NOM

Admittedly I certainly got off into some tangents there, but my basic point is that the condom wrapper isn't making fun of the Church. It's making fun of the Utah State Park "This is the Place Heritage Park" and the founding of the government. It says it right there, it's a Heritage Park and not a R...

I love this juxtaposition from the video: Simple white clothing symbolizes purity [slight pause] and equality. The most senior church leader and the newest member are indistinguishable when dressed in the same way. Men and women wear similar clothing ... Somehow I really don't think it works that --...

There was recently a vaguely related court development. Three New Hampshire women involved in a Free the Nipple organization were arrested and fined a few years back for going topless at a lake. They appealed the inequality of the law, which was supported based on “the traditional understanding of w...

Debate: was the “this is the place" statement by BY a religious statement, or was it the voice of the founder of the city and first governor of the territory? I could argue it was not a statement of the church, but rather of the future city. Yeah, that's basically the tangential discussion between ...

I hope bears don’t chase me. Some guys like bears to chase them. When we were in Paris we saw a bunch of them at The Bear's Den. You can see them standing around the bar as my kids walk past. https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-W6WFcpc/0/de20f83b/M/i-W6WFcpc-M.jpg But, the health department does wa...

The only one that I would have a problem with is "This is the place." Clearly that's a religious reference. The government should not be in the business of religious teasing. Just because the church acts badly in the political arena doesn't mean everyone else should. The others are harmless. I'm no...

Why do they blame me for all their little failings? As if I'd spent my days sitting on their shoulder, forcing them to commit acts they'd otherwise find repulsive. "Oh, the Devil made me do it ." I have never made any one of them do anything. Never. ( Lucifer Morningstar) The devil made you do it?

[Maybe not directly Mormon or doctrinal related, but pretty much so.] Governor cancels giveaway of Utah-themed condoms that were part of a campaign to combat HIV “The Governor understands the importance of the Utah Department of Health conducting a campaign to educate Utahns about HIV prevention,” h...

jfro18 wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 15, 2020 9:08 am

And that doesn't even get into the priesthood, which is clearly the most powerful thing on earth that only men can have.

And boys. Once they're 11(+) they're more powerful than all the women.

How many churches demand that the husband discuss the topic of vasectomy with church officials? Wow, that's creepy. Not even the Roman Catholic church makes that demand, I don't think. -- Wndr. Well, Catholics consider vasectomy a mortal sin, meaning it is never acceptable so there is no reason to ...

By that same token, we also frown upon extremes such as male chauvinism, sexism, machismo, or any other cultural influence that would cause men to think and act in ways that are not in harmony with gospel teachings of respect, love, modesty, chastity, equality, and family responsibilities. Ooohhh ....

In case you needed greater clarity on the Church's stance on feminism, it is now available in the New Era: What is the Church’s stance on feminism? . Or maybe not greater clarity -- just more handwaving. Since this is the New Era, maybe they're just putting it simple for the kids, but since this is ...

Re-ordering alas's original comments. And I do not think they differ by state, because it is a statement for medical personnel of your care wishes, but I am not positive. They definitely vary from state to state. Here's an overview of the requirements by state: Living Wills : State Laws . Everything...

Joseph would receive a revelation from God and the wording would find its way back into the mouths of Bible authors. It would be interesting, although I don't think it's the case, if any of these actually originated with Adam Clarke. Givens classified these kinds of things under the catch-all of "r...

One thing I was unable to follow in that episode is who was the target of Mr. Givens subversiveness? Is he working to undermine the church, or is he working to undermine nay-sayers? RFM seamed to go back and forth on that. RFM is clearly saying that Givens is a subversive towards the Church. Or tha...

consiglieri wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 07, 2020 8:32 pm

I quoted Givens as saying he concluded Joseph Smith believed it.

Another example of Givens's subversiveness.

Thanks for clarifying.

I wonder where he gets that from. I haven't seen that show up anywhere else.

(Sorry to criticize you about oversimplifying.)

Another point RFM brought up is that Joseph apparently believed that everyone enters heaven in the Telestial Kingdom and progresses eventually to the Celestial Kingdom. This is concept I have never heard. Just wondering if anyone has more info on this. It really is a much better doctrine than the o...

It's pretty similar to how traditionally people are buried facing east. And why many traditional, symbolic Christian churches face east. This started long ago, lost in the mists of time. From the beginning of awareness the sun has been the bringer of light, life, and awareness. Symbolism around the ...

Secondly, Oaks is a human person, same as all of us. He has his weaknesses for sure, but he has also many strengths, or did have before he got so old. Some of us have met him and I'd say most of us would say he's a good guy. (I know, go ahead and sneer.....I do too, but he is a good guy.) I'm afrai...

People have long correctly identified the Church's shift to the centrally-controlled, consolidated budget process as a major hindrance to the development of community. While the consolidated approach does make some improvements in making things equal across different areas, it also transfers control...