askandanswer

I'm curious about the use of the word threaten in that verse. It has a similar, but not identical meaning to warn, or counsel, or advise. I can imagine President Nelson, or President Monson warning the church, or the world, but I would it harder to imagine them saying that God is threatening us. The motives behind a threat are often quite different from the motives behind a warning. So in this particular instance, my thoughts about the accuracy of this scripture arise from the possibility that God's prophets were warning, not threatening, the people.

From my scripture reading this morning: 10 And it came to pass that the prophets of the Lord did threaten the people of Nephi, according to the word of God, that if they did not keep the commandments, but should fall into transgression, they should be adestroyed from off the face of the land. How accurate do you think this verse is?

Being angry in Colorado is a reportable issue?

Here's how the child abuse part of mandatory reporting works. I believe it is similar for domestic violence. Report child abuse In the Northern Territory (NT), you must report your concerns if you believe a child is being, or has been, harmed or abused. This is a legal responsibility under the Care and Protection of Children Act 2007 and is called mandatory reporting. Your report should include any relevant information about your concerns for the child's safety and wellbeing. You don't need proof of harm or abuse to report your concerns - you just need a reasonable belief that a child has been harmed or is likely to be harmed. If you are worried about neglect or harm to a child but are not sure if it's something you should report, you should talk about your concerns with professional staff at the child protection reporting line on 1800 700 250. The reporting line operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You are safeguarded under the law from legal or professional liability if you make a report in good faith. https://nt.gov.au/law/crime/report-child-abuse#:~:text=In the Northern Territory (NT,and is called mandatory reporting.

You're right, I suspect there is a very low level of awareness of the mandatory reporting laws. In the email I sent to the EQP last night I suggested that perhaps there might need to be some training on this topic, and not just in our branch. This is a particularly sensitive problem where I live. We have a high indigenous population here, approximately 30%, and most indigenous families here have been affected by what is known as the stolen generation, which is the term used to describe a long held federal government policy, abandoned only in the early 1970' I think, of seeking to assimilate aboriginal people into white society. But on the other hand, home situations amongst aboriginal people are generally far worse, and much closer to a need for government intervention. I have very similar sentiments. I have a low level of trust when it comes to the "effectiveness" of the state taking a child from their family and placing them with another family or institution. Mind you, I am only aware of the stories from one side of the ledgar, ie, those that make it into the media because of spectacular failure. I don't know how many genuine success stories there are. No doubt @JustAGuy would have an interesting perspective on this. And yes, I suspect that the majority of social workers have a shoot first and ask later type approach. And its so much easier for a social worker to make a decision than it is to then undo a decision through court processes.

In many Australian states and territories, legislation about mandatory reporting requirements impose an obligation to report suspicions of abuse or violence, particularly in relation to children. In most jurisdictions, this requirement is limited to people likely to be working with children, eg, teachers, social workers, medical specialists and the like. However, in the jurisdiction where I live, everybody over the age of 18 is mandatorily required to report suspicions of abuse and domestic violence. A ministering visit has recently taken place in our branch which led to the ministering visitor making a mandatory report to a government agency. I can see how this might be problematic for two reasons - I suspect there is a very low percentage of ministering brothers and sisters who are aware of their mandatory reporting obligations, so that could lead to a situation whereby church members carrying out a church responsibility, might be in breach of mandatory reporting requirements by failing to report what they see during their ministering visits. Secondly, there may be some members who, if they knew that a ministering visit could potentially generate a mandatory report, might become hesitant about allowing ministering visits in their home. Does anyone else live in a jurisdiction where everybody over the age of 18 has a requirement to mandatorily report, and if so, does this have any impact on how ministering is done?

Surely you don't imagine that Putin would choose the dreariness of Disney above the delights of Dubbo? Not even Putin would make such a dumb decision. I've heard that Dubbo has a really good fish and chip shop and that you can get a decent pizza there. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Dubbo+NSW+2830/@-32.2520848,148.5952579,6223m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x6b0f71b04ca4913b:0x50609b490442530!8m2!3d-32.2443908!4d148.614418!16zL20vMDIwNzRz?authuser=0&entry=ttu

We all need to have some sort of standards and its up to each of us to decide what our standards are and if or when we will make exceptions.

Australia's Federal Treasurer solved this problem more than 20 years ago. As part of his Budget speech in 2002 (the annual speech he gives in Parliament when he is introduction the Budget for the coming year, he introduced a $3,000 baby bonus for every new born baby and encouraged parents to "have one for mum, one for dad and one for the country." Australian's accepted his invitation and the birth rate went up for a few years. Australia was in the midst of a resources boom at the time and the government had more money than usual. I can't remember how long the baby bonus lasted, maybe only until the 2002 financial crisis. From the Australian Financial Review of 2017 https://www.afr.com/politics/peter-costellos-baby-bonus-generation-grows-up-20170831-gy7wfg When introducing the baby bonus scheme in 2002, treasurer Peter Costello famously encouraged Australians to "have one for mum, one for dad and one for the country". Costello would be happy to know as the baby bonus generation grows up, there will be a record number of Australians coming of age in the next decade. According to Deloitte Access Economics, by 2030 there will be 360,000 Australians turning 18 years old a year – a staggering 20 per cent increase from the current level of 300,000.

A comparison of skeletal remains suggests that previous versions would have been made in an image that at best has some similarities with the image of God.

I think that one potential obstacle the vellum hyphothesis would have to deal with is the fossil record. If previous versions of humanity were of a similar quality to the existing version then I suspect we would have found more evidence of them, either in the form of skeletons or artefacts. Even an event as cataclysmic as the Chicxulub impact left behind plenty of evidence of the life forms that preceded it. A second potential obstacle, and I admit, this sounds a bit strange, is the possible lack of space when the Earth is in its celestial state. If the Earth is our eternal home after this life for all who have ever lived on it, and if the current version of humanity is just one of many versions of all who have lived on Earth, it could become quite crowded if we are all living in the same space at the same time.

51. First Nations People Leave 51.1 First Nations Employees, other than casual Employees, are entitled to paid leave up to a maximum of five (5) working days, and unpaid leave up to an additional ten (10) working days, per calendar year for the purpose of: 51.1.1 bereavement leave (in addition to compassionate leave) for an Immediate Family member (this includes traditional kinship relationships of equivalent significance); 51.1.2 participating in National Aboriginal and Islander Day of Observance Committee (NAIDOC) activities/events during NAIDOC week; 51.1.3 fulfilling ceremonial obligations of a traditional or urban nature, which may include cultural events, initiations, birthing’s and naming’s, funerals and smoking or cleansing, sacred site or land ceremonies or other relevant cultural events; and 51.1.4 other grounds approved by the University. 51.2 First Nations People Leave is not cumulative from year to year.

Yes, often related to funerals, known as "sorry business" but sometimes related to initiations, corroborees and marking of important dates. The duration of these occasions varies considerably.

I work in an area that is significantly affected by workplace shortages. My place of employment signed a new Enterprise Agreement with its staff a few months back. About 62% of staff voted in favour of the new agreement. One of its main features is the expansion of reasons for which paid leave could be granted. Amongst other things the list now includes Menstruation and Menopausal Leave, Gender Affirmation Leave, and First Nations People Leave.

Thanks @Emmanuel Goldstein, this is very interesting, I haven't looked at much apocryphal literature before.

I've often thought that the government's attitude and behaviour towards organised religion in the Soviet Union was an important contributor to the fall of the former Soviet empire. On the other hand, the actions and attitudes of the government of China seems to be even more repressive than that of the former Soviet empire, and so far they don't look like falling - maybe faltering here and there, but not falling.

Today's newspaper has the solution to loose house cats Robotic pets bring joy, return memories, improve interactions with aged care residents https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-08/robotic-pets-bring-joy-and-return-memories-in-aged-care/102440556 The sound of purrs and meows echo around Norma Williamson's room. Despite the noise, Ms Williamson says she feels peaceful. She's holding a robotic kitten on her lap, which reminds her of the cats she raised when she was younger. "You can hold them, you can pat them, you can talk to them, and you can tell them stories and they never ever repeat them," Ms Williamson said. "It never answers you back."

I'm really looking forward to your next week's article

I thought I would share something from my scripture study this morning in the hope that it might be of interest of benefit to someone else. After an absence of more than 2 months I have finally returned to study instead of reading. For behold, when ye shall be brought to see your anakedness[ 1] before God, and also the glory of God, and the bholiness of Jesus Christ, it will kindle a flame of unquenchable fire upon you[2] . [1]Probably this means something like exposure, to be seen as we are, with every subterfuge and all guile and pretense stripped away, without shield, protection or defence. Everything will be open to examination and nothing can be hidden. [2]This is the moment when we will fully realise the difference between what we are and what we could be or could have been. The knowledge of that difference and the realisation that we have missed, forever, that opportunity, that we have lost that potential to become as Jesus Christ, will be the flames of that unquenchable fire. This is the awful, eternal fate that Mormon, motivated by love, is trying to save us from with his pleadings in verse 6.

I've always been a little puzzled about the fact that the Nephites, but not the Jews, were given a definite time, on several occasions, about when Christ would come, but we in the latter-days are given less specific possibilities.

I generally only have a mild interest and small amount of curiousity about woke-related issues, but this one caught my eye and I thought it was worth sharing. It's Rowan Atkinson talking about a planned change to section 5 of the English Public Order Act. I think he makes some good points, eloquently expressed. "For me, the best way to increase society's resistance to insulting or offensive speech is to allow a lot more of it. As with childhood diseases, you can better resist those germs to which you have been exposed." (9 minutes)

I just prefer nonmonochromatic.

Well after a careful analysis the conclusion is obvious - Michael, aka Strider is much cuter than Klaw.

The location of the chapel in my town reminds of a description I once read of Palmyra at the time of Joseph Smith, with a church on each corder of one particular intersection. On our left we have the Lutherans, on our right we have the Anglicans (Australia's version of the Church of England) and directly over the road we have the Catholics. The first temple in Australia, along with all the buildings and offices that made up the Australia Pacific Area Office, and Mission Home and Mission Office are all located on a large block of land that used to be a major administrative office for the Church of England, back before they started calling themselves Anglicans. They moved out and we moved in. Sadly, the Area Office relocated to New Zealand about 5 years ago, so now there are very few people working in those buildings.

I once read an article by a poorly informed newspaper reporter who explained that the way we perform baptisms for the dead is to immerse rolls of microfilm in water. Then all those whose names appear on the microfilm are considered baptized. (Elder Christofferson, April 2021 General Conference) I had been thinking about tossing this laptop into the ocean as a way of vicariously baptising all those whose names appear on this forum but then I had second thoughts about the capacity of the ocean to absorb so many sins.