Backroads

I've never liked the term "glaring inconsistencies". It's a simplistic blanket statement used by people who are not interested in the nuances of historical/psychological aspects of studying the doctrine, history, and human nature of a religion.

No, don't know anyone. Just curious about the lds dating market.

This is why you're a sweetheart. I'm personally of the opinion that there is no real reason for the Church to admit responsibility. As far as I can tell, the Church wasn't entirely responsible. The current church isn't responsible. Would admitting anything really make vindication for anyone?

If someone really has questions/issues with church history or doctrine, there are so many great sources to go to. Anti-Mormon just puts a biased spin on all of it. They're not trying to be helpful or informative, they're trying to break down another person's beliefs.

I think it's quite possible this girl would be a great one for your to persue a relationship with. It sounds like you've good chemistry. But it also seems you like another girl from your other posts. Are you looking for a serious relationship right now, possibly marriage, or just some nice dating experiences?

You're in NC. Is that Bible Belt area? I suppose good LDS girls are few and far between and might not always be up to your preferences. Ah well. I'm personally of the opinion its better to befriend/date those with morals than those of the same religion.

Has anyone seen the documentary The Science of Attraction? Or at least that's what I think it was called. Might have been the Science of Sex. Explained all of it.

I don't think even the religiously neutral critics liked that one...

I would suggest going through the bibliographies and hunting down original sources yourself. The books can be really good at organizing things, but you always have the problem of at least a slight author bias.

Oh, I'm not saying Joseph Smith didn't practice polygamy. I personally think he did--all evidence I've seen suggests that. I'm just saying that just because someone is a historian, a general authority, has work approved by the church, does not make it necessarily historically accurate. How much do you know about studying history and the fallacies involved?

The thing with anti-anything literature is the attitude. Honestly, a great deal of the stuff that makes up anti-Mormon literature is... true. Nothing that you couldn't find going through church documents and whatnot. The problem is that these people take their own interpretation of the material and refuse to believe that anyone could have a different interpretation/reaction. I haven't read the books you mentioned, but that's because I have a live-and-let-live attitude and have no interest in reading why I shouldn't be part of a religion. My ideal for learning about another religion would be to talk to someone who is clearheaded and honest. A zealot might sugarcoat everything, but someone who is bitter is only going to put a negative spin on it. The fact is, we have free agency. When you get right down to it, we are all free to read whatever we want and there's not much anyone can do to stop us. But if something doesn't interest us, why should we read it?

The sacrament in its way purifies you. It's a renewal of baptism covenants. It renews you. However, if you're in the middle of repentance, having not finished repenting yet, nothing is going to be washed away. Now I can see a bishop going overboard with it, as in the case you mentioned. But denying someone the sacrament while they work on repentance is perfectly sane. Praying, though... I don't understand that, either. Edit: Never mind, Gwen had an excellent point.

When I was a teenager, our chorister was a dear little old woman who led us as slow as humanly possible. My mother, sisters, and I would sing at the pace the song was supposed to be sung at just to see how long everyone else kept singing by the time we were finished.

I guess I'm having trouble seeing what the big deal with the age difference is. I've seen it all the time. And I've seen kids wise beyond their years and thirty-year-olds who don't know which way is up. I'll accept that the girl is mature. Just keep in mind that there are legal problems with the age difference. I didn't date anyone significantly older until I was 18. Also remember the best of the best have slipped up before.

I told you! By the way, I'm one of those twins.

The 18 law is fairly all over the states, not just NC. I think it has more to do with statuatory rape definitions than anything.

My paternal great-grandmother had twins. My maternal grandmother had twins. My mother had twins (2 sets). There is at least two sets of twins every generation on both sides of my family for about 7 generations.

Yes, a socially aware bishop would be good enough to discreetly ask other powers that be to just not use you for a few weeks. If it worries you, you can ask the bishop to speak to your YM leader--again, no details, just enough to keep you from being put on the spot. There's some sneaky ways around this. If the YM leader simply doesn't call on you, I doubt anyone will notice.

Indeed, these are the times to focus on the basics.

What are the laws? There is a place in New England where a couple can be married at 14 with court approval...

Congratulations!!! That's so fun!

I've always wondered what one is to do when parties in the relationship are having different answers. Is he praying about, or is he just going with first-time relationship nerves? Have you told him that you have had these little revelations? Both of you need to kneel down (separately) and pray about this and decide what is nerves, what is hormones, and what is revelation. But sometimes those little moments of revelation are vital. A few months back when I started coming here I was very nervous about my engagement. I wasn't sure if it were right, I wasn't sure what were red flags and what weren't... it takes prayer, observing the relationship, and even just going with your gut instinct. I also had a pair of friends who broke off their engagement this past summer. Everything had seemed right, but the girl stopped being happy. After lots of praying, she finally received a distinct answer. She told me a month or so back that she thinks she was supposed to be in the relationship for a time, but not supposed to marry this guy. It was all a matter of asking the right question at the right time. Oops, posted at the same time as everyone else. I'm glad you got information from him. Maybe it will work out, but it might not be the right time for him. I really appreciated Rammy's post. When I was praying, I sometimes had mixed answers. I really had to search to see what was revelation and peace and what was my super-paranoid mind. And a lot of other revelation came at times when I wasn't even praying, and I had to pray to see if that was legitimate. It can be confusing to our mortal understanding, but I think sometimes in the end we just need to take a leap of faith. Yes, don't feel you need to wait around for possibly nothing. Think of Jane Austen's "Persuasion". Things might happen in the right time.

How Great Thou Art, my solid number 1. Others: Lead Kindly Light And there's another, but my brain stopped working and my both my iphone hymn apps aren't the best for searching.

The goal is to repent and stop this and get control of yourself. However, don't think of it as a goal to avoid seeing the bishop. The bishop's role here is to help you, and it will be a benefit to have someone on your side who knows what's going on and can keep you in check. Part of me thinks you should go only if it continues... but the rest of me thinks that without further support, it will probably continue.

I've actually long been at peace with the concept that I am genetically predetermined to have twins. They're everywhere in my family on both sides. That means you can't practice other hand therapy!