mightynancy

Yes, it would stink to have a higher fee, but on the other hand this makes me giggle. I'm a @*$ Californian (moved to ID in 94), and $150 was the cheap seats there. Our roads are dismal - we've gotta find the money to maintain them.

Correction: He will not allow a prophet to lead us astray. Completely different.

Boy Scouts of America LDS Relationships In my area, each ward is a separate unit - actually many units. There is a Cub Pack (age 8-10), a Scouting Troop (11's and 12-13 years old, separately), a Varsity Team (14-15 years old) and a Venturing Crew (16-17 years old). We combine all the wards in our building, so that makes three Cub packs and nine scouting units (though in practice it's 12 because we keep the 11's separate). This setup, IMO, provides very little continuity. I understand they want to keep each quorum separate, being that we LDS people use Scouting to further the aims of the Priesthood. That said, I think it's silly; they could pick one of those programs and have the different quorums be different patrols. I think Scouting is the least-specialized (there are sports activities in Scouts, for example), but whatever, IMO they should just pick one. What sorts of questions do you have?

Amazing, but gifts like that aren't always all sunshine. From the video, it doesn't look like true hyperlexia (which goes hand in hand with autism). Giftedness does bring other, less positive issues along with its gifts. :)

So, you're teaching the weekday achievement activity? I would make sure the activities are really engaging for the girls. Get them in on the planning (one girl at a time would probably be best, so she'll participate in the planning and not goof off as much). Find the "ringleader" and make a special effort to bring her around. A lot depends on why they're behaving the way they are. Are they spoiled brats? Neglected and needing attention? Raised by wolves and don't know better? ADD/ADHD? Insecure? Each cause will need a different solution.

I'm all about classics. I like that in the future, when ordering from Talbot's over the phone, DD can just say, "Catherine. With a C." rather than "No, no, it's K-H-A-T-H-A-R-H-Y-N-N-E." Hey Siouxsie! Miriam! Medium! LOL It's too late now, but had there been a surprise third child in our household, Miriam would be on the short list.

I suppose the white-shirts-for-deacons rule depends on your perspective. When asked about it, President Hinckley said, "I'm more interested in what's inside the boy." My son wears a white shirt, only because I don't wish to make waves any more than I already do.

What bothers me most is the focus on silly things to the neglect of the things that matter. When a boy is criticized for not wearing a white shirt to pass the sacrament. Tradition, not doctrine. I had members in a meeting freak out when I pointed this out (and I'm good-natured - I wasn't testy, honest!). Ditto the right hand for the sacrament. A friend's stake president told her, "If you don't take the Sacrament with your right hand, you may as well not take it at all." What? Tradition, not doctrine. Testimony meetings full of anything but testifying. Tradition in opposition of doctrine. And we won't even go into politics. Crytsprospect, it's only sad for me in that I feel out of step with a lot of my fellow ward members. This "crisis of church" (as opposed to a crisis of faith) has actually been good in a way. It has driven me to the temple more. It has shown me that I'm not a social Mormon - I'm going because I believe. Our ward is changing, slowly, for the better.

I'm no economist, but back in 1955 I'm sure that they didn't pay store clerks $8 per hour, either. When I was a kid (ages ago! It was the 70's for pete's sake!), clothing was more expensive in relation to income than it is now. I don't disagree that price inflation isn't a good thing, but it shouldn't be considered in isolation.

I so agree with Kirby! The thing that drives me more nuts than anything else at church is our collective ignorance. I go batty if I contemplate for more than a few minutes how there is no line between LDS cultural traditions and LDS doctrine. That said, I keep going, mostly so I can take the sacrament and get my temple pass.

One of the best ways to get kids to go to Nursery happily is for the Nursery to be what it is meant to be. It isn't babysitting; it's the Primary class for the 18 month-3 years old crowd. There should be organized activities, a lesson, music time, snack time, and play (not necessarily in that order). There should be two adults. My daughter hated Nursery at first - it was boring! We moved and she entered a well-run class and never looked back.

http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/vin.asp

I'm calling him Canute the Great. Yes, he's a Viking. Okay, okay, so the Viking company calls him the "Platinum 730", but I'm calling him Canute. (For the clueless, it's an ab fab sewing machine!). Me luv got a hand-knit scarf, a blanket, and a gift card toward a coat that he's got his eye on. The chillens got a Nano (the older chile) and American Girl Bitty Twins (the younger chile), and about 50 pounds of books. Warmest congratulations to the a-train family!! It's the gift that keeps on giving!

Succinctly said! I did a lot of hand-wringing about making Christmas this high holy thing for my kids. When I gave it deeper thought, I came to the conclusion that Easter, er, sorry Traveler, the Day When We Recognize the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is more important as far as holiness goes, and that teaching my kids to be generous, to know the prophecies surrounding Christ's birth, and whatnot is certainly enough for Christmastime.

Actually, it's the other way around...if we have the history correct, we're Christianizing some Pagan holidays...whatever! I use the common English terms for these holidays so as to avoid confusion. Most people are entirely unaware of the roots of the words they speak. Even those of us who love language often use terms that are technically inappropriate in order to communicate clearly in the present. I realize that it's physically impossible for my son to be hysterical, but it's an apt word for his reaction to a tragedy. I shouldn't call Labor Day a holiday at all...it's not holy in the least. I imagine I could put my foot down and call Christmas and Easter something else...but that wouldn't change what the holidays themselves mean to me.

Going back a few pages for this... Jason, try looking at this another way. You know how we speculate about our Mother in heaven, and how Heavenly Father has not revealed her name nor much about her at all, so as not to allow us to defile her name? My view is that when people type G-d, they are avoiding any chance of being profane with His name. They find it so holy that to write it in its completeness during such common usage would be disrespectful. I personally don't mind writing out His name, but can completely respect those who would use the equivalent of a reverent whisper when referring to Him in writing.

For me and my family, Easter is a much holier holiday than Christmas. During Christmas, we do study accounts of Christ's birth, and place special emphasis on the symbols currently used for the season, but it's also a time of light and fun. Easter is our time for really digging deep to connect with the reason for the holiday. For me personally, it's a time of repentance and recommitment. Every day is a day for striving to be better followers of Christ; I don't feel that stripping the lighthearted aspects of Christmas away will help us do that any better.

I'd call Henri Matisse and see if he wants to hang out or somethin'. Or paint a mural in my living room.

DH is well aware of the power found in "Yes, dear." He is even teaching our son that sometimes you just gotta say "Yes, ma'aam" and get on with life!

I sent a pm, and didn't hear back - got in anyhow, though, when I clicked on it!

In one you're faking evil, in the other you're testing God. Either way, you're likely to internalize that which you're doing externally.

She's an insightful little girl! Regarding the question, Revelation 3: 15-16 comes to mind...it's pretty clear that God wants us to take a stand. I would imagine that in the very moment of choosing God or choosing death, it boils down to trusting Him, and believing that while your physical self is in danger, your soul is safe with Him. It is quite easy to think about it from the safety of my chair in my home...I can't fathom being faced with that choice!

What Onyx said. We had an indestructible nativity the kids could play with - it was great for acting out the story. The kids also loved books about Christ's birth, and don't underestimate them - read it to them directly from the scriptures as well!

Oooh, Siouxz, I'm so un-twee it hurts! Don't call me twee! Care Bears are twee. Precious Moments figurines are twee. Mightynancy is not twee. Just so I'm clear.

Great thread! Thanks Dr. T, and everyone else who has contributed words. I have one. I have made the mistake of using the word trite when what I meant to say was twee. trite –adjective, trit·er, trit·est. 1. lacking in freshness or effectiveness because of constant use or excessive repetition; hackneyed; stale: the trite phrases in his letter. 2. characterized by hackneyed expressions, ideas, etc.: The commencement address was trite and endlessly long. 3. Archaic. rubbed or worn by use. twee –adjective Chiefly British. Affectedly dainty or quaint: twee writing about furry little creatures. Overly precious or nice.