Grunt

I think you should contribute more. This very well may just be my perception, but the posts that seem to get the most attention are the controversial posts. I really miss the basic, uplifting posts about beliefs and doctrine. I never really posted on them because I would usually have to research them to truly understand, so that probably contributed to their decline. Some of them really sent me on goose chases that increased my knowledge and understanding of some things. The long posts about outlying theology are over my head and I find them uninteresting.

Have you spoken to your Bishop? Here, we've assisted people with dental work in the past.

I agree, and was pretty excited. I'm sorry about your brother. I guess in my stage of faith/conversion I just don't understand his way of thinking. Shouldn't we all be trying to live up to those expectations? We all certainly should be aware that we will fail at times, and be thankful for the incredible power of repentance. But if someone truly believes what we practice, how do we walk away because it's difficult? I'm not judging, I just don't truly understand.

Back in my heathen days I was in the club/bar management scene. They gave us a private performance, then tickets to the show that night. I enjoyed them.

I'd buy land in Alaska, so far off the grid the State couldn't find me and never show my face in public again.

No, I didn't mean that at all. I absolutely agree with you, I was just commenting on that one portion of your statement about being told we can't help who we are attracted to. I don't think people CAN help who they are attracted to. There were girls in HS and college I was attracted to. Some reciprocated, some didn't. Children, on the other hand, can't give consent. Therefore, they CAN'T reciprocate. Having sex with them (pedophilia) is rape. It's a crime. It doesn't matter if you are attracted to them or not. Without consent, you can't have sex. It doesn't matter if you're me in college drooling over the girl in my Western Civ class or a pedophile interested in 11 year old girls. I also ABSOLUTELY agree that mainstreaming this is their intent. They have done the same thing with other issues in the past, successfully.

I mean, I agree you can't help who you are attracted to, but that doesn't mean it's OK to rape them.

A few people left/got banned. It's not the first time two people have disagreed. MG had been the focal point of several threads leading up to that, which is why I assume he left, unless the mods said something to him. Then Anatess was banned. Vort has been silent/gone. Zil left awhile ago.

I was very glad they came out with that clarification. I'd had several people tell me it was OK. As a new member, I'm glad I got in the habit of researching things for myself.

Yeah. I don't know why either, but it really surprised me.

I have no idea where you get that from. If that is "for the record", then I would question those signing your temple recommends. https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/statement-word-of-wisdom-august-2019

Many regular users have left the site, some thankfully (IMHO) others are missed. I still read the site daily, but only comment when I feel I have something to add. While the communication here has slowed, I personally feel it is much more faith-centered and less distracted by trolling and inactive Saints offering seedy advice and opinions that don't firmly side with Church teachings. Im not the site owner or administrator, but in the past I've stepped back from the site several times due to the conversations. Now, much of what is posted goes over my head but I still learn by reading.

To say I'm sorry to hear these things is an understatement. I'm sorry for your pain. You may not like my advice, either. Change is hard. Change often hurts. I can, however, tell you what built my faith as an adult convert. First, I had a testimony that the Book of Mormon was scripture. However, that was the ONLY thing I believed to be true. I had a testimony of nothing else. With that established, I worked to establish testimonies of other things. I lived as HE wanted me to live. What do I mean by that? Well, I read my scriptures daily. I served my brothers and sisters every opportunity I had, and looked for more opportunities. I didn't wait for the EQ President or the Bishop to call me, I called THEM. I was relentless in my ministering. I lived the Word of Wisdom, gave up bad habits I had, lived the Law of Chastity, and gave it everything I had. With that, I began to build my faith. I was receiving more than I was giving. I was converted more each day. When I back off from that, I notice a distinct difference in my life and relationships. Take that for what it's worth. I'm not an authority on anything.

I believe there is a difference between using your agency to act in opposition to the Church or disagreeing with doctrine is very different from encouraging others to do the same or influencing others that such behavior is OK. Two examples: I was recently in a discussion with someone who claimed baptism wasn't required for exaltation, regardless of age. He was quoting scripture improperly and trying to convince others he was correct. This is something I will absolutely speak up against. 2. I recently purchased vitamins from someone in our ward. They are mostly things I would take anyway, and I'd rather purchase from someone I know if it helps them than from Amazon. When I researched these vitamins, I found that one of them contains green tea extract. I informed them that I didn't want that one. Trying to convince me it was OK, they assured me they and others in the ward take that vitamin as it doesn't contain any stimulants. I have zero to say to them about THEM taking the vitamin unless they ask me my opinion. It has nothing to do with me. However, whether or not I believe that decision is in line with the Church, or is worth the risk that it isn't, is up to me.

I agree, to a point. You can disagree without being disagreeable. However, some topics pushed to the forefront are just volatile topics. Additionally, many of our adversaries are pushing their agenda violently. We've failed to protect our borders, and we now have the adversary attempting to convert our children and weaker members from within. You even see it on this forum. I've seen otherwise faithful members of my own small ward striding down the path of progressivism. I will never be ashamed to actively correct false doctrine, whether stated or hinted. I will never be ashamed to actively correct those preaching bad habits and to follow the flesh, or to propose keeping BYU pure.. I will never be ashamed of identifying and inserting myself into conversations intended to sway weaker members or youth. If that means you think I'm part of the problem, I'm willing to entertain you may be correct. I don't think so, though. I'm willing to stand in front of my Savior and declare my pure intentions were to save my brothers and sisters and help all endure to the end. If I am wrong, I'll face his judgment, as will those who turned their backs to their brothers and sisters who were being led away from Him.

I don't know why anyone would at this stage of the game.

I believe we are kind to each other because we care for each other and share many commonalities. Whether we are unified depends on what you mean by that. Look on Facebook at any "progressive mormon" group and you'll see that we are very far apart in many areas of belief. Some of the discussion I have with Saints boggle my mind.

It's less about the stone and more about the seer. What is it that Heavenly Father wants us to translate that we need the stones for?

During the campaign Harris will be the attack dog. Biden can't get out of his own way, so the media will keep him out of the spotlight because Trump will destroy him. Harris will mostly ignore Pence and campaign as though she is running for President. She'll attack Trump relentlessly. If Trump attacks her using the vulgarity he has in the past, then those attacks will be pushed by the media as misogynist and racist. It's their best plan, really,

Good Luck!

I saw that today. What a shame!

I'm reading the second volume of Saints and there a ton of things that I either didn't know about the Church, surprised to learn how modern day things originated, or wonder why something changed. I find it refreshing how the story is written and how it includes things I wouldn't suspect. If you haven't read it, I strongly suggest you get caught up. That said, after seeing so many things going on at BYU these days, and never having attended there (although I'm considering applying to the law school), I wonder if people who ARE familiar with the school now feel it has gone off track from the intentions of President Young. He seemed to make it very clear that it was to be completely faith immersed, unless I'm missing something. It doesn't seem that the school has held true to that? Also, it was funny to see the Salt Lake Tribune hasn't veered off it's original purpose.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I follow the Prophet. I hope nothing I've posted suggests otherwise. Even though our Stake said it is requested, not required, that we wear masks to Church, I'd wear one. My personal thoughts on the topic, while contrary, are irrelevant.

I haven't seen anyone stating people shouldn't follow the Church. I saw people stating that forcing healthy people wearing masks didn't make a lot of sense.

Essentially, that article alludes that they don't know how they were transmitted. Assuming your stated method of infection is exhaled droplets that are inhaled by others then even if an asymptomatic person were exhaling the virus, it's traveling less than 3 feet. You aren't being infected by casual contact with asymptomatic people unless you're in their face breathing as they exhale. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17542834/