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davidstarfall

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  1. davidstarfall
    One clarification I would like to make.. is that just because good things come as a result of something does not automatically make the thing good in and of itself. But if God tells me to do something, then it must inherently be good (assuming that I am indeed following the spirit and not making stuff up).
  2. davidstarfall
    Fine.. we can go there... Lets say I attend this event. Exactly as you described. In fact.. I drove her there. I helped her get dressed. She enjoys it. I tell her that I am glad she is happy. I am there for my friend. I helped her with something that is important to her (similarly to driving my friend to pick up cigarettes). Why did I do this? Because I felt like it was the right thing to do. In fact I was prompted by the spirit to attend. This act of love strengthens our friendship and our bond. We grow closer. She comes upon hard times. She opens up to me. I am able to share my testimony. She is converted to the Gospel, gets sealed in the temple, and has a happy family. Or maybe.. while I'm there, someone in the audience attacks her and I am there to save her life, and she rethinks her life and joins the church. Apparently it was in God's plan that I be there for this person, so that eventually I could be a spiritual guide for them. My point is... relationships are an important of the gospel. So my relationship with my friend, and maybe even my attendance at their "sinful" event, may possibly end up being a turning point in their life, and helps them find the gospel, and return to God. Some of you may say that the spirit would never prompt you to do such a thing. And I would have to respectfully disagree with you. God works in mysterious ways. Therefore, I reject logic that says that attending such an event is inherently wrong and strictly always against God's will. Some might also argue that God being all powerful, would just make things such that I do not need to attend such an event. But I reject that notion as well.
  3. davidstarfall
    Then.. all I'm saying, is that if one can compare this act to attending a gay wedding, then by going, I am not inherently sinning. Are these exactly comparable? For me they are, for you they may not be. But that is the best way that I can illustrate my point.
  4. davidstarfall
    I'm not arguing about whether the event is sinful or not. I'm talking about whether me attending a social event that holds no validity in the eternities is sinful.
  5. davidstarfall
    I'm just going to respond to this with a question... Is it sinful of me to give my friend a lift to the store knowing full well that they are going to the store to buy cigarettes?
  6. davidstarfall
    Well... not going is not necessarily unloving... and going is not necessarily sinful... So as long as the spirit is with you, you are fine. And slightly off topic... I also cannot watch horror movies. I just can't.
  7. davidstarfall
    Not saying one "should go", just saying that I don't personally find it morally reprehensible to go. My main point is that just because you are helping someone does not mean you condone their actions.
  8. davidstarfall
    This is true.
  9. davidstarfall
    Also true. Just for clarity, I'm not trying to argue that one must go, or feel obligated to go, or that one should give in to peer pressure to go. I'm simply saying that I don't think it is inherently sinful to go.
  10. davidstarfall
    The church recently helped pass a law protecting gay rights with respect to housing and employment in Utah. Does that mean that they condone gay behavior? Does that mean the church is helping gays sin more? Love the sinner, not the sin.
  11. davidstarfall
    Being present at something does not automatically mean I condone it.
  12. davidstarfall
    Because at a wedding I am not actively sinning.
  13. davidstarfall
    Its a bit of a stretch for me to compare a wedding to pornography.. but I see what you are trying to say.
  14. davidstarfall
    I think some of this gay wedding stuff is a matter of the personal interpretation of why one attends weddings in general. If the reason you go is because you support your loved one's decision, then you would probably not attend a gay wedding. If you go because you love the person, then even at a heterosexual wedding, even if you hate their choice of spouse and are against the union, would you not go anyway?
  15. davidstarfall
    Do any of us really know anything about the crime rates in Silver Springs, Maryland?
  16. davidstarfall
    https://www.lds.org/prophets-and-apostles/unto-all-the-world/forgiveness-fills-hearts-with-love?lang=eng https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/mountains-to-climb?lang=eng
  17. davidstarfall
    Both of my parents mothers were nurses. Over dinner, they would sometimes tell horror stories about having to sew motorcyclists back together. Needless to say, motorcycles were taboo in my house. Personally.. the "rush" is not worth the lack of personal safety. But the rush is important to some people. So we love them.. and pray for their safety.
  18. davidstarfall
    *subscribed*
  19. davidstarfall
    *oops.. posted twice*
  20. davidstarfall
    I'd say it can be fairly difficult to concentrate on spiritual things when the temporal semi-truck next to me is changing into my lane.
  21. davidstarfall
    This
  22. davidstarfall
    We are just as capable of not sinning as we are of not falling over while walking. Is it possible for a baby to stand up and never fall over?.. theoretically yeah. Maybe if you are a super baby who's father is God himself. But chances are you are an imperfect baby that just doesn't quite know how to do that at first. And now you are probably an adult. Are you capable of falling over? Yeah. Especially since you have an imperfect body. Also, just because it is possible for someone to run a mile in 3 mins and 44 seconds, doesn't mean that you are presently capable of it. Are these perfect metaphors? No. But I guess what I'm trying to say is, just because something is possible, doesn't mean you are capable of it right now. Maybe eventually. With some help.
  23. davidstarfall
    It is my understanding that Jesus is the only one that is actually capable of this in mortal life. We all TRY to do it, but we all fall short. "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" But why? "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." Weakness in this context referring to our present state of mortality. Being imperfect beings, vulnerable to the temptations of the devil. While we are here on earth, we have the opportunity to learn from our mistakes which we make (which we ALL make, because we aren't Jesus). Is learning from mistakes the only way to learn? No. Jesus learned everything he needed to without making mistakes. But we are not Jesus. But we strive to be like him. Is our attempt futile? No, because through the power of God, the Atonement and the Holy Ghost, we are perpetually cleansing ourselves and journeying toward perfection, which we may eventually be, probably in the afterlife. I think it is good to set the bar high as you apparently have, but I also think it is important to be understanding of our weakness as well (especially for those of us with depression). Now... that being said.. the city of Enoch obviously was doing something right. But I don't personally think that it is improper to say that we will sin. But we should keep in mind that we can move beyond sin eventually. Especially once Satan no longer has power over us and we have our perfected bodies.
  24. davidstarfall
    Yeah.. this is unfortunate.
  25. davidstarfall
    Its sad that they have such animosity toward the church. Hopefully someday their hearts will soften and they may be receptive at some other time. But for now we can leave it in the Lord's hands.