askandanswer

I'm all in favour of a guarenteed income - for me. Two incomes would be even better. Not so sure if I'm in favour of this for the other guy. 

The issue is not whether you would choose to work or not work.  Yes, most everybody has a desire to work.
The issue is WHAT you choose to work on.  A society does not function just by people choosing whatever they want to work on.  Rather, a society functions by people doing the work that is needed by society.
Yes, most everybody would choose to work.  Now, how many people will choose to work collecting garbage?
This is the paradigm of a socialist society - the government assigns the work.
The Canadian basic income paradigm is not that.  Mixing socialism with capitalism does nothing but move money from the productive to the non-productive.  I choose the word productive instead of work for a reason.  Working on cutting grass is fine and good but is not productive if there is no need to cut grass.

That was specifically for you Zil 

Yesterday, in church, I had what I think is a good idea on how to prepare talks. I’m putting it up here on lds.net partly in the hope that it might be of interest to someone else and also in the hope of getting some feedback and comments that might make it even better. I was going to present this in an attached Word document, but then I remembered that some people access this site through their phones and I wasn’t sure if everyone can access a Word document through their phone so I’ve set it out as two lists. The first list could be headed Objectives, and the second list could be called Tools. The objectives list is a list of the objectives or outcomes that the person giving a talk might want to achieve. The tools list is list of the tools or techniques that the person giving the talk might want to use to accomplish their objectives. The basic idea is, when you are assigned to give a talk, look at the objectives list and decide what you want to accomplish with your talk, and then look at the tools list and decide what tools you want to use to accomplish your objective. This process can be applied to each of the various parts of the talk – the introduction, each of the main points, and the conclusion. I suspect that this is what most of us do subconsciously, but I thought it might be helpful to make it more explicit.
Prison Chaplain, as one who frequently prepares and delivers sermons, II am particularly hopeful that you might feel inclined to provide some feedback.

 
Objectives 
Motivate

Teach

Inspire

Call to repent

Change/influence attitudes, beliefs or actions

Comfort

Counsel

Rebuke

Call to repent

Reinforce an idea or point (for conclusion of talk)

Build interest and attract the attention of the congregation (for introduction of talk)


 
Tools Personal anecdotes and experiences

Scriptures

Talks from conference or other sources

Expressing opinions, personal viewpoints and conclusions

Giving explanations

Asking rhetorical questions

Giving challenges and invitations to act

Reading from Bible Dictionary or Encyclopaedia of Mormonism

Tell a joke or funny story

Share/express feelings

That was specifically for you Zil 

My suggestion:  Take out tell a joke and funny stories.  If you like, you can change personal experiences and anecdotes to add - Anecdotes can be funny stories but need to remain reverent.  There's a big difference between trying to make people laugh and trying to maintain interest.  Trying to make people laugh is fine for Sunday School but not for Sacrament Meeting.  President Monson has this style of telling personal stories that can bring a chuckle or two, but he always maintains reverence.
 

"Call to repent" - twice, yikes
It is interesting how different folks do things, thanks for sharing this. In my earlier years I can recall doing thought processes like this. Now in life, when assigned a topic, I think about that topic, what it means to me personally and how I've been affected by it. I wait and ponder, wait and ponder and I wait and ponder some more. Without fail, inspiration will come to me and give me the direction I should go. Once that comes, regardless of what it is, I follow it, believing it to be the direction the Spirit wants me to go in rather than the direction my intellect would have me go. I never worry about giving a talk and always have 100% confidence that if I follow that prompting it will be the "right" message versus "my" message. 

Yesterday, in church, I had what I think is a good idea on how to prepare talks. I’m putting it up here on lds.net partly in the hope that it might be of interest to someone else and also in the hope of getting some feedback and comments that might make it even better. I was going to present this in an attached Word document, but then I remembered that some people access this site through their phones and I wasn’t sure if everyone can access a Word document through their phone so I’ve set it out as two lists. The first list could be headed Objectives, and the second list could be called Tools. The objectives list is a list of the objectives or outcomes that the person giving a talk might want to achieve. The tools list is list of the tools or techniques that the person giving the talk might want to use to accomplish their objectives. The basic idea is, when you are assigned to give a talk, look at the objectives list and decide what you want to accomplish with your talk, and then look at the tools list and decide what tools you want to use to accomplish your objective. This process can be applied to each of the various parts of the talk – the introduction, each of the main points, and the conclusion. I suspect that this is what most of us do subconsciously, but I thought it might be helpful to make it more explicit.
Prison Chaplain, as one who frequently prepares and delivers sermons, II am particularly hopeful that you might feel inclined to provide some feedback.

 
Objectives 
Motivate

Teach

Inspire

Call to repent

Change/influence attitudes, beliefs or actions

Comfort

Counsel

Rebuke

Call to repent

Reinforce an idea or point (for conclusion of talk)

Build interest and attract the attention of the congregation (for introduction of talk)


 
Tools Personal anecdotes and experiences

Scriptures

Talks from conference or other sources

Expressing opinions, personal viewpoints and conclusions

Giving explanations

Asking rhetorical questions

Giving challenges and invitations to act

Reading from Bible Dictionary or Encyclopaedia of Mormonism

Tell a joke or funny story

Share/express feelings

Yesterday, in church, I had what I think is a good idea on how to prepare talks. I’m putting it up here on lds.net partly in the hope that it might be of interest to someone else and also in the hope of getting some feedback and comments that might make it even better. I was going to present this in an attached Word document, but then I remembered that some people access this site through their phones and I wasn’t sure if everyone can access a Word document through their phone so I’ve set it out as two lists. The first list could be headed Objectives, and the second list could be called Tools. The objectives list is a list of the objectives or outcomes that the person giving a talk might want to achieve. The tools list is list of the tools or techniques that the person giving the talk might want to use to accomplish their objectives. The basic idea is, when you are assigned to give a talk, look at the objectives list and decide what you want to accomplish with your talk, and then look at the tools list and decide what tools you want to use to accomplish your objective. This process can be applied to each of the various parts of the talk – the introduction, each of the main points, and the conclusion. I suspect that this is what most of us do subconsciously, but I thought it might be helpful to make it more explicit.
Prison Chaplain, as one who frequently prepares and delivers sermons, II am particularly hopeful that you might feel inclined to provide some feedback.

 
Objectives 
Motivate

Teach

Inspire

Call to repent

Change/influence attitudes, beliefs or actions

Comfort

Counsel

Rebuke

Call to repent

Reinforce an idea or point (for conclusion of talk)

Build interest and attract the attention of the congregation (for introduction of talk)


 
Tools Personal anecdotes and experiences

Scriptures

Talks from conference or other sources

Expressing opinions, personal viewpoints and conclusions

Giving explanations

Asking rhetorical questions

Giving challenges and invitations to act

Reading from Bible Dictionary or Encyclopaedia of Mormonism

Tell a joke or funny story

Share/express feelings

Meanwhile, my neighbors now hate me.  I finally moved the Klipsch 5.1 speakers into this room where my laptop is, and hooked them up (with an adapter that takes their poor 2-speaker output and pumps it through the Klipsch speakers), and holy cow, Batman, the walls are vibrating.

I'm not sure what you mean by too many desserts. Can there be such a thing? The very idea of too many desserts is something that I'd like to seriously test out to see if it is really possible. 

I'm not sure what you mean by too many desserts. Can there be such a thing? The very idea of too many desserts is something that I'd like to seriously test out to see if it is really possible. 

Here's an Evangelical's positive take on LDS Church growth, and six reasons why it might be so:  http://www.patheos.com/blogs/frenchrevolution/2012/07/10/six-reasons-why-mormons-are-beating-baptists-in-church-growth/
Here are the 6 reasons in a nutshell:  1.  LDS have bigger families.   2.  LDS have lower divorce rates.  3. LDS evangelize.  4. LDS are orthodox (members know and believe what the church teaches).  5. LDS leaders ask a lot of their members.  6.  LDS are less selfish.
 

Mountains are not funny - they're hill areas

When the wife of Boaz died, he became Ruth-less

Here goes another @MormonGator thread derail...

Viscous lyres!

Oh, aren't you?
Tell the truth, Gator Man, or I'll get LadyGator's version.

Now who here would like to do the updating?
(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 67:5 - 9)
 Your eyes have been upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and his language you have known, and his imperfections you have known; and you have sought in your hearts knowledge that you might express beyond his language; this you also know.
6  Now, seek ye out of the Book of Commandments, even the least that is among them, and appoint him that is the most wise among you;
7  Or, if there be any among you that shall make one like unto it, then ye are justified in saying that ye do not know that they are true;
8  But if ye cannot make one like unto it, ye are under condemnation if ye do not bear record that they are true.
9  For ye know that there is no unrighteousness in them, and that which is righteous cometh down from above, from the Father of lights.
 

Mountains are not funny - they're hill areas

True. In any field that doesn't completely have all the information (but enough information) there will be people with their own ideas, their own thoughts, pertaining to aspects that have not yet been fully revealed.
We disagree with your first sentence in the above quoted statement. The doctrine is plenty enough for us to agree upon; however, in order to agree each of us must truly be desiring truth, without itching ears, or doctrines that conform to our views. This leads to your second statement allowing for -- major contradictions.
On first note, the dichotomy created with this sentence isn't working. Either we receive more knowledge that is different and more perfect (emphasis on different), or we receive more that adds to what we have now and stay in confusion. We are able to add to what we have now and cease confusion, it doesn't need to be "different" although I would love a "more perfect" knowledge of the truth.
According to records, we have the following statement from Joseph Smith, "Paul ascended into the third heavens, and he could understand the three principal rounds of Jacob’s ladder—the telestial, the terrestrial, and the celestial glories or kingdoms, where Paul saw and heard things which were not lawful for him to utter.  I could explain a hundred fold more than I ever have of the glories of the kingdoms manifested to me in the vision, were I permitted, and were the people prepared to receive them. The Lord deals with this people as a tender parent with a child, communicating light and intelligence and the knowledge of his ways as they can bear it." (emphasis added)
This speaks to the Church collectively. There are some individuals who may have been able to bear an increased understanding of the eternities; unfortunately, there are individuals who are unable to bear it. Individually though we can learn all the principles and doctrines of the eternities if we are more concerned with truth -- what is.
Example where you see doctrine becoming more inline with mainstream Christianity from the Bible Dictionary and the guide to scriptures please. This way I can understand better where you are coming from.
Yes, small changes are able to create major shifts in theory and principle as more is revealed. The change will occur the same way it has occurred since Adam. The Lord will reveal his secrets to his servants the prophets who then will reveal them to the Church collectively. This does not mean only prophets are able to learn unrevealed principles and doctrines of truth. I believe I have already learned truths that have not yet been revealed; however, you will never read or hear me share them. The Lord has given a proper method of revealing new truths, and once those truths are revealed through his prophets I will begin to share them also.
Collective membership in relation to Church leadership and revealed doctrine creates an interesting symbiotic relationship in the Church. There are important times where the collective body will provide opportunities for the Church leadership to make decisions. This, I believe, is in part why the Church currently holds general assemblies with local leaders. This provides an opportunity for Church leadership to hear and see for themselves collectively what is happening in given areas where the Church is located and then make educated decisions, accompanied by prayer (revelation) to act. Does Church leadership require a collective understanding from individual church members to reveal new doctrine? No. Moses did not require individual church members to bring about the Law of Moses. Joseph Smith did not require individual church members increase in understanding of Zion to reveal aspects of Zion. The Lord was only necessary. The real question, are our prophets and apostles guided by Jesus Christ. If so, then that is what is most important, and my obedience to revealed principles is the first law of the heavens.
The last inquiry appears to create a false dichotomy. We have a right to look for problems to make changes, or we are blind sheep incapable of learning. This, to me, is clearly false. The extreme of the first position leads to excommunication, as people then begin to think they can tell the Church what to do collectively ignoring stewardship. The Old Testament, the New Testament, the Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants offers evidence of people who looked for problems and it never turned out well for them (e.g. an easy example is Laman and Lemuel who constantly looked at the problems with Lehi and Nephi, and we know who the Lord supported). We have modern day examples of excommunicated members who have esteemed their "right" to be more than what it is (e.g. like the member who is trying to force "second baptisms" in the Church because he disagrees with how stakes handle baptisms).
We have a right to be instructed by God's spirit of truth. We have a right to increase scripture study and to follow the prophets for our prophet and learning. We have "rights" within our stewardship to act according to principle, doctrines, and truths. Problems begin to occur when people begin to step beyond their stewardship in the Church. Oliver Cowdery stepped beyond his stewardship and it didn't end well for him, until he repented, but by that time he had lost a wonderful opportunity that was given to another.

Man who run in front of bus get tired. Man who run behind bus get exhausted.

Now who here would like to do the updating?
(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 67:5 - 9)
 Your eyes have been upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and his language you have known, and his imperfections you have known; and you have sought in your hearts knowledge that you might express beyond his language; this you also know.
6  Now, seek ye out of the Book of Commandments, even the least that is among them, and appoint him that is the most wise among you;
7  Or, if there be any among you that shall make one like unto it, then ye are justified in saying that ye do not know that they are true;
8  But if ye cannot make one like unto it, ye are under condemnation if ye do not bear record that they are true.
9  For ye know that there is no unrighteousness in them, and that which is righteous cometh down from above, from the Father of lights.
 

Now who here would like to do the updating?
(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 67:5 - 9)
 Your eyes have been upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and his language you have known, and his imperfections you have known; and you have sought in your hearts knowledge that you might express beyond his language; this you also know.
6  Now, seek ye out of the Book of Commandments, even the least that is among them, and appoint him that is the most wise among you;
7  Or, if there be any among you that shall make one like unto it, then ye are justified in saying that ye do not know that they are true;
8  But if ye cannot make one like unto it, ye are under condemnation if ye do not bear record that they are true.
9  For ye know that there is no unrighteousness in them, and that which is righteous cometh down from above, from the Father of lights.
 

I submit it is already there.
10 And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man
11 Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.
Cannabis is an annual, dioecious, flowering herb.
Of course, you'll have to follow the Article of Faith that requires us to be subjects to the law of the land.  So, most of the issue with cannabis is not with the Church but with the DEA.
But, having said that, smart choices on the matter as a people who are to govern ourselves point to the mind-altering effects of whole marijuana which caused it to be on the DEA's prohibited list in the first place.  Therefore, the Church gave advicement to the people of Utah to oppose SB 73.  But, the Church made no such advicement against SB 89.