dahlia

If you are seeking to understand what your LDS acquaintances said and probably meant, then the answers in this thread will help you. If you're seeking to establish your definitions of words as the final, definitive truth, then to be blunt, this whole thread is a waste of everyone's time, including yours.

I'm guessing that with this temple being in Seattle, at least one of those three years will probably be for cleansing and purifying.

I hear you, my brother. When I taught information policy, I used to have the class read 'High Tech Heroin.'  Not only are we slaves to technology, but we gladly give up our rights to privacy, to be left alone, etc., for a bit 'more.'  More videos, more notices of sales from our favorite stores, more help in the home via a disembodied voice named Alexa...  We wanted all that technology could give us, we wanted the future, well here it is. It is not what we thought it would be and there appears to be no escape.
btw - I did my doctoral program in Information Science at the Univ of Washington. When I went, the program had just been in place for a year and Microsoft gave us all kinds of technology. Yes, we were happy to have it and a partnership with Gates, but good grief - the updates, the reformatting, the new machines, the migrating of data... Sometimes all I wanted to do was turn on the computer and get to work, but I had to deal with some garbage from IT first. It's almost as bad at the university where I am now, but not quite (I don't think they're getting as many freebies from Microsoft).   At least they stopped asking us for new passwords every quarter.

This is a full scale rant.  You have been warned.
In a little corner of my basement, in what was once a darkroom before I bought the house, is my vintage computer workshop.  And on a counter in that workshop are a couple of Commodore 64s, some disk drives, a disassembled Commodore 128, and a flat screen monitor that has been adapted to accept video inputs from machine that were old when Bill Clinton was President.
Yet just 10 or 15 feet away at my desk, is an HP laptop with processing power and memory that is several orders of magnitude more than all the computers in my workshop combined.  Next to it is the gaming rig I built last year to do my Christian game reviews, which itself has - literally - a million times the RAM, moves over 3 billion times faster than the old CPUs, and has a hard drive which has over a billion times the capacity of the floppy disks used by the old machines.
And yet, I love my Commodores far, far more... even though I'm a software engineer and I work in modern software development, not vintage computing.  
Why?
Because this is 2019, where every computerized device we own is constantly screaming for our attention every minute.  I went on a rant about this last night and I  think for a moment my wife was getting nervous that I was having a mental breakdown it was so intense.  
When I wake up in the morning, my phone is already slamming out the notifications.  Formula 1 practice sessions are starting!  You have an E-mail!   Text  text text text text!!!!  That  thing you bought on Amazon is gonna arrive today and YOU NEED TO KNOW IT RIGHT THIS VERY SECOND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH, AND I'LL REMIND YOU 5 MORE TIMES TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My car alerts me that it wants an oil change when I get in it to go to work, or when the fuel is low, or when a tire is low, or when my parking brake is on...  You know, I'm old enough to remember when a couple of gauges and dash lights were sufficient to relay this information to me... but I guess this is 2019 where somebody believes I'm too dumb to understand unless a computer slams it in my face with some kind of digital screen and forces me to hit an 'OK' button so that I can go back to what I was doing...
My work computer yells at me all day that I have E-mails, Skype messages, it wants a software update, it wants a restart to apply updates... etc.
Every other webpage I visit both at home or at work has ads that pop up in my face.
I get home and my computer is screaming at me that I have E-mails and Skype messages and oh, I WANT UPDATES TOO.  (To be fair,  my regular computer at home runs Linux and isn't nearly as obnoxious as Windows... But when I turn on that gaming rig, which runs Windows... )
My phone meanwhile has alerted me to messages form my kids' school about insipid nonsense I can't be bothered to give a fig about, like how some kid found a garter snake in his locker but not to worry, no kids were hurt and the snake was let go back in the woods.  And of course those messages come in via text AND phonecall/voicemail so there's NO WAY I CAN GO UNINFORMED ABOUT THE GARTER SNAKE.
I'm even getting notifications about notifications.  Meta-notifications?
Mind you, I do not have Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.  If I did, I'm sure by now all the additional notifications would have driven me into full-on insanity.
Yes, I'm aware that notifications can (usually) be turned off... but we're always installing and updating applications, and sometimes their notifications settings reset when you do this, BY DEFAUT.  I even have a notification on my phone to tell me my "do not disturb" is on.
I sometimes want to rage against the noise and scream I. DO. NOT. CARE.  I do NOT need to know the second every single E-mail hits my inbox. I will check E-mail when I check it and not an instant sooner so why do I need this?  I don't CARE what you want to sell me and I don't CARE that F1 practice starts in 5 minutes I only watch the races.  And I don't CARE about an Amazon shipment changing hands in West Undershirt, KY I only care about when it'll hit my front porch and yes, I know exactly where to go to get that information when I want it.  No, Waze, I don't need to know about the traffic volume generated by a Redskins game when I'm not even going anywhere NEAR it today.  No, Windows I don't care that Cortana has some tips for organizing my desktop and quite frankly if I could uninstall it I would.  
I feel mentally exhausted by the constant need, by every device I own more complex than a toaster, to get my attention...
...but not my Commodore.  It just sits there quietly, ready for me when I want to use it but staying silent otherwise.  It doesn't shout at me.  It doesn't block what I'm doing to show me messages, it doesn't fill its screen with icons.  It just does what I want it to do and not one. single. thing. more.
I know that notification settings can be adjusted.  I know there are ad blockers.  I know I know I know... But these ads, these apps, these websites... It's like an arms race where they try to come up with ever more sneaky sophisticated ways to get around that and clamor for attention anyway.  You can get some peace and quiet for a while, but only as long as it takes one of them to figure out how to push through your shields and get you that INFORMATION THAT YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE RIGHT FREAKING NOW!!!!!!!
We live in a world where human attention has become a commodity, and many of these things are efforts to harvest it right from the source: us.  Ads, notices about ads, offers, deals, special events... all of it is getting bolder, louder and more ubiquitous... and our electronic devices are the highway from them to our eyeballs.  
So yeah.  That's why I buy and restore vintage computers.  They remind me of a time when computers in the home were our servants, and not delivery systems for advertisements.  

You'd think that a god could somehow manage to be, I dunno, a tad more upwardly mobile?   Seven seasons, zero new pips?

May I vent here? I feel I'm giving too much to another group.
This is pro vaccine. Sorry and stuff.
Why are parents claiming their children are brain damaged without giving actual proof? I see this claim time and time again. Vaccines gave my kid brain damage.
Ok, I believe in vaccines but I also believe injuries happen. Tell me more.
They have nothing more to tell. No diagnosis, no medical documentation of any kind, not even specific behaviors of their child.
Is the new cute joke trend? Raise your kid to think he's brain damaged?

The earth is gonna be unlivable in 12 years unless you get rid of your fossil-fueled vehicle and cows, dintcha know? 
 

The problem is that our culture is drifting toward the idea that the only way to show compassion and love toward someone is to support every single thing they do.  "Love the sinner, hate the sin" is an idea that people are forgetting in alarming numbers.
What makes it worse in the case of LGBT issues is that instead of someone's sexuality being an aspect of their personality, it's  treated as the core of their being... so if you disapprove of homosexual behavior, our culture interprets that as hating the person himself/herself.  "It's who I AM!!!!"
It's a completely illogical notion, but one that has taken in a LOT of people.

Face painting?????  I went to 12 yrs of Catholic school and was Catholic much of my life, receiving ashes most of that time. It is not face painting. I can't even speak, I am so appalled you would liken getting ashes as part of a religious ritual to face painting.  And any teacher, a college-educated person, who does not know about Ash Wednesday, whether they celebrate it or not, needs to go back to school.
I swear, I need to stop being shocked at what members do in Utah. Y'all some small minded people sometimes.
 

Face painting?????  I went to 12 yrs of Catholic school and was Catholic much of my life, receiving ashes most of that time. It is not face painting. I can't even speak, I am so appalled you would liken getting ashes as part of a religious ritual to face painting.  And any teacher, a college-educated person, who does not know about Ash Wednesday, whether they celebrate it or not, needs to go back to school.
I swear, I need to stop being shocked at what members do in Utah. Y'all some small minded people sometimes.
 

Face painting?????  I went to 12 yrs of Catholic school and was Catholic much of my life, receiving ashes most of that time. It is not face painting. I can't even speak, I am so appalled you would liken getting ashes as part of a religious ritual to face painting.  And any teacher, a college-educated person, who does not know about Ash Wednesday, whether they celebrate it or not, needs to go back to school.
I swear, I need to stop being shocked at what members do in Utah. Y'all some small minded people sometimes.
 

That memorial has been there almost one hundred years in the state of Maryland.  A few people just cannot live and let live anymore it seems.

I don't know, but I do know of at least 2 missionaries back when I was investigating and just after baptism, that went home early because they just couldn't stand being away from their families w/such limited contact.
I'm sure there are some who think missionaries shouldn't talk to anyone while they are out in the field, but the missionaries aren't super people. They are young adults, most of who have never been away from home before, much less in another state or country. I see no problem with letting the sisters and elders talk to parents, get encouragement. Who knows how many will be able to stay on their mission just from being able to talk to parents more than twice a year? We don't ask our young military to cut contact with their families, we don't ask it of college kids, I have a co-worker whose daughter is a semi-cloistered nun and though she can't call home every week, the convent doesn't ask it of her - I don't know why we ask it of our missionaries. So, for me, it's a good thing and I was excited to hear it. 

Don't blink.

Not gonna lie, those darn Angels creep me out. I don't like the idea of something moving close to me when my eyes are closed and then opening them to see those angels right in my face. No. 
I cry like a baby at the Vincent Van Gogh scene in the art museum (nice 'no small parts' appearance by Bill Nighy, too). 

I was in Ann Arbor in 1996 when there was a Klan march. A black woman put herself between a Klansman and the crowd, which was about to beat him up. Every now and then the story will come up in some 'faith in humanity' article. Well, the last time I saw such an article, I looked for the woman on FB, just to see what she was doing after all this time. On her page, she says that she doesn't care if you are gay, trans, illegal, whatev, you're cool with her UNLESS you voted for Trump. In which case, pretty much get off of the planet.
I was so disappointed. For 20 years I've thought of this woman and her brave act, only to learn that, if I were to meet her and express admiration for her selfless act, she'd probably turn away and not even talk to me, just because of my vote.  This is why I don't deal with known liberals. They lie and say they are open to everyone, but that's only true if you accept their world view, or confirm their believe that as a minority, woman, gay, etc., you must be a victim and in need of their care. 

More related to you than to me --  I left my car in front of a friend's house (actually, the house I used to live in when I first joined this board) while she drove us to Nauvoo. When we came back, she had to go to the store, so she just dropped me off at my car and left. Long story short, the car was acting strange, I couldn't get it up to speed, but was able to get it to the dealer, which happened to be nearby. Squirrels had eaten my wires!!  While I went to the Temple!  I guess I was lucky; it was only a $300 repair and not the $10,000 repair the guy told me he had done on another car. Maybe that's 'cause I was at the Temple?   I dunno. You'd think I'd get a Temple blessing so it would be at least $500 so it would be covered by my deductible.  

I was looking for websites describing scenic byways, and came across an article called "Every State (and DC!), Described in Emojis".  It seemed like it had the potential to be amusing, so I went to look...  Here's Utah:

Apparently we're never getting over this one.

When I think of Doctor Who Tom Baker is who comes to my mind. He was the first The Doctor I was introduced to watching with my father. I have thoroughly enjoyed the modern episodes, excluding the newest The Doctor.
Have no interest in the non-gender agenda. The Doctor is neither male or female now, just whatever Zie regenerates to (no opposition agenda). I am totally fine with a female doctor, and think Amy Pond would have been a great The Doctor.
Once The Doctor is once again who he truly is, rather than agenda driven, I will begin watching again.

I don't know, but I do know of at least 2 missionaries back when I was investigating and just after baptism, that went home early because they just couldn't stand being away from their families w/such limited contact.
I'm sure there are some who think missionaries shouldn't talk to anyone while they are out in the field, but the missionaries aren't super people. They are young adults, most of who have never been away from home before, much less in another state or country. I see no problem with letting the sisters and elders talk to parents, get encouragement. Who knows how many will be able to stay on their mission just from being able to talk to parents more than twice a year? We don't ask our young military to cut contact with their families, we don't ask it of college kids, I have a co-worker whose daughter is a semi-cloistered nun and though she can't call home every week, the convent doesn't ask it of her - I don't know why we ask it of our missionaries. So, for me, it's a good thing and I was excited to hear it. 

Seen online:
”Planned Parenthood says Northam should resign.  Because apparently, they don’t want anything to go full term.”

Wow. So I'm scrolling through Facebook when I come upon an article from 'I am LDS' about the Urim and Thummim which contains a reference to Leviticus.  As a former Catholic, I don't know the Bible (Catholics read Catholic materials, not the Bible; that's for Protestants).  I do know there is something called Leviticus, which held more weight for me than references to verses in the BOM. I went to see what the verse said. Right there in plain sight was a reference, in the Bible and not in the BOM, to the Urim and Thummim! "And he put the breastplate upon him: also he put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim."
I had no idea they were 'real,' as in having a reference outside of the BOM. I am not the best Mormon. I take a lot of what I've been told or read and just turn a blind eye because I find more things to recommend Mormonism than not, so when things come up that just sound 'out there,' I'm like, OK. We just won't think about that one too much.
But every time I do that, I find out that there's a reference to it in the Bible. Let me be clear - just because it's in the Bible doesn't mean I'm taking it as 'gospel.'  What it does mean to me, is that there is consistency between the Bible and the BOM.  Maybe that still makes me a bad Mormon, but for me, it just shows me, over and over again, that the Church is true. 
One day I'm going to read that Bible - it sounds interesting. 

Wow. So I'm scrolling through Facebook when I come upon an article from 'I am LDS' about the Urim and Thummim which contains a reference to Leviticus.  As a former Catholic, I don't know the Bible (Catholics read Catholic materials, not the Bible; that's for Protestants).  I do know there is something called Leviticus, which held more weight for me than references to verses in the BOM. I went to see what the verse said. Right there in plain sight was a reference, in the Bible and not in the BOM, to the Urim and Thummim! "And he put the breastplate upon him: also he put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim."
I had no idea they were 'real,' as in having a reference outside of the BOM. I am not the best Mormon. I take a lot of what I've been told or read and just turn a blind eye because I find more things to recommend Mormonism than not, so when things come up that just sound 'out there,' I'm like, OK. We just won't think about that one too much.
But every time I do that, I find out that there's a reference to it in the Bible. Let me be clear - just because it's in the Bible doesn't mean I'm taking it as 'gospel.'  What it does mean to me, is that there is consistency between the Bible and the BOM.  Maybe that still makes me a bad Mormon, but for me, it just shows me, over and over again, that the Church is true. 
One day I'm going to read that Bible - it sounds interesting. 

Wow. So I'm scrolling through Facebook when I come upon an article from 'I am LDS' about the Urim and Thummim which contains a reference to Leviticus.  As a former Catholic, I don't know the Bible (Catholics read Catholic materials, not the Bible; that's for Protestants).  I do know there is something called Leviticus, which held more weight for me than references to verses in the BOM. I went to see what the verse said. Right there in plain sight was a reference, in the Bible and not in the BOM, to the Urim and Thummim! "And he put the breastplate upon him: also he put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim."
I had no idea they were 'real,' as in having a reference outside of the BOM. I am not the best Mormon. I take a lot of what I've been told or read and just turn a blind eye because I find more things to recommend Mormonism than not, so when things come up that just sound 'out there,' I'm like, OK. We just won't think about that one too much.
But every time I do that, I find out that there's a reference to it in the Bible. Let me be clear - just because it's in the Bible doesn't mean I'm taking it as 'gospel.'  What it does mean to me, is that there is consistency between the Bible and the BOM.  Maybe that still makes me a bad Mormon, but for me, it just shows me, over and over again, that the Church is true. 
One day I'm going to read that Bible - it sounds interesting. 

Wow. So I'm scrolling through Facebook when I come upon an article from 'I am LDS' about the Urim and Thummim which contains a reference to Leviticus.  As a former Catholic, I don't know the Bible (Catholics read Catholic materials, not the Bible; that's for Protestants).  I do know there is something called Leviticus, which held more weight for me than references to verses in the BOM. I went to see what the verse said. Right there in plain sight was a reference, in the Bible and not in the BOM, to the Urim and Thummim! "And he put the breastplate upon him: also he put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim."
I had no idea they were 'real,' as in having a reference outside of the BOM. I am not the best Mormon. I take a lot of what I've been told or read and just turn a blind eye because I find more things to recommend Mormonism than not, so when things come up that just sound 'out there,' I'm like, OK. We just won't think about that one too much.
But every time I do that, I find out that there's a reference to it in the Bible. Let me be clear - just because it's in the Bible doesn't mean I'm taking it as 'gospel.'  What it does mean to me, is that there is consistency between the Bible and the BOM.  Maybe that still makes me a bad Mormon, but for me, it just shows me, over and over again, that the Church is true. 
One day I'm going to read that Bible - it sounds interesting.