Peppermint Patty

I can totally relate to these photos growing up in conservative Davis County, Utah.

If you were to visit my mother's home, you would notice very similar photos on both sides of an entire hallway. The hallway is competely covered with photos of our childhood, holidays, High School dances, college, family vacations, etc.

Me and my siblings cringe whenever we have to travel down that hall. We call it the "Wall of Shame".

Very good OP. As an undergraduate, I published a paper on this topic.

For the first hundred years of the Church, Mormons interpreted the Word of Wisdom much more loosely than they do today. Moderation was the key:

• Coffee, tea, and alcohol were among the list of provisions that the Church recommended for the westward trek.
  
• Church leaders used wine for the sacrament at Sunday meetings and at the dedication celebrations for the temples in Kirtland, Ohio, Nauvoo, etc.
  
• Brigham Young chewed tobacco for most of his adult life. (He acquired the habit before he converted to Mormonism, and he struggled in vain to completely give it up, managing to quit for a nine-year period between 1848 and 1857.)
  
• Young encouraged some early Latter-day Saints to begin vineyards in Utah, sending one group of Swiss immigrants to southern Utah to start the Dixie Wine Mission. Their vineyards were very successful, and they sold wine all over the Western United States in the late nineteenth century.
  

So why are we as Mormons today teetotalers, when our ancestors weren't? The fact that early Latter-day Saints regarded the Word of Wisdom differently than we do today? The answers are many and varied, but quite interesting.

Steve Jobs created the iPad and the iPhone.

Jesus created the earth and Steve Jobs.

End of discussion.

Defenders of the LDS faith: What is your greatest issue with the church as it is today (doctrinal, practices or cultural)?

Casseroles.

I don't know what this has to do with Mormonism, but would it be possible to change the title of the thread to something less racist? A headline about Arabs "swindling" Jews doesn't sound like a very credible news source to me.

Yeah, this title makes me a little uncomfortable too.

Anyone up for chat tonight?

Why don't you read each lesson a week or two before class and then come and discuss it here? That way you will get people's various viewpoints that can help you if the discussion lags and you won't be surprised so much if something not in the manual gets thrown your way because (hopefully) someone will mention it here first and discussion about its status as doctrine or speculation is clear enough to you.

Since we are just finishing up two years of studying the same manual, the lessons should be fresh in our minds.

Those of us so inclined can also track down relevant materials to help you feel more confident in knowing background, etc.

It will be fun.

Great advice. I was recently called as the Gospel Doctrine teacher and if you follow the above advice it will be of GREAT help. Good luck in your new calling.

On another note, I was alerted to the latest ritualistic round of Schryver-bashing going on in The Great and Spacious Trailer Park©.

At any rate, they are, as is their wont, consumed in an orgy of mockery, ridicule, and blood-thristy anticipation on account of my having mentioned that I planned to post a partial extract from my forthcoming book on the Kirtland Egyptian Alphabet, Grammar, and Counting manuscripts. Therefore, I have decided that I will deprive them of their desires—at least for the time being.

Will,

I hope you reconsider. Many people here would love to read your chapter. FWIW, I don't think you should let The Great and Spacious Trailer Park determine your actions on this board.

Thanks, and God bless.

Hello. Anyone want to chat? If so, get your behind in chat.

It would be hard to share the Celestial Kingdom with leeches. I vote againt leeches.

, where's the beef

I believe the Church's emphasis on education is something to be admired by everyone (atheist included).

Thank you Mr. Xander for your hard work and research. I find the history of the BoA fascinating. I wish the general membership of the Church took more of an interest in it.

Your position makes the most logical sense, in my opinon. Also, I believe that your position is the same position that has been traditionally held by the majority of LDS, its leaders and scholars.

I am still confused as to why this position is now being attacked by a couple of posters as being incorrect.

Thanks again.

A suggestion. Maybe for your first podcast you could get Xander, Wade and Will to agree to discuss the pros and cons of this little known "missing scroll theory".

Thank you, Zerinus. Beautiful story.

I've read this thread and am trying to understand the arguments. Does this summarize the arguments so far:

Xander, who is not LDS, is arguing the position that the Church has long held in regards to the BoA and its translation;

Wade, who is LDS, is arguing a new theory that goes against the traditional position of the Church, statements and teachings regarding the BoA and its translation.

Is this correct? If so, what in the heck am I missing?

The temple is a great place for meditation. It's the only place in our Church where you can go and quietly meditate and are guaranteed not to hear the constant noise of crying babies.

I sincerely hope that "improper prayer" is not a violation of any commandment. As someone with 3 young, and sometimes mischievous daughters, I have had heard enough "improper prayers" to last a lifetime.

Time for turkey,

Sorry, but I've come to the party late. Who the heck is Liz?

Thanks for your hard work and research in this area, Mr. Graham. It was a very interesting read. Might even be a game changer.

I admit that I know very little about the BoA. It's been fun and interesting learning.

And, to answer the OP's question, "How divine [are you]?":

There is no human being more divine than me.

H.

That's not what your wife told me.

You know I'm joking. I kid because I love.

Several nieces and nephews were visiting for the weekend, and we were trying to figure out what to watch. Their parents aren't really in to movies, so they hadn't seen much. Of course, when I found out they had only seen two of the Star Wars movies and neither were The Empire Strikes Back, I told their parents I was thinking of calling CPS. We watched it, and it was the first time I had watched it start to finish in a while. Just an amazing movie, and even more amazing when compared to the prequels. It's fun to watch a classic movie like that with people who haven't seen it.

I agree 100%! Empire is soooo much better than Return of the Jedi. Why did Lucas have to ruin that movie with the 15 minute ending of all of the Ewoks dancing and singing that stupid "Chub Chub" song?

We know they are circles and they are in a field of crops. Beyond that I am not sure.

Monster,

That's probably the best explanation for crop circles that I have ever heard.

Update. I watched the original Footloose last night with my oldest. I hadn't seen that movie in 20+ years. It doesn't age well and what I thought was awesome in the 1980's now seems corny and cheesy to the extreme. Oh well, youth is wasted on the young.