hagoth

How about the Constitution Party?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_Party_%28United_States%29
http://www.constitutionparty.com/
 
I had a neighbor in Salt Lake County in Utah who ran for office with that party.

I think it would be more appropriate to have the chairpeople talk to the bishop, explain the situation, and ask for more people to be called to the committee. If he chooses to release some of the others, that's his call.

Well, what sort of rigorous way would you propose, Vort?  If you poll people going to rape crisis centers, would that work for you?  How about if you track ER cases where rape kits are administered?  Or if there was a way to quantify the sorts of confessions and pleas for help bishops encounter from perpetrators and victims?  
 
I can see calling folks on claiming certain percentages when those percentages are not obtained through sufficiently scientific rigor.  However, in absence of that, we're left to do the best we can with what we have.  
 
After 18 years married to a lady who absorbs anecdotes from every walk of life and all sides of all aisles, yeah, the anecdotes support the notion that if you put 1000 people guilty of perpetrating sexual assault in a room, almost all of them will be male.  Go ask the next rape crisis center worker, ER nurse, or bishop what they think.  Go ask the next fifty.
 
That doesn't mean you and I have higher odds of abusing someone than our wives.  It does mean that if someone is going to be sexually abused by either you or your wife, the odds are overwhelmingly favoring you as the abuser.  
 
My opinion: In a world with limited resources, 2 deep leadership focused on men and not women is a valid way to mitigate the risk of sexual assault at church.  If we were in a world with limitless resources, we'd not only have to worry about the women abusers, but also minors who are abusers, and we would never allow anyone, of any gender or age range, to be alone with anyone. 

Lead Kindly Light, perhaps? I love that hymn and find it very soothing, even when I don't want to be soothed. 
 
Are you looking for any instrumental song ideas, or just ones to be sung?
 
So sorry for your loss, I hope the plans come together smoothly and that her family are able to find the comfort they so need.

Methinks your understanding of faith may be just a wee bit shallow, and in many ways, entirely inaccurate. Faith is not being able to say "I have a sure knowledge" in any way, shape or form.

A relevant thought from someone who has been lovingly serving orphans and orphanages for some time...
 
"I have been working on renewing my mind to expose the false teachings and false beliefs I have held on to for some many years from sitting under prosperity gospel teaching and being so indoctrinated to the world's system and the world's way of thinking.
The truth resounding in me this morning is this: I was not created so that God could bless and serve me! It is NOT God's job to pour out blessings upon ME. It is MY JOB to bless and serve GOD! God is good. Always. No matter what happens or doesn't happen in life, He is GOD and He is good.
We must stop blaming and questioning the goodness of God!!! Life as it is includes sickness and death. We live in human bodies and our human bodies will battle human illnesses.

Many of the bad things that happen in our life happen as a result of our own choices or the choices that were made for us by others who were not seeking God.
The contemporary gospel has been twisted to make us believe that God is our sugar daddy. How far we have fallen from the true gospel. Jesus didn't come as a wealthy prince, He came as a lowly servant. He loved, He served, He was lonely and rejected and scorned, He suffered. But He NEVER questioned the goodness of His Father! Why? Because He knew His Father intimately. He knew His Father's will is always good and always right.
I thank God for my pastor who is helping to teach me the truth and sort these things out.
Teach me Your ways oh Lord."
(Erin Hunlock)

Yes! So is driving a car instead of a horse and cart...or better yet...walking everywhere!! Lazy, stinking motorists!
 

How do we know that no one has read part of some of these records? The implication of the quote is that some alive would read them...not that they would become part of LDS canon while those hearing his voice were still alive.
 
That's not my take on the matter. But how do we know?

So, really weird thing has been happening to me lately.  I know nothing about the Mormon faith and have never really studied it but somehow a month ago I started feeling a huge pull towards the LDS church and I cannot explain it.  The pull was so much that I decided to go to Salt Lake City for a week to really try and put everything into perspective. Being around that community and the temple made me feel some sort of convictions that I still am not sure I fully understand.  I just got back home and have just been reading non stop about the Mormon faith....
 
Keep in mind I am 28 years old and not a religious person, have never even considered LDS in any way and now all the sudden I feel as if I am being called to be a voice for this faith.  I have never even attended a Mormon church service but am suddenly desperate to talk and learn with you people and become a part of this church, I just don't really know where to go from here but if anyone want's to talk and share more of their faith with me please do, I wan't to know everything 

Amen.
 
Here is one of the few times I don't agree with you.
 
Was it foolishness for Solomon to ask for wisdom? https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/1-kgs/3.9-12?lang=eng#8
...God was pleased with the request, and granted it.
 
Did Paul, Joseph, and Moroni reveal foolishness?
 
1 Corinthians 14 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
 
D&C 46 But ye are commanded in all things to aask of God, who giveth liberally; and that which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye should do in all bholiness of heart, walking uprightly before me...and that ye may not be deceived aseek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given;
 
Moroni 7: Wherefore, my beloved brethren, apray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true bfollowers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall cbe like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be dpurified even as he is pure. Amen.
 
Based on the above, I respectfully submit that we are invited to actively seek the gifts God wishes to grant each, rather than passively waiting for them to appear.

Amen.
 
Here is one of the few times I don't agree with you.
 
Was it foolishness for Solomon to ask for wisdom? https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/1-kgs/3.9-12?lang=eng#8
...God was pleased with the request, and granted it.
 
Did Paul, Joseph, and Moroni reveal foolishness?
 
1 Corinthians 14 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
 
D&C 46 But ye are commanded in all things to aask of God, who giveth liberally; and that which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye should do in all bholiness of heart, walking uprightly before me...and that ye may not be deceived aseek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given;
 
Moroni 7: Wherefore, my beloved brethren, apray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true bfollowers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall cbe like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be dpurified even as he is pure. Amen.
 
Based on the above, I respectfully submit that we are invited to actively seek the gifts God wishes to grant each, rather than passively waiting for them to appear.

Way to cut off the conditional part of my sentence and thereby develop an excellent straw man. Yay for you. Boo for me.

It just boggles my mind that some people think that the church is completely clueless and unaware when it comes to garment design.  And so insensitive and evil because they never think to ask real people for input.
 
SMH.
 
Just in the three years I have been wearing garments, there have been a number of changes in design and fabrics.  But, nooooo, there was never any thought given to design or feedback welcomed.
 
SMH again.

Why are we here?  God's Army
 
One of my favorite scenes from God's Army, sums it up just right!

Amen.
 
Here is one of the few times I don't agree with you.
 
Was it foolishness for Solomon to ask for wisdom? https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/1-kgs/3.9-12?lang=eng#8
...God was pleased with the request, and granted it.
 
Did Paul, Joseph, and Moroni reveal foolishness?
 
1 Corinthians 14 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
 
D&C 46 But ye are commanded in all things to aask of God, who giveth liberally; and that which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye should do in all bholiness of heart, walking uprightly before me...and that ye may not be deceived aseek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given;
 
Moroni 7: Wherefore, my beloved brethren, apray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true bfollowers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall cbe like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be dpurified even as he is pure. Amen.
 
Based on the above, I respectfully submit that we are invited to actively seek the gifts God wishes to grant each, rather than passively waiting for them to appear.

Don't be offended neighbor. I mentioned it 11 days ago. :)
 
Understood completely. But gotta unstring the bow every now and then.

Here's a fun game to play annually:
 

hagoth, I am not upset at you, and I apologize if I responded a bit sharply. I think the context of my response has been lost. BurningSword made a comment (which appears now to have been redacted, either by him or by the admins) that blacks were the seed of Cain -- a common teaching in generations past. BurningSword further maintained that this "truth" had been "revealed" to him by the Holy Ghost. I found this statement as inappropriate and false as the statement made in another thread that the whole Priesthood ban was merely racism on the part of President Young and others. If you read my comment to BurningSword with that context in mind, you will perhaps see what I was driving at, which was not to put an end to all thought and discussion.

Yes.
 
Then you have my sincere apology. I genuinely hope you can accept that.
 
? As to what we have been taught...
Joseph actually provided additional guidance that offers helpful insight into the passage in question. And that guidance hasn't yet been introduced to the thread. His relative, Hyrum M. Smith, who was also a sustained prophet, seer, and revelator also provided guidance that speaks considerably to same matter.
 
The few general comments I have made regarding the Two Witnesses are based in large part on what the two LDS gentlemen mentioned above offered us generations ago. Is such input unwelcome here? And/or is such input a false spirit of prophecy?
 
Deal. The accusation is certainly withdrawn, and I hope the apology offered above is accepted.

Yes.
 
Then you have my sincere apology. I genuinely hope you can accept that.
 
? As to what we have been taught...
Joseph actually provided additional guidance that offers helpful insight into the passage in question. And that guidance hasn't yet been introduced to the thread. His relative, Hyrum M. Smith, who was also a sustained prophet, seer, and revelator also provided guidance that speaks considerably to same matter.
 
The few general comments I have made regarding the Two Witnesses are based in large part on what the two LDS gentlemen mentioned above offered us generations ago. Is such input unwelcome here? And/or is such input a false spirit of prophecy?
 
Deal. The accusation is certainly withdrawn, and I hope the apology offered above is accepted.

Although it is not a board game, we recently bought a used Family Feud game for our old Nintendo Wii. (The Wii typically does little more than gather dust in our home, other than streaming Netflix for us.)
 
We tried the game this weekend as a family and were pleasantly surprised at how much fun it was.

I don't see defending the faith as, for the most part, arguing with someone one on one. There is little use in that sort of defending. Bear testimony and leave it at that. Where I do think "defending" the faith that comes by way of debate makes sense is in public forums or other situations where those criticizing or the like are being heard by others who might be swayed by their comments. In these cases, standing up and making a defense makes sense to me.
 
If a friend were texting me critical of the church I would probably, for the most part, ignore it.

Wait! Are you certain it was a "top" hat? We don't want to be perpetuating falsehoods here. Because down the road someone may find out that the hat was actually a cowboy hat and lose their testimonies.

That color scheme is anything but authentic. Obviously the method of translation is the least of our problems if we can't agree on the color of Joseph Smiths hair. 

Testimony comes through the witness of the Holy Spirit, and encouraging him to this end is the only solution. The answer to his concerns are to be found upon his knees.
 
FairMormon and the like will not do a lick of good for someone who is determined in their negative views. It becomes a powerful source of help if one has a testimony and then is looking for answers. But the testimony needs to come first.
 
The method of gaining testimony is, has been, and will continue to be the same as it has ever been. The reality of the internet and the age of information that allows for easy access to complicated questions and criticisms won't change that.