Maxel

If you purposely tried to scar yourself up from barbed wire, that would be just as bad as a tattoo. If you somehow got a tattoo completely by accident (fell repeatedly into a tattooing needle, for instance) that would be more analogous to the accidental scarring.What happens to people in their line of duty that is largely beyond their control and what they willingly do to themselves for whatever reason are two different things. Simply because the latter may look prettier than the former doesn't mean much.

Awesome!! Can't help you on how to give blessings- I don't have the Melchezidek priesthood. Maybe posting a topic about it to get some advice from the priesthood holders on the forum will help? I do know that the Lord appreciates faithful attempts by His servants to use His power righteously. Good luck!And have fun with Mafia Wars.

So, I make a lot of lame jokes. Usually I do it because I think said jokes are funny, and they usually are context-heavy so retelling them increases the lameness ten-fold. Anyone have some lame jokes which don't lose their lameness in retelling it? I promise I'll use them the first chance I get.

I've never been into mobster games, although I've heard lots of people say it's fun. Hope your wife can hang in there! And good luck finding a med school. I can feel it; you'll do great. :)

I like everything you say, but didn't you read what Elphaba said about your avatar?! Are you trying to drive her away from her own thread?! It doesn't matter... Haven't you heard that the poles will shift in 2012 and we'll all die from flaming meteorites? Okay... my nightly attempt at humor is over... time to go

I facebook, but I've never played it. I assume you do, marshac? (BTW, how've you been? Haven't seen you around lately! Hope things are going well for you.)

Oh, my comments weren't meant to be read in context of the prophecy of the Constitution hanging by a thread, but merely the idea of it doing so. I've heard the White Horse Prophecy has been discredited- but looking around, the Constitution does seem to be hanging in there by the skin of its teeth.Seeing your remark merely prompted the question in my mind, and I thought it was cool. So I shared it. I'm like a little kid that way.

What is the point of a tattoo? Maybe someone can explain this to me. I promise I won't bash, but I do want to see if anyone can provide a worthwhile answer. What's the long-term benefit?

I don't know what makes you think that (I'm not inclined to disagree), but I think the pertinent question this question raises is:How thin can that thread be before it snaps and the American people loses their Constitutional rights to the black pit of powerful government?

The dry humor is fine. When kept clean and performed by a competent performer, British-style humor can be absolutely amazing (I'm thinking of some of the clean skits by Monty Python, some older British comedies I've seen but can't remember the name of, and others). When it's not clean, however (like a majority of the Monty Python skits) it can get pretty bad. The dry presentation undermines the effect that the material has on the soul. That being said, the dry humor is very different than the more emotional American-style acting and doesn't 'click' with lots of Americans.

JimmyWest, some of the comments on your website have me concerned. I have some questions. -Do you believe the world is less sinful now (after Christ's death) than beforehand? -What is your opinion of the canonical Bible (excluding the apocrypha)? -Has God given into His anger and act in ways that makes Him regret His actions ("regret" as in "wishing He hadn't done what He's done")? -Do you believe that the message of Christ's Atonement was taught before His life? Was Christ the Messiah? -What is Christ's relation to the Father?

I don't know if Beck's Mormonism will make Romney more palatable to the American populace. The only ones who would be assuaged because of Beck's Mormonism are Beck's fans- and Beck does not like some of Romney's stances (he's said so, particularly Romney Care's downsides).

I was guilty of offering my opinion without reading the proceeding pages (my bad). I don't feel like wading into the discussion about Mormon Doctrine...

I thought that Joseph Smith taught that Paul was an apostle of the Lord...? Trying to find a reference.

Hhmmmmm....How much will you give me not to tell them?

Mike- Do you consider yourself a "cafeteria" or "buffet" Mormon? A "cultural" Mormon maybe? Or a wholly faithful member of the Church? Your blog's title made me think of the question.

I don't see anything wrong with your quotation of Bushman (regarding folkloric magic preparing the family for the acceptance of the Angel Moroni), Barter_Town. I'm not versed at all in 19th-century spiritualism, but I'd hazard that an acceptance of 'magic'- an acceptance of, and belief in, the power of a higher force acting in nature to bring events and results contrary to the normal process of things- could very easily lead to an acceptance of the Gospel, where we believe that the 'higher force' is God's power. It brings the esoteric nature of the Biblical miracles 'down to reality', so to speak- miracles and miraculous events are no longer 'dead and gone' but still very much alive. An acceptance of magic doesn't necessarily lead to acceptance of God's miracles and miraculous events- but for some people, it very well could. Joseph's family could have been those kind of people. I don't see how that's some sort of crazy, outrageous spin.

I dunno about books published directly by the Church, but books written by LDS apostles would all be ideal places to start.

Simple answer: Isaiah is writing to a people under a lesser law. Remind your friend of the "milk before meat" doctrine. The Israelites under Isaiah weren't ready to live according to a higher law, and therefore weren't ready for more advanced doctrine. There are many gods (lower-case 'G'), but to us there is one God whom we worship and whom we call the father of our spirits. An analogy would be to look at temporal families. Speaking biologically, a father may say to his son- "I am your father. Before me, there was no man who has been your father and there will be no one after me who is your father." Same concept, IMO.

The problem I have with the 'death panels': If insurance companies does that, fine. Well, not "fine" as in it's okay, but "fine" as in someone can go to another company. What do we do when the government, the supreme law of the land, starts doing it? Can we sue them for redress?

Last time I heard, Romney Care was not doing so well and was running at a deficit... Did I hear wrong?

Wow. Calm down. I said the example was disingenuous- because I remember your thread about how many of the writings of Paul weren't actually written by him. That's what I meant. Okay, let's do just that.1 Corinthians 7:1" 1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman." The entire chapter is written in response to a question- a question that we don't know. The entire chapter's context is missing. Context is everything. Actually, I'm using the chapter headings written by Bruce R. McConkie- another prophet of the Lord- as a guide. And I'm thinking a better analogy would be the missionary efforts of the early Church, in the days of Joseph Smith- men married only a few days being called on missions; men as young as 14 being called on missions- a missionary program far less regulated than today's. I could see one of the original apostles of this dispensation advising a young man who feels he's going to be called on a mission not to get married- it's hard leaving a wife and children behind. The issue at hand is understanding what is truly meant by the scripture. You and I believe the Bible comes to us in an imperfect format, and that modern revelation was needed to clarify certain points of doctrine that had been skewed. I doubt Paul's letters were ever intended to act as the rules or guiding doctrines of the Church: in fact, he states a few times in 1 Cor 7 that what he's saying is not by way of commandment.

Why do you think I'm pouting? Why do you always resort to insults? Why do you constantly take the low road in discussions?Anyway... I assume you're talking about 1 Corinthians 7. I don't know what the scholarly consensus says about the chapter, but from the text it's clear that Paul was speaking (and giving advice) in very specific context. I think McConkie's chapter heading gives one good possibility: men serving missions shouldn't be married. It's clear from modern teachings that an emphasis on lifetime celibacy when marriage is an option is not from God. Therefore, Paul simply could not have taught this and still be a prophet of God (apostles are still prophets and can teach doctrine; nevertheless policy isn't dictated by any one member of the 12). There's reason to believe that he did not, in fact, teach that lifetime celibacy is superior to marriage.

I'm going to cut in here to compliment you on your avatar, JAG. The image makes me laugh out loud.

Meh... Who cares about technicalities like that anymore? Screw the rules and nationalize GM, then the health insurance industry in the name of blind empathy. It's not like the majority of our elected officials value the Constitution anymore.