NeuroTypical

Exactly. This wasn't a skit about Mormons, it's a skit about how people don't know much about Mormons, even though they're always in the news and everyone is always talking about them."Oh Mormons, Mormons, Mormons - we haven't got a clue Of what you folks believe in, or think or drink or do!" People's ignorance about Mormons is a valid subject for late night TV skitting. LM

Many Christian sects believe that unless you make Christ your savior, you're not one of Heavenly Father's children. I just wanted to point out that we do not believe that. God is our father, and we are all His children. Even the Buddhist, or athiest, or serial murderer on death row. LM

I hereby dub Funky my most-favorite-guy-I-like-to-argue-politics-with-but-have-a-lot-of-respect-for-online dude.This is what taking your fate and destiny into your own hands looks like. Not only that, but this is what real honest helping those you love bust out of their own cycles of toxic crap looks like. For every one post like Funky's, there are umpteen "I always dread the holidays because we all can't stand each other" posts? All right folks - now you know what it takes to fix stuff - who's strong enough to put it all on the line like he did? LM

My source is the statistical report produced in April during General Conference. Not sure about Wiki articles. Other data: Total membership 2006: 12,868,606 2007: 13,193,999 2008: 13,508,509 Increase in children of record 2006: 94,006 2007: 93,698 2008: 123,502

I married someone with PTSD, ADD, ADHD, and major depression - does she qualify as insane?13+ years, 2 kids, and counting. Best choice I ever made. There are lot of people out there with mental health issues that just couldn't handle a happy marriage, but just having mental health issues isn't a guarantee one way or the other. LM

Well, I don't know how 'defining' this chart is, but here you go: Note: 2008 actual: 265,593 (decrease of 13,625) We'll hear 2009 numbers in April. LM

That's basically the range you get when you ask any group of mormons anywhere. And we all have scripture and talks from our church leaders to back up our individual opinions too!Enjoy watching the fight. LM

My cousin once kicked me in the rear end at a Chuck-a-Rama. Only to discover he had kicked someone who wasn't me.My cousin knew the Hordak trick wouldn't work, so he just smiled and waved, and went back to our table. LM

I never tire of looking up that word in the dictionary. I get called that occasionally, but I've never really thought of myself as exhibiting a lack of frankness, candor, or sincerity.I am often spilling over with smarmy sarcasm, but really, that's different than being disingenuous. I suppose that's a valid point. Ok - remove "bad science" from my list. That still leaves: * Spinning/emphasizing/deemphasizing data * Using inconclusive scientific data as a tool to forward a political agenda * Bowing to peer pressure and refusing to make waves in the scientific community * Applying pressure (or any other of a large bag of dirty tricks) to dissenting opinions in order to shut them up or make them tow your line Anyway, I really did mean what I said - none of that makes someone fraudulent. None of that is breaking any laws. It just makes me a heck of a lot less likely to buy what they're trying to sell me. They are red flags - warning signs - cautions - that the stuff coming out of their mouths might just not be the unvarnished unassailable truth. LM (btw, I voted "Probably real. Billions of people burning hydrocarbons for a few centuries would cause some change.")

You didn't specifically ask for any advice in your post. Do you want some? Or did you just want to vent?

There is no such thing as "the perfect one". But there sure as heck are a ton of "this person is not acceptable" out there. A never ending flood of moral deficiencies, unacceptable laziness, character defects, and lives built around and focused on baggage. I never could have made a wise choice alone - I required God's specific and unambiguous help. I showed up to my patriarchical blessing with an engagement ring in a box, and a need for a clear answer. Anyway, if I had to do it again, here's the relevant question: This person will [insert behavior or thought pattern or belief system or character trait] forever. She'll be doing it when I'm healthy or ill, while we're rich or poor, in times good or bad. Can I live with that? If the answer is yes, go marry them. LM

Funky demonstrates the proper way to recover from an embarassing moment. I've never been able to make smooth recoveries like that. I've also made the Fuddruckers/Rudd--- mistake, but in company that was pretty aquainted with such language, so it surprised them but didn't really offend or worry anyone. My worst blunder: People in my office were studying for the Project Management Professional exam. As they passed the test, they became PMP certified. A lady co-worker came by to share the good news - she had passed the test. By way of congratulation, I asked her "And how are you enjoying your big new PMP-ness?" (If you don't get it, say it out loud.) LM

Ok, not many people saw this movie, so I'll give you many hints. Each one of these is my favorite line ever: "We struck down evil with the mighty sword of teamwork and the hammer of not bickering." "Roland, do *not* encourage your father." "You're not well-liked. You're uh, you're abrasive and off- putting. You try and say pithy things, but your wit is a hinderance and therefore nothing is provocative. Just mixed metaphors. Now, doesn't that make you angry? Does it infuriate you?" "There's not enough beer in the world, Spleen, I'm sorry." LM

Well I, for one, would like to stand up and defend these scientists. I haven't seen anything that led me to believe GW supporting scientists were fraudulent.* You can engage in bad science and not be fraudulent. * You can spin and emphasize and deemphasize data and not be fraudulent. * You can use inconclusive scientific data as a tool to forward a political agenda without being fraudulent. * You can bow to peer pressure and refuse to make waves in the scientific community without being fraudulent. * You can apply pressure (or any other of a large bag of dirty tricks) to dissenting opinions in order to shut them up or make them tow your line without being fraudulent. Now, these emails pretty much prove that all the above behaviors were engaged in, but please people - let's not be uncharitable and call them fraudulent. LM

Here you go. Crank it up - this was meant to be played loud. If You Could Hie To Kolob If stage diving and head banging church hymns ain't your thing - try this: How about sung as it was originally written?Buster Poindexter's guitar and harmonica rif of ?Square pegs, rejoice!

This joke assumes that the talk was actually worth hearing in the first place... LM (naysayer)

Someone tried this at the wedding of my Nam Vet's buddy's daughter. She decided she needed to be loud about how Joseph Smith wasn't a prophet, and the BoM was written by man, etc. My buddy kicked her out. LM

Hi Wishing! Christ's atonement is for you specifically. This church can help you be a better person. Additionally, you'd be surprised how chock full of past sins all us suit-wearing active mormons are. You really will be in good company. I can guarantee that in talking to a bishop, you will not be the first person who has told him what you have to tell him (assuming he's held the office for a month or two). It's very obvious that you are a good person who wants to do what is right. Bad people who want to do wrong, never bother with guilt or remorse. And you, my friend, are oozing guilt and remorse from every pore. Go find a Bishop. Get this all off your chest. His job is to help you cast these sins away forever. LM

Nobody is required to tithe, unless you wish to follow God's commandments. If you do, you tithe on your increase - regardless of whether you're a student, or a single mother on welfare with 5 kids, or a rich person. Mark 12:42-44 - And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. LM

Hi Mohammad, This is from the Gospel Principles book we use (sort of a basic primer): Please also see the chapter on Priesthood Organization. Others might have some better references on tracing the priesthood of Aaron and Melchizedek through history - my reference is rather basic. Basically, it's not a carbon copy exact duplicate of Christ's organization. It's a restoration of the same church Christ organized, not because everything is exactly the same as before, but because Christ organized it and sits at it's head. LM

"Holiday" - From Old English haligdæg, from halig "holy" + dæg "day;" in 14c. meaning both "religious festival" and "day of recreation" So, wishing someone Happy Holidays still has the religious aspect covered, unless you're put off by human lack of understanding.

If you have specific evidence or have witnessed specific behavior, then report her. You didn't really tell us what you've specifically seen, so we can't really tell you one way or the other. "I believe" and "I am concerned" are not facts or evidence... I know that Munchausen by Proxy can be very difficult to prove. Would you be willing to take the kids if the law decides something needs to be done? Not sure what happens in Australia... LM

I'm an official humbug. Fewer folks get offended that way. The athiests and adherents of other faiths are happy to encounter me, because they only vaguely know the story behind the word, none of them realize how Christian a story it is. The Christians are already worried for my soul, so hearing 'humbug' doesn't change what they would have thought of me anyway.

This is dangerous ground. I'd need to hear more.Good response. I'd start by saying that for every true case of lost agency, there are umpteen gazillion cases of people wanting to avoid responsibility for the choices they've made.I'm speaking mainly about certain types of severe mental illness that impact someone's ability to discern reality, or their ability to control their bodies. And again, for every genuine case, there are heaps of people with severe mental illnesses who still have the ability to choose. Elder Alexander B. Morrison specifically addresses this in his book Valley of Sorrow: A Layman's Guide to Understanding Mental Illness. Speaking about people who commit suicide, he cautions us to avoid judging these people, and talks a bit about how we can't really tell whether someone who commits suicide has any control over their actions or not. Good answer? I mean, I didn't mean to imply "that guy was lookin' at me funny" as something that pushes someone past the line... LM

I'm confused - can anyone consider a circumstance where someone might do something like this and everything is right with them? Not sure what sticking a "just" in front of "something wrong with the person" is supposed to be saying there... Yes, just about all child sex offenders have some sort of serious unresolved trauma in their lives. Often, they were child victims themselves. Understanding this reality can help people forgive. But that word "just" sort of worries me. Does it mean: "Oh, that's ok - that's just what Bob does - he's just got something wrong with him - pay it no mind." That's sort of a way to brush aside the issue (and the victims as well)... LM