Wingnut

Did you perhaps go by the name Porter Rockwell in another life?

They're kind-of reverse hate crimes, aren't they?

Exactly. Elder Bednar almost ALWAYS refers to it as "moral agency" which I think is notable. We are given agency, and are expected to use it in a moral manner, not just however we want. Thanks for adding that.

I read The Kite Runner (by Khaled Hosseini) this summer. It had quite a bit of violence in it. He was delicate in how he portrayed the rape of a child, so that it could have been far more disturbing than it actually was, but there was a fight scene toward the end of the book that absolutely turned my stomach. I'm the kind of person who prefers to read sex or violence than to watch it (not that I seek it out either way). When I read, I have a lot more control over how far my imagination decides to go. When I watch it, those images stay with me, and I can't get rid of them. On the flip side, I prefer to hear swearing in a movie than to read it in a book, because it jumps off the page at me, big and ugly. Some people are like me, some are not. You cannot control who reads your books, or how their minds will work. I would use yourself as a judge. If you are uncomfortable writing it, then don't. My guess is that you are at least a little uncomfortable with it, or else you wouldn't be asking for our input.

Please give the full reference (book, chapter, and verse). I'd like to be able to go read it in context.

It's interesting to me that as members of the Church we frequently use the phrase "free agency" but when you hear General Authorities speak about it, it's almost always "agency" or "moral agency." It is not free. It came with a price. That of Christ's blood. (This is not intended as argument or as a "downer" -- just an interesting observation I've made).

Associated Press: CapeCodTimes.com - Associated Press Wire LA Times: Mormon temple closed after white substance found | L.A. Now | Los Angeles Times I can't find it on CNN, MSNBC, or Reuters yet. Several other California and Utah new outlets have it, but the biggest one I could find is AP.

He was also an atheist prior to that.

Are we all done trashing the new President-Elect yet?

I suggested that one already, but I think he might have missed it. Or he just didn't comment.

Would you please? (I actually did laugh OUT LOUD at your post)

The full text of Elder Packer's "The Holy Temple" can be found on the official Church website here: The Holy Temple. It is suggested reading for all members intending to enter the temple, and has been such for last at least 10-15 years (it was originally published in 1980).

Yeah. It was Schmam.

The schbabies on the schmbus go schmaa, schmaa, schmaa...

I didn't know this until I went outside to pick up my mail just now, but today is National Hang Stuff on People's Doorknobs Or Stick It In The Corner Of Their Door Day! And apparently, I'm being celebrated. I had a hangy thing for a cable/internet company, another one (which was shoved into the door crack, not hanging) for gutter cleaners. Also a folded menu for a Chinese restaurant. I feel so lucky to be able to be part of this holiday!

Sounds like it must be. I mean, it's online, so it MUST be true.

(Total side note before I start answering questions...can a mod please fix or delete the tag on this thread labeled "LSD"? :) Thanks!) 1) You do not "have" to do anything. Member of the LDS Church who have made certain sacred covenants in the temple choose to and have the privilege of wearing "temple garments" (Mormon underwear) and are instructed to do so throughout their lives. 2) There is no definitive doctrinal statement about soda. We are discouraged from partaking of "any drink containing harmful habit forming drugs under circumstances that would result in acquiring the habit. Any beverage that contains ingredients harmful to the body should be avoided." (Priesthood Bulletin, Feb. 1972, p. 4). Many people take this to mean caffeinated soda. 3) Teenagers do not wear temple garments. 4) Much of what happens inside the temple is symbolic. The temple garments are also symbolic. They do not have protectors in them, but small symbols stitched over the breasts and the knee. These symbols are placed as reminders of the covenants and doctrines that we learn in the Gospel. When we see the symbols, it helps us remember these covenants and keep our minds focused on our goal of exaltation. 5) This is true. The actual quotes from the revelation are as follows: "That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father...And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly,..." (Doctrine and Covenants 89:5,7) 6) Mormons did practice polygamy. The practice was officially discontinued in 1890 by Wilford Woodruff, in an official declaration to the Church, the entire text of which can be found here: Official Declaration 1. Anyone who currently practices polygamy is not a member of the Church. Those you often hear about in the news are part of the Fundamental LDS Church, a splinter group. 7) Mormons do believe in the Bible. Our 8th Article of Faith states "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God." (Click here for all the Article of Faith: Articles of Faith 1). We believe in the Bible, but in our proselyting we tend to focus more on the Book of Mormon in part because it's what the general population is not familiar with, so we stand out from all other missionaries that preach the Gospel. 8) No. We do not worship Joseph Smith. We honor his memory, and revere and respect him for all that he did, but we worship God the Father and Jesus Christ. I had a friend who once expressed her frustration to me about people who accuse us of worshiping Joseph Smith. Her thoughts expressed very well how I (and I daresay many others) feel about him. It is because of Joseph Smith that we know who Jesus Christ is. 9) The ordinances we perform in the temple involve many symbolic aspects that need to be interpreted in the right context. An individual who does not have the background expected of those who enter the temple would likely see these symbolic aspects and find them strange. Whereas we see these ordinances as being so important and sacred, we desire that they not be misunderstood, or worse, mocked. For this reason, we use great discretion when discussing what happens in the temple.

Here was another good one:

It's called "Shazam" (but don't' quote me on the spelling). I saw a commercial for it last night, and I was really excited. Not that I have an iPhone. Or a cell phone. I just thought it was really cool.

I intend no disrespect declanr, but you have come to an LDS forum asking predominantly LDS people to talk to you about Jesus. About 97% of us will have primarily faith-based testimonies to offer you. If you're not interested in hearing them, then you're barking up the wrong tree. You dismiss our faith, you dismiss the Bible, and are looking for only verifiable fact. None of us here were there. None of us here can offer than to you. If that's not good enough, then I'm sorry. In the meantime, please do not disrespect us by calling our faith and our testimonies "silly."

I'd explain, but it would sound really dumb, instead of funny, so I'll just let the mystery linger in the air...

You had to be there.

Fifty thousand Elvis fans can't be wrong? Dec, if you are looking for a good LDS perspective on Jesus Christ, I can recommend the book Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage.

Exactly what is a "Schmoderator," and why does this Schmam character think they have any schmauthority over my schmolors?

Mr. Wing still has an original Atari paddle with like 20 old school games loaded onto it.