Armin

It only took the Israelites 40 years in the desert. Then again that whole generation died before they made it to the promised land. Well here's hoping your promised land is just over the next sand dune.

I can understand your frustration with the Bible. Although it is"scripture" it is scripture that has come under the influence of uninspired man and hence the need for additional revelation to reveal the things that have been lost or changed. From our perspective (Mormons that is) the gospel being written anew as you put it actually has happened. That's really the foundation of our whole belief system, a restoration of all things. If you haven't already I would recommend exploring our beliefs and seeing if they don't answer some of the questions you have.

Karate isn't just kata with no practical applications, just like BJJ isn't just practical applications with no forms.  Every art has three parts; principles, forms/kata and practical applications.  Teaching only a single aspect is a disservice to the art.
It's like all the people teaching tai chi who never show how those movements are meant to be applied, or what principle is embodied in each; every form, and every movement between forms has at least one, and often three applications in combat.  You learn them slowly for the same reason you should learn the forms in any art slowly; the more perfectly you can do it at an extremely restrained pace, the less imperfectly you will do it at full speed, and the more effectively you can isolate the principle within each movement so that you can apply it even when the movement can't be done perfectly.  
Same with aikido and judo; in many dojos, you'll learn the techniques but not the principles behind them.  If there is a self defense element to the class, you may learn practical applications still without the principles that would show you how a perfect kata becomes a real world application, even though it may not retain much resemblance to the textbook form, so there's still an unfortunate disconnect between kata and randori that gets in the way of being able to improvise upon the principles when uke doesn't give you an attack you're familiar with.  Karate and taekwondo tend to have a similar problem, with kata being taught and competitive applications explored, but not realistic defenses for dealing with those trained in other fighting styles.
At least within the Kaze Uta Budo Kai system that I'm familiar with, aikido on a practical level is taught somewhat like good tai chi; do it slowly until you can do it perfectly, then do it progressively quicker against a cooperative opponent, then learn the principle you're applying and go back to slow for randori against an opponent who's allowed to resist and improvise, and ultimately as fast as can be safely done against as much resistance as uke can offer without getting himself hurt.  Even a 5th+ degree who can move as gracefully as any tai chi master at half speed in a demonstration may start looking like an epileptic pit bull shaking a rag doll in full speed randori, but watching the slow motion later you can identify the principles being applied.

I disagree with this.
The competition provides the challenge.  The goal of each individual event is to win.  Of course.  The other guy is your measuring stick.  So when you consistently beat the other guy you know where you measure against his skill set.  This tells you what you have become proficient at.  When you lose, you get to learn where you're deficient so you can improve on it.  Usually, in competition against another person/team, you win some you lose some.  Or you win all the time but it gets harder to win. This is because the other person/team is also bettering themselves.  If you always win easily and never lose, then you've outgrown the competition and you have 2 choices - find another group of people that can give you a challenge (level up) or find another skill you can work on.
Now, if you don't compete at all, then you won't know if you've become proficient at it.
I'll give you an example.  My son is crazy good at shooting targets with a pistol.  We thought he was "da bomb" and I even told @mirkwood he's Olympic material.  He joined a pistol club and went on a friendly competition with the other boys.  He did okay with the rest of the group but half of them were leaps and bounds better than he is.  So now my son knows what is possible and what to work on..
My other son is crazy good at jiujitsu.  He joined this jiujitsu gym and there was this guy who is a year older than he is who he can't beat.  They scrimmage twice a week.  They've been in that gym over 5 years and my son has never beaten this guy, not even once in a scrimmage.  So then they both joined a tournament.  Both of them won gold medals in their group.  My son learned that everybody else he fought were half easier than his friend at the gym.  His friend told him that he couldn't believe he won gold.  He said his game has improved so much because my son pushed him constantly.
That's really what competition does.  It's an environment that creates a challenge (either staged or organic) so everybody - winners and losers all - gets better.  
 

As I understanding evil - choosing any evil is foolish.  As I understand the course of things – only choosing that which is good, right and true is the only way to avoid foolishness.  That is – if avoiding foolishness actually is the intent or goal when making choices.  What do you think is more foolish.  Making a bad choice or justifying a bad choice and not wanting to change it?
 
The Traveler

We have a definition issue here. I am using the term 'evil' broadly to mean anything less that ideal, which I believe is the meaning of the idiom. As mortals a great deal of our choices are less than ideal and wisdom is, quite often, choosing between the things that are not ideal.

By way of interest, without in any way seeking to further the discussion, I note that the exact same quote used at the start of this discussion was also quoted directly by Elder Benson in the Saturday morning session of the October 1963 General Conference
 
Those of us who think ". . . all is well in Zion . . ." (2 Nephi 28:21) in spite of Book of Mormon warning might ponder the words of Heber C. Kimball when he said, "Yes, we think we are secure here in the chambers of these everlasting hills . . . but I want to say to you, my brethren, the time is coming when we will be mixed up in these now peaceful valleys to that extent that it will be difficult to tell the face of a Saint from the face of an enemy against the people of God. Then is the time to look out for the great sieve, for there will be a great sifting time, and many will fall. For I say unto you there is a test, a Test, a TEST coming." (Heber C. Kimball, 1856. Quoted by J. Golden Kimball, Conference Report, October 1930, pp. 59-60.)

At the risk of injecting a serious comment into a decidedly non-serious thread: I wish BYU hadn't done this. It looks like capitulation, and intentionally or not, sends the message that there's nothing wrong with drinking caffeinated soft drinks. Now, I realize this is a bit ridiculous; the "soft drink" itself is nothing but tooth-rotting sugar water. But in general, caffeine is not a good thing to imbibe, so why start selling it? Adding a touch of dog poop into the horse poop sandwich doesn't improve the horse poop any, and it does run the risk of making people (especially young, impressionable, college-age people) think by inference that dog poop must be okay to eat.
Anyway, I think I understand why they did it. The constant hullabaloo that has been going on at BYU about caffeinated drinks on campus since, well, before I ever went there in the early 1980s distracts from the university's mission, which is not to root the evils of Coke or Mountain Dew out of the psyches of our precious young adults. But I still think it's a shame.

As you know, I'm something of a Germanophile, at least a little bit. I think the language is cool and I have an admiration for many aspects of its culture and people. But among the things I really dislike about Germany, their absolute outlawing of homeschooling is at or near the top of the list. It encapsulates the fearful tyranny and groupthink that, rightly or wrongly, characterized Germany in the popular imagination of mid-20th-century Americans.
In essence, Germany is a state that refuses to trust parents to rear their own children. I can think of few government systems more terrifying.

I think the "Thanks" icon should be a pair of tanks:  
...although they'd need to be smaller, and really, those aren't tanks - we need a turret with a cannon on the top.

This is a judgment for the bishop. None of us here can speak authoritatively to that issue. Sacred covenants were broken; this is not a light matter.
I  disagree that this is a judgment we're qualified to make.
I see nothing even remotely helpful about such a statement in this situation. The husband is to be commended for his kindness, gentility, and expression of love, not backhanded with, "Sure, taking out the garbage is nice, but let's not forget what a horrible person he really is!"
In general, I don't think it's useful to compare which sin is more grave or if they're equally horrid. But if a comparison is to be made, it should be as accurate as possible. To wit:
Looking at pictures of naked women out of prurient interest is wicked and soul-destroying. Making out with a guy who isn't your husband and exchanging feel-ups with him is worse. If you're not convinced, consider your reaction if the husband had had a feel-up session with his girlfriend. Wouldn't you agree that's much worse than the porn usage?
This is not a commentary on the OP, but a metacommentary on how we respond to people. I wish I had useful advice for the OP. But minimizing her wrongdoing can't be good.

I think the easiest way to explain it is, we are commanded to honor our parents even in their imperfection and praise them (and God) in that way. Eve is basically our mother, any doctrinal differences aside.

Personally I think it's ridiculous what these groups want to tear down.  We went through a lot of turmoil during our countries growth. I had ancestors fighting on both sides in the Civil War, they all fought for what they believed in. 
 Those groups who want to hate and destroy just to make their opinions heard.... I shutter to think of how far our country will let them go. How much more hate and destruction they will allow before it's considered enough.

I believe the Book of Revelation employs a lot of symbolism – as did the parables of Christ and for the same reason.  I do not want to fault @prisonchaplainfor his religious opinions concerning particular doctrine but I find those that employ literal understanding of scripture when there are obvious flaws to such interpretation to be unreliable concerning doctrine.  But Jesus did not say to identify his disciples by doctrine – so – even though I am bewildered by what many say they believe – I can still be impressed by their respect and compassion for others.
I am concerned that religious doctrine outside of mortal man’s birth and death to be of a realm we can only understand in part and through symbolism.  But principles of truth – I believe must apply – even outside of our empirical mortal experience.   And if someone takes symbolism as literal - I believe we will not be so judged.  I believe all will have the same access to truth (perhpas following death) and their love of truth judged once they have access to it.
 
The Traveler

It seems kind of weird that the area that lost has statues honoring the army that lost.  That said, I think it is insane that people want to change the name of Lake Calhoun, in Minnesota.  Most people that are aware of that lake don't even know who John C Calhoun was.  I don't think that there are any areas besides majority white western nations that are required by political correctness to apologize for their past and their heritage.  I believe the expectation stems from the post modern idea of power structures and the paradigm's inability to deal with dominance hierarchies.  I'm opposed to the globalist agenda, and I was disappointed that Mitt Romney had to pile on President Trump when he correctly stated that street communist anarchists are responsible for a lot of violence we've seen.

Malcolm Turnbull (Aus PM)
Today’s vandalism of statues of James Cook and Lachlan Macquarie is a cowardly criminal act and I hope the police swiftly find those responsible and bring them to justice.
But it is also part of a deeply disturbing and totalitarian campaign to not just challenge our history but to deny it and obliterate it. This is what Stalin did. When he fell out with his henchmen he didn’t just execute them, they were removed from all official photographs - they became non-persons, banished not just from life’s mortal coil but from memory and history itself.
Tearing down or defacing statues of our colonial era explorers and governors is not much better than that. Of course Cook didn’t “discover” Australia anymore than Columbus “discovered” America or Marco Polo "discovered" China. I knew that when as a schoolboy I first read the inscription.
The statue gives a perspective of history from the time it was erected - 1879. Just as a history text in the Mitchell Library from the same era would do. Is the next step of this new totalitarianism to burn the 19th century histories of Australia as well, or should their yellowing pages be simply overwritten in crude graffiti condemning their long dead authors?
Old histories should not be burned, anymore than old statues should be torn down. Rather they should be challenged and complemented by new histories, fresh evidence and modern monuments.
Statues, inscriptions, monuments are all part of our history not simply because of what they record but of how it is recorded. We do not adopt every inscription on every statue or monument - it is a voice at a point in time.
How many ancient Roman monuments show slaves shackled to the chariot wheels of their Roman conquerors? Does that mean modern Italians endorse slavery? Or chariots?
Old statues and monuments which tell one version of events offer the opportunity to tell another. It might be another new monument nearby or an interpretative panel, after all contention and controversy enliven history....
Yes, there are many dark chapters of injustice, hardship and cruelty. And none crueller or more unjust than the dispossession of our first Australians. But we do not advance the clear eyed telling of the truth as we see it today, by trying to obliterate the reality of the different perspectives of times past.
A free society debates its history, it does not deny it.
It writes new books, it does not burn old ones.
It builds new monuments as it preserves old ones.
And above all, a free society recognises that the history each generation makes, and writes, builds upon the ones that came before to create our nation’s remarkable Australian story.

I'm just waiting for the cognitive dissonance when they're down to this one:

Blacks who slaughtered thousands of Native Americans.  

No. On the contrary: If you believe that God is omniscient, and that to be omniscient means that all things past, present, and future lie before you to open view (or, equivalently, that the omniscient knows exactly what will happen in the future), then it is axiomatic that as long as God-created things fail, God does indeed "create something He knew would fail".
This is actually a very simple logical progression.
Is there an omniscient God who created all things? Does any of his creature fall to Hell? Is it inevitable that God creates a being that falls to Hell? Using the logical AND: 3 = 1 AND 2
Then it would be illogical.
???
Fatima, your words have already proven that God does create beings who fall to Hell. If God creates such beings, and if God established a church, then it makes perfect sense that that church might, too, fall to Hell.
Effectively, yes. God will force no man to heaven. He has given to man many gifts that man has corrupted.

With the Charlottesville statue of Robert E. Lee in my mind I was doing some reading regarding the moving, re-moving, and re-moving again of the Brigham Young statue in downtown Salt Lake City. I think the history of moving that statue is instructive in terms of what's important vs. not so much--something that people were unable to agree upon for over 100 years in Utah's case and so not unlike the controversy in Virginia's case. Personally, I think where Brigham Young's statue was last moved to is the second best place (the best being a garden on Capitol Hill) in the interests of the people who care about it; and I think likewise that there could be better places to remove the Charlottesville statue to rest (in the interests of the people who care about it). 

Good point, but it wouldn't be my fault either way.

Of course I would question Him!  That's the point of existence.  To understand God that we may be Gods.

I think written Korean is awesome. But when you have an inflected, agglutinative language inheriting from a dozen primary sources and in which five- and six-syllable words are not uncommon. a Korean-like system for writing simply will not work.

My hope that the world would end was apparently in vain...  The good news is that SBRE Brown released another fountain pen review, so the day isn't a total loss...

Then follow this logic...
God gave us the Word of Wisdom through his appointed Stewards.
God then had his appointed Stewards clarify how we should live the word of wisdom.  The Do Nots (Which the church had clearly and repeatedly articulated) and to make it a matter of personal study and Prayer (which the church has clearly an repeatedly articulated)..
That is it.  Full stop.   They have not declared anything about obesity, caffeine, energy drinks, vegetarianism or any of the other 100's of things people might do (or not do) to live healthier.  They easily could have if that is what God wanted them to teach the people.. 
Thus for you to come along and declare that you know better then the church leaders what God would have everyone do is a display of prideful arrogance that the church and God has repeatedly condemned as sin. So cast that Beam out of your own eye...  Then we can discuss the mote that you see in others.
As for Obesity and the 100's of other things... they fall in to the category of personal study and revelation.  Which means that God is going to work with the individual were they are and as a Master teacher make the call on what the individual needs to do.  Following the Lord in this matter is not sin. Whereas not following him is.  However an outsider with no stewardship declaring that they know better then God what the individual should be doing most definitely is.
 
 

Edit:  It appears others have beat me too it but this is my perspective:
It does apply to obesity, but not necessarily for everyone.  That is where personal interpretation, revelation, and application of the law is expected.  A verse from the Doctrine and Covenants and another from the Book of Mormon are applicable to this question:
We have the Word of Wisdom as a guideline.  Certain of those guidelines are of higher importance.  If you are fat because you choose to sit on the couch and eat Cheetos all day, then you are doing a number of 'sinful' things, including being slothful.  In most areas of our lives, it is still the responsibility of each individual to judge for themselves regarding things not directly commanded/revealed.  Overeating and obesity are two areas where, for the most part, we are individually responsible to ourselves and to the Lord.  Likewise, under-eating, bulimia, and anorexia are applicable as well, but on the opposite end of th   Tobacco and alcohol are revealed areas where we are responsible to our fellow man, as is chastity.  The Church is not directed to govern in all things.  For the most part we are to be taught and to learn the doctrine (i.e. our body is a temple) and govern ourselves.
In my understanding, the Word of Wisdom, and even the Law of Chastity, are more important to live because of how they will affect us spiritually, than how they affect our physical bodies.  Both of those laws contain core precepts which, when broken, can inhibit and deaden our spiritual sensitivities severely.  This can certainly happen in many other ways as well, such as simply not getting enough sleep; however drugs, pornography, alcohol, etc, are very clear and obvious mechanisms whereby this can happen.  In regard to the commandments we have received, I like to consider them in light of the following passage from the Doctrine and Covenants:
We ought to be treating our temples the way we should treat any of our other most prized possessions, including avoiding obesity, where possible.  However, the Lord has not dictated that the Church should specifically make judgement in this particular matter.