scottyg

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Everything posted by scottyg

  1. I have unfortunately seen it in multiple individuals over many years...ward and stake leaders included. They feel that they have become more enlightened, when in reality they are more unhappy and lost. Everyone can see it but them.
  2. Gotcha. I disagree, (and still think he's an idiot) but now I understand what you're saying.
  3. You don't think they are giving God's word? You think that the messages shared at general conference are "skim milk"? You must not be listening very closely, and I recommend you just go back to lurking. As I have said above, the prophet does speak for Christ...they always have, and he does not have to blatantly say this every time he speaks. You are the one who needs to be more receptive and listen better. Quit trying to force feed yourself meat when you actually need more milk.
  4. This has nothing to do with right versus left. There are plenty of stupid conservative politicians. This guy in particular is simply an idiot. Maybe I missed something in your remarks, but I don't understand what point you are trying to make here.
  5. Nor do I, at least I don't think I do. But I don't think that case applies here. He is simply choosing of his own volition to be blind to the corrupt situation going on around him...and with the situation being as serious as it is with so many severe ramifications being possible, he is definitely a complete idiot.
  6. Or, he's just an idiot.
  7. Perhaps my comment is nitpicking, but the early leaders of the church had to be very bold in their speaking so that the people would know that the Lord's prophet was communicating directly with Him. No one had done this before in thousands of years...so it needed to be made very clear to them that a prophet was upon the earth once more. The following statement was made by Russel M. Nelson earlier this year. "My dear friends, today I wish to share with you a special invitation. There are a few wonderful occasions in the scriptures when our Heavenly Father personally introduced His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, with a specific charge to “Hear Him!” Today, this most-important invitation from our loving Heavenly Father to listen to the voice of the Lord and to follow His teachings is extended to us. In this special year as we commemorate the 200th anniversary of the First Vision, I invite you to think deeply and often about this key question: How do you hear Him?" The following is also written as part of the manifesto you talk about above as given by Wilford Woodruf. He did in fact present the will/word of the Lord: "The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place,...The Lord showed me by vision and revelation exactly what would take place if we did not stop this practice....But I want to say this...the God of heaven commanded me to do what I did do; and when the hour came that I was commanded to do that, it was all clear to me. I went before the Lord, and I wrote what the Lord told me to write. …" Now, there are many ways that anyone can hear the Lord. His voice doesn't have to be vocal to us, or to His prophet. However, it is folly to think that just because he doesn't tell us he heard the Lord's voice that he has not. There is no reason that the prophet must say, every time a new policy or practice is introduced, that he heard it from the mouth of the Lord Himself. Who else would it have come from...it is His church after all. As Carborendum referenced above "By mine own voice or the voice of my servants...." There is no reason the prophet or apostles must declare unto us any and all open visions they see. Now again, perhaps my comment is nitpicking, but claiming that things our prophets have and are saying and doing are mere "assertions" or "declarations" places you on very shaky ground. Have more faith. Just because people don't act or speak in a manner that you expect, or doesn't fit your definition of ideal doesn't mean that the revelation given is any different. The Lord and his prophet are deliberate in what they do.
  8. The situation is similar when it comes to the lgbtqxyz ilk. Simply allowing them to practice in a manner they choose is not enough. You must also think and feel the same way they do, or else you are actually a bigot who is discriminating against them. You must embrace their ideals. As Giddianhi said in 3 Nephi: "Therefore I write unto you, desiring that ye would yield up unto this my people,...Or in other words, yield yourselves up unto us, and unite with us and become acquainted with our secret works, and become our brethren that ye may be like unto us...I am the governor of this the secret society of Gadianton; which society and the works thereof I know to be good."
  9. I think it is better explained as giving members of the church a lower tuition rate, rather than saying non-members are charged more. Even then, the rates for non-members are still quite favorable for a university of BYU's caliber. For example, non-members at BYU can get 12 credit hours for less than half the price of non-resident students at the U of U...and the U of U is still cheap compared to schools in other states. And, you won't find a better Law School anywhere that has prices even close to BYU. I think their prices actually entice outside graduate students to come. Unfortunately though, I can see lawsuits coming in the future over member vs non-member prices as many lgbtqxyz folks will never be able to qualify for the lower rate. (even though they don't actually want to go to school there, and just want to be a sjw) I believe that when President Nelson states many changes in the church are coming, not all of it is due to the work progressing per se, but also due to the adversary's efforts being quadrupled over the coming years.
  10. I wonder OP's (trolls) "friend" is also concerned about the child marriages of 12 and 13 year olds that still take place in islamic countries...
  11. "...Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets. WE CALL UPON responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society." The Family: A Proclamation to the World, 1995
  12. I didn't say anything about the scriptures. I agree with your comment though.
  13. The Gospel of Jesus Christ isn't complex. Communication from the Holy Ghost isn't complex either. It is men who choose to muddy the waters with their so called "intellect". Simplistic explanations are just right for me thank you very much.
  14. Methinks they were self-serving motivations, e.g. seeking validation. Just another young buck who recently got an education and wrote a paper who now wants to show the rest of the world how enlightened he is so he can feel welcomed at the adult dinner table. Perhaps I am too harsh, and I could be wrong, but he definitely came off as pround and unwilling to accept the possibility that others views could be right. He appears to be around my age, and I am sure I have done my fair share of showboating at times as well.
  15. If one wants to know the true meaning of the scriptures, the Holy Ghost is the one to seek after for that knowledge...not men who fancy themselves "learned" due to their calling, career, or position. I'll also put this quote here in no direct response to anyone in particular. It was given to Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer. “These plates have been revealed by the power of God, and they have been translated by the power of God; the translation of them which you have seen is correct, and I command you to bear record of what you now see and hear”. History of the Church, 1838–1856, volume A-1, p.25 [23 December 1805–30 August 1834]
  16. You folks need to understand that insurance companies do not dictate treatment. That is a myth. All they do is reimburse. If an insurance company declines to approve a surgery for example, the person and their doctor can still have it done...the insurer just won't be paying for it. These decisions to deny treatment are not made individually from person to person - that would give too much room for bias and error. Legally, everyone's case must be graded the same way. Each surgical procedure for example has medical criteria that must be met, and it is all decided on in advance what that criteria is before members sign up for their plans. Medical policies contain criteria based off of thorough research into best medical practice. That research is done by MD's, Pharmacists, Nurses, etc...not some random group of white collar big wigs. It is all decided and agreed upon up front when you enroll in your plan, and you have the right and ability to know what is and isn't covered. If a certain procedure is not covered by your insurance, then it isn't covered. The potential cost of it isn't included in your premiums...you aren't paying for it...so why should they cover it for you? In fact, they legally can't provide coverage for something not actually specified as a benefit. Saying that insurance is the source of the problem is just ignorance on display. Everyone, including american citizens, share a piece of the rising healthcare cost pie.
  17. David O. McKay actually met with McConkie several times and asked him not to publish the book, and firmly told him to make it clear that it was his own work and opinion, and not endorsed by the church in any way. I would refute your other statements more, but I doubt you would care to really listen. If all you want to do is criticize then at least get your facts straight from now on...unless of course your aim is to blatantly sew discontent.
  18. Hopefully politifact doesn't find about The Onion or we're all in big trouble.
  19. How exactly does it quantify the percentages when they don't actually fact check everything said? How does it quantify when they cherry pick what statements they do check? Also, if Obama and Trump each tell a half-truth / half-lie they will say Obama's statement is mostly true and Trump's is mostly false. Politifact? Really? C'mon man.
  20. We may be getting a bit off topic here, but to me, 1 Ne 16: 1-3 paints this situation very well. John 6: 59-61, and 66-68 is another prime example. The Lord spoke hard things, and many of His disciples left...but He did not vary or change what He had said to bring them back. Think the church is a man-made religion? Don't like being called to repentance? Well then don't expect to abide with the Christ and Father again someday. The Father was willing to lose 1/3 of His children in order to move the plan of happiness forth. I have to wonder if some of those 1/3 possibly thought "our Father won't really cast us off forever. If enough of us show him that we want another way then surely he will change his mind." The Father did not change His mind, because He can't. The bar will not be lowered so that more of His children can partake of eternal life, because that is impossible. It defeats the purpose of eternal life, and that was the great hidden lie about satan's so called "plan". One cannot abide a Celestial glory if they are unable to abide a Celestial law. Now, I am not saying that the ministering program of the church is Celestial law...but hopefully you get my point.
  21. Well said. To me the most concerning thing that has been said in this thread so far is "The re-named 'Ministering' program lowered the bar on the assignment." This is completely false, and the exact opposite of what church leaders have taught us about the purpose of the change, and it is disappointing to hear. What did the 5 foolish virgins do when their lamps burned out...they ran to get more oil. Even though they were late, at least they knew it was necessary. One who has this view above is akin to one of those virgins outright refusing to get extra for their lamp when a more pure version of the oil is being freely offered to them and their neighbors. "Oil for my lamp...nah...I'm good. Only 5-10% of my ward and stake are out getting oil...plus, I don't think this oil you have is really better. Really though, all of this stuff isn't necessary anyway. I can have a relationship with the Bridegroom without it and everything will somehow work out in the end." The scriptures have many examples of people who thought this way, and what the end result was...and it was never a better relationship with the Lord.
  22. I would like to know about some of these "moving goalposts" you speak of.
  23. I have lived and served in both. I have nothing against married student wards as they are beneficial to many, but the both of you will likely grow much more in a traditional ward. The various types of service opportunities are far greater, you will likely learn more as there are more experienced members in family wards with different points of view than just young couples. The fact that you are now thinking about this shows you are ready for a traditional ward. It is also easier to make lasting friendships and connections when your ward isn't so transient like student wards. Even if you only stay there for a year or two, you will learn many things that will benefit you when you finally put down permanent roots somewhere.