I learned in church today

[Goatnapper'96]

It was Scout Sunday. That meant the uhhhh deacons needed 3 rows instead of two. The melch p'hood passing of the sacrament was best described by the words "Charlie-Foxtrot!" The scouts were on the stand and enjoyed themselves immensely. I hummed the sacrament hymn, "In Humility our Savior," because that is the hymn I hummed to myself the year I was in Bosnia every sunday before giving myself the sacrament. I was also away from my wife so there were other things I had to give myself!

I am not sure I think Scouting is inspired. But I really agree with the Norman Rockwell painting of the Scoutmaster watching over his sleeping scouts with the gist of the phrase being: "the best thing a man can give a boy is some of his life's time." I see the Divine in men that give of themselves to develop the next generation.

I also used the word "dickhead" in sunday school in my outside voice quoting a fellow I taught in the mission's field description of Laman and Lemuel. Can I get some street cred with all you bordering on apostacy rebels? Boo yah!

[Goatnapper'96]

Excellent. You can almost always count on Dieter to bring it.

Dieter is my favorite. Pure optimism.

[Portland Ute]

The lesson yesterday in Priesthood was the Joseph Smith lesson:

http://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-...ter-4?lang=eng

It really didn't follow the menu. Rather, it devolved into a Joseph Smith love fest.

It was definitely the "Disney" version of his life. Highly sanitized...nearly perfect.

I didn't expect that there would be talk of the 14 year old brides or other odd topics, but I would have preferred to just stick to that manual than turn it into an hour of near-worship of "the man."

I did the half raise of the arm before putting it down and a fair bit of tongue biting.

It was also a reminder of just how little most members know. So many flat out wrong things were said about JS. Things that fit the fairy tale view of him, but are not historically accurate.

[RC Vikings]

I also used the word "dickhead" in sunday school in my outside voice quoting a fellow I taught in the mission's field description of Laman and Lemuel. Can I get some street cred with all you bordering on apostacy rebels? Boo yah!

Saying "dickhead" in a SS class in the middle of UC would get you some brownie points, saying "dickhead" in Rockland, Idaho just makes you one of the crowd.

[TripletDaddy]

The lesson yesterday in Priesthood was the Joseph Smith lesson:

http://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-...ter-4?lang=eng

It really didn't follow the menu. Rather, it devolved into a Joseph Smith love fest.

It was definitely the "Disney" version of his life. Highly sanitized...nearly perfect.

I didn't expect that there would be talk of the 14 year old brides or other odd topics, but I would have preferred to just stick to that manual than turn it into an hour of near-worship of "the man."

I did the half raise of the arm before putting it down and a fair bit of tongue biting.

It was also a reminder of just how little most members know. So many flat out wrong things were said about JS. Things that fit the fairy tale view of him, but are not historically accurate.

With the proliferation of info on the web, knowledge will continue to grow and people will get a better idea of his many strengths and apparent weaknesses. WW Phelps was right. Millions shall know "Brother Joseph" again.

[Goatnapper'96]

Saying "dickhead" in a SS class in the middle of UC would get you some brownie points, saying "dickhead" in Rockland, Idaho just makes you one of the crowd.

You are not really bordering on apostacy. You play borderlander so that the cool kids will like you, but you are much closer to myboynoah, LA Ute! and myself than those who have one foot out the door but for Joana Brooks!

Now besides the fact that you were not my intended audience for self-affirmation of my own rebeliousness, your point is accurate. My current domicile is a place where a man can freely be a feeble minded soul seeking to express himself forcibly.

[Goatnapper'96]

Saying "dickhead" in a SS class in the middle of UC would get you some brownie points, saying "dickhead" in Rockland, Idaho just makes you one of the crowd.

In addition I announced that I had located a gentleman with a mobile trap thrower and that our once annual trap shooting/copious amounts of well seasoned red meat brouhaha was now back on the agenda and that if you live in Rockland, Idaho and you do not participate in a free opportunity to consume copious amounts of well seasoned red meat and discharge a firearm you are likely on a slippery slope to voting democrat. At the end of the meeting one of the local ranchers, who has yet to attend one of my brouhahas, using some excuse of haying or something like that, stood up and screams out: "Goatnapper, I really need to know if I am a Democrat?!"

[Sullyute]

We actually had a really good discussion in Elders quorum on Sunday. We talked about whether or not mormons are christian. There were some very insightful comments. The guy next to me said that when other Christian faiths say we are not christian it is just like the LDS church saying that the fundamentalists are not mormons. We cannot have a strict definition of what it means to be a mormon, but then be offended when we don't meet others' strict definition as to what it means to be christian.

[NorthwestUteFan]

As we arrived at church yesterday, one of the twins decided he had to go to the bathroom BAD. I took him and his brother to the bathroom, then sat down on the couch in the foyer to wait for F&T meeting to end.

Ten minutes later, and during a lull in between the 'travelmonies' and 'found-my-keys-a-monies', the twin who does not possess an 'indoor voice' entered the the chapel leaving me on the couch with the quiet twin. My wife was seated on the last remaining bench which of course was on the front row. He marched up to my wife, and in his strong, unwavering 6 year-old voice announced to the entire congregation, "Daddy is on the Crapper!"

[Eddie]

We actually had a really good discussion in Elders quorum on Sunday. We talked about whether or not mormons are christian. There were some very insightful comments. The guy next to me said that when other Christian faiths say we are not christian it is just like the LDS church saying that the fundamentalists are not mormons. We cannot have a strict definition of what it means to be a mormon, but then be offended when we don't meet others' strict definition as to what it means to be christian.

While the worldwide leadership training doesn't exactly qualify as being at church - I figure it's close enough.

When asked if Mormons are Christians, I really liked the answer by Elder Christofferson:

I know that there are those who contend that we don’t fit their particular definition of Christian orthodoxy. So be it. But our example should be such that no one can deny that the Latter-day Saints love the Savior. No one can deny that the Latter-day Saints seek to emulate the Savior.

This doesn't fit into the particularly funny anecdotes typically found here, but what they heck.

[mUUser]

The lesson yesterday in Priesthood was the Joseph Smith lesson:

http://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-...ter-4?lang=eng

It really didn't follow the menu. Rather, it devolved into a Joseph Smith love fest.

It was definitely the "Disney" version of his life. Highly sanitized...nearly perfect.

I didn't expect that there would be talk of the 14 year old brides or other odd topics, but I would have preferred to just stick to that manual than turn it into an hour of near-worship of "the man."

I did the half raise of the arm before putting it down and a fair bit of tongue biting.

It was also a reminder of just how little most members know. So many flat out wrong things were said about JS. Things that fit the fairy tale view of him, but are not historically accurate.

Annoying & frustrating ain't it?

Our last JS lovefest precluded any discussion of Christ....all day....sacrament through priesthood. If it weren't for the prayers you wouldn't have known that we were a member of the christian community.

I expect the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be taught in every meeting, every week, in a church called The Church of Jesus Christ.

[Northwestcoug]

As we arrived at church yesterday, one of the twins decided he had to go to the bathroom BAD. I took him and his brother to the bathroom, then sat down on the couch in the foyer to wait for F&T meeting to end.

Ten minutes later, and during a lull in between the 'travelmonies' and 'found-my-keys-a-monies', the twin who does not possess an 'indoor voice' entered the the chapel leaving me on the couch with the quiet twin. My wife was seated on the last remaining bench which of course was on the front row. He marched up to my wife, and in his strong, unwavering 6 year-old voice announced to the entire congregation, "Daddy is on the Crapper!"

LOL! That's hilarious.

[jeremy-lin]

In church today we were taught about the idea about growing in Christ and to become more Christ like. We were taught that the change does not happen overnight, contrary to what some people say or think. One of the greatest criticisms against a religious life that the Atheists give us is the accusation of hypocrisy. It even happens from within our own ranks, people saying “that person is not a true Christian!”. If we are all trying to change and grow, where is the hypocrisy? If we fall short, that is proof positive that we still need to do some growing, and if we stick on the religious path, surely we can outgrow our faults with time? If an atheist criticises us for believing in the writings of the Bible, then where is the hypocrisy? The Bible is considered to be the inspired word of God, not the actual word of God, so it is inspired by God and then interpreted through the minds of the humans who wrote it. Sometimes they made mistakes, some words written it the bible are not positive at all, but they can be ignored or reinterpreted when we accept the Christian message of growth and forgiveness.

We were also taught about temptation (this being Lent) and that we should not feel bad about being tempted as that is human, and as we become more full of faith, the temptation may get worse, we may even be given more challenges that can make us need to grow faster and become an even better person, sometimes through tragedy or suffering. However, as a spiritual person, the way that I understand it, we can use these challenges to make us stronger, to make our argument stronger, so that (proverbially) the wind won't billow our cloak and the rain won't dampen our heads. In short, to be able to cope better under trying circumstances and to be the stronger person in a situation. Surely a more enlightened perspective.

[Katy Lied]

Yesterday we were introduced to our two new sister missionaries. The first was your typical sweet spirit from a really sheltered mo-home. The second was a convert who graduated from Arizona State with degrees in theatre arts and voice. Wow is she a powerful speaker and missionary.

[Moliere]

Our GD teacher gave some evidence that the "skin of blackness" mentioned in 2 Nephi was not literal. It was a great lesson. I also found out he is a big fan of Bible commentaries.