Islander

How? I said "Not at all", we should not boot them out of the Church. But the advise needs to be qualitatively different. That is what I am saying. Rather than a passive, hypocritical, untruthful, resentful and ultimately destructive attitude, those who struggle need to do it the Lord's way.

Not at all. Let me share my sometimes "extreme" examples, like my wife says. Imagine I feel I do not like my wife. I do not find her attractive, I do not want to be with her and I feel I do not love her any more. Delhi's advise equate to: "Well, stay with her just for the kids...go ahead and have a fling here and there so you can take care of your sexual needs...don't bother her or tell her how ugly she is...just be nice to her...have a date with a pretty girl now and again but be discrete...don't make waves at home just hang in there..." Instead of listening to these self appointed sages, we should head to the counsel of the brethren. If sin has entered into your live in thought or in deed, repent. Seek the counsel of your priesthood leaders, avail yourself of help within the fellowship, do ALL things necessary to strengthen your faith and your marriage. Cast out of your heart and your mind the thoughts the enemy has planted therein. Remember your covenants with the Lord and the calling to which you have been called. Remember how kind, merciful and forgiving the Lord has been with you all the days of your live. Remember that you once loved this woman, and promised before Him and witnesses to care, provide, protect and honor her. Do whatever it takes, no mater how much and how long to preserve what the Lord has consecrated. That would be the right kind of advise, don't you think?

The argument is useless when some already made up their minds. That seems to be the MO. There is no intent to engage in inquiry, just ill prepared argumentation.

Anger is a learned response like many other behaviors. It is a reaction rather than an emotion and thus, in some people, a maladaptive response to normal environmental stressors. In other words, since you were little you learned to react violently under certain circumstances. In small children is an attempt to manipulate the situation and get attention and it usually works so they keep repeating the behavior into adulthood. You should try and get some counseling and coaching to develop healthier response and coping mechanisms, as to deal with everyday life issues without biting somebody's head off. Not only that, angry people suffer hypertension, cardiovascular disease, ulcer, anxiety and tension headaches four times more than the general population. So, chillax!!!

Where did you hear that?

Again, in regards to the like of Delhi, there are those that seek to exalt themselves above the rest, disguising their own emptiness, spiritual decay and defunct faith with well crafted and manicured speeches. It is self aggrandizing, useless rhetoric. Who appointed him as an arbiter in spiritual matters? Is he a sage or a wise man on his own merit? It is just garbage. If your faith weakens, if your testimony falters, if hope weans; kneel down and humble yourself to the deepest recess of your soul and seek to repent. For after you have been handed the Gospel of salvation and the ordinances pertaining to such only sin can drive a wedge between us and our Father in Heaven. Seek to reach a state worthy of the emanations of the Holy Ghost and attempt, with all your might to reach the Savior's hand for His is stretched out still waiting for yours. Salvation is in Christ, in following his footsteps and worshiping Him in the spirit of truth, in full devotion, nothing wavering. Anything else is an affront and mockery that will not stand without judgment. "For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." Tim 3:2-5

About the education; they can go and work for a non-profit, rural areas or even foreign governments that will agree to reimburse for their student loans in exchange for working with them for a number of years. There, you work, get paid and get your student loans paid. The sum? Free college. I did it. The rest, I agree. Time, effort, energy, dedication, consistency. For some it is "too much." That is why most prefer 1 a week religions with no strings attached.

The most important thing is to reassure her that you love her and that the Gospel will strengthen your marriage and your family. It is true, it is difficult to comprehend her position but realize that it is a philosophical position not a religious one. She says she believes but there is no evidence of such. She does not know what belief is or her attitude would be different. Now, the adversary is going to work overtime to try and create a rift. Be aware and mindful of this. Discuss with her the changes that will take place in your lives on account of the Gospel (Sunday worship services and Sabbath observance, Home Teaching, callings, meetings) and help her realize that all it takes is a bit of planning and creativity to make it work. Find time for her, just her. Just share with her why you are happy and how you feel without going into details in terms of the religious aspects. Work on your genealogy this week and go to the Temple as soon as you can to do baptisms. It will be an experience that will change your life, promise.

Another factor is that many people have never done anything in their lives with that level of consistency. I was discussing with my wife that the US has, likely, the best education in the world and it is just about free but most people do not go and pursue higher education. It takes time, effort, dedication and consistency. For most it is just too much to ask.

Oh, brother...:rolleyes: This is a waste of time. He has but the most rudimentary grasp on the scriptures. This is going nowhere.

I am sorry, but that sounds like 4th grade logic.

I was referring to your assertion that the statement by Pres. Hinckley is an example of cherry picking...I am not interested in what other religions do.

I would have shot him...with some pepper spray. That would teach him....hehehehe

The question is: why do you still want to be close to people that do not respect you, do not care for you, insult you, disregard your family needs and completely deny you of dignity? Just because they are "family." I wonder where you learn that it was OK being mistreated, regardless.

I believe he is being a pragmatist and, IMHO, accurately looking at the cost/benefit balance. "A medicine that cures a few but kills a few is not good medicine", my grandma just to say. And your philosophical assertion about "the ends justifies the means" has been used to commit unthinkable monstrosities in recorded history. We must ALWAYS consider the means for it is and forever will be the testament of what we do and reflect on the values that we hold. I will keep it simple but, not all doctrine has equal value even when they approach the same subject. For example, the BoM testifies of Christ, of his birth, his ministry, the Atonement and relevance for humanity with precision, clarity and transparency that is not present in the bible. Some may not agree but there is no confusion or argument about what it says. Equally, regardless of the intended purpose, I will not consider an unqualified source on the web of equal value to what the Prophets and Apostles have to say on the same subject. Just a thought

I think you should consider very carefully and prayerfully any and all scripture, especially the teachings of the prophets before you offer a blanket statement as the one above. You should consider your choice of words better next time. Moroni was called of God to announce and revealed that the fullness of the Gospel shall be returned in this later days. It was thru the revelation to the prophet Joseph that this messenger brought that the new dispensation was open, that the work of the gathering of Israel commenced, that the news that God lives, that the Father and the Son remain fully engaged in the affairs of the world was announced. It was Moroni that pointed and shed light onto the ancient record, that foretold of the work to be done across the whole earth and thus announced, heralded to the WHOLE world that the work, the hand of the Lord, His blessings, judgments and justice was about to come forth. Beyond that, if a prophet of the Lord declares that prophesy has been fulfilled in that aspect, I am inclined to consider that, even if it is an opinion, to be of greater value than yours. I humbly suggest you ponder about this situation.

There s no argument there. The process has been outlined for two millennia: 1. One must hear the word by the mouth of of His servants. 2. Believe in the word as the Holy Spirit will testify that it is a true word. 3. Repent and turn away from sin and desire the remission of such sins. 4. Receive baptism in faith for the remission of such sins by those in authority. 5. Receive the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands by exhortation of those in authority. What we do later as disciples of Christ is evidence of our faith. It is our faith that leads us to love our neighbor, share the Gospel, our substance and our very lives in the service of others for that way we are in the service of our God. Our fath is in Christ, baptism is part of the way by which we begin to prepare ourselves to follow on His footsteps. "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins. " 2 Nephi 25:26 BoM

It is just 10%. I remember the check burning a hole in my pocket the first time. I subsequently read a talk from Pres. Hinckley on the subject of tithing and by gaining a greater understanding of the principle it made it much easier to obey and to live the principle.

I think this issue has been distorted and blown out of proportion by the media and specially those that know nothing about the realities and the rigors of war. If you slap somebody is torture, if you keep him awake is torture, if you play loud music is torture...if you call him names is torture. Go figure. In the other hand, I never said that it was the ONLY way to extract information. You did not suggest any other way, by the way. On 9/11 I was driving thru the desert on my way to San Diego. I had a flight to Seattle that morning. In a manner of minutes 3000 Americans were dead by the hands of foreign nationals in our own soil without provocation or stated reason. That does not make feel anything? You obviously have not seen the beheadings on the web of journalists and others that had nothing to do with the war. I think I will agree to split the difference here since we are at opposite sides of the ideological spectrum.

I am going to stick my neck out on this one, but I think you are having a psychological struggle with this issue more than anything else. I was born and raised in the Caribbean where more people wear very little "clothing", if you can call it that. I never wore underwear until I got into the military at age 17, so figure. Concentrate on the covenant you made with God. Go back to the Temple as soon as you can. Stop thinking about how uncomfortable it may be. If you lose an arm or a leg tomorrow you would have much bigger problems than slightly uncomfortable garments to worry about. Just choose to be faithful and true to the promises you made in the temple and in a couple of weeks you will be fine. Some sisters struggle with this issue for a few days but millions wear this sacred vestment with reverence and joy for what it represent. Just do it. It will be fine in a few days.

Whatever your struggles, you could work towards and prepare for a mission if it is truly the desire of your heart.

I suggest you may be mistaken. My ward has 68% of converts from 1-30 years of membership and there is really great fellowship and friendship wthin. Myself, a convert of 10 years, am well acquainted with the pitfalls of new membership in the church. There is no "single" reason why new coverts fall off the wagon. From strong opposition from family and friends, to difficulties adjusting to life changes brought about by membership impacting socialization, work and family habits, and struggling to adherence to the principles of the Gospel.

No. The endowment is an individual choice for an adult.

Do you have any suggestions about how to extract information from the enemy? Since the prisons in the US look better than any boarding school in the developing world, what do you suggest we do with those captured? All I am saying is that when faced with a pickle and the prospects of starvation you can philosophy, debate and theorize all you want. It comes down to whether you eat it or not. The current situation evidenced that Obama is a demagogue. The reality on the ground is quite far from the political stage. Gtmo will not close within a year, will not try those terrorist in Federal Court and we will not be gone from Afghanistan and Irak in 16 months as he promised. It evidences a number of things: he is complete ignorant of foreign policy, military strategy, the realities of war and the biter facts about the world we live in. Of course, he never had a ear job to speak of, he did not serve his country and he does not appreciate the true foundation of this nation. It is like eating ice cream and dening the existence of cows. At the end, if you give up space, if you step back and give your enemy room so you can try and negotiate, all you do is lose momentum and terrain. This is a war with no end and the most committed wins. You can not negotiate with one that wants you dead. You either fight or bow down and die.

You still did not explain Einstein's quotes above (the ones I cited). You are quite selective about your approach. But again, you still have much to learn. Carry on sport, do your thing and let me do mine.