AFDaw

Spencer has a step-sister that is the avid gambler. Tons of comps all over Nevada! When we went out there a few years ago she was going to Laughlin (sp) and asked if we wanted to come. We jumped at the opportunity since we were traveling with family and this was a chance to get away. So everything was free and we were in the casino and we each had $20 and said once that $20 is gone, we're through. We ended up actually doubling our money, but I could SO easily see how someone could get addicted to it. I personally don't think anything was wrong with us sticking a few quarters in some machines to see if we won anything, but that was the extent of our gambling. And we've not done anything since. Now his sister...it wasn't uncommon to see her in the casino and her say "I'm down 1000" or "I'm up 4000" That's a little extreme for me.

We believe that the Holy Ghost can be with anyone at any point in time. But he's not a constant companion unless you receive it through the Priesthood. And only thereafter if you remain worthy to have him around.

I love drama.

I don't think they are all bad.

I would say that while I believe that the Holy Ghost can comfort and be with anyone at anytime, that you can only obtain the gift of the Holy Ghost as a constant companion by the laying on of hands by one who has the authority to do so. Now, say I have the gift of the Holy Ghost and I go out and do all sorts of bad things, the Holy Ghost will leave me. He's only a constant companion if the person stays worthy to have him as one. As for entering the "Kingdom of God", the gift of the Holy Ghost is only part of what has to happen. It is not the deciding factor.

I wouldn't consider it against the WoW, but I wouldn't drink it myself. I don't understand the appeal of it either though.

So cola drinks are OK? The WoW was the minimum for the weak. No tea or coffee. Now, if someone wants to take it to the next level and include soft drinks, then that's ok. If someone likes their Coke and doesn't want to give it up, then that's ok too.

I think Starsky is saying that we haven't called Serapha the devil and told her she was going to hell unlike some of the people from CF who told us we were going to hell.

it means coffee and tea. You made it sound like there was some new statement made by the church or something. I was just asking if I missed something. My kids have been sick a lot lately and I've not been on the boards much. My question was honest and sincere.

Always looking for a fight huh? Grow up. Both of you are always looking for a fight, so don't count yourself out TR2.But I agree with Snow...I don't agree with other forms of religion and what not, but I would not go out of my way to make sure they knew I disagree with them like some people like to do with our church. I think overall, our church is a lot more understand of other's views than other churches are of our views.

I think I missed something...where is it that "hot drinks" now means all caffeinated beverages?

Uh-huh, so maybe that's the big problem. Maybe if a certain religion allowed its members to wake up and smell the coffee, those very members might actually come to their senses, in more ways than one. There's no rule against smelling coffee :)

But where would that stop? how about if he felt you should share your wife? We should not just blindly be led by the Bishop and his whims. What about if he really felt that you should really start tithing 11% for a recommend? Isn't there some kind of promise that our leaders will never lead us astray? (By leaders I mean Prophets, stake presidents, bishops) Seems like I remember something like that.

They are both funny. I liked Owen Wilson in I Spy also.

LOL....I had no idea.....but now that I do know...anyway I think I know...depending upon if you are right or not....I will change my avatar.... But I just want AFDaw to know I appreciated all her hard work in getting me this avatar....It has done the trick...I think... That was my intent!! Starsky (and Hutch). Get it? Besides...who wants Ben Stiller as your avatar?

Not that this is what I think, BUT, isn't it possible that the tobacco thing was just a coincidence? Even if you don't know that tobacco is bad for you, it really only takes common sense to know that inhaling smoke of a leaf into your lungs could be harmful. I believe chewing tobacco was more common than smoking tabacco back then. And no...I don't believe that it was a coincidence at all.

I remember growing up there was a Sunday that something came up and we had to leave church early. My dad had us wait until after we did the sacrament before leaving. I asked him why we did just leave before and his response was that since he couldn't stay for the entire services, he wanted to at least re-new his covenants. That's always stuck with me (I was probably 10 or 11 at the time).

That's what I've been talkin' 'bout this entire time! It just seems like most people in the church follow things without questioning why, and that's weird to me. Just because you question things doesn't mean you don't believe in it. HF gave us intelligence, so why would he expect us to just follow along without questioning 'why'? I can abstain from it... just wish I could understand why I'm supposed to. Doesn't look like anyone has that answer for me. Maybe the answer just doesn't exist! Just man doing his best to interpret, then failing to admit that he possibly was wrong... IMHO! hot drinks were interpretted to be tea and coffee, not JUST hot tea and hot coffee. Using this logic would be that a hot cup of joe is bad news...but let it sit out for 30 mins and cool off and it's ok. I don't think the temp is the most important factor here. Besides the fact that we've been commanded not to, we may not know the specifics. We were told to not use tobacco in 1833...LONG before the dangers of it were discovered. Couldn't it be that tea and coffee are really that bad for you that you should abstain from them?

The WOW was written as a minimum for the weak. To what extreme one wants to take it is up to them. Some want to take "hot drinks" to a higher level and include soft drinks...sobeit. Some don't, but at least they abide by the minimum, which is no hot drinks. Neither one is "more correct" than the other. It says no hot drinks was meant tea and coffee. It doesn't say no meat, it says to use is sparingly. Your definition of sparingly and mine may be 2 different things. It's all between you and the Lord.

Despite all that Snow, it still doesn't change the fact that Mormon Doctrine is not necessarily church doctine, but rather McConkie's views. Yes the majority are right on the money, but perhaps some aren't. No one should live their life or change their life to make it fit with what's written in his book.

The "Tea Man" huh?Like I said in my other post, different grade...but the same thing.

Yes...and like I said, for every study that says it's ok, there's a study that says it's not. Look at this... Tannic Acid Different grade, same stuff. You really want to put that in your body?

Coke also has caffeine, but that doesn't keep you out of the temple. I said it also has caffiene. I'm not so sure that caffiene is the ONLY reason we're told not to drink tea. It also has tanic acid in it, which is what they use to cure leather.

It doesn't say that it should only be eaten in winter, it says that it is pleasing unto the Lord if its only eaten in winter, etc. The difference between meat and tea is tea also has caffiene, which is addictive. Meat is not addictive, you don't have meat withdrawls from not eatting a hamburger one day. When something is addictive, you allow it to control your body. I would ask your father in law next time you're having a cookout and he's cooking up all beef hot dogs and sausage dogs and has a pot of baked beans on the stove with all sorts of meat it in about that aspect of the WOW. See what he says :) I'm curious to hear his opinion.