stewart, Ensign, June 1976.) Statement of Boyd K. Packer (2004): When Moroni was translating the twenty-four gold plates, he interrupted his narrative to speak directly to us in our day. He told of the Gadiantons and their bands (in our day we would call them gangs): Wherefore, O ye Gentiles [that is us], it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, ... [He then warned us in unmistakable plainness]: Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; ... Wherefore, I, Moroni, am commanded to write these things that evil may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon the hearts of the children of men, but that they may be persuaded to do good continually, that they may come unto the fountain of all righteousness and be saved (Ether 8:23–24, 26). When the Saints in Missouri were suffering great persecutions, the Lord said that the Constitution of the United States was given that every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him. [Notice that it does not say free agency, it says moral agency. The agency we have is a moral agency.] ... For this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood (D&C 101:78, 80; emphasis added). The present major political debate centers on values and morals and the Constitution. There occurs from time to time reference to the Constitution hanging by a thread. President Brigham Young said: The general Constitution of our country is good, and a wholesome government could be framed upon it; for it was dictated by the invisible operations of the Almighty. ... Will the Constitution be destroyed? No. It will be held inviolate by this people; and as Joseph Smith said "the time will come when the destiny of this nation will hang upon a single thread, and at this critical juncture, this people will step forth and save it from the threatened destruction." It will be so.23 I do not know when that day will come or how it will come to pass. I feel sure that when it does come to pass, among those who will step forward from among this people will be men who hold the Holy Priesthood and who carry as credentials a bachelor or doctor of law degree. And women, also, of honor. And there will be judges as well. Others from the world outside the Church will come, as Colonel Thomas Kane did, and bring with them their knowledge of the law to protect this people. We may one day stand alone, but we will not change or lower our standards or change our course. (Source: "On the Shoulders of Giants", Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law Society Devotional, Saturday, 28 February 2004, 6:00 p.m., http://lds.org/newsroom/voice/display/0,18255,5004-1-61,00.html)

Seems to me Hitler got an awful lot of pushback, too.(Yeah. I went there.)

I am only going to touch on the parts I quoted above. Generally speaking the LDS church members run conservative. Therefore you might find yourself alone if the if the subjects of politics comes up. It shouldn't matter because we all all trying to come unto Christ, however that means we are all imperfect sinners so in our imperfection it could make it harder then it should be. However there are some real practical limits depending on what you mean by being pro LGBTQ + The church's stance is very clear that Sexual relationships are to be between a Man and a Woman legally and lawfully married. Anything else is a sin. This is not limited to just those in LGBTQ + relationships but also Men and Women that commit adultery or fornicate. If you are in one of those relationships then you should not be allowed to be baptized and if you were a member you would be subject to church discipline. Also if by pro LGBTQ + you mean to say that you don't think those relationships are sinful in the eyes of God, well that would be apostasy. Depending on how hard you push that belief the church might need to take action. If however by pro LGBTQ + you mean that people should be allowed to sin or not sin as they think is best, and that we should treat all of our brothers and sisters, no matter what their sin of choice, as brothers and sisters... Well that is really a pretty good place to stand. Same general idea with feminist... It is going to greatly depend on what you mean by feminist. We all all equal in the sight of God, yet we are also all different. God seems to have no problem with Equal but Different. Us mortals tend to have problems with it. In the LDS faith our differences mean we have different roles to play in God's plan. One biggie in the LDS faith is the Males being able to hold the Priesthood. Unfortunately some people assume this difference makes one gender better then the others, and they might act on that believe. When this is seen, a natural reaction is to try to remove these differences and make us all the same. Rather then to try to deal with the pride that make such an assumption and/or covets power that they think someone else has.

A few excerpts from the talk I was mentioned before by Elder Dallin H. Oaks. He makes the distinction between final and intermediate judgment: https://www.lds.org/ensign/1999/08/judge-not-and-judging?lang=eng