NeedleinA

Free all expenses paid LGAT vacation for @zil and @Carborendum. Keep your jokes and clever remarks to yourselves!

Cute Carb, cute. Meeting late into the evening I believe is more along the lines of: Large-group awareness training (LGAT) LGATs utilize such techniques during long sessions, sometimes called a "marathon" session. Paglia describes "EST's Large Group Awareness Training": "Marathon, eight-hour sessions, in which [participants] were confined and harassed, supposedly led to the breakdown of conventional ego, after which they were in effect born again." I found it rather interesting in the links section "See Also", that "Multi-level marketing/pyramid selling" is listed. MLM is also huge in Utah and throughout the Church. Are we as members any more or less susceptible to these LGAT and MLM programs? From what I have seen over the years, I would say yes we are. Just a personal observation and frustration.

Groups continue to market themselves differently... self-awareness, energy healing, spiritual guidance counselors, enlightenment sessions, etc. From what I understand, most of these groups end up teaching people they should just "be true to themselves" and that "right & wrong" are just relative terms that change with each person. They foster confusion, blur lines, challenge moral values and advocate secrecy of their doings for non-paid members. If the Church has a whole section in Handbook 2 dedicated to this problem, it is because this is, well, a "problem". I'm not picking on Utah, but when I was out at BYU, these types of groups PREYED on LDS members. Fringe members, disenchanted members, innocently curious or those with weak understandings of the Gospel are unfortunately drawn to these groups. The philosophies of men mingled with scriptures destroying real faith and dissolving testimonies is what I personally think of them. Like Mirkwood said... Stay Away from these groups. Here is some additional information by the Church: All SIX points are individually important because a lot of these predators implement these techniques in an effort to wear you down through marathon sessions (long hours) to make you conform to their views. Can you tell I'm not a fan. Ward and branch councils should consider carefully whether members in their units are being drawn into such groups. If so, the bishop or branch president should take necessary steps to acquaint these members with the foregoing principles and enclosed guidelines. Where appropriate, the guidelines may be published in ward/branch bulletins. Bishops and branch presidents should use them in counseling members as they deem advisable. Self-Awareness Group Guidelines Church members should not participate in groups that: 1. Challenge religious and moral values or advocate unwarranted confrontation with spouse or family members as a means of reaching one’s potential. 2. Imitate sacred rites or ceremonies. 3. Foster physical contact among participants. 4. Meet late into the evening or in the early-morning hours. 5. Encourage open confession or disclosure of personal information normally discussed only in confidential settings. 6. Cause a husband and wife to be paired with other partners.

I'm not sure of talk but this is a great start that I think sums up the general idea of what the Church thinks of these groups. Handbook 2 21.3.9 Self-Awareness Groups Many private groups and commercial organizations have programs that purport to increase self-awareness, self-esteem, and spirituality. Some groups promise to enhance individual agency or improve family relationships. Some offer “experiential” or “empowerment” training. Some of these groups falsely claim or imply that the Church or individual General Authorities have endorsed their programs. However, the Church has not endorsed any such enterprise, and members are warned against believing such claims. The fact that the Church has not formally challenged such an enterprise should not be perceived as a tacit endorsement or approval. Church members are also warned that some of these groups advocate concepts and use methods that can be harmful. In addition, many such groups charge exorbitant fees and encourage long-term commitments. Some intermingle worldly concepts with gospel principles in ways that can undermine spirituality and faith. These groups tend to promise quick solutions to problems that normally require time and personal effort to resolve. Although participants may experience temporary emotional relief or exhilaration, old problems often return, leading to added disappointment and despair. Church leaders are not to pay for, encourage participation in, or promote such groups or practices. Also, Church facilities may not be used for these activities. Leaders should counsel members that true self-improvement comes through living gospel principles. Members who have social or emotional problems may consult with priesthood leaders for guidance in identifying sources of help that are in harmony with gospel principles.

Create an off shoot church and request your own tithing and offerings.

@zomarah What account name did you used to previously post here under before you created the "Zomarah" user name??

This is the correct answer ^^^^^ Any comment/quote about the actual conception of Jesus is at best personal "opinion" only, as the Church has not released an official statement on this matter.

Hum... didn't realize there was an argument going on.

Not sure if I'm missing the "source" from the link?? I will admit that I only skimmed over the link, but it appears to give only "one" example of a renovation by the Gaines. "Hooper’s family bought the house from the city for $24,008, slightly more than the tax appraisal value of $20,991. A fan of HGTV renovation programs, she heard about the Magnolia Homes series and wrote to owners Chip and Joanna Gaines, who agreed to take it on. The renovation brought the total cost to about $180,000, Hooper said." The family referenced in the Waco News article, Charmaine Hooper and Chuck Codd are listed on HGTV magazine, thus not making it "private" pricing. http://www.hgtv.com/design/outdoor-design/landscaping-and-hardscaping/back-from-the-brink-a-fixer-upper-story-pictures

1. Uh, yes, I realize Magnolia Villas is not a remodeling business. 2. Chip and his family don't need the Villas to be a remodeling company in order to help subsidize the other business. A Magnolia Cupcake company could still subsidize the remodeling business. One business, regardless of what it is can always help float another. 3. What price Magnolia homes gives on air versus off air is 100% speculation from us "both". I have no idea, but at the same time nor do you know their "private" pricing. 4. I'm very aware that "reality" TV is not 100% realty. 5. "It would be silly for the Gaines to lose money on remodels. There's no reason for it. " The Gaines don't have to actually "lose" money to offer up televised low/ false* prices. (False = substantially lower than market prices for the sake of TV) Their prices might be for a break even or slight profit... but not for an actual making money profit. They are smart business people. Better to lower the cost of the remodel because it makes the customers extra extra happy on TV to see what they paid (low cost) and what kind of deal they got. Chip always likes to toss out how much "equity" they now have in their house because of their "cheap" remodel. Sharing the figures is part of the hype and wow factor, not just simply the before and after pictures.

I believe what Chip is saying...it is a real business. Just because someone has a real business it doesn't make it a smart, viable, or profitable business. Magnolia appears to have a wonderful business as a "whole", but I highly doubt it is coming from the costs they charge on remodeling. They are either subsidized by HGTV, their HGTV appearance fees, or they allow their other 3 businesses to subsidize the 4th remodeling one, kind of like a lost lead. The remodel could be a lost lead to sell the home, sell the marked up furniture and maintain a flow of projects for their TV show. Having already taken into account regional material and labor costs, I still stand by my statement that their televised prices are falsely cheap for remodels. Perhaps their 4th remodeling business charges "real" prices for non-televised projects? My 2 cents

Crazy falsely misleadingly cheap.

Ughhhh.... spoiler alert next time on Flash! Fixer Upper... on at my house all the time thanks to my wife. Only thing I can't stand are the fake low prices to do renovations. Those cost have to be TV subsidized some how otherwise they wouldn't be in business at those prices.

Where does this leave the Holy Ghost, also a God? Okay, just for fun...is the Holy Ghost a "God", or simply (no disrespect) a member of the Godhead, but not a God himself? Like a Bishopric... a counselor is a member of the Bishopric (Bishoprichead) but not an actual Bishop... 10 Brownie points to someone who can post where it says the Holy Ghost is a God himself, versus a "member of the Godhead". This is just for fun

Huhhhh... didn't he take some no killing vow after season one? That was one of the corny reasons we stopped watching it. Not that we wanted him to kill, but rather they repetitively kept making it a point to stress about that it was getting old real quick. If he isn't going to kill = great, just stop talking and talking and talking about it all the time.

We also watched the first couple of seasons and then just fizzled out on it. I must have missed the moral objections here to Arrow...hah! If Arrow has moral objections then my shows aren't any better. We typically watch TV shows on VUDU/Netflix/Amazon, and as such we tend to watch more shows that would have aired on Cable channels vs. broadcast. Anyways... PG range: Person of Interest: helping people, little action show Survivor: Dumb mindless fun Wipeout: Super dumb mindless fun --- for family time Judge Judy: Super duper dumb mindless fun PG-13 - R range: TURN : about Americas first spy ring during the Revolutionary War. Hell on Wheels: perhaps a little too gritty for most... Season 4-5 involve Brigham Young and saints helping to building the rail road - 100% historically accurate... not! Homeland: CIA spook type stuff. American Odyssey: Netflix. Military drama

Great question Traveler. This two quotes...do not answer your direct question, but I thought I would post them anyways. Desert News: Defending the Faith: Mormonism in recent book 'Becoming Devine' Elder Parley P. Pratt, an early LDS apostle, summarized that idea well in his book “Key to the Science of Theology”: “Gods, angels and man are all of the same species,” he wrote, “they comprise a great family which is distributed over the whole solar system in the form of colonies, kingdoms, nations, etc. The great decisive difference between one part of this race and the other consists in the differing degrees of intelligence and purity and also in the difference of the spheres, which each of them inhabit, in a series of progressive Being.” lds.org Becoming Like God: The following April, feeling he was “never in any nearer relationship to God than at the present time,” Joseph Smith spoke about the nature of God and the future of humankind to the Saints... “What kind of a being is God?” he asked. Human beings needed to know, he argued, because “if men do not comprehend the character of God they do not comprehend themselves.”... God “was once as one of us” and “all the spirits that God ever sent into the world” were likewise “susceptible of enlargement.”

Great info, thanks Iggy! LAST QUESTION: Any one know... The first metal can of honey that I threw away appears to have had a little "rusting" going on with it. Not nasty super crusty rust, just slight baby rust Anyways the honey had a little metallic taste to it. Any one know how bad this may or may not be for you to consume?? This 2nd can appears to have the same rust issue again. I could cut out the top 80% of the honey before I heat it up and "maybe" leave the bottom 20% rust honey alone... thoughts??

Is it too nerdy? My boys and I have debated too nerdy VS. too geeky... difference?? As far as that wig NT, where is @NightSG with his Pony Brain Bleach when you need him PG-13 video

From the letter to Brock's Father by the husband of a rape victim..."For years I couldn’t understand why she (his wife) didn’t have the same desire for me that I do for her. It isn’t that she doesn’t want to, it’s that she can’t. The trauma she experienced has caused her primitive brain to associate sex with danger." I have lived through this as the husband of sexual abuse survivor and continue to live through now. It is hard. There are times when I honestly get upset and take this lack of affection personally. Today is a day in my life when LP's post was needed to help me focus again. Thank you my friend!

Thanks Lehi. I figured if someone would comment on this question it would be you!

I don't know what you stepped on, and am afraid to ask... but I can't think of many good things in life that make the sound of <SQUISH>. *cue thread hijack for good things in life that make squish sounds*

Opened up some food storage honey, at least 25 years old. For lack of a better term, it appears to be crystallized. I went ahead and heated up one can of honey to liquefy it. Once it was runny again, I put it into pour jars but after a little while it just tried to firm/crystallize up again, meaning I had to reheat it each and every time we wanted to use it. Ended up throwing away the first can. So, I thought I would try it again with this second can. Any ideas on how to save this? Thanks in advance!

So are you saying you believe it now for at least 61 seconds? What are the basketball guys doing over there?

Number one offender... baby diapers left in the trash for a week to ripen to full maturity. Sure a couple get left in the men's, but apparently most in our building get disposed off in the women's restroom. Simply opening the door to the women's bathroom here makes your nose hairs curl sometimes.