MarginOfError

Just so you know, it very often happens in this Church that when you feel like you're ten steps behind everyone, it turns out they're all looking the wrong way and you're actually ten steps ahead.

The significance of this temple is not great aside from the fact that it significantly reduces travel for many of the members in the area. I would be surprised if this wasn't one of the smaller temples that they've been building for the past 10 years. And a temple that small simply can't accommodate all of the prophecies regarding THE temple in that area.

If the doom-sayers are correct, there will be a huge earthquake on the west coast and everything (and parts of) west of Colorado and Montana will fall into the ocean. I saw something about it on the History Channel, but didn't pay much attention to it.

When I was in the MTC we had an elder from England in our district. We used to love giving him a hard time about how the colonies cleaned Britain's clock in the Revolutionary War. One day we were at lunch, and as it happened, the MTC president, his counsleors and their wives were all at the next table. We proceeded to give this poor elder a hard time and he seems to finally have snapped. He said very emphatically, and quite vociferously, "the Americans only won because half of the British troops were tied up fighting the French. If we had had our entire army, we would have come over and kicked your A****!!!" We all just about fell out of our seats laughing. The mission presidency heard it, looked up, and they seemed to be debating among themselves whether it was something they should address. This elder claims that the word he used wasn't considered profanity in England. I'm not sure I believe this, but he did look genuinely confused about why we all started laughing. oh, and no, I don't drink Coke. Pepsi is much better.

Who says they aren't to be taken out of the picture? Perhaps the truly righteous would be inspired to cut these as well. (spoken in my best mock self-righteous tone :) )

1) What if your pro-life, anti-gay marriage candidate was a homosexual male? Don't be sexist now. 2) Did you just call Harry Reid a lesbian?

As someone who has voted Libertarian, Republican, and Democrat, all I can say is you have to weigh as many issues as you can as best as you can and then choose the candidate you have the most faith in. You pick the candidate that you think will get the most word done in a way that you're comfortable with. And then you live your own life as best you can and try to influence those around you to do the same. Ultimately, the greatest changes in society will happen at the micro level, and you're involvement there will do more to change the lives of individuals than any national or state elected official.

Doesn't matter. The Secret Service doesn't base their security protocols on cross-sectional data.

I don't think the Secret Service would permit Ayers into the White House anyway.

Oh, that cattle ranch...I hear they're expanding that to include sheep and birds to prepare for the restoration of the Law of Moses. And if you believe that, I've got a footbridge from Rhode Island to Hawaii I'd like to sell you.

I tried really hard not to make my request for references at all snippy. I apologize if it came across that way. And I appreciate your resource. There was one reference in there I've not ever read before. To provide direct access the the sources given: The Do's in the Word of Wisdom I have a Question (Read the second question) I like in the second reference where the author states In light of this quote, the information you posted is even more valuable.

If you really want to hate Satan and stick it to him, do the last thing in the world he wants you to do--learn to love him :) I love all the paradoxes of the Gospel.

I thought this was way funny...then I read this I wonder how many of the late night shows will use this same line?

Source please? I honestly don't care if you believe this or live it or whatever. I just request that if you're going to speak definitively you provide a reference to justify. I also believe the Word of Wisdom is inspired. I know we were counseled that 'hot drinks' means 'coffee and tea.' (See Stephenson, Ensign July 2008; I believe the original statement was given in the 40's but I can't track it down right now...a little help please). Believing this to be inspired counsel, I'll follow it regardless of the reason.

Only two comments from my seat in the peanut gallery: 1) As long as your fast includes prayer and sincere meditation and study, I think you can fast as often as you like. 2) Make sure you're getting enough nutrients in the meals you do eat to take care of your body. Or, if you think it would be better, fast every other day. But really, how often you fast is up to you. oh, and a special bonus comment (aren't you lucky!). Perhaps for as long as you're doing this you could find some special kind of service to provide others. Remember, part of our monthly fast involves sacrificing charitably for others. I promise you will receive greater insights and revelations to your personal matters and questions when you put your mind to helping someone else.

This is a very interesting question to me, and one I've given lots of thought. In fact, because of this question, I've done some informal studies into the characteristics of Lucifer and what makes him tick. Honestly, the guy fascinates me. And I think people would be surprised how much they can relate to Lucifer. From here on out please take everything I say as speculation. I've not got references and resources collected to defend much of what I say. Also, feel free to nitpick at it. I'm not going to attach myself to these thoughts unless I can tie them down with appropriate references. Many of us have grown up with the idea that we are tempted into sin, which naturally leads to the conclusion that Satan must have been tempted. I'm not sure I buy into this. We were intelligent beings even before mortality. We had the ability to think, reason, and postulate. Why wouldn't we have been able to brainstorm alternative plans for the Plan of Salvation? It'd be like your bishop saying, "let's set up some tables for our chinese food activity" and you saying, "wouldn't it be more fitting if we sat on the ground?" I also believe that as intelligent beings, we had desires and passions. It so happened, that Lucifer liked to feel important. And the ultimate in importance is having people worship you. The thing he coveted most was to be worshipped by others. He also seems to have wanted it right away. His passion for power and status corrupted him and he chose to pursue it. There are other explanations I could offer that dive into weird tangents that aren't appropriate for this medium. But the above is one such possibility. So if it's possible that Lucifer required no temptation in order to sin, where does that leave us? We often say that we are tempted into sin, and we get this vision of a little angel on one shoulder and a little devil on the other. But isn't it also possible that we give Satan way too much credit for our own sins? I think we may choose to do plenty of wrongs on our own without any of his influence. The other interesting conclusion I've drawn about Satan is that he really doesn't care about any of us. We sometimes hear it said that Satan wants us to be miserable like him, and I don't know that I believe that directly. Satan is power hungry. He wants people under his control. He wants people to obey him. It just so happens that if he can get you to follow him, you'll be miserable.

Riding the bus this morning I remembered some other references that might shed light on what we were talking about. It seemed like a topic worth its own thread, and I didn't want to sidetrack off of the discussion in which this discussion appears. So, for context, here's the progression of the discussion: I also submit the following scriptures I'm curious what others think of this.

My only advice is to protect the children without remorse. I don't know if this is a first time issue or a second, but you did the right thing getting the police involved. When you notice the dog off the leash, especially if unattended, call the police and notify them. If there's a history of reports, the next time a child is injured, the city will likely put the dog down. I know that's harsh, but it is my opinion that we put human life before canine life. And if the dog owner isn't going to respect that, then he or she shouldn't have the dog.

In the very first episode of The West Wing, a religious leader asks President Bartlett, "Children are able to buy pornography from street vendors for five dollars. Don't you think that is too high a price for free speech." Bartlett looks him square in the eye and says, "No. But I do think five dollars is too high a price for porn."

Here is an introduction to why some say that the LDS people should not have face cards: I'm sure you get the point. Take it for what you will. Personally, I think the standard is like killing a spider with a wrecking ball when a napkin would do.

I have to admit I've done this on occasion, but it's usually a matter of habit (unfortunately). Invariably, when I hit the second, "In the name of" I cringe a little thinking, "I already said that!" Usually no one else notices.

let's not forget entertainment. Who doesn't enjoy a good laugh at a monkey's antics?

I try to say this sincerely and without cynicism, even though I fear it won't come across that way in text: If if helps your faith and comfort in what is being done, then it can't be all that bad.

That is probably the greatest measuring stick of sensitivity I've ever seen!

I appreciate the knowledge. I would be hesitant to base an argument on that as it was the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve who approved the printing of the current addition with the comma in place. For all I know, the extra comma was an oversight, but I'm just not ready to base my entire explanation on that. I do agree with everything else you said!