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To be open-I cut off contact with two leftist family members who both have politically violent tendencies. One is 350 pounds and completely useless if he actually had to resort to violence. The other is very very old. So they aren’t dangerous-just annoying. I also know conservatives who dream of the day they can play Punisher and shoot someone who accidentally bumped into them at the county fair. So I’m not naive to political violence. I know it exists.

I think the majority of conservatives here know a very different kind of leftist than I do, or rely too much on right wing news to get their description of leftists in real life. There absolutely are leftists who think violence is a-ok. They are disgusting people. There are also conservatives who look for reasons to use violence too. They are disgusting people. I get tribal loyalty, I get we all want to think the worst of those who disagree with us-but violence is a human problem, not a political one.

We know that the five foolish will be "unaware" that any signs have come. So, yes, they will sleep. And they will eventually depart because their lamps are not full. The five wise may be faithful. But human frailties make it impossible for them to stand awake all night. This symbolizes that even when we're watching for signs, we may not recognize them. Part of the reason is that we have had so many false positives, that it is difficult to get excited about "yet another sign." Even the faithful will not know the day nor the hour. But they will be awakened when the Bridegroom comes because we are at least where we need to be. Stand in holy places.

Matthew 26: 40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep⁠, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Sometimes during the sacrament my mind wanders and I am reminded of this verse.

Is this title click bait? Depends on how you read it, I suppose. Am I saying I'm wicked and disappointed? Am I saying other others are wicked and it's disappointing? Or am I talking about the fact that I finally saw the movie musical Wicked and I was disappointed? Just up front...the movie is good. It's well made. It's well acted. The story is solid. It's a good movie. But.... I had to fight back tears in the end, not because it was an emotional movie. I suppose the emotion of the music (which is pretty solid in the end...more on that) primed me for being emotional, but I was not emotional about the movie or the plot. I was emotional at disappointment. Alright...getting into it: Wicked was a good move. Very good. But several things were disappointing, one being an absolute dealbreaker for me. First, Wicked as a "music"-al.... The music. It's...okay. I've never loved it. It has 2 or 3 okay-ish songs, several "meh" songs, a couple of garbage songs, and 1 or 2 great(ish) songs or musical moments. However... Second, the orchestration choices and style of Wicked STINKS! I've always hated it. I'd hoped they'd fix it for the movie. And...a little bit they did. But mostly, nah. Still stinks. I mean, If you were going to put a style of music to represent the Land of Oz, what style would you choose? Would it be pop/rock? Would it? NO! It's garbage. That's all I have to say on that. Third, the choreography was (along the same lines) TERRIBLE in the same way. It didn't, for the most part) feel in any way appropriate for Oz. It might have (sort of) fit the music style. It was very modern and...you know... pop/rock-y. But it was bad. Fourth, and this is the big one, it was...how do I put it delicately? Nah. Forget delicacy. It was GAY! And I've always hated that about Wicked. Now...just to be clear... I'm not using "gay" as a pejorative expletive here, like was done in the 80s. As in, "That's so gay, man!" I mean it simply as a stylistic thing. It's stylistically gay. And it's not to my taste. I do not like stylistically "gay" entertainment. It ain't my cup-o-joe. And I've always felt that way about Wicked. Certain musicals fall into that category. A lot of them are, indeed, filled with homosexual stuff. But that's not even what I mean by the "style". It's just a style of music and acting and presentation and etc., etc. that doesn't appeal to me. And I don't quite know how to describe it other than being "gay". It's like the put-on way "gay" men act that's supposedly "effeminate" but is nothing like females actually act. It's just a stylistic gay men thing. Like the gay lisp or limp wristed cliches. And, in music (musicals in particular), it's not a lisp or a limp wrist or something like that...but it still has a sense of that. There's a feel to certain shows that comes across, stylistically, as.... like I said...I don't have a better word....gay. Now...I realize...to some, ALL musicals are gay. Fair enough. Fine. I know there's subjectivity here. And it's hard to really put my thumb on what it is about certain musicals that stylistically does not appeal to me in that way. Wicked is not the most egregious here. I've never hated Wicked's music. I just haven't ever loved it. That being said, I understand why some do. The same way I understand why some love Hamilton. Rap's not my thing. But I see the art. I get it. But then -- and I don't know how this compares to the stage musical, having never seen it -- they added legit crossdressing and homosexual implications in the movie. Like I said...maybe that wasn't added. Maybe the stage musical has always had that too. But THAT's the big dealbreaker. Not buying. Not letting the kids watch. Nope. And that is extremely disappointing, because what is a, legitimately, GOOD movie -- and I'm always looking for new, good, movie musicals (they're rare nowadays) -- becomes a no go for me because of woke crap inserted. And...just like my annoyance with the pop/rock music style and how it doesn't work for Oz...it's the same thing here. Dudes in full make-up and dresses, and others flirting and infatuated with other men, and the like, feels SO out of place and wrong in what should be an innocent written-for-children world. And...yes...I get that Wicked is a grown-up deconstruction of Oz, but open drag and open homosexuality? Nope. Does not fit. It feels like nothing more than the injection of modern leftist politics into it, and it harms the show -- even if I put aside my moral objections. It doesn't work. But the deal-breaking part is the moral objection. So....I'm disappointed. Particularly because Wicked was, indeed, a good movie. Very good. Anyhow...the emotional reaction (having been primed by the legitimately good music moments at the end of part one), were tied into more than just my disappointment from Wicked. It was like all the disappointments I've had in entertainment over the past 30 years came crashing down on me and it was upsetting! Star Wars, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, Lost, cancelled series after cancelled series, Michael Jacksons last few albums, Andrew Lloyd Webbers musicals after Phantom, everything Claude-Michel Shoenberg and Alain Boublil did after Les Miz and Miss Saigon (which is only 2 shows...but still....The Pirate Queen? Garbage! So bad! What the stink?!). And myriads of movies and shows and musicals that excited me in concept and then turned out to be garbage. Etc., etc., etc., etc. SO...MANY....DISAPPOINTMENTS! Sigh. I mean, I got over it quickly. But it was pretty emotionally upsetting for about 10 seconds. And then even though I got over it, still upsetting enough to complain to my wife for an hour and then write up this post.

Yes, we are absolutely looking at people. So…. Humans generally are quick to see in others what they struggle with. If you struggle with lust, you’ ll think everyone else does and see it in others. After all, since you struggle with it you can easily see it. If you struggle with envy, you’ll be quick to condemn it in others and you’ll point it out easily because you know what it’s like. Same with anger/violence. If you struggle with anger and violence it should come as no surprise that you’ll assume everyone else does too. Sure, I’ll draw another similarity. Some conservatives view leftists the same way leftists view MAGA hatters. As angry, violent and trashy. It’s nonsense. Of course some MAGA hatters are angry, violent and rude. Just like how some leftists are violent. It’s a minority in both cases, but it’s validating to us to think the worst of the other side.

Our so called allies have been tariffing us blind for decades, it is time for that to end.

When I was in Young Women's, they gave us each a dozen plastic eggs, called Easter in Eggs. Numbered 1-12. Each egg had a scripture and a symbol. Like a tiny red cloth for Christ's robe or what he wore, 3 dimes for pieces of silver, a linen cloth for wrapping His body, a sacrament cup for at The Last Supper, a tiny toothpick cross for when He died, a nail, etc. The last egg was empty, to symbolize the empty tomb. That He was resurrected. I appreciate how much thought went into that. I wish I still had it. We also had an Easter Lesson, where they had set up a table, like the Last Supper. then they turned the lights down and played a tape of the scriptures of The Last Supper. There was a picture of Chrst in the room, with a light around Him. It was very profound, and I will never forget it.

I have to shake my head and laugh at some of the things you say... The total number of gang members do not outnumber the total number of the US military or law enforcement. There are approximately 700,000 gang members in the US. There are approximately 1.2 million police officers in the US. There are approximately 2 million members of the military in the US. Now add in the retired members of both the military and law enforcement who are still capable of operating. Yeah, gangs would die in droves. The violent left would die in droves. VERY few of those gang members have any sort of firearms or tactical skills. Most of them hate each other so most of them will not work together...for any reason. Next point, see @NeuroTypical's comment above about AOC and Pelosi and gangs.

Yes, this is he whom we worship. He is the Son of God; the Great Creator. He is our Savior and Redeemer. He is our advocate with the Father. It was he who made possible and brought about the universal resurrection. It was he, with his Father, who appeared to Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove. -Eldred G. Smith, Who Is Jesus? And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. -John 17:3

Down here, even the liberals own guns, they are just quiet about it.

Fair enough, but I can’t fully agree. If the hard right pro life crowd had the chance they’d absolutely support someone who blew up a clinic. Either by shelter, food, or finance.

This seems to apply… Ether 8:24-25 24 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; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up. 25 For it cometh to pass 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, who is the father of all lies; even that same liar who beguiled our first parents, yea, even that same liar who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning; who hath hardened the hearts of men that they have murdered the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out from the beginning. (Ether 8:24-25)

How some view leftists reminds me of how leftists wrongly view pro lifers. They’ll view your average pro life person as being cool with bombing abortion clinics and killing people just to save unborn babies. It‘s nonsense of course. Pro life leaders decry the violence…just like virtually every democrat did when Trump was almost assassinated. Like I said, I get tribal loyalty, I get thinking the worst of others who disagree with us. But maybe we see a propensity for violence in others because it’s something we subconsciously want to do to them for some reason.

A pretty low bar to contend for though.

I'm just going to say thank-you for this thread. It was fairly idiot-friendly for the tariff debate. I still have no real opinion.

Yep. Definitely no growth in the UK. For a country supposedly lead by a man who inherited his position by "divine right" and is head of the church here, it's certainly a godless land.

I quite often rely on AI for scripture study. This talk made me consider if what I was doing is wrong. Especially for the old testament I quite often need verse by verse breakdown because king James language is basically unreadable for me. This is no different than using a textbook though in my opinion. There is a time the person assigned to do an EQ lesson just never turned up to Church so the president whipped up a lesson using AI during sacrament meeting and it was actually quite uplifting. I do know there have been some people who have been assigned a talk though and just used AI to write it and do that. I think these are the people to whom this message is targeting.

This is what I tend to interpret. Slumbering and sleeping aren't bad things, but they certainly aren't exciting. It's the day to day (night to night?) stuff of a mortal world. No real sin involved, but that's just it, isn't it? We can be leading mostly decent lives and still be at risk of getting caught off-guard. Like Carb said, the important thing is we recognize what is happening when it is happening because I think despite all the signs and warnings pretty much all will be caught off-guard to some extent. Will we have oil ready?

It's more than that. There is a reason Trump is "playing" with tariffs. And it will cause the entire world economy to go up and down quite a bit throughout this year. Everything must be perfectly executed for it to work. Otherwise, Trump is going to destroy the world economy. And the activist judges are doing everything in their power to make sure things are NOT executed perfectly. It is a roll of the dice.

His first sentence caught me napping, so I had to go back and review closely. That italicized part has me thinking. Last year I gave a talk in sacrament meeting, and I used AI to help me write a short poem which I gave at the conclusion of my talk. I've probably given somewhere around 100 or more public talks or lessons in church, some fair, some ok, some good. But holy heck I received more positive feedback from folks for that poem, than my next ten most popular talks put together. People were coming up to me the week after to talk about it - that has never happened to me before. So I'm paying attention to Elder Soares' comments. Did I weaken my connection with God or His Son? I don't think so. AI spit something out and I tinkered with it and made every word mine. It was a spiritual exercise. And plenty of people indicated it strengthened their connection. Did I "rely on a modern technological arm of flesh" as a "substitute" for the spirit? No. The whole talk was mine from start to finish. I thought of the poem as 'icing on the cake', a way to perhaps broaden the reach of my message. Very different than having AI write me a talk, and then deliver it without having even read it. So I guess maybe I pass the test here, and I'm keeping with both the letter and spirit of the counsel being given. I just looked for the poem, guess I didn't save it. The prompt was something to the tune of "Write an eight stanza poem written by a repentant sinner who is deeply troubled by his sins, and wondering if he can ever be worthy to fully participate in church activities like taking the sacrament. Specifically he is thinking about such sins as [I went to the online handbook and basically copied it's chapter headings for 'Policies on moral issues' like abortion/abuse/infidelity/pr0n/prejudice/self-harm/unaliving someone]." Then I took it's output and hacked and slashed and added and changed until I had something I was willing to claim as mine, and something I figured would be appropriate for a sacrament meeting.

https://youtu.be/LzaMTT5ItZM?si=AnjS6u6qSPTDdZiG https://youtu.be/LzaMTT5ItZM?si=AnjS6u6qSPTDdZiG Elder Holland and praying always

I feel like Mexico, the Philippines and Utah have a temple announced almost every conference. I'm wondering if these are where the Church is currently experiencing the strongest growth.

I think the most interesting talk for me was Elder Soares, warning us about AI, and I quite enjoyed his phrase "covenant confidence" a good companion talk to the prophets all about building confidence in God. When the prophet shared that he is feeling prompted to warn about the second coming I was quite surprised. It'll he good to see what happens soon.

Does it have to symbolize something? If it does, I'd suggest just going about day to day life. In that story, at that point in the day, their usual business would be sleeping.

Quite a few new hymns. I was keeping mental count for a while, but lost track. Probably should have made tally marks.

Let's have the new temple list in this thread, too. Reynosa, Mexico Chorrillos, Peru Rivera, Uruguay Campo Grande, Brazil Porto, Portugal Uyo, Nigeria San Jose del Monte, Philippines Nouméa, New Caledonia Liverpool, Australia Caldwell, Idaho Flagstaff, Arizona Rapid City, South Dakota Greenville, South Carolina Norfolk, Virginia Spanish Fork, Utah

@HaggisShuu Elder Stevenson's talk from last night focused a lot on bringing Christ into our Easter celebrations.

It is all about encouraging these countries to drop the tariffs they use against us.

Serving a mission has always been a commandment for male young adults. If you are a male young adult and are physically and mentally able to serve, you are supposed to serve. However, you have your free agency to choose not to obey the commandment. If a young man is physically and/or mentally incapable of serving a mission, then he is exempt from the commandment.

I've heard the rumors too. Always a friend of a friend (of a friend...)

I doubt this will ever happen. But if it were to happen, here's how it could be done. 1. We will never omit the ordinance of the sacrament, relegating it to every two weeks. 2. We could have a shortened meeting for the sacrament and announcements. No talks or intermediate hymns, etc. 3. We would have an abbreviated meeting covering what has been second hour.

I see no reason for concern. All is unfolding good things and moving forward as theyshould. The Traveler

Actually, it was anyone who willfully chose not to serve. And he acknowledged repentance and restitution and that there can be events which prevent one from serving despite one's efforts. But yeah, he was very fire and brimstone.

I'm getting the impression we should center our lives on Christ. Also, maybe we should go inside those temples that are being built every once in a while. Even after the tours and dedications.

A friend of mine was just made a seventy. Very cool

What gives them the power to go through hard things? What gives an extra layer of strength to go on when everything seems lost? I have found that the source of that strength is faith in Jesus Christ as we intentionally seek to come unto Him each and every day. - Joaquin E. Costa, The Power of Jesus Christ in Our Lives Every Day Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities. I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me. And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted. My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep. He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh. - 2 Nephi 4:17-21

We're told that it is incomprehensible to us. But scriptures give us analogies and metaphors. Summary: Death is a prison. Christ was given power to lay down His life and to take it up again. By doing so, He obtained the keys to the prison gates. Now there is an order to the resurrection. The righteous will be resurrected first (morning of the first resurrection, etc.). The wicked will be released from that prison last. A slightly altered version of this also explains how the Atonement works to save us from sin.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1977/04/our-great-potential?lang=eng You may find this conference talk enlightening. It discusses the Keys of Resurrection.

This is an interesting question. 1) We could go the "easy" route and say that the resurrection is simply a gift from God given to all who kept their first estate. That it has no mechanical connection to the resurrection of Christ, but that there was a rule or order set saying that Christ would be the first resurrected and all others would have to wait for that event. Or it could be that the sequencing of resurrection is because the Atonement had to be completed before any could enjoy the blessings that would allow them to inherit a kingdom of glory, and thus their resurrection had to wait until that was completed since the resurrection would raise them to a particular glory. But other than this sequencing requirement, it's a pure gift from God and there isn't anything mechanical tying it to Christ's resurrection. 2) Another possibility is that there's something we don't understand in Christ's resurrection. That just as the Atonement gave Christ the authority/right (Moroni 7:27) to save us from spiritual death, His resurrection gives Him authority/right to save us from physical death. 3) The final is that there is some "mechanical" relationship. Christ's Atonement satisfied the law of justice, paid the price of sin, and allows us to be forgiven of a debt we cannot pay. We don't fully understand how that works, but we have these vague analogies. Perhaps the resurrection, like the Atonement, satisfied a law, or paid a price, and because of that, we can receive the resurrection... I tend to think it's a combination of the first two: 1a) It's a pure gift; 1b) the gift must be delayed because resurrection involves receiving glory, and that can't happen until after the Atonement is complete; 2) by successfully completing His Atonement and resurrection, Christ has gained the right to extend the benefits to us - benefits we would have no other way to receive. If there's some mechanical connection, I'm having a hard time imagining it.

Why did Jesus, the Lord God Omnipotent who sits at the right hand of the Father, creator of worlds without number, lawgiver and judge, condescend to come to earth to be born in a manger, live out most of His mortal existence in obscurity, trudge the dusty roads of Judea proclaiming a message which was violently opposed by many, and finally, betrayed by one of His closest associates, die between two malefactors on Golgotha’s somber hill? Nephi, who gloried “in … Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell,” understood Christ’s motivation: “He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him.” It was love for all of God’s children that led Jesus, unique in His sinless perfection, to offer Himself as ransom for the sins of others. - Alexander B. Morrison, For This Cause For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. - John 3:16-17

Jesus is the head of his church, the Creator of the universe, the Savior and Redeemer of all mankind, and the Judge of the souls of men. Who he is and what he does affected each of us before we were born and will affect us each day of our mortal lives and throughout the eternities. Much of what he is and does is beyond finite human ability to comprehend, but the Holy Ghost has borne witness to my soul of their reality. - Joseph B. Wirthlin, Our Lord and Savior God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. - Hebrews 1:1-4

There is one, above all others, whose personal influence covers the continents, spans the oceans, and penetrates the hearts of true believers. He atoned for the sins of mankind. I testify that He is a teacher of truth—but He is more than a teacher. He is the Exemplar of the perfect life—but He is more than an exemplar. He is the Great Physician—but He is more than a physician. He is the literal Savior of the world, the Son of God, the Prince of Peace, the Holy One of Israel, even the risen Lord, who declared: “I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world. … I am the light and the life of the world.” “I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father.” - Thomas S. Monson, Your Personal Influence He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. - Matthew 16:15-17

As time permits I'm going through some comic strips I like and reading the archives. Today, I came to this strip from the history of "Rose Is Rose" -> https://www.gocomics.com/roseisrose/1997/01/10 For those who can't see the image, it's a cameo appearance from the Tabernacle Choir.

Now sending me that stolen webcam pic of me during the last election is just uncalled for.

@mirkwood has a name you know.

A recent survey: 55% of self-identified "leftists" say that a Trump assassination is justifiable. It is official. There's no more "fringe elements of the party." They are the majority of the party. They're ok with murdering a duly elected President because they dislike him. I say "him" and not specifically "his policies" because interviews with some of the individuals revealed that they could articulate only their hatred of Trump, himself. Any attempt to obtain any specific policies, decision, official acts, political positions, etc. were answered with "Everything. He's doing everything wrong." Very articulate. They don't seem to even know why they are against him.

For those who will understand: Stupid Giant Penguins.