skippy740

Banned
  • Posts

    5396
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    1

Reputation Activity

  1. Like
    skippy740 reacted to Just_A_Guy in Boy scout executive committee approves gay scout leaders   
    I agree with DHK, the new press release is very problematic. The first release makes sense if the Church didn't want to be seen as influencing the vote--but this new release makes it look like the Church *did* want to influence the vote but was unable, in this modern age of instantaneous global communications, to call an emergency teleconference of its key policy makers in order to come up with a grand strategy. It's the PR equivalent of "my dog ate my homework".
    And that line about "The Church has always welcomed all boys to its Scouting units regardless of sexual orientation" is just plain hooey. The Church couldn't have welcomed gay boys into its Scouting units before last year, because BSA policy didn't allow it to.
  2. Like
    skippy740 got a reaction from Backroads in Boy scout executive committee approves gay scout leaders   
    I don't get it:
     
    http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/church-re-evaluating-scouting-program
     
    Just two weeks ago, they put THIS one out:
     
    http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/church-comments-on-boy-scouts-of-america-resolution-on-adult-leader-standards
     
     
    The way I understood everything was that as long as the chartering organizations can choose to appoint whom they wish, consistent with their values, there would be no conflict.
     
    Whatever.  I'm fine with whatever decision, but I wish they would be clear in what they intend.  To me, this new release sounds childish because they didn't hold the vote for a convenient time for LDS leaders... yet it didn't seem that there would be a conflict based on the standards being left with chartering organizations.
     
    I just find this odd.
  3. Like
    skippy740 reacted to Windseeker in Hi, new & need perspective   
    Does living the gospel encourage the view that a spouses pornography addiction is a "get out of marriage free card"?
  4. Like
    skippy740 got a reaction from The Folk Prophet in Hi, new & need perspective   
    Let's sum up, shall we?
     
    You have a husband who looks at pornography.  
     
    As far as you have posted, he is not chatting or hooking up with other women, correct?
     
    And he is trying to parent his children better than he can control himself, correct?  
     
    BTW, don't use the word 'abusive' until you know what it means.  Saying "If you were sorry, you'd stop.  Don't apologize unless you'll never do it again." is called PARENTING.  It's under the category of "Do as I say, not as I do."  I'm sure YOU have some things that fit into this category too, don't you?
     
     
    And YOU'RE the one thinking about divorce???
     
    I think there's a BIG PROBLEM IN ZION when the women of the church are thinking of divorce MORE than trying to fix the problems... or even if the problem is big enough to bother solving in the first place!
     
    There are plenty of people who have marriages that stick around to make work even when the spouse is addicted to alcohol and tobacco.  Yes, I agree that pornography can be thought of as a drug, and it can be a problem... but you're ready to "call it quits"???
     
    You have lost all trust in your husband and you are trying to 'parent' your husband instead of being his helpmate.
     
     
    Get counseling FOR YOU on this.  And I'm not talking about ARP meetings.  Go see a COUNSELOR.  Stop thinking about "tattling on your husband to the bishop".  Learn how to pick and choose your fights and issues.
     
    Out of all the things out there that could be threatening your marriage... I think you're turning an anthill into a mountain.
     
    Remember this:  the gospel of Jesus Christ makes bad men good, and good men better.
     
    As long as he is a good man, please be happy with him.  And the sooner you stop parenting him and nagging him about this... and start just appreciating HIM for WHO HE IS and WHAT HE DOES FOR YOU... the sooner you'll feel at peace in your marriage.
     
     
    (Says the divorced guy whose wife left him for numerous reasons but pornography was on the list too.)
  5. Like
    skippy740 got a reaction from The Folk Prophet in Hi, new & need perspective   
    Oh, and I have ADD and my son has ADD/ADHD as well.  I want better standards for him, so I will help him the best I can... because I'm the best he has in figuring out how to live with this mindset.  I will be harder on him than I am on me.  That's what good parents do - to help set their children up for success later in life.
     
    The more 'absolute rules' you can incorporate into the ADD/ADHD mind... the better and more disciplined that mind can be.  However, it takes one who HAS ADD/ADHD to understand that.
     
    Here's a rule that I have always lived by:  "Early is on-time, on-time is late, and late is unforgivable."  Got that from my marching band days and it has always stuck with me.  I'm early to everything.
     
    I'm also incredibly neat and tidy because my mind can't stand the chaos of disorganization.
     
    So, let your husband be the "ADD/ADHD" coach for your children... and make sure that he himself has his own medications and systems in place... because I'm sure that he has this too.
     
    ADD/ADHD is not an excuse.  It's an explanation that needs a diagnosis and new patterns of thinking and doing things to manage one's life properly.
  6. Like
    skippy740 reacted to Latter-Day Marriage in Hi, new & need perspective   
    You are not alone, this is sadly all to common these days.  My Bishop said to me that it is surprising the number of sisters there are addicted to porn, not just men. 
     
    My two cents is that if he is not sleeping around or abusing you or hasn't abandoned you or his kids then I don't think divorce is the way to go.  Think of this as an illness.  Would you divorce him if he had cancer, if he became clinically depressed?  Going on the war path against him over this is going to push him away from you and towards all those porn stars who never judge him, never push him away.  That doesn't mean you can't speak your mind, it just means you speak with love, not anger. 

    This is a serious problem but he needs your help and understand and love and example, not your anger and hostility.  You need to work as a team and fight it together.  Ask if there is anything you can do to make it easier for him to resist temptation.  He knows what he is doing is wrong, he feels guilt and shame over it and that isolates him from you and others and pushes him further down the path.  There is a lot of fear in admitting the problem and confronting it.  If he knows you'll be there for him no matter what it makes it easier to drop the mask and seek help.  Tell him you need the Bishop's help to deal with this and encourage him to go with you to talk with him about it.
  7. Like
    skippy740 got a reaction from Backroads in Boy scout executive committee approves gay scout leaders   
    First, Youth Protection and Two-Deep Leadership standards are to help protect youth (and adult leaders from unfounded accusations)... if that's your main concern.
    http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/GSS/gss01.aspx
     
    Second, religious organizations, by our very nature, are discriminating organizations... as long as such discrimination is based on a moral and ethical code of conduct.  I don't see where the long-term problem will be... as long as religious organizations (chartered organizations) are free to choose the scout leaders that embody and portray the chartering organization's principles.  Not all religious organizations choose to discriminate based on sexual orientation.  (We may believe that's for a 'filthy lucre', but that's our position and perspective.  Remember Article of Faith 11.)
     
    Third, remember that SCHOOLS also charter scout packs and troops.  Schools cannot discriminate based on sexual orientation as religious organizations could.
     
    Fourth, it could make for some interesting RoundTable meetings, as most are held at LDS church buildings since we don't charge for the use of the building.
  8. Like
    skippy740 got a reaction from EarlJibbs in Fiance cheated   
    I'm going to dissect your post and give you my opinion.
     
     
     
    Let's talk a little bit about repentance.  There are two kinds of repentance (generally).
    1)  Ecclesiastical clearance.  This repentance comes from your priesthood leaders.  This means a complete confession and humility in order to gain ecclesiastical clearance to serve in the church, partake of the sacrament, and be a member in good standing.
     
    2)  Changing of your heart.  This is done inside of our souls through prayer and connecting our souls and will to how our Heavenly Father wants us to live.  This forgiveness is harder... but it is sweeter.
     
    The Bishop helps with #1.  But you need to see #2 happen.
     
    Has he made an effort to avoid this woman at his work... or get a transfer... or find a new job?  We don't know the answer to that... and THAT effort is probably more important than anything else he says he is doing.  He needs to avoid contact with her, and if he stays at that job where she is... makes everything else much more difficult.
  9. Like
    skippy740 reacted to Just_A_Guy in Fiance cheated   
    *Shrug*  Maybe it's a regional/cultural thing.  Where I grew up, Bini's and Latter-day Marriage's definitions of "cheating" would have been quite current, even amongst the non-LDS community. 
     
    I don't think I'd be so quick to give the boyfriend a clean bill of health on the "a" word either, though.  I suppose one might argue it's not adultery if there's no actual intercourse (I haven't really thought that one through, and don't care to); but the boyfriend was smoochin' a married woman.  I would call that adulterous, even if it doesn't rise to the level of adultery.
  10. Like
    skippy740 reacted to Latter-Day Marriage in Fiance cheated   
    When you get engaged, even if you are just boyfriend/girlfriend, the relationship has boundaries and obligations to be loyal to those limits. Not being married just means a different set of boundaries and an easier time ending the relationship.   He did betray her, he was disloyal and it was cheating.  The outward act was not the same as having sex with somebody else, but in terms of what was in his heart there is very little that is different.  Cheating is what happens in the heart far, far more than what happens with the body.
  11. Like
    skippy740 reacted to dahlia in Spirit-Led Teaching   
    I don't know all the answers. I've read the Book of Mormon about 1.5 times. I listen to more LDS music and read more about Church history and Joseph Smith than I do the BOM. I can't cite chapter and verse of the Bible the way some people at church can.
     
    What I do during many of my lessons is turn it around to the class - 'You tell me about ...' 'I think this means X, but are there other interpretations I'm not aware of?'  'Tell me about some people from the BOM who embody this characteristic.'  That way, there is discussion, and they have to think about what they know and how to tell it to someone who doesn't know a lot (tell it to me like I'm a 10 yr old). 
     
    We have a number of recent and not so recent converts, so while I phrase my questions in terms of 'tell me,' info is also getting out to the other converts in RS. I also bring in quotes from other religions if relevant (I'm often  surprised at how little many of the sisters know about other religions) and have talked about civil rights/ethics/religion issues. I didn't mean to go there, but, for example, how do you talk about forgiveness without talking about MLK's Letter from Birmingham Jail and discussing how long you 'turn the other check' and when is it appropriate to move on and take action? I'm pretty sure they didn't expect that, but we wound up having a good discussion of women and abuse and 'taking it.' I can tell you now that the lessons from the born Mormons don't get anywhere near topics like this.
     
    Some of the lessons 'write themselves,' some make me sit and think and ask you guys stuff and scour the internet to help me understand. It isn't always easy, but I think it's worth the struggle.
  12. Like
    skippy740 reacted to Traveler in Divorce and the Celestial Kingdom   
    I am of the firm belief that when one repents that they are forgiven and can be exalted in the Celestial Kingdom if they so covenant.  In fact - trying to get to the Celestial Kingdom without repentance - I do not believe is a viable idea. 
     
    For the record - it is my experience that avoiding any sin is a lot simpler than going through the process of repenting of it.  But if anyone has made the mistake of trying to enjoy whatever sin - repentance may not initially seem as fun as the sin - but is well worth the effort.
  13. Like
    skippy740 got a reaction from Vort in In light of SCOTUS decision etc...   
    Here's the link to the Ensign 1979 article of that speech given in 1978:
    https://www.lds.org/ensign/1979/02/a-more-determined-discipleship?lang=eng
  14. Like
    skippy740 got a reaction from Anddenex in In light of SCOTUS decision etc...   
    Here's the link to the Ensign 1979 article of that speech given in 1978:
    https://www.lds.org/ensign/1979/02/a-more-determined-discipleship?lang=eng
  15. Like
    skippy740 got a reaction from Backroads in Just a matter of time - plural marriage challenge   
    The squirrels reminded me of this:
     

  16. Like
    skippy740 reacted to bytor2112 in In light of SCOTUS decision etc...   
    Thought this quote from Elder Maxwell is spot on:
     
    “Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions. (See 1 Kgs. 18:21.) President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had ‘never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life’ (in Conference Report, Apr. 1941, p. 123). This is a hard doctrine, but it is a particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ! We are now entering a time of incredible ironies. Let us cite but one of these ironies which is yet in its subtle stages: We will see a maximum, if indirect, effort made to establish irreligion as the state religion. It is actually a new form of paganism which uses the carefully preserved and cultivated freedoms of western civilization to shrink freedom, even as it rejects the value essence of our rich Judeo-Christian heritage.”
    “Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted. M. J. Sobran also said, ‘A religious conviction is now a second-class conviction, expected to step deferentially to the back of the secular bus, and not to get uppity about it’ (Human Life Review, Summer 1978, pp. 58–59). This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions. Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened.”
    “Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel. There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself. Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, ‘summer is nigh’ (Matt. 24:32). Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat!”
    Elder Neal A. Maxwell
     
  17. Like
    skippy740 got a reaction from Palerider in Just a matter of time - plural marriage challenge   
    And to put up with all those Mothers-in-law... ugh!  
  18. Like
    skippy740 got a reaction from Average Joe in Just a matter of time - plural marriage challenge   
    And to put up with all those Mothers-in-law... ugh!  
  19. Like
    skippy740 reacted to Finrock in Supreme Court ruling   
    Hi The Folk Prophet! I hope you've been well. :)
     
    You make a good point. I think that Satan's desire was to be a "savior" that would save people in their sins as opposed to saving people from their sins. This is certainly appealing to the carnal man. Ultimately the decision to legalize same-sex marriage is related and connected to the law of chastity. It is also related and connected to the idea of whether there is a God. Take away the rhetoric and what you have is a situation where the government is being used to take away the shame and guilt of something that is against the principles of happiness. People suppose that if they can get the crowd to normalize their sexually deviant behavior that this will take away the accountability. To commit sin and to not be bothered by it requires abandoning God's laws and you must ignore reality.
     
    -Finrock  
  20. Like
    skippy740 got a reaction from yjacket in Supreme Court ruling   
    You missed my point.
     
    My point was to stop putting hope in GOVERNMENT to fix individual morality.
  21. Like
    skippy740 got a reaction from Just_A_Guy in Supreme Court ruling   
    True.  I once heard one idea where Satan's plan would simply remove all of our logic and reasoning... and all our decisions would be made by instinct alone... just like animals, and avoiding the idea of learning anything.
     
    In either case, either decisions are made FOR man... or man becomes INCAPABLE of making such decision.  In either case, free agency does not exist.
  22. Like
    skippy740 got a reaction from NightSG in Supreme Court ruling   
    You missed my point.
     
    My point was to stop putting hope in GOVERNMENT to fix individual morality.
  23. Like
    skippy740 got a reaction from puf_the_majic_dragon in Supreme Court ruling   
    Government is not a solution.
     
    The righteousness of individuals is the solution.
     
    Change must come from within... not from outside sources imposing their will on another person.
     
    If we want the change to come about in this nation... it's up to us to invite others to come unto Christ, repent, and live as He would have us live.
     
    Expecting an external source to force a mandate upon its citizens - no matter how righteous or good was intended, to "compel righteousness"... wouldn't that look a lot like Satan's plan?

    No, we cannot rely on Satan's methods to make other people good.  They must have their own change of heart.
  24. Like
    skippy740 got a reaction from puf_the_majic_dragon in Supreme Court ruling   
    I recently posted this on Facebook as a note:

    Okay people, let's add some rationality here.  I'm going to look at this ruling on two levels:  legal and moral.
     
    On a legal level, why shouldn't same-sex couples be allowed the same rights and privileges as heterosexual married couples?  I cannot think of any good reason why they shouldn't, except if those reasons are rooted in someone's moral viewpoint.
     
    Now, let's look at morals.  My Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, has a document called The Articles of Faith - a summary of our beliefs.  The 11th states:  "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may."  https://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/a-of-f/1?lang=eng
     
    Do we, as LDS, really believe that?  On a moral/religious level, we can view same-sex relations as a form of idol worship, pleasing themselves rather than pleasing God... but that's really how WE may choose to look at it - on the outside looking in.  (This was essentially what Neal A. Maxwell was saying back in 1978 when he talked about irreligion becoming the state religion.  https://www.lds.org/ensign/1979/02/a-more-determined-discipleship?lang=eng)  We don't condone it, but who are we to tell others how to live... or even to make the Government enforce our belief on the ways we should live?
     
    What this ruling really caused... was the end of the Government and laws of the land being a source of moral living.  Perhaps that's a good thing?  I suppose that's a 'Libertarian' way to view the role of Government.  Of course, even Joseph Smith Jr. said "We teach them correct principles and let them govern themselves."
     
    My concern at this point... is will the rights of churches to worship and practice as they see fit will be respected and upheld in court.  As we know, anyone can sue anyone for any reason.  Churches will be sued for discriminatory practices.  (BTW, churches are all about discriminatory practices, as long as they are about worthiness and living according to one's own religious code of conduct.)  However, in a court of law, will these courts side with churches to allow them to practice according to our own conscience?  Or will our 1st amendment rights be infringed upon and penalized?
     
    I do believe in The Family:  A Proclamation To The World.  (https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng)  As a faithful LDS member, we sought to defend the definition of what constitutes a family because of our beliefs of pre-mortal, purpose of mortal life, and the future destiny of the family in the here-after.  According to our understanding, same-sex marriages don't fit into God's plan.
     
    So, for my believing friends - regardless of denomination - I remind you of what our job is.  Our job is to be an example of the believers and simply invite others to come unto Christ.  We love and respect others, yet we are to vote our conscious when we are called to do so.  This is why I often talk about the "LGBT Political Movement" and not mention individuals or people specifically.  I am concerned about the "LGBT Political Movement" as I see the next step being to attack churches that don't accept their chosen lifestyle (lifestyle, not necessarily orientation as everyone should be welcome in God's house).  (http://www.mormonsandgays.org/)  
     
    Voltare said, "I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."  Is free speech really that different from choosing how we want to live?  Do we want Government oppressing anyone from the liberty of choosing how they choose to live?  For me, I don't want Government interference in how I choose to live my life.  The higher the level of Government interference, the more that we are slaves to that Government, and then such liberty is truly lost for each of us to pursue our own definition of happiness.

    As LDS and Christians, we are concerned about the overall declining morals of the United States.  However, we cannot turn to the Government to "make it better".  We can vote for different leaders, but it's time that we stop depending on the Government to enforce morality.  That's not Government's job, and I don't think it ever should be.  That's our job as the Faithful... to invite others to repent and choose to follow Christ, to live as He would have us live.  However, as far as I know, Christ has never FORCED anyone to follow Him and His ways.  Let us follow that example.
  25. Like
    skippy740 got a reaction from Backroads in Supreme Court ruling   
    Just found this in someone's facebook post:
     
    Some Advice on Same Sex Marriage for us Church Leaders from a Canadian:
    http://careynieuwhof.com/2015/06/some-advice-on-same-sex-marriage-for-us-church-leaders-from-a-canadian/