Kenngo1969

As President Oaks once said, paraphrasing, there is some truth in Conservatism, some truth in Liberalism, but no salvation in any of them. When Christ returns, He will do so as Sovereign King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and what He says, goes. Which, to me, indicates that He might have to ask anyone who is too tightly wedded to a particular political ideology (whatever space one might claim on the political spectrum), "Will ye also go away?" John 6:67. I hope everyone here would answer as Peter did: "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou has the words of eternal life." John 6:68.

He's (@theplains) quote mining. It's his specialty.

Certainly, polygyny in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a complicated topic. That said, I wish more people understood that, essentially, an argument that it is not of God is an argument that some of us shouldn't exist. Should I, quite literally, be willing to fall on my sword to assuage your squeamishness? I hope you'll forgive me if I'm at least a little bit reluctant to do that.

Given that you're a sailor, I understand, completely, where you're coming from. I hope, though, in certain parts of the world and/or at certain sufficient elevations, there are four (or at least three) seasons.

This isn't a "life-to-come" thing, exactly, as much as it is a "Millennnium thing," but, I'd like to be like Daniel, and play with the nice kitties. See Daniel 6.

Hmmm. With due respect, I wonder ... does anyone have a mirror handy that Eschaton can borrow?

I honestly don't know if this would have any relevance to the discussion or not, but I just happened across it in my cybertravels. https://jewishworldreview.com/1026/unndetected_pain.php For what it's worth. (Did I violate your copyright, @Kevin Christensen? Heh-heh!)

Could be. Indeed, could very well be. For what it's worth, I value our friendship (cyber-friendship though it is) highly. Thanks. A Brother in Christ, Ken

I'm glad you have your priorities straight! (Seriously, though: Good for you. I hope you and the grands enjoyed your day!)

I'll warn you in advance that I know this is all going to seem too trite, too pat, and too "just-so." I wouldn't blame anyone for getting frustrated with me because of that. I have discussed the litany of challenges I have experienced many times here. I won't bore you by reciting it, at least, not in full and not in detail, again. I am aware, fully and acutely, that many have and do experience challenges I can scarsely fathom. Those who endure, and who have endured, what I scarsely can fathom and who retain a long-range/eternal perspective have my everlasting respect. That said, I can only speak to what I know. Premature birth, highly questionable survival as a newborn, permanent mortal disability, two failed major operations (among several others) that set me back, in some ways permanently at least until the resurrection, to which I say, "Hasten the day!" But ... I suppose not. As Alma the Younger said, "But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me." Alma 29:3. I have labors to perform in the garden of life, for how long I know not, to what purpose, often, I know not. Spectacularly failed professional aspirations, and the only answer I've ever gotten as to "why" is, "Ken, you were where I wanted you while you were getting the degree." The "dog" of clinical depression alternating between nipping at my heels and threatening to devour me whole—until, mercifully, it simply ... stopped chasing me. I have no idea how or why that happened. I know only that, ultimately, it had nothing to do with more professionals with more brooms than I can count striving earnestly to help me "chase the bats from my belfry." They simply ... left. Is it something that simply comes with advancing age and wisdom to know to "not sweat the small stuff"—and to know that most all of it is "small stuff"? With wisdom to know to "not get caught up in the thick of thin things"—and to know that most all of them are "thin things"? Someday, sometime in the [too? not too?] distant future, I look forward to a fascinating, illuminating, Personal Priesthood Interview with Someone Who Knows All of the Whys and Wherefores that, as yet, I do not. As for why He hasn't told me yet, I have no reason to believe He won't—when He thinks I'm ready ("Ay, there's the rub!"). Have I simply gotten more adept at transferring more of the burden to Him whose yoke He invited me to take upon myself (see Matthew 11:28-30)? Perhaps. Incidentally, recently, I came to a epiphany regarding that scripture. Perhaps it would make all of you more insightful folks slap your foreheads and exclaim, "Duh, Ken!": Christ isn't asking us to take on an additional burden in that scripture. He is offering to shoulder ours! After all, isn't that what a yoke does, enabling animals to do far more together than either would be able to do alone. In a sense, the three-act—premortal, mortal, postmortal—play isn't fair because we don't remember the premortal first act, and the postmortal third act hasn't happened yet. Others' mileage may, and likely does, vary, and that's fine. I understand that completely. But I trust The Playwright. What else can I do?

More of 'em are than you might think. https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-most-common-way-that-people-accidentally-lead-the-police-straight-to-their-front-door/answer/Ken-K-Gourdin For what it's worth.

Thank You for Your Service. 👍

Update: Not only am I an Eternal Bachelor in a Family Church, I have been assigned to lead a discussion in my Elders Quorum on Elder Neil L. Andersen's April 2026 address, "Eternal Marriage is an Eternal Journey." "OK, Brethren, let's discuss what the Eternal Bachelor knows about Celestial Marriage." https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2026/04/55andersen?lang=eng Somebody, somewhere has a sense of humor, I see!

Did someone say ... Cookies?!??!!???!!!

Swaying God's will? Hmm. Okay. I don't think it's about swaying God's will as much as it is about aligning my own will with His. Since God has given me everything I have (save one thing), the only thing I have left to give back to Him that He did not give me in the first place is my will. And if He tells me I need to have a specific ordinance performed in a particular way in order to do that, that seems like rather a small price to pay given what He will give me in return. As the Lord asked Abraham, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (Genesis 18:14).