NeuroTypical

I doubt there was ever a culture on earth that commonly [did such things]I once attended a symposium at a stake center, given by an LDS professor who had worked on various Dead Sea Scrolls projects. He related a few tidbits about the people who preserved the scrolls. The only tidbit that stuck, was that their little community believed that one must not defacate at all on the Sabbath.I guess it's not specifically the same thing as what you are talking about, but similar.

Sounds like you need to figure out what your feelings are.This can be a tall order.

For anyone interested in some not-too uncommon dimensions of the homeless problem, there's an interesting news story. Remember that viral video from a few weeks ago of a police officer buying shoes for a homeless man? Well, yeah - dood wasn't actually homeless. Yahoo News - Barefoot homeless man not actually homeless Basically, here's a guy receiving plenty of help. He's got 2 sources of income. He's receiving rent vouchers. He actually has a place to live. And yet he continues to be on the street. You can't really conclude that Hillman is a bad guy. We don't know what particular blend of mental illness or character defect or what is going on with him. His story is actually not that uncommon. The major causes of homelessness: Addictions, mental illness, ignorance, and apathy. And the solution often isn't giving things to people. We're all good Christian souls who want to help, but again, it's important to know what "help" is and what is is not.

You're welcome.

That aligns with stories I've heard as well. In fact, it's one thing I admire about evangelical missionaries. Cool stories about smuggling bibles into places, bluffing their way past guards with machine guns, etc - I just want to be there at the judgment seat to hear the stories and cheer. Of course I understand my church's stated methods - we go where we're wanted, and if we're not wanted, we find various aboveboard ways to build trust and transparency with people who can change the answer. But when was the last time you saw a good Chuck Norris movie about how he attended parliament meetings and sponsored scholarships until the bad guys finally let the poor orphans get rescued?

So in other words, I can feel totally righteous without ever having watched anything on BYUTV in my whole life?

Oh, that's easy. I distinguish between the two, by understanding what I believe and why I believe it. I didn't know the first until I was 26, I'm still working on the second, although I figure I reached around 80% within a few years.Joseph Fielding Smith had things to say about the issue: -Joseph Fielding Smith, Church History and Modern Revelation, Vol 1, p.103

I'll want to read the research and reasoning before I reach any conclusions one way or the other. I don't suppose anyone has a link they could share? The best I could find was this link, but it ony talks about the possibility that the shepherds visited by the angel were shepherds of sheep raised for temple sacrifice.

Didn't watch the clip, don't much like Kimmel. He's done the "Parents lying to their kids about cancelling christmas" bit two years in a row. I've never understood how people can laugh so easily at children manipulated into crying and then laughed at for reacting. And we wonder where bullies come from.

Some folks cover for fear or embarassment by being overly loud or bold or whatever. There's room for thinking charitably here if you try hard.

Hello fellow shy person!Something to know about us mormons at church - it's like we have a 'new person' detector. We tend to shake hands and introduce and fellowship and say hi and invite folks over for dinner and get to know someone, until we're satisfied that the new person is 'adequately befriended'. This can be unnerving for an introvert like me, especially when you get done doing it with one mormon, and the next one along starts the whole process over again because they didn't see that someone else just did it. This isn't really anything unique to mormons, just friendly people in general. You showed up to just see what's going on, you don't really want to be the center of attention, right? So this doesn't have to scare you off, it's just something you have to prepare for. Here's a good way to deal with it: When you come in, ask if you could sit with the first friendly hand-shaker that comes your way. "Hi - we're visitors to your church and don't know much about you - could we sit with you?" Talk to them, ask lots of questions, make it obvious you're talking with them. This way, you've got a shield against all the future friendly mormons, because they'll see you're being attended to. And if other people start shaking your hand anyway, you can say "We're visitors, and these fine folks offered to let us sit with them." (This tactic also works at just about any social group event, churchy or otherwise. I used it a while ago when checking out a local hobby club meeting. I used it when the local Methodists put on a job workshop.) We shy people need to stick together.

What, two sequels, a television series, two animated TV series, and a television mini-series weren't enough for you people?

Hi pwickner, Would you care to address the questions we've asked in this thread?

How come you belive that? I've been listening to people talk about the danger to our personal liberties accelerating as never before, for going on four decades now. What makes your book different?

One of the biggest lies we tell ourselves, is that you can think or reason or pray or otherwise just willpower yourself out of the impacts of a chemical imbalance of the brain. Consider the following:

Speculation is fun sometimes. I respect the scientific mind and it's ruthless devotion to ruling out stuff that doesn't belong. Something to consider, from IMO one of the scripture's most inspired notions: Or, if you'd like something a bit less Victorian-Englishish: I'm not saying you're lacking it, I just find it something important for a master thinker and reasoner to keep in mind.I wish you well.

Hi and welcome! Please don't consider this lady's decision a snub. Mormons are taught early on that the Sabbath day is sacred, to be spent with family and in reverent activities. We're certainly not perfect in this regard, but basically, we tend to feel uncomfortable going to parties, football games, even places like movies or shopping or even filling up our gas tanks. I'm guessing the lady didn't say anything because she didn't know how to, and really didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. I would not be at all surprised to learn she and her kid probably agonized about going to your party, and are very much worried about impacting the friendship. Here's some reading about what mormons believe about Sundays. Hopefully it will help you understand this lady's position, and understand that it is absolutely nothing personal. Gospel Principles - the Sabbath Day

Hey Utah - if you want to export a Nielson's Frozen Custard, and maybe an Arctic Circle over those mountains into Colorado, I wouldn't complain.

Speaking of Islamic perspectives on the concept of freedom of speech: I wonder if the Cairo judicial system is peopled by folks who just don't understand it, or if they really do understand it, but are content to be against it. Egyptian court orders death sentences over anti-Islam film

It can take a long time for her to resolve and figure out her part. It's ok to go into a meeting with the bishop unsure of what that part actually is. She will be very, very sensitive to words like blame and fault. We here on an anonymous discussion board can't really use those words with any certainty regarding her. We would be exercising unrighteous judgement if we tried. We can, however, say a few things about the blame and fault this guy bears. Because it doesn't matter what she did or didn't do, what she consented to or what she regrets - a 30 yr old guy who has sex with a 15 yr old girl is not exactly a sterling upstanding example of righteousness.

I don't think that she needs to call it anything. She just needs to describe what happened. She's got a meeting scheduled with the bishop, right? I guess she could write the letter and send it to him, or bring it in with her and ask him to read it, or just start talking. Any of those would be fine."Bishop, I need help. Horrible things have happened, and I'm scared." How about that?

I know of a young girl who was molested by an older man. The legal court took her statement, but did not require her to testify against him. Also, her name was never mentioned in any of the legal proceedings. Also, the church disciplinary council did not require her to testify against him, because they had the records from the legal proceedings. Funshine, you are an important person in this girl's life. She confided in you, and that is big. This is all going to take a long time, and everybody and their dog will have different opinions about what to do next, and how fast, and everything else. You are doing her a huge favor by just being her friend - a safe place she can turn to talk (and probably cry). You do great good by quietly discussing options with her, but not pushing too much. How old are you, by the way?

If she's interested in cleansing her soul and removing the stain of sin of her choices, she should go to her bishop. If she's interested in getting protection from this guy and dealing with nasty abusive manipulative (possibly dangerous) guys, she should go to her bishop, and also probably to a rape crisis center or abused women's shelter (not like move in, but to receive advice and learn about resources). Offer to go with her to the bishop's office. Hold her hand while she cries. Being terrified about telling someone is natural. Telling you was a great first step - support her and be worthy of her trust - urge her to do what's right, but don't pressure or force or go behind her back.

It makes sense. People can dissapear into communities. It is true that not a lot of people understand this. It is also true that the headline and the way it's being talked about is overlysensationalistic towards mormons. It's news written by people who don't get it, for people who don't get it. But yeah, hiding out with group A or B is hardly anything new, or even unique to our nation or even our times.