Matt

So, Bush was in Vietnam, then? No? Oh, I see. So he was a rich boy draft dodger! Some ran away to Canada, some ran away to Europe, some ran away to Australia (whilst Australians fought in Vietnam. Kind of ironic, that!) and some ran all the way to the National Guard.

Sounds like a con to me, also, Cal. I wonder if Smith was a con artist, or just deluded? Perhaps he believed in the Earth Magic and in digging for buried treasure and also that he was a prophet of God?

As it happens Dravin, I can recall when SRM used to Troll on the RFM ex-Mormon board. And as a former moderator over there, I DO know that SRM used to troll there. Of course, he would seen it as being a witness to the "Gospel", we called it trolling for converts.

Apparently some people are critical of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry on the grounds that whilst he only attempted to defer his Vietnam draft for a year, George W. Bush was crafty enough to dodge the entire war.

You could try this. http://www.mrm.org/multimedia/text/first-vision.html It depends on how much of a spark of Methodism he caught.

Is it a false claim? How could you say he had fabricated it when it was a claim apparently made in the 1830s? If you claim that he fabricated it, how could you claim he was still promoting that fraud?

G W Bush s just like Harold Wilson, British Prime Minister of some years ago. He was an Oxford Don who had been born in the North of England. He spoke with an Oxford university accent. Except when he was on the hustings or making a speach to trade unionists. Then he'd "forget" his Oxford accent and really crank up a North Country accent, to appear to be "a man of the people."

Ah. So if an ex-Mormon agreed with Forevermommy, then SRM would say: "Don't listen to them!" It might be that Forevermommy is making the mistake of allowing rules thought up by elderly, middleclass white males rule her every thought. I still remember with genuine horror when one of these elderly, middleclass white male visiting General Authorities told a group of us Deacons: "Boys! You have the priesthood! You have more power and authority in your little finger than your mother has in the whole of her body!" However, it could be that her husband has kept asking her to perform acts that she was not comfortable with, and now discovers that he got these ideas from hardcore pornography. And auto-erotic activities are prescribed by some doctors to help reduce prostrate gland problems. Even by some TBM doctors, apparently.

Interestingly the only naval officers and men who did serve with him all praised his abilities as an officer and his ability to operate in a cool way whilst under fire. http://www.snopes.com/politics/kerry/swift.asp Some of them were angry with him for afterwards protesting against the Vietnam War, but they still admired him for what he did on the Swift Boats.

The situation in Britain is different. The only people who are elected are: Councillors, MPs and Mayors in some large cities. ALL other jobs, chief constable (police chief) prosecuters, judges, etc., etc., are career people who are in their jobs not because they fought a good election, but because they are good at their job.

A point I have only just noticed. Joseph Smith mentions "professors of religion". In what context was this used, I wonder? One who "professes" a religion? Or "professors of religion" as in religious professors, or University or seminary educated theologians?

John Doe, I am older than you, so, yeah, I was alive then. And some British people took part in the Vietnam war. With Australian and American forces. I am aware that some NG and reservists are in Iraq. As are TA volunteers, also.

Well, gee John, Doe, that went really smoothly, hah? Mocking someone's typographical error by making one of your own! But don't worry. Maybe nobody'll notice!

Putting to one side my opinion of the Iraq war, the French and the Germans did not want the war as both countries had some really heavy (and probably illegal) deals going with Sadam. Their motives were impure. And where, exactly, did this "cozy up to Sadam" routine get the French? French journalists were kidnapped in order to try to force France to retract a ban on religious artifacts in schools. So, gee, that plan sure worked well, didn't it??

Quite. He isn't. Why? Because he dosn't have one. The National Guard is a fine military force. In many respects it is like the British Territorial Army. What is questioned is how people like G W Bush used it to hide from Vietnam. By the way, you might be interested to know that there are Territorial Army SAS units, and they do see active service on covert missions. There is also a Royal Marine version of the TA, I believe they have SBS units, too.

Had you thought about a Satin avatar, instead? It comes in red and is quite comfortable, I believe.

But, this to one side: You have to put your trust in: 1) a man who did not know where Vietnam was. And 2) a man who knew where Vietnam was and went there. And lost some of his comrades and friends there, too. Whenever I see Bush saluting veterans I think: "Yes, easy to salute them now, mate! But where where you when they needed someone to help them pull a wounded buddy out of a burning vehicle? Or from a foxhole?" Oh, yeah. In the Texas National Guard. It was easier for Mr Bush to join the Texan National Guard. After all he knew where Texas was...

Hi. I am not new. But I used to be.

I like this quote: Wonderful! This is like a bizarre Faith Promoting Rumour, isn't it?

Everyone above me is nice. Especially Bat. :)

Well, let's see, SRM. She has somthing you, Snow, Bat and I will certainly never have! What is it? Guess. And it isn't what you might think...

sigh! Sadly, this describes my family. They have more religious icons in their homes than a bevvy of Catholics. But they don't cal lthem religios icons, naturally) And they ram Mormonism down the throat of any poor soul daft enough to visit them.

Wood from the burnt offering sounds like using ash to make a mark on the forehead. Something like that.

It happened to me when I was about 18. Couldn't be bothered to eat. Hated eating, sometimes, too. But I forced myself to eat, as I knew it was important. I got over it. However, if you don't, there is professional help. Take care, yes? Oh. And also take food drink stuff. Diet drinks can help, so long as you do not diet and eat, too.

Here are MY poems! There was a young lady of Riga Who smiled as she rode on a tiger; They returned from the ride With the lady inside, And the smile on the face of the tiger. There was a young lady named Laura, Who went to the wilds of Angora, She came back on a goat With a beautiful coat, And notes of the fauna and flora.