Maureen

You didn't dodge a bullet, the US still elected a narcissist.
M.

You didn't dodge a bullet, the US still elected a narcissist.
M.

You didn't dodge a bullet, the US still elected a narcissist.
M.

For the little ones

I'm not seeing  a problem with what Clinton wrote the girl.  She expressed empathy by relating a similar experience.  I have no doubt (considering her reactions and actions after the election night) that she had extreme disappointment and feelings of sadness or anger or distraught or all of the above. 
Responding to a girl that seems to have expressed similar feelings after losing to a popular individual as a consoling letter seems to be nice gesture.
I personally did not prefer Hillary Clinton (nor did I vote for Donald Trump), but I am not so blinded by hate to slam her for such a thing, at least from what the news articles have related.
It seems to me to be a nice gesture from her to a student.  It appears the student may have appreciated it as the news says they are writing a letter back.
If the student was happy with it and not offended...why should I be?  Or anyone?

I had not even heard of this until the moment I read this thread.
Sometimes by protesting we bring greater attention to something than if one had not.

You gotta love Red Skelton. 😊
M.

@NeuroTypical
That's not the original song in the video you posted.  I can't say I'm a fan of the song one way or the other...but...
Context is King.  I think that song was original composed by a HUSBAND AND WIFE.  It was sung as a song BETWEEN A MARRIED COUPLE.  From what I understood, what you are hearing in the song is the debate between a wife trying to go to her parents and a husband keeping her there....at least as a joke.  The real joke is that they composed it as a funny way to tell their guests that the party was over and it was time for the guests to leave.
Several years later he sold the song and it was sung in Neptune's Daughter where it won an award.  It is somewhat of a different aspect and take, and thus the context is different.  In the way it is presented in the song, as it is not the original, it could be interpreted several ways, though I do not think that it implies the specific type of harassment of the sort people are complaining about today.  The Red Skeleton clip that I'll post is rather unique in it's presentation compared to what some are talking about regarding the song today.
As far as the original, the HUSBAND was the one who sold the rights.  The WIFE supposedly had NOT agreed for the song to be sold and was particularly angry at this.
The version sung in Neptune's Daughter.
And yes, for you Star Trek fans, that appears to be Kahn in the first portion of the song. 
Edit: And no, I've never seen the movie myself.  The context Neurotypical discusses may have been an element of that movie (if not in the original song), but that seems like it may have been a tad risqué for the late 1940s cinema.  (though there are some notably mature films out there that did get filmed and shown, Gone with the Wind was particularly risqué at points and it was a decade prior).

Someday I would really enjoy a sit down with you for a couple of hours.  When people make promises to me or to others that they do not keep - I get a little ticked.   When someone says they will pay for something and don't - I have a big time trust problem.  But it is not about money - it is about trust.  If someone borrows something - I expect it back.  I am still having a problem with myself because I borrowed something from you - and you did not want it back.  My little universe is out of balance.
When I am at a store and someone has placed something on a shelf that it does not belong - I have to take it and find where it belongs and put it back.  My wife is the opposite - if she decides that something she put in the cart is not going to be purchased, she will just put it on some random shelf and it does not bother her at all.  In fact it bothers her that I have obligation to put it back where it belongs.
I have learned to deal with most things - but when someone says they never do something - and I see them do it that at every opportunity - I have a real big problem loving them.  I have gotten past the hating them thing - but I cannot say I love them for it or despite it.  Except for the wife - she is the only mortal person that I can honestly say I have complete charity and unconditional love for.  There are many others that are close - but I have found that trust is the element that is necessary - if I cannot trust someone; I have not yet learned how to unconditionally love them.
 
The Traveler

We had our ward Christmas party last Saturday at the same location we've been holding it for the last several years. The weather was perfect and I think everybody had a really good time. Lots of footballs being thrown around and kicked, a bit of swimming, and lots of lieing around on rugs or in folding chairs just chatting and eating. No hymn singing at all. In fact, I suspect if anybody had tried any hymn singing, they would have received a few odd looks. 

That would be as simple a ward Christmas Dinner as you can get in my ward.
Last year we had a lip sync Christmas battle with the dinner.  It's patterned after that TV show.  You form a group, choose a Christmas song, and lip sync to it.  My kids were in several groups because the young men formed a group, then my sons formed another group with their friends (some non-members), and then we had a group as a family.  The bishopric formed their group and they won the thing, they were so good... they were dressed as farmers with their straw hats and suspenders synching to a honky-tonk Christmas song.  The young men did a great job complete with a couch and a fireplace (made of cardboard) to set up the stage.  I thought they'd win.
A few years ago we had a Christmas Play (Christmas Hang-ups), with a live band.  We've had a horn quartet with a sing-along.  We've had a live Nativity.  We've had a Christmas around the World where it wasn't a formal sit-down dinner, rather, there were several booths from different countries that had exhibits of their Christmas tradition and food and people went around the booths filling their plates.  We've had the Women of Christmas where we had several women dressed as a woman during the birth of Christ telling us about their experience on that first Christmas - we had Mary, Elizabeth, a shepherd's wife, etc.
Halloween and Christmas are 2 of our well-attended activities in our ward where we have tons of non-members attend.

Bunch of sharks in the water smelling for blood. How about instead of constantly trying to take digs at each other, we give everyone the benefit of the doubt for what they write? Would it be so hard to consider what others posted more thoughtfully like @Carborendum did just now?
Honestly, if I wanted to, I could be mad dogging you guys a lot more for the things you say. @Carborendum gave a great example of how @The Folk Prophet‘s words could’ve been twisted around on him just as easily. Here’s another example: does anyone actually read what @Grunt writes? This whole thread is about the guy’s intolerance for those less faithful than him. Maybe a little self-righteous, close-minded, anyone, anyone? I understand the guy is the darling of this forum with his conversion story, but at what point do we stop with the preferential treatment? At what point do we stop picking sides, start treating everyone as equals, and just focus on sharing more in the common love we have for the gospel? 
I’ve actually exhibited restraint by only selectively responding to the more ridiculous statements by some users. But why do some users feel the need to pounce on EVERY. SINGLE. LITTLE. THING? I’m just tired of all the digs. It’s making me want to treat everyone else the same. 

When I first read this I thought you meant people fear teaching converts. After reading Grunt's posts, I get it now. 😊
M.

From what I read it was the Apostles Creed but either way, I too am wondering why it matters that he should need to recite it.
M.

These are precisely the wrong months to go to these states!

This might be an example of Grunt's "less faithful" kind of comments, but can I push back on something, Jane_Doe?
A few months ago (I'm too lazy to go find it right now, but internet search engines should be able to find it, if one felt the need), James McDonald ("Walk in the Word" Christian radio program) said something on his radio show (a series he did defending the Bible) that struck me. He said (necessarily paraphrasing) "The Holy Spirit chose every single word in the Bible." Perhaps it is too much influence from less than conservative Biblical commentators, but I find myself unconvinced that God chose every single word in the Bible. I see more of a God speaks to people/persons and then those people/persons make some kind of record (or someone who later felt that their statements/experiences were worthy of making a more permanent record of). That record not only tries to capture the essence of the divine communication, but also gets filtered through the people's/person's culture and preconceptions to eventually give us something that we believe helps us understand God and our relationship to Him.
Your addition to the 8th AoF reminded me of this, so I will ask -- do we believe that God chose every single word Joseph Smith wrote in the [English] Book of Mormon? Is there room in "Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God" to see some human influences (Joseph Smith and his 19th century culture) in the Book of Mormon that may not be exactly divinely inserted into the scripture?
In a past discussion where I brought up the question of slavery in the Bible, that was a common defense -- the Bible includes cultural and human influences that maybe don't perfectly reflect God's divine truth and will. Is there something in the "as far as it is translated correctly" phrase that allows for human elements to be part of scripture? That maybe allows that there can be human elements inserted into the Book of Mormon (and other latter-day scripture)?

We have patiently waited and at long last the time has come! Thanksgiving is over, and it is now socially acceptable to start playing Christmas music! Huzzah! (I'm gonna be honest though, I have already been playing Christmas music since the end of October...) Buckle your seatbelts ladies and gents because we have picked out just a few of the BEST Christmas covers by artists who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Enjoy! 1. Carol of the Bells by Lindsey Stirling https://youtu.be/EKkzbbLYPuI Not only does Lindsey Stirling kill this performance, but the music video also blows me away every time I watch it—absolutely beautiful! 2. What Child is This?/I Wonder As I Wander by GENTRI https://youtu.be/Da0QDakkYO0 Two unique songs are molded perfectly into one with this performance by The Gentlemen Trio. 3. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by BYU Vocal Point https://youtu.be/GrSdrhsWjrM Looking for something more upbeat that you can dance to? This is the song for you! 4. Oh Come All Ye Faithful by the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square and...
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I don't think it's the only one that refers to other events beyond his birth.  We see also
Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
 
We also have this one
1. Once in royal David’s city Stood a lowly cattle shed, Where a mother laid her baby In a manger for his bed: Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.   2. He came down to earth from heaven, Who is God and Lord of all, And his shelter was a stable, And his cradle was a stall; With the poor, and mean, and lowly, Lived on earth our Savior holy.   3. And our eyes at last shall see him, Through his own redeeming love; For that child so dear and gentle Is our Lord in heav’n above, And he leads his children on To the place where he is gone.

I find this so interesting, the lyrics for Joy to the World were written in 1719 by Isaac Watts and while some of the original song is in this version of it, it is quite different, so I guess you'd have to look to the LDS church to find out what they meant when they changed the lyrics and if they intended those changes to change the meaning of the original song, which was about the birth of Christ. I've sung this song so many times it really took me aback for a second trying to work out what was going on.
For anyone who would like to see the differences the original lyrics are below with the original words that have been changed bolded.  
Joy To The World
Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.
 

@Vort, methinks you do protest too much. Or in other words, you are over reacting, which is typical of you.
M.

Have you never heard of Strenghening Church Members Committee?
M.

As we've seemed to bump heads ever since I joined this website, I suspect you may consider me in the last category you describe of being an apostate member.
First of all, let me say sorry for any derailment I may have been to your own spiritual journey and progress.  I never intend for anything I post to be negative.  You can question my sincerity when I say it, as you have questioned my motives behind what I've posted from the get go, but nonetheless, I'm sorry if that's the case.
You've been an exceptional convert to the Church, and I think your faithfulness and commitment to the Church is an good example to all of us to follow, especially me. When I private messaged you earlier congratulating you on your baptism, I meant that sincerely. The Church would be better off if all it's members shared the same zeal you have for the gospel. 
As far as what I post, if you don't find something I post to be positive or edifying or even not of interest to you, just ignore it. Just move me into your category of those you ignore if it bothers you that much. Personally speaking, I've never wanted to be at odds with you, but one of my biggest issues with you and a select few others on this website is how disagreements are addressed.
If you don't like someone else's opinion or the way they expresses an idea or a thought, don't question that person's faith or motives.  Address the disagreement for what it is.  Don't harp on how apostate you think someone is just because they have different opinions than you.  Not everyone is a perfect, cookie-cut member of the Church.  And really it's not your place to judge the faith of someone else, especially when they've never said anything derogatory about the church.  You've accused me of being an apostate, not supporting church leaders, and stating that it's my opinion people are being brainwashed with the Book of Mormon.  I've never said any of those things. I never have spoken or written one word with malicious intent against the Church.
I don't care if you disagree with something I posted, but don't question my faith or motives. You don't know me. And last time I checked Bishop Vort was the imaginary appointed bishop of this website.
At the heart of everything I post is my support for the Church, or I'm simply addressing a topic of interest that shouldn't have any bearing one way or another. Deeper gospel topics interest me. Mormon culture interests me. Philosophical discussions interest me. 
If you want to be in an online forum where only perfect, cookie-cut members of the Church participate, you might have better luck creating your own. Last time I checked everyone on this website is an individual with unique opinions and varying levels of faith, most of whom I have respectful relationships with.
I would like to have respectful communication with you too if you can relax the judgmental stuff.

I can see why this would be frustrating.  But here is the thing.  We are all children of God.  That doesn't mean we are all going to be on the same page.  Our Heavenly Father did not make us all the same.  We are on the journey together, but we are all at different places in the journey.  Some of us wander and and some of us don't.  And some of us don't appear to wander, but in our hearts we are.  And some may appear to wander, but really aren't and you are not perceiving them correctly.
Be happy you have found the path and others that will walk it with you.  Be slow to judge.  We all have our unique demons in life and some are easy to see and some are not, but we all have them.  And just because a poster here appears to be rock solid, doesn't mean they don't have an issue with porn or anger or any number of things.
And yes, some of us have a hard time with things like Noah.  That doesn't mean we shouldn't talk about it.  If you don't talk about them, how do you you ever resolve them?

Have you never heard of Strenghening Church Members Committee?
M.

Was Ammon “shooting heroin” when he went to live among the Lamanities and learned their culture before he ever attempted preaching?
Did my Mission President “shoot heroin” into his son when he signed him up with a Methodist soccer team, and his son and some of the other Methodist boys ended up sharing what they believe in?
Did my Stake President pass out heroin to the Stake when he invited 3 Muslims to a youth fireside, and they talked about what they believe in and prayed in front of us kneeling on their mats towards the Kaaba?
There’s a difference in enrolling your kid in Catechism, and simply having open dialogue with them about what other people believe.