Comments for Living With Mormons http://livingwithmormons.com Collisions between faith and reason in Utah Sat, 07 Jan 2012 05:07:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Mormon Funeral: good times and Funeral Potatoes, but not my cup of tea by Don http://livingwithmormons.com/mormon-funeral-good-times-and-funeral-potatoes-but-not-my-cup-of-tea/comment-page-1/#comment-726 Don Sat, 07 Jan 2012 05:07:51 +0000 http://livingwithmormons.com/?p=96#comment-726 My mother just passed away last month and a Mormon relative of mine who attended my mothers funeral told me she thought funerals were the biggest farce ever. She told me it was because people were hypocrites about saying nice things about the deceased. My nephew is a minister, or whatever they call them, with LDS. It was his wife whom made the comment. I do not consider this woman a Christian. What I consider her starts with a B. I won't judge all Mormons by her mouth. I'm sure there must be some nice ones. My mother just passed away last month and a Mormon relative of mine who attended my mothers funeral told me she thought funerals were the biggest farce ever. She told me it was because people were hypocrites about saying nice things about the deceased. My nephew is a minister, or whatever they call them, with LDS. It was his wife whom made the comment. I do not consider this woman a Christian. What I consider her starts with a B. I won’t judge all Mormons by her mouth. I’m sure there must be some nice ones.

]]> Comment on Mormon Funeral: good times and Funeral Potatoes, but not my cup of tea by admin http://livingwithmormons.com/mormon-funeral-good-times-and-funeral-potatoes-but-not-my-cup-of-tea/comment-page-1/#comment-719 admin Sun, 11 Dec 2011 03:40:32 +0000 http://livingwithmormons.com/?p=96#comment-719 That is indeed your choice, Susan, and I agree they have every right to conduct a funeral in whichever way they find it appropriate. My post only reflected the hijacking that is done by the church over what I consider a proper funeral; in my opinion, the emphasis should be on the person (and his/her various traits and interests) and not just his or her religion. Cheers. That is indeed your choice, Susan, and I agree they have every right to conduct a funeral in whichever way they find it appropriate. My post only reflected the hijacking that is done by the church over what I consider a proper funeral; in my opinion, the emphasis should be on the person (and his/her various traits and interests) and not just his or her religion.

Cheers.

]]> Comment on Mormon Funeral: good times and Funeral Potatoes, but not my cup of tea by susan http://livingwithmormons.com/mormon-funeral-good-times-and-funeral-potatoes-but-not-my-cup-of-tea/comment-page-1/#comment-718 susan Sat, 10 Dec 2011 21:09:51 +0000 http://livingwithmormons.com/?p=96#comment-718 If I choose to attend a Mormon funeral held at a Mormon church I fully expect a "Mormon" funeral, complete with preaching from Mormon officials about Mormon doctrine. Help me understand what is wrong with that? If I choose to attend a Mormon funeral held at a Mormon church I fully expect a “Mormon” funeral, complete with preaching from Mormon officials about Mormon doctrine. Help me understand what is wrong with that?

]]> Comment on LDS Baptism: Get ‘em while young! by Cynthia http://livingwithmormons.com/lds-baptism-get-em-while-young/comment-page-1/#comment-710 Cynthia Tue, 20 Sep 2011 01:32:21 +0000 http://livingwithmormons.com/?p=185#comment-710 It's been a good discussion I can tell with some good questions, and good answers. I can't remember all of them that I wanted to comment on but I thought it would be nice to put a few thoughts. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints, and my son is about to be baptized. (I really liked Adam's comment from April 19th 2011.) The promises that we make at baptism are this: 1. Take upon us the name of Christ 2. Always remember Him and 3. Keep His commandments. It's not that hard for a child to see that being nice and not hitting etc are part of His commandments and that it is good to be good, and try to be kind and Serve and Love. Kind of like Pre-School rules that we can learn to follow so we all don't end up in tears by the end of the class. Heavenly Father gives us commandments for our happiness. He has a lot of experience at knowing what choices will make us happy and which once will not. This is a promise to try to do good, and it takes a lifetime to work at, and Heavenly Father is loving and patient and merciful with all of us. (meaning every person on earth) And He has big rewards for us and He has a lot to teach us. It doesn't hurt to get started young and develop good habits that lead to happiness. For the question that someone brought up about waiting until we are older to wipe the slate clean through baptism... Well it is easier to learn to get rid of bad habits while we are young before they are rooted in, or to never start them at all, and on the plus side there is the Sacrament! We get to go to church every week and take the sacrament and renew the promises we made at baptism and thus be cleansed and purified, and have the slate wiped clean, if we are truly repentant and wanting to be good. I love it all! I love Heavenly Father's plan of Happiness, and I know that it is true! I have prayed to find out for myself, even years after my own baptism at age 8, and I have lived the principles and I know them to be good and of God. Cheers :) It’s been a good discussion I can tell with some good questions, and good answers. I can’t remember all of them that I wanted to comment on but I thought it would be nice to put a few thoughts.

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints, and my son is about to be baptized. (I really liked Adam’s comment from April 19th 2011.) The promises that we make at baptism are this: 1. Take upon us the name of Christ 2. Always remember Him and 3. Keep His commandments. It’s not that hard for a child to see that being nice and not hitting etc are part of His commandments and that it is good to be good, and try to be kind and Serve and Love. Kind of like Pre-School rules that we can learn to follow so we all don’t end up in tears by the end of the class.

Heavenly Father gives us commandments for our happiness. He has a lot of experience at knowing what choices will make us happy and which once will not.
This is a promise to try to do good, and it takes a lifetime to work at, and Heavenly Father is loving and patient and merciful with all of us. (meaning every person on earth) And He has big rewards for us and He has a lot to teach us. It doesn’t hurt to get started young and develop good habits that lead to happiness.

For the question that someone brought up about waiting until we are older to wipe the slate clean through baptism… Well it is easier to learn to get rid of bad habits while we are young before they are rooted in, or to never start them at all, and on the plus side there is the Sacrament! We get to go to church every week and take the sacrament and renew the promises we made at baptism and thus be cleansed and purified, and have the slate wiped clean, if we are truly repentant and wanting to be good.

I love it all! I love Heavenly Father’s plan of Happiness, and I know that it is true! I have prayed to find out for myself, even years after my own baptism at age 8, and I have lived the principles and I know them to be good and of God.

Cheers :)

]]> Comment on LDS Baptism: Get ‘em while young! by travis http://livingwithmormons.com/lds-baptism-get-em-while-young/comment-page-1/#comment-704 travis Sun, 10 Jul 2011 06:25:06 +0000 http://livingwithmormons.com/?p=185#comment-704 i would like to comment on three of the comments if i may. this is a first i have ever visited a page such as this and was sort of displeased by some comments that were there and hope to explain something that others and LDS member(which i am a active member and a soldier) dont always understand WITH OUT OFFENDING ANYONE. *Note these are my personal beliefs and not those of the military, LDS faith, or other LDS members.* to the FIRST comment of this ...what ever you call it: i was that child when i was younger. my father left all religion behind and divorced my mother just before i was born and left my mom when i was a freshman in high school.... that left me very angry abd hateful of alot of things. religion was one of them.... the one thing i learned the most during that time was to be accepting of everyone... weither you believe darwn, big bang(probably the same thing) or god's hand in all things we are interconnected in some way or another....family i guess you could say. we should accept that religion is not going to be for everyone and let them live their life the way they want to. i didnt spend 2 years of my life saying "believe in christ, mormomism, god, etc or go to hell!!" because that is wrong. i didnt hate the buhddist i met on the street because they didnt want to believe in god. i loved them for their difference, their verity that they give to life. thats the love of chirst that i follow. to the confused mother: i am sorry for the situation you are in...i sure somewhere in her grandmothers heart she wants her to be happy. however the failing of the children are not always the failings of the parents. my parents failed. yet from their examples i learned what to do and not to do. For your daughter not being allowed to visit "friends" homes is..... a disrepectful of those parents. christ taught us to love not for similarites but for our differences. my father taught me to love people for their differences. in high school i hung out with the druggies, gang bangers, skaters, emo, etc. i learned from them the more i hung out with them. now i kept my standards and my friends excepted that. hangout with them consisted of me not having to say anything... they did it for me... "oh stocks a mormom he doesnt drink" oh stock dont come to this party there is not gonna be good stuff there.... acceptence is a path that everyone seeks but few find. in all religions faiths and ideals! and i do agree everyone no matter who, what, or when is no different in trials and hardships. which brings me to my last one: Mckayla....who do you think you are? what right do you think you have to condem anyone? your statement was dripping with a sense of arrogant pride that makes me sick. as a member you need to get off your freaking high horse and reevaluate your self... try humility!!! you are no different then me or anyone on this page. some of us are happy some of use are sad... that IS LIFE!!!! to gain experiece and to learn and grow. now how can we feel if we do not know the other. happiness and saddness. trust me i have felt my LOAD of saddness.... are you telling me that i am not a good member because of that? let me see where the prophets have said that and ill be sure to eat that. i too love being a member, it has brought me nothing but happiness but life has thrown me alot of curve balls and i may have gotten hit in places i dont care to suggest...which definately knocked me down.....so what!! everyone has that. everyone experiences life and deals with it weither they are LDS or not. i have had good friends both LDS and not. i served in korea on my mission...talk about difficult but i meet people who were better then me and they opened my eyes and humbled me extremely. im not trying to rag on you but look at what you said and think on it. administrator: i thank you for your post it was enlightening. i wish to apologize if i have offened anyone. i only wish to explain why sometime we LDS people get a little "excited" about our church. im sure as you know alot about our church. we have a message and we want to share it. me...i share if you want to know. but this message has given me hope peace and many things you can find anywhere if you look hard enough. if you wish to know ill share if not...you are free to make your own choice i do not condem you or your comments. i fight for this country to be free. thats why it was created i the first place and ill go to hell first before i let that change. may what ever power or entity you believe in guide you and protect you. travis i would like to comment on three of the comments if i may. this is a first i have ever visited a page such as this and was sort of displeased by some comments that were there and hope to explain something that others and LDS member(which i am a active member and a soldier) dont always understand WITH OUT OFFENDING ANYONE. *Note these are my personal beliefs and not those of the military, LDS faith, or other LDS members.*
to the FIRST comment of this …what ever you call it: i was that child when i was younger. my father left all religion behind and divorced my mother just before i was born and left my mom when i was a freshman in high school…. that left me very angry abd hateful of alot of things. religion was one of them…. the one thing i learned the most during that time was to be accepting of everyone… weither you believe darwn, big bang(probably the same thing) or god’s hand in all things we are interconnected in some way or another….family i guess you could say. we should accept that religion is not going to be for everyone and let them live their life the way they want to. i didnt spend 2 years of my life saying “believe in christ, mormomism, god, etc or go to hell!!” because that is wrong. i didnt hate the buhddist i met on the street because they didnt want to believe in god. i loved them for their difference, their verity that they give to life. thats the love of chirst that i follow.

to the confused mother: i am sorry for the situation you are in…i sure somewhere in her grandmothers heart she wants her to be happy. however the failing of the children are not always the failings of the parents. my parents failed. yet from their examples i learned what to do and not to do. For your daughter not being allowed to visit “friends” homes is….. a disrepectful of those parents. christ taught us to love not for similarites but for our differences. my father taught me to love people for their differences. in high school i hung out with the druggies, gang bangers, skaters, emo, etc. i learned from them the more i hung out with them. now i kept my standards and my friends excepted that. hangout with them consisted of me not having to say anything… they did it for me… “oh stocks a mormom he doesnt drink” oh stock dont come to this party there is not gonna be good stuff there…. acceptence is a path that everyone seeks but few find. in all religions faiths and ideals! and i do agree everyone no matter who, what, or when is no different in trials and hardships.
which brings me to my last one: Mckayla….who do you think you are? what right do you think you have to condem anyone? your statement was dripping with a sense of arrogant pride that makes me sick. as a member you need to get off your freaking high horse and reevaluate your self… try humility!!! you are no different then me or anyone on this page. some of us are happy some of use are sad… that IS LIFE!!!! to gain experiece and to learn and grow. now how can we feel if we do not know the other. happiness and saddness. trust me i have felt my LOAD of saddness…. are you telling me that i am not a good member because of that? let me see where the prophets have said that and ill be sure to eat that. i too love being a member, it has brought me nothing but happiness but life has thrown me alot of curve balls and i may have gotten hit in places i dont care to suggest…which definately knocked me down…..so what!! everyone has that. everyone experiences life and deals with it weither they are LDS or not. i have had good friends both LDS and not. i served in korea on my mission…talk about difficult but i meet people who were better then me and they opened my eyes and humbled me extremely. im not trying to rag on you but look at what you said and think on it.
administrator: i thank you for your post it was enlightening. i wish to apologize if i have offened anyone. i only wish to explain why sometime we LDS people get a little “excited” about our church. im sure as you know alot about our church. we have a message and we want to share it. me…i share if you want to know. but this message has given me hope peace and many things you can find anywhere if you look hard enough. if you wish to know ill share if not…you are free to make your own choice i do not condem you or your comments. i fight for this country to be free. thats why it was created i the first place and ill go to hell first before i let that change. may what ever power or entity you believe in guide you and protect you.
travis

]]> Comment on LDS Baptism: Get ‘em while young! by Erin http://livingwithmormons.com/lds-baptism-get-em-while-young/comment-page-1/#comment-703 Erin Sun, 10 Jul 2011 05:58:30 +0000 http://livingwithmormons.com/?p=185#comment-703 in response to admin, may 2nd at 8:18am. Isn't it odd when you hear of how many celebrities go in and out of rehab and go to jail for breaking various laws? Isn't it more odd how you can see all these news adds and maybe chuckle to yourself, like I sometimes do, "There's another celebrity that's lost it. Geeze Lohan, get your business together woman!" Granted, there are many more celebrities that don't do these things, but the point I'm trying to make is, there are too many cases of false happiness in this world. Why is money equated with happiness? This points to the well debated question. Why is religion equated with limitation? In high school, I'm often sneered at for following what is called The Word Of Wisdom, not to drink, do drugs, or drink caffeine, but also to abstain from sex before marriage. I mean, to me these are all perfectly logical guidelines to follow in order to obtain eternal everlasting happiness. Think about the benefits from not drinking, smoking or drinking coffee. These things are very addictive and cost a lot for you and your family and also, think about how awful it would be to contract an STD, or become a parent before you were mentally or financially ready! A lot of the time we equate happiness with instantaneous gratification that often lead to negative consequences. I'm not saying that if you are not in a church then you are obviously sinning and having a terrible life, because, you may not believe it and I don't want to force you to, but you are indeed a child of our Heavenly Father, and anything of true worth and happiness is of Him which he will bless you with wether you are LDS or not. These blessings of happiness are all that you said, Life, love charity, kindness, and friendship! I am deeply hurt when you say that religion has robbed happiness from the world with guilt and fear. Heavenly Father is like any other parent, He wants me to be happy and as tedious as His commandments are, I follow them because I know they are right. For example I clean my room out of fear of losing the computer! Of course I feel guilty when I'm being punished for a dirty room by not being able to have the computer, but even more, there is a benefit to cleaning my room even though no child sees this, they grow to be clean adults who like to have a clean house! I would be sad if I could not live with Him eternally or not be worthy to enter the temple if I broke a commandment because I didn't see it's worth to me. So if you have got nothing from my rambling, I beg you to simply stop judging what seems strange. Please stop hatin' on the LDS faith, it really makes me feel crummy and that makes me open the fridge. in response to admin, may 2nd at 8:18am.

Isn’t it odd when you hear of how many celebrities go in and out of rehab and go to jail for breaking various laws? Isn’t it more odd how you can see all these news adds and maybe chuckle to yourself, like I sometimes do, “There’s another celebrity that’s lost it. Geeze Lohan, get your business together woman!”

Granted, there are many more celebrities that don’t do these things, but the point I’m trying to make is, there are too many cases of false happiness in this world. Why is money equated with happiness? This points to the well debated question. Why is religion equated with limitation?

In high school, I’m often sneered at for following what is called The Word Of Wisdom, not to drink, do drugs, or drink caffeine, but also to abstain from sex before marriage. I mean, to me these are all perfectly logical guidelines to follow in order to obtain eternal everlasting happiness. Think about the benefits from not drinking, smoking or drinking coffee. These things are very addictive and cost a lot for you and your family and also, think about how awful it would be to contract an STD, or become a parent before you were mentally or financially ready! A lot of the time we equate happiness with instantaneous gratification that often lead to negative consequences.

I’m not saying that if you are not in a church then you are obviously sinning and having a terrible life, because, you may not believe it and I don’t want to force you to, but you are indeed a child of our Heavenly Father, and anything of true worth and happiness is of Him which he will bless you with wether you are LDS or not. These blessings of happiness are all that you said, Life, love charity, kindness, and friendship!

I am deeply hurt when you say that religion has robbed happiness from the world with guilt and fear. Heavenly Father is like any other parent, He wants me to be happy and as tedious as His commandments are, I follow them because I know they are right. For example I clean my room out of fear of losing the computer! Of course I feel guilty when I’m being punished for a dirty room by not being able to have the computer, but even more, there is a benefit to cleaning my room even though no child sees this, they grow to be clean adults who like to have a clean house! I would be sad if I could not live with Him eternally or not be worthy to enter the temple if I broke a commandment because I didn’t see it’s worth to me.

So if you have got nothing from my rambling, I beg you to simply stop judging what seems strange. Please stop hatin’ on the LDS faith, it really makes me feel crummy and that makes me open the fridge.

]]> Comment on LDS Baptism: Get ‘em while young! by Celine D'Espions http://livingwithmormons.com/lds-baptism-get-em-while-young/comment-page-1/#comment-702 Celine D'Espions Sun, 05 Jun 2011 06:51:45 +0000 http://livingwithmormons.com/?p=185#comment-702 I don't think I have anything original to add, but wanted to thank ALL the posters for their insights. This is an issue I have been concerned about since I have children, and have been teaching this age group in Primary (I am LDS). It bothers me that so many children see baptism as a common step, like moving up a grade in school, and not as the commitment it is. I try to stress what the children are promising whenever it comes up in a lesson, but feel the children are not quite mentally able to grasp the gravity. Some children are more mature than others, just as some adults are. Some adults are stuck in an "ideal" phase of perception their entire lives and fail to see, understand, or (gasp) empathize with those who step outside blind acceptance, and look around them with legitimate questions. Anyway... I think eight years old is a reasonable beginning age, but that it ought not to be THE defining age for all children. Perhaps it could be common to have them talk to the bishop then but not expect every eight year old to get baptized right then? I don’t think I have anything original to add, but wanted to thank ALL the posters for their insights. This is an issue I have been concerned about since I have children, and have been teaching this age group in Primary (I am LDS). It bothers me that so many children see baptism as a common step, like moving up a grade in school, and not as the commitment it is. I try to stress what the children are promising whenever it comes up in a lesson, but feel the children are not quite mentally able to grasp the gravity.
Some children are more mature than others, just as some adults are. Some adults are stuck in an “ideal” phase of perception their entire lives and fail to see, understand, or (gasp) empathize with those who step outside blind acceptance, and look around them with legitimate questions. Anyway…
I think eight years old is a reasonable beginning age, but that it ought not to be THE defining age for all children. Perhaps it could be common to have them talk to the bishop then but not expect every eight year old to get baptized right then?

]]> Comment on Mormon Funeral: good times and Funeral Potatoes, but not my cup of tea by admin http://livingwithmormons.com/mormon-funeral-good-times-and-funeral-potatoes-but-not-my-cup-of-tea/comment-page-1/#comment-701 admin Wed, 18 May 2011 21:27:45 +0000 http://livingwithmormons.com/?p=96#comment-701 UM... I think YOU're missing the point, Mdood. NOBODY holds a gun to your head and makes you sit here and analyze this site. The name of this site should be enough for you to understand why I wrote this post. I live with Mormons. I'm married to a Mormon. I USED TO BE A MORMON! I use this site to freely express my opinions and criticism of this (and other) religions. I'm not telling anyone they shouldn't have a Mormon funeral. This is just my own criticism of what I think a funeral should be and how the Mormon church conducts theirs in contrast. Relax, mate! Or go on scratching your head without questioning anything in your life. Cheers! UM… I think YOU’re missing the point, Mdood. NOBODY holds a gun to your head and makes you sit here and analyze this site. The name of this site should be enough for you to understand why I wrote this post. I live with Mormons. I’m married to a Mormon. I USED TO BE A MORMON! I use this site to freely express my opinions and criticism of this (and other) religions. I’m not telling anyone they shouldn’t have a Mormon funeral. This is just my own criticism of what I think a funeral should be and how the Mormon church conducts theirs in contrast.

Relax, mate! Or go on scratching your head without questioning anything in your life.

Cheers!

]]> Comment on Mormon Funeral: good times and Funeral Potatoes, but not my cup of tea by Mdood http://livingwithmormons.com/mormon-funeral-good-times-and-funeral-potatoes-but-not-my-cup-of-tea/comment-page-1/#comment-700 Mdood Wed, 18 May 2011 20:49:52 +0000 http://livingwithmormons.com/?p=96#comment-700 UM....I think you guys are missing the point. NOBODY holds a gun to your head and makes you have a funeral involving the LDS Church. Family can go directly to the bishop and say "hey Bish, we are going to do this alone without any involvement from the LDS gang" and your good to go people. How can you sit here and whine and complain when you have control of the funeral? I don't see it written anywhere that your forced to have LDS involvement in a funeral for members or non-members? Call your mortuary of choice, get the deceased to them, plan your funeral and get it done your way. I'm sitting here scratching my head wondering why this discussion is even happening. UM….I think you guys are missing the point. NOBODY holds a gun to your head and makes you have a funeral involving the LDS Church. Family can go directly to the bishop and say “hey Bish, we are going to do this alone without any involvement from the LDS gang” and your good to go people. How can you sit here and whine and complain when you have control of the funeral? I don’t see it written anywhere that your forced to have LDS involvement in a funeral for members or non-members? Call your mortuary of choice, get the deceased to them, plan your funeral and get it done your way. I’m sitting here scratching my head wondering why this discussion is even happening.

]]> Comment on LDS Baptism: Get ‘em while young! by admin http://livingwithmormons.com/lds-baptism-get-em-while-young/comment-page-1/#comment-697 admin Mon, 02 May 2011 15:18:59 +0000 http://livingwithmormons.com/?p=185#comment-697 Thanks, but no thanks for your condescending pity, Mckayla. How arrogant of you, typical of the piteous, to assume I will "live in sorrow" most of my life. While I don't feel inclined to feel sorry for you (the ignorant sometimes shows they are willingly ignorant), I will indulge you some understanding. Life, happiness, love, charity, kindness, friendship, etc, are not proprieties of the Mormon Inc. or of any other religious organization. They are a product of us, human beings. Religion has merely hijacked and distorted them to mean something else. Something you should adhere to out of fear and guilt. Well, I choose to live my life outside of those bonds, and I'm finally able to be genuinely happy, love my wife and kids, sustain rich friendships, and contribute to society without any expectation of retribution. Unlike you. Cheers. Thanks, but no thanks for your condescending pity, Mckayla. How arrogant of you, typical of the piteous, to assume I will “live in sorrow” most of my life.
While I don’t feel inclined to feel sorry for you (the ignorant sometimes shows they are willingly ignorant), I will indulge you some understanding. Life, happiness, love, charity, kindness, friendship, etc, are not proprieties of the Mormon Inc. or of any other religious organization. They are a product of us, human beings. Religion has merely hijacked and distorted them to mean something else. Something you should adhere to out of fear and guilt.

Well, I choose to live my life outside of those bonds, and I’m finally able to be genuinely happy, love my wife and kids, sustain rich friendships, and contribute to society without any expectation of retribution. Unlike you.

Cheers.

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