nbblood

Where does it say a Utah soldier was killed? I don't see it in this article? Is there another? Edit: Never mind, I found it as a "related story" link on the page. Sad.

The problem with this theory is that only ONE non-BCS conference team can get an automatic bid to a BCS game. The others have to be invited to a BCS game without an automatic bid. Soooooo......only one of them will get a BCS bowl bid. Cinci is in the Big East which is a BCS conference, so they're not really a buster. If they win their conference they're in. Then the ACC, Big 10, Big 12, SEC and PAC 10 each get an automatic bid. The National Championship is not the Rose Bowl, it is simply the BCS National Championship game, although it will be held in Pasadena, which makes it easy to confuse for the Rose Bowl. The four BCS bowls are the Sugar, Orange, Rose, and Fiesta Bowls. That's 10 bids, 6 of them automatic, 4 at large. If Notre Dame finishes in the top 8 in the BCS standings, then they're guaranteed one of the at-large bids. One conference champion from Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, WAC, and Sun-Belt can get an automatic bid IF: 1. they are ranked in the top 12 in final BCS standings ....or....2. they are ranked in the top 16 in final BCS standings but ranked higher than a conference champion in one of the automatic bid conferences. BUT ONLY ONE from these conferences are guaranteed. After that it is truly at large for either 2 or 3 remaining slots (depending on Notre Dame's fate, 2 slots remain if they're in, 3 remain if they're not). But no conference can have more than 2 teams in BCS bowls. This year, that leaves either Florida, Alabama or LSU, USC, Ohio State, Penn State, Oklahoma State, and Pittsburgh on the outside looking in. Oh yeah, and then there could be a conference champion out of nowhere that could leave yet another team on this list. For example Kansas State (Big 12 North) could beat Texas (Big 12 South) in the conference championship. K State gets an automatic bid and now Texas is competing for an at-large bid. (Ok, not likely, but it COULD happen and it has before.) So.....as much as you'd like both TCU and Boise State to bust the BCS....it quite simply ain't gonna happen. One of them will get in if they win out, but not both. Cinci can get in by winning their conference....but oh, by the way, they could lose in their conference championship and be out too. Also, Houston (Conf USA), a very good team will not likely make it with their one-loss season to this point. Notre Dame won't likely reach the top 8. (4 slots after automatic bids) TCU will likely overcome Boise State on strength of schedule, so they're in, Boise State's out. (3 slots remaining) Alabama and Florida will likely get the two SEC slots, one automatic and one at-large, leaving LSU on the outside looking in. (2 slots remaining). If Oregon wins the PAC 10 by winning out, USC will likely get the at-large bid. (1 remaining). That basically leaves it to the Big 10. If Iowa wins out, they're in. That leaves Ohio St. with an at-large bid. If Iowa loses, Ohio St. likely wins and Penn St. gets the at-large. (no more slots for a bunch of good teams remaining) Of course, all this is as it stands right now and a myriad of different things could happen that change this. But still, notice by my scenario, that's leaving some pretty good Big 12 teams standing on the sidelines......sorry to be the bearer of not-so-optimistic news.....it's just reality. There will NEVER be a year where there will be more than one "BCS Buster". It's just the way it's designed.

There's a lot of good ones and some of my favorites, but my most favorite (it isn't listed yet) is: Let Us All Press On

Bless you!

Don't worry. Quitting is easy. I've done it thousands of times.

This is an uncomfortable situation. I can relate from personal experience (not my own, my wife). But here is some food for thought. This is the 11th Article of Faith: 11 We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may. This is one of our foundational beliefs, that agency is important. Why is this agency, a critical difference between God's and Satan's plan, not so important to other religions? Why would they not recognize the importance of someone searching and making their decisions according to their own agency? Mosiah 18:8-11 8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; 9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life— 10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you? 11 And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts. Is this the desire of your heart? You are worried about your family being offended. What about the Lord? This is a powerful message to me. I just provide it for food for thought. Alma 34:32-33 32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. 33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed. This too is a powerful message to me. I refer to it often. I tend to procrastinate, to say "I'll do it tomorrow." What if there is no tomorrow? Again, I provide as food for thought. Finally, I offer that the power of prayer is tremendous. Take your questions to God and ask him. Pray for him to soften the hearts of your family. I think you'll find that he will soften their hearts, perhaps not without initial trial and contention. Anyway, take your questions and issues to Him with faith and sincerity and I think you'll find the answers you're looking for. Nathan

Here it is with video too. Well, most of it anyway.

The calendar itself doesn't really bother me. I can appreciate humor and a decent calendar. I would think that women that represent the church well would dress according to church standards though. What does bother me is the words, from the website, of the women that posed from the calendar. Those words, in some cases, to me are slanderous and blasphemous of the church they supposedly represent. They openly criticize church authority based on their personal opinions. They most likely don't know much beyond what is published (and neither do I), yet they criticize the leaders within the church. Some blatantly disregard the appearance standards of the church. Why one would choose to involve themselves in a project that they could predict with near certainty would not be approved by church standards is beyond me. Now, I don't know if the claims from the website are true. In other words, I don't know if these women are actually members. I don't know if those are their words. I don't know if they all knew who they were getting involved with in making the calendar. I don't know the circumstances behind their employment for posing for the calendar. I don't know a lot of things about this calendar. So, my opinions are based solely on the information that I do have, which essentially is the website and news stories about the calendar. I disapprove. But I'm not the person they have to answer to. Of course everyone says and does things that they eventually regret. I'm pretty sure that is the case for at least some of these women. I worry and hope for them. I hope this does not lead to serious repercussions that these women will regret now and forever. That all said, I've done worse. I've paid a dear price in regret and repentance, but I've done worse. I hope for the best outcome for the church and these women. Oh, and I do love a fresh, hot muffin for sure!

It's hard to say without seeing the dress, but my daughter has a couple "spaghetti strap" dresses she wears to church. She wears a ruffled, short sleeve shirt under the dress and they look very nice and certainly modest in accordance with standards. That may or may not work with your dress. It's hard to say without seeing it.

Which reminds me of this: Alma 32:16-18 16 Therefore, blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without stubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe. 17 Yea, there are many who do say: If thou wilt show unto us a sign from heaven, then we shall know of a surety; then we shall believe. 18 Now I ask, is this faith? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for if a man knoweth a thing he hath no cause to believe, for he knoweth it. And, of course, the myriad of cross-references that go with it.

Well, the message at the top of the forums that says, "Our records indicate that you have never posted to our site before! Why not make your first post today by saying hello to our community in our Introductions forum," has finally prompted me to post an introduction. I am a lifelong member of the Church and an active duty military officer. I'm originally from Utah, but currently stationed and Fort Leavenworth, Kansas (under good terms...lol). I am a tactics instructor at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. I live in Lansing and I'm a member of Leavenworth 2nd Ward. Anyway, just dropping a note to say, "Hi." Nathan