ryanh

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Posts posted by ryanh

  1. I was in the pub yesterday when I suddenly realized I desperately needed to pass gas. The music was really, really loud, so I timed my passings with the beat.

    After a couple of songs, I started to feel better. I finished my pint and noticed that everybody was staring at me.

    Then I suddenly remembered that I was listening to my iPod. :eek:

  2. Why is it that we have people claiming to be LDS coming in here and telling us that Joseph Smith lied? Or that Nephi lied? Or that God is a woman? Why not just admit that they can't reconcile an issue in their head and that they are working on understanding it? They have no proof for their allegations other than the scriptures or teachings don't fit in the box they have created for them to fit in. And then they have the gall to call those of us who have reconciled the official story as unthinking rubes who couldn't put two sensible thoughts together. Here's a thought: since they are the ones having trouble making things mesh, maybe the problem doesn't lie with God, but within themselves and their limited comprehension skills.

    Or that God doesn't answer prayers in ways that provide that individual with proof of His existance and intervention. I guess Joseph Smith was daydreaming? Or just convinced he saw 'something'?
  3. So are the glaciers still melting?

    According to some of the latest data, the estimates of the size of artic melt was grossly overstated. Revised data indicated that artic ice has grown over the last year or two.

    Last night I caught a part of a local radio talk show that interviewed John Coleman, founder of the Weather Channel regarding global warming. He calls it a hoax. I didn’t catch but the first few minutes of the program, but was able to find an archive of it on the net. He points out some interesting stuff. If you are interested in listening to the hour long program, and your computer has speakers, click on the link below. Note, the talk show actually starts in the 8th minute (before that is news, weather, etc).

    http://pandora.bonnint.net/audio/2009_04_21_nightside2.mp3

    Then, this morning, in honor of earth day, a different talk show, the morning show on the same station, also addressed some of this. Doug has always interested me when he touches upon global warming as he has often recalled an interview he did with Dr. Patrick Moore, one of the founding members of, and past president of Greenpeace. He refers to it again at the beginning of this show. Dr Moore disagrees with the political hoopla of “catastrophic global warming” even though he is a huge advocate of taking better care of the earth. Again, the show actually starts in 8th minute.

    http://pandora.bonnint.net/audio/2009_04_22_doug3.mp3

    Having heard some of these comments, I poked my nose around and found some other very interesting information.

    .: U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works :: Minority Page :.

    We overlooked 193,000 square miles of ice

    Don’t know if you had looked at the global warming debate much lately. The evidence indicating that Gore and the like are just sensationalists (and quite frankly, down-right liars) seems to be mounting as fast as the mainstream popularity of being “green” is increasing as a fad. I’ve always been skeptical, but never as much as I am lately. I’ve long contended that the cry of catastrophic global warming is as much of a red herring as some of the other flagship species that have been used over the years – semi-real issues used to force changes that conform more with personal desires than solving real problems.

  4. She was the mother of eight children and was in her early forties. She asked, “Father, may I stop having children now?” His response was, “Don’t ask me. That decision is between you, your husband, and your Father in Heaven. If you two can face him with a good conscience and can say you have done the best you could, that you have really tried, then you may stop. But, that is between you and Him. I have enough problems of my own to talk over with Him when we meet!” So it is clear to me that the decisions regarding our children, when to have them, their number, and all related matters and questions can only be made after real discussion between the marriage partners and after prayer.

    Digging way back to 1979 in the Ensign's I Have a Question.

  5. I have questions for you Josh. Is you your friend just curious about these things, or is she trying to determine if religion is/isn't true by its ability to answer these questions? What do these questions have to do with the reality of Heavenly Father and his plan for us?

    If it were me, I'd be trying to steer her away from trying to intellectually grasp the gospel toward trying to feel the Spirit when contemplating matters that truly pertain to salvation. The Spirit is the only way to bring lasting and true conversion. Pseudo-conversion by intellect is a poor substitute.

  6. I don't see that as much on the other sites, and I'm curious if it's the people, or the format. So far the comments here seem to lean towards it being the format?

    I'm of the opinion it is the people. Some other forums I participate in with similar formats don't always have the same level of contention show through. Yet others do. The primary difference is the people attracted to those forums.

    For example, there was an ADHD forum that I participated in with a very similar format to this one. You want to talk about contention and fights!!! :o Then, another large forum I visit that is based on a wildlife watching, also with similar format, is much more calm. There are a few that like to make waves there, but otherwise threads rarely if ever close.

    See the reprinted talk of David O. McKay in the August Ensign. He shares a story there relating the quality of the wheat field to the individual wheat berries. It's a nice analogy the way it is described there.

    Ryan

  7. A few possible factors come to mind.

    1) - Just what Pam said. It's a blog, not a forum system.

    2) - The level of control may be much different at those sites. Any offensive or rude comments could be deleted, or comments may require pre-approval to appear. I would expect that troll posts are much more likely to be removed.

    3) - A forum such as Feminist Mormon Housewives is far more likely to attract like minded individuals than a general topic site.

    4) - Sites that would relate to deeper or more controversial topics would likely not be visited by the less mature or seasoned person. There are a whole lot of immature or unseasoned people on open sites like this. Registration is free and easy.

  8. Congrats on seeking help! :bouncingclap: Obviously it is a big step to bring this out of the dark and try to deal with it. Keep at it.

    Please don't assume your Bishop will tell your parents. Ask him if he would or not. Having your parents involved in helping you though this just might be a whole lot better than you are anticipating. If they are typical parents, they love you deeply, and would do what they can to help, not condemn.

    There are a handful of threads in this Advice forum touching upon this subject. There is good advice in those threads as well. Here is the search results for "porn addiction" for this forum.

    LDS Mormon Forums - Search Results = Porn Addiction

    Yes, you are still eligible to serve a mission if you fully repent (don't forget - that includes confession and change).

  9. But what I don't understand is when someone finds discussing or debate "challenging" why does it fall on others to be the offensive party? Why do people choose to be offended, especially if one knows he/she to be challenged in that area?

    It's not easy to please everyone. I've done my fair share of goof ups and offended those when I had no intent to do so. I have several thoughts about it.

    I don't presume that even the most sensitive and ready to take offense I have encountered "choose" to be offended. That may be the case at times, but I try to give the person the benefit of the doubt and assume they have the best intentions. Can't we just assume that the other person has good intentions and is actually hurt emotionally? :D :) :) :)

    It is also feels to me that there is nothing wrong with being as sensitive as we can to other people's feelings. Doing so is only developing myself and making myself a better person. Especially if I can simultaneously differentiate myself enough to not take offense. The two are not incompatible traits within one person.

    Paul once told the Corinthians, “Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no meat while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.” (1 Cor. 8:13.)

    When my wife takes offense to something I did (and vice versa) it doesn't help our relationship much for me to blow it off as she's just being 'too sensitive', or choosing to take offense. It can't be bad to treat our brothers and sisters the same.

  10. In order to avoid the problem of semantics, it would seem prudent to rely on the definition of debate. Beefche gave one in the 6th post. It is the polar oppositional nature that is the problem with debate. It has it’s place – deciding what health care reform is most appropriate for the USA. It is not appropriate in matters of personal relationships or doctrinal understandings. Those are not matters of you’re wrong, I’m right. (IMO, in personal relationships, there is no right or wrong, simply different positions, and in doctrinal matters, there is a truth to be understood or discovered.) The oppositional nature and attempt to prove your own point as right that occurs in debates, rather than present your side and let it lie, feels prideful, and is a root of contention.

    For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another

    (3 Ne. 11:29)

    Some people can’t help being contentious. For instance, those with ADHD often are oppositional in order to self-medicate and release their brain from the chemical imbalances otherwise restricting them. It also inhibits their ability to think before they act. Somehow, those who are in touch with their empathy have to learn to ignore these people and let them find other places to get their self-stimulants.

  11. The scriptures are quite clear, that if they are not the true church, and there is only one true church, that all the rest are the church of the devil.

    10 And he said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth.

    (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 14:10)

    39 And now if ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd, of what fold are ye? Behold, I say unto you, that the devil is your shepherd, and ye are of his fold; and now, who can deny this? Behold, I say unto you, whosoever denieth this is a cliar and a child of the devil.

    (Book of Mormon | Alma 5:39)

    23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

    (New Testament | Luke 11:23)

    Consider the Pharisees / Sadducees. They read the scriptures, and prayed, and went to church, and showed everyone how righteous and pious they were…. And then they went and killed Jesus. That is who the Pharisees and Sadducees were, they were the ones who killed Jesus. Don’t let looks deceive you. Anyone who denies the power of God, who casts out His prophets and apostles, who refuses to read his continued revelation, who preaches for money, or to be seen of men… These are not of God, these are the Sadducees. Wolf in Sheep’s clothing. – They are wolves who keep their followers from the truth, from the ordinances and blessings that come from following God’s true church.

    As far as contend goes:

    3 ...ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

    (New Testament | Jude 1:3)

    5 Contend thou, therefore, morning by morning; and day after day let thy warning voice go forth; and when the night cometh let not the inhabitants of the earth slumber, because of thy speech.

    (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 112:5)

    Can't let that slide lest a non-member or uninformed member read it and not understand that is NOT the position of the LDS Church. There are various ways to interpret the word "church", and it may not always represent a denomination or building. Take a look at it's fruits before making a choice. Elder McConkie took the harshest stance on this topic that I have ever seen, and even that was IMO a far cry from the above post. It is also important to keep in mind that "contend" may have various meanings and should be read in context IMO.

  12. When I first joined the LDS church at 16, it took me some time to sort out exactly what the theology was. Although quite a crude analogy, it was helpful to me at first when some described the Godhead as 'a basketball team'. Three unique individuals, but with one purpose, acting like a team, each performing a different function.

    I'm sure there are others that can explain better than I some specifics of your questions. I'll provide a few links to official statements and articles of the church. These should help with understanding the view of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

    The only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom He has sent by Jeffrey R Holland

    In These Three I Believe - Gordon B Hinkley

    In the following links, there is a lot more information under "Church Magazine Articles".

    God the Father

    Jesus Christ

    The Holy Ghost

  13. That God does not answer some prayers and easily be demonstrated from the evidence. On the other hand there is no evidence that God does answer prayers..

    :roflmbo:

    Your joking right? Oh, you're not? Well, no wonder you have no evidence.

    Of course he doesn't answer 'some" prayers. NO DUH!

    On the other hand, there is incontrovertible evidence that he does answer prayers, but that evidence is reserved for those that have put in the necessary effort. I'm honestly sorry that you are in a position that you have not such evidence. Perhaps someday you will quit kicking against the pricks and do what is necessary to obtain the evidence.

    Missingsomething:

    Already done. But, I already have proof that he answers your prayers. ;)

  14. Check back in when you have a chance and let us know you are ok! Hopefully your landlord will help like he indicated he would and find you a new place.

    Not sure what else to say. Sure wish he would stop. Wish I could do something about it. What's it going to take for the police to figure out his motives? At least the new gf let you know he knows where you live.

    Be safe!

  15. Speaking of my own personal feelings, which I think would be a similar to most LDS members I know, members would be more supportive than not regarding seeking to put your children in faith supporting schooling. Every barrel has it’s own “off color” apples though. People are people so you never know exactly what you might get.

    As far as an official stance of the Church, I am not aware of one, and would highly doubt there is such a position taken.

    As Jenamarie stated, there is the possibility of some feedback from the schooling group. Obviously they seem open to all sorts of denominations, but it only takes one misinformed parent to cause a ruckus.

  16. Wow that must be a tough position to be in. I guess what I and others can bring in offering suggestions is logical evaluation without our own emotions being caught up in your situation.

    From purely a practical standpoint, it would seem best for your daughter to live with your parents. From what you described, that sounds like it would not only be best for the welfare of all three kids, but for your sanity too.

    My head spins at all the potential complications that could be caused by your daughter's behavior towards the boys combined with lies. I suspect you'll already have scrutiny by CPS. It just sounds like a misunderstanding waiting to happen.

    Why am I always the responsible one? Why do I have to make all the hard life changing decisions? Why do the addicts get to make an exit to do as they please with no responsibility?

    Wow does that ever sound familiar. I participate on a private forum for spouses of those who have ADHD (which your AH likely has, along with several other issues IMO). Feeling like the only parent, the one on whose shoulders all significant burdens fall, is one of the most common complaints. You are justified IMO in wondering why, and lamenting how unfair it is. Just try not to let it get the better of you. You're kids need you to be able to step up and choose what is best for them.

    Wishing you the best.

  17. Wow, ryanh, you REALLY need to go back and slowly read Funky's posts again. He in no way was criticising or calling Rachelle names. He was commenting on her husband's behavior.

    I do see now that the childish comment was pointed at rebellion, not looking over his shoulder. My bad, sorry, I misread that.

    I still see the "shocking" that Rachelle also has BP comment and calling her condition a 'snake in the grass' as offensive. Were someone to call any condition I had as "shocking", and use an idiom with negative connotations, that would not feel good. There also appears to be fundamental misunderstandings of the nature of BP, that when understood, make much of the tone of the post difficult. Were Rachelle's husband to be the only one to have BP, then perhaps the post would be more appropriate, although still hurtful to anyone that did read it that had BP. (and no, I don't don have BP, but through various experiences, have great compassion for anyone that does - they are not people that inherently seek to betray or deceive - they have a condition that they may not be in control of.)