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Well, there have been riots since Clinton got re-elected. The first of them may have been quite a while after, but still after...

In the scriptural accounts of Jonah, Moses, and David, their sins / mistakes are called out as such from the beginning. The scripture makes no effort to dress these up as deeds commanded by the Lord. But the story of Laban, start to last, makes it out as killing Laban was done at the Spirit's insistent instruction. So either this event is different, or Nephi's a liar and the Lord willfully let Nephi's lies make it through both Mormon and Joseph Smith as-is. Seems absurd to me. In the story of the brother of Jared and lighting the vessels, the Lord tells him to come up with his own idea and then the Lord supports it. Nephi and his brothers came up with their own ideas, and when those failed, the Lord instructed Nephi what to do - and guided him to basically trip over Laban's drunken body. So spell out the options... 1) If God could just re-reveal them to Nephi, (a) why send them in the first place (or did Lehi misunderstand his instructions?)? (b) why have Mormon abridge the plates - just reveal anew what Joseph needed to restore; (c) why write scripture at all - just reveal anew whenever it's needed - like when the Lord had (3) Nephi record things they had neglected, and then add more - why bother? Clearly the Lord works through written records and only reveals anew when necessary. Further, God could have "magicked" the plates from place A to place B, if he'd really wanted (e.g. send an angel to transport them), but he didn't. Clearly miraculous mechanisms skirting the agency of those involved were ruled out. 2) If Laban tried to kill them just for asking for the plates, and again when they offered to buy the plates, what on earth makes you think he might have agreed to rent them out!? 3) Now that we've eliminated beg, borrow, rent, and buy, the only thing left is theft - there are only so many ways to obtain possession of an object that is currently in another person's possession. Now perhaps you're thinking that Laban died so that Nephi could get the plates. Perhaps that (plus 21st century thinking) is what's upsetting to you. But have you not considered what would have happened had Laban lived? If you can imagine a zillion options for obtaining the plates (and please do list the zillion-5 that I haven't mentioned above), then surely you can imagine a zillion scenarios for what would have happened had Laban lived - so please list them out (and try to remember that he was a man in a position of power and authority, not just their curmudgeonly uncle).

https://askgramps.org/resemblance-god-give-glory-individuality/ and https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2017/04/songs-sung-and-unsung?lang=eng

Conklin had the greatest ads!

Ah, this was what I was missing. The Greek mythology bit just wasn't fitting in with the idea of this: ...in my mind, anyway. Thanks for explaining.

What @NeuroTypical said. Receive with gratitude. Forgive generously. Make productive use of your time - including in service of your ward where you can. Some of us are socially and linguistically inept. Some of us are hard-hearted but trying to do the calling as best we can. If that's your bishop and/or RSP, take it as an opportunity to improve your patience, humility, and grace. (Yes, I know, that's more easily said than done.) May the Lord bless you and yours according to his will and mercy.

Hmm. According to the heading for 3 Nephi 11, Christ came to "the people of Nephi", and chapter 12 (where the 12 disciples are called) continues what 11 started (same day), so I'm thinking they're Nephites. I suppose there's room for doubt - there could have been technical other-ites mixed in the crowd - but the tradition appears to be to call those of the Church Nephites, regardless of their ancestry, so I'm thinking the term is accurate.

While a lot of the above explains it, I think two issues are primary: 1) I don't think general education is inherently designed to teach us to think. It's to teach us to be good little citizens, workers, or whatever, but not independent thinkers. I suspect most parents are too busy trying to survive to accomplish such a difficult task. 2) Time. We're in too much of a hurry. We want 128-character communication (or 255 at the most). We want to give quick replies that reflect our already-formed opinion rather than taking time to consider all the things that ought to be considered. Thought is a lot harder than reaction.

I did that and it didn't help. It suggested a spelling error and took me to Greek mythology. I figure @Carborendum is channeling his inner @Just_A_Guy.

I want to reply to the bit I quoted below from Carb, but first I need to establish some background, and then I need to make some commentary on the background as I have gained a greater understanding in recent years. As much as some people don't seem to like hearing it, as far as I can tell, I was born knowing certain things are true. Every time I even think about praying whether they're true, the entire idea seems absurd as I'm reminded I already know. However, I've come to understand that knowledge is not the same as testimony and neither is the same as conversion. (I know Pringles are bad for me. I eat them anyway - sometimes.) Thus, the thing (for me) to pray about is not whether it's true, but what to do about it, how to live it, implement it, understand it better, etc. This reminded me of an experience I had many years ago, when I was preparing to receive my endowment. As a YSA, I heard various comments from other YSA about their experience receiving their endowment, and many of those comments indicated they had something other than a totally positive experience. But I also remembered a comment from a friend who was endowed and sealed, but inactive when we met, and RS President within a year or so later. She said that she found the endowment ceremony perfectly logical - that it all made sense. I knew her better and trusted her far more than all the YSAs in a YSA sacrament meeting. Nonetheless, as the event approached, while I was sure the temple ordinances were true, I was bothered by the things I had heard. So I got on my knees and explained this to Heavenly Father and then bore my testimony that I knew it was true, but asked for some reassurance that I was doing the right thing. What followed was one of the most powerful spiritual experiences I have ever had. I can't remember whether I heard this idea of bearing testimony in prayer before or after this experience, but I now know that doing so can lead to powerful experiences. This would be my recommendation to someone who has a testimony but is either troubled about something related thereto, or is seeking guidance on how to act, or just needs a bit of peace about it. PS: My friend was right and those YSAs were (as best I can determine) insufficiently prepared. The endowment is a perfectly logical ordinance.

Sorry, @Vort, but it appears I won't be watching Arrival today.

Quadruple like! To the power of 10.

There's no shortage of places where one can go to get differing opinions - including discussions of them. But as near as I can tell, there is no public forum for faithful discussion better than this one. So yes, I wish those who don't support the Church, its leaders, and its doctrine would go find somewhere else to congregate / voice their disagreement, frustration, "alternate" beliefs, etc. (Frankly, it baffles me why some of the posters here are here - I cannot imagine any reason for it other than a desire to make it easier for those who are "on the fence" to leave the Church rather than stay. Why not go live your life and leave the Latter-day Saints to their weird delusions?) Meanwhile, I expect you would like an online, asynchronous "Sunday School"-like class, and so would I. Interestingly, I think we have a unique opportunity to make that happen next year. Up until now, trying to start an in-depth doctrinal discussion has been hampered not just by the existence of detractors, but also by our own differing interests, study-schedules, understanding, etc. But next year's curriculum change will put us all, regardless of local conference schedules, on the exact same scripture study schedule (at least for part of our study), using the exact same manual (at least in English-speaking countries). If ever anything could make it easy for us to come together to share insights, experiences, and testimony on the same topic, it's the changes coming next year. Perhaps we can discuss whether everyone is game to try this. Finally, this (yes, I repeated the quote on purpose) is why I despair when one of the people I consider solid members (of the Church and the forum) disappears for a while, or talks about leaving. I think we need each other to stick around, to call out or counter false ideas, to clarify for those who are weak in the faith, or learning - or even to support those who are strong in the faith, so that faith doesn't wane. And I fear that the balance will be easily tipped from "mostly faithful members" to "mostly disgruntled (ex)members".

Garage = let other people's cars get broken into in the night. (NOTE: I don't actually want this, indeed, I hate it, but keeping your car safer is a good reason to keep it in the garage.) Garage = room for car, riding mower, snow blower, workbenches, and tools. Garage = non-snow-covered, non-frozen car in the morning (winter edition); or non-sweltering car in the afternoon (summer edition). Shed = storage for other yard-care equipment and supplies. Houses consistently surrounded by more cars than will fit in the garage & driveway = reason to worry.

Sorry. I decided to finish figuring out changes to ministering assignments instead. That took several hours. Then Sunday I went to my aunt's to get install media so I can set up a "new" XP box (my old one) for her (first I have to finish transferring website articles from it to my hosted server). Maybe later today. Maybe another night this week. At the moment, I'm collapsed from clearing snow and don't have the energy to go put the disc in the DVD player. Anyway, I have to work on my plans to move someplace better:

So you're saying Penelope Garcia doesn't work for them on the side?

Yes it is, but man cannot grade the test (so to speak), nor even understand what test has been administered. Mortal man simply doesn't have the capacity to judge the necessary details to make an absolute determination. God will do that and we should leave it to him. IMO, Mormon's statement cannot be used in the past tense - to judge those who we perceive believe one and reject the other. Rather, the statement is predictive - it describes what will be for one who follows the invitation to honestly consider the content of the Book of Mormon alongside the content of the Bible. A lot of people who say they "believe the Bible" don't actually know or understand its content - it wouldn't surprise me if many such people have never read it, let alone deeply considered its meaning and prayed about it. Rather, they trust in what various other people have said about it (and if they have read it, they read it in that context, unable or unwilling to set aside those interpretations to consider the content without them). And similar things could be said of those invited to read the Book of Mormon - many just don't (whether they "believe" it or not); of those who do, many don't give it honest consideration - they're half-hearted or even read looking for reasons not to believe. In the end, one way or another, all will have the chance to honestly consider the truth. In the meantime, leave judgement of disbelief to God.

Huh. I know nothing about this website, but: https://www.securevideo.com/blog/2013/10/07/avoiding-migraines-resulting-from-changes-in-barometric-pressure

Perhaps because Daniel was alone (or just with a few friends) and the consequences were his to choose and bear, but Alma had a whole group with him, with varying faith, and whom Amulon could use to punish by proxy, so to speak ("obey or I beat your sister" kind of thing).

Drier? Than Arizona or Nevada?

How long have you been in the Church!? And how is it that you haven't learned yet that talk like that is what gets you called to that very position?

Well, if you're gonna do that...

These are precisely the wrong months to go to these states!

I may watch it tomorrow - I have some (personal) work still to do tonight, and tomorrow evening I have to work (for my employer).