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Saul, I'm glad you enjoyed them.I found them very good. I have read The 5,000 Year Leap. I actually have the related course on DVD, and use it in our homeschooling of our children.

Intra, it maybe be my lack of sleep, but I am not sure I am following you completely. However, it certainly sounds as though a work is being done in you. And that is worthy of praise.

Do Not Steal. An interesting video from Dennis Prager on this. "We cannot take ANYTHING that belongs to another person". Property... dignity... freedom... anything.

Wasn't sure this would belong in the LDS Gospel Discussion since it is not LDS specific. I am assuming, but not sure, that, that particular form is for LDS specific topics. So, I've placed it here. There are two public thinkers who I absolutely adore, and who I have learned much from over many years. That is not to say I always find myself in agreement. One is Christan apologist Ravi Zacharias. The other, and who's content I link to today, is Dennis Prager. Dennis has a series out on his Prager University site (and via Youtube) on the Ten Commandments. Just thought I'd share, as I have enjoyed them (especially video #1 and video #5). And ask from those who might view them of their thoughts. I'll link to video 1 and 3, and the course site itself. Video #1 Introduction. Video # 2 Honor Your Mother and father. The whole of the video course/series. It may ask you to sign up if you use the last link. But it is optional, and you can just close that window and move along without singing up.

Theft is sin. Sin is always serious.

Thank you Anatess. I'll have to chew on it for a while I think. It is very difficult for me to think of something more disgusting, and truly evil, than the practice of abortion. However, I will consider what you have written. I try not to see myself as being smarter than God. That is, just because I *feel* a particular way... I don't want to walk about thinking that my feelings are confirmation that I am right in my conclusions on something and that my cup runneth over with wisdom and understanding.

If correct on point 2, I find that very disappointing. The health/life of the mother I understand. Rape/incest... I do not understand. You do not punish the child (with a punishment of death no less), because the father of the child was a criminal. Politically, I am a Libertarian. I believe in, promote and fight for individual rights. How great the violation of individual rights it is to end the life of a child in the womb. It matters little that pro-abortionist may not see abortion as killing child. What matters is that it actually IS the killing of a child. In honesty, it is not the killing a child... it is murder. I do believe abortion should be a crime. However, it is not. And even if it were, cruelty and hatred directed towards those who have an abortion, is (in my opinion) a degree of evil itself. I do use strong words often when speaking on, or about abortion. I use those words no matter if I am talking to a pro-life individual, or a pro-abortion individual. But that does not mean these conversations cannot be had in a loving manner. Abortion is the greatest horror America has ever engaged in. If ever there were something that cried out for national repentance, abortion in America is that thing.

No, whites do not need to talk less and listen more. What needs to happen is that people pay attention. If you look on the ground at Ferguson, and other areas where these "protests" are going on, you will see that there are organizations behind it. Progressive organizations. As an example, one of the organizing bodies of many of the protests around the nation is the Progressive Labor Party. They are not the only group on the ground, but they are one of the major influences on the ground. This is far less about race, and far more about agenda. If you know who Saul Alinsky was, then you know what is happening, and you recognize the tactics. This is part of a very real attack on America as a nation and a culture. It has been underway for decades. It becomes more intense as they come closer to their goal. If you watch what has been said on the ground, beyond the childish chants, you would have heard many calls to federalize the police. That is what Ferguson and NYC are in part about. Though, there are many more agendas at work as well. Think the police are out of control now? Imagine a federalized police. Herding the folks on the street is a simple matter. To those who are herding them, the folks are nothing more than useful idiots. The creation of useful idiots has been happening for generations now. They [the useful idiots] may not yet be fully ripe and ready for picking. But by the time my children are grown, they likely will be ready for picking. This is one of the reasons it is so important to raise your children as Godly people, and as people of character. America and the world will some day need such people, like they have never been needed before.

Thx all for the thoughtful advice. As to my wife, I've told her that I am not satisfied with the way I left the church. As I reflect, I don't think I sought answers to my questions/issues at the time. I made assumptions instead. Now I am seeking the answers to those questions/issues. And, if they satisfy, then I will be baptized again. For work, it is simply that I know the owner would not want an LDS member in his employ. Not because he believes the LDS to be bad persons, but instead he believes the LDS church is outside of Christianity. I do not believe he would fire me. I would do it more for my own peace actually. Not because of any differences in belief, we already have that to some degree (we already sometimes "debate" some of the programs he airs). But because I know it would be a situation he would not be personally comfortable with. And I do not wish to be the source of that kind of discomfort.

Hello all, pleased to find this website. I was born and raised LDS. The whole of my family, on my dads side, has been LDS since 1860. In 1860 two family members were baptized in Sweden. Much of the family in Sweden converted, and all converted family members eventually moved to America. At any rate, in 1995 I asked for my name to be removed from membership. I honestly believed at the time that this was God lead, and that LDS theology was in fact, false theology. Here we are all of these years later, and I am no longer nearly as confident in that determination of false theology as I was at that time. Not nearly as confident, but still have some issues to resolve, to answer one way or another, in regard to some LDS theology. I have been attending LDS church services for the past 1.5 months. It did feel like home, and was very familiar, despite my having not attended for so long and having instead attended other churches (one for ten years) during that time. I have spoken to the Bishop in the Ward I have been attending, and asked him to please check my membership status. Now, I knew perfectly well that I was no longer a member, as I received a letter of confirmation in 1995. Despite that, I was slightly stunned when the Bishop approached me in church and used the words, "you do not exist". I had fully expected him to tell me I was not a member, I did not expect that all record of me would be 100% scrubbed. It was a bit sobering. I realized long ago that were I to ever wish to return, I would have to be re-baptized. What I had not considered, is that those various blessing I had received through my life, some of which my grandpa had given, were now scrubbed as well. I have a few struggles as I weigh this consideration of returning to the LDS church, as a believing member. One, I have to actually believe of course. I would never consider being baptized again if I did not believe the LDS faith. But as mentioned, there are a couple of points of LDS theology that I am still weighing. Two, I need to be sure I am not "believing" out of a sense of family guilt. When I left the church, I struggled for many years with the idea that I had betrayed family that came before me. Some of who died on their way from Sweden to America. Others who died between New York, Missouri, and Utah. Others who lived their whole lives in the gospel of Christ as taught by the LDS church. In particular, feelings of having betrayed my grandpa. Also, thoughts of betraying the family who choose me to be a member of the family. When born, I was scheduled to be placed in an orphanage. My dad, without the knowledge of my mom, adopted me when I was 7 days old. Mom was not all that happy when dad came home with a baby she knew nothing about. Third, my wife. Her objection to the LDS church was what began this now almost 20 year journey. Her objections have not changed. She is unpleased with my having gone to church services in the past month and a half. Fourth, I work for a fairly large Christian radio broadcast company. They do consider the LDS church to be a cult that stands outside of Christianity. I have a great deal of respect for the owner (it is owned by a single person), even where I may not agree with some of his theology. Knowing his thoughts on the LDS church, I would, out of respect for he and his beliefs, and to (in my mind) maintain my integrity, have to quit my job. I've worked there since 1999. I've got six fat little kiddies to cloth and feed... A good job is important. At any rate, that is my story, squished down into a compact size. I will be browsing through threads of interest as time allows. I am wondering if any here have had their names removed from membership, and then later returned to be baptized again, and what their experiences might have been like. Not that I expect that would have much influence on me. I'm just curious as I expect such a thing is not all that common. I would think most folks who leave and later return, simply stop attending church, and then later return to attending. Also perhaps worth mentioning, while not the cause of my reconsidering the LDS church, but surely an accelerator to that consideration, is the passing of my dad in January of this year and the conversations that followed with cousins and other family members. All of who are active LDS. Thx for reading my odd little story.

Bini, I find your post interesting, as approximately 20 years ago I had my name removed after having been born a raised in a family that has been LDS since the church was very young. I have been in heavy prayer, study, and consideration for some time now, concerning returning. I left with some sorrow, much guilt (betrayal of family), but was sure I was doing the right thing. I now realize, with sorrow, that my baptisim, blessings, etc, are no more. The realization of this (though of course I always knew it... I had just never addressed it in anyway) is something I found slightly difficult to deal with. Just make sure you are very certain in what you are doing. It may bring painful regret in the future.