SanctitasDeo

I am not sure that women are paid only 75% anymore. I could be wrong, but my impression is that the problem has mostly been corrected. See: Wage gap myth exposed — by feminists - Society and Culture - AEI I do have some suspicion that this is a practical reason for the current setup of the church. Maybe men would be motivated anyway. I think I would. It would definitely change the way the administration of the Sacrament would have worked in my ward growing up, though. Eowyn, this made me think of a thought I had a few weeks ago. It seems to me that there are only two main functions of the Priesthood that women do not have access to: Administration of ordinances (aside from certain temple ordinances) and leadership functions that remain part of the priesthood. The rest of the functions are things that women have access to through faith. Reading the lists of spiritual gifts in Corinthians and Doctrine and Covenants and Moroni, it does not seem that the priesthood is needed for access to those gifts. And yes, healing is one of them. While they may not give healing blessing through the Priesthood, the gift of healing is not closed. The oath and covenant of the priesthood is another interesting thing to examine. It contains great promises, but they are promises that show up in the temple. Women are not actually barred from any of the Abrahamic promises that often get paired with the priesthood. They receive everything that men will receive, as far as I can tell. So the scope of women's rights and responsibilities as opposed to that of priesthood holders is only constrained in a few areas. The problem is that those areas cover a lot of practical ground in the church (leadership roles), whereas we don't talk much about spiritual gifts, and we stay away from any discussion of them that might seem to impose or take away from the priesthood, even though exercise of those gifts is heaven-ordained. Does that make sense? This is the first time I've written that down.

I like what Anatess and Bini said. I also like Dravin's last post. What a lot of people forget is that an active gay lifestyle is another sin like many others. How would you treat your son who leaves the church and lives with his girlfriend? Smokes? They are not exactly equivalent, but they are all situations where you have to decide what kinds of lines to draw. And it really doesn't seem clearcut to me. Different people will have different opinions about what constitutes condoning sinful behavior. Vort is right: there is no one size fits all solution. Like many other situations, it seems like this is best approached with prayer and fasting, asking the Lord what will be best for your family. It seems unlikely to me that the best thing will be to treat the situation as if it were ideal, but it is equally unlikely that the best thing will be to throw the kid out. That is how you break people. We do not shun people in this church.

I think I have only seen that happen in Russia with people who had never spoken publicly and were nervous (Not that people couldn't have the same motivations here). Personally, I think the solution for that particular problem is for the bishop to either not assign talks on talks, or to make it clear when he assigns a talk that he is not looking for a reading. I read an article that suggested assigning talks on passages of scripture rather than talks. I am also a fan of teaching people how to give talks. It isn't someone that everyone can just pick up, and it seems like we often just expect them to, especially with converts.

I always get red on these tests.

I was waiting for that. I didn't have to wait long.

Yeah, the point of the teacher is to facilitate, like Dravin and Vort said. I feel like the best lessons have been the ones where everyone in the room teaches each other. When one person drones on, everyone else seems to go to sleep. If the Spirit is the teacher, then your job is to introduce the subject and help create an atmosphere will the Spirit can be present. Preparation, prayer, and love for class members are all key parts of that.

You are very welcome. I can see how something like this might be overwhelming. skippy's reading suggestions are pretty good. I think attending church next week might be the next step. It seems as though the best way to go about deciding whether you want to join a church might be to check it out in person. But seriously, if you have more questions about the church or about what you read, feel free so start a thread here or PM me. The Book of Mormon has improved my life in countless ways with its teachings about Jesus Christ. I love to see it help others.

Yes, that would be horribly annoying.

Yeah, I've never seen a cliquish mentality. Mostly, people are happy for others when they get to go to the temple because they know the experiences they will get to have. I remember the first time a friend of mine from Russia went to the temple. I got to be there, and it was awesome. As in the original sense of the word: full of awe and wonder. It was an amazing experience. The temple ordinances are a kind of a school that the Lord has provided so that we can learn. As Dravin said, they are full of the power of the Lord. I like to go to the temple because I like to be close to Christ. I am trying to get to know him better. If you were to join the Church, you would eventually want to go to the temple, hopefully for the same reasons.

Well, there are a couple of things you can do. If you have specific questions, you can definitely ask them here. There are lots of members here who would be more than happy to answer them. Another thing you should do is read the Book of Mormon. You can order a free copy here: Free Book of Mormon | Mormon.org There are also lots of resources on mormon.org and lds.org. For instance, mormon.org has a place where you can chat with missionaries. lds.org has tons of sermons and things like that. Probably the best place to start would be to attend church. You can find the nearest chapel by going here: Find a Meetinghouse Near You | Mormon.org. What do you know about the church? Do you have any specific questions?

This is about how I feel. I hadn't found the words, yet, but I think these are it. I have thought about stuff like this before, and it can be interesting. The problem is that it tends to minimize the doctrine--the stuff that is important, like the Atonement--and focuses on the trivial. We don't need a technological explanation for the Spirit World in order to become more Christ-like, and while it might be fun to speculate like that sometimes, I feel like it takes away from the importance of the Gospel--the importance and primacy it should have in our minds. Wardhopping at BYU really isn't important. However, when reframing the Gospel could threaten doctrines that are important, like the Atonement or commandments like the Law of Chastity or the Word of Wisdom or Love your neighbor (I mean, what really matters, if I am not me, and I am just data in a hard drive in the sky?), then we have a real problem. I think that is what bothers me about this thread.

Also, who are the Gadianton Robbers, and what are they doing that is a threat? What are the credentials of the author, and how does he know about the conspiracies? I ask mostly because I have read some fairly well-written books about political developments that do tend to diminish personal freedoms or privacy in some way (there are some interesting studies on the increase of executive power in America, for instance). I've noticed, though, that the ones that use religious ideas and frame situations in terms of Gadianton Robbers and Kingdoms tend to be less well-researched and further from positions where one could actually see how the conspiracies actually work. When one can interview presidential aides, DOD officials, Congressmen, etc., one tends to get a more accurate picture, and I have not seen that in the religiously framed presentations with which I am familiar.

We've been shopping there while we live in D.C. For D.C. it really is pretty competitive (between Whole Foods and Safeway). I do not intend to go there once I'm back in Utah, though.

You do not offend at all. This is one of the most important questions one can ask. I would add several thoughts. From God's perspective, this life looks very different than it does to us. Death to us is the most mysterious loss and separation, unfair and undeserved. But to God, it is a coming home. The pain and suffering of his children does reach him. One of the most poignant and painful passages in LDS scripture is in the book of Moses (in the Pearl of Great Price). The Old Testament prophet Enoch is talking to God in an expansive vision. Our Father weeps with us. He weeps for those that are lost, and he weeps for those that the lost mistreat. I honestly believe that if he could do more, he would. In fact, he has done something earth-shaking that is often dismissed. He sacrificed his own Son to create an Atonement not only for sin but that will right all the injustices that come with this life that we chose. It is an infinite Atonement that covers every wrong. There is comfort for a comfortless world, hope for a world without hope, and love for a world that hates too much. This life is not a just life. But this life is the smallest part of an eternal existence, not just for God, but for us, too. We existed long before we were born, and we will continue to do so after we die. Not all our prayers are answered. We may not understand why, but I believe that we will know, one day. However, I have had prayers answered. My life is full with the knowledge that he knows that I am here; he knows what I am doing, my cares, my needs; he loves me. Even though life is hard, I have hope in Christ, for his love is overwhelming the more you get to know him.

Link drive-bys are kind of spammy.

I liked Dravin's example, although it is very much a parody. But I am not sure exactly what they mean. I can understand wanting to protect children from being told that their race is inferior or something like that. If the children were Italian, and the family really hated Italians and were busy teaching the children to hate themselves and their culture, obviously this would not be a good environment. However, it just sounds like they support a party that opposes immigration, which isn't necessarily racist (although it could be). It certainly doesn't make them unfit parents. If an orphaned child comes from Arab Muslim parents, do the foster parents have to be Muslim? Raise the child in Islam even though they are not Muslim? Greek Orthodox? Mormon? Neo-Pagan? Atheist? Religion is a huge part of many cultures. Do we have to find Balkan parents for the Balkan child? I think that the basic requirements that a parent care for the child's physical and emotional needs as a human being are really all that should be required.

What exactly are ethnic and cultural needs? I find this a little weird. I feel like people don't have ethnic needs. Your culture comes from the people you are around/have been around in your life. These children probably don't have a culture beyond that of their foster family. Also not in the artlcle: Do the children feel abused? Do they feel that their cultural and ethnic needs have been met/not met? How old is the older girl? I wonder where the kids would rather stay.

I was going to post something, but the internet ate it. Since Backroads said about the same thing I wanted to, I will second her words.

No, the advice is okay. Thank you. We will have to figure out sleeping schedules, especially once January comes, and we start the new semester. We'll have a more intense schedule then.

Welcome!

Thank you, everyone. Wild world it is. It's a bit like being a member of the Church--always an adventure.

Since I mentioned my impending son on another thread, I figured I'd announce this. He was born on Sunday morning. He is healthy, and despite some complications with his mother, she is now recovering and pretty healthy, too. As we gave her a blessing before surgery and during each incident, it was wonderful to know that the Lord was with us. I was worried that I was too out of it (not having slept and all) to hear the Spirit during the blessing, but after I said a couple of things (my words) the Lord's words came through. I just wanted to share that. This is all pretty cool.

Nothing in the chapel, nor in any one I've ever seen. However, there are pictures of the Savior everywhere else in the building. I also think this is kind of a silly line of reasoning. We don't need pictures to worship. The focus is the sacrament and our relationships with the Savior. I even like crosses and pictures, etc.

That is what the doctor said, too. It may or may not have worked. We're in the hospital now in the sort of contraction limbo: strong enough to stay, but not quite there. Pretty exciting, but pretty slow. Thank you everyone for all the suggestions. I didn't start the thread, but I've enjoyed reading the advice. It gives us lots to think about and to compare to what our parents did.

I would add that Christmas was pretty slow for us sometimes when I was a missionary. People get busy with celebrations and family and have less time for other stuff. We would have appreciated contact.