sixpacktr

Traveler, where is that source at? I'd love to read that, or find out more about it. That makes a LOT of things clear, not only in this regard, but also the role of Christ as Advocate and Satan as Accuser. Puts a whole new light on what our day at the bar of God will be like...

Hordak, I gotta admit, I am TOTALLY lost as to what this means. Huh??

I'll agree that it is political, but is it really an award that is rooted in peace? I know that it says it in the title, but remember when Yassir Arafat won it? Huh?? The UN?? What?? Le Duc Tho, President of North Viet Nam? Algore? Old Carnack Joke: The answer is Yassir Arafat. Question: what is the sound that Dolly Parton's bra makes when she takes it off? I know that some think that Obama has made us more palatible to the rest of the world. Well, you can look at that in many ways. I personally think that the Europeans perception of a peacemaker is based upon the Neville Chamberlain model, which is that the weaker you are the more peaceful you are.

If you want the real news on the GW scam, go to Junkscience.com. Just as people are waking up here in the US to what the gov't is doing to us, people are also waking up to the GW scam. IF the gov't will stay the heck out of it, GW will go the way of the hole in the ozone that was going to grow so large (and we heard this day after day not 20 years ago) that it was going to become a black hole and all of us were going to die. Now??? When was the last time you heard of the 'ozone hole'? How arrogant we are to think we can destroy this place...

And any of us are surprised....why? I'm just surprised that they didn't announce that he was the winner for the rest of his life. He is, after all... oh wait, I got chastised last time I used that language on a religion forum to describe 'HIM'. I think that all of the songs coming out of the schools in praise of HIM are what put HIM over the top... MMM, MMM, MMM!!!

But of course, it is only because we don't tell them all the 'cultish' stuff. Aside from the secret priesthood meetings... You know, like HT and VT. Ooohhh. Checking up at least once a month to make sure that the flock keeps to the party line. And 3 hours of meetings, With that much time spent at church, it is no wonder we are brainwashed! And tithing. You mean you have to PAY to get into the temple!? and then there are the callings. Only a mind-numbed robot would do things for others and work for free, abandoning family and leisure to carry out the instructions of those old, mysterious 'brethren' in SLC! And finally, you just can't get past all that praying and scripture study. Only a deluded mind would think you have to do THAT everyday!

I have lived in various parts of the country over the years. I was brought up in Iowa and we called it 'pop'. I have never lived in a place where it was called 'soda' at least as far as I can remember. And, of course, when I lived in the South it was a 'coke' no matter what it was.

After LSU snuck out of Georgia last week with a win (they earned it, but the Dawgs gave it to them!) the LSU/Florida game ought to be great. And I'm surprised how good Ole' Miss has been this year. The Michigan/Iowa game should be good. Not because UM is that good, but for some reason they are NEVER out of a game. I watched Michigan State beat them last week in OT, but UM was down by a bunch with little time left in regulation and they came back. They've done it all year, so I don't see what this game would be any different. And Neb/Missouri should be a good game tonight on ESPN. I love this time of year. I'm lost after the last bowl game in January, at least until March madness...

Tayo, there are several that are rude, and several that are okay with close associates that would be considered rude with those you don't know well. baka means fool. Don't use it with people you don't know. You CAN call a friend a baka, but you have to say it nicely, so that they know you are joking around. yaro is another rude way of saying 'him' or 'you'. So is 'anta' (a rude way of saying 'anata', or you). To be really rude, go the route of 'teimei'. 'Oi' is a way of saying 'hey'. Not good, unless, again, you are with close associates. So, if you're looking to start a fight, begin with 'Oi! Teimei yaro, nani yatterun da!' (Hey, you!, What the he!! are you doing?). But I digress. As a general rule, familiar language can be construed as rude in the wrong setting. Remember to 'politinize' things with 'kudasai', 'onegai shimasu', etc., and you'll be fine. If you want more detailed help on what would and wouldn't be appropriate, drop me a line. I'd be happy to help.

Cut your friend some slack. Almost all baptisms have a bump or two in the road. Do you think that Satan just gives up and goes away? The best thing to do is be her friend, keep up talking about the church in a non-forced but natural way, and she'll come around. The Spirit will confirm all things to her in time, and she may just need to do some praying/thinking before she commits. Better to have doubts now than after her baptism. Then she'd be held accountable for covenants she'd made. If she believes everything but Pres Monson, she'll work it out...

So THAT'S where 'Guitar Hero' started!

And you know what is really cool? When the kids all finally get the heck out of your house to live their lives, you aren't running hither, thither and yon to various things, and you can just be together again. After having kids in the house for 23 years, when the youngest finally left for good, I was really able to remember who my wife was. And to remember that she was the coolest person I'd ever met. So if you love your spouse now, when the kids are around, just wait till they leave!

I don't think that within the church we exclude intellectuals. Most members I've ever met have been very curious about all sorts of things. I think where the rub comes is in the 'use' of knowledge to create a sense of superiority, or of actually 'putting down' the burning in the bosom, or spiritual witness, in place of having an intellectual testimony of what is or isn't true, or what the 'real' story is. We are commanded to get learning, as much as we can and in all areas that we can. The Glory of God is Intellegence, as we all know. But SOME use that gift as a way of poo-poohing those that are content with saying 'I know, because the Spirit told me it was true', thinking them as being too naive, etc. I think you see where I am going with this. Humility and spiritual eyes should 'color' all of our learning. We should always remember that no one of us is smarter that God, and that there is order in the Kingdom (that we are subject to our leaders in the church, and need to heed their counsel). So I don't see an 'anti-intellectual' spirit in the church.

If only they knew the truth. We TELL them that the temple is where the action is. Luckily, they never come to the graveyard at midnight, or hear the goats that we herd there during the 'special' Priesthood meetings...

Coffee and tea were defined as the 'hot drinks' by Hyrum, I believe (could have that messed up, but somewhere I heard that). Pres Kimball talked about us living a higher law and avoiding caffeinated drinks, which is where the hostility by some to Coke came from. I'm like Beeche (without the tongue): I love Mountain Dew. It is the only 'diet' pop I can stomach. However, I don't drink it often because it tears my stomach up, so only when I'm sleeping at my computer at work will I break down and buy a Dew. My Son in Law is hooked on caffeine. He gets headaches when he DOESN'T drink it. He is in law school and studying/working like a fiend, so I understand the why. But perhaps, PERHAPS (ALERT--my opinion here, not official doctrine) he has a problem and an addiction and may want to rethink his consumption of caffeine (ALERT over). But then again, I have a bad addiction to chocolate (as my girlish figure, ala Rosie O'Donnell, would attest).

I don't know. It was a long, long time ago. I do remember sitting in a Sacrament meeting at BYU and writing my wife's name over and over again. I think I was pretty smitten at that time...

I've heard of things happening, but to be honest, never thought of that. I've heard of people passing away in the temple, but again... Good question.

What, pray tell, is a 'keytar'?

If it were possible, I wish OSU would lose EVERY GAME! Including the one with Michigan, who I also wish would lose EVERY GAME!. I grew up in Iowa, and am a Hawkeye fan. Not as much as I used to be, as I haven't lived there since 93. Hence my dislike of anything OSU or UM... Love BYU. They break my heart every year, but what are you gonna do? Am now a huge Georgia Bulldogs fan. Love most of the SEC teams (save Florida and Tennessee, both huge rivals of GA) and will watch any of the SEC games. The SEC has the best league in the nation, bar none. Big 12? Please. Big 10? Pac10? What have you been smoking?? ACC? When are you getting out of rehab? I always root for the MWC, Conf USA, and the WAC when they play the 'BCS' teams. Anything to break the unlawful monopoly that is college football right now. National Championship playoffs NOW!

I totally agree, however, that would open such a can of worms that it is just easier to say no. Your friend plays something like 'A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief' on his trombone and it brings the Spirit into the meeting. Then his buddy, also a trombone player, wants to play the same song, but the 'Jay-Z' version of it. He feels it is appropriate, but it probably wouldn't be. Now you create this rift in the ward with some taking the Bishop's side and some saying 'well he let so and so do it'. We all know that every ward in Zion would do exactly that, so while it may seem petty or 'uptight', it just makes it easier on the leaders to have a guideline like that.

Orchestral stringed instruments (cello, violin, etc) are okay. Guitars are iffy. There was a time when they were discouraged, but we had a brother play his guitar about 4 months ago in Sacrament meeting while he sung a beautiful song about the atonement. The Bishop leaned over to me and the SP counselor (before he gave his talk, having brought his guitar up) and said "if it is Bro So and So I don't think this will be inappropriate" and we agreed. As a GENERAL rule, they are discouraged, I believe. If the Bishop says no, then that really is the final say in the matter.

I agree with you PC. In MOST cases, I believe that there is simply a seeking of truth. In the same way, those that believe that they are more spiritual than others can be lifted up in pride (the Pharisees come to mind, but they are by no means a rarity). In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Nephi stated it this way: 28 O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish. 29 But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God. (2 Nephi 9:28 - 29) So I believe that humility must be part of our learning. If we hearken unto the counsels of God (which means the scriptures and his servants here on the earth) it is good to be learned because that humility is there. And that makes all the difference, I believe.

I don't think it is so much a tendency to dislike intellectuals, but that there is a real tendency for them to be 'lifted up in pride' and abandon the Spirit to chase after those things proven by the 5 senses. All truth is good; all truth, I believe, leads to a testimony of Christ. However, there seems to be a tendency to want to tear down others in order to look smarter, which is being 'puffed up' in pride. We have and have had some unbelievable 'intellectuals' in our church. Nibley, Brown, Talmadge, BH Roberts. They all used their 'smarts' to help us understand things in a much deeper level that perhaps we would have otherwise. I guess it gets down to this: is it to build up other's testimonies, or is it to tear down?

I like how you think, PC. I think that sometimes we LDS are so hard on ourselves (works) that we forget that grace is a gift, freely given. But we do have to 'earn' it by continuing to 'get good grades' (to borrow your term), that is, while it is available for us to use, if we don't strive to become as Christ is we can be found to be keyless at the last day. Living among the Southern Baptists for a while in the South made me realize that we LDS need to understand more that grace is real and NOW. I think where we may diverge, then, is that we LDS believe that we need to continually repent and become better thru our works (show faith thru works), and that we are continually in jeopardy if we decide that we've 'done enough', that we're 'in' no matter what we do now. And that may be where Evangelicals and LDS part ways as well: from my experience talking to my SB friends, once saved, always saved. Good works are a result of that saving experience. With LDS, however, while we believe that we are saved thru the Atonement of Christ, we need to continue in good works in order to keep it in effect in our lives thru the companionship of the HG and doing God's will. Maybe that has all been rehashed in earlier posts--didn't feel like reading 80 posts to get there...

Just read that today in Jesus the Christ. In discussing the Prodigal Son, Talmadge discusses the false belief that we have to 'experience bad sin' in order to really understand the atonement. My personal opinion is that all of us need to experience the absolute reality of the atonement, as we all are in need of its purifying power. We all know that we fall short of the glory of God as He cannot tolerate even the slightest degree of sin, and we are thus beholden to Christ to be our Advocate and Redeemer. As such, whether we commit 'major' sins or minor ones, we all need to know that the Atonement is real and applicable to our lives. So no, I don't think that they did anything 'major'. They just realized that even the 'small' sins kept them from having the Spirit fully and thus exercised the cleansing of the Atonement in their own lives and therefore have a strong and powerful testimony of its reality.