SpiritDragon

I hope more and more people are aware of the need to have a 72 hour kit or "go bag" ready. I know this type of event serves as a reminder to make sure ours is up to date. With a baby around clothing and diaper sizes change so quickly we should probably just have the next few sizes up ready as well to quickly swap out. As for having food supplies I know it has come in handy for those who are not in the immediate danger zone, but have taken on refugees from the fire. It is very helpful to simply know you can invite extra people over and there will be enough food.

I second this notion. Are you wanting to seriously engage in dialogue about how to better be prepared in the event a wildfire burns out of control in your area and destroys your home? Or are you playing the part of a mystical creature which we don't mention around here that is generally larger than a goblin, but smaller than an ogre - in the late 80's and early 90's they had neon hair and cute little butts. I don't mean to issue accusations, but I almost lost my family to the flames and don't see it as a laughing matter - that being said if you're truly wanting to learn from it, I can appreciate that.

As of this morning the fire is extinguished in the city proper although it still rages in the surrounding territory. My family is out except for my brother-in-law who stayed to help friends in an area that is expected to be in the line of fire. The news reports have said that so far amazingly 80,000 people successfully have evacuated and there have been no reports of deaths.

Thanks LP

Hi everyone, The city of Fort McMurray Alberta is on fire. Citizens have been issued an evacuation order, but the streets are grid-locked and people may not get out. I have family trying to get free of the burning city. Prayers for everyone involved are appreciated.

Hi Steve, I think to some extent you'll come to discover that there isn't an universal "mormon view" on how false prophets are determined. This is perhaps because our time spent worshiping is dedicated to learning about that which is uplifting and helps us to more closely emulate our Saviour Jesus Christ. Thus I've never heard and never expect to hear an official Mormon teaching specifically targeting what is wrong with another's belief system, that being said there are teachings on how to determine that which is true and to avoid deception. Now then I'll first answer with why I personally reject the prophet of Islam starting with a scripture I've seen used recently (I believe in the Angels Thread) Revelation 19:10 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. To start with to declare that Christ is not deified seems to automatically disqualify him as others have mentioned. Further the teachings of Islam simply don't reconcile with Biblical teachings. I know many assert that the same can be said of Mormonism, but I have to confess I don't understand that position - having been a student of the scriptures I cannot find any Mormon teaching that is contrary to Biblical teaching. In fact I find it more in line with Biblical teaching than any other religion's teaching I have ever studied... back to the OP now. In the Doctrine and Covenants section 9 verse 8 one reads, But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. This also goes along with and must pass the test of "by their fruits, ye shall know them." The fruits of the spirit are "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance" and would logically be (at least) expected to be among the fruits of true prophet. Now I'm not saying that the founder of Islam taught it to be so (I'm not extremely well versed with his teachings), but I find the idea of violently seeking to oppress and dominate the world with the "religion of peace" just doesn't live up to the fruits by which a true prophet is known. So let me explain these two points in the context of how I use the above teaching to help me discern between truth and error. First I study it out in my mind and compare the teachings to those found in sources (such as the Bible) that I have come to believe to be true. If the idea that I am studying is contrary to what I believe to be true than I don't tend to concern myself with it further. If however I find no reason to reject it through study than I take that finding to God in prayer for further insight. If the item in question leaves me feeling the spirit as I've come to recognize it, then I believe it to be true and feel the need to act on it accordingly. If I feel no particular feeling when praying on it I also tend to put it on the shelf and figure that it is either not true or not important for me at that time. So in the case of Mohammed, I haven't felt the need to even pray about it because of the apparent contradictions to revealed truth. I hope this helps you understand how some Latter-day Saints work things out.

For some reason I just find this amusingly awesome.... Perhaps I've never confessed to my Neil Diamond addiction either. There was that Meatloaf phase as well... and it's hard to say I'm sorry when it comes to Chicago.

For my own birthday somewhere around age 12 I stopped caring much and developed the attitude that it's just another day. People are born everyday - so what? who cares? I'm not big on the need for friends and really don't have any close friends (family works for me). As an adult I have enjoyed having a dinner get together with family, but my favourite birthday in memory I decided to make it all about the kids and planned a party in a park inviting all of my nieces and nephews. I made a giant die around 8x8 inches per side and we played snakes and ladders as our own playing pieces on a big snake made of rock segments (each segment being a space). I also made snake heads to place on certain spots with yarn trailing to another space - I don't really remember what we did for ladders. Any way it was fun to help the kids feel special and wanted enough to be the focal point of their uncle's birthday and I had a lot of fun. We also had a treasure hunt and my wife made these really cute monster cupcakes. I know I have been given gifts, but I can't remember any particular birthday gift since I got a Super Soaker 50 when I was 10.

With your past Avatar I envisioned more of a 19th century American English-accented voice with deep and powerful conviction - like Wilford Woodruff or Brigham Young tend to be depicted in film.

Currently I envision you with the voice of Alec Guinness (Obi Wan Kenobi) speaking to guide Luke Skywalker as a dead guy

FWIW I've submitted the link to my antivirus company to let them know that I believe they are blocking a harmless site. They should look into it within a business day.

it links to http://www.moregoodfoundation.org/help/share-the-gospel/share-the-gospel-online apparently my anti-virus doesn't like it. Oh well.

Your link gets my anti-virus worked up as a possible malicious site. ***************************** I've never intentionally looked for any lds social network sites, I just stumbled on this one years ago and have some how found I enjoy it sometimes. I have also stumbled on others and it's true that they seem wild. Your description sounds like the nonsense some of my family has been caught up in. Looking beyond the mark for sure. What with frequent Theophanies and such - some how the idea of walking by faith is subverted by seeing Deity to ask what's for dinner, it just doesn't add up if you ask me. (and I'm the one considered to have too little faith because I haven't seen divine beings) There is also just too much that caters to what the world wants - priesthood offices for women being one of the first to come to mind.

I would also have suggested Nibley for you as others have done. I also like the material available through Mormon Evidence - I think there is a lot of interesting stuff to think on that I have found useful. I don't agree with everything they have to say, but I appreciate the effort and enjoy the perspective given.

This is just wrong. I don't think the rational human mind can understand why someone would do this to another. It all seems so pointless. I'm sorry for your loss and for the community and especially family. Thank-you for what you do to keep the streets safe. We realize all too well that it could have just as easily been any other officer, could have been you. I'm glad we still have you around.

It worked for me with no trouble at all. Way to go PC.

As a Canadian I can say that we do have more party options, but it doesn't really improve much. It just gives people that many more things to argue about, leads to strategic voting against the "most evil" parties and the government still claims they have a strong mandate when they form government with only 30% of the popular vote.

The most obvious example being those who kept the first estate and those who didn't. Those who did get to go on to the second estate, while those who didn't had a very different outcome.

********Edited to fit my understanding of what is being asked of us******** I'm a chaotic neutral half elf raised by my human father in a small village in the woods until the age of 12 when he was killed by a plague (disease). I got by by learning a thing or two about sneaking around with nimble fingers if you know what I mean. Using the character generator I found here I created a character with the following: Player SD Name John Dirksley Race Half Elf Alignment (chaotic neutral) - Do you want our alignment? Strength 14 Dexterity 14 Constitution 11 Intelligence 16 Wisdom 18 Charisma 13 Money 190 Any how after my father's untimely death I picked up a few more languages as I was chased from place to place (avoiding capture, or escaping from time to time). I can have a remake if needed.

I hated those. I remember trying so hard to see what was supposed to be there. I was told to try and stare through it, to zone out, to look cross-eyed - I started to think that there was nothing there and that anyone that claimed they could see it were lying because they didn't want to admit they couldn't do it either. I never have successfully seen something there, just a blur.

I must say it sounds like a good time, and I'd like to join - but I'm not up to date with your rules and don't check in often enough so I'd likely slow everyone down. Out of curiosity what would a generic character sheet need on it? ST, DX, INT, CONS, WIS, CHR - HP Do you use saving throws for magic defense? What are the various race and class advantages/disadvantages? Yeah... I'm too far behind already.

It's been too long since I played D&D (15-20 years I'd imagine). I played by the rules as found in an old red manual that almost looked like a magazine in size. I think it might have been before AD&D, but I don't know for sure. I can dig around the attic some time and see if I can find it.... easier method perhaps - the book looks like this. Anyway, I found I was much more fascinated by the GURPS system of leveling up individual skills and attributes based on usage rather than the hack and slash grind to level up and mysteriously become better at everything - especially things you're character's never done. I also like the added realism of not increasing HP. I mean when your character gets stabbed through heart while sleeping he should die, not laugh it off as the dagger only did 12 HP damage against the Level X character with 73 HP. But that's just me, I did enjoy D&D as well, just once I experienced GURPS there was no going back really. I haven't played GURPS in a decade either though, so there you have it.

I don't see why this has to be considered an attack on the internet. Just a reminder that this particular institution has a particular environment (and they clearly get tired of being asked about wifi). I don't have a mobile device, so I can sympathize with the idea of just talking to people. I don't think it has to be considered that they are too cheap to get wifi either - that may be the case, but they also might really be trying to create/protect a certain environment at the establishment.

Right now at four months old I allow her to be in the room while we watch various programming, but I'd like to set up limitations for all of us in the near future. I think 2 hours a night for mom and dad sounds excessive, but sadly realistic as an initial point to work down from. I should do some more in depth study on TV watching. Clearly it is linked to lower activity and greater weight issues as well among other things. I should check out what seems to be a reasonable limitation. Edit: I should mention that I prefer my daughter isn't actually watching TV at all, even if she is in the room while the TV is on. Ideally we should all probably discontinue our TV time when she is around as supposedly screen time can distract young brains from developing properly and exploring the world around them and interacting with humans. Alas we're not very strict about it - perhaps because I'm not convinced strongly enough of the seriousness of the situation.

Whew! This had me thinking of the idea of epigenetics and nutrigenomics (how we can use agency to some extent to govern DNA). Jane Doe touched on this briefly with some of her statements such as how Vitamin D can affect height for instance. Essentially these concepts cover how certain genetic markers don't predetermine nearly as much as was previously thought because through certain experiences and environmental factors genes can be turned on or off. For instance Dean Ornish (link here) was involved in a pilot study showing that a healthy diet based mainly on plants can change the expression of several (4-500) genes away from developing Cancer of the prostate. Other studies have shown that increased attention and love as a child can change not only self-confidence, but actually again change the way genes are expressed and how the brain develops. Could it be possible that living the gospel is the secret to optimizing spiritual(and physical) genetic expression toward perfection?