zil

Probably so. They're probably operating on two assumptions: (1) everyone's had seminary, institute, and Sunday School their whole lives and are bored to death of what they actually say (IMO, this is an attitude that is fairly common and is a failing rather than a reflection of their familiarity with the subject); (2) that personal experience, testimony, and how to put the teachings to use in our lives is more productive / useful / helpful than simply discussing what the scriptures say. I can't argue against #2, except that if you're not really familiar with what the scriptures say, #2 can be a challenge.

These are written by the same BYU professors who do the BYU religion class videos found here: https://www.byutv.org/programaz?listid=f501cc9f-1e17-4d6b-a418-037e6e474722&layout=grid Book of Mormon class here: https://www.byutv.org/show/06254a9a-bcd9-4fe5-b0cb-5193905e7d8b/discussions-on-the-book-of-mormon ...so you could watch the class to see if you like their style, or use the class and the institute manual and/or the Verse by Verse book together, or any other subset or combination.

Another book series that you might find useful is the Verse by Verse books - they have them for all the volumes of scripture - usually 2 books per volume. Here's the Deseret Book page: https://deseretbook.com/p/verse-book-mormon-volume-1-first-nephi-alma-29-d-kelly-ogden-79721?ref=Grid | Search-11&variant_id=18824-hardcover ...but search Amazon too, as they sometimes have better prices. I haven't used the Book of Mormon ones, but as far as I can tell, they mean it literally - they go verse by verse. If you're looking for detail, these may be the ticket.

The Seminary and Institute manuals are also free and contain some questions: https://www.lds.org/si/seminary/manuals?lang=eng https://www.lds.org/si/institute/manuals?lang=eng

Gag! At least splurge for a 6-pack of Henry Weinhard's!

Shall we go into the cologne business?

Vort: How do you dislike Elon Musk? zil: Well, there's that name... You know, the one that sounds like a cologne gone wrong.

Depending on the route you take north, you might drive right past my place of employment. Which is (but isn't) an art gallery. Good. It's the change in air pressure - happens in the cabin too. If the pen is nib up, so the expanding air is pushed out of the nib, it's mostly ok (maybe a few droplets in the cap), but any other orientation, and the expanding air pushes ink out the nib. It's only a problem on take-off, if I remember correctly what they say.

Not inked, they don't. Did your poor clothes get all stained?

Maybe you could distract him with a fountain pen.

I think he offers an armed-forces discount

Little does @The Folk Prophet know, the meeting will cost him $200 / hour.

I have to work Thursday, and then we have our RS Christmas celebration that evening Anyway, I'm more boring in person than @Just_A_Guy ever dreamed of. @pam, on the other hand, is the life of the party - once she's opened the tequila!

How about rolling pigs?

OK, yes, I agree with this. It's not that uncommon to hear people talk of God as still learning new things (often supported with a Brigham Young quote) - and that's the notion I reject. (That's what I thought you meant, but if not, you're right, I misunderstood - thanks for clarifying.)

Agreement is not the same as identicality. (Yeah! New word.) Apparently it's not two different definitions of "boredom" happening, but two different definitions of "agree".

My whole post was demonstrating how to accomplish the IF portion, and that this IF portion is mirrored in the New Testament. If you want to feel crushed by Christ's teachings in the NT, I guess you can. Better would be to feel enabled by those teachings, IMO.

So you're saying the Celestial Kingdom will be boring? (Sorry, but I had to point out that agreement does not, of necessity, lead to "boring".) [ I wrote the above before @The Folk Prophet posted his reply, and then decided not to post it. Now it seems like it needs to be posted (hooray for the editor remembering what you wrote). Not only will the people in the Celestial Kingdom agree, they will be one. I'm pretty sure you don't get more agreed than that. And I'm pretty sure they won't be bored. And unlike what @JohnsonJones wrote, and yes, some in history have said, I agree with Elder Maxwell - there will come a time when the residents of the Celestial Kingdom will all be omniscient - no longer learning - and their progress will be in the form of execution, not education. And I'm in agreement with Nibley, they won't find this repetition boring in the least. ]

When I read the title of your thread, I had another thought: offering forgiveness will lead the sinner (offender) to repent. For example, in an argument, once one side begins to diffuse the situation (perhaps with their own apology), doesn't it often lead to the other side apologizing? On the other hand, if a person tries to apologize, and this is rejected, doesn't it often lead to worse offenses, harder feelings, etc.? Forgiveness, whether offered before or after an apology, does indeed beget repentance (at least some of the time).

PS: The Holy Temple, by Boyd K. Packer is highly recommended for this purpose (the book, not just the pamphlet). https://www.amazon.com/dp/0884944115/ https://deseretbook.com/p/holy-temple-boyd-k-packer-4212?ref=Grid | Search-1&variant_id=106475-hardcover

It is necessary, but the Church will not require it of you to remain a member. Some members may never, in mortality, have the chance to go to a temple (though that is decreasing as more are built). Some members, for whatever reason, may never feel prepared to go in this life (e.g. it used to be that unless you were getting married or going on a mission, you didn't receive your endowment, but that's different now). Regardless, sooner or later, the work will be done - if not by the mortal, then by proxy.

Here is the text of Moroni 10:32. The superscripts are mine, and what follows are verses from the New Testament which speak to the things Moroni says: 1 1, 2 2 1, 3 4 5 (emphasis withheld because I'd have to bold the whole thing - look at the requirements listed to receive grace - "receive him", "believe on his name", "born of God" - but please note that we also believe it is by grace we are saved, and not by works; nonetheless, God requires works - if the works are not required, why the above scriptures?) Bible Dictionary entry for Grace If we can do all things through Christ, then why feel crushed when he asks us to come unto him; be perfected in him; deny ourselves of all ungodliness; love God with our might, mind, and strength; and deny not the power of God (what power? why the power to strengthen us that we might do these things, and the power to then perfect us through his grace)? Trust God, for whom all things are possible.

Wow. Didn't realize there were so many kids in your ward (and so few adults willing to teach them). You know, not that long after moving here and observing the speed at which people drive inside the subdivision, I came to the conclusion that they all had a subconscious desire to run over their children... Maybe I was right. Maybe if you send the kids with no teachers to Gospel Doctrine, eventually the adults therein will start pressuring each other to accept callings to teach Sunday School.

Exactly.

Shave off 2 hours, so that there's only Sacrament meeting, and you wouldn't need any teachers. Unless you mean teachers - like 14-15 yo boys to prep the Sacrament. Our primary are merging some classes, so they need fewer teachers. Maybe your primary could do that so there are more people to choose from for Sunday School teachers? In my one brother's ward, for a time, he was the Sunday School teacher for all youth - 12-18yo! Sorry your ward is having such a hard time finding folks to teach Sunday School. Isn't that just 7 people? 2-each for the 3 youth classes, and 1 for Gospel Doctrine? Am I missing something?