carlimac

There are all sorts of situations in life and even biological aberrations that could cause us to feel  traumatized, depressed and even suicidal. I think my brain would light up too if I could do all the things my “natural woman” would like to do and be told I’m not breaking a commandment. But that’s just not how life works. That goes against the way the Lord has set this world up.  I believe it’s a fantasy that LGBT folks should expect to respond to their passions and not be breaking the most fundamental of God’s laws. 
I’m sorry for the hurt that so many feel. I’m sorry they get so despondent that life doesn’t seem worth living. But here's an observation.  I have several male friends from high school who are single. I don’t know if they are gay but they are active members of the church. They have never been married and at this point (we all turned 60 this year) and chances are getting slimmer every year that they would marry if they aren't gay.  But they find joy in just life itself. One of them is the most generous, happy persons I know. He has the means to travel extensively and goes to theater and extravagant dinners often. But it’s clear that his greatest joy is in giving to others and trying to bring happiness to his friends and family. He’s gone through lots of tragedy with several brothers dying of a genetic disease. And he gets in there, rolling up his sleeves at fundraisers to find a cure. He has found some things to live for that have nothing to do with his love  life or lack thereof. . 
I appreciate that mental health workers feel so much sympathy for LGBT people who are suicidal. But maybe instead of trying so hard to coddle them as well as convince society that we have somehow betrayed them,  and let them do their thing without judgment, their patients would be better served with a plan to get the focus off their sexual orientation, off of the way they think people are oppressing them and turn it around. They could enable them to find other sources of happiness,  find service opportunities for them, find ways for them to forget about themselves. We know that true generosity and losing ourselves in the service of others lights up the brain and warms the heart in the best way. 

There are all sorts of situations in life and even biological aberrations that could cause us to feel  traumatized, depressed and even suicidal. I think my brain would light up too if I could do all the things my “natural woman” would like to do and be told I’m not breaking a commandment. But that’s just not how life works. That goes against the way the Lord has set this world up.  I believe it’s a fantasy that LGBT folks should expect to respond to their passions and not be breaking the most fundamental of God’s laws. 
I’m sorry for the hurt that so many feel. I’m sorry they get so despondent that life doesn’t seem worth living. But here's an observation.  I have several male friends from high school who are single. I don’t know if they are gay but they are active members of the church. They have never been married and at this point (we all turned 60 this year) and chances are getting slimmer every year that they would marry if they aren't gay.  But they find joy in just life itself. One of them is the most generous, happy persons I know. He has the means to travel extensively and goes to theater and extravagant dinners often. But it’s clear that his greatest joy is in giving to others and trying to bring happiness to his friends and family. He’s gone through lots of tragedy with several brothers dying of a genetic disease. And he gets in there, rolling up his sleeves at fundraisers to find a cure. He has found some things to live for that have nothing to do with his love  life or lack thereof. . 
I appreciate that mental health workers feel so much sympathy for LGBT people who are suicidal. But maybe instead of trying so hard to coddle them as well as convince society that we have somehow betrayed them,  and let them do their thing without judgment, their patients would be better served with a plan to get the focus off their sexual orientation, off of the way they think people are oppressing them and turn it around. They could enable them to find other sources of happiness,  find service opportunities for them, find ways for them to forget about themselves. We know that true generosity and losing ourselves in the service of others lights up the brain and warms the heart in the best way. 

I was here in Utah for the Olympics.  I did not talk to anyone that did not have their opinions of Utah and the Church changed for the better - significantly.  I have a brother that was quite high up in the hosting organization that is still communicating with officials from all over the world.  There were many benefits that include getting visas for missionaries much more easier.   Something few know is that the church has many corporations - at least one for every country where the church has legal members.  The church does not talk a lot about legal issues with missionaries and members in foreign countries but I understand that the Utah Olympics opened many doors (both official and unofficial) for the church and missionaries - also for tithing and fast offerings.  Just because the church does not publish (brag) a lot about progress does not mean that significant progress is not taking place.  The church was also very involved behind the scenes with the Utah Olympics - I have not heard any official statement from the church that the Utah Olympics was in any way detrimental.  
I do not know where you and @MormonGator got the impression the Utah Olympics was so problematic - unless you have been reading the Salt Lake Tribune.  As a side note - Snowbird is currently making significant investment in expanding one of the world's largest and most diverse ski resorts - independent of any future Olympic possibilities.
 
The Traveler

I also think that it's already happening from a literal standpoint. From about the early 1990s Salt Lake valley began changing so fast. That's when we moved from Salt Lake City to Logan. Every time we visited it felt changed- not in a good way. People were pouring in from California and other high rent states due to the low price of housing, freeways became crazier to drive on, the housing market started to go nuts. We had a tiny house to sell and felt a little sheepish asking $50K for it. Then a realtor friend took us aside and told us to ask $89K . We got asking price within a week. Now that little house would list at $400K at least.  I don't have anything against Californians per se. I know a whole bunch of wonderful people who moved to Utah from there. But many move-ins  brought with them an edginess and a faster more competetive pace than was felt in my hometown before that.
Then, as amazing as the Olympics were, suddenly Utah was on the map and was no longer a well kept secret- which resulted in more people coming with ever wordlier views and practices. I believe a lot of members of the Church in Utah started jumping on the bandwagon to capitalize on the new notoriety of our humble little state by increasing housing prices, building the ever bigger and grander mansions.  Pride!! Again, I love diversity  and don't have anything against outsiders but when they come in and gripe about the status quo and the dominant religion and start tearing apart the beautiful tapestry carefully woven together for 150 years or so, then this part of the prophecy comes true :" we will be mixed up in these now peaceful valleys".  As that mixing occured, wordliness increased and many members have been caught up in this quest for wealth and beauty and power that came with the interlopers that took sad advantage of the simple trust that many Utahns posessed.
The latest evidence I've seen is that the stake I grew up in consisted of about 12-13 very full active wards. It has now been condensed to about 6 or 7  neighborhood wards with other non-english speaking wards from all over the valley sharing the buildings. One building only has one ward meeting there.  It's almost unrecognizable anymore and very sad to me. There has been a lot of turnover as the primary generation of home builders in that area have died off and their children generally can't affod to buy their parents homes. The influx is all not members of the Church.  
Then the gay movement took hold and everything is scrambled. I know that many of my nieces and nephews left the church over that issue. My own sons left but over other things. Scary times!

There are all sorts of situations in life and even biological aberrations that could cause us to feel  traumatized, depressed and even suicidal. I think my brain would light up too if I could do all the things my “natural woman” would like to do and be told I’m not breaking a commandment. But that’s just not how life works. That goes against the way the Lord has set this world up.  I believe it’s a fantasy that LGBT folks should expect to respond to their passions and not be breaking the most fundamental of God’s laws. 
I’m sorry for the hurt that so many feel. I’m sorry they get so despondent that life doesn’t seem worth living. But here's an observation.  I have several male friends from high school who are single. I don’t know if they are gay but they are active members of the church. They have never been married and at this point (we all turned 60 this year) and chances are getting slimmer every year that they would marry if they aren't gay.  But they find joy in just life itself. One of them is the most generous, happy persons I know. He has the means to travel extensively and goes to theater and extravagant dinners often. But it’s clear that his greatest joy is in giving to others and trying to bring happiness to his friends and family. He’s gone through lots of tragedy with several brothers dying of a genetic disease. And he gets in there, rolling up his sleeves at fundraisers to find a cure. He has found some things to live for that have nothing to do with his love  life or lack thereof. . 
I appreciate that mental health workers feel so much sympathy for LGBT people who are suicidal. But maybe instead of trying so hard to coddle them as well as convince society that we have somehow betrayed them,  and let them do their thing without judgment, their patients would be better served with a plan to get the focus off their sexual orientation, off of the way they think people are oppressing them and turn it around. They could enable them to find other sources of happiness,  find service opportunities for them, find ways for them to forget about themselves. We know that true generosity and losing ourselves in the service of others lights up the brain and warms the heart in the best way. 

If it’s true that the pre-Nelson prophets were unfeeling heelish “enforcers” whereas Nelson is lovingly seeking solutions that God is ready and willing to provide (in a libertine direction, natch), then what are we to make of the fact that Nelson has openly said he IS seeking divine solutions, and that the November 2015 policy was one of them, and that the law of chastity itself is not going to change?
This notion of solving the problem by adding men to lesbian relationships betrays either a gross misunderstanding of what lesbian women want (they don’t WANT a covenant with a man, they want a covenant—and approved sexual relations—with another woman) or else a pornified idea of what polygamy actually entailed (there was never a covenant relationship between the various women a polygamist was married to—polygamy was a series of marriages that each bound one man to one woman, not a group marriage binding one man and all his wives into a single community; and sexual threesomes or lesbian interactions between plural wives were never OK).
Let’s not conflate “love-oriented” solutions with “sex-oriented” solutions.

There are all sorts of situations in life and even biological aberrations that could cause us to feel  traumatized, depressed and even suicidal. I think my brain would light up too if I could do all the things my “natural woman” would like to do and be told I’m not breaking a commandment. But that’s just not how life works. That goes against the way the Lord has set this world up.  I believe it’s a fantasy that LGBT folks should expect to respond to their passions and not be breaking the most fundamental of God’s laws. 
I’m sorry for the hurt that so many feel. I’m sorry they get so despondent that life doesn’t seem worth living. But here's an observation.  I have several male friends from high school who are single. I don’t know if they are gay but they are active members of the church. They have never been married and at this point (we all turned 60 this year) and chances are getting slimmer every year that they would marry if they aren't gay.  But they find joy in just life itself. One of them is the most generous, happy persons I know. He has the means to travel extensively and goes to theater and extravagant dinners often. But it’s clear that his greatest joy is in giving to others and trying to bring happiness to his friends and family. He’s gone through lots of tragedy with several brothers dying of a genetic disease. And he gets in there, rolling up his sleeves at fundraisers to find a cure. He has found some things to live for that have nothing to do with his love  life or lack thereof. . 
I appreciate that mental health workers feel so much sympathy for LGBT people who are suicidal. But maybe instead of trying so hard to coddle them as well as convince society that we have somehow betrayed them,  and let them do their thing without judgment, their patients would be better served with a plan to get the focus off their sexual orientation, off of the way they think people are oppressing them and turn it around. They could enable them to find other sources of happiness,  find service opportunities for them, find ways for them to forget about themselves. We know that true generosity and losing ourselves in the service of others lights up the brain and warms the heart in the best way. 

There are all sorts of situations in life and even biological aberrations that could cause us to feel  traumatized, depressed and even suicidal. I think my brain would light up too if I could do all the things my “natural woman” would like to do and be told I’m not breaking a commandment. But that’s just not how life works. That goes against the way the Lord has set this world up.  I believe it’s a fantasy that LGBT folks should expect to respond to their passions and not be breaking the most fundamental of God’s laws. 
I’m sorry for the hurt that so many feel. I’m sorry they get so despondent that life doesn’t seem worth living. But here's an observation.  I have several male friends from high school who are single. I don’t know if they are gay but they are active members of the church. They have never been married and at this point (we all turned 60 this year) and chances are getting slimmer every year that they would marry if they aren't gay.  But they find joy in just life itself. One of them is the most generous, happy persons I know. He has the means to travel extensively and goes to theater and extravagant dinners often. But it’s clear that his greatest joy is in giving to others and trying to bring happiness to his friends and family. He’s gone through lots of tragedy with several brothers dying of a genetic disease. And he gets in there, rolling up his sleeves at fundraisers to find a cure. He has found some things to live for that have nothing to do with his love  life or lack thereof. . 
I appreciate that mental health workers feel so much sympathy for LGBT people who are suicidal. But maybe instead of trying so hard to coddle them as well as convince society that we have somehow betrayed them,  and let them do their thing without judgment, their patients would be better served with a plan to get the focus off their sexual orientation, off of the way they think people are oppressing them and turn it around. They could enable them to find other sources of happiness,  find service opportunities for them, find ways for them to forget about themselves. We know that true generosity and losing ourselves in the service of others lights up the brain and warms the heart in the best way. 

There are all sorts of situations in life and even biological aberrations that could cause us to feel  traumatized, depressed and even suicidal. I think my brain would light up too if I could do all the things my “natural woman” would like to do and be told I’m not breaking a commandment. But that’s just not how life works. That goes against the way the Lord has set this world up.  I believe it’s a fantasy that LGBT folks should expect to respond to their passions and not be breaking the most fundamental of God’s laws. 
I’m sorry for the hurt that so many feel. I’m sorry they get so despondent that life doesn’t seem worth living. But here's an observation.  I have several male friends from high school who are single. I don’t know if they are gay but they are active members of the church. They have never been married and at this point (we all turned 60 this year) and chances are getting slimmer every year that they would marry if they aren't gay.  But they find joy in just life itself. One of them is the most generous, happy persons I know. He has the means to travel extensively and goes to theater and extravagant dinners often. But it’s clear that his greatest joy is in giving to others and trying to bring happiness to his friends and family. He’s gone through lots of tragedy with several brothers dying of a genetic disease. And he gets in there, rolling up his sleeves at fundraisers to find a cure. He has found some things to live for that have nothing to do with his love  life or lack thereof. . 
I appreciate that mental health workers feel so much sympathy for LGBT people who are suicidal. But maybe instead of trying so hard to coddle them as well as convince society that we have somehow betrayed them,  and let them do their thing without judgment, their patients would be better served with a plan to get the focus off their sexual orientation, off of the way they think people are oppressing them and turn it around. They could enable them to find other sources of happiness,  find service opportunities for them, find ways for them to forget about themselves. We know that true generosity and losing ourselves in the service of others lights up the brain and warms the heart in the best way. 

There are all sorts of situations in life and even biological aberrations that could cause us to feel  traumatized, depressed and even suicidal. I think my brain would light up too if I could do all the things my “natural woman” would like to do and be told I’m not breaking a commandment. But that’s just not how life works. That goes against the way the Lord has set this world up.  I believe it’s a fantasy that LGBT folks should expect to respond to their passions and not be breaking the most fundamental of God’s laws. 
I’m sorry for the hurt that so many feel. I’m sorry they get so despondent that life doesn’t seem worth living. But here's an observation.  I have several male friends from high school who are single. I don’t know if they are gay but they are active members of the church. They have never been married and at this point (we all turned 60 this year) and chances are getting slimmer every year that they would marry if they aren't gay.  But they find joy in just life itself. One of them is the most generous, happy persons I know. He has the means to travel extensively and goes to theater and extravagant dinners often. But it’s clear that his greatest joy is in giving to others and trying to bring happiness to his friends and family. He’s gone through lots of tragedy with several brothers dying of a genetic disease. And he gets in there, rolling up his sleeves at fundraisers to find a cure. He has found some things to live for that have nothing to do with his love  life or lack thereof. . 
I appreciate that mental health workers feel so much sympathy for LGBT people who are suicidal. But maybe instead of trying so hard to coddle them as well as convince society that we have somehow betrayed them,  and let them do their thing without judgment, their patients would be better served with a plan to get the focus off their sexual orientation, off of the way they think people are oppressing them and turn it around. They could enable them to find other sources of happiness,  find service opportunities for them, find ways for them to forget about themselves. We know that true generosity and losing ourselves in the service of others lights up the brain and warms the heart in the best way. 

There are all sorts of situations in life and even biological aberrations that could cause us to feel  traumatized, depressed and even suicidal. I think my brain would light up too if I could do all the things my “natural woman” would like to do and be told I’m not breaking a commandment. But that’s just not how life works. That goes against the way the Lord has set this world up.  I believe it’s a fantasy that LGBT folks should expect to respond to their passions and not be breaking the most fundamental of God’s laws. 
I’m sorry for the hurt that so many feel. I’m sorry they get so despondent that life doesn’t seem worth living. But here's an observation.  I have several male friends from high school who are single. I don’t know if they are gay but they are active members of the church. They have never been married and at this point (we all turned 60 this year) and chances are getting slimmer every year that they would marry if they aren't gay.  But they find joy in just life itself. One of them is the most generous, happy persons I know. He has the means to travel extensively and goes to theater and extravagant dinners often. But it’s clear that his greatest joy is in giving to others and trying to bring happiness to his friends and family. He’s gone through lots of tragedy with several brothers dying of a genetic disease. And he gets in there, rolling up his sleeves at fundraisers to find a cure. He has found some things to live for that have nothing to do with his love  life or lack thereof. . 
I appreciate that mental health workers feel so much sympathy for LGBT people who are suicidal. But maybe instead of trying so hard to coddle them as well as convince society that we have somehow betrayed them,  and let them do their thing without judgment, their patients would be better served with a plan to get the focus off their sexual orientation, off of the way they think people are oppressing them and turn it around. They could enable them to find other sources of happiness,  find service opportunities for them, find ways for them to forget about themselves. We know that true generosity and losing ourselves in the service of others lights up the brain and warms the heart in the best way. 

The modern feminist movement can be likened unto a person falling asleep at the wheel. When they wake up and find themselves drifting off the highway instead of simply making a measured correction to put themselves back on course they pull hard to the left and go careening off the highway altogether. While some have taken a more measured approach (such as yourself) Satan has largely co-opted the movement to serve his purposes as he seeks to destroy the family unit.

My recollection of the training was that those in the bishopric (bishop and counselors only) are to call the Church's abuse hotline. The hotline connects bishopric with social workers and lawyers who consult on the legal issues specific to the jurisdiction of the local ward. 
The lawyers will discuss whether the bishopric has clergy-penitent privilege and ask if the bishopric can or wants to waive it in this case. It is the clergy-penitent privilege that is at the heart of the difference. The only leaders who have that privilege are the bishop and his counselors.
My understanding is that it isn't so much that a Catholic priest can't report a crime that is confessed to him, but that he doesn't have to. Depending on local law, of course. And there could be legal implications of waiving that privilege. 

It has something to do with the laws. From what i understand, Most clergymen of any religion are not allowed to testify in court against someone who spoke to them in confidentiality. A father in the Catholic Church cannot report a crime confessed to him for repentance purposes.

What is the exact line where one should be deemed mentally unstable?  Who makes that determination?  Can such a designation be appealed and/or rescinded and what would be necessary to do so, and how long would it take?

Your list is still very superficial because you forgot to include the two greatest commandments.
Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:36-40)
M.

I think you've described Mary Poppins (practically perfect in every way).
But seriouly, your list sounds like you are describing a robot. I'm not clear on the Latter-day Saint's definition of elect of God but to me it doesn't seem this elect has a heart or soul. Does this elect cry or laugh or fall ill or even require help or friendship themselves. Your list of do's and don'ts seems superficial, there's no humanity or love behind either.
M.

Only the LORD judges those who are to go to heaven or not.  I have a hope that many will be there, but I only know that I can try my hardest.
For those who are the elect of the Lord...I don't think waking early or going to bed early necessarily have anything to do with who gets to go to heaven and who does not.  Nor do I feel that list necessarily has much that describes those that accept the Lord or not.
I'd say more likely it has to do with two great commandments...
Those who love the Lord with all their heart, might, mind and strength...
and
Those who love their neighbors as themselves.
With the first, I think it will guide those who strive to follow the commandments to show their love of the Lord...and in this, I think sometimes it WILL be the intents of the heart and what was intended more than what is shown...
but with the second...
I think it may be able to be seen in the actions of those who truly care for others and what happens to others that will reflect on what one really thinks and feels and believes.
Hopefully we will ALL meet together in the Kingdom of Heaven, but I think we will be judged more on how much like the Lord we become and emulate rather than just simply following the instructions of other men or leaders, or simply following along.  I think it deals more with our hearts and minds and deeds, how we think and why we think what we do, than simply just what we do in relation to the church or church callings and such.
I DO think that we tend to be judgmental in our observations and thoughts on who is the elect and who are not at times.  We may be very surprised at who attains the Celestial rewards in heaven.  Some who may the be greatest among us may be those who we felt were the lowest of us, and some of those the world holds in high regard may not be some of those that are of the highest standing when we reach heaven.  Man seems to have a very different valuation in regards to judging those who are the best and the worst than that of the Lord.  I just hope that I myself will be able to reach heaven and find joy, and that my children will also be able to join me there.
Hopefully we will also find many of our loved ones and friends, and hopefully all of you will find yourselves in a joyous occasion in heaven as well.

Didn't Russell Nelson say,"men are that they might have joy, not guilt trips."

One observation:
1) Someone always complains about people making “conference rumors” every 6 months when the topic comes up
I mean that in the most light hearted way possible of course
but an honest response to this. Correct me if I’m wrong... but God doesn’t really wait for the unfaithful to catch up (Matthew 25:1-13), he just goes forward with his plans and the faithful follow. Additionally, Pres Nelson did say a lot of changes are coming.
I see nothing wrong with speculation of things to come, but I do see something wrong with people getting excited about future changes when they haven’t applied recent changes into their lives (I’m looking at you @Fether).

I thought about this for a few days.  Then caught a cold and slept for 2 days.  But now I'm back and still thinking about this.
I consider it possible that the 1stPres didn't lose any argument, but that they were appraised of everything by everybody, thought/pondered/prayed, concluded unanimously the notion had merit, and ran with it.  No reason to assume that just because it's lawyerly that it would be instantly opposed by the brethren.  The brethren have stewardship over the church's temporal matters too, and all that.

It bothered me as an investigator.  Once I received a testimony of the Book of Mormon I stopped caring.  There are so many things I don't understand and need to learn.  
It's scripture.  Whether it was dropped off by aliens or translated through a rock in a hat is irrelevant to me at this point.  There are so many things that I need to do and learn for myself and my family.  I may never have time to get to things lower on my list. 

Often we speak of diversity.   It seems to be that some that claim diversity is a good thing – use diversity to destroy all that is good about it.  A short story of a segment of my life.  I went into the army having never met or talked to a “black” person.  I had images (prejudices) just from ignorance.  My best friend in the army turned out to be a “black” person.  We had many personal one-on-one discussions.  My friend was a college grad that could not get any other job to support his family.  Being young and stupid – I could not understand that as smart as he was and hard as he worked, that it was hard for him to find a job.  I, being a “Mormon” and he being “black” we were both kind of outcasts and so we became friends.  He said something to me that has had a very big impact.  He said, “As long as we see differences in each other we will never see things the same.”
Every individual is different from every other individual – that is what makes us individuals.  But we are also the same type and race.  We are more alike than we are different.  In the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – we are not just all children of our Father in heaven but we are brothers and sisters.  So we are more than just the same race of living creatures – we are family.
Jesus commanded that we be of one heart and mind.  However, even in a family there are differences of opinion.  Jesus never said to be of one opinion.  I had a debate teacher in high school that stood by the notion that if you cannot take the other opinion and argue it at least as well as your opponent – you have not business in debating that topic with them.  The only logical reason to believe there is a difference of opinion on anything is because of two possibilities.  #1. That one knows something that the other does not.  Or #2. That one has experience that the other does not. 
Please note that there is not a lot of “difference between #1 and #2.
Now to the purpose of this thread.  I submit that those that tout diversity in our world (country or society) are intent on destroying both our world, country or society as we know it but strangely enough are as intent on destroying the diversity.  In short substituting their own definition of unity without accepting anything diverse to it.  Forcing everyone to conform.
When force is used to make other conform – freedom and liberty are lost.  The reality the forced diversity is a lie intended to usurp freedoms and liberty.  And so it is that the forces intent on taking away agency, liberty and freedom do so through focus on diversity.  Exaggerating differences so that similarities are forgotten and discorded.  And so it begins that some difference is deplored and all qualifying individuals are ostracized and made subservient to the greater good.
It is true that some individuals commit crimes and that others who are innocent need to be protected from those committing crimes.   It is true that some come to this country disrespecting our laws.  It is true that there is a lot of diversity – but despite all the diversity let us not forget what makes us family.  And do not create violence in our family.  That is not to say do not respond to violence – what it means is not to create violence on individuals that are not themselves violent.  At this point I almost am willing to say to reject those that divide us and see diversity.  But that is exactly the point.  We need to see the individuals and not the types or classes.  We need to see the diversity as part of who we are.
 
The Traveler

My other question about this is would you have to prove that in that situation you would have indeed been able to pull your gun out and actually hit the perp? In a stressful situation how many would actually turn into a wobbly Barney Fife who couldn’t hit the side of a barn? (raises hand)