NeuroTypical

Well, I personally know someone who is a recovering alcoholic (15 years), and has struggled with similar self-hating beliefs. His opinion about the existence of good or evil people is the complete, total, 180 degree, mirror image of yours. (Maybe a bit less passion on trying to convince others on his opinion.)I'm not saying you're wrong and he's right - just forwarding the notion that just because someone has 'been there' doesn't necessarily produce folks with the same opinions. Agreed, for the most part.

Welcome tek! Becoming a mormon because 'we're not like the Catholics' is a pretty horrible reason, IMO. The only good reason to become a mormon is you believe God wants you to be one.Also, we're prey to the same vices and evils that plague everyone else. You can find an occasional church leader who does evil things. It is true that our faith adopted today's modern zero-tolerance policies for abuse, a decade or so earlier than Catholicism, but just because we root it out and kick it out, doesn't mean it's not there. The roots of evil are present in most if not all of humanity. I don't think that's true at all. There is plenty of evidence for both arguments - just nothing which reaches the level of conclusive proof. It's possible for anyone to gain a testimony of the reality and divinity of Jesus Christ, and His restored church. That's what becoming a respectable mormon entails. If you're considering joining up because you like our no-drugs policy, I can predict things will not end well. Here's my story. Yes, and we also believe God hasn't told us everything, and there are mysteries we just won't understand in mortal existance. Our source of doctrine is scripture and what we call 'inspired words of the prophets'. This means two things - when something is inspired or scriptural, It's pretty much 'God says so'. And prophets can have non-inspired opinions, and those opinions can be right or wrong. I wouldn't advise it. I mean, you can come to our church if you like - and you will be welcome. But being 'part of the church' means entering the waters of baptism, which is something you do only if you believe in the truth claims this church has to offer, and are willing to dedicate your time and energy to serving your fellow man.Welcome again

Is it that he won't refer, or won't pay for counseling? You don't need anyone's approval to just call LDSSS and make an appointment with a counselor.

Some good would come in a self-defense situation where a kid or someone would need to use violence.

When I discuss such matters with my children, we figure that bad guys are those who intend to willfully cause you harm for no good reason. When we judge someone a 'bad guy' here, we're saying nothing about the state of someone's soul. We're just using the title as a way to understand who to avoid.

My wife and I split funds evenly between the church's Humanitarian Aid fund, and the Perpetual Education Fund. One helps folks in need recover from disasters, the other helps folks stuck in intergenerational poverty break the cycle through their own efforts.

Elder Oaks rocks: “Judge Not” and Judging by Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles His take on things: We aren't equipped to tell one way or the other whether someone is 'bad' or 'good' (as those terms apply to where we end up in the eternities). We only judge situations, and then only when appropriate. It's worth reading the talk.

Could you expand a bit on what you'd expect the reprocussions to be of, oh, say, participating in such an evil practice, yearly, for 42 years?

Reconsider what? Wiser than what?I didn't realize I had cast an opinion one way or the other on the issue. I just suggested a path you could take to gain insights - and it turns out you've already walked a bunch of it.

I think you should go talk to a corrections officer. Maybe walk a mile in their shoes. You might end up with the same opinion you have now, but you'll be much wiser about the issue.

Hi and welcome!

What worked for me, is to remind myself that getting offended is the same thing as giving someone power over me. It looks like this: "Boy, you must be pretty weak-willed if someone can get such a strong reaction out of you just by flapping their gums. Imagine that - you talk real big on agency but when the rubber hits the road, you just hand yours over without a second's thought to the first yayhoo with something dumb to say about you. I'd hate to find out what stupid thing you'd do if someone actually did something bad to you. Are you truly that afraid of actually thinking about what he's saying to see if there's some truth there? Do you really cower in that much terror at the thought of someone having a valid gripe with you, that you're going to turn it into some stupid grudge you can carry around?" Etc, etc. (Keep in mind, this is what I say to myself. I'm not saying it to anyone here.)

My wife and I would love to visit Australia some day and see Ayer's rock.

Can you do the paperwork first, then extend the calling if it's all good? That way nobody's sitting there having frustration...

From Wikipedia's entry on the apostrophe:

Hi ThreeInOne, Just wanted to ask my question again, hoping for an answer from you. This is the third time I've asked: If not, why are you wasting time talking about evidence?

I would be convinced if Jesus said it were so in the scriptures. Yes. However, I don't think archaeology is making a good case for this point. Excuse me, but you did not answer my question. You said "yes", but the question you answered was not the one I asked. Let me ask it again:Let's say tomorrow, non-mormon archaeologists found the sword of Laban, the city of Zarahemla, examples of a 'reformed egyptian' language, and Nephi's grave, where a DNA analysis showed definite ties to various hebrew groups living in and around the palestinian areas of the time. Would you bend your knee, confess Christ, accept Thomas Monson as your prophet, and seek to be baptized into the LDS church? If the answer is no, then why are you wasting time asking about evidence?

Leave her with dad when you're going into a dressing room. (Sorry, it's all we ever came up with.)

Something to consider:Let's say tomorrow, non-mormon archaeologists found the sword of Laban, the city of Zarahemla, examples of a 'reformed egyptian' language, and Nephi's grave, where a DNA analysis showed definite ties to various hebrew groups living in and around the palestinian areas of the time. Would you bend your knee, confess Christ, accept Thomas Monson as your prophet, and seek to be baptized into the LDS church?

Yeesh! It's true that I'm over a decade removed from the dating pool and have no vested interest in the answer, but where the heck do you go to find women? I'm having a hard time believing your experience is the norm...

Just a reminder, the purpose of this board is for LDS folk to talk about what we believe and why. You asked a question, we answered. This is not a debate or argument board.If you want to debate or argue with LDS folks, that's totally fine - but you'll have to find another board. I can suggest the Mormon Dialogue and Discussion Board I'd refer you to all those posts about how we received a personal witness from the Holy Ghost.

The only good reason to be a mormon, is you figure God wants you to be one. Something our faith does offer, is a roadmap on how to find out. Here's my story:

"World peace" is an interesting word, that means different things to different people. To me, the 'world peace' kept by the US, involves balancing regional powers against each other so nobody rises to the level of serious challenger to the US, while at the same time not letting things get so unbalanced that it turns into a serious bloodbath. I used to consider the US a hegemon, but these days I've pretty much concluded we're a full-fledged empire. And when I look at Traveler's opening post through that lens, it makes me sad. Because one thing all empires do, is eventually fall. I can keep my fingers crossed that our fall will be more like the fall of the British empire, and less like the fall of Rome.

Something to consider: What is the difference between your situation, and any other unmarried person of any orientation who has decided to follow the Law of Chastity?