I served in Texas 1991-1993. My comp and I hatched a plan to fly to SLC late Sunday night (after calling in stats). We would ski on Monday (P-day) and fly back in the evening in time to check in with the zone leaders. We found cheap flights for 3 weeks away, but decided to wait until the next mission transfers in a couple of days to book them. Turns out the MP must have been inspired, because
Forum: Recovery Board

It's a sure bet that a healthy chunk of "aye" votes were motivated out of fear of being outed.
Forum: Recovery Board

Congratulations! ...and nice kitchen
Forum: Recovery Board

"I've got maggots in my scrotum."
Forum: Recovery Board

archytas Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I have a mindblowing proposition: it's possible to > read Chomsky, Harris, and Pigliucci without having > to play follow-the-leader. Great observation. I sometimes battle a natural inclination to become a disciple...Mormon baggage, I suppose. There is nothing wrong with harvesting good ideas from multiple
Forum: Recovery Board

No way would I allow it. When they are 18, they can choose from the buffet of religions, or no religion. You would be setting them up for a lifetime of harassment, guilt and false expectations if you put them on the rolls as children. By allowing baptism, you will be complicit in having them make promises you have no intention of helping/allowing them to keep.
Forum: Recovery Board

It will continue to evolve, dilute itself and slog along 30 years behind the rest of western society. But the coffers are full, the property is paid for, and the masses will continue to do 90% of the work for free. This train will coast for decades. One thing is for sure, just as Joseph would not recognize the modern church, we would not recognize it 100 years from now.
Forum: Recovery Board

You can do whatever you want. I had to meticulously study for several months, and become informed enough that I was confident I could refute every apologetic argument I anticipated would be thrown at me. When I finally came out to my wife, she said, "what took you so long?" She simply smelled the bullshit and allowed herself to grow out of the church and leave it behind. There is no
Forum: Recovery Board

I actually think he is right. With the lowering of the service age, sisters are coming into the missionary force in droves. If the ratio of young women who serve approaches that of young men, they will get 100,000. And remember, the purpose of the missionary program is not primarily to gain converts. The purpose of the missionary program is to indoctrinate and secure the missionary while he
Forum: Recovery Board

It's not a bad article, but it's also not good...or relevant. The headline is certainly charged, and gives a false impression that John has been hiding something. Given the obvious juxtaposition between John and church leadership, it would be much more relevant to do an article about how church leadership stands to lose their livelihood if people like John are not silenced. As for the const
Forum: Recovery Board

I grew up in Centerville, and yes, received the anticipated call from the post office. I now live next-door in Farmington, and although agree with the depictions by prior posters, it is certainly getting better here. My children have plenty of LDS friends, few of whom have ever voiced a proselyting word. It's a great community, and we even have a martini bar at Station Park. On the down sid
Forum: Recovery Board

I was a missionary at Lackland AFB many years ago. The Branch President was enlisted (I forget the rank), and his first counselor was a Major. They would joke about it.
Forum: Recovery Board

Well done!
Forum: Recovery Board

I knew it wasn't inspired the first time I visited. Had it been inspired, there would certainly be a nice martini bar near the outdoor fireplace. No humane God would plan a mall without a place for me to retreat whilst my dear-wife is swallowed by Nordstrom.
Forum: Recovery Board

Yep, during my Washing and Disappointing...I mean, Annointing, the old geezer grazed my sallback with his knuckle. At the time I assumed it was because he was about 120 years old and was as shakey as a Ukrainian government. But who knows.... I never did initiatory work again.
Forum: Recovery Board

And it's back... http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/57500721-78/church-lds-british-mormon.html.csp
Forum: Recovery Board

The Trib must have cold feet.
Forum: Recovery Board

Nope, I'm not a fan of the article. It lacks foundation and does not touch the positive side of rebuilding a world view. The average reader might take away that people leave the church to drink. Pretty shallow.
Forum: Recovery Board

One of my biggest regrets is confessing to messing around with a girl after my mission. The bishop pressed me for her name, and I caved. Even though she lived several stakes away, they tracked her down and imposed 'discipline'. Oh, if only I could go back in time...
Forum: Recovery Board

I would give him the book, "The Complete Heretic's Guide to Western Religion Book One: The Mormons", by David Fitzgerald. It's an easy read, and can be comprehended by those who don't have a strong LDS or religious background. I would not recommend it for a questioning member, as the author unapologetically and irreverently calls bullshit where he sees it. In spite of the crass(ish)
Forum: Recovery Board

The rule of thumb is that wine newbies should start with sweeter wines because they expect it to taste like juice. Occasionally there are exceptions, so don't limit yourself until you experience a variety. I would not spend much $$ at this point. I suggest you get Barefoot Moscato (white) and Sutter Home Sweet Red. This will give you both a red and white at the sweet end of the spectrum. Yo
Forum: Recovery Board

In the late 1800's there was a series of letters written between a leader in the SLC church and a leader in the RLDS. The RLDS guy had written something denying Joseph was a polygamist, and the LDS guy responded with evidence that Joseph was a polygamist. The back and forth culminated with the LDS church securing depositions from Joseph's surviving wives. At one time I remember seeing all
Forum: Recovery Board

With my guitar, I lead the family reuinion campfire sing-a-long (yes, I'm that cheesy guy). I love to mess with my TBM family's heads by playing the familiar introduction to that song, but sing the original lyrics. It's just one more thing the church copied.
Forum: Recovery Board

"CRUNCH" That's the sound of Brother Brigham's bones shattering under the wheels of the bus the church just (rightly) threw him under. Of note, the church's essay: Confirmed that Joseph Smith ordained black men and gave no indication that it should be otherwise Confirmed that Brigham Young changed Joseph's precedent of ordaining black men Blamed the ban on the racis
Forum: Recovery Board

"Unpaid Whore" is a label Dr. Laura often uses. *shudders*
Forum: Recovery Board

It's a long story, but there was one-on-one, face-to-face interaction between Maxwell and the recipient that was referenced in the letter. He either wrote it or dictated it. BTW, I just noticed at the bottom of Oaks' letter he cc'd Pederson's Stake President.
Forum: Recovery Board

I've seen a letter from Neal Maxwell that he surely wrote himself. While it is certain that they don't read all their mail, I think sometimes they respond in person.
Forum: Recovery Board

One more thing, I recently started using the "Vivino" application to keep track of what I taste. I take a picture of the label, and the app matches it to its library of wines. I can rate it, enter notes, share with friends, etc. It's a great way to keep track of what I like and what I don't.
Forum: Recovery Board

My advice would be to experience a broad variety of varietals, labels, and price points and let your buds do the deciding. While it's good to know the ABC's of wine for conversation and to satisfy your own curiosity, don't get bogged down in trying to become a sommelier. Here's a little secret: even the "experts" don't agree. Buy what you like, but seek to be open to new tastes.
Forum: Recovery Board

While there are laws on the books of a few states that criminalize fornication, they are not really enforceable since the Supreme Court ruling in Lawrence v. Texas. Same goes for anti-sodomy laws. It would now be more accurate to say that the anti-fornication laws themselves are illegal.
Forum: Recovery Board