dprh

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  1. Like
    dprh reacted to Just_A_Guy in Religious Exemption   
    Agreed.
    I’m not saying it’s not a liberty/conscience violation.
    I’m just saying that I don’t think we help the cause of Zion by telling the public that our religion prohibits us from doing something that multiple members of our highest leadership councils have very publicly and enthusiastically done.
  2. Like
    dprh got a reaction from NeuroTypical in How will you follow the Prophet’s Counsel?   
    I do agree with this.  I'm all for a lot of protections, but I would love schools to stay in-person and mask-free.
  3. Like
    dprh reacted to LDSGator in Requiring a COVID-19 Vaccine (shot/s)   
    Same here. 
     
     
    We’re just glad you aren’t as wordy as JJ. 
     
    ( @JohnsonJones-totally playing!!!) 
  4. Like
    dprh got a reaction from clwnuke in Requiring a COVID-19 Vaccine (shot/s)   
    Sounds like they made the decision to follow the prophet and took responsibility to limit their exposure and chance of spreading the virus.
    From the handbook, I read it to mean, "get vaccinated, but if you have (valid) concerns, do your due diligence. " (I'm not nearly as eloquent as JJ)
     
  5. Like
    dprh got a reaction from JohnsonJones in Requiring a COVID-19 Vaccine (shot/s)   
    Sounds like they made the decision to follow the prophet and took responsibility to limit their exposure and chance of spreading the virus.
    From the handbook, I read it to mean, "get vaccinated, but if you have (valid) concerns, do your due diligence. " (I'm not nearly as eloquent as JJ)
     
  6. Like
    dprh got a reaction from JohnsonJones in Religious Exemption   
    My mother-in-law works as a registrar at a middle school.  She's had members of the church claim the religious exemption for their children.  In her job, she accepts it, documents it, and moves on (usually with an 🙄).  
    If you need a leader's signature, that's a different story.  I'm sure there are some bishops who'd be happy to sign that and others that never would.
     
  7. Like
    dprh got a reaction from LDSGator in Requiring a COVID-19 Vaccine (shot/s)   
    Sounds like they made the decision to follow the prophet and took responsibility to limit their exposure and chance of spreading the virus.
    From the handbook, I read it to mean, "get vaccinated, but if you have (valid) concerns, do your due diligence. " (I'm not nearly as eloquent as JJ)
     
  8. Like
    dprh reacted to JohnsonJones in Requiring a COVID-19 Vaccine (shot/s)   
    When Saints were told to move out West, most of the time they did so as they followed the Prophet.  HOWEVER, there were some exceptions that came along, and thus a few ended up staying in the East while a few others went to other locations.  Most don't follow or even talk about these outliers because they were the exception rather than the rule.  In addition, there were not that many of them at all that had these types of exceptions.  In almost all cases they eventually went West, but after situations and times made it possible for them to travel there.
    In that light, the normal idea is you do as you are asked by the Prophet.  However, there have been notations of reasons WHY one may not take the vaccine as per official policy.  This exception is normally accompanied by prayer and talking with PROFESSIONAL medical personnel (I'd assume normally about the inherent risks of taking a vaccine in relation to one's own health situation).
    Now, I've seen MANY try to talk about the Letter of the law by saying they talked to some medical individual (sometimes via forums on the internet, sometimes to a nurse or anyone other than the their medical doctor, or they specifically seek out some other doctor who they know will tell them what they want).  They claim a fear of vaccines rather than any true medical condition.
    Some of their claims are actually quite offensive when compared to others who got the vaccine.  It is more offensive when those taking what they see as the letter of the law as seen above vs. those who actually need to deal with the actual REASONS of  the policy and the reason the Spirit of it is involved with the law.  Some examples...
    I know an individual on Oxygen with COPD and severe allergic reactions which can cause them to go into shock.  Even the slightest HINT of tobacco smoke for example has caused us to need to call an ambulance for them.  They wore a mask when we saw them and got vaccinated.  If they could wear a mask, those claiming they can't breathe because of masks but are healthy otherwise with no breathing problems are just mocking those who REALLY can't breathe.  The individual on Oxygen actually hated how the Church has forced people to go back to get the sacrament in their area because they know all the claims of those who don't wear masks and ignore the REAL danger they provide to those who really DO have breathing problems if Covid was spread to them.
    Another two examples of vaccines.  My son-in Law has a brother who is immunocompromised.  His brother has basically lived in isolation for the past year.  I have not seen them and even his own brother has avoided visiting over fears of the virus (of course, there were fears of other diseases as well, but this has been heightened about Covid due to the recklessness of people willing to spread it).  He has gotten vaccinated.  Now, we are unsure of how well that vaccination works as his body lacks the ability to really create immunity, so it is STILL a fear he lives in because there are many who don't care whether they kill him or not by giving him diseases (a normal concern to be honest without Covid, but with the reckless regard some have created with Covid, it's become a much worse concern).
    A final example, though not as extreme, one of my children has a VALID concern about vaccines.  They have deadly allergy to eggs and a few other items involved with the creation of vaccines.  They have not gotten the flu vaccine for years because of this.  We found out early on in their life after a vaccination sent them to them to the ER.  After that EVERY vaccination is referred to the doctor, as it's not just eggs, but that's the most common item in some vaccines which they are allergic to (think of some vaccines as injecting liquid poison into their veins type bad, and thus sending them to the hospital).  We talked to doctors and specialist on this, because taking a vaccine is a life threatening event for my kid.  This WAS one where heavy discussion with professional medical personnel and prayer was involved.  My kid eventually took the vaccine and is now vaccinated, but it was with a GREAT DEAL of deliberation on it.  It was not some light debate of reading some internet articles, thinking we didn't want it and asking a doctor to validate our thoughts.  It was a serious debate concerning a VERY REAL health concern directly related to taking vaccines.
    I HIGHLY doubt most have done what we and our family did in regards to my kid getting vaccinated and how seriously we took it.  It was a literal life and death type consideration in whether to get the Covid-19 Vaccine for them.  The final choice was my child (as they are old enough to make their decision, but they asked for prayers and thoughts from everyone in the family), but they did a LOT of prayer, fasting, and deliberation as well as consultation with a wide range of their doctors and specialist before coming to a conclusion.
    So when people come out with light stories and basically make a mockery of those who really DID have health concerns and DID have to consider the realities of health, life, death, and the seriousness of it, it could be seen as rather offensive.
    However, that's more of seeing it in the Spirit I feel it was given, rather than just following an interpretation of the Letter of it.  There ARE valid exceptions, just like there were for the Saints who went out West.  However, normally I think it would be the EXCEPTION rather than the massive numbers who FEEL they are the exceptions but if we really look at the spirit of how it was probably given...probably really aren't.
     
    Edit:  However, just to clarify, there ARE valid reasons NOT to take the vaccine, and it is a personal decision up to the individual in that light.  It is spelled out in the handbook, the policy on vaccines has been out before the First Presidencies most recent message on the topic.  Their statement, to me, is more pointing out that it is still the Church policy in reference to some of the more recent vaccines that have come out over the past year and that we adhere to it.
  9. Haha
    dprh reacted to NeuroTypical in How will you follow the Prophet’s Counsel?   
    While I believe there is some tiny measurable benefit to populations masking in public, I also believe masking children is beyond stupid.  We are very lucky with this virus, because it basically ignores children.  In 2016, 636 kids under 12 died in auto accidents.   Between 3/20 and 2/21, 25 kids under 18 died of COVID. 
    And when it comes to elementary school age kids, you're wasting your time trying to get them to mask up.  Kiddos are germy little booger factories that are basically a small conveyor belt of everything within reach directly into their mucus membranes.  And then they cough/spit/breathe/spew/emit particles in every direction.  Some say it gets better in middle school, but many of us know it gets worse.  
    To paraphrase an old saying, one kid gives you one mask, two kids give you about half a mask, and three kids give you no masks at all. 
     
  10. Like
    dprh reacted to Just_A_Guy in Religious Exemption   
    I can understand Latter-day Saints saying they have a conscience-based objection to the vaccine.
    Given President Nelson’s statements, I don’t think a Latter-day Saint has a strong grounds for claiming a religious-based objection to the vaccine.  The best we can do in that vein is a broad “my religious notions of ‘personal revelation’ mean I get to do whatever the heck I want” type of argument.  It’s a cute argument, to be sure; and the law and the courts, in the short term, may play along with that kind of bootstrapping.  But over the longer haul our increasingly secular society and the politicians they will continue to elect will see this as an example of why “religious liberty” is basically a pretext for people becoming a law unto themselves, and will use it to crack down on tolerance of honest-to-gosh religious-based differences.
    IMHO, conservative Christians will find themselves better-protected in the long term if they reserve their religious-liberty exemptions for cases that are truly a matter of religious liberty.
  11. Like
    dprh reacted to NeuroTypical in How will you follow the Prophet’s Counsel?   
    I'm reminded of the story we tell our missionaries to keep 'em motivated.  Dude walking along the beach, where the millions of starfish that had been swept in with the tide are all dying on the beach.  Dude is walking along tossing them back when he comes to them, happy as a clam.  They ask Dude "there's no way you can save them all, or even a statistically relevant portion of them!  Your effort are negligible at best - it simply doesn't matter!"   He picks up a starfish and chucks it back into the ocean, "It mattered to this one!"
    It's a similar thing with masks.  Even a barely-noticable reduction in risk, when you are looking at an entire population, means lives are saved.
    (Yes, a good response, is nobody is forcing the man to toss starfish.  That's a valid point.)
  12. Like
    dprh reacted to Jane_Doe in Doctrine Fallout   
    Your brother seems like he's carrying some major hurt.  I doubt any answer here will truly help him- rather specifically resolve that decade+ of old hurt.  I just don't see that happening.  
    But to answer the question nonetheless: vast majority of the time, things are indeed focused on Christ & the concepts of loving each other-- as they should be, those are the most important.  Sometimes there are specific situations where loving your neighbor does come to a specific call of action: such as the need for us all to fight this pandemic and take care of each other.  It's not a "I can do whatever I want and I'm not going to affect anyone else" situation.   Yes, there is that strong urging for covid cautious in scheduled programs (closing down Sacrament meetings, temples, etc) and individuals day to day (asking people to vaccinate, mask, social distance, etc).  
    As to people struggling with this urging: yes some people do indeed struggle.  We're all human: some readily follow, some rationalize blatant blowing it off, some kind of in the middle, etc.  I'm not going to pretend that's not the case.  We're each supposed to study things out: think for yourself, look at leaders words, consult with the Lord, etc.  It never should be about just blindly following.  I personally do find that the covid-cautious route is wise and agree full heartedly here.  I also acknowledge that others have more internal conflict on this topic.  And my heart goes out to those people: I myself have struggled with other topics.  My heart is sympathetic and moved, though I still urge what I believe to be best (the covid-cautious route).  And I totally acknowledge whatever path you've taken on this and other issues.  
  13. Like
    dprh got a reaction from MrShorty in The Deaf culture phenomenon - insights?   
    How many conference talks have there been about trials leading to growth?  It seems there are three or four every session that at least mention it.  While broken backs are incredibly terrible, if that is what it takes for me or my kids to become the type of people we need to be to, who am I to pray against it?  I'm struggling to express my thoughts on this.  JAG, I don't mean to sound critical.  Just what I've been learning the last few years, is to include a lot more "Thy will be done" in my prayers.  
  14. Haha
    dprh got a reaction from Vort in Stopping Gun Violence   
    (I love that you call him Jaws  )
  15. Like
    dprh reacted to Just_A_Guy in Ward building spring cleaning - help!   
    I dunno about the DTG medallions, but I have been known to use the other three medals (I earned all of them as a kid) as part of a Halloween costume a few years back when my wife and I were “Zombie Anna and Elsa’s Parents”.
     But the less said about that year, the better . . .
  16. Like
    dprh reacted to NeuroTypical in Ward building spring cleaning - help!   
    That's the answer!   I didn't just wanna stick 'em on Ebay, because that was a bit too close to 'the sale of stolen goods' for my liking.
    But I can stick all this on eBay, see what sells, and then write a check to the missionary program!  I'll run that past the bishop - I'm sure he'll be happy.
    Because, dang: 

  17. Like
    dprh got a reaction from NeuroTypical in Ward building spring cleaning - help!   
    Ugh, clerks' offices do tend to collect clutter that no one knows what to do with.  Good work getting it tidied up!
    You could give the wooden boxes to the YW/YM/primary presidents to use for the new necklaces and rings.
    List the rest on eBay and put the $0.25 raised in a local missionary's account  
  18. Sad
    dprh got a reaction from NeuroTypical in Requiring a COVID-19 Vaccine (shot/s)   
    Also, from what I understand, flu shots are only effective for about 6 months.  That's why they like to give them out in the fall, so they last through the winter, into spring.  I wouldn't be surprised if an annual COVID shot becomes normal.
  19. Haha
    dprh reacted to Vort in Stopping Gun Violence   
    "Guns don't kill people. I do."
    -Jaws in some dumb Adam Sandler flick
  20. Like
    dprh reacted to NeuroTypical in Ward building spring cleaning - help!   
    As of last week, my ward building is now home to a third ward for the first time in it's existence.  It's forced a bit of cleaning.  We've chucked endless old manuals, shredded oodles of records, discarded tons of old photos of old ward activities featuring faces nobody recognizes.  I hauled out an old typewriter into the hall, and gave it to the first youth whose eyes grew big at the realization of what I was holding - after extracting the solemn promise never to bring the thing back into the building.  
    I don't know what to do with a large box of this stuff:

    I can't interest anyone in these.  The Duty To God stuff was ended in 2019.  The top middle is an "On My Honor" award - no more LDS scouting.  The Faith In God program seems to have been replaced by the Personal Development Children's Guidebooks, and the medallions aren't handed out any more.  
    What should I do with these?  The Duty To God medallions are quite nice - in a wooden box and everything.  I've sat in my clerk's office, looking at these things for 6+ years, they must leave the building permanently.  
    Halp?
  21. Love
    dprh reacted to Just_A_Guy in The Deaf culture phenomenon - insights?   
    Oh, I completely agree.  I just worry when this mentality leads us to passively accept, or even actively and deliberately perpetuate, situations that God had been expecting us—and indeed, gave us the means—to change.
    At the risk of invoking the good Dr. Godwin here:  We hear Holocaust survivors talk about the things they learned about human nature in the camps.  That doesn’t mean Eisenhower was wrong for liberating the camps, or that Hitler was inspired for creating them in the first place.
    I guess it goes back to AA’s serenity prayer—serenity to accept what we can’t change, courage to change what we can, and wisdom to know the difference.
  22. Sad
    dprh reacted to Still_Small_Voice in Man Clicks Strange Paddle in Son-in-Law's Tesla; It Was a $14,100 Mistake   
    By C. Douglas Golden  August 14, 2021

    You know technology has reached a scary new level when car companies can up sell you on things you don’t want without a) a salesman or dealer being present, or b) your consent.
    But Tesla buyers, beware: If you lend someone your car and they press the wrong paddle, you could end up being charged $14,186.25 for some very expensive options.
    According to CarScoops, Dominic Preuss — a Twitter blue-check whose primary fame comes from his work as a “product geek” from Google — let his father-in-law borrow his Tesla Model 3. The trouble likely began, Preuss said, when his father-in-law pressed a shift paddle twice while driving.
    If you’re familiar with Tesla, you know that the electric automaker is famous for its autopilot function, which steers the car for you and keeps it on cruise control. It’s an extra, however — although one you can activate remotely.
    The cars also have what’s known as “Full Self-Driving Capability.” As CarScoops notes, it’s really nothing of the sort, but it gets somewhat closer to what it says it does than the autopilot mode does. It allows the car to navigate on autopilot, automatically change lanes, auto-park, summon the car and exercise control at traffic lights and stop signs.
    These are pricey options, something Preuss reportedly found out the hard way.
    “For Your Information. If you double click the shift panel twice and accidentally engage the auto-pilot in Model 3, @Tesla will automatically charge you $14,100 if you didn’t previously purchase auto-pilot,” Preuss tweeted on July 27th.
    Read more at:  https://www.westernjournal.com/man-clicks-strange-paddle-father-laws-tesla-14100-mistake-report/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=aa-breaking&utm_campaign=can&utm_content=firefly&ats_es=e103a55ea0944a821e68b1ae798fb68f
  23. Like
    dprh got a reaction from Just_A_Guy in The Deaf culture phenomenon - insights?   
    How many conference talks have there been about trials leading to growth?  It seems there are three or four every session that at least mention it.  While broken backs are incredibly terrible, if that is what it takes for me or my kids to become the type of people we need to be to, who am I to pray against it?  I'm struggling to express my thoughts on this.  JAG, I don't mean to sound critical.  Just what I've been learning the last few years, is to include a lot more "Thy will be done" in my prayers.  
  24. Like
    dprh reacted to Fether in Why did we fight a war in Afghanistan?   
    I would point out that our government said the Taliban took over more quickly than they thought. Meaning the US knew the Taliban would take over. They knew the Afghan army was not equipped enough to fight the Taliban. We left them to their demise. And when it fell, the response was “that was quicker than we thought”. https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/16/politics/biden-afghanistan-speech/index.html
    And as for the army itself, I think it was more complicated than a strong nation helping a small nation become strong and they refusing to. From what so understand, Afghanistan isn't really a United nation, but rather groups of warlords that rule different areas. There is no sense of nationality. It’s full of corruption, lack of proper schooling, a corrupt view on morality, and many other issues.
    I don’t know why this all happened the way it did, but we can’t treat Afghanistan like little America.
  25. Like
    dprh reacted to Still_Small_Voice in Why did we fight a war in Afghanistan?   
    Some news on the 20th of August 2021 was that three hundred Christians were evacuated on an airplane out of Afghanistan by the Nazarene Fund charity.  They also had other airplanes inbound to take more people.