MormonGator

Co-signed. 

Co-signed. 

I'm with you. 

A shill? Nah, I wouldn't say that. What's really happened is that the Republican party has made it way too easy for CNN to generate headlines, and they weren't able to resist turning towards sensationalism every time republicans did something controversial.
 
I really loathe bipartisanism. It's constantly pressuring you to be either one side or the other with no in-between. Why can't anyone else see that the devil is obviously behind all this?

Some years ago, I wrote a short synopsis of the Book of Mormon for @Sunday21. To my surprise and satisfaction, several people found it useful. I have since thought it might be a useful jumping-off point for others such as my youngest, who will soon be 14 and might appreciate a 10,000-foot view of things. So I copied it out, put it in a Google doc, and edited it some. It is nothing like official, of course, and contains some of my own interpretations, doubtless along with some errors. But for whatever it's worth to anyone, here's a link.
The Book of Mormon made understandable (overview)

So awesome....I mean about having exchange students again.  I love that you are still in touch with the ones from previous years.  I didn't realize you had family over there too.   My co-worker's wife is from China, I'll have to ask about her familly.  I assume they're fine too, I was thinking that she would appreciate being asked.    

Thanks Lit! 

Remember those two exchange students we had? They are from China. (Oh yeah, we're hosting again this year!) We've contacted them and right now, they are fine. My BIL is also in China now and he's fine too. So Melissa and I legitimately have loved ones over there, but we're not being paranoid. 

Preparation is a fine thing, we doit for hurricanes. Panic*, though, doesn't help anyone. 

*No one is panicking here, but give it two weeks and you'll see people on other social media sites declaring that the end is near. 

Here is what is going to happen: 

People will begin to hear about this shortly. It's making the rounds. 
People will believe "fake news" about it's spread, mortality rate, etc. 
People will panic and claim the end is near. You know because reading The Stand, The Left Behind series & The Hot Zone makes everyone an expert in all diseases and end time prophecy. 
When nothing happens and the disease doesn't destroy 99.9% of us, people will go back to their daily lives and go back to ignoring science, so they can get ready to panic about the next big outbreak. 

 

Curious as to what BYU's boundaries are.  Yes, keeping the school insulated from criticism is important so that families can be provided for and get jobs...but, so far BYU has been surprisingly quite accommodating when people boycott the university.  None of this should be taken as a criticism, as I believe Christ leads the church and he'll intervene to prevent a frustrated purpose, and BYU was clearly meant to be, my thoughts aren't His, I get it.  I'm just thinking aloud.  I keep thinking now's our chance to...um I guess not.  Is this indefinite, or does it reach a point where we do our own thing?  I'm not trying to hijack the conversation, but if you can fit it in, do any of you personally believe that BYU has limits, or that it's existence is good enough and that we'll see a very different BYU in the next 10-15 years that keeps up with whatever beliefs the mainstream absorbs?  I'm totally fine if Christ wants to turn BYU into an accommodating school to attract diversity to the church, but I'm wondering if it's worth encouraging my child to attend.  Not because of this reason, although it has been part of a long pattern, see, I went over a decade ago and it wasn't what I was expecting in a faith-based school and didn't pay off for my husband (who also went) financially.  Once again, no one has to answer that, it would be nice, but I'm not in charge of this thread.  
Jane Doe, you have a good point.  The ACLU wanted to ban single people from becoming homecoming/prom king/queen, and require that it be couples that were dating (they said they had same-sex couples in mind)--I don't think that lawsuit made it far.  The fact that people are even thinking of male-female match-ups that likely have no romantic interest in each other (my married ballroom relatives do it all the time) being universally portrayed as something worth suing or protesting over shows some serious boredom on the part of some people who want to be a part of something important but are easily confused on what counts.
LiterateParakeet, you're right, I don't think there will be many homosexuals choosing this option, unless they are really newly infatuated with each other and can't dance with anyone else.  There's going to be a huge learning curve for that man who has recently decided to take up the opposite role unless he's been identifying with that since the start.  Once again people put up fusses (which is why BYU did this in the first place) as a matter of principle.
TheFolkProphet--I think some people post in hopes of getting their views into church culture, but a lot of people just need to talk--this is an interesting sign of the times.  I'm glad for an opportunity to process this as it feels crazy and I'm glad I'm not alone as I probably couldn't say that on many websites.  I really think choosing to dance as a same-sex couple is rare and you're more likely to see trans couples out there, which is saying a lot because they are also really rare.  Has anyone seen these in ballroom or are they just a theoretical possibility?  Perhaps this was behind BYU's thinking?  From my understanding they only host standard at BYU due to immodest moves and clothing from Latin, but that was years ago--has it changed?  Latin is where all the "why-are-single-latter-day-saints-even-engaging-in-this-art-is-not-an-excuse" stuff is--they are literally out there in pseudo lingerie busting out seductive moves.  Standard's much more wholesome, but it can be a little too close if you want an A in the class.  If parents stop sending their pre-teens to Latin, BYU will follow.  If college age students decide to find spouses in more intellectual ways than physical contact, BYU will follow.  I'm not saying get rid of dances, church youth are good at choosing to have space between them, just ones that REQUIRE being close for winning's sake.

If BYU wants to continue to host this event as they have done for years, they have to abide by the rules of the Dance Council.  Whether they may agree with it or not.

Just pointing out the obvious: your dance partner and who you're with romantically are usually different people.  By default, most people are dancing with folks they are not romatically involved with and likely not even attracted to.  

Love it or hate it, it's news.  I figure it's worth people at least knowing about, if not talking about.   As usual, the Deseret News and Tribune have different takes on the same story.
DesNews article
Tribune article
I do know that BYU is quite well known across the nation for their Ballroom Dancing competitions - it's absolutely not an LDS-only sort of event.
 

My son will be at the competition with his team...his 3rd or 4th (can't recall) year to go. So this news felt more personal to me.  I wish I could go watch the competition, I love team ballroom dance. When I get home I'll post my favorite dance video. 

No it doesn't. You obviously are having some trouble grasping that an 8 year old can't legally work. Or pay taxes. Or be drafted. Or enter into a marriage. Or a land deal. And that an 18 year old can. Because an 18 year old can be legally accountable, they have a right to choose how the system works.  

All taxation is theft, but demanding someone pay into the system without giving them a vote is particularly disturbing. Thank God it'll never change. The American revolution was partially fought over that. 

Women, homosexuals and African Americans can vote too. Sorry.  

I hear you budget, and I'm worried too. 

However, McGovern thought that the youth vote would push him into office overwhelmingly, especially because the voting age was just lowered to 18. Half of them voted for Nixon, and McGovern was crushed. Polls said that 65-70% of the youth vote would vote for him. So while I'm concerned about socialisms popularity, I'm not overly pessimistic. 

Agree. Education will only take you so far. You need experience. 

Correct. Let's not forget, in todays democratic party, Bill Clinton is a moderate.

With all due respect @Mores, your numbers are way off.

You really think 8 out of 10 men cheat? No. Not even close. 
https://ifstudies.org/blog/who-cheats-more-the-demographics-of-cheating-in-america

And oh yeah, women cheat too. 

Most don't, so don't worry about it. 

But you can enter into a legal contract at age 18, so you should be allowed to vote as well. And, even if you don't think they should be allowed to vote, they are allowed to vote, so you need to be the one who adapts. 

Well, I guess all those young people who are pro-life, pro-gun, anti tax...just stay home until you are older. We don't need your vote anyway. In fact, they shouldn't really be involved in politics at all. Until they are older. 

Fight on my friend. 

No it doesn't. You obviously are having some trouble grasping that an 8 year old can't legally work. Or pay taxes. Or be drafted. Or enter into a marriage. Or a land deal. And that an 18 year old can. Because an 18 year old can be legally accountable, they have a right to choose how the system works.  

All taxation is theft, but demanding someone pay into the system without giving them a vote is particularly disturbing. Thank God it'll never change. The American revolution was partially fought over that. 

Well, I guess all those young people who are pro-life, pro-gun, anti tax...just stay home until you are older. We don't need your vote anyway. In fact, they shouldn't really be involved in politics at all. Until they are older. 

Fight on my friend. 

No it doesn't. You obviously are having some trouble grasping that an 8 year old can't legally work. Or pay taxes. Or be drafted. Or enter into a marriage. Or a land deal. And that an 18 year old can. Because an 18 year old can be legally accountable, they have a right to choose how the system works.  

All taxation is theft, but demanding someone pay into the system without giving them a vote is particularly disturbing. Thank God it'll never change. The American revolution was partially fought over that. 

That doesn't look like the guy from Perfect Strangers.....