scottyg

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  1. Like
    scottyg reacted to Anddenex in Elder Oaks Tackles a Hard Hitting Question   
    This young lady's question is a question I have been pondering actually for over a month now. At times, I feel I am waiting for our leaders to come out more directly than they have (e.g. the Family Proclamation canonized), and then at times I think they have been very clear but we have members of the Church who still think and believe -- if not canon -- then they teach the philosophies of men mingled with scripture so carefully crafted. The easiest example, "God told us to love," while ignoring that the first great commandment is to love God with all our heart, might, mind, and strength, which means we do exactly that we teach his truth, his way, and his light.
    Having family members on both side who are experiencing homosexuality and gender dysphoria it would be nice to see more direct speech. Calling out the wolves so to speak, and yet I openly admit I don't see the way God sees the wheat amongst the tares (who is tare and who is not but God does). I understand, he doesn't want to root up a wheat who appears to be a tare right now.
    I believe @laronius hits the nail on the head with proactive parenting; however, I'm not a big fan of calling "Come Follow Me" -- new. This was the Church's teaching this whole time. Teaching of our children was and has always been on the parents. This to me is more evidence that we, collectively, weren't following what the Lord had already taught...now he needed to be more plain rather than us following the teachings and the Spirit.
    I have never expected the Church to teach my children. I have always seen it as Church supported -- FAMILY centered. It has never been the other way to me.
  2. Like
    scottyg reacted to laronius in Elder Oaks Tackles a Hard Hitting Question   
    Up until the mid 1900s many of the truths we believed in were also reinforced by society. As a result there wasn't a whole lot of need to spend time teaching the "obvious". But then slowly at first and now like a raging torrent society is/has moved further and further away from traditional Christian values. We no longer have the luxury of assuming that our youth will just pick up these values along the way. We can't even assume they will pick them up at church because of wolves in sheep's clothing. It must be taught in the home, from very early on, and completely undiluted. A lot of people think COVID was fulfillment of the foreseen need of increased gospel teaching in the home. I think that was just a trial run. Something far more deadly is infecting society now and will continue to get worse.
  3. Like
    scottyg reacted to mikbone in Elder Oaks Tackles a Hard Hitting Question   
    The young lady’s letter was insightful.
    Many adults in the church are being taught (brainwashed) in schools or their places of work and are bringing their ‘understanding’ back to the classrooms of the church.
    I anticipate that we will continue to receive insightful direction from the general authorities in upcoming conferences.
    It will take brave local leadership to maintain the integrity of the church.
    I’m doing what I can to point out when falsehood bleeds into our classrooms.  
    And as parents we do a fair amount of correcting false doctrine that is taught to our children in Sunday School and young men / women activities.
  4. Like
    scottyg reacted to person0 in Elder Oaks Tackles a Hard Hitting Question   
    This is an issue that has plagued my ward for years now.  I really appreciate that he taught that Church leaders and teachers have the responsibility to teach the truths of the gospel.  One cannot effectively teach the truth if in one breath they teach the family proclamation, and in the next they refer to someone using eternally/biologically inaccurate pronouns; in doing so, they sacrifice the truth and tear down their own witness.
    I appreciate the entirety of his answer, but that part struck me as an excellent way to lead out.
    I appreciate the way he noted the parable.  I think what may be lost on many is that in the parable, while the accusers are turned away from their judgement, the woman is also instructed to turn away from her sins.  When members use pronouns, or engage in 'affirming' behaviors, they are supporting the falsehood or sin.  This would be contextually similar to Christ referring to the woman's partner in the sin, as if he were her husband; doing so would entirely unravel the Savior's instruction.
    I appreciate the girl being so bold as to ask, and Elder Oaks being willing to answer.
  5. Like
    scottyg reacted to mikbone in Political Cults and the worship of the philosophies of man   
    I can't handle watching the political news anymore.  The drama, lies, corruption, never ends. 
    And since I live in CA, my vote dosent count, the state is so liberal and democratic leaning.
    If I really cared, I guess I would move to Ohio where votes seem to count.  
    I am a member of the hospital Medical Executive Committee.  And I cause a ruckus there.  They voted me in and I didn't even know I was on the ballott.  Anyway, I don't argue.  I vote.  I am very free with saying motion / second.  And sometimes I just say oppose.  They correct me and say you cant oppose until a motion has been seconded.  I just get up and go to the bathroom and say "well whenever you get through with the debate mark me as opposed."  The time wasted in obvious matters and listening to the proud actors state their opinions is aggravating and mind numbing.
  6. Like
    scottyg reacted to Grunt in Political Cults and the worship of the philosophies of man   
    I'm torn.  On the one hand, I absolutely agree with you.  On the other hand, as someone who holds community office, I'm amazed at the things that go unchallenged in our schools and communities because people aren't involved enough to know what is going on.   
  7. Like
    scottyg reacted to Carborendum in Russia-Ukraine conflict   
    I had the pleasure of being a coworker to a particularly amiable atheist.  He once made a humorous comment about the circle/line symbol that we see on the on/off switch on our computers.  He called it a "religious symbol."
    In my quasi-aspergers mindset I thought he was being literal. I honestly thought he was under the impression that it was somehow derived from some ancient religion or other.  He was only partially joking.
    He explained that he was using a slightly broader definition of religion.  In the end, I realized that it wasn't a "broader" definition.  It was the "correct" definition.
    We speak of things in terms of "religion", "philosophy", and even "ideology."  But in the end, they really are all religions.  They are a belief system to whom we devote our lives to living and wanting others to live.
    Communism is a religion for those who believe in an all-powerful being which they call "the state." And those who are disloyal are apostates.  And apostates should be enslaved.
  8. Like
    scottyg reacted to Vort in Just how are you supposed to respond to subtle ex-member complaining in a professional setting?   
    "I'm so sorry that your life choices have led you to this impasse. Best of luck with that."
    "Oh, you're still here. Was there anything else?"
  9. Like
    scottyg got a reaction from Still_Small_Voice in The Mark of the Beast Begins   
    Yep, and that's one reason all of my money is in a local credit union. Not perfect, but better than a big bank for now.
    Someday many of the people in this church will need to find other ways to "pay" for things, like bartering items or providing direct services for direct goods with no "money" exchange. Food storage, trade skills, farming and gardening knowledge, and owning small animals like Chickens will all be very important.
    I am very worried over how much farmland bill gates is buying. Thankfully, the church outbid him on a large plot last year.
  10. Like
    scottyg reacted to Just_A_Guy in Russia-Ukraine conflict   
    Tangent:  
    To be fair, DeSantis is merely revoking a corporatist-government alliance that a free-market conservative would argue never should have existed in the first place and that became intolerable when the apolitical private-sector partner became nakedly political.
    Though I suspect you’re right that many conservatives are approaching the situation from primarily an emotional, not an intellectual worldview.
  11. Like
    scottyg got a reaction from pam in Loose House Cats   
    Believe it or not I knew a man who had a pet skunk. His house didn't smell bad since skunks only spray in self-defense...but I wouldn't take that risk.
  12. Okay
    scottyg reacted to LDSGator in Loose House Cats   
    I think @NeuroTypical described it better than I can. I’m a suburban guy who likes the “city lifestyle”. I also hate cats, but I love dogs and own two. A mastiff and a Dalmatian. They are both indoor dogs and have never spent a night outside. Clarice, the Dal, runs with me in the cooler weather. 
     
    My personal, subjective opinion is that indoor cats probably live longer and more comfortable lives because they don’t have to deal with predators, automobiles, etc. So yes, I think it’s cruel to let a cat to outside where they’ll be subjected to things that could kill them. 
     
    I think it’s cruel to leave an animal outside, but let’s use common sense here. You probably shouldn’t let a horse live in your living room. Same with a llama or something. This might be unpopular but unless your dog is a Komondor or something I despise it when people leave dogs outside. Especially down here in Florida. So generally speaking yes I think it’s cruel (abnormally so, most dogs are pack animals) to leave an animal outside. 
  13. Like
    scottyg got a reaction from zil2 in Loose House Cats   
    I have never met anyone who had a problem with cats being out at night. Ours have never once slept indoors. I might hear one or two cat-fights each summer, but they all do a pretty good job marking their territory and steering clear of confrontation.
    Never had anyone be bothered by someone else's cat and never had any animals harmed by them either. They do get a lot of fun out of chasing chickens around though, and one of ours loves to sleep in their nesting boxes. Ours do a great job of catching starlings and mice, and our neighbors without cats appreciate that as they stopped having mice too once we got cats.
  14. Like
    scottyg reacted to Still_Small_Voice in Kirk Cameron -- Here's what my tour around America taught me about the weird, woke and wicked   
    April 27, 2023 -- Opinion by Kirk Cameron
    I’ve been on a cross country book tour for the last five months speaking with families and children across America at public libraries sharing my beliefs about faith, family and country. 
    You may already know that drag queens have been cross-dressing for children and appearing in many of our nation’s public libraries for years. And, you may have heard that I’ve been visiting these same public libraries—those that are willing to host me—and other venues doing my own story hour together with Brave Books. Families have been pouring into my events by the hundreds, even the thousands.  
    When I speak to these people, I share the timeless value of biblical wisdom and the "Fruit of the Spirit" with children and their parents. I warm the room, shine the light by reading stories to spellbound audiences from my new book, "As You Grow."
    After I conclude my remarks, panicked parents often crowd around, pressing me with hard questions. They are pleading; they earnestly long for a return to wholesome, God-honoring, pro-American values. 
    These people want to know:
    * "Why is there a seemingly sudden increase in pedophiles, sexual deviants? Why do we have so many amoral—or plainly immoral—educators, school administrators, school boards, politicians, community leaders, and even judges, hell-bent on advancing the sexualization of our innocent children, and pushing perversion into the hearts and minds of the most impressionable among us?
    * Why are too many of these leaders hiding their aberrant "sex education" and "gender-affirming" curricula from the parents of their students, stripping moms and dads of their rights to determine when and how their children are exposed to sensitive topics in school?
    Read more at: https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/tour-around-america-taught-weird-work-wicked
  15. Like
    scottyg got a reaction from LDSGator in Single members are just as capable as married members   
    Elder Uchtdorf only has 2 children, and Elder Renlund only has 1.
    Many sisters have also served as general officers and have never been married.
  16. Like
    scottyg got a reaction from Still_Small_Voice in Cancelling David O Mckays Mural At BYU Hawaii   
    The church leadership needs to open their eyes, and realize they need to be more actively involved with all 3 universities. Those they trusted to be in charge of them have proven time and time again that they are putting their own foolish desires and activism over the gospel.
    In their defense, it's hard to know who you can trust. Just because someone is a member of the church doesn't mean they want to see it succeed.
  17. Like
    scottyg got a reaction from Traveler in Cancelling David O Mckays Mural At BYU Hawaii   
    The church leadership needs to open their eyes, and realize they need to be more actively involved with all 3 universities. Those they trusted to be in charge of them have proven time and time again that they are putting their own foolish desires and activism over the gospel.
    In their defense, it's hard to know who you can trust. Just because someone is a member of the church doesn't mean they want to see it succeed.
  18. Like
    scottyg got a reaction from schematic_dreamer in Single members are just as capable as married members   
    Elder Uchtdorf only has 2 children, and Elder Renlund only has 1.
    Many sisters have also served as general officers and have never been married.
  19. Like
    scottyg got a reaction from clbent04 in Single members are just as capable as married members   
    Elder Uchtdorf only has 2 children, and Elder Renlund only has 1.
    Many sisters have also served as general officers and have never been married.
  20. Like
    scottyg reacted to laronius in Dating/marriage between converts and non-converts   
    Welcome.
    While there may be those who are less interested in dating a convert I think there is a much bigger issue with dating in general aming the younger generation. There are some pretty amazing women who just don't get married (Sis Nelson for example for most of her life). I can't say I know why but you gotta have faith in the Lord's plan for you, no matter the circumstances in life. All blessings are promised the faithful.
  21. Like
    scottyg reacted to NeuroTypical in Any other Star Wars geeks excited?   
    Yes. 😉
     
    I'd love to see some stories from the old empire.  Revan and whatnot.  The Clone Wars had some Yoda episodes that went pretty deep into the nature of things too.  Plenty to expand on.  
  22. Like
    scottyg reacted to mikbone in Any other Star Wars geeks excited?   
    We need more of this.



  23. Like
    scottyg reacted to NeuroTypical in Doorbell ditching   
    We already know the answer.  The exact same chances as any of the 20 people shot in Chicago last week.
    https://abc7chicago.com/chicago-weekend-shootings-today-violence-police/13108671/
    If it doesn't forward a liberal gun control or white racism narrative, nobody cares, nobody talks about it, nobody thinks about it.
  24. Like
    scottyg got a reaction from clbent04 in A General Authority Will Be Visiting Me This Saturday at My House   
    The main talk I used as part of my lesson today that I find applicable to this topic.
    https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2013/04/lord-i-believe?lang=eng
  25. Thanks
    scottyg reacted to clbent04 in A General Authority Will Be Visiting Me This Saturday at My House   
    It was a great visit. The GA and a member of the Stake Presidency came to visit me. We strongly felt the Holy Spirit, and it's been a long time since I felt it that powerfully. They shared a lot of love with me and it was moving. I feel grateful they selflessly took time out of their lives to visit me.
    I believe the visit was meant to be. It even worked out to where we had the house to ourselves since I didn't have my 6-year old daughter with me like I usually would since she was at her friend's birthday party with her Mom.
    Personal experiences, stories and advice were shared in response to my doubts about the Book of Mormon, and as the point was stressed to keep trying, I brought up how I was concerned I might talk myself into a testimony of the Book of Mormon versus accepting it based on truth. 
    The Holy Spirit most strongly manifested itself to me when the GA shared how he had been praying earlier this morning to help even just one person today, and how this meeting was meant to be, and how his assignment to visit my area had been assigned by Elder Ballard. I received a distinct impression as he was sharing all this that it was true and had been orchestrated by God and the Holy Spirit.
    I plan to stay in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I will continue trying to develop within it. I can't deny how powerfully the Holy Spirit manifested itself to me. 
    I still have many questions and maybe some will remain a mystery to me till after this mortal existence, but the important thing is I feel like God blessed me today to get over my hurdle of uneasiness about the Church with all the mounting questions and skepticism I had about it.
    I know I have a lot to learn, and even though I'm a slow learner, I'm hopeful to bring others unto Jesus Christ by sharing the kind of love that was shared with me today. 
    I'm taking a new approach starting today. When it comes to the Church, I'm not going to fixate on the things I don't understand. I will focus on the things I do understand and allow God to fill in the rest in due course.