At the end of the temple ceremony, everyone passes through the temple veil. You have to give a series of passwords and handshakes to get through. This portion of the temple ceremony is supposed to represent what happens at the "actual" veil where faithful Mormons will enter heaven ("the Celestial Kingdom"). One of the passwords is this new name you've been given. So, witho
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"Elder Boyd K. Packer has taught us: ... “'Some things that are true are not very useful.'" http://www.lds.org/manual/teaching-seminary-preservice-readings-religion-370-471-and-475/obtaining-and-maintaining-scriptural-and-doctrinal-integrity?lang=eng But, of course, you know they ALL feel the same way!
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http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,1163762
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... had not had ...." http://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V16N01_12.pdf So, it may be that indeed Lyman hadn't received the SA. Of course, even if he had, the leaders of the Mormon church have always had the ability to change their own rules at will and make exceptions if it suits them. So ... who knows?
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Outstanding job, gentlemen! Wish there could have been more time allotted.
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Fantastic! Looking forward to hearing from both of you. : )
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...that He (eventually) forbade Mormon prophets and their followers from ever practicing (earthly) polygamy again, and commanded His only true church to excommunicate the disobedient.
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And it wasn't just his opinion. He was a brand new bisop and wasn't sure on this particular point, so he consulted with the stake prez who told him directly that masturbation did not need to be confessed and was to be treated like "impure thoughts," with remorse and prayer for forgiveness being sufficient for repentance. However, that was in the 1997/98 timeframe and is the last time
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n/t
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2014/02/05/english-court-summons-head-of-mormon-church-to-answer-charges-that-mormon-religious-claims-are-fraud/ (I'm posting this separately because of the obvious prominence of that publication.)
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... with their religion. Mormonism is one of those religions that makes a whole of testable claims which science has been dismantling ever since Mormonism's founding. Mormons who believe that their religion is consistent with science either don't understand science or don't undertand their religion. That scientist you quoted is living in a very deluded existence--it proves how difficult it can
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I love to hear accounts of Mormons discovering the truth, convincing their spouse, and then telling the kids, who are relieved that they have been released from Mormonism. I wish my parents had been able to see through it all--that's a fantasy I would have loved to live. Congratulations to you and your family! : )
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I'm speculating that Tom (and perhaps others) has direct knowledge--is a WITNESS to--Thomas S. Monson (and maybe others in the Mormon hierarchy) directly contradicting specific teachings that are promulgated by the Mormon church--as laid out in the court summons found at: http://mormonthink.com/ So, for example, perhaps Tom Phillips and TSM (or other high church officials) were discussing
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... aren't there certain legal protections (as there are in the US) which make prosecuting a church (or official of a church) for fraud--based on its teachings--difficult, if not impossible? Whatever the case, Many thanks, Tom, for your tireless efforts to get this issue going. Even if there is no conviction, the negative publicity against the Mormon church will be worth many millions of d
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"My guess is the people who like football or genuinely don't care about football were the people in high school who felt accepted, liked and successful whether they were quarterbacks or honors students or band members or just a quiet student with a nice group of friends who enjoyed high school. The people who constantly have to talk about how stupid football is are those who felt marginalize
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The OP asked a simple and direct question which left4good answered clearly and succinctly. Just because left4good chose not to express any emotion in that particular response doesn't mean he has no regrets for any damage he may have caused in his former Mormon leadership role ... and it certainly doesn't give you the right to call him "indifferent." WOW. JUST WOW!
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...religiously affiliated institutions which practice discrimination based on sexual orientation could (universities, for instance). See relevant case of Bob Jones University v. United States, where there existed a ban on interracial dating at the university and the Supreme Court upheld the IRS revocation of the university's tax-exempt status: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Jones_University
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"And the Lord would not suffer that should stop beyond the sea in the wilderness, but he would that they should come forth even unto the land of promise, which was choice above all other lands, which the Lord God had preserved for a righteous people." (Book of Mormon | Ether 2:7)
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"Wherefore, I, Lehi, have obtained a promise, that inasmuch as those whom the Lord God shall bring out of the land of Jerusalem shall keep his commandments, they shall prosper upon the face of this land; and they shall be kept from all other nations, that they may possess this land unto themselves." (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 1:9)
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Congratulations on breaking free!
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by reading a few books on geology. I never encountered any substantial "anti-Mormon" literature (or even ideas) until much later. Once I studied a "little" unvarnished Mormon history, I was convinced my loss of faith in "the Gospel" was well justified. And when I got deeper and deeper into the real dirt and details...I was like W...T...F?!?!?!?!
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However, I doubt a judge or a jury (if it comes to that) will buy into his "the devil made me do it" defense for whatever "very bad" thing he is apparently guilty of. I would certainly be interested in finding out the details of this case and seeing them examined in open court where rational rules of evidence apply.
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... who oppose equal rights for gays. It's already happening, of course, but it's just going to get worse for the homophobes. I'm sorry you have to deal with your Mom saying things like that. I have similar challenges. It's sad that many of the "older generation" are going to have to die before the shift towards equality is complete. Sigh.
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Isn't that what faith is supposedly all about--to help people rationalize what they don't know by employing a psychological coping tool? And the part about not being the center of the universe is certainly ironic, since Mormonism is constantly bombarding its adherents with messages that they're "special," "chosen," "elect," etc. Funny.
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Gordon B. Hinckley, 2003: "Each of us has to face the matter—either the Church is true, or it is a fraud. There is no middle ground. It is the Church and kingdom of God, or it is nothing." http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2003/04/loyalty?lang=eng Jeffrey R. Holland, 1995: "Let me quote a very powerful comment from President Ezra Taft Benson, who said, 'The Book
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It is nice to know that certainly none of us is alone. RfM is a great place to commiserate. Thanks for posting!
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