I submit the Pride Matrix

[mikbone]

18 minutes ago, zil2 said:

Yes, all 5 of the rest of us are now aware.   Methinks you're gonna need another platform if you want to reach a few more of us...

Oh I teach my family too.  And anyone that might listen. 

Don’t we have a duty to correct when we know better.  

Imagine what would happen if everyone did the same.

 

Elder Boyd K. Packer and M Russell Ballard tried to get the members to stop using the Mormon moniker back in 2011.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2011/10/the-importance-of-a-name?lang=eng

Were they wrong to do so?  No one really made a change until President Nelson made the same recommendation in 2018.

[zil2]

@mikbone, I'm just bemoaning the dwindling participation here.  I've been mentally planning a post about it, but haven't made one.  There will be no point unless @pam can fix the mobile template for the site to include the user menu (or have someone do it).  It's lacking the user menu.  I guess I should make another post about that.

[mikbone]

22 minutes ago, zil2 said:

@mikbone, I'm just bemoaning the dwindling participation here.  I've been mentally planning a post about it, but haven't made one.  There will be no point unless @pam can fix the mobile template for the site to include the user menu (or have someone do it).  It's lacking the user menu.  I guess I should make another post about that.

Yup, I’ve noticed the decline.  I’m OK with a small group.  This is the only social media I do besides family chat.  

It’s cozy.  I’d probably get death threats if I posted on something like Facebook.

And sometimes I use y’all as a sounding board for my thoughts / presentation.

D&C 18:15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

I have always interpreted the above one soul as ones self.  

Even if the only person that I have reached is myself, I have accomplished something.

And perhaps,

16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

Believe it or not, but this site has helped my personal scripture study.

Edited September 16 by mikbone

[zil2]

When you and I are the only two users left, I'm pretty sure MGF will shut it down and save their money.  I'd like us to try encouraging folk to come and stay (we've had poor luck at that), but first, the mobile version has to have full functionality because the vast majority of the world are crazy enough that that's the only way they'll use the site.

[mikbone]

29 minutes ago, zil2 said:

When you and I are the only two users left, I'm pretty sure MGF will shut it down and save their money.  I'd like us to try encouraging folk to come and stay (we've had poor luck at that), but first, the mobile version has to have full functionality because the vast majority of the world are crazy enough that that's the only way they'll use the site.

Nah, I’ll finally learn how to use a fountain pen and we will become pen pals.

[NeuroTypical]

Oh, I'll still be here Zil!  I'm good at being the last person out the door.  

The bottom has sort of fallen out of the discussion forum market in the last several years.  Not just this board, or even LDS boards.  But social media in general has taken a lot from forums like this.

[zil2]

1 hour ago, NeuroTypical said:

Oh, I'll still be here Zil!  I'm good at being the last person out the door.  

The bottom has sort of fallen out of the discussion forum market in the last several years.  Not just this board, or even LDS boards.  But social media in general has taken a lot from forums like this.

Sorry, three of us are not enough.  I'm well aware that forums are less popular - likely because parents buy their kids cell phones and the kids think everything worth doing has an app.  Probably something to do with crappy American education, too, but... 28 "guests" have been here in the past 3 minutes.  83 in the past 10 minutes.  Sure, some are bots, some are just viewing search results, but I have to believe there's some percentage of those who might sign up and stay if:

• The mobile template had the user menu so that folks could sign in, sign up, manage user stuff like notifications, etc.
• If we weren't so quick to call people trolls / or so brutal when folks post something we don't like

When a newbie signs up for a fountain pen forum, or the reddit sub, and introduces themselves, they basically get love-bombed.  It sucks that members of Christ's Church are being out-Christianed by a bunch of fountain pen users (especially the ones on reddit).

[JohnsonJones]

14 hours ago, zil2 said:

Sorry, three of us are not enough.  I'm well aware that forums are less popular - likely because parents buy their kids cell phones and the kids think everything worth doing has an app.  Probably something to do with crappy American education, too, but... 28 "guests" have been here in the past 3 minutes.  83 in the past 10 minutes.  Sure, some are bots, some are just viewing search results, but I have to believe there's some percentage of those who might sign up and stay if:

• The mobile template had the user menu so that folks could sign in, sign up, manage user stuff like notifications, etc.
• If we weren't so quick to call people trolls / or so brutal when folks post something we don't like

When a newbie signs up for a fountain pen forum, or the reddit sub, and introduces themselves, they basically get love-bombed.  It sucks that members of Christ's Church are being out-Christianed by a bunch of fountain pen users (especially the ones on reddit).

I need to be a better person. 

[zil2]

3 hours ago, JohnsonJones said:

I need to be a better person. 

We all do.

[zil2]

3 hours ago, JohnsonJones said:

I need to be a better person. 

PS: If it helps any, yesterday the reddit FP folk showed their viciousness and intolerance as much as possible when someone brought the religion of the owners of a popular online FP shop into the discussion.  So, they only out-Christian us when religion and politics are not part of the discussion (a fact I was already well aware of).

[mikbone]

3 hours ago, zil2 said:

PS: If it helps any, yesterday the reddit FP folk showed their viciousness and intolerance as much as possible when someone brought the religion of the owners of a popular online FP shop into the discussion.  So, they only out-Christian us when religion and politics are not part of the discussion (a fact I was already well aware of).

Yup, I was in a telescope forum awhile back. Everyone was super helpful.

But don’t talk about politics or religion!

Edited September 17 by mikbone

[HaggisShuu]

On 9/16/2024 at 1:41 AM, mikbone said:

I hate the concept of a prosperity theology

From Wikipedia - Prosperity theology (sometimes referred to as the prosperity gospel, the health and wealth gospel, the gospel of success, seed-faith gospel, Faith movement, or Word-Faith movement) is a religious belief among some Charismatic Christians that financial blessing and physical well-being are always the will of God for them, and that faith, positive scriptural confession, and giving to charitable and religious causes will increase one's material wealth. Material and especially financial success is seen as a sign of divine grace or favor.

The Pride matrix is a better way of visualizing reality.  

Yes Righteousness does tend to make people industrious and blessed, and usually people will improve their situation and become better off spiritually and temporally.  But not necessarily.  Good people get trials like cancer and financial compromise.  Bad people can also become very rich and appear spiritually and temporally blessed.  Be careful sitting in judgment.  

I don't believe the church teaches prosperity gospel - it promises temporal and spiritual blessings for obedience, but also promises hardship, pain and that the agency of others can and will negatively impact you. 
 

My patriarchal blessing says I will always be able to provide for my family, but doesn't go any further than that by saying I'll be prosperous or abundant in wealth.