cgrantreed

I think your question was "hijacked" because of the way it was worded... sounding slightly like in support of it... and the whole thought of this thread makes many people squeamish. Unfortunately it happens and the only way to counter it is to talk about it (in a clean and educated way) and find solutions through common actions. I don't believe for a second that there are more cases of it because more are reported. I am quite sure that there is just way more of it going on and also more ways to track and counter it. I can say for certain that the world environment has changed a lot since '57 and that is so very obvious in the TV and movie and music that is out today. Sex sells and people are driven towards this racy advertising in whatever form it is coming in. I dare you to find a TV show from the 50's that has the name "sex" in it... such as "Sex In The City". It just did not happen. The values system then was so much stronger and it just was not allowed. Now we sell ourselves out for nothing... and we are paying the high price for it. The internet allows it to proliferate like a plague and this unchecked flow of information allows those who thrive on the abuse or acts of abuse to find their home in it. This attracts so many of those who would have been "on the fence" to the wrong side. Sure, more are reported... because more are being abused and more are leaving bread crumb trails behind from their activities. for investigators to track. The other problem is that we as a society are promoting, through our low moral systems, the idea that kids need to see themselves as "sexy". I would love to punch the jerk in the head that came up with the idea to put our teenage daughters in clothing that is tight, revealing AND had names and phrases like "baby doll" and "I'm Sexy" printed over parts of the clothing that pretty much makes you look at what could be underneath. That is pathetic and almost advertises the meat in the package when the outcome of that is absolutely contrary to what we want to happen to our kids. Is there more child abuse happening? Heck yes. Are we promoting and doing it to ourselves... heck yes. Could it be stopped... not without a lot of work and a lot of ideals changes in the world. Satan really has a hold on us.

It is an interesting thing for me too as I watch the power of the net surfacing in so many ways. As with all things, there is an equal use of good things for increasingly evil purposes and the net is by far one of the best examples out there. With the ease of communication, there is an effective and highly speedy communication channel for transmission of illicit stuff like hate agenda, porn, etc. With the expanded bandwidth and technology allowing the spread of broadband content for good, it is used for the degradation of truth in just as high definition. The fact that we can use the net to spread the word of God and do community geneology and missionary work and on the same net we can spread filth, debauchery and evil intent just seems twisted and unreal. It would be like selling porn at church, it just doesn't make sense that it could be allowed to happen... though sadly I am sure that it has happened somewhere in the world, though far less of a chance than it being peddled on the net for sure. Its has such great potential but even at 100%, I'd guess that only 10% of the net is being used for good as most of us don't use it for bad so we can't judge the actual content of good versus evil... but I know that its chock full of stuff that is not what God would intent for it. Just a thought... Grant

One thing that came to mind with your comment was as it is listed in D&C 1: 3 - 3 And the rebellious shall be pierced with much sorrow; for their iniquities shall be spoken upon the housetops, and their secret acts shall be revealed. - is that those who are "rebellious" (my interpretation is those who do not follow Gods plan, don't repent, etc), who are trying to hide their indiscretions in their wickedness (even if only minorly wicked) will have no place to hide it once Christ returns. This alone would expose their wickedness or "secrets". I know that God does not directly use humiliation as part of His process of repentance but humiliation comes from knowing that you did not take care of business and you were exposed in your lies to God. Just MHO I guess. Either way, I do not want to be the guy that fails to clean up the closet before its inspected in plain sight:-) As an example, I liken this to the guy that commits a sex offense and is tried and sentenced. As part of his sentence he has to register and that registration puts his name on a list of people registered like him. He may never offend again but it is broadcast "upon the rooftops" to those who want to listen that he is an offender. Once someone in his neighborhood finds out that he is registered every neighbor within 5 miles will find out his "secret" whether he wants it or not. I would have to agree with that. The deal with these shows though is that they are not a broadcast of how wrong it is, but a sensationalized process of numbing the evils of the sins themselves. Reality TV itself is really just a form of anesthetic to thicken our skin against offensive material and actions. I know its not directly a tool of Satan but it sure isn't hurting his cause any. Grant

I had a NDE once... I opened my mouth and said something stupid to my mother when I was a teenager and amazingly enough I saw my life flash before my eyes:-)

you think you got a problem buddy... I bought my watch with a "guaranteed" 5 year battery in it... I bet you dollars to donuts that it will quit working 6 months before the millennium and I will not be able to find a replacement because the economy will have tanked already and I will have to go through the eternities with a dead watch. Frackdoodle!!!! Grant

I would have to say that the web has a way of making the secret known to the many but there is no doubt in my mind that the scriptures that you referenced were stating something different. The reason for this is that unless you post your secrets to the web, or are "operating a secret online" instead of at home... i.e. you are trafficking porn online yet appear to be living a normal family life otherwise to the neighborly world around you. These things that are brought out on the web are public domain eventually and someone is going to find it and may reveal your secrets to the masses. You may be running a racket like AOL was and people will communicate that fact but for the most part it is possible to be on the web and still be very anonymous if you are careful Joe Public. I personally understand the scriptures that you referenced to mean specifically that the skeletons in our closets will eventually be revealed to everyone if they are kept locked up and not disposed of properly prior to Jesus' return. There are many a secret that people have that will never make it to the net in any form or fashion but will be made known to all during the millennium. This is a good reason to repent of your sins and keep a well organized "closet" so that when your doors are cast open before your maker... there is no unironed shirts hanging there. MHO Grant

The LDS faith in general does not teach anything about the end times except... be prepared and ye shall not fear. As has been taught for ever in the church, have a years supply of food for WHATEVER comes up (food shortages like flour, sugar, etc are happening now, not becuase they don't exist but because it costs too much to ship the stuff and it is not being distributed as readily as it was), Repentance for your sins is important becuase we don't know WHEN the end times will come. Take care of your financial position so no one can take away something that you own and need (though if the times get tough it may happen anyway). Don't procrastinate anything. That is what the church teaches. There is talks on the prophetic items that are in the scriptures but there is no additional (for the most part) teachings on WHEN or exactly what will happen. Its "just be prepared for anything...and ye shall not fear". The fact is that we don't know Gods timetable for anything. It will happen when it will happen. Period. We know from the scriptures WHAT could happen and why but WHEN...who knows. Thats my 2 cents Grant

My wife (extobe) is not worthy if her recommend either and she has her Bishop snowed but I fortunately am not AT ALL on the line for her actions so whoopdy-friggen-doo. If her Bishop knows something and is not doing his proper job then he will pay the price in the end. If she is attending the temple or wearing her garments unworthily... she will pay the price. One way or another the Lord has a way of balancing the spiritual books for everyone eventually. Focus on your own salvation and leave the treachery and debauchery to others judgment. "Vengence is mine" is a divine statement. I would never want to be accused of trying to judge anyones worthiness because mine sucks and I think I am a decent saint... Its her funeral... Grant

Its a fair statement because the church will always help the members first and does so every day of the year. They also do HUGE amounts of welfare work for non members too, during emergency situations and in every day needs. The welfare system in the church is not a dole or freebie so many in the church do not need or get it but those who do can have it freely. I know that people of other faiths in our community have been helped by our church just because they needed it. No one in the church will be denied help if they deserve it (not using the system to put it bluntly) and because of the excess that is available as needed, there is some extra for other purposes outside the church in philanthropic endeavors.

Our HT recently jumped to an all time high of some 70%. How did they do it you ask? By taking the names of those who do not DO their home teaching completely off the list and rearranging the list for only those that do go with ACTIVE families. How LAME is that? We had a doosey of a meeting when the EQ found out about what they did to get numbers up. Grab a black bag and a bat Brothers...cause someone needs a flogging for that stupid idea. What the heck? Grrrrr Be so grateful if you are in a ward that is run by competent priesthood holders... This is the second ward that I have wanted to toss someone off a bridge in. The church is true and the Gospel is soooo right but there are some real winners in the world...even in the church. Oh well... it takes all kinds.

BMW... This is going to offend some when I say it and its not because its rude or incorrect but that its hitting so close to home. As a brotherhood we are getting more and more inept. We are taught the true power and meaning of what our Priesthood stands for and yet we take it so lightly. If we really understood the importance of what it was that we had and ACTED on it... there would be 100% HT, no one would go without getting their needs met by the quorum (activities, service projects, etc) and our EQ meetings would have lively helping discussions in them instead of dead, answer less, snore... meetings. The doctrine would be taught AND followed. It would almost make the EQ meeting unnecessary as we would all be doing it and talking about it would be just to burn time. Brothers would not be afraid to ask the others how to deal with a problem that they are having or how to overcome a situation like addiction or marital struggles. There would be no fear because the application of the Priesthood principles would negate any judgment and only provide empathy and a will to serve each other. There is nothing that you can do to activate those who are fine with stagnation. I went through a period of that... well many years actually. i held the Priesthood and I did not magnify it. I held it and I used it when necessary but not as it should have been used. I have since learned the true meaning of it. I am ashamed that I ever took it lightly and I will never again do so. I lost so many opportunities to do it right and I will forever kick myself for it. How do you get people to feel that ashamed to stop them from being complacent? Without being rude and in their face? Good question. Sometimes it just takes a good swift kick in the pants. Guilt was a pretty powerful tool for me... This is why I say that anyone that actually asks for the EQP or Bishop position is a fool. It takes brassy's to get anyone off their duff to get it done in the quorum. You have to make them feel the Spirit in a deep way that they can never deny again.

"Hell" is also a condition that we create in our lives too, not just after death. The scriptures talk about hell being the results of our choices and believe you me, I have experienced it. Its a self inflicted wound that takes God to cleanse it for us. If you have ever done something that racked your soul, you know what HELL I am talking about. It, though seemingly permanent at the time, goes away with repentance. Thank heavens for that... Just thought I'd throw MHO in there:D TREE... Don't sweat the small stuff. God knows that you were angry and even the Saints do that. Its rude and improper and it requires asking God for forgiveness but Satan likes to bring on guilt even though you have been forgiven just to make you worry. God won't torment you with it if you have asked him for release. Grant

I do not actively seek out missionary opportunities (though I should) because I get tired of being pushed upon by others so I don't push it on them. I think the best missionary tool is to be the best representative of the faith as I can (though at times I am a pretty sucky example of the representative I need to be). I wear who I am on my sleeve, which is disturbing to some as they can't equate with who I am, but those who can will question why. Then I have an opportunity to tell them why and maybe it will open up a conversation as to what I believe. I have had many conversations where it eventually came up that I was LDS and they'd say" Your not like any Mormon I have ever met"(in a good way of course;-) and I would end up with a barrage of questions about the faith. But for the most part I don't just jump in and try to proselyte or "gather the herd" in anyway. I have found that I have little power to bring them to the Spirit if they are not already looking for it so I don't try and get them looking. That may be a bad way to look at it but I can't ram it down anyones throat. And besides... You can lead a horse to water but you can't stop it from drowning in it:rolleyes: I take every obvious opportunity to talk about what I believe when they surface but I am not an active missionary. I am better at helping others to strengthen their faith and testimony than I am at bringing people into the faith. Grant

Once the divorce paperwork is finalized and CLOSED in the court, you are ok to pursue a replacement spouse. Dating while the process is still rolling is taboo so watch your P's and Q's.

I am a sufferer of Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea. I know how it works from the inside of the process. I suffered from it for 20 years before getting help and it mimicked chronic fatigue syndrome pretty close, The sleep test proved the real reason and I was put on CPAP. It is bull to believe that this process fixes it self really fast. I have been on it for 6 years now and I am still struggling with it to a certain extent. It will permanently change your sleep patterns and you will always feel fatigued to a certain degree...and the fatigue causes extreme depression, mood wings and other glorious stuff that torments you. I can say however that even that can be treated and He has to want to be fixed or you are fighting a lost battle. Its really easy to let it win. I am sure that there is some unseen disorder caused from this and he is struggling with it but he can't give up or it will never get better. Grant