mirkwood

If I don't eat I get severe sinus headaches that last 18-24 hours. Fasting is out for me. To participate in fasting I remove something from my diet that is noticeable. For me that is any sort of flavored drink. I notice if I don't drink something with flavor, which reminds me that I am fasting. Perhaps something akin would work for you as well.

Yes there are modern Gadiantons and secret combinations. After speaking about the dangers of Communism, President David O. McKay then gave this warning, "Latter-day Saints should have nothing to do with secret combinations and groups antagonistic to the constitutional law of the land." (David O. McKay, Conference Report, Oct 1939) "The ancient Prophet Moroni saw our day, who can doubt that he had in mind the evils of godless communism when he gave this solemn warning: "Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you... Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when you shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you. . . For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations and countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies. . ." (Ezra Taft Benson, quoting from Ether 8:23-25,Conference Report Oct 1960) After quoting Ether 8:23-25 [see the quote above], Ezra Taft Benson then said, "Today, the international, criminal, communist conspiracy fits this Book of Mormon description perfectly, for there is a combination of gangsters who lust for power, who have liquidated some 70 million [today the estimate ranges as high as 200 million] people, brought one-third of the world's population under bondage, and who seek to overthrow the freedom of all nations. . ." (Ezra Taft Benson, The Book Of Mormon Warns America, speech given at BYU, May 21, 1968 and as quoted in An Enemy Hath Done This, Chapter 29, pg. 328) "Joseph Smith said that the Book of Mormon was the 'keystone of our religion' and the 'most correct' book on Earth (Doctrinal History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 56). This most correct book on Earth states that the downfall of two great American civilizations came as a result of secret conspiracies whose desire was to overthrow the freedom of the people. 'And they have caused the destruction of this people of whom I am now speaking', says Moroni, 'and also the destructions of the people of Nephi (Ether 8:21).' Now undoubtedly Moroni could have pointed out many factors that led to the destruction of the people, but notice how he singled out the secret combinations, just as the Church today could point out many threats to peace, prosperity, and the spread of God's work, but it has singled out the greatest threat as the godless conspiracy. There is no conspiracy theory in the Book of Mormon--it is a conspiracy fact. Then Moroni speaks to us in this day and says, 'wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you . . ." (Ezra Taft Benson, CR, April 1972, Ensign, pg. 49-53) "Whenever the God of Heaven reveals His gospel to mankind, Satan, the archenemy to Christ, introduces a counterfeit. . . Communism introduced into the world a substitute for true religion, It is a counterfeit of the gospel plan . . . Today, we are in the battle for the bodies and souls of man. It is a battle between two opposing systems: freedom and slavery, Christ and AntiChrist. . . More recently, President Marion G. Romney, in the 1st Pres. message in the September 1979 Ensign, wrote: 'Communism is Satan's counterfeit for the gospel plan, and . . . it is an avowed enemy of the God of the land. Communism is the greatest Anti-Christ power in the world today and therefore the greatest menace not only to our peace but to our preservation as a free people. By the extent to which we tolerate it, accomodate ourselves to it, permit ourselves to be encircled by its tentacles and drawn to it, to that extent we forfeit the protection of the God of the Land. . .' So I say with all the energy of my soul that unless we as citizens of this nation forsake our sins, political and otherwise, and return to the fundamental principles of Christianity and of Constitutional government, we will lose our political liberties, our free institutions and will stand in jeopardy before God. . . There are some things we can and must do at once if we are to stave off a holocaust of destruction. . . We must awaken to a 'sense of our awful situation because of the secret combination which is among us' (Ether 8:24). We must not tolerate accomodation with or appeasement toward the false system of communism. . ." (Ezra Taft Benson, CR, Oct. 1979; Ensign, Nov 1979, pgs. 43-47) "Shortly before the wicked were destroyed at the time of the crucifixion, the Gadianton robbers obtained, 'the sole management of the government' among the Nephites, 'insomuch that they did trample under their feet and smite and rend and turn their backs upon the poor and the meek, and the humble followers of God' (Helaman 6:39). Their Minions filled 'the judgement seats', they usurped 'the ower and authority of the land', 'condemned the righteous because of their righteousness' and let 'the guilty and the wicked go unpunished because of their money'. 'They sought to get gain and glory of the world', that they might 'more easily commit adultery, and steal, and kill, and do according to their own wills' (Helaman 7:4-5). These Nephite descriptions of the secret combinations of their day give us an understanding of what their prophets meant when they spoke of like evil organizations in the last days . . . Moroni also said that these secret combinations caused the destruction of the Jaredite and Nephite nations and will cause our destruction if we permit them to control our government . . . Moroni here (Ether 8:23-35) speaks of one particular secret combination and prophecies that it will be among us in our day. Next Moroni turns the key so that all who have ears to hear can understand what the secret combination is and can identify those who build it up. 'For it cometh to pass', he says, 'that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries'. This is a worldwide conspiracy. It is now entrenched in many nations, and it seeks dominion over all nations. It is godless, atheistic, and operates by compulsion. It is communism." (Bruce R. McConkie, The Millenial Messiah, p. 65-66) "Concerning the United States, the Lord revealed to his prophets that its greatest threat would be a vast, world-wide 'secret combination' which would not only threaten United States but also seek to 'overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries' (Ether 8:25). In connection with attack on the United States, the Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith there would be an attempt to overthrow the country by destroying the Constitution. Joseph Smith predicted that the time would come when the Constitution would hang, as it were, by a thread, and at that time 'this people will step forth and save it from threatened destruction' (Journal History, Brigham Young's Speech, July 4, 1854). . . . The Prophet Moroni seemed greatly exercised lest inour day we might not be able to recognize the startling fact that the same secret societies which destroyed the Jaredites and decimated numerous kingdoms of both Nephites and Lamanites would be precisely the same form of criminial conspiracy which would rise up among the gentile nations in this day. The strategems of the leaders of these societies are amazingly familiar to anyone who has studied the tactics of modern communist leaders. The Lord has declared that before the second coming of Christ it will be necessary to 'destroy the secret works of darkness . . ' in order to preserve the land of Zion--the Americas (2 Nephi 10: 11-16). The world-wide secret conspiracy which has risen up in our day to fulfill these prophecies is easily identified. President Mckay has left no room for doubt as to what attitude Latter-day Saints should take toward the modern 'secret combination' of conspiratorial communism . . ." (Ezra Taft Benson, CR, Oct 1961, p. 69-75) "President McKay has called Communism the greatest threat to the Church today." (David O. McKay, CR, Priesthood Session, April 9, 1966) "The conflict between communism and freedom is the problem of our time. It overshadows all other problems." (David O. McKay, CR, Oct. 1959) "We call upon all church members completely to eschew communism. The saftey of our divinely inspired Constitutional government and the welfare of our Church imperatively demand that Communism shall have no place in America. . . I must say I do think the Communist conspiracy is one of the greatest menaces in history." (David O. McKay, 1st Presidency Message, Statements on Communism and the Constitution of the United States, 1964, p. 28) ". . . the Book of Mormon brings men to Christ through two basic means. . . [the second of which is] the Book of Mormon exposes the enemies of Christ. . . God, with his infinite foreknowledge, so molded the Book of Mormon that we might see the error and know how to combat false. . . political. . . concepts of our time. . . Now, we have not been using the Book of Mormon as we should. . . our families may be corrupted by worldly trends and teachings unless we know how to use the book to expose and combat the falsehoods in socialism, organic evolution, rationalism, humanism, etc. . . Our Nation will continue to degenerate unless we read and heed the words of the God of this land, Jesus Christ, and quit building up and upholding the secret combinations which the Book of Mormon tells us proved the downfall of both previous American civilizations." (Ezra Taft Benson, CR, April 5, 1975, when Ezra Taft Benson became the Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he repeated this talk at least 37 different times, at every Regional Conference he attended, The Regional Representatives Seminar, reprinted as the 1st Presidency message in the Ensign, at talks he gave at different Wards he attended, etc.) "To all who have discerning eyes, it is apparent that the republican form of government established by our noble forefathers cannot long endure once fundamental principles are abandoned. Momentum is gathering for another conflict--a repetition of the crisis of two hundred years ago. This collision of ideas is worldwide. Another monumental moment is soon to be born. The issue is the same that precipitated the great premortal conflict--will men be free to determine their own course of action or must they be coerced? We are fast approaching that moment prophesied by Joseph Smith when he said, 'even this nation will be on the very verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground, and when the Constitution is upon the brink of ruin, this people will be the staff upon which the nation shall lean, and they shall bear the Constitution away from the very verge of destruction.' (July 19, 1840, Church Historians Office, SLC)." (Ezra Taft Benson, The Constitution: A Heavenly Banner, Deseret Book, 1986, p. 27-28) "I testify that wickedness is rapidly expanding in every segment of our society (see D&C 1: 14-16; 84: 49-53). It is more highly organized, more cleverly disguised and more powerfully promoted than ever before. Secret Combinations lusting for power, gain, and glory are flourishing. A Secret Combination that seeks to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations and countries is increasing its evil influence and control over America and the entire world (see Ether 8: 18-25)." (President Ezra Taft Benson, General Conference, October 1988) During his tenure as a General Authority Ezra Taft Benson quoted from Ether 8:23-25 more often than Any other scripture! The importance of the Book of Ether is highlighted by the following verses: Mosiah 8:9, 12, 19; 21:27; 28:11,12,17,19 Alma 37:21-32 Helaman 6:26 Ether 1:2; 3:22; 15:33 Insight into the aims, methods, strategy, etc., of Secret Combinations are illustrated by numerous verses among which are these: Alma 8:16,17; 10:27; 30:6-53; 43:29,45; 46:4-7, 10; 47:4,8,18,24,30,35; 48:1,7; 51:2,5-8, 13; 61:4; 62:9-10 Helaman 1:7-12; 2:1-14; 3:23; 4:22; 6:17-41; 7:4-5, 25; 8:1-4,7; 10:6,11; 11:10,26 3 Nephi 1:27; 2:11-12, 17-19; 3:1-26; 6:21-30; 7:1-2; 9:9 4 Nephi 42 Mormon 8:27 Ether 8:9-26; 9:5-6 Insight can be gained by studying the Lamanites claim to legitimate power and authority: Mosiah 10:12,15 2 Nephi 5:1-3 Alma 54:17,24 3 Nephi 3:10 "Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing" (Mormon 8:34-35). If they say our day, and chose those things which would be of greatest worth to us, is not that how we should study the Book of Mormon? We should constantly ask ourselves, 'Why did the Lord inspire Mormon (or Moroni, or Alma) to include that in his record? What lesson can I learn from that to help me live in this day and age? . . . From the Book of Mormon we see the evils of Secret Combinations portrayed in graphic and chilling reality." (Ezra Taft Benson, CR, October 1986, Ensign, November 1986, pgs. 6-7)

You misunderstood what I was saying. My experience is the "gross" side is making the statement while looking down their noses at the "net" side. Christ says it isn't okay for me to punch the self righteous in the face (as you can see I have other issues then self righteousness to control.)

A large majority of the people I have had the "Utah Mormon" conversations with are really talking about one of two things. Utah valley culture and BYU culture. The last person I had this conversation with was on a serious anti-Utah Mormon rant. I got him talking about it in greater detail and he was telling me how awful it was living in Utah. Turns out his entire living in Utah experience was his four years living on the BYU campus. I pointed out to him that about 70% of the student population he was having issues with were not Utahns. His expression was priceless.

@Vort does she love Halloween? 297 days btw.

This debate reminds me of one I endured in Elder's Quorum many years ago. The lesson was on the law of the fast. One brother raised his hand and asked if you swallow the water after brushing your teeth did you just violate your fast.

Does it always rain in your world?

Buck Showalter was once ripped apart for running up the score as his team was stealing bases and taking extra bases while they were up by double digits. In the post game press conference, his answer was simple: “When the other team stops trying to come back, I’ll stop trying to score....” Regardless of who perpetrated 9/11 or what ideology they followed, the “memory” that is being referenced is that there are bad people out there....people whose SOLE existence is wrapped up in perpetrating evil, by proxy, giving them the upper hand. Regardless of where he fits in the realm of ties to 9/11, if any at all, Quasem Soleimani was one of the most evil terrorists walking the planet, responsible for the loss of hundreds of American lives. Should we (America) have waited until he killed more??? How many more then???? What’s an acceptable number of lives lost before he deserves to be hunted??? We will never know how many lives Quasem’s death has saved. But I will never forget what treating stone cold terrorists like they are inconsequential or incapable of mass destruction landed us. And if the vaporizing of Quasem prevented the loss of even ONE more American life, I’m good with it. It’s hard for me to fathom that ANY American citizen WOULDNT be. When they stop trying to come back, only THEN should we stop trying to win...and not a minute sooner. (Language alert in the article) You said you'd never forget September 11. You lied. https://www.lawenforcementtoday.com/you-said-youd-never-forget-september-11-you-lied/

Yea, what's next, still reading comics and playing Dungeons and Dragons?

True, but better then just sitting there and dying.

It is not. Below is the text and while there are a few elements of truth in it, as Joseph F. Smith said, it is bunk (as a whole.) On or about the sixth day of May. 1843, a grand review of the Nauvoo Legion was held in Nauvoo. (Illinois) The Prophet Joseph complimented them for their good discipline and evolutions performed. The weather being hot, he called for a glass of water. With the glass of water in his hand he said, "I drink to you a toast to the overthrow of the mobocrats." The next morning a man who had heard the Prophet give the toast returned to visit the Mansion of the Prophet. And so abused him with bad language. That the man was ordered out by the Prophet. It was while the two were out that my attention was attracted to them and hearing the man speaking in a loud tone of voice. I went toward them; the man finally leaving. There were present the Prophet Joseph Smith. Theodore Turley and myself. The Prophet began talking to us of the mobbings and drivings and persecutions we as a people have endured. But, said he, "We will have worse things to see; our persecutors will have all the mobbings they want. Don't wish them any harm. For when you see their sufferings you will shed bitter tears for them." While this conversation was going on we stood by his south wicket gate in a triangle. Turning to me he said: "I want to tell you something. I will speak a parable like unto John the Revelator. You will go to the Rocky Mountains. And you will be a great and mighty people, established there, which I will call the ?White Horse of Peace and Safety.? When the Prophet said you will see it, I asked him, "Where will you be at that time?" He said, "I shall never go there. Your enemies will continue to follow you with persecutions and will make obnoxious laws against you in Congress to destroy the White Horse, but you will have a friend or two ?to defend you? to throw out the worst part of the laws, so they will not hurt much. You must continue to petition Congress all the time, they will treat you like strangers and aliens, and they will not give you your rights but will govern you with strangers and commissioners; you will see the Constitution of the United States almost destroyed; it will hang by a thread, as it were, as fine as the finest silk fiber." At this point the Prophet's countenance became sad; he said, "I love the constitution. It was made by the inspiration of God. And it will be preserved and saved by the efforts of the White Horse and the Red Horse. Who will combine in its defense. The White Horse will raise an ensign on the tops of the mountains of peace and safety. The White Horse will find the mountains full of minerals and they will become very rich. You will see silver piled up in the streets "You will see gold shoveled up like sand. Gold will be of little value even in a mercantile capacity, for the people of the world will have something else to do in seeking for salvation "The time will come when the banks in every nation will fail and only two places will be safe where people can deposit their gold and treasures. These places will be the White Horse and England's vaults." "A terrible revolution will take place in the land of America, such as has never been seen before; for the land will be literally left without a supreme government. And every species of wickedness will run rampant. Father will be against son, and son against father, mother against daughter, and daughter against mother. The most terrible scenes of murder and bloodshed and rapine that have ever been looked upon will take place. "Peace will be taken from the earth and there will be no peace only in the Rocky Mountains. This will cause many hundreds and thousands of the honest in heart to gather there; not because they would be saints but for safety and because they would not take up the sword against their neighbor. "You will be so numerous that you will be in danger of famine, but not for the want of seed time and harvest, but because of so many to be fed. Many will come with bundles under their arms to escape the calamities, and there will be no escape except by fleeing to Zion. (A few million Mormons will try to return to Utah.) "Those that come to you will try to keep the laws and be one with you, for they will see your unity and the greatness of your organization. The Turkish Empire or the Crescent will be one of the first powers that will be disrupted, for freedom must be given for the gospel to he preached in the Holy Land. "The Lord took of the best blood of the nations and planted them on the small islands now called England and Great Britain, and gave them great power in the nations for a thousand years and their power will continue with them, that they may keep the balance of power and keep Russia from usurping her power over all the world. England and France are now (1843) bitter enemies, but they will be allied together and he united to keep Russia from conquering the world. "The two Popes, Greek and Catholic, will come together and be united. The Protestant religions do not know how much they are indebted to Henry the VIII for throwing off the Pope's Bull and establishing the Protestant faith. He was the only monarch who could do so at the time, and he did it because this nation, England, was at his back to sustain him. One of the peculiar features in England is the established red coat, a uniform making so remarkable a mark to shoot at, and yet they have conquered wherever they have gone. The reason for this will be known by them some day. The Lion and the Unicorn of Israel is their ensign, the wisdom and statesmanship of England comes from having so much of the blood of Israel in the nation. "While the terrible revolution of which I have spoken has been going on, England will be neutral until it becomes so inhuman that she will interfere to stop the shedding of blood. England and France will unite together to make peace, not to subdue the nations; they will find the nations so broken up and so many claiming government, till there will be no responsible government. Then it will appear to the other nations or powers as though England had taken possession of the country. The Black Horse will flee to the invaders and will join with them, for they will have fear of becoming slaves again. Knowing England did not believe in slavery, fleeing to them they believe would make them safe. Armed with British bayonets, the doings of the "Black" Horse will he terrible." Here the Prophet said he could not bear to look longer upon the scene as shown him in vision and asked the Lord to close the scene. Continuing, he said. "During this time the great White Horse will have gathered strength sending out Elders to gather the honest in heart among the Pale Horse, or people of the United States, to stand by the Constitution of the United States, as it was given by inspiration of God. "In these days God will set up a kingdom never to he thrown down, for other kingdoms to come unto. And these kingdoms that will not let the Gospel be preached will be humbled until they will. "England, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Holland, and Belgium, have a considerable amount of the blood of Israel among their people WHICH must be gathered. Then nations will submit to the Kingdom of God. England will be the last of these kingdoms to surrender, but when she does, she will do it as a whole in comparison as she threw off the Catholic power. The nobility know that the gospel is true but it has not enough pomp and grandeur and influence for them to embrace it. They are proud and will not acknowledge the Kingdom of God, or come unto it, until they see the power which it will have. Peace and safety in the Rocky Mountains will be protected by a cordon band of the White Horse and the Red Horse. "The coming of the Messiah among this people will be so natural, that "only" those who see Him will know that He has come, but He will come and give His laws unto Zion, and minister unto His people. This will not be His coming in the clouds of heaven to take vengeance on the wicked of the world. "The Temple in Jackson County will be built in this generation. The saints will think there will not be time to build it. but with all the help you will receive you can put up a great temple quickly. They will have all the gold, silver, and precious stones; for these things only will be used for the beautifying of the temple; all the skilled mechanics you want, and the Ten Tribes of Israel will help you build it. When you see this land bound with iron you may look toward Jackson County." At this point he made a pause, and looking up as though the vision was still in view, he said." There is a land beyond the Rocky Mountains that will be invaded by the heathen Chinese unless great care and protection are given." Speaking of the heathen nations he said, "Where there is no law there is no condemnation, and this will apply to them. Power will be given the White Horse to rebuke nations afar off, and they will be one with the White Horse, but when the law goes forth they will obey; for the law will go forth from Zion. The last great struggle Zion will have to contend with will be when the whole of the Americas will be made the Zion of our God. Those opposing will be called Gog and Magog, some of the nations of the world led by the Russian czar and their power will be great, but all opposition will be overcome and then this land will be the Zion of our God."

Two positives equal a negative: yeah right.

The ridiculous story about the "red horse," and "the black horse," and "the white horse," and a lot of trash that has been circulated about and printed and sent around as a great revelation given by the Prophet Joseph Smith, is a matter that was gotten up, I understand, some ten years after the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith, by two of our brethren who put together some broken sentences from the Prophet that they may have-heard him utter from time to time, and formulated this so called revelation out of it, and it was never spoken by the prophet in the manner in which they have out it forth. It is simply false: that is all there is to it. (Joseph F. Smith, Conference Report, October 1918, p.58.)

Much as I like metal, they would make terrible hymns.

You realize that means a boot to the door too.