Rico

This point was illustrated quite well in the book, The Grapes of Wrath. The more workers you have available, the less you have to pay them. Wages are based on supply and demand. Look at nursing, we are constantly told about the nursing shortage and how there aren't enough workers. Wages have risen, but once the government allowed companies to import nurses from other countries, the wages have slowed their increase and if hospitals had their way, they'd be staffed with more foreign nurses. Why? Lower wages!

My mom asked me some questions about the church, after she visited for the first time on Sunday. I could answer all of them except one, so I figured I might as well ask it here to get the most diverse set of answers possible. Why is the Aaronic Priesthood called the Aaronic Priesthood? I know it is the same as the Levitical Priesthood, but why is the name different? Thanks in advance!

I think it's possible to raise IQ. I am not a scientist or anything, but since it is possible to lower someone's IQ, it should be possible to raise it. Don't get down too much on IQ level and functioning levels. In fact, ignore the IQ number and focus on making a stimulating environment. For example in Thailand, the average IQ for students is 88. A 75 is not far from the normal range. Here's a quote: It seems to me that they are saying it's possible increase IQ with the right kind of development work.

Yes I can and I do. Opened the newspapers recently? I lived 7 years in a Buddhist country. Just across from the school I taught at, I witnessed people trampled to death trying to buy amulets. There was a total disregard for the feelings of those trampled on. There is anger among the followers. In Thailand, they have even went to the point of forcing Muslims and Christians to learn Buddhism in schools. Buddhists also are given choice jobs over Muslims in the southern part of Thailand. Buddhist soldiers have went on terroristic missions into Muslim towns and villages, killing people just because of their religion. If you can't see the full picture of Buddhism, then you really don't know enough to say whether or not it inspires terrorism or not. Islam, Christianity and Judaism no more inspire terrorism than does Buddhism. I am not here to rag on Buddhism because I know there are some definite good points in the religion and as a underlying value system, it has served the countries where it predominates rather well. I am just a little incredulous to see people talking about a religion that they know very little about, except what a few people have written in books. Me? I volunteered in a Buddhist temple. The ultimate state in Buddhism is absolute nothingness, a total detachment from all feelings, good and bad. As Mother Teresa said, the opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference and that is the the aim of Buddhism. Oh yeah, and I thought I'd add this one: Most Buddhist monks smoke cigarettes. In fact, I have never met a Buddhist monk who didn't smoke.

Gospel culture, my friend. I won't bother posting reams of Bible quotes to prove it because given your knowledge of the Bible, you know that we are to embrace a Gospel culture. If you just can't figure out it out, read 1st Peter Chapter 3.

Great advice! My wife and I are very appreciative of what the missionaries have done for us. That's why we do our best to support the missionaries in our ward. That means we invite them over for a dinner from time to time, we make ourselves available to go out with them, and we offer any assistance that they may need. It's not our time to be full time missionaries, instead I think our role is to help the full time missionaries as much as possible. From the sounds of the OP, it sounds like you and your husband really want to get out there and see the world. There are many English teaching out there in other countries. If you chose to work in a place with an existing branch or ward, you could be an incredible resource to the full time missionaries assigned to the branch or ward.

I love joking with my kids, since they are mixed Filipino and White. Everyone calls them American, but I like calling them Filipino or sometimes I will call them Thai because they were born in Thailand. I do what I can to keep them from pigeonholing themselves into one nationality or the other. And yes I can't bring myself to calling them mixed race. I don't even think of my wife as being of another race. They are my sons and for me, they'll always be 100% human being(I hope!).

Americans are very hung up on racism. By the American definition, most people around the world are racist and by that definition, I dare say that most people around the world are more racist than a KKK member in Alabama. In Thailand, Mexico, Honduras, and the Philippines, four countries I have lived in, the media glorifies those with whiter skin over those with darker skin. There are countless ads on Tv, radio and newspapers showing people how they can get their skin whiter. In Thailand, I couldn't even go into the supermarket and buy non whitening skin lotion. I don't need my skin any whiter than it is. Vaseline? Nivea? Ponds? Yep, all whitening lotions. Those with whiter skin are given advantages over those who are not. Is it any wonder that leaders in many countries around the world are lighter skinned than those who they rule? I think, and I am sure someone can correct me, but come January 20th, the US will be the ONLY country in the world where the leader has darker skin than most of the population. Amazing, isn't it? That certainly doesn't sound a racist nation. On a different, but related issue, I was laughing the other day visiting a major pharmacy chain who had a job ad on their front door. They were looking for pharmacists. The Job Requirements? Single, female, 20 to 30 years old, pleasing personality, taller than 5 foot 2 inches....do they want a model or do they want a healthcare worker?

I think he needs to be more clear when people can expect to have their gas tanks filled up and their mortgages taken care of. I was talking on the phone with my sister and she is quite disappointed that she hasn't gotten her gas tank filled yet.

congratulations! Great to hear!

If it would help you feel more sure of your decision and you are truly looking for more advice, your boyfriend and you should both visit your Bishop to discuss your plans to get married and seek his advice on the matter.

I doubt your husband really started looking at pornography. He probably said it to "get even" with you. I have several suggestions: 1) Kick the guy friend to the curb. You need to realize that he is a tool to help destroy your marriage. Lose his number and have no more contact. 2) Go to your husband. Tell him you love him. In your new ward, go with your husband to your new bishop. 3) Don't give up. Now is the time to stand up for your marriage and do everything you can to save it. The alternative is that you let it fail.

Nickelodeon is banned in the house when I am not home. Some of the shows seem to enforce bad attitudes. The only channels allowed are Discovery and Disney. I wish they had Nick at Nite over here. Even with these rules, I have come close to cutting the tv cord a few times.

Not really anything to reply to, just want to mention my experiences. I lived for 7 years in Thailand where they practice Theeravada Buddhism. I taught English to a Temple Abbot. The thing that most impressed me was the order they had. Every village(tambon) had a wat(temple). Tambons were organized to into amphurs, Amphurs were organized in Changwats and the Changwats were organized nationally. Knowing that I know now, Tambons are similar to wards, Amphurs are similar to stakes and Changwats are similar to areas. Contrary to what some in Hollywood may make you believe, Buddhism is very conservative. No drinking, people should be modest, etc. etc. The ultimate goal is to reach Nirvana which is a cessation of both good and bad feelings by finding the middle path. That's in direct contrast with the teachings of the Restored Gospel.

Ah, bringing up dihydrogen monoxide again? Talk about an addictive substance. People who start consuming it, end up having a lifetime addiction to the substance.

This question about herbal teas and caffeine drinks came up when Elder Bednar did a q&a at a Multi-stake fireside. I can't quite put it into the words the powerful answer he gave, but it's kind of like yours. I probably have this wrong, so please don't consider it a quote. Some people can get right up to the line about what is ok and not ok to drink, while others prefer to stay as far away from that line as they can be. It's up to us to use our personal revelation to decide just how close to the line we are going to be. I took it that while herbal tea may be ok, I might as well just keep away from that line, especially if I am not preparing the herbs myself. (Some manufactured herbal teas in this part of the world are adulterated with black tea.)

If you are a trinitarian in the Baptist sense of the word, then you believe that Jesus talked to himself. The fact is simple, Jesus talked to God. If you believe that Jesus and God are one and the same, then you believe that Jesus talked to Himself. I believe that Jesus and Heavenly Father are separate personages and when Jesus talks to God, He is talking to His Heavenly Father.

I have been to plenty of those Sunday school classes. Most of the time I felt very uncomfortable. I would study a lot, but I had so many questions. Pastors didn't like answering things they didn't understand. The Book of Mormon took away many, if not all of my questions. I'd love to go back to all of those pastors who couldn't answer my questions and give them a Book of Mormon so that they, too, could find the truth.

Now that's a confusing statement if I ever heard one. Of course that's from the same people who claim up and down that Jesus talked to Himself.

I work online and my income has plummetted over the last few months. My wife just got a 20% raise that will just about cover inflation. Things could definitely be better, but they could also be a lot worse. We have families in our ward who live without any real home and struggle to earn enough each day to feed their families.

After reading this thread, I have a question. I had assumed that every active(and even some inactive) Melchizedek Priesthood holder had a home teaching assignment. Is that true? I know that's the way it's done in our ward and had assumed it was the same in every ward. About my home teaching experience, I started doing home teaching back in May and since my companion never seemed to be available, I ended up dragging my wife along to do home teaching. When my nephew was baptized and ordained a teacher in July, he started accompanying me. I usually print out a copy of the First Presidency message in the Liahona from LDS.org. I teach from it and then leave a copy. I know my teaching isn't very good, but I try. I enjoy getting out and visiting families, but I think I will have to try to cookies tip the next time I go out home teaching.

Aren't we supposed to obey Heavenly Father and those He has appointed? If a Prophet of the Lord is encouraging me to support Prop 8, wouldn't it be a good idea to heed the words of the Prophet? In fact, aren't we commanded to heed the words of the Prophets?

So let me understand this correctly. 1) A woman should have an old boyfriend she would like to return to, even if it means sneaking around on her husband. 6) Juicy past? What is that? 8) A woman should have a private email address, voice mailbox, and bank account that her husband doesn't have access to. In other words, a woman should keep secrets from her husband and lie to him. 13) A woman deserves to get fat when she overeats. Is that what you are talking about? I remember one older teacher when I was in Thailand. She was often encouraging younger female teachers to have their own money. She would advise women to lie to their husband about their salaries and stockpile their own savings, even to the detriment of their families. My wife related to me how she was worried about this teacher because obviously she was having trouble with her own marriage, but more than that, she was trying to make others just as miserable as she is. A woman has a responsibility to her husband and a husband has a responsibility to his wife. It's a sad thing when either one lies to the other and either one cheats on the other, in their mind or in their actions. We are in this thing together and unless we are united, it's hard to find success. I encourage my wife to have her own savings and I don't check my wife's email. Trust is there, but I would feel like the trust was broken if I found out she had a secret email or a secret bank account.

Revelation 18 1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. ... 14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. 15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand far off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16 And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! 17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, 18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! 19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. 20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.

I am all for bailouts. Make government money available to those who want to refinance their homes. Let the loans be for no more than 105% of the value of the homes. At least the banks will get something above the value of the homes. It will be their choice to take it or foreclose. Set up a credit fund that will provide immediately redeemable tax credits to start up a small business. Let small businessmen either start up a business with the money or use it a down payment on government guaranteed loans. Problem sorted.