Meridiani

Is it no wonder? Terri was starved and dehydrated to death. I would think that anyone of us who was tortured the way she was would have lost some mass to our brains along with other organs in the body. I know that I am a lone soldier on this message board about this but I do not believe that Michael¡Çs motives were pure as he and his attorney make him out to be. Not that it matters, but I also believe that Michael belongs in the same category as some other high profile cases i.e. O.J. Simpson and Michael Jackson. I am happy that Terri is no longer suffering at the hands of her monster of a ¡Èhusband¡É You don¡Çt have to dispute this, these are my feelings and because they are my feelings it is true for me. May Terri rest in peace. Thanks.

Someone correct this assertion if it is wrong: I assert that it was Elder Boyd K. Packer who mentioned something about severe penalties, in a talk he gave at this last General Conference of the Church. Something about the "penalties" attached to talking negatively about anything that the Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. might have done wrong. I am deeply saddened that Elder Packer did not say just what those penalties were. I am totally disappointed that Mormon Church Leaders have to continually make subliminal threats, in order to instill conformity through fear! I have children yet in their 30s. (And, so am also a grandparent). When raising those children of mine, it seemed very appropriate and very-adequate to have a system of parenting in my home where natural consequences were the result of wrongdoing: those "results" just plain followed, as naturally as breathing. They were both age-appropriate and quite fair and reasonable, in their "naturalness", to coin a word. In short, there was nothing severe or extreme about the discipline, in my home. HOWEVER, if there had been a need for a hands-on discipline that was "custom fit" to the occasion (beyond the general rules and guidelines that were in place), then we--as parents--would have spelled out just what those consequences would be. There was nothing of what my own generation was taught with the old saying, "The Boogeyman will get you if you don't watch out!" FEAR is not a good motivator! I am always surprised (in an unpleasant way) at the insensitivity of people whose remonstrations have the "texture, feel, and flavor" of words like those spoken by Mr. Elder Packer, in that specific talk, earlier this month. What I hear is a "boogeyman" sort of warning! That those "consequences" aren't even spelled out is just what one would expect from someone who wishes to appeal to fear rather than to integrity. I wish he had not acted the way he did and said what he said: it was a gross disappointment, to me.

I would write a letter to the First Presidency (if I knew that it got read): so, discounting the fact that there seems to be a deaf ear, in certain places, I post here. Substance of my "wish list" (which is short): Please, Elder Faust, don't make another talk that seems to be a gross departure from what it is that you are called to do, namely, "Testify of Christ". Please, Elder Faust, refrain from talking derogatorily about a long-dead, well-known, and highly-appreciated (and respected) American satirist of the 19th (and part of the 20th) century. Please, Elder Faust, don't disparage and sully the name of someone who cannot defend himself and his reputation because he is dead and cannot come back to do so! Please, Elder Faust, think twice about commiting yourself to a "talk" that comes across as little more than the gossipy whisperings of a small flock of school girls! Please, Elder Faust, remember that "gossip" includes talking about someone without telling the listener who the person is--the one who you are talking about: like, for sure, we won't say (whisper, whisper), but you know who this person is, already (whisper, whisper)!

I assume you mean within Christianity. Long before the Romans were clean shaven, the Egyptians were clean shaven. I'm talking no hair at all! Bald as a billiard ball--body and soul! (of course theirs was more related to a distaste for lice than anything else.) At least, that's what Cecil B. DeMille wants us to think.

Well, crud. I and my nine measly chest hairs feel completely bereft of strength and rule.

Just plain good PR. When was the last time anybody's vote meant anything. All you get to do is "sustain" the brethern. And if you put up your hand at the wrong time, you will get called into the Bishop's office and get raked over the coals, and probably get a lecture something like this: "When the brethern speak, the Lord has spoken. Who are you to challenge that?" Ok, they might not put it in such a didactic way, but the message will be there.

PS-2: I have heard from a personal and reliable friend (in a diverse place) where the 3-hour block is being "shortened" by one hour, on a trial basis. (Guess which of the three meetings is being eliminated, there?) So, maybe your prayers have been answered already, ahead of time?!! <span style='color:blue'>President Hinckley on a “big announcement?” “I'm not gonna tell ya...I know somethin' but I'm not gonna tell ya about it...you'll have to hear it on your various television stations!" http://kutv.com/topstories/local_story_070183612.html Maybe this 'big announcement' is regarding changes to the 3 hour block. Has anyone here heard what this 'big announcement' is? M.

You are bringing up that old thing ~ wasn't it Poleman's talk ~ the one he gave after his 19 year old committed suiside and he was a little off the beat?

Duckster! You got my attention here. Why do you wonder such a thing? Of all of the brethren to wonder about, he seems like one of the most unlikely to have doubts (to me, anyway.) Elder Packer sometimes a little too concerned that people will delve into Church history too far; his message is that people should toe the line and not question. When you're confident of your message, you don't have to be afraid of scrutiny. The most authoritarian types are sometimes the least secure. I think the late Hugh B. Brown's approach to the Gospel showed far more confidence that the Church would stand up to scrutiny. Of course, he lived during the Church's golden age of the 1940s and 50s, where the Church didn't face some of the challenges it does now, so it may be that Elder Packer's seeming bunker mentality is in response to the times. I think what you want is a grave digging expedition on a rainy day ~ What the apostles are called to do is testify of Christ and Him crucified and ressurrected.

Hmmm...Interesting. I'm not sure if I've read that talk. My mom was an avid Packer fan, but I always found him to be rigid and condescending. Still, I was excited to hear him speak when I was in the MTC. It was (bar none) the most uninspiring talk I 've ever heard. He spent the whole time talking about a personal problem he was having (he was receiving prank phone calls.) He was so freaked out by it that he couldn't get off the topic. Granted, even apostles have bad days, but I left feeling like this was a man who couldn't stand being out of control of a situation. He didn't seem like a very happy person at all. It sounds like he most-definitely wasn't a happy camper at all! (He ought to get out of that CAB more often: you know, "mingle with the people"; he may be taking that legal administrator bit a little too seriously!) But, if he likes to "push pencils" (viz, what administrators do best), then who am I to complain.