candyprpl

God

GIVE!!!! I get when I see the gratitude. Romantic get-away or family get-away?

No doubt I can get defensive -- not really about being Mormon -- my sisters were Mormon 30 years before me and I always thought they were kind of wierd but was happy that they found something that made them so happy:lol: So now I don't have a leg to stand on when it comes to being teased about being Mormon. I really hate contention and confrontations -- even in my youth -- I was one to just walk away rather than..... but when someone is determined to get me fighting then I get defensive.

I read the article -- not convinced that it's because they are atheist that Scandanavians are the people they are. There are other countries that have lower crime rates and social problems than the US and Europe and they have Christianity. A sociology professor of mine always warned us to not believe everyone elses point of view. Anyone can do research and have their opinion confirmed. I would be interested if this sociologist interviewed any of the 20,000 Scandanavian LDS that live in Sweden and Denmark. By the end of 1990, the LDS Church had over 20,000 members in seven stakes and 119 wards and branches throughout Scandanavia, served by a Temple in Vasterhaminge, Sweden. My sociology professor talked a lot about Sweden and Denmark and has visited there a lot -- he pointed out that if you like a Socialist Party kind of country, then you will probably like it there. He also pointed out that the same things that this other sociologist pointed out. It may work for some, but not me -- I don't want the legal use of drugs and prostitution where I live. Maybe if I was born and raised there I would have a different understanding. Our country has so many different cultures trying to live together, therein lies the difficulty. P.S. My nephew served his mission in Sweden -- loved the people and had wonderful conversations with all. I remember him telling us how welcomed he felt. Maybe that's our problem here in America, we don't welcome other points of view.:)

I'm not being contentious, please understand that. You seem to be very defensive when it comes to being happy and being atheist. I'm just trying to understand. I accept your point of view, honest. I love sociology -- it's helped me to understand that my way of doing things is not always the only way. Where is the 'area of the world that is mostly atheist'?:) (edit) sorry missed the article link, checking it out now. I came from a religion that thought I was going to Hell -- that's why I gave up on religion for a while. I'm glad to have found the truth, is all I can say.:)

Yeah, what she said, :) I'm enjoying life immensly and I like knowing that this is not the only life there is, however, it's not the only reason I'm enjoying this life. Even if this was it and when we died that was the end, what would I have lost by believing in a next life. If you're dead, you're dead, no regrets to be felt.

christlike

The Underdog! I'm a 49s fan -- how underdog can you get, hahahaha,LOL! (anything) selling or buying?

godliness

Sunday!!!!!!! (music) classical or contemporary?

revolution

:lol: Ceeboo, who hates you? I'll have a talk with them:p:lol:

I'm not shocked by that poll -- Atheists are a minority and when has there not been prejudice and bigotry when it comes to a minority? BTW -- I hate it all!

You might be interested in Mormon Women: Who We Are. It may not be exactly what you're looking for -- but it is really inspiring.:)

You beat me to it -- I was going to suggest LDS GEMS. I recieve them and enjoy them too. I also like the Youth Gems as well.

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ, we seek to bring all truth together. We seek to enlarge the circle of love and understanding among all the people of the earth. Thus we strive to establish peace and happiness, not only with Christianity but among all mankind. This is good advice and I wish we could all live by it -- it would bring us closer to having a global faith. It's obvious that we can't agree on everything but if we would 'seek to enlarge the circle of love and understanding' that would be a wonderful thing. In the message of the gospel, the entire human race is one family descended from a single God. All men and women have not only a physical lineage leading back to Adam and Eve, their first earthly parents, but also a spiritual heritage leading back to God the Eternal Father. Thus, all persons on earth are literally brothers and sisters in the family of God. Even those who do not believe in God -- we know you are still our brothers and sisters and we should still treat you as such. Mormonism, so-called, is a world religion, not simply because its members are now found throughout the world, but chiefly because it has a comprehensive and inclusive message based upon the acceptance of all truth, restored to meet the needs of all mankind. I believe that statement with all my heart and I do try to live by it -- and yes, I do come up short many times. All men share an inheritance of divine light. God operates among his children in all nations, and those who seek God are entitled to further light and knowledge, regardless of their race, nationality, or cultural traditions. (President Howard W. Hunter, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.) 'those who seek God' -- that's what we have to remember -- not all are seeking. Elder Orson F. Whitney, in a conference address, explained that many great religious leaders were inspired. He said: "[God] is using not only his covenant people, but other peoples as well, to consummate a work, stupendous, magnificent, and altogether too arduous for this little handful of Saints to accomplish by and of themselves.... "All down the ages men bearing the authority of the Holy Priesthood -- patriarchs, prophets, apostles and others, have officiated in the name of the Lord, doing the things that he required of them; and outside the pale of their activities other good and great men, not bearing the Priesthood, but possessing profundity of thought, great wisdom, and a desire to uplift their fellows, have been sent by the Almighty into many nations, to give them, not the fulness of the Gospel, but that portion of truth that they were able to receive and wisely use." (Conference Report, Apr. 1921, pp. 32-33.) As LDS we should remember this counsel by Elder Whitney. I think we should be thrilled that there are other missionaries from other faiths out there helping to bring people unto Christ. I've read all the posts and this is a great discussion. This discussion has gone down a few different paths but not too far off the OP. My point in breaking up the quotes in my OP is to clarify (for me) the significance of accepting ALL and striving to do so, so that we may, possibly, live in harmony. And ditto Misshalfway's last post.

One mostly outdoor (because he's hyper) the other mostly inside because he's mom's lap dog, LOL! home-cooked meal or go out for a meal?

babies

pliers -- depends on the task at hand. soup or salad?

conversation

THE JOKES ON US!!! I was going to pontificate on several issues today, but I was reminded of something so funny and horrific at the same time, I have decided this is the only message of the day. What was the reason given for developing the Department of Energy during the Carter administration? We have spent multi billions of dollars in support of this agency and I am willing to bet not one person who reads this will remember the reason given. It was very simple. THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY WAS INSTITUTED TO LESSEN OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL. NOTE: In 2008 the Budget for this department is now at 24.2 billion a year. They have 16,000 federal employees and approximately 100,000 contract employees. WHAT DO THEY DO ANYWAY!

Two brooms were hanging in the closet and after a while they got to know each other so well, they decided to get married. One broom was, of course, the bride broom, the other the groom broom. The bride broom looked very beautiful in her white dress. The groom broom was handsome and suave in his tuxedo. The wedding was lovely. After the wedding, at the wedding dinner, the bride broom leaned over and said to the groom broom, 'I think I am going to have a little whisk broom!' 'Impossible!' said the groom broom 'We haven't even swept together!'

bacon

crepes, LOL! Okay I'll choose -- pancakes -- banana pancakes are the best! wood stove heat or central heat?

quiche