I learned in church today

[Topper]

if there are two callings I aspire to it is primary accompanist or chorister. I've been a substitute chorister on occasion and man, that is heaven on earth.

Part time visitor is a better calling. You visit the ward of your choice.

[pellegrino]

Part time visitor is a better calling. You visit the ward of your choice.

nah, I'm all for diving in and participating in the community. At least at this phase of my life I am.

[clackamascoug]

Today a father gave a name and a blessing to a new baby that was born with Down Syndrome. Remembering my own experience 16 years earlier, tears streamed unabashedly down my cheeks. Upon the amen, my wife handed me two tissues and smiled.

[TripletDaddy]

Do you have a child with down syndrome?

[FMCoug]

We complain a lot on here, but here's a real positive. Every testimony today was centered on Christ. It moved me so much that I offered my own testimony of the atonement. It was a great day.

I think the more accurate term is "poke fun". I don't know that it is real complaining. But I do think posts like yours are great to have too.

[clackamascoug]

yes.

[TripletDaddy]

That is interesting. I had no idea. Apologies if you have mentioned it before.

[PaloAltoCougar]

During our priesthood lesson yesterday, the instructor asked, "Who is the happiest person you know?" The guy sitting next to me raised his hand and said, very sincerely, "I am." I was more than a little surprised by this, because the guy was sitting in a wheelchair, the result of multiple medical issues including diabetes complications, his relatively healthy wife died suddenly and unexpectedly three years ago (this was extremely sad, not the source of his joy), he lives in a less than optimal care facility, and he looks 10-15 years older than he is.

I turned to him asked, as tactfully as possible, "WHY???" He said that throughout his lifetime, he has received far more blessings than he deserves, he had a great marriage, has children who have turned out well and who love him, and looks forward to each new day as an opportunity to share the gospel and the source of his happiness with others. He is not insane, but a nice, normal guy. I learned a lot yesterday.

[CardiacCoug]

During our priesthood lesson yesterday, the instructor asked, "Who is the happiest person you know?" The guy sitting next to me raised his hand and said, very sincerely, "I am." I was more than a little surprised by this, because the guy was sitting in a wheelchair, the result of multiple medical issues including diabetes complications, his relatively healthy wife died suddenly and unexpectedly three years ago (this was extremely sad, not the source of his joy), he lives in a less than optimal care facility, and he looks 10-15 years older than he is.

I turned to him asked, as tactfully as possible, "WHY???" He said that throughout his lifetime, he has received far more blessings than he deserves, he had a great marriage, has children who have turned out well and who love him, and looks forward to each new day as an opportunity to share the gospel and the source of his happiness with others. He is not insane, but a nice, normal guy. I learned a lot yesterday.

Voltaire made a good point with Candide -- All is for the best in the best of all possible worlds. It's amazing how most people are naturally so irrationally happy and optimistic.

[clackamascoug]

During our priesthood lesson yesterday, the instructor asked, "Who is the happiest person you know?" The guy sitting next to me raised his hand and said, very sincerely, "I am." I was more than a little surprised by this, because the guy was sitting in a wheelchair, the result of multiple medical issues including diabetes complications, his relatively healthy wife died suddenly and unexpectedly three years ago (this was extremely sad, not the source of his joy), he lives in a less than optimal care facility, and he looks 10-15 years older than he is.

I turned to him asked, as tactfully as possible, "WHY???" He said that throughout his lifetime, he has received far more blessings than he deserves, he had a great marriage, has children who have turned out well and who love him, and looks forward to each new day as an opportunity to share the gospel and the source of his happiness with others. He is not insane, but a nice, normal guy. I learned a lot yesterday.

Stockholm Syndrome.

For some reason, I keep loving my wife more each year. When you reach the point of being comfortably numb, the only alternative is acceptance, and acceptance is at least as powerful as hope. I've no particular reason to be happy, but I'm the happiest I've ever been.

[Solon]

Voltaire made a good point with Candide -- All is for the best in the best of all possible worlds. It's amazing how most people are naturally so irrationally happy and optimistic.

I'm all for optimism, but I think Voltaire's point was to satirize this kind of faith in society, especially in science and progress.

Candide eventually renounces Pangloss's optimism (chapter 19) after meeting a maimed and crippled slave.

[CardiacCoug]

I'm all for optimism, but I think Voltaire's point was to satirize this kind of faith in society, especially in science and progress.

Candide eventually renounces Pangloss's optimism (chapter 19) after meeting a maimed and crippled slave.

Sure, I know it's satire -- I just meant Voltaire's point about the human tendency to be stupidly optimistic, not that the stupid optimism makes sense or is necessarily a good thing.

But I think in the long view Voltaire was wrong. The world is a far, far better place now than it was 200 year ago, that's for sure.

[Solon]

The world is a far, far better place now than it was 200 year ago, that's for sure.

There's no way you learned THAT in church.

I'm fascinated by our faith in progress. On the one hand, my grandparents think the world has been disintegrating since the Eisenhower administration. On the other hand, all of my students are convinced that the new iphone is going to be immeasurably better than the old one, ad infinitum.

[myboynoah]

There's no way you learned THAT in church.

I'm fascinated by our faith in progress. On the one hand, my grandparents think the world has been disintegrating since the Eisenhower administration. On the other hand, all of my students are convinced that the new iphone is going to be immeasurably better than the old one, ad infinitum.

Technological progress is leading to moral degeneration.

You didn't hear it here first.

[Topper]

There's no way you learned THAT in church.

I'm fascinated by our faith in progress. On the one hand, my grandparents think the world has been disintegrating since the Eisenhower administration. On the other hand, all of my students are convinced that the new iphone is going to be immeasurably better than the old one, ad infinitum.

The nostalgic view of the world repeats itself ad infinitum. There was a movie not too long ago, where the actress and actor pined for a period in Paris in the Twenties and each of the actors pined for a period more idealistic than their own. Eventually, the actors came to grips with enjoying their era for what it was. It was a romantic comedy but it addressed the concept of nostalgia that interests me.