hordak

Just to add i did research and found nothing that high ether except in the Gulf war 77 percent of Combat VEHICLES were lost to friendly fire but only 23% of the personal were affected by friendly fire 35 killed, 72 wounded. Plus it seems the most casualties due to friendly fire come from artillery, cruse missiles and bombs drop in the wrong place. That's comparing Apples and oranges

Florida Department of corrections Florida 10-20-LIFE -- Mandatory Minimum Prison Sentences

Actually it reduced gun crime rates 30% in 6 years. But i do agree changing hearts and minds is the real key.

This i why i like Florida. They are very permissive when it comes to owning guns, one of the first states to allow concealed carry IIRC, and are a "Shall issue state". But they are very stringet on the missuse of this right with a 10 20 life law pull a gun 10 years minimum fire it, 20 injure someone 25- life.

I'm a supporter of the 2nd amendment but think the problem with this, and most the "divisive issues" in our nation is it seems to be argued allot from the extremes with emotion rather than logic. What does confuse me on the issue is that states like California can severely limit the individuals right even though it's protected by the Constitution. However when North Dakota (IIRC) tried to place stricter restrictions on abortion it was shot down as unconstitutional.

I always think SubMachineGun

I'm kind of confused on the subject too. You have FAIR explaining that they were just sealing, I.E. non sexual. And i think the evidence and DNA testing that has been done supports that. But then you also have FAIR bringing up Abraham as an example. But IIRC the purpose of Abraham taking on concubines was to have kids/more kids and all the other Prophets and saints that practiced it did so as well. So why did Joseph need to be sealed to these women? Particularly the ones who were married? What was different then?

http://thm-a01.yimg.com/image/7255fc931fb8b4ac Big eyes. "Gangster" hands, surprised look and ambiguous gender. not saying the real vort is confused but i know i'm not the only person to mistake your gender based on you avatar selection.

Because Pam was taken;)

That's funny because i usually ask that question when i meet a member (outside of church obviously) . Your not an Michigan state fan are you? We may have met.

nice:)

I used to think it was better to live together. Learn how each other "works" in that sort of environment before taking the plunge would be help I thought. Turns out not. My wife and i took a marriage class a few years ago and statistics showed couples that live together first have higher divorce rates. In all fairness it could be due in part to other factors, but the study indicated that living together first gave couples a "just in case things don't work out" or "things might not work out" attitude from the start that carried over into the marriage.

I though i had brought this up before. I recognize your response. OP. Things happen for a reason. That reason is free agency. Not only our own, but others as well If Person X was "called home" and it "was meant to be" should we hold the drunk driver responsible when he was clearly just an instrument of God will? Should one strive to quite smoking, continue to exercise, eat healthy, wear a seat belt, helmet etc. if there is some predetermined date of death that cannot be changed?

I don't buy the "meant for this family" stuff that i did here from some teachers in primary. The problem is it ignores agency, and belittles the birth mothers experience in the case of adoption. If kids are "meant" to be born to a certian family then it would be wrong to give a child up for adoption, like saying "no thanks God". I have meet people who have adopted and claimed the child was "meant" to be in there family. It might be the best thing for the child, and great for the adopted parents but ignores the pain of the birth mother and i think it is selfish to think God would put someone through the pain of choosing to give up a child so "you" could get one. Plus it ignores kids who are adopted into bad home. And ultimately if adopted child, or even birth child was "meant" for that family then the parents had no choice. If family X was meant to adopt baby Y then when the birth mother , a 14 yearold, decided to get drunk and sleep with her boyfriend they did nothing wrong and were just fulfilling Gods plans. I can't imagine a God who would work that way.

For years the church and it's members have fought this idea that Mormons aren't Christian. I think uses in term Mormon Christian helps push this idea. Even though you mentioned it I have never met a person who fell the need to add Christian to their faith, they are Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist etc and the Christian is implied. Calling yourself Mormon Christian says (IMO) Mormons beliefs are so way out there they have to add Christian so people will know they are. on the flip side Besides, Mormon emphasizes scripture, "why are you called Mormon?" "Well God Gave us....,." Missionary moment.

"you can't help who you fall in love with" "It doesn't affect your marriage"

I have no place else to go:( Seriously.

Sounds like the problem is you live in the sticks:D

I have heard the argument before but usually it stems from the book of revelation. Of course they ignore the fact that don't add to this book means THIS BOOK , the book of revelation and not this book the bible which wasn't compiled until years after the quote was made. Plus IIRC Revelation wasn't the last book written. Just last in the bible.

I went back after 8-10 years of inactivity and lots of un LDS like behavior, laid it all out to the Bishop and his response was "welcome back" The purpose of discipline isn't to punish but to change the behavior. Assuming the behavior has been changed there shouldn't be any punishment. You don't smack a toddlers hand today because he touched the stove last week.

The "problem with prayer" IMO is that we are selfish, forget that others have free will, and expect the world to revolve around us. When we pray for a job promotion, or to win a basketball game we are even selfish with the results, we win, we thank God, while forgetting that another has lost, we lose, we take it as a lesson in humility without considering that the other person, prayed harder/ better etc Ultimately I believe prayers are answered not as "actions" but as inspiration. Praying for action is too late IMO. You don't pray to win the game, you pray for the strength to do 2 a day practices until your good enough to win the game, or to take the loss well. You don't pray for the job, you pray for the foresight and steadfastness to get through school and gain the skills to earn you that job. God isn't some Gennie lamp we rub when needed.

I find this whole "war on Christmas" to be ironic. This is the time of year when Christians get up in arms because the walmart greeters say "happy holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" and non Christians are offended by nativity scenes and it is ridicules on both sides. A historical look at Christmas will show the purpose for celebrating it is in December is to compete with the pagan holidays and to many of our own "Christmas traditions" are borrowed from them pagans. Instead of leaving boots full of food out in for Sleipnir, Odins 8 legged horse, in anticipation of gifts and candy ,we leave cookies for Santa, in hopes he will fill our socks. Instead of Yule logs and Yule feast we have Christmas feast. Instead of holly wreaths being used to protect the fairies from the harsh winters we use them just to decorate. Essentially we started to throw Christ birthday party early so we could one up the neighbors and save on supplies and decorations. We took the pagans holiday rituals, kept and adapted what we liked and tossed aside the Gods and ideas they were meant to calibrate. Now people are taking Christmas holiday rituals, keeping and adapting what they like and tossing aside the God and ideas they are meant to celebrate. What goes around... So i guess what i'm trying to say is if you love Christmas, then celebrate it, but understand that everyone doesn't, there are other holidays this time of year and that our "Christmas tradition" don't belong to us. And if you don't celibate Christmas, (though i doubt there are many on the board) understand that many do, they hold it sacred. Whatever people celebrate this time of year lets all try some of that "good will towards men" "What's in a name? A Rose by another name would smell as sweet..."

I think the confusion is equal on both sides of the fence . For every "anti" Mormon who brings up some old non official doctrine to prove their point, there is an "overzealous" Mormon who brings up some non official doctrine to prove theirs. I think if we as members don't want people judging us based on Brigham Youngs view on interracial marriage,(for example) then we need to stop judging each other based on President Hinkleys view on earrings. Because going off this press release from Vahn. Both are equally binding. If you put the emphasis on

Everyone knows there is only one prisonchaplain :)

Best answer ever. And the official answer as well. I will be post again when this hits page 5:)