[NightSG]

Kipper wrote:

How does it benefit the individual to do something he knows is wrong? What is power of discernment for? What about free agency used for doing what’s right? What the heck are we teaching and going along with? Every time I go to HP meeting, half way through the embellishment begins. I am really close to opting out completely.

This is interesting, considering that three different bishops and a SP have never asked me to do anything major without the comment that I should go home and pray about it and then let them know within the next couple of days if I would do it, even when I didn’t express any concerns at the time. The one that I decided against, he seemed genuinely interested in my input as to why I didn’t feel it was the right decision for me.

I would tend to agree that “pulling rank” is a clear form of unrighteous dominion; if the request is truly from the Lord, you should have no doubt that He will back you when the person prays about it. I also tend to believe that the fallible men in these positions sometimes act without clear guidance, and use their own judgment, which, while hopefully always benevolent and well thought out, is sometimes still going to be wrong.

[NightSG]

Quote:

Mormonism, however, is a bit amorphous and is always evolving. Yesterday’s Mormonism is not necessarily today’s Mormonism or future Mormonism. And Mormonism in the local Ward (congregation) is not necessarily the same as Mormonism among Mormon scholars at Brigham Young University or in the local LDS/Mormon Institute

That’s hardly a unique characteristic; I was raised Methodist, and there have been plenty of times I’ve visited Methodist churches within a few dozen miles of home and spent most of the service wondering if I was in the right building. There’s so much variation within the UMC that LDS services seem almost cookie cutter identical from one ward to the next by comparison.

[NightSG]

SilentDawning wrote:

The cultural stuff I can’t stand is a longer list,

Does the forum even have enough disk space for that list?

[NightSG]

Katzpur wrote:

NightSG wrote:

It is inappropriate to express joy during the renewal of one’s baptismal covenants now?

A quiet smile is okay. Just no “loud laughter.”

Why would a joyful noise not be appropriate given the meaning of the Sacrament? I can’t think of any fully clothed action it should be considered more appropriate to. Just because our flawed, earthly traditions fail to recognize that doesn’t mean the Lord mightn’t appreciate a bit more enthusiasm in accepting His gift.

[NightSG]

LookingHard wrote:

Great! Now when I chuckle next week when the sacrament is passed and it makes me think of this, my wife is going to grill me on why I am laughing during the sacrament and setting a bad example.

It is inappropriate to express joy during the renewal of one’s baptismal covenants now?

[NightSG]

Heber13 wrote:

Why do we put our right hand over our heart when we pledge allegiance to the flag?

Same reason we salute and shake hands with the right hand; it shows the hand commonly used to hold a weapon to be empty. This is also why left handed people are considered untrustworthy; they could still be holding a weapon in their primary hand while saluting or shaking hands.

Personally, I just tend to do most things with my right hand due to the better hand-eye coordination there, but if someone approached me about taking the Sacrament left handed, I’d probably tell them it seemed inappropriate to use the hand I’m thinking of punching them in the throat with. 😈

[NightSG]

Joni wrote:

The real problem is that LDS women have so many aspects of their spiritual, personal, and sexual lives controlled by a group of elderly men they’ve never met.

OK, snowflake, I hate to break it to you, but I’m not a woman, nor was I LDS for the first 35 years of my life. Guess what; I have to wear things I don’t always care for because of people I’ve never met. Short of finding some way to live from mid June through at least late September in a nudist colony, that’s not going to change either. Deal with it or don’t; that is the choice we’re given, but playing the “I’m dominated by old men” victim card gets old before you finish saying it.

[NightSG]

Ann wrote:

The focus is on how women can feel “sexy” wearing something so very sexless, when and how to justify not wearing it, etc.

You’re putting feelz before realz here. A quick trip to People of WalMart will show you tons (literally) of women who feel sexy because they’re not wearing near enough.

Two of the sexiest women I’ve ever met, I’ve only seen without their garments when swimming. (Or when I showed up early to pick one up, but the bathrobe she answered the door in covered more than a trenchcoat.)

[NightSG]

TataniaAvalon wrote:

Seriously there’s no way to keep them white. I had an odd conversation with a TBM at my work who’s married and she said she didn’t see the point of lingerie because she would have to wear them over her G’s.

Funny; I never saw the point of lingerie for the same reason I don’t have people re-wrap my presents after I’ve opened them once already.

[NightSG]

LookingHard wrote:

Some people have found that they can answer the recommend question of garment wearing night and day in interesting ways. Some are OK going on date night without garments and even falling asleep after sex without getting back into their garments unless they wake up at night.

IMO, if you need a reminder or symbol of your covenants while in bed with your eternal companion, you’re too far gone for your drawers to be any help.

[NightSG]

DarkJedi wrote:

We don’t have ward dances (our <12 kids wouldn't have much fun) but we do have stake and multi-stake dances where sign in (and often preregistration) is required. The individual is pledging to live the standards while at the event. What makes it even more puzzling in this case is why this woman would have an issue because generally speaking members of other wards/stakes (and non-members) are permitted at these dances as long as they agree to behave.

That strikes me as flat out ridiculous; I know at least at the mid singles level, we use the dances as both opportunities to meet those from other stakes and as a missionary opportunity by encouraging nonmembers who will obey the rules (even though the DJs don’t – who the heck thought Walk This Way was appropriate music for a church dance??) to come by and see that we really do dance (badly) and have fun.

I also know a few other converts who were first introduced to the church via YSA dances, and the few times I’ve gone to YSA activities either helping out or as a guest of one of The Forgotten, (the unfortunate ones in the 25-30 range who really have more in common with mids than other YSAs) I’ve always been welcomed even though I’m obviously somewhat past 30. (38)

[NightSG]

Old-Timer wrote:

I’m okay with a message that says we do what we can, no matter how little that is, and God makes up the difference.

And that is exactly the message I feel that so many have lost; He never promises something for nothing, only that our honest efforts will be rewarded, no matter how far short they fall, if we have persisted and tried with all our hearts to do what is required of us.

[NightSG]

nibbler wrote:

Groundhog Day rises to the top of that grouping.

Groundhog Day just blows my mind when I think about it too much; how many days was he actually in the loop, (even the writer couldn’t decide and said it could be anywhere from 10 years to 10,000 years) and how much could I learn if I got a “time out” like that?

Aside from the lack of internet or even a big city library, it’s a near ideal situation for learning; there are a few experts in the town who can teach him, a reasonable library full of a lifetime’s worth of learning at least, and with it being a one-day physical reset, he doesn’t even need meal breaks. (Can’t starve to death in one day, and even if he did, he wakes up healthy every morning regardless of the previous day.)

ETA: think of the extreme sports potential; learn to juggle chainsaws, sword fight, free climb or bare-knuckle fight Mike Tyson. At worst you hurt until you’re unconscious or dead, then wake up unharmed to I Got You Babe at 6:00 the next morning.

[NightSG]

SilentDawning wrote:

2. Ghandi: His character, again is inspiring.

Another one you might like, though it can be hard to find, is China Cry; The Nora Lam Story.

Never mind the “hard to find” bit; it’s on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqNzn8koBfM

Also doesn’t hurt that Julia Nickson was (and still is even at 56) really cute.

[NightSG]

Roy wrote:

I was told the same sort of story. It was portrayed as though there was no written rule against facial hair in leadership but that the spirit was giving impressions to individuals that they should be clean shaven.

That’s the part that gets me; we have written, specific rules about all sorts of things, but somehow the Lord cares so deeply about this one and yet could never find the time to have any of His prophets pick up a pen for ten seconds to add “beards are bad” to the official rules. Same goes for white shirts.

It’s amusing the looks I got for wearing a maroon banded collar shirt (perfect excuse to skip the tie) to Sacrament meeting when I had a beard.

[Author]

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