bytebear

Well, this opens up a whole can of worms when you talk about church culture vs say Utah culture, which also has BYU culture, Provo Culture vs Salt Lake culture. Go Utes!

The problem I have is when you look at the folks outraged and are "ashamed of my church" are the same ones who want female ordination, gay marriage, abortion to be acceptable and a dozen other things that the church stands against. No, they are not ashamed. They are opportunists.

I am amazed how many of Joseph Smith's notions that are non-traditional seem so clear scripturally. Just the way the word "saint" is used Biblically is enough to tell me he had something there.

I just purchased a little guardian angel figurine at Deseret Book for my SIL. Everyone needs a reminder that someone is watching out for them. https://deseretbook.com/p/angel-caring-figurine-willow-tree-76213?variant_id=22362-resin For books, I love the old binding style classics at Barnes and Noble.

Unitl I have watched Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman on tv, even though I have them on DVD.

It's double dipping. Giving someone money in exchange for nothing is a gift on already taxed translations. But then, I oppose payroll taxes, income taxes, and really all taxes that don't directly affect me. gas tax to fix the roads, ok. property taxes to build schools, fine. etc. etc.

This is what I have discovered about high priced things. 1. There is a level or rich that makes anything affordable. 2. Rich people buy expensive things as an investment, as they rarely decrease in value, and so they aren't actually purchasing anything, just renting something with a very large deposit. 3. Items are expensive, not because they are intrinsically valuable, but because the cost makes them precious. An example is the Mona Lisa. It's only worth the canvas and the paints, and can be fairly easily reproduced for a minimal amount of money. So, the cost to make or have something that is essentially the same thing, can be achieved. But, because it is unique, and precious, it is to be preserved. Someone could buy it, and burn it. If it cost only $100 to purchase, someone might. Or they might hang it in their bathroom, or accidentally leave it outside. It would be destroyed, except that the price causes the owner to take special care to keep it. And if they sell it, they want it in the hands of someone who will also have the means and desire to preserve it. So they price it so high, that only those who will take special care that it not be destroyed are the caretakers of it. 4. There is a certain level of tribal posturing in owning expensive things. You don't buy a Tesla because it is a particularly better ride, or because it's so good on gas mileage, that you are saving money. No, you buy it to look cool.

And, yes, I use the sticky foam tape in a pinch and because it holds better. I also put the hooks on the top of the door frame or the underside of the stair rail, to hide them from view the rest of the year, but they are cheap enough that you can remove them every year. I do a little of both, depending on what sticks and what doesn't. I do fall garland in October.

Well, I used it on painted wood. I have found the sticky tape doesn't stick to wall paint (probably because it has all sorts of anti-stain chemicals). So I use it on door frames, underside of banisters, etc. In fact, I was thinking if you are worried about damaging the walls, but still want to "deck" them, I would put small strip of wood (maybe 1" x 1/10" and use it like a chair rail, or picture rail, then you can use the hooks on that, and not damage the wall. It does change the style of the room, but if it's an older home, it should be architecturally appropriate.

Do you ever notice that the losers always want the rules changed?

I grew up in a ward full of "popular girls" and was one of only two boys. It was awful, honestly. We had a Youth activity where we were supposed to go on a scavenger hunt around the neighborhood and eventually meet back at the church for donuts. We were in two teams, the populars and the rest of us. Anyway, we did all of our tasks and when we finally got back to the church, the donuts had been eaten and a note said, "We got bored after the first thing, so came back early. Have a good night." I think the worst part was their guide was an adult. Took a lot of prayer to forgive that one. Please, stand up to bullies!

"Before the Missionary Training Center in Provo was built, missionaries would spend a week at the Mission Home located across the street from Temple Square prior to leaving for the mission field. While there they had the privilege of meeting in the Salt Lake Temple Assembly room where a member of the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve or Temple Presidency would speak to them. When I left on my mission, Elder Christiansen who was an Assistant to the Twelve and President of the Salt Lake Temple spoke to us in the Assembly room and answered questions. Elder Bednar of the Quorum of Twelve, indicated that it was President Lee who spoke to them in the Assembly room prior to his departure into the mission field." https://askgramps.org/assembly-room-salt-lake-temple/

I use the Command hooks all over the place. The very small ones work the best. I have garland over every door and window, and never had a problem with them. You do need to double up on places where garland meets, and if you are using artificial ones that are chained, loop one end into the other, and then only hook the one end up, so you don't double up on the hook. Oh, and maybe buy some double sided sticky foam mounting tape in a roll for extra tape. http://www.command.com/3M/en_US/command/products/~/Command-Decorating-Clips?N=5924736+3294529207+3294772782&rt=rud http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/234567/Scotch-Foam-Mounting-Tape-1-x/?cm_mmc=PLA-_-Google-_-Tape_Adhesives-_-234567-VQ6-155515518920-VQ16-c-VQ17-pla-VQ18-online-VQ19-234567-VQ20-271575499913-VQ21--VQ22-177839036-VQ27-35273413665&adpos=1o3&creative=155515518920&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CKyX97Pv79ACFcNafgodahMAOw

I believe at some point the term Nephite was not genetic, but more akin to "Saints" or "members of the church". And Lamanite could be similar to "Gentile". Clearly not every single person with Nephite DNA was killed, and there was plenty of interrelations, so when the BoM talks about the Nephites being wiped out, I think it means the believers in Christ such that the church did not exist.

I remember years ago, a brother was asked to do a piano piece, as he was a concert pianist. He opened by saying, "I was explicitly told to do something from the church hymns, and not a classical piece, but I am choosing to do something from Beethoven" (or some other classical piece) which he did. Even though it was lovely, it was secular, and was actually pretty hair splitting for a Mormon service. This experience kind of reminds me of this. What is the next speaker supposed to say? Should the bishop get up and reprimand him? No, I find that church leaders give guidance, and then when the roller coaster veers off the track, they just go along for the ride.

FYI, all church manuals are online. https://www.lds.org/manual?lang=eng

I can usually tell the 1960s buildings too, which also had a common design and theme. It's funny because you occasionally see old Mormon churches from that era that are now owned by other churches, so it's odd seeing an LDS building but then you see "Seventh Day Adventist" signs on it. There is (or was) a bed and breakfast in Park City which is in an old church building. Rumor has it, the baptismal font is now a hot tub.

Arthur Kane is one of my favorites too. The documentary New York Doll is really wonderful. I also love Billy Barty, a dwarf who was a great actor, and did a lot to promote normalcy in dwarfism (and wasn't afraid of the word "midget"). And he was in one of my favorite films, Foul Play. He converted for the love of a woman, and never looked back. A friend of mine was a sometimes chauffeur for Hollywood types, and absolutely loved Billy.

Ray Combs tragically killed himself several years ago. Other dead Mormons: Billy Barty Arthur Kane Philo T Farnsworth Merlin Olson Butch Cassidy.

I was taking a tour of the Oquirrh Mountain temple when it was struck by lightening. I am pretty sure it happened when we were in the tent watching a video on temples. The storm was so loud that we couldn't hear the audio, and we heard a huge boom. It was only after I heard about it on the news did I look at the photos of the temple, and sure enough I had before and after lightening shots of the Angel Moroni.

Well, first I look at the Topical Guide because it's awesome. But two things are repeated quite a bit. Believe/faith which I think includes a testimony of the restored Gospel. and second, a willingness to enter the body of believers, which applies specifically to the restored Gospel. One can be baptized by any number of churches, but the covenant we believe in, includes a dedication and faith in the restored gospel, and the priesthood keys that we claim. So, having a belief in the current prophet is a faith that he has the keys of authority and that this is the true Church of Christ.. https://www.lds.org/scriptures/tg/baptism-qualifications-for?lang=eng Baptism, Qualifications for Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: Matt. 3:8 . ( Luke 3:7–8 . ) baptized … in the river … confessing: Mark 1:5 . He that believeth and is baptized: Mark 16:16 . Repent, and be baptized: Acts 2:38 . they that gladly received his word were baptized: Acts 2:41 . If thou believest with all thine heart: Acts 8:37 . Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ: Acts 16:31 . the baptism of repentance: Acts 19:4 . be baptized … having perfect faith: 2 Ne. 9:23 . witnesseth … he would be obedient: 2 Ne. 31:7 . witness … ye have entered into a covenant: Mosiah 18:10 . baptized as a witness … willing to serve God: Mosiah 21:35 . whosoever is baptized … shall believe in my name: Mosiah 26:22 . who repented of their sins: Alma 6:2 . must repent, and be born again: Alma 7:14 . as many as did believe were baptized: Alma 19:35 . whoso repenteth … and desireth to be baptized: 3 Ne. 11:23 . become as a little child: 3 Ne. 11:38 . See that ye are not baptized unworthily: Morm. 9:29 . came forth with a broken heart and a contrite spirit: Moro. 6:2 . took upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve: Moro. 6:3 . who humble themselves … and desire to be baptized: D&C 20:37 . arrived unto the years of accountability: D&C 20:71 . children shall be baptized … when eight years old: D&C 68:27 . received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name: D&C 76:51 . all men … must repent: Moses 6:57 .

Like with every sin, it's about being cut off from blessings. Aside from promiscuity, the fact that our greatest reward is eternal progressions, something not biologically possible (and presumably spiritually possible), it makes no sense for the Savior or any of his servants to promote a life choice that hinders our eternal potential. That said, culturally, we as Mormons recommend and even requires for membership (and covenant) lots of things that limit our life choices, from drinking coffee, to premarital sex, to wearing modest clothing. It's still a choice. if you want to covenant with the Lord, there are certain obligations that must be met. And although I think the Bible makes the position clear on homosexuality (even if not directly addressed by Jesus in his mortal ministry), you won't find specifics on the Word of Wisdom in the Bible either, but it is still required to covenant with God and His church revealed through His prophets.

Just a decorative tradition. Not all temples have Moroni, and I believe it was Nauvoo which had the first trumpeting angel weather vane, but it wasn't specifically Moroni. For a long time only Salt Lake had the traditional Moroni. It wasn't until the LA Temple (1956) and then Washington DC (1974) that the statue became a tradition. I think it became tradition because people recognize it as an LDS symbol, and it having a backstory that introduces people to the Book of Mormon, it just makes sense from a proselytizing perspective. http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/angel-moroni-statues-on-lds-temples

Let's assume church leaders are in it for the money. So, to be in a position where you might get a salary or living stipend from the church, you would likely have already tithed for years, maybe decades. Add to that, the fact that you would have likely been a bishop, stake president, ect., and spent countless hours of volunteer work. You easily would have put far more into the system than you would ever get out. So, if you are looking for a "get rich" scheme, Mormon leadership is probably the worst one you could choose.

I am very particular about my code. Starting braces on the same line, camelCase for function names, under_scores for local variables, UpperCase for class names and ALL_CAPS for constants.