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Kind of like how it might irritate the heck out of Christians of other denominations when we claim to be Christian, even though we've never been a member of one of their accepted (i.e., orthodox) denominations?

Charity, the true love of Christ, seeketh not her own.

From the Online Etymology Dictionary: Seems a bit subjective. From who's perspective would opinions be judged right or wrong? How would you know if the answer to the previous question itself is orthodox? Perhaps orthodoxy is best associated with consensus and tradition. At the end of the day, what does it matter what an orthodox (or any other label for that matter) Mormon is? Are you led by the consensus or tradition of the group, or by what you know or feel in your heart? Would you purchase a pair of jeans because of the label on the back, or because it fits well and meets your functional needs?

Towards the end of the speech, Elder McConkie said... Elder McConkie calls a personal and intimate relationship with the Lord improper. Which leads one to question, can one be respectful (i.e., "worshipful adoration") while having an intimate relationship? What is an intimate relationship? How do we become *one* if there is a requisite distance ("required reserve between us and him") placed between us? If he meant the idolatrous relationship with the Lord called out earlier in his speech, then perhaps he should have stated that an excessive and idolatrous relationship with the Lord is improper, not simply a personal and intimate one. It wouldn't be the first time that a church authority employed a poor choice of words -- and it wasn't the last. But I think it's his excessive boldness that rankles many within the church. For example: He assumes a single interpretation of scripture. And failing to interpret as he does is false doctrine, and leaves one without salvation. The following quote illustrates one perspective, or interpretation, that he holds, and seems to boldly assert with authoritative finality: Supremacy, independence, omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence... Semantics are important. Context is important. And personal interpretation is important. One of the beautiful things about LDS theology is that it is so open to personal interpretation. Concluding that there is but one interpretation denies spiritual growth and evolving perspectives. He seems to come from a very dogmatic school of LDS theology -- and I think this is partly why you'll find many that feel uneasy with his words.

Linear time relative to what? If time is related to motion, or the transition from one state to another, then regardless of where you might find God, that He moves, increases in glory, and interacts with others and His environment means that He experiences time in some fashion.

Doctrine shouldn't be confused with dogma. Being that doctrine is simply something that is taught, and that which is taught comes from the perspective, interpretation, and wording of fallible beings, it is possible for all or part of a given doctrine to be false. But that is missing the point of what the Church is bringing to the table: The Church teaches individuals how to discover and comprehend the truth for themselves, thereby enabling them to come unto Christ, find salvation, and pursue exaltation. Those quotes are a wonderful springboard for one to search out the truth for him or herself -- take them for what they are and go from there. It is lazy spirituality (if you can call it that) to let someone do all the thinking for you. As frustrating as it may be to some, I believe this is why there are so few "official" or final declarations of specific interpretations of truth (dogma) published by the Church.

I have always loved this topic -- thank you questioning_seeker. A definition of "free agency" that I have liked is something along the lines of "the ability of an agent to act on the choice of free will." I don't think the topic of free agency is complete without discussing intelligence, free will, and faith. As I see it, in order for one to exercise free agency, the agent must have: 1. Awareness, or the ability to distinguish. 2. Memory, or the ability to record observations made using awareness and the ability to recall such observations. 3. The ability to reason using prior observations and anticipate outcomes. 4. Desire or motivation to achieve some purpose or end. 5. Two or more paths or choices that can be made. 6. The physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual strength, skill, or discipline necessary to execute one or more of the possible choices. 7. A knowledge or awareness of these possible paths or choices. 8. Hope that the choice will lead one to a desired outcome. 9. Belief that the choice is possible and that it will lead to a desired outcome. With the above the agent is then able to act on his/her choice. Upon acting on the choice, the agent then observes the outcomes which then completes the feedback loop for future choices. Agency is limited or restricted by: 1. Ignorance. 2. The laws of nature. 3. Violence (the forceful imposition of one agent's will over that of another). When we speak of the Father's "gift" of free agency given to each of us, I wonder if that "gift" is really the Father helping us learn (dispelling ignorance) the laws of nature, and refusing to forcefully impose his will over us. A long way of saying I believe we have always had agency (to one degree or another) and that the Father's gift is to help us increase our agency in an effort to help us realize our potential. So yes, we likely could choose to accept the gift or not. Which brings up another question: Did we choose to become His spirit children? Is the acceptance of His gift where He became our "Father"? In other words, did we become His children when we accepted His offer to be our teacher?

Is violence worse than pornography? Why are many violent movies sexually charged? Part and parcel of the same? Both may be an addiction to forms of aggression. Humans Crave Violence Just Like Sex | LiveScience

Single mothers would probably be the first to point out that this role is not "always assigned to the man" since there is no man present to fill the role. If there is room for one exception, then why not others? As husbands and wives grow together, who is to say that the distinction between their roles will not blur over time? But early on, before such maturity and unity has fully developed, wouldn't it be nice to give them some guidelines to start with?

There is a lot of emotion and opinion when it comes to the authoritarian or dictatorial interpretation of 'preside', but why couldn't presiding mean that the husband / father is to function as a project manager and teacher / professor? Wouldn't this be more in line with the priesthood functioning by way of persuasion?

No. If you can answer the question, "why should I be obedient?", then obedience is a means and the answer to the question brings you further to understanding the end. Even Mormonmusic's example of Abraham illustrates obedience as a means to an end.

This thread brings some questions to mind. Are ordinances themselves part of the gospel? The gospel is the "good news" -- are ordinances themselves the good news? What is the good news? I think the gospel is the message. A message of hope and optimism. A message that shows that one can overcome the natural self and the past through Christ and become something more by following His example. I think ordinances are vehicles that support the gospel, but are not the gospel itself. That ordinances are vehicles for instruction and meditation. Vehicles for growth. The gospel never changes, yet ordinances may change over time as needs necessitate (wine vs. water, wording in temple ordinances, etc.). So, to me, the Book of Mormon does contain the fullness of the gospel in that it contains a fullness of the good news, or the message of hope. It just so happens that it contains references to a few ordinances as well. This isn't to belittle ordinances to any degree -- just to say that I don't see them as being one and the same, rather, one is in support of the other.

I've been thinking about your situation all day. Having been an adolescent that was frequently oppositional and defiant, the following are a few questions that have come to mind: 1. Is your 12 year-old angry about being denied the Aaronic priesthood simply because he was denied, or does he really want the priesthood for unselfish reasons? 2. Is he stating that he does not believe in God and/or the Church simply out of defiance, or because he truly does not believe in such? 3. Why did he think there should have been an earth-shattering confirmation of everything when he was baptized? What are his expectations and where do they come from? 4. What is it he opposes? Why is he defiant? Have authority figures somehow let him down in the past? I'm not sure that you would have the answers to these questions. You may have asked them of yourself already. I don't have any real advice for you other than for you to keep loving your son. Make sure you tell him and show him that your love for him is unconditional. Also, never underestimate the value of example. They are always watching and learning from you -- what you say, but mostly what you do or don't do. Practice what you preach. If you want him to be an active church-going young man with a positive attitude, then make sure you set the example by being an active church-going woman with a positive attitude. I don't believe you can teach someone to feel the spirit. To draw an analogy, I would never be able to teach my children what a warm summer day feels like -- it is something that has to be experienced. All I can do is teach them what they have to do to prepare for the experience (i.e., where and when to go). Ultimately, opening himself up to feeling the Spirit is something he has to do.

It would be best to speak with your bishop directly for clarification. There is no way for us to know what he intended.

The conditions of informal probation are entirely up to the discretion of the bishop/branch president. The conditions may be restrictive or prescriptive. In other words, the leader will seek to set conditions that are geared towards positive growth and repentance and since each individual's situation and needs are unique, the conditions are left to inspiration.