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Branches & Roots

While working on President Hinckley's August 2005 challenge to read the Book of Mormon, I came across a verse in Jacob 5 that cause me to ponder. In verse 47, the master of the vineyard is pining over the fact that his good olive tree has become overrun with wild fruit despite all his effort to encourage the growth of good fruit through pruning, fertilising, and aerating. His servant's response is in verse 48:

"And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master: Is it not the loftiness of thy vineyard——have not the branches thereof overcome the roots which are good? And because the branches have overcome the roots thereof, behold they grew faster than the strength of the roots, taking strength unto themselves. Behold, I say, is not this the cause that the trees of thy vineyard have become corrupted?"

It seems the grafted-in wild branches spread out to bear fruit more quickly than the roots could handle.

As I was pondering this, I wondered if perhaps some new members are similar to this tree. Not in the idea that they are bearing wild fruit or that their efforts are corrupted, but in the idea that perhaps they are spreading out quickly in an effort to produce a lot of fruit. Too quickly for their root system.

Do we expect too much of our new converts? Do they expect too much of themselves?

Court Rejects Intelligent Design

The verdict is in, and intelligent design is out. CNN reports:

"'Intelligent design' cannot be mentioned in biology classes in a Pennsylvania public school district, a federal judge said Tuesday, ruling in one of the biggest courtroom clashes on evolution since the 1925 Scopes trial."

I know the LDS church doesn't have an official policy one way or the other, but I'm curious what readers of Our Thoughts think about the decision.

Converts vs. Constancy

Which would you do if you were president of the Church?

A: Tweak doctrines and policies as society values change in order to encourage church growth through converts. This would allow more people to be baptised and receive saving ordinances, but may give some persons the impression that God changes.

B: Keep doctrines and policies the same despite society values in order to maintain the idea that God never changes, but risk a reduction in church growth through converts. This would mean that less people receive saving ordinances.

Christmas Eve VS No church on Sunday

If we are to spend this time thinking of the birth of Christ and making your "holiday" more Christ-centered and spiritual why is it we only get to go to church on Christmas day every 6 years or so when it happens to hit on a Sunday? I have to yet to understand that concept. I am so thrilled this year that we actually get to go to church on Christmas Day. What a better way to keep Christ in your Christmas then to get away from all the gifts and food etc then by going to partake of the Sacrament and think of Christ. I miss Midnight Mass from the old days.

Corrupt

When Joseph Smith was visited by Jesus and God, he was told that the Christian denominations at the time were all wrong, all their creeds were an abomination, their professors were all corrupt, their words spoke of Christ but their actions did not, and they taught commandments of men as doctrine (See JSH 1:19).

In the 185 years since then, have Christian churches improved? Are they still corrupt and abominable? Are their professions of Christianity still hollow?

Rum Ball

I ate a rum ball today. Well, actually, it was more like half of a rum ball. I have to say that rum balls have to be the grossest things I have ever tested. I can't believe people like these things. And to cover it in chocolate; how deceptive.

Best Group Blog

If you like Our Thoughts and like to vote, feel free to cast your ballot for Our Thoughts as the best other group blog.

God's Marriage

Heber C. Kimball, when he was in the First Presidency, stated:

"The man Joseph, the husband of Mary, did not, that we know of, have more than one wife, but Mary the wife of Joseph had another husband" (Deseret News, October 10, 1866)

Orson Pratt stated:

"Therefore, the Father and Mother of Jesus, according to the flesh, must have been associated together in the capacity of Husband and Wife; hence the Virgin Mary must have been, for the time being, the lawful wife of God the Father" (The Seer, 158)

God and Mary were married?

Satan's Good

To open the April general conference of this year, Gordon B. Hinckley said the following:

My beloved brothers and sisters, on behalf of the worldwide membership of this Church, I extend to our Catholic neighbors and friends our heartfelt sympathy at this time of great sorrow. Pope John Paul II has worked tirelessly to advance the cause of Christianity, to lift the burdens of the poor, and to speak fearlessly in behalf of moral values and human dignity. He will be greatly missed, particularly by the very many who have looked to him for leadership.

Given that there seems to be much good in the Catholic Church, can Satan lead someone to join that church? More specifically, can someone decide to leave the Mormon Church to join the Catholic Church, claiming the Spirit led them to that decision? Or would that decision be a result of influence from Satan?

Given that "all things which are good cometh of God" (Moro 7:12), can Satan influence someone to do something that is good, but may be perceived as less good?

Rick Mercer for PM

Ok, I had to chime in on this after reading the Beer petition. Not being a beer drinker, but being a Canadian I love the comments. :) And I have to agree with at least one signer. RICK MERCER FOR PRIME MINISTER! I wish I was just joking, but I'm not. I wish we had him as a choice, he'd get my vote. But then we'd lose him as the country's funniest person.

Anti-Beer

"We the [over 2,400] undersigned demand an immediate cessation of anti-beer comments from individuals running for Parliament." (via Rick Mercer)

Afterlife

In the LDS view of the afterlife, will the religion of persons who are not LDS have any bearing on the judgement they receive? For example, will judgement be more favourable for a practicing Catholic than it would be for a devil worshipper?

Family Values

I've heard the term "family values" thrown around in the media, on blogs and even in church. Can someone explain to me what family values are and why they are called "family values" and not just "values"?

Stephen Harper and the real world

What is with the man?? So, if your children are in organised sports then he is offering a tax break. But not if they are in any OTHER extra curricular program, whatever it may be. How about the arts? Music lessons aren't cheap. And what if my children want to be in yoga classes? I guess those don't count!

I have nothing at all against organised sports for children (or adults). I think it's a great idea. However, it isn't the only area that parents have their children involved in. And it also discriminates against other active programs. Organised sport activities are NOT the only valid, or expensive programs out there.

And don't even get me started on his childcare money incentive. I don't know who he is trying to fool, but it certainly is not me. I hope it isn't many others either. I am very afraid if this man becomes Prime Minister. Very afraid. He seems to live in a dream world and certainly not in Canada.

This isn't JUST Kim's blog

Ok, the rest of us may not post as often, but it isn't just HIS. As he keeps trying to tell everyone (yes, literally everyone, there are places where Our Thoughts is listed as "Kim's Thoughts".)

How to Get Married in 10 Easy Steps

Traditional culture among members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints seems to encourage people to get married quickly. Of course, often people seem not to do such for a number of reasons (finish school, everyone's ugly, don't have a car, etc).

Unfortunately, there are times when such individuals, though not all, seem to stay single for extended periods of time. The following ten steps are designed to help those who feel trapped in such a situation to get out.

It has never been tested on bachelorettes.

1. Write down EVERY SINGLE thing you are looking for in an eternal companion. Everything from how active in the Church she should be to the colour of hair to her clothing styles to whether she likes olives or not. EVERY THING.

Do NOT proceed to the next steps without fully completing this step.

2. Set a goal date by which you will be engaged. Be realistic. Don't make it too short and don't make it too far away. Post this goal somewhere, or make it easy to remember (six months from Christmas as an example).

3. Set a goal date by which you will be married. Same conditions as above.

4. Write up a list of EVERYONE who is interested in you. Start with those who live closest. List them in order by the degree they like you (the most at the top). Do not pay attention to whether you like them or not.

5. Phone up the first person on your list and ask her on a date as soon as possible. Act like a gentleman on your date but be yourself. At the end of your date, compare her characteristics, personality and qualities to the list you made in step one.

6. Repeat steps 5 & 6 with everyone in your list, starting next with the second one, then the third one, etc.

7. When you have dated everyone on the list, compare each one's characteristics, personalities and qualities with those of the others. Select the one which most closely meet the elements of the list you created in step 1.

8. Date her a few more time to make sure your first impressions were correct. If they weren't, go on to the second person.

9. Ask her to go steady. Continue dating her to strengthen whatever relationship you have developed by this point.

10. On or before the goal date you set in step 2, ask her to marry you before or on the goal date you set in step 3.

There you go. Ten easy steps to get married. Follow EACH of them as outlined, and you will be married for sure.

Death and God

How do you "explain" to an elderly man (lifetime member although inactive for many years) that God is not to blame for his wife being literally on death's door? What do you say when he asks why is God doing this to us? Is He punishing us for not going to church all these years? Is this His way of repaying us back for coming back to church these last few months?

Hubby has been at the hospital almost nonstop for last 24 hours with a member as they sit with the wife. He is having a hard time talking to this man who is watching his wife of over 50 years slip through his fingers and doesn't know what to say. I said don't say anything at all... just let him grieve and let him talk. I told him to ask this man if he wanted a blessing of comfort.

I've run out of ideas..

Un-Christmas Christmas

I don't know how to just post a link on here for some reason it doesn't allow me to do it so I have to cut and paste an article my Bishop just sent me and other leaders in our ward.

It's a sad sad day when we no longer can celebrate Christmas in public without having to worry whether or not it is politically correct or if we will be taken to court.

[UPDATE: Here's the link to the "'Twelve Rules of Christmas' Guidelines for Public Holiday Celebrations" article at Meridian Magazine, Mum. --Kim]

Mormon Culture

There are some who consider themselves Catholic despite having never stepped in a Catholic church and may not even have been baptised Catholic. But his ancestors were Catholic, so he is.

Some call themselves Jewish despite the fact that she's never had a Bat Mitzvah, never stepped in a synagogue and even eat pork. But her ancestors were Jewish, so she is.

Has Mormonism arrived at the point yet where being Mormon is more than just being baptised? Can someone rightly claim to being Mormon even if s/he has never been baptised, but her/his parents and grandparents were?