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Hugh Nibley, Approaching Zion, Chapter 3 "Zeal Without Knowledge": (Bold is mine. Nibley is brutal, but in an enabling and inspiring way.)

Really? Like soldiers marching with sharp turns at the corners, synchronized steps and arm movements, constant gaze, perhaps even uniform attire... My impression was that this was the thing being complained about - not simple efficiency. When those passing the Sacrament know who covers where and they move quietly and do their duty effectively, that's not distracting. But the lock-step marching and turning off out of the line to go to one's area of assignment like a military drill performance - that would be a show and a distraction.

I have made it a habit to avoid watching the movements of those passing the Sacrament, lest I spend the whole time analyzing their efficiency / appropriateness...

I suspect the problems in the Church include: An unwillingness to serve, even on the part of active members An unwillingness to make assignments, on the part of leadership (it's much easier to ask for volunteers) Not having close enough relationships to make service, assignments, volunteering, and even saying "no" easier Feelings of guilt, awkwardness, etc. when trying to make or decline assignments A false notion that the Church is a voluntary organization and therefore we shouldn't have to do anything except when we initiate the choice. (Yeah, sure, you can decide whether to come or go, whether to volunteer, whether to accept an assignment, but really, we have a hierarchy, we sustain people (perhaps too many forget what that means, or never thought about it), and it all operates under the rule of a King by covenants that we apparently haven't spent enough time thinking about.) (Lest anyone think I'm condemning others, I include myself as part of the problem, but I am intentionally trying to overcome my own reluctance.)

Klaw at play:

That was a fantastic interview!

Do you have time to find out about this? People with arthritis often don't write, or need to apply pressure to the paper to steady the pen (if their hand shakes), or often benefit from a really (absurdly) fat pen. Is your dad of average height for a man, taller, shorter - that will give some idea. This might be difficult. Does he over-write, side-write, or under-write? Also important, has your dad ever used a fountain pen? The local stores may surprise you, but I wouldn't go into one until I had done serious research, cuz they just want to sell you the most expensive pen. Also, there are some online stores with a pretty low free-shipping threashold, and you'll want ink and a pad of paper or a notebook, depending on the type of writing your dad will do (journal = notebook, disposable notes = notepad). I don't have time to delve this morning, but will this evening.

If I understand what you are saying, then the scripture in question doesn't quite say that: Joseph Smith - Matthew 1 Two main points here: 1. The world will not be expecting it (v 40 and 43). 2. The world will be going about its usual business as if it were just another day (v42).

1. Fortunately for me, I can give the burden of figuring out the answer over to the Lord - it's his job, not mine, and I could never do it anyway. In the meantime, I keep my covenants. 2. The 5 foolish virgins were members of the Church, so don't be surprised if it's an even split.

Welcome to Third Hour, @Maverick! I have long believed that the increasing extremes of wickedness and righteousness in our time is a blessing of sorts. I think there are some who currently choose evil out of confusion or deception. They think they are choosing love, support, tolerance, etc. And they currently think the Church and saints are on the side of hate. But as things get more extreme, reality will become increasingly clear. Only the truly wicked will remain in Satan's camp. Christ's sheep will realize they were tricked and will finally come to him. There may be few who will make that change, but without the extremes, they might remain deceived. With the extremes, the choice will be beyond clear.

Ask to read the policy manual. If they say "no", I'm suspicious of the company. If they say "yes", I've got a good idea how they approach things I'm interested in. In theory, this also tells them you're serious about where you work.

Awwwww! He's so cuuute! Good boy! Klaw's sights are constantly up. He's gonna be at the top of everything before long. (I'm trying to keep him from going too crazy since he's recovering from surgery, but once a kitten gets the zoomies, there's really no stopping him. Fortunately, it doesn't look like he's torn any stitches or anything.) Amen! Good name. Now he needs a sword! (Anduril is a gorgeous sword.) Congratulations on your new family member and vole-killer! Klaw and I are very happy for you.

If they do, you can use his own footnote to prove them wrong: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/04/47nelson?lang=eng Publishing Peace means preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ - I agree with my stake president - this is what it really means to be a peacemaker.

Further, this boy is way too smart! I recognized a pattern today - if I come in here while he's playing, after a while he starts meowing pitifully. So I go into his "safe zone" (aka the family room) and sit on the floor, and as soon as I touch one of his toys, he starts purring!! How am I supposed to resist that? We then proceed to play together. And sometimes it's just me watching him play, but every time I engage with him, he purrs!

The funny thing is, the way this question (or instruction) is always worded tends to distract from the correct answer - we see the "we" and think it's a group effort. In reality, it's an individual effort and it happens as each individual draws closer to Christ, becomes a better disciple, becomes one with Him. Each person drawing closer to him draws closer to all the others who are drawing closer to him (like the tip of a cone). Those who decline to draw closer to him will fall (or stay) farther and farther away and never be united with the Saints. Thus, the way you do it is to draw closer to Christ - help your wife to do the same, teach your children to do the same. Focus all your effort on him: Scripture study is no longer scripture study, it's studying the word of Christ, learning about him, seeking for his instructions and examples. Prayer is no longer prayer, it is seeking to learn God's will, seeking the power of His Son in your life, and to become worthy of and sensitive to his Spirit Church is no longer Church, it is the worship of God and learning of Christ's gospel etc. FWIW.

I'm a complete push-over. Lunch was delayed by 3 hours today (and became dinner) because Klaw fell asleep on top of me...

I believe (but don't know) the sealing is valid regardless of the laws of men. That said, a child molester will have a hard road to the celestial kingdom, and if he doesn't live up to covenants, and repent when he falls short, that sealing will be null through his disobedience. More importantly, I'm so sorry for the pain this must be causing you. I can't begin to understand, but I'm sorry and hope you're able to find peace somehow. PS: Welcome to ThirdHour!

@person0, the only approaches I can think of to your situation are: Prayer - lots of it - you really need the Holy Ghost to guide you here Studying, to the the point of memorization, if possible, the relevant scriptures Collecting the relevant General Conference talks - a tag or notebook in the Church's "Library" app so that you can pull it all up as needed and quote and cite directly Charity - to see these leaders through Christ's eyes (as much as any of us can do that) Beyond that, pure love brings courage and sometimes courage is needed to confront sin. The Lord had some pretty strong condemnations all through the Bible for leaders who led his sheep astray. If called to speak, speak the truth; if called to teach, teach the truth. Were I in your shoes, I don't think I'd hesitate to tell my children that their leaders were wrong and shouldn't be trusted on this issue. Growing up in "low-density Zion", knowing that everyone else would be doing something different from what my family did made it a little easier to be different - I was expecting to be different, expecting the temptations and mockery - not saying that's easy, but expectation helps. Finally, with all that study, I think I would never say phrases like, "you're wrong", "that's false", "you're leading people astray" (unless the Holy Ghost clearly told me otherwise). Instead, I would not directly respond at all, but would rather say, "In the book of Moses we read...", "In his 2009 GC talk, Elder So-n-So said..." and just read the doctrine / gospel / truth. Remember what Alma had to say: Don't try to logic them or argue, quote the word to them. And inoculate your children against false leaders - kids often like their leaders, often trust them more than parents - you need to find a way to counter that tendency. (Ignore anything I wrote above that the Spirit tells you to ignore, and follow his promptings instead. )

Yesterday, His Royal Highness, Prince Klawboy McPurry, Lord Shred, Count Cuddlebutt, Earl of Scratch, Knight Defender of Klawtower (AKA Klaw) was rescued from the shelter-dragon's prison. He is slowly and cautiously exploring his new realm. (Perhaps because he's still under the effect of a pain-killer and mourning the lost of his reproductive ability - an injury inflicted during his Thursday battle with the shelter-dragon.) He's still wary of his assigned guardian, chef, and box-cleaner. In a while, I'll try some wet food and then try for a photo (right now he's napping in solitude). [Later] I have been allowed to pet HRH and was rewarded with purrs, biscuit-making on my arm, bites, and licks (though the licks may have been because my fingers had recently held kitten treats which HRH consumed - hooray - was getting worried about him). [Later] Little boy decided to come out of hiding at 11pm (after I'd gone to bed). After sufficient crying, I resigned myself to being up half the night and sleeping on the couch. (Yes, I'm now a slave.) And here's my first photo of Klaw, taking a break from playing: ...isn't he adorable? Maybe if you have headphones, you can hear him purring in this video (volume was louder on my computer - maybe YT lowers the volume on shorts? ). Anywho, this was my post-breakfast reward - HRH deigned to climb up for cuddles all on his own.

The righteous will be resurrected beginning at the Second Coming, so yeah, lots of urgency there. I imagine any in prison who accept the gospel and repent would only be awaiting their temple work and then resurrection, so I think it would be a big impact all around. Only the dead who refuse to repent would continue on as if nothing has changed (I assume, sort of).

If you want something kept secret, tell no one. Perhaps even the angels in heaven are capable of slacking in their duties when they think there's plenty of time to get them done... I think the virtue of never wasting a moment (which is not the same as never resting) might be the very last one we learn (finish learning). And in the opposite, waste is likely the first bad habit we develop.

And Satan is just as happy to mock them as he leads them on to destruction. He'll take those who really believe in him, those who use his name while claiming not to believe in him, and those who call him God - he's an equal-opportunity destroyer.

I just wish to point out that, true to form, this shirt is a lie. Satan doesn't respect pronouns. He'll be the first to destroy you and your pronouns and mock your foolishness the whole time. Liar from the beginning and for all eternity. (PS: I respect pronouns, just not the erroneous / grammatically incorrect use of them. My pronouns are I, me, mine, and myself. I'm happy to share them with you, should you wish to use them for yourself... Isn't it strange how you're not me and yet we can both be I...)

Not sure what may have been there before the edit, but though I didn't say it specifically, the condition for hate is always the same - wickedness.