Calm

So it is pretty much ‘what shall they do which are baptized for Christ’? And this means what to you exactly?

Of course not. It doesn’t make sense to do so (justify something you believe in by supporting it with something you do not). It would be like claiming America was the best country in the world by pointing out all the wonderful things Russia was doing.

I really wish stats didn’t use 12-18, but 12-17. It makes no sense to include 18 when 18 is considered a legal adult and not a child, imo. There are 3 states that have older legal age, but still seems to make more sense to go with the majority. I say this because looking up one set of stats for genital surgery gives me 15-18, which means we can’t know how many, if any were actually performed on children. Did find another for 15-17 which gave a total of 56 over three years (2019-2021), so they were happening, if rare (this was insurance claims, so those willing to pay out of pocket might not be included, but seems like given the expense, that would add very few). Would really like to know why they were allowed to go ahead and not wait a couple of years, if only because the doctors were concerned about liability (much more likely to get sued for malpractice with children…or were last time I looked it up, it’s one reason why there are fewer pediatric specialists). The only thing I can think of is puberty blockers couldn’t be used. I wonder given the additional attention the last few years if this stat has stayed the same, increased or decreased. https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-transyouth-data/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Meaning short or long? Do you think it’s likely? Just curious. Also curious….even if sweeping, this can be overturned in the future is there’s a pertinent case and the judges lean differently, just as Roe vs Wade was overturned. Uphill battle of course once a decision has been made and set a precedent, but it’s not guaranteed to not be revisited, correct? I like the idea of not having to worry about laws changing, to be able to know where we stand in terms of what’s legal and what’s not (I remember the confusion of law students when we lived in Moscow in 95 where they were complaining they had to dump old textbooks and buy new ones each semester law was being changed around so much plus what good was memorizing anything). But I also highly approve of laws being revisited from time to time to ensure they are the best for the people they govern. Humans being involved, even the best we can currently do should be improved upon when we can and there are plenty of laws that are not the best we can do.

Brilliant. We are train fans in our family, but I have never been able to be on a real train outside of the Heber Creeper (a short train ride mainly for kids, my son loved Thomas the Tank when he was young), just rapid transit. Always wanted to do the overnight, dining car experience. Agatha Christie used trains a lot in her plots and I inhaled her books when young (and now have all her mysteries).

Never, just through FAIR. She was a hard worker, compassionate and understanding, articulate and well informed, but never came across as arrogant to me.

Would you view it as rape if it was emotional pressure on the level of “if you love me, you will….”? (Not challenge, serious question, I don’t know if usage has changed) Not being dismissive of how inappropriate and selfish and wrong that tactic is, I just have a very hard time with lumping that in with physical restraint and assault. I would prefer different labels so as the latter doesn’t lose its horror like some terms have that have broaden their application.

Yes, imo, in certain areas. Speaking of personal relationships with Christ is one of them. I think people are more relaxed about it now than after Elder McConkie raised his concerns. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2025/10/52cuvelier?lang=eng But remember not everyone saw things the same way even back then or maybe it was the inferences Elder McConkie drew from the phrase that were the problem, a certain way of seeing one’s relationship to Christ that led to some extreme behaviour due to a popular book taken too far imo rather than any type of personal relationships with Christ. Mentioned in your link…. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1976/11/a-personal-relationship-with-the-savior?lang=eng

You have a good point. I was more focused on directors who fought editing of movies for younger audiences or those who preferred ‘cleaner’ cuts as interfering with artistic property rights. I was also thinking of how the Grinch was used in a commercial I saw back when the movie came out that in essence shared the message the book (and hopefully movie) conveyed, but then added “but just in case the Grinch was wrong”…to promote shopping and buying lots of gifts. I don’t think Dr. Seuss would have approved of the image of the Grinch being used for that commercial…at least I hope not. No doubt his estate didn’t care since they sold the rights allowing that kind of stuff. I think there are very good arguments on both sides (bad ones as well )

I am very upset about this. She was a wonderful person. I don’t know anything about her family, I hope they are doing okay. https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/blog/2026/01/12/in-memoriam-sarah-allen

That both works well enough that risk is low and people in charge and/or in general have been willing to pay for…. Free birth control helps, for example. But of course it can’t solve the problem on its own. And since one type of birth control is both free and accessible to all (abstinence), some people think it’s not fair to have to pay for others’ pleasure, sex is not seen as a right (which it isn’t, but some things should be subsidized just because it makes sense, imo, like health and public transportation). Kind of short sighted imo since birth control is tons cheaper than paying for the unplanned kids later and much better than abortion. No one solution works on its own and it takes time and consistency and figuring out what combo works, something government in the US doesn’t invest in well, imo. ***Abstinence is not available to all either as some will have partners.that force them and then there are rapists, but I am speaking generally here. Then there are those who even with free birth control won’t plan ahead (teens too nervous to ask for it, adults who miscalculate, etc), but still free birth control drops a lot of unplanned pregnancies for unmarried and low income families if made easily accessible (free but hard to get isn’t much better than not free imo).

Given each culture approaches death differently I am not sure what the natural grieving process is unless it’s waking up in the cave or hut and having to bury the dead that didn’t make it through the night. Even back then they were burying loved ones with little treasures though. There are some cultures that treat their dead loved ones as almost alive as their living ones with shrines in homes, etc. I do think AI representations with new material….such as inserting dead actors into new films or commercials is going too far. Part of it is the issue of consent…but then some people see our baptisms of the dead in the same way. Iow, it’s a complicated, confusing mess like most things about human relationships.

Anyone taking any type of authority to interpret doctrine for the Church without being called to it and given the authority is in dangerous territory. Expressing one’s opinion, teaching scholarship is fine…insisting what the Church has chosen to use as its standard is wrong and publicizing that position is problematic. added: not saying it’s inherently immoral or sinful to publicly oppose Church policy, it might even be the better way in some rare cases (I am not going to judge everyone arrogant, looking for fame and/or profit, etc. because I can’t know what efforts, if any, to bring problems to the attention of leaders have occurred before going public with some)…just be prepared for the consequences and don’t act like it’s unexpected. The Church has been wrong with its policies on some occasions imo, but the Church also has a right imo to dictate its own correction process and what is and isn’t apostasy.

I hate how AI is being used in way too many fields. It’s pretty dang fantastic for the good stuff it can do, such as speeding up medical research. Like any extraordinarily powerful tool, it needs to be used with caution and unfortunately that’s not obvious to some people or they just don’t care.

Would you believe a practice that Buddhists are doing should inform Christian behaviour? Burning incense in Buddhism may be done to get rid of bad karma. Would it make sense for a Christian apologist who was supporting using incense in Christian rituals to use the Buddhist example to explain why Christians burn incense? Buddhist also use chanting, have monastic orders, sacred places, etc. Their ultimate goal is nirvana. Does it make sense to use their practices to justify similar practices in Christianity when the ultimate purpose is fundamentally different?

Interesting… ”He says he doesn't want to limit himself to temples in Utah.” There’s only 22 operating in Utah anyway. But he may make enough money off his videos that he can cover travel costs….at least he can deduct them as a business expense. Otherwise could be a financial strain to try and squeeze them into a year.

Never heard of him, what’s his thing? I asked Chat how many operating temples there are in Utah and a half day’s drive. It came up with 53, so not that big of an effort if he’s not going for a major tour, but over weekends.

That’s why I was thinking money would help. Pay someone who knew how to fine tune it.

I like murder mysteries. It wasn’t bad.

Give it a month or two and that problem will likely be resolved (or some money to fine tune it).

I do.

Your cousin is wrong, though the mistake is understandable and common. If your parent gives you the gift of a car for college (a gift he has had ready and waiting for you since before you were born), but requires you to learn how to drive and get a driver’s license beforehand, is it any less of a gift? Your parent pays for any fees, taxes, insurance, gas in the future while also teaching you how to drive. You just need to show up and pay attention and then use it well to fulfill their purpose of gifting you it and everything else. Did you pay for any of the car or what came with it just because you had to agree to prepare yourself to be able to receive it? You also have the choice not to learn or go get a license, but then the car will just sit in the driveway since you don’t know how to use it and you can’t go off to college with it. Salvation is a gift from God, he asks us to prepare ourselves to receive his gifts that he prepares for us…and then on top of that, he is the one who prepares us through the work of his spirit with repentance and faith and obedience.

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

Just curious on how this happened? Are they currently residents of the US?

I wouldn’t be surprised. Large family with some weird power dynamics, nothing obviously abusive that I know of except in the case of my 7 year old mom who almost died of a burst appendix because her aunt taking care of her was dismissive of her pain and illness, said she was acting for attention (not mom at all, but I can see Grandma doing it). Mom was pretty sure that happened because her aunt was jealous of her mom, the popular teacher. Her aunt struggled badly with her weight and appearance was very important to all the sisters. Pity is not kind when it’s not wanted. Between that, a few other minor pecking order episodes I saw, and Grandma’s obsession with social status, my guess is that family had some big struggles before wealth came that left lasting effects. There might have been mental illness with the mother, though I have always assumed it was dementia that landed her in a mental institution later in life.