Vort

How DARE he engage in such absolutism!!!! No doubt fair-minded Liahonas everywhere are outraged.

The question is not whether desires of the flesh are "inherently evil". The question is: Who is the master, the spiritual desires or the fleshly desires? Desires of the flesh, like fire, are a useful servant but a fearsome master.

It's an amazing story: Many of us have had experiences with the sweet power of prayer. One of mine was shared with a stake patriarch from southern Utah. I first met him in my medical office more than 40 years ago, during the early pioneering days of surgery of the heart. This saintly soul suffered much because of a failing heart. He pleaded for help, thinking that his condition resulted from a damaged but repairable valve in his heart. Extensive evaluation revealed that he had two faulty valves. While one could be helped surgically, the other could not. Thus, an operation was not advised. He received this news with deep disappointment. Subsequent visits ended with the same advice. Finally, in desperation, he spoke to me with considerable emotion: “Dr. Nelson, I have prayed for help and have been directed to you. The Lord will not reveal to me how to repair that second valve, but He can reveal it to you. Your mind is so prepared. If you will operate upon me, the Lord will make it known to you what to do. Please perform the operation that I need, and pray for the help that you need.” His great faith had a profound effect upon me. How could I turn him away again? Following a fervent prayer together, I agreed to try. In preparing for that fateful day, I prayed over and over again, but still did not know what to do for his leaking tricuspid valve. Even as the operation commenced, my assistant asked, “What are you going to do for that?” I said, “I do not know.” We began the operation. After relieving the obstruction of the first valve, we exposed the second valve. We found it to be intact but so badly dilated that it could no longer function as it should. While examining this valve, a message was distinctly impressed upon my mind: Reduce the circumference of the ring. I announced that message to my assistant. “The valve tissue will be sufficient if we can effectively reduce the ring toward its normal size.” But how? We could not apply a belt as one would use to tighten the waist of oversized trousers. We could not squeeze with a strap as one would cinch a saddle on a horse. Then a picture came vividly to my mind, showing how stitches could be placed—to make a pleat here and a tuck there—to accomplish the desired objective. I still remember that mental image—complete with dotted lines where sutures should be placed. The repair was completed as diagrammed in my mind. We tested the valve and found the leak to be reduced remarkably. My assistant said, “It’s a miracle.” I responded, “It’s an answer to prayer.” The patient’s recovery was rapid and his relief gratifying. Not only was he helped in a marvelous way, but surgical help for other people with similar problems had become a possibility. I take no credit. Praise goes to this faithful patriarch and to God, who answered our prayers. This faithful man lived for many more years and has since gone to his eternal glory.

So do you believe Father to lack wisdom, or do you think he is not loving?

Where common law marriage is recognized, it is considered another form of marriage, just as valid and binding as a marriage contracted by ceremony. In the US, there are eleven states plus DC that recognize common law marriage.

I don't understand, Tim. Whether one translates the preposition as "on" or "out of" or "at" or "through" or "above" or "inside of" or anything else, the point is "the right hand". The Father apparently has hands -- at least two -- and one is on "the right".

Yes, and some of them are well into their thirties.

You need support, much more than anonymous people on an internet discussion list can provide. Go see your bishop immediately.

How about meet him at the door wearing nothing but a smile... ...and a wedding gown... ...and holding a suit and tie... ...and with marriage license in hand... ...and an appointment with the justice of the peace... Just thinkin'.

So the moral is, Vort is a space cadet?

He was President Kimball's surgeon, as I recall. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

...Peggy Fletcher Stack is a space cadet? LDS apostle Robert D. Hales was the only member of the church's Quorum of the Twelve who did not speak during the church's 181st Annual General Conference last weekend. Hales, who suffered two heart attacks before becoming an apostle in 1994, was “recovering from surgery,” according to LDS Church spokesman Scott Trotter. Hales did attend at least one session Sunday and was spotted with a leg brace.

He was a noted cardiac surgeon who developed some techniques in heart surgery. He did not invent the field.

I assume she meant "emphatic". Those who boldly state an emphatic opinion are often accused of being judgmental.

"Judgmental" is the condition of rendering judgment. In the common vernacular, it has come to mean pretty much what you suggest. But that doesn't mean I have to condone the usage. If someone wants to say "condemnatory" or "self-righteous", he can say "condemnatory" or "self-righteous".

Weird people have underwear fetishes. Even weirder people simply enjoy desecrating the holy symbols of other faiths.

At least Snow has finally classified me correctly.

Then the answer is obvious. Based on the definition you give, one cannot simultaneously be "truly religious" and "judgmental". For the record, I disagree with your definition of "judgmental".

I am appalled at your judgmental attitude toward those who condemn judgmentalism. I condemn you in the strongest terms I can muster, without being judgmental.

What do you mean by "judgmental"? Can you give examples? For example, is God judgmental? Is a bishop in council judgmental? Is a stake president who excommunicates an adulterer judgmental? Knowing what you mean by the term will aid in giving an answer that makes sense.

Agreed, on all points.

I don't believe I said anything about being set apart. I specified "stewardship", and I agree that parenting is a divine stewardship.

No, such cynical smart-aleckness does not help.

He was not making a logical argument. He was giving an example. You might as well say that Christ was wrong and illogical because people don't grow wool out of their bodies.

Everyone knows that American women are . They may differ slightly in appearance, but while we distinguish the persons, we do not divide the substance.