Saguaro

My bishop recently helped a homeless mom and her son who are not members that had been hanging out in our area. He bought them food from the storehouse and some decent clothes from DI so they could looks respectable enough to look for a job.

From the CHI, page 78 This is probably the first place your Bishop is going to look for an answer. Looks like as long as you're temple worthy you don't have anything to worry about. I wouldn't trust a 1976 Ensign article regarding matters of policy, a lot can change in 34 years.

One problem with the prohibition on R rated movies is that the rating system is very inconsistent. Many PG-13 movies now have things that you would expect to see in R rated movies. On the other hand, I recently watched the original Clash of the Titans from 1981, it was rated PG yet it had several scenes of nudity that I wouldn't expect to see now in a PG movie. Many rated R movies are well written and acted and are worth seeing. I think the point here is to follow the spirit of the law and only watch movies that you feel are appropriate. The key sometimes is to educate yourself about the content of a movie before you see it. I know a couple who love comedies, and they would often go to the theater to see the latest comedy and end of being disappointed or walking out because of the crude content, but they didn't bother to do their homework before going. Funny thing is they've done this several times, I guess some people never learn.

This topic was also discussed in this thread: http://www.lds.net/forums/general-discussion/32155-8-mormon-proposition.html

Since you insist, this is the best I could find for now. From: The Wives of Joseph Smith - Emma HaleThe sources cited on this web site can be found here: The Wives of Joseph Smith I recently purchased and plan on reading one of those sources, Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith, by Newel & Avery.

I guess the whole point of my post was lost on you. Let me repeat, I don't want to start a debate about JS or polygamy, that's not what this thread is about.

This debate about what history we should or should not learn in church is a touchy one for me. A good friend of mine, a life long member of the church, did not find out until she was 36 years old that Joseph Smith practice polygamy. She had only heard about Emma and what a great loving couple they were, then she found out Joseph practiced polygamy behind her back and lied to her and married women who were already married. It nearly destroyed her testimony. I don't want to start a debate about JS or polygamy, but my point is in 36 years of living in the church, going to primary, seminary, institute, sacrament meeting, sunday school, young women, she never once heard this taught from an official source. Members of the church need to be prepared for this kind of thing, whether it's polygamy, MMM, seer stones, whatever, because eventually it's going to come up, whether it's on a mission or whenever, and it can be devastating to hear about it the first time. People often feel lied to an betrayed by the church. I don't buy the argument that the information is out there, and we should all study the church and its history on our own, so there's no need to teach in in Church. How many times have we sat through another boring sunday school or PH/RS lesson on the same topic we've heard 100 times with the same answers to the same qustions. How refershing would it be to have a real history lesson just once a year where we address things like this that the rest of world seems to know about us but the average member is woefully under educated about. (Example, I gave a lesson in EQ once about Joseph Smith and brought up using seer stones and a hat to translate the book of Mormon, and used a quote from an Ensign article as backup, and I asked how many people had heard of that before, many hands went up, and I'll never forget the look on one guy's face, he looked like I had just told him the BofM was translated by aliens.) I think the situation is actually improving, as information is more available through the internet and people participate on discussions like this they are exposed to more information at an early age. We speak very openly with our children about polygamy and other issues. I don't want them to be blindsided by these issues later in life.

There's one little girl in our ward who has Celiac disease, similar to others that have posted, the family brings a little piece of bread just for her, it is placed on a tray and blessed, and one particular deacon has the responsibility to take that special bread to her during the sacrament. It's done very discreetly, I didn't know it was being done until a few weeks ago.

My apologies, I didn't see your question at the end.Regarding whether or not it was from the Lord or Joseph Smith, I don't think we'll ever know unless BY is on record having said so. Personally, in my opinion (which isn't worth much), I don't think it came from either. David O McKay prayed about lifting the ban but felt the time wasn't right, he called the ban a "policy", not doctrine, but still felt it required a revelation to discontinue it because it had been in place for so long (see "David O McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism" by Greg Prince). I did find this, it's very interesting. Mormonism's Negro Doctrine: An Historical Overview (Apoloiges for threadjacking, this has nothing to do with the original post.)

What's your source that states it stopped with Joseph Smith? Oh right, you said you don't have one! It's generally accepted that the ban was initiated by Brigham Young, his views on the subject as well documented.

What do you mean there is no forgiveness for members? I agree the guy is scum but member or not the atonement applies to all who repent.

We do every Sunday in sacrament meeting with the sacrament prayers.

Welcome John!

Here's a pretty good review of the movie. Faith-Promoting Rumor Review: 8: The Mormon Proposition

Weird, is that some kind of automated thing here at lds.net?

Ummm, isn't that the same article I posted? Ever heard the term "smeek"? Urban Dictionary: smeek

This was on the front page of my newspaper this morning. Arizona immigration law fallout harms LDS Church outreach I'm not a fan of Russell Pearce, but it's too bad that one person can be perceived to represent the entire church.

I've never heard this in my life, from a mission president or anyone else. No one can foretell when you will or will not to meet your future spouse. I'm sure mission presidents don't want it to happen because it will seriously distract the missionary, but it does and will happen as long as young males and females are put in situations where they meet many people. I agree with the advice others have given, your friend needs to talk to the MP and get transferred immediately, then pursue the relationship after the mission. Also, the SWK quote that MOE posted was right on, it's the first thing I thought of while reading the first post.

I am a fan of JD and his podcasts. He does have his critics though, ironically his loudest critics are those who have left the church and don't understand why he stays in. Through his podcasts and other ventures he has helped literally thousands of people who have faced a crisis of faith. He has given people outlets and resources that they would not have had otherwise. He is very genuine and sincere and has dedicated his life to helping people navigate their trials. I have corresponded with him and spoken to him on the phone brieftly, I hope to meet him one day and personally thank him for helping a very dear friend of mine.

I see where you're going with this. I do agree that there is a distinction with the gift of the Holy Ghost, when you have the gift of the Holy Ghost you can have the constant companionship of the Spirit, but the Spirit does not simply abandon those who may be unworthy or may be struggling. Isn't that when you need the Spirit the most? The Spirit may not be with you constantly but I think that no matter what the situation is if you call on the spirit it will be there to comfort you and teach you. If this were not so, then how would you explain the people through time and from all religions who have been influenced by the Holy Ghost? Do you think Martin Luther wasn't moved by the Spirit to post his 95 Theses? Do you think that the great artists and musicians of the world aren't inspired by the Spirit to produce their great works? Do you think that all those who are earnestly seeking God and trying to live good lives, even if they're not LDS, can feel the Spirit? I think too often we as LDS think we have a monopoly on the Spirit and only those who are 'worthy' by our definition can feel it. “The great religious leaders of the world such as Mohammed, Confucius, and the Reformers, as well as philosophers including Socrates, Plato, and others, received a portion of God’s light. Moral truths were given to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals. … We believe that God has given and will give to all peoples sufficient knowledge to help them on their way to eternal salvation” (“Statement of the First Presidency regarding God’s Love for All Mankind,” 15 Feb. 1978).

Wrong, you are never unworthy to receive the guidance of the spirit, you have the gift of the holy ghost. If she is the right one for you then the spirit will confirm it. I agree with the others that you should talk to your Bishop. If you do get married it may be better to get married sooner than later, you may not be able to get married in the temple right away, but you both can work on that together.

Here's a podcast with Greg Kearney, he's a Mormon and a Mason, it's very interesting. It's episode number 005 on the list. Episode List | Mormon Stories Podcast

I think it's kind of funny that a couple of people mentioned phones lines being an issue becuase they're not secure. Reminds me of a low budget spy movie or something. I can see it now, the Elder's Quroum president is conducting a presidency meeting from his home by phone as a unmarked windowless black van slowly rolls down the street with guys sitting in the back at high tech computer consoles trying hone in on the EQPs wireless phone signal trying to find out why Bro Smith isn't doing his home teaching or hoping to confirm the rumor that Bro Jones hernia operation was actually a vasectomy. :D

This is a tough one. Personally, I wish civil weddings would be allowed the same day as sealings. The argument that a civil wedding would diminish the sacredness and importance of a temple wedding just doesn't hold water with me, especially if you consider than in many countries outside of North America it's the law that couples must be married civilly before a religious ceremony. Ask anyone from Spain, the UK, or Mexico if they think their temple sealing was less important or somehow degraded because of their civil ceremony, I doubt they will think so.

Over the weekend I was called by the Stake President to a big calling. He made it very clear that my wife and family comes first, then my job so I can support my family, and then my calling comes next. He said if you have to choose between going to a church meeting or going to a kid's music recital, you pick your family over the meeting. That doesn't mean you neglect your calling and spend all your time with your family, there has to be some balancing going on, but the time spent with the family has to be quality time, and any special family events should always take precedence.