Traveler

Pop music is short for popular music.  Basically, it is the music prevalent in that era.  The style of pop music, therefore, changes as new generations popularize them.  Certain areas of the world also have their own styles of pop music.  Today, pop music is what you hear on your FM stations.  Kpop is short for Korean pop.  It's the style of music popular in South Korea.  Currently it resembles western music but more in line of Michael Jackson with a bit of grunge and a bit of rap mixed in by some artists.
Indie music is short for individual music.  It's like the opposite of popular music - it is more of a "cultish" thing.  You don't hear them on the FM stations.
 

I was once told that receiving inspiration from the Holy Ghost is really more along the line of 90% perspiration and 10% actual inspiration.   I am convinced that divine inspiration from G-d can only come by and through our most earnest efforts to connect with G-d – however demonic inspiration will follow even when we make specific effort to avoid it.
There is one more observation – that is - according to my experience - before we suffer grave things because of unrighteousness – that G-d will go through great means to warn us and call us to repentance.  But to follow a path of righteousness – requires a lot of effort.  I think the scriptures mention stuff like – “ALL” your heart, might, mind and strength.   Holding back, even a very little bit has never benefited me.
 
The Traveler

I don't know how they came about so I can't really argue one way or the other.  
I tend to believe that Adam and Eve came more from an evolutionary process and that They were the first two that God covenanted with making them his first children.

During the history of man – we can see technology develop and at times ebb or dwindle.  Mostly science and religion worked together to provide society with a knowledge base for accomplishment – both spiritually and physically.  Something very odd happened when Christianity mixed with Paganism and emerged as a major influence in Western society.  Some call it the middle ages, some call it the Dark Ages but LDS understand this time as “The Great Apostasy”.
A global effort to distort or destroy truths accumulated for centuries by man took hold and blossomed with the destruction of the library of Alexandra.  What followed would set back the enlightenment of mankind thousands of years.  Not just spiritually but even in the understanding of natural laws or the laws of physics.   During this time period of apostasy many of the great libraries of man were lost forever in time.  These included the libraries of Babylon, Zoroaster, China and even the records of the Nephits on the American contentment.   Both science and religion was replaced with unexplainable acts and methods of mystery and magic.  Man began to imagine that all divine and eternal “truth” was mysterious and unknowable – this also included the natural empirical laws of physics.  Efforts to explain any truth or wisdom to remove it from the realms of mystery and fantasy was pronounced by Traditional Christians as Satanic and pure evil.
G-d had not abandoned man and the age of ignorance began to melt away like the ice of winter with the coming of spring; with what has become known as the renaissance and the beginning of what would become known as an age of enlightenment and eventually the “Modern Age” of man.  But Traditional Christianity would not give up on notion of mysterious truth and would pronounce any scientific discovery as evil and a lie.
Science introduced notions of gravity, electromagnetic radiation and the small and large nuclear forces.  These ideas of empirical and precisely predictable forces gave man the power of understanding of our world and the universe and Traditional Christianity hated the new understanding and fought it every step of the way.  Perhaps the most profound blunder was the conviction of Galileo by Traditional Christians for publishing a book of how to predict ocean tides with science rather than with mysteries of religion.  
For 600 years the religious community has lost battle after battle as science has introduced so much usable knowledge that indeed man is now enjoying a golden age of knowledge even to the extent of being able to step off our tiny little planet into the vast regions of space.  And what has traditional religion produced?  To be honest – it appears to me that traditional religion produced little beyond hatred in the form of slavery, wars and disdain of our fellow man.  If it were not for LDS – I would not consider myself a Christian because as an institution; tradition Christianity has produced little or nothing of value.  I am not saying there have not been good individuals – just that as an institution there is nothing notable.  I would also explain that even the likes of the Natizies of Germany and the Communists of Stalin and Mao there were good individuals doing very impressive things.
Sadly, there still exist today individuals that claim the mysteries of traditional religious thinking over the empirical understanding of our universe through science.  They resist, as many religionists before them, any and all scientific truth.  Their claim is that the study of empirical evidence is evil and Satanic – nothing more than lies.  They will stand in the bright empirical light of noon day and declare it night.  It is hard for me to understand and had I not conversed personally with such enemies of truth – I would not believe it - that such possible in our day and age of restoration of truth.
 
The Traveler

I like your addition here.  In mathematics we have the notion of proof.  This mathematical notion is very well defined.  It would seem that beyond the boundaries of mathematics proof has little to add for well-defined understanding.  There are some elements of proof in logic but these elements are not as well define as they are in mathematics.  This little sense of ambiguity has caused much consternation in dealing with differences of opinion and what constitutes an acceptable proof.  
As a side note – most atheists and agnostics that I meet in my work are not averse to G-d or the notion that a G-d being created the universe – just the traditional Christian G-d as pronounced in the Trinity.  A notion of G-d that they were raised with from their youth.   They were told that if they did not believe is such a G-d that they would go to Hell.  The logic has been so profoundly absurd – they have rejected all notions of G-d and pronounced themselves atheists and agnostics and are much happier for it.  
 
The Traveler

I did my internship with them in Japan at their head office.  I was helping them with some automation software for their sales team to predict how much equipment a customer would need for warehouse automation.  Pretty interesting experience.

Thanks

Since I love skiing and cycling – Sandy, Utah (15 minutes from skiing in some of the world’s best resorts) for me is perfect.  My wife is not a cyclist and would prefer St George.   I often cycle in St George in the late fall and early spring but winter and summer I personally prefer not to spend in St. George.  If you would like to raise your family in an outdoor desert environment with several highly rated international hiking trails within a day’s travel by car – St George would be ideal.  If you are looking for world class art and entertainment – you will likely be greatly disappointed.    
 
The Traveler

Be careful not to confuse concerns and worries with divine promptings.  I wish I could tell you how to prevent this but it is a temptation to which I find myself vulnerable.    In humor I often say that I find worrying to be the most effective possible thing I ever do.   This is because, 98% of the things I worry about never happen – what could be a more effective thing for anyone to do?
Usually such things come about when I do not have enough information or insight.
 
The Traveler

Be careful not to confuse concerns and worries with divine promptings.  I wish I could tell you how to prevent this but it is a temptation to which I find myself vulnerable.    In humor I often say that I find worrying to be the most effective possible thing I ever do.   This is because, 98% of the things I worry about never happen – what could be a more effective thing for anyone to do?
Usually such things come about when I do not have enough information or insight.
 
The Traveler

Not only have Neandertals existed with the equivalent of the modern genetic humans there are humans today that have Neandertal DNA to which the only explanation is that there was a Neandertal somewhere in their direct ancestry line.   
I believe that it is possible that there are questions that cannot be answered but I do not believe that there should ever be answers that cannot be questioned.
 
The Traveler

Very personal.
i've read a few books on Mother Teresa.  Very interesting.  She believed in the divinity of her church leaders.  And those leaders actually fought her tooth and nail initially to convince her not to serve the destitute in the slums of India.  Despite that, she believed in them as much if not more than the average Mormon believes about their prophet.
Who is right, who is wrong?  
Personally, the conclusion that i've come to is that "right" answer is less important than being good.  That perhaps it's more important whether one's beliefs bring about a state inner goodness - or at least put you on that track.
Are there absolutes?  Definitely.  But do they extend to things like musical preferences or where you don't wear your garments or if/when you go on a mission?  Or for me, even what church you attend?  From where i sit, no, i don't think so.
And honestly, i've rarely seen it do any good to criticize someone else's revelation as being wrong.  Even IF you're right, it usually serves to just drive them further into what you are criticizing
If you have a good heart and are trying your best and hoping that God and Jesus will guide you, i don't believe you're going to end up in any place but the best possible.
But i'm generally considered an evil apostate , so consume  these words with however much salt you feel is necessary. 

There is no connection other than the two words are both 100% Arabic. But the whole thing is worse than you think and there is, because, for lack of a better term, an international conspiracy involved in this matter.

The first bit of truth I would like to bring forward is that there was an ancient name for the settlement by the Dead Sea and there is not one religious scholar that will openly speak the name of the ancient settlement. But since I am an amateur I can speak. The ancient name was “Damascus” and I offer as proof the “Damascus Document” which is also called the rule of the community. Therefore the community today is not called by any Jewish designation but by Arabic designation that names a nearby geological wash and has no historical relevance what-so-ever.

The reason is obvious - If this is where Paul was traveling to when he was converted then the scriptures at Damascus provide definitive proof that the Bible is not the holy scriptures and that there was a massive effort to alter what was scripture shortly after Jesus - both for Christians and Jews. That is a can of worms no religious scholar is willing to touch.

But it is worse - to create confusion that there is anything of real importance or significance in the documents of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the settlement is called Essen. This is most interesting because there is not one artifact ever found at Qumran that is Essen. In addition there are things such as “The War Scroll” that prove beyond any possible or reasonable doubt that the community was not Essen. Plus graphologist have conclusive proven that several of the scribes at Qumran were also present at Masada - and there is no historical connection with the battle of Masada that ever had anything to do with any Essens.

The Traveler

If one studies both ancient Egypt and the Book of Mormon there are a great many seeming coincidences to be discovered.   I thought it would be interesting to point some of them out (there are lots of them).  We are told in the ancient scripture of the Book of Mormon that there are ties to ancient Egyptian culture – in particular, writing methods and styles. 
One of the minor g-d of Egypt was called “Khepri”.  Most of us will recognize this deity in the expression of a dung beetle or scarab.  Khepri is a subordinate to Ra (major Sun G-d) and as a subordinate, is responsible for elements of creation – especially the creation and evolution of life.  There is one particular aspect of Khepri that is responsible for overseeing special changes or evolution in life.  Perhaps the most prominent symbol of this special evolution is the mesomorphs of a caterpillar into a butterfly.  It was believed in ancient Egypt, as well as many other ancient cultures that a significant benevolent evolution in a person or society is caused by divine interference or oversite.  In other words, a miracle of change.  Many scholars claim this ancient philosophy of Khepri in our lives is the root or forerunner to the idea of being spiritually reborn.   So Khepri is symbolic of the g-d that brings about benevolent change or rebirth.
In our LDS theology we are encouraged in the idea that benevolent evolution and rebirth is to be a common and often occurrence.   There is a particular phrase in the Book of Mormon supports this ancient idea of Khepri bringing about changes for the better.  This phrase is often criticized for adding little or nothing to the narrative of the Book of Mormon.  Criticized because writing on golden plates was costly and unnecessary phrases would not make sense.  The phrase is, “And it came to pass”. 
If one understands the possibility that this seeming meaningless phrase has root in ancient Egyptian thought – the phrase begins to have much greater meaning as well as indication of divine intervention and oversite.  So, the next time you read the Book of Mormon – pay attention to the phrase, “And it came to pass” as a key witness to something wonderful bringing about a change for the good and benefit.  It may help give a little better insight into a hidden spiritual secret that has significant revenants to your own life.
 
The Traveler

I have come to believe that the things we are taught by the spirit concerning covenants and commandments are not so that we can judge others as much as they are intended to bring us closer to G-d.  Disciplining myself concerning the Word of Wisdom has indeed given me insights into G-d and Christ that I am quite sure I would not otherwise enjoy or appreciate.
 
The Traveler

Interesting – I am somewhat gregarious but not much of a fan of large crowds.  I would rather observe than be observed.   When I am at a pool I prefer to be invisible and observe how individuals in the crowd react – especially to those who obviously want to be noticed.   One lesson I have learned is that often there is a difference between what people think they are communicating and the message others are getting.
 
The Traveler

Modesty is a cardinal principle of the Law of chastity.  Modesty is also a means of communicating – intelligence among other things.  If someone swims with piranha and deliberately adds blood to the water – it will not matter much where the blame lies – blame will not change much of what happens. 
Scientifically we define intelligence as the ability to learn and modify our behavior to bring about a more desirable result.   When it comes to social behavior – how we behave and adorn ourselves has a lot to do with how we want and intend other to perceive us.   Anyway – it should.   I have often wondered why on Halloween – so many ladies go out of their way to appear as characters generally considered immodest?
If someone truly does not care what others think of them – then they will not complain about what others think, say and expect of them based what they think of them.   There are always exceptions but my point is – that if you do not want particular responses then avoid those things (whenever possible) that seem to be directly related to unwanted responses.    
 
The Traveler

The problem with a really good post in a forum like this is that there is not much that can be added - pro or con - that will not in some way distract from the initial message.  Often if one wants to get a lot of comments going - you need to say something a little more on the stupid side.  For sure that will generate lots of interest.
 
The Traveler

As a caveat, I implied relying on our 5 basic senses makes differentiating virtual reality from “reality” almost impossible.  However, I would purport that sensory information is never pure knowledge even when it is an integral part of knowledge.  We are told that spiritually sensing will result in knowledge.  It is at the spiritual level that deception and knowledge actually occurs.  But we are conversing at a sensory level so it is impossible for me to prove this to you – though you can prove it to yourself.  I have also discovered that I can “spiritually connect” but such a connection is most difficult to maintain as a fallen mortal being.   Thus, I believe that to associate with truth in this life – we must seek to repeat spiritual connections – almost to the point of scheduled ritual.
As a cyclist, Krispy Cream donuts are not much of a temptation for me just because of what they cause on ride.  This, in a small part, corresponds with a teaching of Christ, “If you continue in my word you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free”.   The point I am making is that it is not impossible to know if G-d is lying – but not at the sensory level of understanding.
For your information, I write G-d for two reasons – The first is to show respect for those I have met in my travels that hold such respect, can – without infringing of their covenants copy anything I write and show it to whomever they want.  The second reasons is to be a constant reminder to me – while on the internet – that my words reach far beyond the sphere that I may even intend and that therefore I should be a little more careful what and how I respond.  Unfortunately, there are time it is not enough.
 
The Traveler

I would say that what impresses me the most about the LDS church is acceptance (by most) of truth even when it goes against traditional thinking.  I began to appreciate this notion studying math and physics in college and the discovery of the great divide between traditional Christianity and the scientific community.  Because I am a 5th generation Mormon – I encountered a lot of traditional kind of thinking by some LDS members but I also had personal relationships with a couple of “general” authorities as well as Hugh Nibley and a divinely inspired patriarchal blessing; all which encouraged me to personally pursue science as a divine spiritual gift and a promise that through the gift of the Holy Ghost I would have an advantage in my studies over others in my field without this divine gift.
I am also impressed in the general notion that when someone joins with us (new converts) in our LDS faith that they are encouraged to bring with them all the good and true things they have learned before they became a “covenant” member.  This expanding knowledge base and the idea that we LDS are not trying to live in some long past era but are constantly thinking to expand our understanding, knowledge and faith – both spiritually and scientifically. 
 
The filan notion I love and will point out about the church is a very different concept of G-d and the leadership within his kingdom.  All other organizations are based on the pyramid concept – that is with all the power, inspiration and guidance at the top that trickles down to the lessor beings at the bottom.  That the bottom exists to adore the top but to never ascend above their place.  Where as in the LDS Church the entire concept is turned upside down.  That the purpose and glory of G-d himself is to lift and inspire other to be like him.  And so, the entire effort of the LDS church is established to strengthen and maintain the family unit as the supreme goal and purpose of each individual.  Instead of heaven being the reward of good individuals – we learn that heaven is family – the turning of hearts of the fathers (and mothers) to children and vice versa.  That family is (or at least should be) heaven on earth.
 
The Traveler

I believe that the purpose of modesty (law of Chastity) is a preparation for the law of Marriage.   Not so much so that we can blame others but that we may see and understand our own covenants – despite what everybody else is doing.
 
The Traveler

As a caveat, I implied relying on our 5 basic senses makes differentiating virtual reality from “reality” almost impossible.  However, I would purport that sensory information is never pure knowledge even when it is an integral part of knowledge.  We are told that spiritually sensing will result in knowledge.  It is at the spiritual level that deception and knowledge actually occurs.  But we are conversing at a sensory level so it is impossible for me to prove this to you – though you can prove it to yourself.  I have also discovered that I can “spiritually connect” but such a connection is most difficult to maintain as a fallen mortal being.   Thus, I believe that to associate with truth in this life – we must seek to repeat spiritual connections – almost to the point of scheduled ritual.
As a cyclist, Krispy Cream donuts are not much of a temptation for me just because of what they cause on ride.  This, in a small part, corresponds with a teaching of Christ, “If you continue in my word you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free”.   The point I am making is that it is not impossible to know if G-d is lying – but not at the sensory level of understanding.
For your information, I write G-d for two reasons – The first is to show respect for those I have met in my travels that hold such respect, can – without infringing of their covenants copy anything I write and show it to whomever they want.  The second reasons is to be a constant reminder to me – while on the internet – that my words reach far beyond the sphere that I may even intend and that therefore I should be a little more careful what and how I respond.  Unfortunately, there are time it is not enough.
 
The Traveler

As a caveat, I implied relying on our 5 basic senses makes differentiating virtual reality from “reality” almost impossible.  However, I would purport that sensory information is never pure knowledge even when it is an integral part of knowledge.  We are told that spiritually sensing will result in knowledge.  It is at the spiritual level that deception and knowledge actually occurs.  But we are conversing at a sensory level so it is impossible for me to prove this to you – though you can prove it to yourself.  I have also discovered that I can “spiritually connect” but such a connection is most difficult to maintain as a fallen mortal being.   Thus, I believe that to associate with truth in this life – we must seek to repeat spiritual connections – almost to the point of scheduled ritual.
As a cyclist, Krispy Cream donuts are not much of a temptation for me just because of what they cause on ride.  This, in a small part, corresponds with a teaching of Christ, “If you continue in my word you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free”.   The point I am making is that it is not impossible to know if G-d is lying – but not at the sensory level of understanding.
For your information, I write G-d for two reasons – The first is to show respect for those I have met in my travels that hold such respect, can – without infringing of their covenants copy anything I write and show it to whomever they want.  The second reasons is to be a constant reminder to me – while on the internet – that my words reach far beyond the sphere that I may even intend and that therefore I should be a little more careful what and how I respond.  Unfortunately, there are time it is not enough.
 
The Traveler

Friend, these are not the words of someone seeking to understand. They are the words of a troll, someone looking for a fight and lyingly pretending to want conversation. Careful, or people might think you're @2ndRateMind.
Oh, wait...

@Luke
I am an engineer working in the field of industrial automation, robotics and artificial intelligence.  Because of my scientific background, I am rather attached to empirical evidence as a means for discovering truth.  And yet I have a couple of sons working on pushing the threshold of virtual reality.  The more it is possible to stimulate the senses the more it is difficult to distinguish between reality and a virtual reality.  I have had many discussions about this.  For example, it would be much easier to create our universe (and the vastness of it) as a virtual reality than to create a real one.  G-d could have control and still allow individual will and agency.   Certainly, our experience would be easier to explain in so many ways – even things like a resurrection become simple and the notion that G-d thinks and declares something and it is; would make a lot more sense.  It also means that our suffering and other concerns are not as “real” as we may think.  Finally, or sins and transgressions against others in a virtual reality can easily be mitigated and resolved.  The sins are no longer as bad – what is bad is a refusal to address our attachment to sin not the problem we superfically cause others.  It is very possible we are in a Matrix reality.  But the reality is that we must deal with current circumstance.  We cannot deal with that which we cannot interface.
I also want to address your concern over the rebellious sons and daughters of G-d in our pre-existence.  I have wrestled with this conundrum for many years.  My concern is a little different.  I have resolved that in the full light of understanding and knowledge (including consequences) – Satan and his followers rebelled against G-d and chose darkness over light.  But this make almost no sense to me.  It seems to be to be both foolish and stupid – that they would someday regret such a choice.  But a someday regret would require that something happened that they did not foresee.   And if they did not foresee or understand – how could they have made a choice and exercised agency?  How is it that in the very presents of G-d that they could be deceived?  Not that G-d would be the deceiver but how could he allow them to deceive themselves?
In all cases that I have observed myself and others making bad choices – it has been because something was missing from understanding – thinking the results would be for the benefit and different that what was real.   Thus, if something was selected such that we would discover that it really was not our choice but was forced upon us by some outside force taking advantage of our ignorance – how can it be said that there was a choice to rebel?   The only resolution I can imagine is that Satan and his followers knew the results of their choice and that the result was their choice.  I have come to understand that I do not understand others very well – if they do not think and conclude as I do – I cannot relate very well if at all.  I just do not usderstand what Satan and his followers were thinking.  I am not sure I even want to try very hard to do so.  I have kind of given up resolving why or how they made their very silly and stupid choice.
 
The Traveler