StBalthasar

Male

I reside in Happy Valley (Utah County), Utah; I grew up in Reno, Nevada (graduated in '81 from Sparks High School at age 16)

I love reading (sci fi, science, history, religious (all types), gen. lit., etc.).<br><br>I play the piano, organ & kazoo and compose music. I can sing, but have no solo voice.<br><br>I love watching movies. I see 1-3 movies (usually current ones) per week. One of my recent (2004) favorites: The Passion of the Christ.<br><br>I consider myself a conservative observant Mormon with an open mind.<br><br>I love to take road trips. My family usually goes on a two-week road trip each year, and I usually take a few others with wife and/or friends.<br><br>I love to spirograph and have about 200 pens of various hues.<br><br>Mostly I love people and try to be a friend.<br><br>I'm facinated with personal stories of conversion and overcoming sin. <br><br>I suspect that one of the main conflicts concerning Mormonism is that those of us with grounded Spiritual testimonies cannot understand where there's room for doubt (i.e., intellectually defensible contradiction is within the "human" margin of error so is never superior to personal revelation). In that light, I trust that the prophets and leaders, from Joseph to the present, have (generally speaking) excellent motives, and that their errors demonstrate their human weakness but not lack of divine call. Hence, I think it absurd to expect the Church (or the Brethren) to apologize to Blacks for the past priesthood policy (it is not finally concluded why the policy existed; those calling for apology assume bad motive), or to "soften" the Church's "stance" on homosexuality (that is not the same thing as softening the rhetoric), or to be too concerned with evidences of human frailties - including gross misunderstandings - of past and present leaders.<br><br>I believe the Book of Mormon to be authentic and furthermore believe that the critics lack integrity (as a group, not necessarily individually) as they expect Mormonism to respond to their criticisms but they fail (!) to respond to evidences that the Book of Mormon demonstrates ancient connections. Perhaps some of these things will be worked out on this board.<br><br>Although I am not here to argue (rather, I enjoy exchanging excellent reasoning, good advice and developing relationships), I do not (as far as time allows) stand idly by if I have something to say.<br><br>I try not to offend (but am told that I'm not too successful), but I aim to be unoffendable.