NeuroTypical

I never said anything to the contrary. As I explained in my post, I'm merely interested to hear how people who believe such extreme or unproven things respond when presented with a list of common mistakes people make when they believe extreme or unproven things.And, if BCGuy ever follows up on this thread, I'd still be interested. LM

Hi Cante_Miyaca, I'm glad that you were able to pull yourself out of your depression through willpower. Many people can. But many people can't. Sometimes, the reason for the whining, crying, self manipulation is because people want attention, or it's an excuse to deal with the real world. Sometimes, it's something out of their control and comes from an imbalance. Despite your claim, sometimes chronic depression means you are "always be sad about something" and you can't just will yourself out of it. Sometimes, it's not "wallowing in self pity", and sometimes, people lack the agency "to get off their butts and do something about it". "Forget yourself and go to work" can cure many things, but it is not a cureall for all depressive ills. You are correct, "Selfishness is a major factor of depression. So is pride." But that is not true for all depression. There are illnesses that will not be helped by humility and true love and charity. I'm so glad that our church leaders understand this stuff. Here are seven Myths about Mental Illness, by Alexander B. Morrison, Ensign, Oct 2005, 31–35. LM

I'd just like to point out that this is not the first time a discussion about the Book of Abraham has led to page after page of smart people visciously attacking each other personally and acting like a bunch of 5th grade boys. In fact, this state of affairs seems to be par for the course when talking about the BoA. Anyone know why that is? Sure, contention is found most everywhere, but it seems like you just can't have a BoA discussion without things getting heated. This phenomenon does not automatically occur when, say, discussing gross vs. net tithing, or the reasons behind polygamy, or the correct succession of the church after Joseph died, or excommunication of scholars, or whether non-white shirts on Sunday are appropriate, or most any other topic that interested smart people disagree on. Something about the nature of egyptology or egyptologists maybe? LM

Hi BCGuy! Just out of curiosity, do you know what any of these mean, and are you sure they do not apply to you? confirmation bias polarization effect Tolstoy syndrome myside bias experimenter's regress subjective validation (I'm always interested in hearing responses from people who believe "rim of the bell curve"-ish things.) LM

You most likely would be in good company in most any ward you come to. This church preaches 'the ideal', but is very much aware that 'the ideal' is something that many of us have problems attaining.Thinking back across all the wards I've lived in: * My former bishop was a divorced man. * The best home teacher my family ever had was going through a divorce during the time he home taught us. * My current ward has quite a number of divorced, single, or widowed people. Along with 2 or 3 'his and hers' 2nd or 3rd marriages. Our church is big on families. We do our best to strengthen marriages. But we certainly understand that sometimes we make mistakes, or our best efforts aren't quite enough. Welcome! LM

lanzdavilla, I'm confused by your post. After looking at your post history, I'm not sure if this is light-hearted sarcasm, bitter humor, or if it reflects your current state of thinking. So forgive me if I've misread your intent here, but I'll answer you as if you mean what you claim. Oh yeah - we still tell stories of all the fortune Joseph and the early saints made - the guy lived like a king. Let's see - the saints got kicked out of Missouri and had their stuff stolen. They got kicked out of Kirtland and had their stuff stolen. They got kicked out of Nauvoo and had their stuff stolen. Joseph's bank failed, and his store went bankrupt, because he was always giving stuff away to people that couldn't pay. You might be able to make a case about fame, but fortune is just laughable. Interesting claim. I can't find many critics willing to sign up for that specific criticism, because it's blatantly obvious that whatever he was, it was a great deal more than treasure hunter. The BoM contains parts of scripture found in other places, that is true. Like the Isaiah portions. And Christ had similar things to say in the Americas as he did in the Middle East, so there are definite similarities there as well.But if you're of the opinion that Joseph made the whole thing up after reading "Manuscript Found", I suggest you do a lot more thinking on that subject before buying that criticism. LM

Of course not. It is very important to consider inflation. But that's not what I'm reacting against. I'm reacting against our friends repeal17thamendment and BBB's alarmist paroxysms. I'm reacting against the claims that we're swiftly headed towards great calamity and wailing and teeth gnashing. These claims are supported in this thread by very little. Agreed. In my industry (high tech instrumentation), we're very aware of these trends as well. China, Malaysia, Singapore - they're all catching up at one rate or another. Again, I reject such alarmist talk. You and I are looking at the same data points, and yet one of us is at the verge of panic, one is not. No, the sky is not falling. We're showing signs of starting a normal cyclical recession, the dollar and the market have been falling. The housing situation is a bona-fide crisis, akin to the S&L crisis of the '80's. We've weathered similar groupings of bad news in the past, and we'll weather this one too. And I plan on doing it without buying gold or silver at record highs. Hang on there - this 'unfortunate reality' comes to those who spent their saving years ignorantly or foolishly. It is true. We all need to be aware of these forces, and how they shape our financial lives. A plan to beat inflation is essential to every retirement plan. No, the sky is not falling. No, it's not time to refuse to play the game because of fears about fiat currency. No, we should not panic. We should learn, and plan. If you've never started a 401K plan, now is the perfect time to do it - during a recession cycle. The shares you'll buy today will ride up the end of the recession and be worth much more than if you refuse to invest until the recession is over. Be educated. Plan. But don't panic. LM

Thank you for a very representative smattering of what I've been hearing from you people ever since the mid 1980's. About the only things missing were typing in all caps, and the word "ostrich".LM

I'm so glad that our church leaders understand this stuff. Here are seven Myths about Mental Illness, by Alexander B. Morrison, Ensign, Oct 2005, 31–35.

Oh, I understand where you're coming from, I just am not buying it. Because no, not every paper currency system fails. Some have failed, many haven't. People of your persuasion seem to be of the opinion that the only difference between a failed system and a working one, is the working one hasn't failed yet. Only problem is, our system has consistently failed to fail for, what, 95 years now? Over the decades, I've been told multiple times by folks of your persuasion that our system is in it's death throes. I've been personally warned half a dozen times since the '80's that NOW is the time to convert all assets to tangible barter goods or gold or survivalist land. You've always been wrong before, and I'm relatively sure you're wrong this time too.So here's the deal - your prophetic voice of warning is falling on deaf ears. I've hardened my heart against you and your kind. I intend to now march, whistling and lemminglike, to my eventual demise at the hands of my evil federal reserve shadowy overlords. And there's nothing you can do about it. Because unfortunately, despite all your passion, all your certainty, you never manage to rise to the point of being persuasive or convincing. The only thing you can do now is place a bet with me. Give me a date when our economy should have collapsed. I'll bet it will still be humming along. What is your date and your wager? LM

I'm the unimpressed one, BBBB. That is not true. Average return for the stock market has been 12% over the last 30 years. Inflation averages around 2.5% or so.Stock source Inflation source I'm not impressed by vague portents of doom by someone who doesn't understand historical averages, but can point to the impact of a normal recession cycle.I won't be selling low. I won't be buying gold high. I won't be buying survivalist bomb shelter property in Colorado. I won't be subscribing to outdated milleniumist hysteria. However, if the rest of the market would like to engage in such practices, I'm more than happy to buy stock throughout the panicky low prices, and ride them back up on the other side. Still 20 years away from retirement, ya know... LM

How about scholars that are not a part of some type of vanity-press?You'll have to explain that one to me - I don't get the insult.Their Mission Statement: LM

Hi Jenny0, I believe you. There are many different reasons this might be happening - you need to figure out why. Do you have an LDS Social Services building in your town? I would start there - make an appointment with one of their counselors and tell them what you told us. If you don't - most certainly go to your bishop and tell him. He will know people you can talk to. There are many people who will not understand you, or have wrong ideas about what's going on. Seek out the people that understand - they are there. You are one of God's beloved children - even with a brain that generates such disturbing stuff. I'm thinking knowledge - finding out what is going on with you - will help you more than anything else. LM

Well, here's a list of people who have published articles in the various Neal A Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship publications - do they count?Abunuwara, Ehab Adams Jr., William J. Allen, J. Michael Allen, James B. Allred, Alma Allred, Philip A. Alvord, Brent Andelin, Elaine A. Andersen, Todd G. Anderson, Carma deJong Anderson, D. Brent Anderson, Lavina Fielding Anderson, Richard Lloyd Archer, John B. Argetsinger, Gerald S. Arnold, Marilyn Arts, Valentin Asay, Ronald Ash, Michael R. Ashurst-McGee, Mark Aston, Warren P. Bachman, Danel W. Ball, Russell H. Ball, Terry B. Barker, Margaret Barksdale, D.L. Barney, Kevin L. Baron, Ross David Bastian, Lewis M. Beck, John M. Bell, Elouise Bell, James P. Bennett, Richard E. Bennett, Robert R. Benson, Reed A. Benson, RoseAnn Bentley, Adam W. Benz, Ernst Berrett, LaMar C. Bickmore, Barry R. Bitton, Davis Black, Susan Easton Boehm, Bruce J. Bokovoy, David Boone, David F. Booras, Steven W. Bowen, Donna Lee Bowen, Matthew L. Boyce, Duane Bradford, M. Gerald Bradshaw, William S. Brandt, Edward J. Brewer, Stewart W. Briggs, Robert H. Brinley, Douglas E. Britsch, R. Lanier Brown, Matthew B. Brown, S. Kent Bruening, Ari D. Bunker, Robert L. Bush, Charles D. Bushman, Richard L. Buskirk, Allen R. Butler, John M. Bybee, Ariel E. Callister, Douglas L. Campell, Les Cannon, Donald Q. Carr, Stephen L. Carter, K. Codell Chadwick, Bruce A. Chadwick, Jeffrey R. Chase, Lance D. Cheesman, Paul R. Childs, Larry G. Christensen, Kevin Christensen, Ryan Christensen, Shauna Christenson, Allen J. Clark, E. Douglas Clark, James R. Clark, John E. Clark, John L. Clark, Robert E. Cole, Clarissa Katherine Compton, Todd M. Conkling, J. Christopher Cook, Roger D. Coutts, Alison V.P. Cowan, Richard O. Cracroft, Richard H. Cramer, Barbara Cramer, Lew W. Crawford, Cory Daniel Critchlow III, William J. Crockett, Robert D. Crowe, Chris Crowell, Angela M. Cummings, David B. Dadson, Andrew E. Dahl, Larry E. Davidson, Karen Lynn Davies, LeGrande Davis, Garold N. Davis, Ryan W. Dennis, Ronald D. Dorais, Michael J. Draper, Richard D. Draper, Thomas W. Duckwitz, Norbert H. O. Duffin, Stephen Duke, James T. Dundas, Gregory Dursteler, Eric R. EchoHawk, Larry Edwards, Kay P. Eliason, Eric A. Elliot, T. Lynn England, Eugene Eyring, Henry B. Fairbanks, Daniel Falk, Ze'ev W. Farmer, Deborah Faulconer, James E. Faulring, Scott H. Fisher, Matthew G. Fleugel, James H. Flinders, Rebecca M. Folsom, Marvin Foster, Craig L. Fowles, John L. Frandsen, Russell M. Freeman, Robert C. Fronk, Camille Fuhriman, Addie Fullmer, Robert W. Gardner, Brant Gardner, Cristie B. Gardner, Marvin K. Garrett, Robert L. Garrow, Thomas Gaskill, Alonzo Gates, Crawford Geddes, Ross Gee, John Gerritsen, Allen P. Gessel, Van C. Gibbons, Ted L. Gillum, Gary P. Givens, Terryl L. Godfrey, Kenneth W. Goff, Alan Graham, Daniel W. Green, Arnold G. Griffin, Carl W. Griggs, C. Wilfred Gunter-Karamesines, Patricia Hafen, Bruce C. Hague, Darryl R. Hall, Brent Hall, John F. Hallen, Cynthia L. Hamblin, William J. Hancock, Ralph C. Hansen, Harold I. Hansen, Klaus J. Hansen, Kristine Hanson, Louise G. Hardy, Grant R. Harper, David P. Harper, Howard K. Harper, Steven C. Harris, Tod R. Haubrock, Ken Hauglid, Brian Hauglid, Brian M. Hawkins, Carl S. Heal, Kristian S. Hedengren, Paul C. Hedges, Andrew H. Hedges, Dawson W. Heiser, Michael S. Helps, Louise Henrichsen, Kirk B. Hess, Wilford M. Higbee-Walker, Marilyn Hill, Richard L. Hillam, Ray C. Hilton, Janet F. Hilton, John L. Hilton, Lynn M. Hilton, Nancy Goldberg Holbrook, Brett L. Holland, Jeffrey R. Holzapfel, Richard Neitzel Homer, Michael W. Honey, David B. Hopkins, Richard R. Hoskisson, Paul Y. Hovorka, Janet C. Howard, Sherwin W. Huchel, Fredrick M. Huff, Benjamin I. Hunt, Robert D. Hunt Jr., Wallace E. Huntington, Ray L. Introvigne, Massimo Isaac, Christopher B. Jackson, Kent P. Jacobsen, LeIsle James, Rhett S. Janetski, Joel C. Jarman, Dean Jenkins, Joseph Jenson, Janet Jessee, Dean C. Jett, Stephen C. Jibson, Michael D. Johannessen, Carl L. Johnson, Clark V. Johnson, D. Lynn Johnson, David J. Johnson, Hollis R. Johnson, Mark J. Johnson, Rand D. Johnson, Sherrie Mills Jones, Gerald E. Jordan, Benjamin R. Jospe, Raphael Judd Jr., Frank F. Judkins, Benjamin N. Karpowitz, Dennis H. Kenny, Lindsey Kerr, Todd R. Kramer, Neal W. Kunz, Phillip R. LaFleur, Phillip D. Lambert, L. Gary Lambert, T. Allen Lane, Jennifer Clark Lane, Keith H. Largey, Dennis Larsen, Val Lawrence, Keith LeFevre, David A. Leonard, Glen M. Lewis, Robert E. Linn, David Literski, Nicholas S. Livingstone, Amy L. Livingstone, Kevin Ludlow, Daniel H. Ludlow, Douglas Kent Ludlow, Jared W. Ludlow, Victor L. Lund, Gerald N. Lundquist, John M. Lyon, James K. Lyon, Michael Lyon, T. Edgar Lythgoe Bradford, Mary Mackay, Thomas W. MacRae, George Maddox, John Wm. Madsen, Ann N. Madsen, Truman G. Mangum, Garth L. Marrott, Robert L. Marsh, W. Jeffrey Martínez, Florentino G. Matthews, Darrell L. Matthews, Robert J. Maxwell, Neal A. McBride, Liesel C. McClellan, David A. McClellan, Richard D. McConkie, Bruce R. McConkie, Joseph F. McDonald, Andrew J. McGregor, Russell C. McKinlay, Daniel B. Mclauchlan, John Meldrum, D. Jeffrey Merrill, Byron Meservy, Keith H. Midgley, Louis Mikita York, Carole Miller, Jeanette W. Miller, Roger L. Millet, Robert L. Miner, Alan C. Mitton, George L. Moody, J. Ward Morris, Larry E. Morrise, Mark J. Mosser, Carl Mouritsen, Paul Muhlestein, Kerry Nadig, Peter C. Nations-Johnson, Lynne Nelson, Fred W. Nelson, Steven G. Nibley, Hugh W. (203) Nibley, Tom Nickerson, Matthew Norman, V. Garth Norton, Beverly J. Norton, Don Norwood, L. Ara Novak, Gary F. Nuckolls, Charles W. Nyman, Monte S. Oaks, Elder Dallin H. Olsen, Steven L. Oman, Nathan Ostler, Blake T. Owen, Paul Packard, Dennis Packard, Sandra Packer, Cameron J. Palmer, David A. Parker, Douglas H. Parker, Heidi H. Parker, Michael B. Parker, Todd B. Parkinson, Dilworth B. Parr, Ryan Parrish, Alan K. Parry, Donald W. Parsons, Robert E. Paulsen, David L. Perkins, Keith W. Petersen, Boyd Jay Peterson, Boyd J. Peterson, Daniel C. Peterson, H. Donl Phillips, R. Douglas Phillips, William R. Phillips, Wm. Revell Pike, Dana M. Pinegar, Ed J. Pinnock, Hugh W. Porter, Bruce D. Porter, Larry C. Porter, Rockwell D. Potter, George Potter, R. Dennis Pratt, John P. Preece, Michael J. Prete, Roy A. Pritchett Jr., Bruce M. Purves Baker, Christine Pyle, D. Charles Raish, Martin H. Rasmussen, Ellis T. Rathbone, Tim Raventos, William Rawlins, Jacob D. Read-Hadley, Lenet H. Reed, Michael G. Rees, Robert A. Reeve Jr., Rex C. Reynolds, Noel B. Rhodes, Michael D. Ricks, Eldin Ricks, Shirley S. Ricks, Stephen D. Riddle, Chauncey C. Roberts, Richard C. Robertson-Wilson, Marian Robinson, Stephen E. Robison, Lindon J. Robson, R. Thayne Rolph, Daniel N. Romney, Joseph B. Roper, Matthew Roulstone, Darren T. Roundy, Phyllis Ann Rudd, Calvin P. Rust, Richard Dilworth Rytting, J. Howard Rytting, Paul Salisbury, Frank B. Samuelson, Cecil O. Satterfield, Bruce Scanlon, Rory R. Schaalje, G. Bruce Schade, Aaron P. Scharffs, Gilbert W. Seely, David R. Seidel, Amber J. Sheffield, William Sherlock, Richard Shipps, Jan Shirts, Kerry A. Siebach, James L. Silver, Cherry B. Sjodahl, Janne M. Skinner, Andrew C. Skousen, Royal Sloan, David E. Smith, James E. Smith, Joseph Fielding Smith, Kay H. Smith, Larry K. Smith, Paul Thomas Smith, Robert F. Smith, Timothy L. Snow, Edgar Snow Jr., Edgar C. Sorensen, A. Don Sorenson, John L. Sorenson, Matthew R. Sowell, Madison U. Spackman, Ben Spackman, Randall P. Sperry, Sidney B. Stephens, Trent D. Sterling, Mack C. Stewart Jr., David G. Stocks, Hugh G. Stubbs, Brian D. Sturgess, Gary L. Swanson, Vern G. Swenson, Raymond Takashi Swift, Charles Szink, Terrence L. Taggart, Gregory Taggart, Gregory H. Tanner, John S. Tanner, Martin S. Tanner, Morgan W. Taylor, J. Lewis Taylor, Leslie A. Taylor, Sally T. Thomas, Bryan J. Thomas, M. Catherine Thomas, Mark D. Thomasson, Gordon C. Thompson, Jeffrey P. Thompson, John S. Thompson, Stephen E. Thorne, Melvin J. Tiedemann, Michael Turley, Jr., Richard E. Tvedtnes, John A. Updegraff, Robert Timothy Vaggalis, Ted Valletta, Thomas R. Van Beek, Walter E. A. Van Orden, Bruce A. Van Orden, Richard D. Volluz, Corbin T. Von Feldt, Alyson Skabelund Walker, Cory G. Walker, Gary Lee Waltz, David Wardle, Lynn D. Warner, Paul R. Warren, Bruce W. Watson, Elden J. Wayment, Thomas A. Weiland, Kurt Welch, John S. Welch, John W. Wellington, Richard Wells, M. Gawain Wells, Robert E. Whitchurch, David M. Whiting, Michael F. Whittaker, David J. Widtsoe, John A. Wilcox, S. Michael Williams, Camille Williams, Clyde J. Williams, Richard N. Wilson, E. Jan Wilson, Jerry A. Wilson, Keith J. Winwood, Richard I. Wirth, Diane E. Withers, Mark V. Woodger, Mary Jane Woods, Fred E. Woodward, Scott R. Wooley, Scott Wright, David P. Wright, Dennis A. Wright, H. Curtis Yerman, Bruce H. Ziebarth, Christian M.

Not since I stopped caring what other people think!

Hi Children - welcome!

I only have two things to say about the whole complex mess. 1- This ain't our fault. God made us fully understanding the messes and situations we'd get ourselves into. His is a plan of happiness, and that means eventually, if we endure to the end in faith, we will be happy. Even if we can't see how here on earth. 2- The LDS church is the only church I'm aware of that presents any sort of details about how things will work out in the afterlife. The whole rest of Christianity, as far as I can tell, either reject the notion of families in heaven, or figure we'll turn into something that isn't human and won't care any more, or are content to sit back and leave it in God's hands. That last part would be a source of comfort to me, but I can't buy the first two. LM

Hi Rozalie_Marie, Fascinating story. A few comments It's true some mormons used to believe that (maybe some still do), but it's not really part of our doctrine. More like a cultural myth passed from generation to generation. You totally lost me here. Which church leader says you won't be able to talk to your mother any more? Are you talking about your earthly mother? The church isn't in the habit of breaking up families... Here are a few quotes that may help you make up your mind:I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security, trusting their eternal destiny in the hands of their leaders with a reckless confidence that in itself would thwart the purposes of God in their salvation, and weaken that influence they could give to their leaders, did they know for themselves, by the revelations of Jesus, that they are led in the right way. Let every man and woman know, by the whispering of the Spirit of God to themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path the Lord dictates, or not. This has been my exhortation continually Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 9, p. 150 ----- Latter-day Saints are not obedient because they are compelled to be obedient. They are obedient because they know certain spiritual truths and have decided, as an expression of their own individual agency, to obey the commandments of God. We are the sons and daughters of God, willing followers, disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, and "under this head are [we] made free." (Mosiah 5: 8 ) Those who talk of blind obedience may appear to know many things, but they do not understand the doctrines of the gospel. There is an obedience that comes from a knowledge of the truth that transcends any external form of control. We are not obedient because we are blind, we are obedient because we can see. Boyd K. Packer, "Agency and Control," Ensign, May 1983, 66 ----- Concerning the question of blind obedience. Not a man in this Church, since the Prophet Joseph Smith down to the present day, has ever asked any man to do as he was told blindly. No Prophet of God, no Apostle, no President of a Stake, no Bishop, who has had the spirit of his office and calling resting upon him, has ever asked a soul to do anything that they might not know was right and the proper thing to do. We do not ask you to do anything that you may not know it is your duty to do, or that you may not know will be a blessing for you to do. If we give you counsel, we do not ask you to obey that counsel without you know[ing] that it is right to do so. But how shall we know that it is right? By getting the Spirit of God in our hearts, by which our minds may be opened and enlightened, that we may know the doctrine for ourselves, and be able to divide truth from error, light from darkness and good from evil Joseph F. Smith, Collected Discourses, ed. Brian H. Stuy, Vol. 3 (Burbank, B.H.S. Publishing, 1987-1992) Welcome to the board! LM

So, Kona, You say you are sincere in wondering how we respond to your questions. Fine by me - I have no reason to doubt you. But your questions are not really your own, now are they? These aren't things that have occurred to you after reading the scriptures, having missionaries over, and attending our church, now are they? These are stock criticisms that have been well-refuted decades ago, and yet still make the rounds on critical websites, pamphlets, and in people's opinions. So, question for you. Where are you getting your information? I'd be interested in hearing where you're getting these questions. The short answer is, why would we expect to?For the long answer, click here, pick a topic, and feel free to delve in to the complexities of this issue. We don't know if we have or not. Absence of toponyms means we just don't know what a bunch of sites we've discovered were called. Every now and then, we do make a discovery that matches up with BoM claims. Precolumbian cement. Evidence of ore mining. The existence of a place called NHM in the middle east, that matches up with the BoM's Nahom. Nothing definitive or conclusive, but yes, it is evidence. Whatever source you have for your criticisms refuses to look at our responses to the criticisms. Sure - here it is: Eve bears Cain and Abel—They offer sacrifices—Cain slays Abel and is cursed by the Lord, who also sets a mark upon him—The children of men multiply—Adam begets Seth, and Seth begets Enos. So, what part of this heading says black skin is a curse?Your source of criticism is a bit, shall we say, biased. I wouldn't be so content to swallow the criticisms as easily as you seem to be. You do? You need to spend a bit more time in the Old Testament. God most certainly did NOT make all races equal in his eyes. The Lord promised to make Israel's seed "high above all nations". Priesthood was only given to Levites for a time. Shoot, Jesus even forbade his Apostles to bring the gospel to the Gentiles during his earthly ministry. Frankly, I've found that the people who produce the criticisms you're swallowing, don't know their own bible - especially the old testament. So Kona, tell me something - if you want to learn about Christianity, do you go to an Athiest website? If you want to learn about athiesm, do you go to a Christian website? Then why on earth do you go to sources critical of mormonism to learn about mormonism? You are interacting with us, and responding to our responses. These are actions that speak to your sincerity. I urge you to carefully consider your source, and the agenda behind their claims. LM

Oh - and my daily submission to the thread: The phrase "a whole nuther". I wish people would think about how dumb it looks when they type it, before they say it. Shouldn't it be "another whole"? LM

Ok, I don't want to make a big deal out of this, but I just got done teaching 1st grade grammar to my homeschooled kid, and now I need to know if I'm doing it right or not.I've taught her: Common nouns like tree, weekday, man, state - not capitalized. You can identify a common noun because there's more than one of them. Proper nouns like Aspen, Wednesday, Daddy, Utah - capitalized. You can identify a proper noun because there is only one of them, or they are a name. Are there any grammaterians out there that can settle this issue? (If there are - feel free to rap my knuckles with an e-ruler over using the word "grammaterians".) LM

For anyone interested, here is a source listing of many good articles dealing with the issue of Joseph's supposedly false propecies. FAIR "Failed Prophecies" links LM

"Alot" isn't a word - it's a way people prove they didn't pay attention in third grade.

My little girls and I pretended we were living in the middle ages, and ran around screaming about mother moon hiding her face, and how plagues and locusts would soon come.

I favor complete transparency in such situations. I would find a way to communicate the following to the guy, his wife, the branch president, and anyone else involved:"I am not interested in any sort of relationship with anyone disgusting enough to get married and then let his eye wander away from his wife. I mean really - why on earth would I wish to be involved with someone who acts in ways that prove he cannot be trusted to keep the most sacred and important vows a human being can make?" I might consider shouting this from the church roof, hiring a sky writer, or taking out a full-page ad in the local newspaper. Whatever it takes to leave absolutely no doubt in anyone's mind exactly where I fit in someone else's marriage. LM