Finrock

I think I can fix anything...until I can't. -Finrock

Maybe he (Greg Graffin) meant it or maybe it was sarcasm...I could never tell. It just came to mind. -Finrock

I think the phrase reflects a fundamental truth. I don't think that it excuses anyone of their sins or does it in anyway relieve someone of the consequences of their actions or thoughts, but, having said that, in the ultimate and final sense each of us will answer to God and He is the final and last arbiter. So, all things that a person does is between the individual and the Lord. Each individual is responsible for working out their salvation. No other person's faith, testimony, feelings, opinions, or knowledge will save me. It is only my faith, my acts, and my relationship with God that, in the end, matters for my salvation. -Finrock

Good Afternoon Backroads. I hope you are having a good day! :) We had a recent convert who's sister also joined soon after she did. Well, not too long after the sister joined, she also became inactive. During missionary correlation meetings the new member (who is a ward missionary) would frequently speak about her sister and she would feel ashamed that her sister in no longer an active member and she would apologize for her inactivity as if her sister's inactivity reflected on her. Our Ward Mission Leader told her that what her sister does, doesn't reflect on her at all and that she should stop apologizing and feeling ashamed, as if she had let the Church down because her sister went inactive so soon. Moral of the story? Much like what Vort stated, take your aunt to church and let her be who she is. It in noway reflects on you or anybody else. You do what you know is right and leave it at that. -Finrock

Good Afternoon Jenamarie. I hope you are having a good day! :) Consider this: Someone is going to have to build these structures. I can't think of many things that helps to put an end to poverty more than having a steady job that provides a good income. -Finrock

Good Afternoon Dravin. I hope you're having a good day! :) Just to clarify, if prompted or directed by the Holy Spirit a bishop would be well within his rights to let someone know that God has forgiven the individual who is confessing. It is significant to recognize that the bishop stands as a proxy for the Savior when we confess our sins. -Finrock

Okay, one more post for clarification, then I'm done. You're right. I didn't mean that I would not have to explain my decisions, good or bad, to God. What I mean is that I've committed no sin and I need not atone for having circumcised my sons, your opinion notwithstanding. -Finrock

One last thought and I'll be done with this conversation. Thank you for your opinion and I respect your opinion. I'm not trying to convince you that you are wrong in holding the view that you do. However, your view isn't morally superior to those who have circumcised or who are contemplating the circumcision of their sons. I feel good about my choice and I feel no shame or need to repent. I have no guilt, whatsoever, for circumcising my sons. I don't feel at all that I will be held accountable before God for having circumcised my sons. -Finrock

I may have misunderstood the implications and the various cues that are generally used to shame others while elevating their own moral status in various posts, but my sentence isn't a lie. You're calling me a liar as we speak. No implications required. Thus, when you accuse me of being a liar you are at the same time elevating your own moral standing. I haven't made a "they'll-thank-me-later" argument. But, I do thank my parents for circumcising me because I didn't have to deal with the painful issues my little brother did, who was not circumcised -Finrock

Hi Jenamarie and Hi Vort. I hope you both are doing well today! :) Removing a whole organ as a preventative measure isn't the same as removing a part of an organ which still allows the organ to retain its full functionality. If I could eliminate or mitigate the risk of cancer or some other medical issue simply by removing a small portion of my daughters breasts and which doesn't prevent the breast to function as intended, I would absolutely do it. I'd like to see a reference for the claim that the foreskin is a separate organ as opposed to it being a part of the penis organ. I've search the net and can't find any reputable source that makes such a distinction. Please and thank you. :) The sexual functionality of the uncircumcised penis seems to be the only issue with circumcision. But, sexual pleasure and performance is subjective. There are no indications that people who are circumcised are less sexually satisfied than those who are still intact. So, although the mechanical properties of sex are altered, it doesn't seem to matter. By removing a small portion of skin from the penis you can decrease and in some cases completely eliminate the likelyhood of various medical problems associated with the uncircumsized penis. With anesthetic the procedure is virtually painless and poses no significant threat to the infant. In most all cases infants grow up with a fully functional penis doing practically all the things a penis should do. The attempt in this thread to shame and humiliate parents who have circumcised their children with hyperbolic langauge and faux moral superiority is a complete overreaction and, frankly, ridiculous. -Finrock

Hi Vort. I hope you're doing well. :) As an adult, infant boys will not receive the benefits associated with circumcision. Hyperbolic nonsense. Again, nonsense and completely contrary to medical evidence. Evidence shows that circumcision is better for all of society. The argument, "Why fix if it isn't broken" is hypocritical. We provide vaccines to our children even though they have nothing wrong with them in order to prevent issues. It is better to prevent an issue than to cure it. Circumcision provides this type of protection. There are a multitude of reasons why circumcision should be done to all infant boys. The benefits far outweigh the risks. EDIT: And anesthesia takes care of the hurtful/painful part. Although I think it is safe to say that no male who was circumcised as an infant has any recollection of the event anyways. -Finrock

Both of my sons were circumcised. Both my wife and I agreed that it was the best option for hygiene and for health. Men who are circumcised are up to 60% less likely to get HIV from heterosexual sex (Source). And personally, I think it looks better. -Finrock

Good Morning carlimac. I hope you're feeling better! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. :) I quoted a scripture that I thought was relevant to what you said. I hope it is helpful. -Finrock

This is what we, the disciples of Christ, ought to be working on with all of our might, mind, and strength: There is no way we can bring about God's purposes and establish Zion if we, who have been called to the work, are advocating and celebrating fornication and the destruction of marriage. These are the last days. The elect are out there. We must cry repentance and seek to let everyone know what their true purpose in life is. All of this chaos and confusion and talking heads who spout gibberish about how the world ought to be needs to be ignored. The scriptures tell us what we must do and they have never advocated that we honor and support sin, sinful behavior, and the destruction of an institution that God established to bring about His purposes. Why are we happy to lead our brothers and sisters down a road that will not bring them eternal life? It just doesn't make sense. It is madness. -Finrock

Hi Bini. I hope you're doing well! :) God loves and embraces all of his children whether they have homosexual tendencies or not. It is precisely the fact that you and others identify people who have homosexual desires as "homosexuals" rather than just children of God who are struggling, like everyone else, with their particular weaknesses and trials. I am a child of God and so are you and so are all of the other people on this earth, even those who have homosexual tendencies. That is our core identity. Before anything else, we were God's. When you realize AND accept the true purpose of this life it is utterly foolish and indeed delusional to advocate and support a cause that will further prevent our brothers and our sisters from receiving the gospel of Jesus Christ and those blessings that come from obedience to true principles. Only with rhetoric can we separate God from the affairs of the state. The reality is that this world is God's and it is only His will that we should be supporting and advocating. Why do we fall for the false notion that allowing or supporting same-gender marriage (as if it were some equal rights thing) is some virtue? That is the twisted logic of people who do not understand God, His ways, and their true purpose in life. And here we have good people who otherwise desire to be good but they are blinded by the neat package of false equality for the sons and daughters of God who struggle with the trial of same-sex attraction. The irony is that in the end we are supporting their bondage to philosophies that can never help them attain eternal life. You want to know where true freedom lies; Where true equality is? It is with God and His ways! Wickedness never was and never will be happiness. If we desire the best for our brothers and sisters then we will do everything in our power to help them to learn about and accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the way and it is strait and narrow. -Finrock

Hi Suzie. I hope you are well! :) The issue isn't accepting or being ignorant to the fact that people differ in their ideas. Not one person that I can see is upset because people believe different. That is a bogus argument to make in the context of the discussions that have been going on. The issue is that not all ideas are created equal and not everything that is spouted by pop culture and the new age morality is to be accepted apathetically and without standing up to truth and light. There is truth. It is not relative. There is a right and there is a wrong. They are not relative. Truth matters. Upholding truth matters. We can't stand by in lukewarm and in delusional comfort when Satan and his cohorts are in full force destroying the family and, apparently, while those who proclaim to be disciples of Christ are celebrating because society is accepting homosexual fornication as some virtuous and special group who differ from everyone else in this world who struggle with perversions, sins, weaknesses, and the like. It also just baffles me to see those who have covenanted to build up the kingdom of God celebrating in unabashed joy about the destruction of marriage as created and dictated by God. It is astounding to me to see how many good people are being blinded by the clever yet destructive philosophies of men mingled with scripture that flows from the devil. When will we recognize that we can't have one foot in the world and another foot in Zion? The gap will become wider as time advances and those straddling the line won't be able to do the splits any more before they either fall on the left side or on to the right side. -Finrock

Good Afternoon justinc. I hope you are having a wonderful day! :) You don't specify in your post if this couple has been sealed. However, if they were sealed and the husband walks away from the Church, this in no way affects the sealing that was given to the wife. It is important to realize that marriage and sealing are not the same thing. The sealing that is pronounced on the man and woman during the sealing ceremony is for the couple but it is also an individual sealing which can only be negated by the unrepented sins of the invidual. -Finrock

Good Afternoon HooosierGuy. I hope you're doing well!:) This is ridiculous. Why do you assume that these women are being forced to wear head coverings? I wear special clothing as a Mormon but I am not being forced to do it. Taking your reasoning to its logical conclusion would also allow the government to dictate to me and other Mormons that they are not allowed to wear their garments. It is impossible (or at least extremely foolish) to seperate religion from politics. In fact any attempt to do so will result in an errosion of civil rights and turning morality in to a relativistic product where what is moral is dictated by the whims of those who have the most power. Without religion you could conceivably have a society that decides through popular vote that there is nothing wrong with torturing and killing infants for fun. This whole argument of seperation of church and state does NOT mean that religion cannot be or exist in the political system. It ONLY means that the state ought not to endorse one particular religion over the other. As an example, Finland has a state religion; the Lutheran Church. It is supported by taxes and has much clout in the direction of the country. Although Finns do enjoy the freedom to go to any church they feel fit to go to or to believe as they wish. But it is this type of state endorsed religion that if adopted in the United States would be a violation of our Constitutional principles. King Benjamin had no issues with being a prophet-king. He was involved not only in religion but was also involved in the politics of his time. The adversary and those who support him are working hard to remove God from government because when God is removed from politics we no longer have a guarantee of our inalienable rights. Rights become the product of government, which is essetially the arm of flesh, which is fickle and cannot be depended on or trusted. -Finrock

Good Afternoon Southern_Bell. It is a pleasure to meet you and welcome to the forums! :) I also have suffered from being abused. I've provided a link to a talk given by Elder Richard G. Scott that was a tremendous help for me in understanding a way that I could be healed of wounds that were inflicted upon me by others. I quote a portion below and then provide the link to the full article. I invite you to read it prayerfully and take the counsel given to heart. Elder Scott teaches true principles and they will help you greatly! Source of complete article: Link -Finrock

If it were me I would not ask to be released. I would talk with the parents and let them know that their child is not allowed to come to nursery or primary until they learn to behave in a non-abusive manner. I would also let the bishop know and explain to him that you are under no obligation to allow yourself to be hit and abused and that you will not allow the child to ruin the whole class. But I would also always be ready to forgive and forget if or when the child decides to act better. I would not let this bother me on a personal level. I think God gives us callings and He also provides a way for us to accomplish it. Quiting the calling even if you aren't "happy" at the time in my view isn't the best option. Put your trust in the God and seek earnestly to find a solution through the Holy Ghost. You have been given the gift of the Holy Ghost which entitles you to receive guidance, comfort, and revelation from God. -Finrock

Good Morning Lakumin. I hope you are doing well!:) The poorest American lives a life of luxury compared to the poorest people who live in most of the African nations. I live in Detroit and there is lots of poverty. However, almost every person who lives beneath the poverty line has a large 50 inch LCD TV, cell phones, gaming consoles, computers and internet access. I say almost everyone because I haven't visited all households but I would venture to quess that every poor family in Detroit has these amazing and wonderful blessings. It is hard for me, personally, to accept that these individuals truly are poor relative to people who live in 3rd world countries and who experience real poverty like: No running water. Sleeping on dirt floors. No internet. No TVs. No cell phones. No showers or baths. They are literally starving with very little opportunity for food and the basic necessities of life. American poor people live a life of luxury relative to the actual poor people who live in 3rd world countries. What is even worse is that many (not all) of the American poor remain under employed or remain in poor paying jobs because they are able to get these perks from government and other charitable organizations. They are essentially playing the system. It isn't done in ignorance. They know exactly how much they must make in order to still receive welfare, foodstamps, money, and other entitlements from the government. -Finrock

I can think of no better place to learn about the purpose of the Fall than from the Book of Mormon. From this scripture we learn some very important truths. First, God designed all things in wisdom because He knew all things. He also knew that there must be an opposition in all things. God created a scenario where opposition could take place. Also we learn that Satan's desire is to make others as miserable as he is. He knew that if Adam and Eve partook of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil they would have to leave paradise and live in the "lone and dreary" world where our mortal bodies would suffer all sorts of pain and discomfort and also where Satan would have power and could bring about the misery of mankind by attempting to lead them to hell. Eve eventually realized that it was better for mankind to pass through sorrow so that they may learn joy, pleasure, and be able to differentiate between good and evil. Furthermore we learn that even though God introduced the tree of knowledge of good and evil in opposition to the tree of life He did so in wisdom knowing that it is by having an opposition that will allow us to be refined and to experience mortality and thus making it possible for Him to bring about the immortality and eternal life of man. However, He also provided a Savior who "...cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. That they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given." This is the great plan. We are here to be tested. Mortality is a blessing. And so are our sufferings and trials. They are blessing that ultimately will refine us so that we can be pure like Heavenly Father through the atonement of Jesus Christ. There simply is NO other way for us to become like Heavenly Father. We MUST past through mortality in a fallen state being enticed by our flesh and the temptations of the devil. But, God's plan provided for us a Savior who would cover for the sins of Adam and Eve and also through the Atonement we can become free to choose eternal life. There simply was no other way for these things to be accomplished except in the way that they were. -Finrock

Good Evening Swiper. I hope you're having a good evening! :) Tell me of a time when religion did not exist? I think your assertion necessarily presupposes that God does not exist, thus it is begging the question. In any event I don't think you can prove your assertion. -Finrock

This was true when President George Washington advised the country a few hundred years ago and it is true today: -Finrock

Hi Dorian. It is a pleasure to meet you! I hope you are doing well tonight. :) We believe to create is better translated as "to organize or to form". All of us who live on this earth lived with Heavenly Father as spirits before we came to earth. We are literally spirit children of Heavenly Father which means at some point Heavenly Father created or organized or formed spirit bodies for us. Through mortality, or through this earthly experience, our spirits gain physical bodies. The physical body that my spirit is housed in was created or organized or formed from existing matter through a natural process by my mortal parents, yet I, as a spirit, existed prior to my physical body being created. Each of us have existed as individual intelligences in some form eternally and yet God has created or formed or organized for us spirit bodies which have inherited from Him divine attributes. It is because of God that we have been brought in to the state of existence that we currently enjoy with a divine heritage and a divine potential. Without Him we would have no opportunity to become more than what we are. -Finrock