slamjet

I agree with all who have issues with the chart but I think there are two things that are glaringly missing; where is resurrection and judgment? I guess there's no need for those since it's all about works and grace need not get involved And why is the Celestial dimmer than pre-earth life? And why is pre-earth named "Realms of Diety?" Is this a Tolken novel? And where is the post mortal spirit world? And why is there a Temple? Is it because only Mormons will get there rather than those who belong to the Church of Christ (as I would suspect it would be called in the millennium, but that's a whole new thread). And speaking of Christ, where is He and Heavenly Father? Oh, wait, works again, sorry There's a lot lacking in this example. But it looks all pretty and colorful

Another name for where I live is "The Rock" either because: - There is predominately basalt and granite rock at this end of the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys. - The hard biker culture (not anymore, they all died off) - Drugs, mainly meth was rampant (read: biker culture) but not so much anymore. - It used to be an LAPD radio dead-spot before they change their radio system.

Thank you, that helps. So to make sure I get it, on a scale of 1-10 where 1 are the Fundamentalist and 10 are the Modernist, Evangelicals are 6 or 7? Because your explanation really makes it sound that Evangelicals and LDS religions, as organizations, are a whole lot closer in innate gospel temperament and morality than not.

1) Yes 2) Wikipedia is so not the bastion of truth that it's been made out to be. So I take whatever it says with a pinch of salt. Besides, asking real Evangelical's generally results in a more correct answer.

In an attempt to try to sure one point of ignorance I have (among way to many), I have Google'd, Wiki and tried to make heads or tails of one word and I'm not entirely sure I get it. Can someone please define... Evangelical ...because I've found so many meanings that I really have no clue what Evangelical Christian really means. Any help understanding would be appreciated.

Read this - Suicide: Some Things We Know, Some Things We Do Not by M. Russel Ballard

I'm too sexy for this ring

Yea, I'm in a bad mood today.

I really despise stories like this. So a homeless man comes into the chapel, so what? I remember one time (out of many) when that happening when I was a kid. The Bishop asked my dad to take him home and feed him. It ended up that he was a con-artist. Lets see, some other way to go about this, I know, do like the wards in my building are doing and making lunches and taking them to pass out so that the youth can interact with the homeless and discover their humanity while doing some good. Or how about what my stake currently does, adopt a case worker so when she has a family that's in need, she sends us a request and we do our best to fill it so that the family can be in compliance. We've donated a lot of clothing, beds, cribs, etc. Or I know, another thing my stake does is be in contact with other denominational churches in our area and help by sending food and workers to their kitchens so that they can feed the homeless and less fortunate. There are so many other ways to teach this lesson and get the congregation involved without resorting to performing silly stunts. Besides, some people can go up and talk to a homeless or eccentric person, some cannot. We all have our talents and limits. To rub peoples nose in it is counter-productive and only done to make others feel guilty and unworthy. I suggest that this Bishop get off his duff and get himself and his ward involved in something instead of resorting to silly stunts.

Online sacrament? Not for me. What I want is to pay my tithing online. Now THAT would be cool!

That's not what I meant at all. They can "proselytize" and promote their cause all they want, it's just their tactic of trying to tag onto a Christian group with the intent that they can get refused and use said refusal as a hammer to beat the Christian group with. Why not go on their own and pass out whatever pamphlets they want? I know, they don't get the coverage they want. Their tactic is highly transparent.

From the Upstate Atheist website: This is veiled language that they are activist and they use charities and charitable work to get their message across. So in reality, these two groups are not compatible. Besides, if the Atheist group really want's a captive audience, as their mission statement says, then hey, why are they trying to join up with a Christian group?This really smells bad and the Christian group is being made to look like the bad ones.

Other than my own (shameless plug) here are a few I follow: RED in Transition Uncommon Dissent Sic Et Non Middleaged Mormon Man

Well now, there's a comment that is big on prison, little on chaplain :D

GOOD GOSH, That looks just like Lockup Loaf!!!

I would write a letter back to her... Dear You, You are a moron. Now go eat a couple of sandwiches and let others be. Signed, Big Fat Guy

CAKE!!! Get it? John Doe, unknown dead guy? Aw, forget it. Happy birthday anyway.

Soooo much I want to say...

What a bunch of crybaby parents. How about teaching your kids to lose gracefully, ineffective coaching on your own team, your little snowflake sucks at football, etc, etc, etc. Should have kept the score lower? What a bunch of entitled whiners! "No, my son, that game was unfair. You should have lost by 50, not 100 points. Lets go file a complaint because it surely wasn't your playing that cost the game. It was because the other team were a bunch of meanies." Behold, look and see, a group of young men that will go into the workforce demanding a raise for sitting on their thumbs all day. How moronic.

CONGRATULATIONS!!! CAKE!

My .02... I have recently experienced some things with the church that have brought on some doubts (I'm not going to share so don't ask) that has shaken me to the very core but I have come to some conclusions and beliefs that have helped me greatly: - I believe that the gospel is simple. So simple that it is often made complicated by mortals because of the "it can't be that simple" syndrome. - I believe and have faith that the ordinances of the church are done with authority and are necessary for me to return to live with my Father in Heaven and qualify to receive all that He has. - I believe and have faith that what I need to do is: > Have faith, believe and be obedient to the commandments of God. > Be baptized by water and the spirit. > Receive the ordinances of the temple. > Continue to be obedient to the commandments and endure to the end. - And in keeping with the simpleness, I know that if I don't read and ponder the scriptures, attend and be active in church and outwardly pray at least twice a day I will fall back into my addictions. - I know that the church is NOT perfect but it is the only church that contains the full gospel. Thus it is true where true means it has the authority, ordinances and restored gospel necessary for salvation. It's the mortals in it that sometimes leave something to be desired. - I learned that I need to dispose of the spirit of rebelliousness, learn to listen to the spirit of God and discipline myself to act on God's spirit. - In hindsight, I have seen that God is a whole lot more involved in my life that I can see, especially at the moment, or will ever know in this life. - I understand that having doubts is a natural state of being mortal. That those who do not have a doubt or two, who declare that the church is perfect and/or who see that doubt is a weakness are in and of themselves either lacking sufficient comfort in the gospel and/or may not feel they have enough faith to receive and answer from God about questions they may have. Thus, creating a false set of circumstances where they can be strong in the gospel and church but also where they are lacking and wanting. - I have come to know that to have doubts is healthy and that as these doubts are worked on, so long as we stay close to God, the gospel and the church, these doubts will create a stronger faith. Remember that faith is not a knowledge of but a hope in things not seen, but true. In any case, I am still sorting through my doubts but I will still stay close to the church and especially live the gospel principles because I have lived the comparison of living and not living with the gospel. But my Bishop and Stake 1st counselor know of the experience I have hitherto mentioned and have been helping me with it. So don't ever think that having doubts make you less of a "Mormon" than the next person. I dare say it makes you a better one. So don't let other people get under your skin about having doubts. Work through your doubts, pray about them, study about them and you'll be fine.

This happened in the mission I live in so I'll add my .02, not that I need a reason... I think that in this case there are two factors at work: 1) All the mission cars have been taken out of the mission except for very, very few. This will expose missionaries to more danger while traveling, especially in the big cities. 2) The roads in Arcadia, let alone the valley areas are not conducive to bicycles. There are some very, very fast thoroughfares around here, especially in that town. So at the risk of sounding callous, it was an event waiting to happen.

I have no disagreement with this (it's step 5 in the 12 steps) however, I'm coming from the direction of getting guidance through the repentance process. But what it's sounding like is that the Bishop is the only one who can really do that. For some reason, to have as the only option the Bishop for an embarrassed sister to initially go to for sexual indiscretion issues seems to be a topic worthy of tackling, if it's not already being done so. I think that a balance or compromise would be to have a sister make an initial contact with the RS Pres who can help, start and initially guide the sister on the road of repentance until the sister becomes comfortable enough to go to the Bishop, allowing the RS Pres to accompany her and act as a type of mentor. But then, it's just me and my idea, nothing more.

My stake has a dedicated female pornography addiction group and we had a couple of sisters attending for a while, but they moved or moved on so now the group is in a holding pattern. It really is a shame because there has to be a need for it just on statistical grounds; I know men aren't the only one with this addiction. But I would like to tell a sister that she should feel free to talk to her RS President as a first step but what I'm reading here is that it's no better than her talking to a good friend first. I guess I was expecting or hoping that the RS Pres would have a clearer ministerial stewardship than just being an administrator and/or friend. Or am I not understanding it?

cake!!! Congratulations!