Tyler90AZ

I think we worship anything we love. The extent to which we worship something is another story. Off course God should be worshiped more then anything or anybody. What makes worship good or bad? If it is in alignment with God it is good worship. Also if we worship it more then God it is bad.

Very good, using part for my signature!

I feel your pain

RIP Christopher Hitchens

Wii Games: Zelda Mario Kart The Xbox is geared more towards adults, however, he will still like the Wii.

The media library is great.

You might want to be worried about the former of your problems, at least initially. They won't be patting you on the back, but kicking you in the butt.

ChristTheTruth, in the end you have the ability to discover if this church is true or not. Do not rely on what Joseph Smith's enemies or friends say, discover truth for yourself. For this truth is a glorious thing that has blessings unimaginable. "so great were the blessings of the Lord," 1 Ne. 17:2. "if ye will hearken … I leave unto you a blessing," 2 Ne. 1:28. I know it is a tough thing to pull out of the darkness, that may have the appearance of light, for you have grown accustomed to it. However, like you said in your first post you loved the church and believed it, but then you read some things about Joseph Smith you didn't like. Would it be reasonable to say that is your persecution? It is tough to overcome persecution, but didn't Jesus overcome persecution greater then any man ever will? You like me can overcome your time away from church and return to receive all the blessings. I say everything above from experience. No Man Without Faults The Prophet Joseph Smith Although I do wrong, I do not the wrongs i am charged with doing; the wrong that I do is through the frailty of human nature, like other men. No men lives without fault. Do you think that even Jesus, if he were here, would be without fault in your eyes? His enemies said all manner of evil against him -- they all watched for iniquity in him. How easy was it for Jesus to call out all the iniquity of the hearts of those whom he was among! Returning Home - general-conference

The 14 Points would be dangerous if we were taught not to get educated. To me education does a lot to eliminate possible abuses of power. Even so, the 14 points are things I would expect of a Prophet, so it isn't really that big of a stretch. If you believe he is a prophet then these things naturally apply. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches its member to get educated: D&C 88 School of the Prophets Apostles on Education: Apostles Emphasize Value of Education Women and Education: Insights - Ensign Mar. 1975 - ensign

Favorite Christian Doctrine: The fact that knowledge is carried with you till eternity. Favorite Exclusively Church Doctrine: Temple Work Least Favorite Christian Doctrine: Once baptized your saved no matter what you do.

I went through a similar thing recently. As recent as a month ago I was questioning the truth of the gospel. Upon my return I like you have had a strong desire to know more about Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith has made mistakes like any man would. It is not rare for a man called by God to make mistakes. Did Paul not make mistakes? He murdered innocent believers yet God still called him. I have come to believe that Joseph Smith was a great man called of God. If your faith crisis is based on rather Joseph Smith was a good man dig into his life and teachings. It is important to note that the people who say Joseph Smith is a bad man have a lot to lose if he is a prophet of God. Joseph Smith says it best in one of his reflections: Friday November, 6 --- At home. Attended school during school hours, returned and spent the evening at home. I was this morning introduced to a man from the east. After hearing my name, he remarked I was nothing but a man indicating by this expression, that he had supposed that a person to whom the lord should see fit to reveal His will, must be something more then a man. He seemed to have forgot the saying that fell from the lips of St.James, that Elias was a man subject to like passions like we are, yet he had such power with God, that he, in answer to his prayers, shut the heavens that they gave no rain for the space of three years and six months; and again, in answer to his prayer, the heavens gave forth rain, and the earth gave forth fruit. Indeed, such is the darkness and ignorance of this generation, that they look upon it as incredible that a man should have any intercourse with his maker. Listen to this talk about the Book of Mormon it is extremely powerful. Safety for the Soul - general-conference

What a blessing, very inspiring!

I've went through a faith crisis like yours before and I understand where your coming from. Think about the spiritual and practical benefits of being a member of the church. There are many in each category. You loved the church, think about why you loved the church and regain that. I am currently reading Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith. It is a book with his teachings verbatim. Also go to The Joseph Smith Papers you will learn a lot about Joseph Smith listening to those. A sample of his teachings Those Who Endure to the End That those who keep the commandments of the lord and walk in His statues to the end, are the only individuals permitted to sit at this glorious feast is evident from the following items in Paul's last letter to Timothy, which was written just previous to his death,--he says:"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the lord the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing."NO one who believe the account, will doubt for a moment this assertion of Paul which was made, as he knew, just before e was to take his leave of this world. Though he once, according to his own word, persecuted the Church of God and wasted it, yet after embracing the faith, his labors were unceasing to spread the glorious news: and like a faithful solider, when called to give his life in the cause which he had espoused, he laid it down, as he says, with an assurance of an eternal crown. Follow the labors of this Apostle from the time of his conversion to the time of his death, and you will have a fair sample of industry and patience in promulgating the gospel of Christ. Derided, whipped, and stoned, the moment he escaped the hands of his persecutors he as zealously as ever proclaimed the doctrine of the savior. And all may know that he did not embrace the faith for honor in this life nor for the gain of earthly goods. What, then, could have induced him to undergo all this toil? It was, as he said, that he might obtain the crown of righteousness from the hand of God. No one we presume will doubt the faithfulness of Paul till the end. None will say that he did not keep the faith, that he did not fight the good fight, that he did not preach and persuade to the last. And what was he to receive? A crown of righteousness. And what shall others receive who do not labor faithfully, and continue to the end? We have such to search out their own promises if any they have, and if they have any they are welcome to them, on our part, for the lord says all men are suppose to receive according to his works. Reflect for a minute, brethren, and enquire whether you would receive yourself worthy to receive a seat at the marriage feast with Paul and others like him, if you had been unfaithful? Had you not fought the good fight, and kept the faith, could you expect to receive? Have you a promise of receiving a crown of righteousness from the hand of the lord with the Church of the Firstborn? here then, we understand that Paul rested his hope in Christ, because he had kept the faith, and love His appearing and from his hand he had a promise of receiving a crown of righteousness.

Do you propose completely eliminating any government run welfare? If so what happens to the people who rely on it? What is your plan? I would rather see it done that way myself, but I don't think it would happen.

What about the hundreds of places throughout scriptures it says don't be greedy and help the poor?

I want to make clear that I am not defending Liberals, I am defending helping those who need our help. To those who say abandon those who need us most: If we don't help those who need our help what would this country come to? More crime! More homelessness! Starving kids! The country would quickly deteriorate and take the appearance of a third world country. I think we can all agree that we don't want that to happen, can't we? Don't we like are relatively safe lives where law enforcement can protect us? If we do away with help to the poor they would have nothing to lose and would outnumber law enforcement. You think the protests are bad now do away with helping those who need us most! Imagine 45 million people not getting the necessities of life..... It wouldn't be the taxpayers debating about rather we should help the poor. It would be 45 million people taking from the taxpayers, more so, the rich. If your an anarchist support not helping those who need help.Cause friends rest assured it would be anarchy. Could we blame them? It is human nature to survive at all costs. I think that most people can see not helping those who need us most wouldn't be good. Traveler: First lets come to agreement that not all poor people are liberals. Therefore I don't understand how the first question makes sense. Liberals pay taxes, serve their country and live honorable lives just like any other members of a political group. Who says the poor are not willing to sacrifice? That comes from a false notion that all poor people are bums and poverty stays in families forever. Facts show in most circumstances people escape poverty. However, I do understand what you are saying that we need to rethink just giving away money to those who abuse the system. To me the church welfare plan is great and would be my preferred system of welfare for this country(from what I have read). Although I think it would be hard to implement a new welfare plan. In my opinion the most important thing we need to look at is the well being of children in poverty situations. If the mom is a drug addict or complete bum and we don't help her guess who suffers, the children. To me that is not right to the children. What we truly need is not a reformed welfare program in America, but a reformed education system. We need good teachers in low income areas to propel these kids to be something great. If we can educate the low income kids and show them there is a way to a better life, poverty has a better chance of being eliminated. Also health care is helping the middle class more then anybody else. Poor people can get health care already.

Two quick things to remember: The same people are not always the poor people. Generally poverty seems to be eliminated fairly quickly (one, two or three generations). At the time they receive welfare they are not paying taxes, but rest assured some of their progenitors have and posterity will. The poor and middle class provide the Soldiers, Marines, Airmen and Sailors.

I think political diversity among membership has really helped get us coverage on all news networks.

Welcome

I think a guy wearing a suit and tie on Sunday is synonymous with being a Mormon. It is great for marketing . Look at the recent marketing campaign "I'm a Mormon." That is what we get on a constant basis when we wear our suit and tie on Sunday. Is that maybe one of the reasons the brethren counsel it? I think any Christian would just be happy that somebody is coming to church. Why should it matter what their wearing? We should all rejoice anytime somebody comes to church. The wanting to wear "best dress" will come along as they learn the gospel and want to obey God. Then if they learn the gospel and still choose not to wear "best dress"(which is rare) we should still rejoice they are attending church and being nourished by the good word of God.

Be very careful in this situation. I also am in limbo...I want my wife back more then anything, but she doesn't see how our family is more important. She sees her mom and dad as her immediate family. To cut a long story short my father-in-law is a cop and one of his buddies wife ran out of state with the kids. There was absolutely nothing he could do because he didn't know where she was at. Anyways, my in-laws gave my wife the idea that she could run out of state with my kid and I would not beable to see my daughter. Even know things have mellowed out I still have that in the back of my head.

Everything you have said sounds like excactly what Glenn Beck wants you to say. The examples you gave are just rhetoric coming from those that oppose us. Read both sides of the storie, not just inhale one side.

Mr. Laycock bit himself in the butt at the end of the hearing. Throughout the hearing it sounded like he was arguing any religious employee can not be fired for violating tenets of the faith. I felt like he was winning... Then he stated, "The position of minister is categorically special because that has committed the church in the system of separation of church and state." I don't feel like this person should even be considered a minister, she is an employee. Thus, should fall under the same rights of any employee. I do not feel like the government should have the right to reinstate her, to me it violates the law. However, she should be compensated somehow because her rights were violated. This is some BS opinion, so feel free to rip it apart.

Must be arguing for seperation of church and state, but moreso they can't have something like this hapen to our church. From my limited reading on the matter, I feel like the lady was in the right. It is a clear violation of employee rights laws. They even admitted they fired her for making the matter legal. However, I don't feel like she should have ever made it a legal situation.

Fascinating case! I wish the church would release a detailed statement when they back something. I think it would eliminate many questions the members(me) have. Detailed Transcript: http://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/10-553.pdf