Suzie

There is no such a thing as "dating" someone else while you still legally married. Hence, the Church doesn't allow people who are separated to participate in YSA or SA activities until they are officially divorced. He is being unfaithful even if you're aware of his "dates".

I am not sure if I believe President Kimball said those words (but I can be wrong). There are so many quotes going around the internet without source that one has to be careful. This one is quite popular though due to the dramatic speech.

Perhaps, it would be useful to define what exactly is "Anti-Mormon" material? The term seems to have different connotations for members of the Church generally speaking and for purpose of research, I would like to know your views. In a few instances, when discussing Church history such as the plural wives of Joseph Smith, how the Priesthood ban started, even asking many years ago why we do not have altars at Church anymore as we used to have in the past (a sincere question) etc my comments or questions, were not received in a positive light and I admit, THAT was surprising and it made me wonder why is it that sometimes questions or comments of this nature related to Church history are automatically assumed to be the work of Anti-Mormons and commenting or asking about them makes some members feel uncomfortable or they quick to assume that you have been reading Anti-Mormon material. Is it that we really do not know our history? Is it that we rather not to study or know certain parts because it may not be uplifting and may lead us to doubt? Or is it that we assume automatically that the information may be a lie and because of that we don't do our own research to find the truth? What is Anti-Mormon literature? Is it the information in itself that portraits the Church in a negative light? Is it how is presented? Is it the intention behind the dissemination of such information? I can mention a few topics in Church history that aren't "palatable". A member of the Church who discuss about them, talks about them, researches about them, makes questions about them doesn't make him/her automatically an anti-Mormon or apostate. Historians and members in general who have a passion for Church history can become tools in helping those traveling the road of permanent doubt. Knowing how to answer some of those questions can help a lot when "go and pray about it" and "isn't important for your salvation" doesn't cut it.

Same here.

Yes, even more now knowing that you seem to notice all these things and yet she seems to be completely clueless about it.

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions". I don't mean anyone is going to hell for gossiping but you get the drift.

It takes two to tango.

Carlimac, this has nothing to do with your friend but with you and how you choose to feel about the things she shares and if so, perhaps you should analyze why you feel the way you do?. To be honest, I would love someone like her in my ward, it is worth of admiration and I would feel inspired to do better with my own family! Church lessons are about providing feedback from personal experience and that's exactly what she is doing. Can we truly judge intent? Is it her job to control the emotions of others? Do others analyze that perhaps the intent isn't about making others feel bad? Is it about her really or about the insecurity of others?

Perhaps fault-finding? I would disagree with that. Spreading rumors, personal/intimate information about others (mentioning names or anonymously) is gossip, regardless of the intent (doesn't matter whether or not the person is doing it to elevate themselves or not).

Just think about Christ and how much he loves *you* with all your sins, with all your weaknesses, and shortcomings. Learn to separate the sin from the sinner. I am sure there are things you have done that you regret you have done...think about those moments, weren't in those moments that you felt the need to be loved the most? How sad and lonely someone may feel if they know others withdraw their love for them when they need it the most.

I agree 100% with every post Eowyn posted on this thread. We can rationalize it in every way, shape and form and still doesn't make it right and I would be very careful to counsel someone or perhaps hint that sometimes "We are all a little abusive" and let this person consider staying in this marriage and putting herself and children in danger. However this is what stands out the most to me: My husband is abusive. Verbally, emotionally, sometimes physically. Screaming and calling them "you are a freaking MORONIC piece of S***. Useless a**hole - you're so pathetic." He can work 100000 jobs for that matter and it doesn't give him the right to be emotionally, verbally AND physically abusive to his wife and children. For what is being described, this relationship has been toxic for YEARS to the point where the victim in this case wonders what flaws or things she might be doing "wrong". This is a very common behavior in victims of domestic violence. I can only tell you that this situation seems dangerous and if I was you, I would be seeking legal advise and protecting myself and my children by taking them out of that environment. All the best!

You can still learn the deeper things at home and it's wonderful and rewarding. Yet still attend your Sunday meetings to help someone who perhaps do not have a good understanding about the basics and see their testimonies grow as everyone try their best to support them in their new journey.

Why? It's just a game and a cool one too! :)

Even during the Sabbath? Shame on you.

Interesting you mentioned that! In one of the episodes this lady lost a lot of weight and of course, she wasn't ready yet for skin surgery but you could have seen in her eyes that she wanted her mother to be proud of her so she asked her "Mom how do I look?", the mom (who was obese herself) started laughing at her face and saying that she looks like she has an "apron" on and that her arms look terrible. Every time the woman would ask her the same question, the mother would criticize her terribly. The husband and her children would laugh when Chris Powell told one of the children to respect her mother's situation as a food addict and that he shouldn't be eating the junk food right in front of her face and they were all laughing at her and she was so sad. In another episode, this woman was in a restaurant with her husband and she chose something along the lines with her new diet. The husband stated that he would ask the "usual" so they brought doritos with some cheese sauce. The woman was literally dying over it and kept telling the husband about it and the husband wouldn't look at her at all, and the only times that he would look at her eyes was when he would deep the doritos in the cheese sauce and eat them while looking at her! By the end of that episode, I wanted to punch the mother and children of the first lady and the husband of the second.

Have you ever watched the show? It is truly inspirational.

Hi Finrock, I assure you it was a general post. I don't know if you ever watched the show but the things the participants of the show shared were heartbreaking. From total strangers making fun of them by calling them hippos to extreme bullying in school and in the work place. In more than one occasion, I overheard people commenting about an obese person's weight or food choices in a demeaning and cruel manner. And I think everyone here or most people at some point have experienced hearing someone being mocked or bullied or made fun of because of their weight.

I agree, although I wonder how close our relationship should be with the person in question in order for us to possibly help them even though they did not ask for help?

Are you saying the Strength of the Youth pamphlet is official doctrine?

*sigh* She should know better.

I admit it. I am sort of a fanatic of Extreme Makeover Weightloss edition with Chris Powell. Even though I never had problems with weight, I try to keep myself fit by exercising every day and eating right. It doesn't mean that sometimes I don't indulge in occasional junk food but overall, I try my best to eat very healthy and well yes, I am interested in the whole health business. However, watching the show opened up my eyes a lot about the struggles of those who are morbidly obese and are faced with the challenge of losing the weight or die. Sometimes, when you see someone outside with that kind of weight people are so unkind and harsh and I just cannot comprehend why we are that way with people who struggle with weight issues. Is it that we assume automatically that they are lazy? Is it that we see them as weak? What exactly causes us to show unkindness or make cruel jokes towards someone who struggle with this issue? As I watched several episodes, time and time again I saw people who were trying but they were faced with tremendous challenges, most of them traumatic events where instead to turn to alcohol or drugs, they turned to food. They became food addicts. Where is our compassion and help towards those who need us? In what way making cruel remarks towards someone who struggles to leave his/her car because of their weight or someone who cannot play with their children because of their size helps them in any way? I want to suggest that every time you see an obese person at your local restaurant, work, Church or otherwise...STOP CRITICIZING THEM. Whether it's on their face or not, do not do it. It doesn't help them. Do you think they don't beat up themselves long enough already? The world is full of unkindness. And yes, I do not know what it is like to be morbidly obese...heck, I do not even know what is like to be overweight HOWEVER, it doesn't stop ME from trying to show kindness to those around me. What a wonderful inspiration we could become by just accepting people for who they are, we are our brother's keeper. Everyone of us. When they are ready to get the help they need, they will seek it. At the mean time, a simple smile and a offer of genuine friendship can heal a broken soul more than any diet could ever heal the body.

Are you saying that only Mormons have standards?

In order to answer the question, I would need more details about the kind of abominable things he has done. If you cannot share, I totally understand.

My bet is that he has an ongoing pornography issue that it has not been disclosed yet.