[Brown]

You were given the assignment to teach a class and were given curriculum to teach. Your job isn’t to filter or teach the gospel according to you. Just teach what it is in the book and let the class participate and carry the conversation where they will. Trying to rewrite the manual only makes your job harder and robs the class of what they showed up to hear. If you want to preach your own understanding of the gospel, then I think you should rent your own building and teach it there. If you want to present some of your own opinions as such or open them for discussion, then that is probably not a bad idea.

I struggle with many of the same things you do, but that’s irrelevant in this case. If you can’t teach the curriculum as provided by the church, then I think you should step down from the calling of GD teacher because you aren’t fulfilling it. Sorry if this seems blunt.

[Brown]

I’ve been listening to the BoM on mp3 lately and I couldn’t help but notice how often a king or group was rebuked by the prophets or God for having multiple wives.

Quote:

Jacob 2: 24

Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.

Jacob 1:15

15 And now it came to pass that the people of Nephi, under the reign of the second king, began to grow hard in their hearts, and indulge themselves somewhat in wicked practices, such as like unto David of old desiring many wives and concubines, and also Solomon, his son.

Jacob 2:27

27 Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none;

Mosiah 11:2

2 For behold, he did not keep the commandments of God, but he did walk after the desires of his own heart. And he had many wives and concubines. And he did cause his people to commit sin, and do that which was abominable in the sight of the Lord. Yea, and they did commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness.

Jacob 3:5

5 Behold, the Lamanites your brethren, whom ye hate because of their filthiness and the cursing which hath come upon their skins, are more righteous than you; for they have not forgotten the commandment of the Lord, which was given unto our father—that they should have save it were one wife, and concubines they should have none, and there should not be whoredoms committed among them.

[Brown]

Technically couldn’t one wear them day and night without wearing them ALL day and night? I mean like most temple questions it is pretty vague. I guess if I wore them from 4pm to 8pm that should cover it, right? :problem:

[Brown]

I guess it comes down to what you consider an “increase”. If I can’t pay for the very basics of life even with my income, do I have any increase? What has been increased?

Now one might argue that in many cases the reason one can’t pay their bills is because they are overextended and received more increase than they could handle. I’m not saying you don’t pay because you have a $1000 car payment. But if you are really talking about the difference between eviction and tithing, choosing eviction means you are getting a net decrease. Tithing should still leave you with a 90% increase.

The other thing that ruffles my feathers is truly broke and suffering people giving their last dime and eating Ramen for 2 weeks to give a $100 to a church that has hundreds of millions in the bank. I know that’s not what it is all about, but please, the logic is painful.

[Brown]

I think I might mention that if you had to take out $350k in debt to earn his salary that perhaps that should come into consideration. His “increase” at the start of his career is now -350,000 + interest, so I would think no tithing should be paid until the income derived from that investment exceeds the cost. Or at the very least, deduct the amount paid on that loan from the increase monthly as you go along.

This isn’t cheating or being greedy. If you took an investor who was the most TBM in the world, they would not buy an asset for $200k, sell it for $250k, and then consider the entire $250k as profit (or increase or interest).

I think it becomes easier when you are running your own business to see the true profit+loss statements and calculate your true increase. For those who are working stiffs, we get a check every two weeks, but never take into account the cost of earning that money. Clothing, meals, gas, car, loans, etc, all add up to the cost of earning that money – which reduces the actual household “increase”.

[Brown]

Well this is kind of a chicken or the egg thing.

How could they be baptized if nobody on earth had the priesthood? How can they hold the preisthood if they have not been baptized? The story goes that they were both ordained Priests and then they baptized each other. Same time. So whatever out-of-compliance state they were in, it was not for long.

[Brown]

wuwei wrote:

You had to drag mbti into this.

I’ve been reading a bit about it lately, so yes, I mentioned it. But then the logician and contrarian in me can argue just as easily that MTBI is bogus. Although in doing so, I may also help prove they nailed me spot on. 😆

I kind of feel like by saying that “it is just my personality” becomes kind of a cop out. It might be kind of like saying my fat is genetic when really I know I don’t exercise much and eat too many snacks. If I know I should be friendlier, and that it might even make me happier, then I should just do it and stop making excuses.

[Brown]

Some good advice, thank you.

I think part of my problem is large groups. I do much better in small groups or 1 on 1. When I am in a class at church an there are a ton of people, I kind of just shut off. Reading about my personality type (INTP), it kind of just sounds normal for people like me.

Maybe I need to make an effort to talk to people in the halls when the opportunity arises, rather than at large gatherings or class.

[Brown]

I’m shocked to hear all these stories of how it is taboo or controversial to not sit in the same row. I honestly just show up and take the first empty row I find. Never once thinking people claim benches or caring one bit about who sits where (or even noticing). Maybe I am a pew rebel/thief and didn’t even know it? 😆

[Brown]

I don’t get the same thing out of that as you. To me it sounds like she’s needs a break or she is going to go crazy and leave him altogether. She isn’t trying to find something new in his story for the 97th time, she is removing herself so she doesn’t get annoyed and resentful.

[Brown]

I feel like it is rude and arrogant to assume you know so much as to tell people what the right way to live is. I would never suggest somebody change their lifestyle or religion just because I have. I disagree with the entire missionary program and feel we should have a “we are here if you decide you are interested” approach. More like a customer service vs telemarketing or website vs spam email type distinction.

[Brown]

Two thoughts:

One: It is usually women chastising women regarding modesty. It is rarely the men that have a problem. Men in general like women dressed in just about anything. I am not going to speculate as to why women attack each other, but that’s just my observation.

Two: Nature plays a role here. It’s been proven that men are more visually stimulated by the opposite sex than women. It is the same reason pornography users are 97% male. We get turned on by simply looking at women and the more a women accentuates her body, the more we are drawn to look. Yes we can exercise self-control, and the vast majority of men do, but nature is nature.

[Brown]

Old-Timer wrote:

I understand and respect that, Brown – really.

However, I have to point out that the Church gets ripped if it doesn’t appear to care by letting people slip away without reaching out to them.

If it also gets ripped for reaching out to people who appear to be slipping away . . .

Fair point. I am sure somewhere someone is saying, “I didn’t go to Sacrament for a whole month and nobody noticed!” and their next door neighbor is saying “I hope nobody notices this is the 4th week in a row we’ve missed!”

Just don’t make it about the numbers and stats and I’m on board with being a good friend.

[Brown]

Old-Timer wrote:

Honest question:

Why would that bother you?

.

I don’t like the idea of someone keeping (error-prone) stats on my attendance. I feel like that is between me and the big guy.

It probably goes hand in hand of my complete distrust of the entire HT program. Assigned friends and tattle-tells don’t really make me feel like a part of the group. I just want some real friends in the ward that visit when they aren’t trying to put a tick mark by my name. And now if I get hassled because I just didn’t feel like getting up, it will make me less likely to come at all.

[Brown]

Utah also has the lowest average age. Younger people are typically less overweight because they haven’t had time for the slight overeating to catch up. Could be as simple as that.

[Author]

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