Which of these Mormon tenets are most difficult for you to obey?

[LiveCoug]

I bet if you were to ask the poll question asked here in Sunday school there would be little to no discussion and it would be pretty uncomfortable. You don't have an expectation that this setting and that one serve the same purpose do you?

I just find it interesting that most threads in the foyer are threads that are whining about particular things associated with the Mormon church. I rarely see anything the other way. Nobody, it seems, is interested to hear about someones testimony or beliefs of the good in the church. No big deal, but that's what I see and that's why I rarely venture into the foyer.

I just don't care enough about the juicy negative stuff. It doesn't affect the way I want to live my life. Anyway, no biggie, I'll move on.

[Moliere]

Oh, I can think of quite a few that are uplifting and inspiring and are compatible with what I understand of the gospel. To think that the overall message is negated and turned into something evil because of a few cuss words or bloody scenes is a mindset that I would consider to be silly. Equally silly is the notion that there is any kind of consistency in the movie rating process and that it can be used as a reliable guide.

I remember a sister getting up in F&T a few years back and bearing her testimony of how inspired she was by the movie Saving Private Ryan. Of course, she started her testimony by ensuring us that she had watched the Clean Flicks edited version. Nobody seemed to bat an eye. I chuckled at the irony.

I'll admit that I usually don't watch rated-R movies, but it's not because they are rated-R but mainly because of the content. I'm not a big fan of gory violence, foul mouthing swearing, explicit nudity, etc. all of which things are found in a lot of movies that are rated R (or so I've heard ). I have seen Saving Private Ryan (many times), Blackhawk Down, and other rated R moives that I think are worth seeing from a historical/cultural aspect although I still haven't seen Schindler's List but will at some point.

The movie ratings are admittedly all over the board but I feel I have to draw a line somewhere and for the most part that line stops between PG-13 and R. I will also say though that because something is PG-13 I don't just blindly assume I will feel comfortable watching it. In movies, as in all things, I seek goodly things.

[Jeff Lebowski]

What about the spec of poo principle? I think that's what Live Coug is getting at.

Yeah, I have heard that analogy many times. I find it absurd and I groan each time I hear it. Exhibit A that we are turning into a bunch of pharisees.

[Indy Coug]

Yeah, I have heard that analogy many times. I find it absurd and I groan each time I hear it. Exhibit A that we are turning into a bunch of pharisees.

What Would Christ Watch?

[Moliere]

What Would Christ Watch?

FoxNews

[Jacob]

Did anyone here see The Passion of the Christ? I haven't, I wondered what made it an R.

Violence, blook, and the main character getting killed. Saints and Soldiers got an R rating and the boys that made it had to go back and beg for a lower rating. The MPAA was too concerned because a main character was killed.

MPAA is not concerned with what the mormon religion considers good and wholesome.

[Indy Coug]

FoxNews

Except for those obnoxious Born Again music ads.

[LiveCoug]

Yeah, I have heard that analogy many times. I find it absurd and I groan each time I hear it. Exhibit A that we are turning into a bunch of pharisees.

LOL.. I think it's a legit argument. I'm not arguing that people shouldn't watch rated R movies. We are allowed to do as we please. I will never understand the justification of watching rated R movies within the context of the LDS church beliefs. No way can it be justified! BUT, like I said, watch them all you want, but don't claim that it's "ok" cause it isn't listed in the "for the strength of the youth" pamphlet anymore.

[Jacob]

Yeah, I have heard that analogy many times. I find it absurd and I groan each time I hear it. Exhibit A that we are turning into a bunch of pharisees.

Amen. And let's not leave out that this "spec of poo" principal eliminates every pg and pg-13 movie because they all contain some cuss word or sexuality, or off-color joke that is not "good and wholesome"

[falafel]

Yeah, I have heard that analogy many times. I find it absurd and I groan each time I hear it. Exhibit A that we are turning into a bunch of pharisees.

Yes! I was hoping you'd heard it.

For the record, I think I agree with Live Coug. If we're taking a strict stance, there are TONS of things that each of us do every day that do not conform to the gospel. TONS. Who doesn't gossip about a co-worker or ward member once in a while? Who doesn't sneak a peak at some girl's knockers and linger on that thought a little too long? No one's beating themselves up for this stuff, but strictly speaking, we shouldn't be doing any of it. Same with Rated R movies. They've got some good, some bad, some very bad. If you're being strict about it, then no amount of good can outweigh the bad.

[LiveCoug]

Violence, blook, and the main character getting killed. Saints and Soldiers got an R rating and the boys that made it had to go back and beg for a lower rating. The MPAA was too concerned because a main character was killed.

MPAA is not concerned with what the mormon religion considers good and wholesome.

??? I had no idea that the fact that a main character dies is one of the criteria for an R rating.

[falafel]

Amen. And let's not leave out that this "spec of poo" principal eliminates every pg and pg-13 movie because they all contain some cuss word or sexuality, or off-color joke that is not "good and wholesome"

And THAT, IMO, is the exact reason for the change in the strength of youth pamphlet. It was a tightening, not a loosening, of the belt.

[Moliere]

Violence, blook, and the main character getting killed. Saints and Soldiers got an R rating and the boys that made it had to go back and beg for a lower rating. The MPAA was too concerned because a main character was killed.

MPAA is not concerned with what the mormon religion considers good and wholesome.

I was at a "sneak peek" of S&S and the director explained what happened. They got the "R" rating and literally had to beg for a lower rating. The MPAA didn't understand why until they mentioned that with an R rating their expected audience would not want to see the movie.

They were told to make one change and that was to have the final scene (where the main character gets shot) be shown from a distance. They made the change and got a PG-13 rating.

We own this movie btw, although I didn't purchase it since I won it from 101.9 the end.

[LiveCoug]

Amen. And let's not leave out that this "spec of poo" principal eliminates every pg and pg-13 movie because they all contain some cuss word or sexuality, or off-color joke that is not "good and wholesome"

Agreed. That should be the case.

Yes! I was hoping you'd heard it.

For the record, I think I agree with Live Coug. If we're taking a strict stance, there are TONS of things that each of us do every day that do not conform to the gospel. TONS. Who doesn't gossip about a co-worker or ward member once in a while? Who doesn't sneak a peak at some girl's knockers and linger on that thought a little too long? No one's beating themselves up for this stuff, but strictly speaking, we shouldn't be doing any of it. Same with Rated R movies. They've got some good, some bad, some very bad. If you're being strict about it, then no amount of good can outweigh the bad.

100% Agreed. That's exactly what I mean.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I'm not saying that they can't be uplifting and inspiring. I've seen plenty of rated R movies that are just that. All I'm saying is that based on what we know of the gospel, things that make a move rated R are not gospel appropriate. No way can it be justified. I just watch movies I want to watch .I know some are not gospel appropriate, but I'm ok with that and I don't justify.

I think the Old Testament is R-rated for sure. I am amazed at the stuff we find in there.

I am curious why you keep bringing up the "justify" thing. You seem to be quite passionate about making sure everyone knows darned well that they are sinning. Why worry about it?