Search found 414 matches

by Ghost
Tue Mar 26, 2024 12:31 pm
Forum: Support
Topic: Declining callings and talks is getting easier for me
Replies: 13
Views: 250

Re: Declining callings and talks is getting easier for me

I probably need to follow your lead at some point and actually say I won't be taking any callings. I've had several meet with a leader for no stated reason messages (that I just ignored) in recent years, plus a few cases in which someone I knew from the ward pushed hard to try to get me to take a ca...
by Ghost
Thu Mar 21, 2024 1:17 pm
Forum: The Coffee Shop
Topic: From 15th to 23rd
Replies: 4
Views: 154

Re: From 15th to 23rd

I sometimes feel lucky to have grown up in the era I did. Aside from the obvious (not living in a war zone or subject to starvation, etc.), it seems like kids had a lot more unsupervised play in the recent past than they do now. And how would my life have been different had I carried a mobile phone ...
by Ghost
Thu Mar 21, 2024 9:55 am
Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
Topic: Pray Pay & Obey And Humor
Replies: 7
Views: 355

Re: Pray Pay & Obey And Humor

I don't think my ingrained Mormon aversion to most vulgar language and humor is ever going to dissipate. Funny how that can outlive fundamental elements of my faith. This thread reminds me of the times when I was younger and would hear a joke that was totally inappropriate but also very clever. One ...
by Ghost
Sun Mar 17, 2024 12:45 am
Forum: The Coffee Shop
Topic: Psychedelics in the Beehive conference
Replies: 11
Views: 1261

Re: Psychedelics in the Beehive conference

Looks like you can find the recording here:

https://www.youtube.com/@TheDivineAssembly
by Ghost
Tue Feb 27, 2024 10:25 am
Forum: Support
Topic: 9 stories from those who returned to the faith
Replies: 9
Views: 328

Re: 9 stories from those who returned to the faith

We might start with a simple belief as a child, but at some point that childlike faith faces questions and concerns. While our untested faith may have served well as a spiritual foundation, we must now move from simple faith through complexity to mature faith that is able to withstand future challe...
by Ghost
Mon Feb 12, 2024 3:06 pm
Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
Topic: Tithe or you'll be burned?
Replies: 6
Views: 551

Re: Tithe or you'll be burned?

“For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.” Funny to think about how normal things like this once...
by Ghost
Mon Feb 05, 2024 12:26 pm
Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
Topic: Looking back....
Replies: 12
Views: 813

Re: Looking back....

A TBM might say, "The Spirit told me it's all true. That's as good as remembering being with God." Interesting how this can be a way to give added weight to a spiritual witness. For example, saying that a spiritual witness is better than a vision because it can't be explained away, or that seeing G...
by Ghost
Tue Jan 23, 2024 9:24 am
Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
Topic: Replacing the New Order Mormon
Replies: 59
Views: 47786

Re: Replacing the New Order Mormon

I'm personally in favor of keeping popular political controversies somewhat quarantined at NOM. While it's true that they are important and can't always be separated from other topics, it's always been kind of nice to have at least one place to go where the discussion isn't dominated by such things....
by Ghost
Fri Jan 05, 2024 12:16 pm
Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
Topic: Rainbows
Replies: 4
Views: 718

Re: Rainbows

I have asked of the Lord concerning His coming; and while asking the Lord, He gave a sign and said, "In the days of Noah I set a bow in the heavens as a sign and token that in any year that the bow should be seen the Lord would not come ; but there should be seed time and harvest during that year; ...
by Ghost
Fri Jan 05, 2024 8:26 am
Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
Topic: Rainbows
Replies: 4
Views: 718

Re: Rainbows

When the time comes, it might be a challenge to stop all children everywhere from running through the sprinkler for a year.
by Ghost
Wed Dec 27, 2023 1:39 pm
Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
Topic: Replacing the New Order Mormon
Replies: 59
Views: 47786

Re: Replacing the New Order Mormon

Years ago, I used to strongly resist (in my mind) the oft-voiced idea that the "middle way" was inevitably temporary and that no one would continue to try to make it work in the long term. I guess I didn't want my future to be that easily predictable. I still identify more with the NOM label than an...
by Ghost
Sun Dec 24, 2023 3:15 pm
Forum: Support
Topic: Went to church today (Dec 24th) and …
Replies: 6
Views: 1696

Re: Went to church today (Dec 24th) and …

I also went to one-hour church today for the first time in ages, for family reasons. It was interesting to note how much more I feel like an outsider these days, even though I know a lot of the ward members (though I've technically never been active in this ward following a pandemic reshuffling). Th...
by Ghost
Sun Dec 24, 2023 1:56 pm
Forum: Support
Topic: Ruminating on Mormon Ideas
Replies: 16
Views: 3934

Re: Ruminating on Mormon Ideas

Adam and Eve are claimed as the first Mormons. Not sure how they got to be Mormons. I think I know that one. Adam (and presumably Eve) got baptized by flying through the air. Though I guess you could interpret that in a more boring way, that they were possessed by the Spirit and shambled down into ...
by Ghost
Tue Nov 28, 2023 1:16 pm
Forum: Support
Topic: Lester Bush, author of "Priesthood Ban" article dies
Replies: 7
Views: 1604

Re: Lester Bush, author of "Priesthood Ban" article dies

According to the Tribune article, and other things I've read, the Lester Bush article made a deep impression on Spencer Kimball. It's possible that it influenced a few other Church leaders, but as we know it's what "the prophet" thinks that makes the difference. Yes, that second biography by Edward...
by Ghost
Thu Nov 16, 2023 2:14 pm
Forum: Support
Topic: Ayaan Hirsi Ali Joins Christianity
Replies: 11
Views: 2192

Re: Ayaan Hirsi Ali Joins Christianity

Maybe John Lennon could have imagined something like that, but I find it challenging. I guess it depends on whether you see those traditions and their differences as a cause of tribalism and conflict, or just one way people express their natural inclinations. (I've always found that song kind of an...
by Ghost
Thu Nov 16, 2023 10:44 am
Forum: Support
Topic: Ayaan Hirsi Ali Joins Christianity
Replies: 11
Views: 2192

Ayaan Hirsi Ali Joins Christianity

Just came across this article that I found interesting: https://unherd.com/2023/11/why-i-am-now-a-christian/ Ayaan Hirsi Ali left Islam years ago to become an outspoken atheist, but has now embraced Christianity. I don't know much about Ali outside of a Sam Harris interview I listened to a while bac...
by Ghost
Fri Nov 03, 2023 1:51 pm
Forum: Support
Topic: Them
Replies: 10
Views: 1639

Re: Them

I don't remember whether it was on NOM or elsewhere that someone recently said that we as humans have a desire for community but in recent years many have had to settle for merely being part of an audience instead of a true community. While I don't think I ever totally fit in with Mormons even at my...
by Ghost
Sun Oct 22, 2023 9:51 am
Forum: Support
Topic: Reintroduction and Star Wars Analogy
Replies: 4
Views: 4662

Re: Reintroduction and Star Wars Analogy

I also used a COVID-driven reorganization to finally give up on my attempts at active participation at church. Seems that's pretty common, on top of all the people who stepped back within various religions after not being able to assemble for a while. I wonder whether Mormons were more resilient or ...
by Ghost
Wed Oct 18, 2023 6:54 pm
Forum: Support
Topic: NOM Anthems
Replies: 6
Views: 5038

Re: NOM Anthems

This song struck me as somewhat relatable early in my faith transition. (I think it's also a good song, musically.) Right Where It Belongs by Nine Inch Nails See the animal in his cage that you built Are you sure what side you're on? Better not look him too closely in the eye Are you sure what side ...
by Ghost
Tue Aug 22, 2023 10:53 am
Forum: Support
Topic: What did you learn in the temple today, honey?
Replies: 33
Views: 15000

Re: What did you learn in the temple today, honey?

I took the learn something new every time thing to mean that you'd gain insights into your own life, as opposed to some new secret of the universe. I probably steered myself toward this understanding out of necessity for things to make sense, and I did find that if I mostly ignored what was going on...