The Folk Prophet

Ok...fair warning...serious music nerd coming out in the following: The Mormon Tab is not an ideal choir for the Messiah. Handel wrote it for chamber choir, and this is evidenced by the musical style as well, wherein it requires an agility that is mostly beyond a larger choir (as is typical for Baroque music). Obviously there are natural exceptions to this (the Hallelujah chorus being one example where a large choir works better). However, a choir the size of the MoTab is not well suited for performance of Baroque music in general, and specifically not well suited for The Messiah. Of course one really has to have heard the Messiah performed properly (in true Baroque style) to have a comparison point. The problem is, of course, is that it spoils one for performances done "improperly" (large choirs doing Baroque music), which is one of the downfalls of being musically educated. But I suppose that's true of any art education. My favorite rendition of The Messiah is by the Boston Baroque choir. Light. Agile. Perfect. An ideal performance would bring in a bunch of extra singers to make a large chorus for the Hallelujah Chorus though. :)

We could try church history: Which of the original LDS Apostles was temporarily excommunicated for insubordination due to a belief in his wife's claim that Joseph Smith had made improper advances towards her -- Joseph claiming in response that she was actually having an affair with another man?

Are you kidding me? Porn is only a big deal because we're not used to it? It is a sin. It is a major deal. It is a major problem. Just because the rest of the world doesn't consider it a problem is irrelevant. A sin is a sin and it is NOT relative. Morality is NOT relative. God sets the standards for what we should and should not "freak" at, not the world.

*shrug* Is terminology and scripture not part of the gospel? Not sure what you're looking for here. Want to throw some examples? The answer would be Kokob/Kokuabeam for star/stars, Olea for moon. Uh...I'd have to look up sun...just a sec......Shinehah Kolob would be the name of the greatest star or the one closest to where God dwells.

Okay...well...let's see...without looking it up, what is the name given in the Book of Abraham for "star"? (Bonus: for "sun" and/or "moon").

Sorry Lakumi. Tithing was given (reinstated) through revelation to Joseph Smith. See D&C 119:4.

Here's a link to some online info about it.

I don't mind that as much as gym clothes. I swear, every other woman at Costco the other day were wearing gym clothes. Spandex pants, running shoes etc. I'm not buying they all just came from or were going to the gym. And even if they were, they have dressing rooms people. Funnily, not a single male was strutting around that way.

Then answer we were looking for was, "True".

The example you set can be a powerful, powerful thing. But you cannot force someone else to change.

In support of anatess's point above: Covered this in priesthood this week. From the Joseph Fielding Smith manual: If a man and his wife were earnestly and faithfully observing all the ordinances and principles of the gospel, there could not arise any cause for divorce. The joy and happiness pertaining to the marriage relationship would grow sweeter, and husband and wife would become more and more attached to each other as the days go by. Not only would the husband love the wife and the wife the husband, but children born to them would live in an atmosphere of love and harmony. The love of each for the others would not be impaired, and moreover the love of all towards our Eternal Father and his Son Jesus Christ would be more firmly rooted in their souls.

This is certainly in line with the new-age "Jesus loves" ideology that disregards everything except "Jesus loves", but it is entirely inconsistent with scripture, religious history, and modern revelation and policy.

Exactly!

Not really an LDS gospel question. Hmm. Are the questions supposed to be LDS only?

Go with the debt free thing. Absolutely, no question! You will not regret it.

True or False? According to Joseph Smith, animal sacrifice must be re-instigated before the end in order to fulfill all things?

Well duh.

It reminds me a bit of the discussion had here on the Relief Society activities in "uppity" homes where the older ladies were offended that the younger girls didn't dress up. It is interesting because there is definitely a generational thing at play in some regards. It really is a respect thing. However, there is a distinct difference between expected respect imposed by a perceived societal standard and showing respect for deity and religion. Being a Generation X-er myself, I have a hard time caring about dressing up for opera. I don't see any need to show respect for the venue and the uppity, old-minded, highfalutin'ness of it all. Showing respect for God and religion is a very different matter to me. (Note: I probably would dress up for the opera though, not to show respect, but because I like dressing up. How many opportunities are there, really, to wear formal clothes in life? (and I'm not talking Sunday best...I'm talking "formal" formal wear)). Yes, they both come down to societal and cultural expectations, but the focus of the respect is different, and that matters I think.

I think this really only needs apply if disagreements are moderately severe and the issue at hand matters greatly. In many cases, I cannot see any reason why I, were I a counselor of some sort, in disagreeing with my bishop or president, should not simply defer to him and his mantle.

Where on earth did you get that from what I said?

The sandals won't. The accompanying attitude of disrespect might.

That's like saying when someone's in school I'm just glad they're there, even though they didn't bring any text books, notebooks, don't bother listening, etc... Coming to church is not the end all of soul-saving. We should be concerned with the salvation of people's souls. Someone who dresses disrespectfully at church concerns me because I worry about their attitude and what they're getting out of church. Yes...reserve judgement...get to know them, be friendly, don't wish they would stop coming, etc.... But no, I'm not going to wave it off as I'm just glad they're there. I can be glad they're there and still want to influence them for even greater good, greater humility, greater faith, and a greater ability to draw close to our Father in Heaven.

How to preside is clearly specified in D&C 121 41 No apower or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the bpriesthood, only by cpersuasion, by dlong-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; 42 By akindness, and pure bknowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the csoul without dhypocrisy, and without eguile—

I'm not saying your suggestion wouldn't work. Just saying it's not the only means. I also speak from experience, if you want to go there. But this is a thread jack. So I won't respond again.

There is are different ways to eat healthy. Weight loss (which is not always healthy) is about calorie control. There is no contradiction.