NOM

But as Oaks said, let's not be so zealous to obey the 2nd great commandment that we forget the first. Don't love your neighbor TOO much. (And this is one reason I think Oaks is full of himself and full of shit. I'm sorry. Let me back up and apologize. Let me reserve judgment. Let me give leaders, es...

Maybe God really exists. Often atheists point out that if God were real, they'd not allow the suffering of innocents and the gross mistreatment of children. It seems counter intuitive that a supreme being or creator who loves their creations would allow such things, or consent to a plan whereby only...

I think I'll wish for such a boring and uneventful conf that I don't hear anything about it from friends, family, or social media.

Just some of the same ol boring talks and oh yeah more temples.

Unfortunately, sometimes garment wearing becomes a true outward expression of an inane insistence on obedience. I've seen some awful examples, as I'm sure we all have. I'm so so glad I no longer have to worry about tucking the sleeves under the sleeves, looking for longer shorts, or feeling a little...

My wife and I did not readily accept the last calling we were offered, which was something about family history, I think. I'm not against family history, so considered it, but had no interest in helping others find names for the temple. My wife had zero interest. She is still involved with music, bu...

I don't think my behavior is necessarily all that different between groups, it's more about actively trying to disassociate from Mormons if something I say ties me to them while with non believers, yet letting assumptions go that I'm still fully part of the group when I'm with Mormons. I do not beli...

I've wondered if anyone else has had this situation. When I was a TBM, I'd encourage questions about my faith, or leave the door deliberately open for folks to ask something like, where did you learn Chinese? Then eventually I kept the door mostly closed and when something like language came up, I'd...

Yes, but I should know better than to offer bait. I got thinking about it several days ago and knew I had just given him more to go off about. And then instead of ignoring his rant and taking the conversation back to church topics, I reacted to his derailment. See, I am not always so good myself at...

And prob should be separate thread, sorry

DB, kidding aside, you've given us too much to consume in one post. If and when you have time, I'd be interested in a more detailed argument of just one of those bits. Say gun ownership. Perhaps who should be allowed to own guns, what type of guns, any guns prohibited, etc.? Places or spaces guns sh...

I accept victory.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

Thanks to all who keep the lights on, and all who fixed the lights. Thank you very much.

What would be more interesting, to me at least, are 9 stories of people who don't believe some or all of the things, how they reconcile not believing some of the important things that most Mormons believe, and still stay in the faith. I think it would go farther for the church to promote that it's o...

I do agree that it kinda seems like society swings back and forth left to right, sorta like a pendulum and I used to think that was probably good because in the long run it kept us kinda down the middle of the road. It sure seems to me that lately this pendulum is swinging wildly back and forth quic...

Good lord, Dirty Bird. Half of what you say makes you sound completely full of shit, and most of the other half of what you say makes you sound completely uninformed and ignorant, but thankfully a little bit of what you say makes you sound like a decent human being with a modicum of intelligence. Th...

Sleep in. Relax. Eat breakfast. Work out. Relax some more. Watch some television. Play some guitar. Wash some dishes. Avoid some work that I know will still be patiently waiting for me tomorrow. Feeling very fortunate. Feeling very blessed and very lucky. Understanding that finding the gratitude is ...

Reminds me of the Mehrabian Study in the 70s, Alas. When communicating emotionality, it's what... 52% body language, 47% tone, and 7% the actual words? I'm sure I have the percentages off slightly, but that's the gist. This study has been misunderstood quite a bit, but is particularly applicable to ...

Years later, the man is completely out of the picture and the kid seems to be doing ok.

Angel, you said members won't go outside the box to help a child? I did. When I was still a TBM I observed a man physically abusing a child alone in a classroom during sacrament mtg. I got in his face and told him to stop immediately. I told him he knew that was wrong. He didn't argue. I called CPS....