"Hold my root beer" - the Russell M. Nelson thread

[smokymountainrain]

Let's say that the government says that from now on, diesel cars cannot drive on the roads during daylight hours, and anyone who lives in their house, regardless of what kind of engine they have, also have to only drive at night. They can either sell all of their diesels for scrap, or they can only drive at night. People who own diesels are rightly ticked off. They can choose to buy a gas car, but they like their diesels and have always liked driving diesels, but feel a sense of anger that others in their house who don't drive diesels have to follow the same rules. So, they only drive at night.

They endure this for 4 years, and then the govt says, "Ok, yall can drive during the daylight time now." No "sorry" offered. Sure, it's great news. The diesel owners are joyous. But, it would have been a lot easier and better if the government had not made this decision four years ago.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy, but it was an unforced error by people who should have known better.

yup.

[Northwestcoug]

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy, but it was an unforced error by people who should have known better.

This is the best thing said so far.

[fusnik]

I feel like a lot of these dumb policies are just bad ideas from people who are well intentioned but tone deaf to death. Kind of like the honor code office.

More likely the dudes making these decisions are the socially acceptable version of Richard Spencer.

[smokymountainrain]

This is the best thing said so far.

i disagree. maybe 2nd best.

[wuapinmon]

Thanks! I’m not sure it was my best work.

Faulkner was verbose; you seem a little terse, more Hemingwayish.

[falafel]

Let's say that the government says that from now on, diesel cars cannot drive on the roads during daylight hours, and anyone who lives in their house, regardless of what kind of engine they have, also have to only drive at night. They can either sell all of their diesels for scrap, or they can only drive at night. People who own diesels are rightly ticked off. They can choose to buy a gas car, but they like their diesels and have always liked driving diesels, but feel a sense of anger that others in their house who don't drive diesels have to follow the same rules. So, they only drive at night.

They endure this for 4 years, and then the govt says, "Ok, yall can drive during the daylight time now." No "sorry" offered. Sure, it's great news. The diesel owners are joyous. But, it would have been a lot easier and better if the government had not made this decision four years ago.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy, but it was an unforced error by people who should have known better.

We are all happy about the reversal, but that diesel analogy doesn't make a lick of sense.

[All-American]

Sorry to interrupt the discussion of the reversal-of-the-reversal to allow kids to be baptized despite Adam and Steve's transgressions, but you really have to marvel at the way that BYU has lost the GAME over the last decade. To wit:

1. They lose a dagger game (2018); blowing a 20 point lead with one quarter and a few seconds to go.
2. They lose boring (2017); a dreadful defense/field goal kicker showdown.
3. They lose a hero game (2016); failing to get a 2-pt conversion from their best athlete ever.
4. They lose a comeback game (Vegas 2015); giving up 35 straight before scoring 28.
5. They lose a forgettable game (2013); meh.
5. They lose by failing to get Ute fans to rush the field for a third time (2012).
6. They lose big (2011): 54-10.
7. They lose a should-of-won game (2010): Brandon Burton's block.

How are they gonna pull it off this year?

It’s amazing, truly.

Hopefully we have now exhausted the possible ways of losing this game and now have no other option but to kick your lily butts.

[MartyFunkhouser]

It’s amazing, truly.

Hopefully we have now exhausted the possible ways of losing this game and now have no other option but to kick your lily butts.

You haven't.

[wuapinmon]

We are all happy about the reversal, but that diesel analogy doesn't make a lick of sense.

It will in 4-5 years.

[BigFatMeanie]

Like other policies I've recently commented on, this change in "policy" (which went against our doctrine, mind you) will end a lot of heartache and needless suffering. I'm glad this happened today, but I'm sad that we had to have this in the first place. I'm guessing that with a lot more fervent prayer, the Lord will change His mind on "lawfully wedded" spouses of either gender being alright with Him. Unlike Schopenhauer, I like an omniscient god who you have to convince to change His Will.

Interesting that you're using the term "we" and "our" today when referring to the Church, when yesterday you didn't believe a word of it.

I'm guessing that the Lord will not change His mind on "lawfully wedded" spouses of either gender. It's likely you haven't heard the latest verbiage of the sealing ordinance.

[Pelado]

Pfft! Two number 5s. This dummy doesnt even know she has won 8 in a row instead of 7. Take that!

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

We are all happy about the reversal, but that diesel analogy doesn't make a lick of sense.

Don't lick the diesel!

[ByronMarchant]

I would like to very respectfully make an observation.

One might say that a firefighter who sets fires to create his own business is immoral. The current situation is clearly accidental and not intentional arson (figurative arson, of course).

Now we have President Nelson and associates rushing to the rescue--probably in response to outside pressure (e.g., diminished tithes and an exodus of youth). In other words, they set the fire by mistake, but didn't realize it would grow out of control or that it might be perceived negatively.

But if you consider the major tenets of Mormonism (or other religions) more globally, there are numerous examples of religion solving the very problems they created:

1. Your family can be together forever (as long as God doesn't separate you from each other for not behaving properly). The alternative is that you won't be together--according to God.
2. Your marriage can be eternal (but only if it occurs in the temple--which will require you to tithe, believe, and act accordingly). The alternative is that your marriage won't be eternal--according to God.
3. Or more generally: you can receive a whole host of blessings (but many these are conditional). The alternative is that you'll miss out on blessings--implied by God.

Those alternatives are just concocted problems. And religion's role is to make you feel good about solving problems that never needed to exist in the first place.

In other words, my view is that religion has a tendency to solve problems of its own making--often only after damage has been done. It's important not to forget the many people hurt by this policy, despite its reversal.

Kudos for fixing this after just 3.5 years. Could have fixed it after 3 days though. It takes courage and humility to admit you're wrong, and I think this is a tacit admission of guilt by the Church.

Of course, there may be some redeeming things of value in religious community and clean living, and there are lots of things that I miss about the Church. But the many good things about the Church are simply not exclusive to the Church, and I always circle back to remember that many of the answers flowing from on high are theological or practical solutions to problems of the Church's own making.

[MartyFunkhouser]

We are all happy about the reversal, but that diesel analogy doesn't make a lick of sense.

Here is a simpler analogy:

November 2015:
Prophet: It is God's will that I stab you with this knife
<stabs person with knife>
April 2019
Prophet: God rescinds his policy that I should stab you with this knife
Stabbed person: That is great that you rescinded the stabbing me with a knife policy, but I had medical bills and still have complications from the stabbing. An apology would be nice
Prophet: It was God's will, we don't apologize for God's will.

The damage done by the policy, and the damage was significant, does not just go away by getting rid of the policy. If you want any measure of healing to those damaged, an apology is necessary.

[Jeff Lebowski]

i disagree. maybe 2nd best.

Yep. No way was that better than that ScoopJahoop masterpiece.

[Jeff Lebowski]

We still teaching the youth to only date white if you are white, or black if you are black, or Mexican if you are Mexican?

Let me know when they take that out of the lesson books.

That manual is long gone.

Welcome back, brother!