NOM

Interesting thoughts Annotated, but I think you are reaching on this one (if you believe in Christ you believe Nephi and vice-versa). I'm ok with the rest of the discussion here. If anyone reads the text they'll see that Nephi is referring to the future: 10 And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew...

I didn't watch it. DW, DD, and DS went to the church to see it because it was encouraged as a way for the kids to be social with others (they had refreshments before the broadcast). When they came home I asked them how it was. They all replied with a bored "fine", even when pressed I couldn't get an...

I got a kick out of your in-laws need to stay on script. Sounds like things haven't changed. Some 15 years ago or so we visited Nauvoo. We were on one of the horse-drawn carriage rides and we at a bit of a less interesting part where we passed by homes/cabins that are occupied by the missionaries. T...

MDD reminds me of politics. Whether you are democrat of republican, we can all agree that the two parties see the exact same situation very differently. No matter which side you are on, it can be difficult to understand how the other side can hold their view with a straight face. The views espoused ...

Great stuff annotated! I saw something interesting in the BOM Student manual you referenced: https://i.postimg.cc/50jhXpdR/BOM.jpg (screenshot from page 40 of the BOM manual linked in first post; highlights mine) I looked elsewhere in the manual, and every other citation had a year included in the c...

I’d posture to suggest it comes from the top. I’ll give him a pass though because he did say “some” cancerous faith destroying messages. Responsibility does have to be placed at the feet of those at the top. They've carefully nurtured the environment for this sort of behavior, at adds with what rea...

In our area the church is growing. We're part of a new stake that was created in the past year, building is full with 3 wards, and there is talk of what would happen if a 4th ward was created. Now, don't get the idea that the church is growing because people are joining. That isn't the case. I atten...

In theory, if the needy members stop seeking out the bishop, and the bishopric can stop weekly visits to the most needy families, then the bishopric would finally have time to engage the YM. Apparently, YW don't matter so the bishopric still won't be involved in their activities. I had to assume th...

In theory, if the needy members stop seeking out the bishop, and the bishopric can stop weekly visits to the most needy families, then the bishopric would finally have time to engage the YM. Apparently, YW don't matter so the bishopric still won't be involved in their activities. I had to assume th...

The church's desire for inerrancy was one of the issues that really opened my eyes and made me realize the church might be wrong. It was during GC in April 2014, Elder Bednar finished his talk by stating that we know through revelation that Jesus was born on April 6. I specifically remember thinking...

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 ...

Apparently, Joseph Smith was going to escape with Hyrum and Porter Rockwell to the west rather than stay in Nauvoo to face charges of treason for enforcing Marshall law and inciting a riot in destroying the printing press. My wife asked me why he returned ( because if he was really a con artist he ...

That story is absolutely heart-wrenching. Who wouldn't feel compassion and empathy reading about a mother losing her 3 year old daughter. And that is why the church went with this story: the compassion and empathy will be mistaken for the spirit. So the church must be true! I hate to call this out, ...

Great post and observations. Your observations remind me of the idea that many members have that people leave the church or go inactive because they are lazy. As your posts have demonstrated (and most of us have lived), it is definitely harder to live outside the church (mentally) while still playin...

I'm vaguely aware that there are several people in our ward that are experiencing/have experienced a "faith crisis". Sounds like the bishopric is well aware of it and trying to address it. Good luck! I'm a bit envious of people who know that a faith transition is underway in their ward. The few in ...

I'm vaguely aware that there are several people in our ward that are experiencing/have experienced a "faith crisis". Sounds like the bishopric is well aware of it and trying to address it. Good luck! I already didn't have a very high opinion of this guy, and his "testimony" just lowered my opinion ...

We had a couple gems from a bishopric counselor yesterday in fast and testimony meeting. - He has had many friends and family that have examined the church's claims and history from an analytical perspective and when they are finished they "are found wanting" (understood to mean that they have issue...

Is Medicaid State funded? If so perhaps the state of Idaho put pressure on byu-Idaho to pay for insurance. Maybe I'm way off base but I could see it happening. I mean a bunch of religious conservatives would never want government funded healthcare, would they? When I first read the story my first t...

I think the realization that the church isn't everything it claims makes keeping extended family relationships that much harder. Unless you live on the same street or something, I think both sides find that they don't have much to connect about. Even with being a NOM and still attending church, I fi...

Add one to the score for our Prophet, Seer, and Revelator exercising the gift of discernment!