News reports about General Conference...

[silverfox]

...for anyone who cares. It's always all over the news here in Utard.

http://tv.ksl.com/index.php?sid=177631&nid=5

http://www.4utah.com/local_news/local_headlines/story.aspx?content_id=DFBD7A66-E53E-4C59-AE23-948A5C8DB287

Another warning about pornography, a need for more missionaries (yeah, raise the bar and then say you need more), do geneology so you can bring members of your family into the church and go stand in "holy" places like the temple.

Yep, that about sums it up according to the links.

Doesn't look like we missed anything.

[elder_nomo]

...for anyone who cares. It's always all over the news here in Utard.

http://tv.ksl.com/index.php?sid=177631&nid=5

http://www.4utah.com/local_news/local_headlines/story.aspx?content_id=DFBD7A66-E53E-4C59-AE23-948A5C8DB287

Another warning about pornography, a need for more missionaries (yeah, raise the bar and then say you need more), do geneology so you can bring members of your family into the church and go stand in "holy" places like the temple.

Yep, that about sums it up according to the links.

Doesn't look like we missed anything.

silverfox, you will love this...
i clicked on the 4utah link and at the bottom of the page were some "ads by google", one of which is a link to "orgazmo", a new movie on dvd.
check out the synopsis.....
"Joe Young (Trey Parker) is a devout Mormon visiting Hollywood to convert the unenlightened. While spreading the word, Joe is offered $20,000 to play Captain Orgazmo in a porn director's film. Mindful of the financial burdens of his upcoming wedding, Joe reluctantly accepts the role, not certain of what he's in for! Written, directed and starring South Park co-creator Trey Parker and featuring his South Park partner Matt Stone, this hilarious send-up of the porn industry will have you laughing long after the credits roll."

so you see, the link you gave us is not so boring after all! :D

[Born Free]

silverfox, you will love this...
i clicked on the 4utah link and at the bottom of the page were some "ads by google", one of which is a link to "orgazmo", a new movie on dvd.
check out the synopsis.....
"Joe Young (Trey Parker) is a devout Mormon visiting Hollywood to convert the unenlightened. While spreading the word, Joe is offered $20,000 to play Captain Orgazmo in a porn director's film. Mindful of the financial burdens of his upcoming wedding, Joe reluctantly accepts the role, not certain of what he's in for! Written, directed and starring South Park co-creator Trey Parker and featuring his South Park partner Matt Stone, this hilarious send-up of the porn industry will have you laughing long after the credits roll."

so you see, the link you gave us is not so boring after all! :D

I mentioned Orgazmo some time back. It screened over a year ago on SBS (alternative free to air TV) here, and is a great laugh.

Sure as hell beats General Conference! :duh

Daryl

[Born Free]

In one, people:

Engage in wide-ranging unnatural acts.

Feign enthusiasm and excitement, but rarely look convincing.

(Men) write scripts in which women are delighted to be used, abused and valued for little other than their reproductive enthusiasm, and women pretend to be delightfully satisfied with such.

Attempt to portray the peaks of arousal by exclaiming "God" frequently.

Value and make leaders those who can do the above most convincingly.

Are led by exploitive males who show scant regard for the needs and safety of women and children.

Dress up in strange ritualistic garb and perform bizarre ritual behind closed doors.

Never allow women to direct or question the one dimensional roles assigned to women.

In the other, people:

Have explicit sex in front of cameras.

Daryl

[silverfox]

Another news story

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600123498,00.html

I only skimmed through this article. What caught my eye and me want to hurl was this:

Church leaders "raised the bar" for LDS missionaries in 2003, requiring 19-year-old men and 21-year-old women to meet more stringent worthiness standards before leaving on proselytizing missions.
He said "raising the bar" on worthiness was not a signal to send fewer missionaries. Instead, the goal should be for parents to likewise raise their standards in rearing children who are worthy to serve missions.
"There is an incredible amount of work that needs to be done. The Spirit of the Lord is brooding over many of the nations of the world," he said. "Doors previously locked are opening to use. We need more hard-working, testimony-enriched missionaries in order to reach more of Heavenly Father's children who are now at a place where we can reach them."
Elder Ballard also referred to a new missionary book called "Preach My Gospel," discussed at length by Elder Richard G. Scott on Saturday. The recently published guide encourages missionaries and members to present the gospel in their own words, instead of via prescribed dialogues.

So.......PARENTS! It's all YOUR fault they had to raise the bar! Why oh why couldn't you heed your prophet's words and raise PERFECT kids???? Shame, shame, shame on YOU! As a result the church had to go "raise the bar" and now your poor poor IMPERFECT kids from IMPERFECT parents can 't go on missions. sniff sniff. This is a warning to you NEW parents. YOU will be held accountable.

OH BUT WAIT! THERE'S HOPE! Your child doesn't qualify for a mission? That's okay! Because now there is a book your whole family can use to be missionaries together! There is no better way to spend FHE!

Boy oh boy!

I still find it amusing how the church includes aaaaaaalllllll those inactive people in their member numbers. 12 million...yeah, right. In your dreams, Hinckley dude.

[dogzilla]

And another thing.

Porn is only addictive if you've never seen any and are so repressed, you're just fascinated by it. Ever known any supposedly perfect Bishop's kids who went off into the world and tasted every decadant, forbidden fruit they could get their hands on? The stricter you are in saying, "No sex, sex is bad, sex is evil, sex rots your brain..." the more interested people are going to be in finding out what the hype is all about.

-- from a founding "member" of the Tallahassee Porn On Demand Club. :eek:

(Yes, I was a member of a porn club. A bunch of friends got together at each other's houses, ordered a pizza, rented a porn flick and drank a few beers. Nobody ever got nekkid; the purpose was NOT to have an orgy. The purpose was to demystify pornography, rate it on the merits of cinematography -- or the lack thereof, as the case may be, and finally to understand what's good and what's bad about porn. We treated it like an old ladies' garden club or a book club or something. And you know what? I wasn't struck by lightning by watching a porn flick. I am not addicted to porn. I find I don't even care for porn that much -- most of it does nothing for me. Now that I've seen a lot of porn, guess what? Blip on the radar... I'm indifferent to it completely. Hardly addictive... unless that's the only sex you ever see/get/are aware of, and then I could see how it would be difficult to tear yourself away.)

[silverfox]

A buddy and I were discussing the Porn talk via email.

She just sent me this gem:

And we should build the spiritual strength of our families by loving relationships, family prayer, and scripture study.

Finally, do not patronize pornography. Do not use your purchasing power to support moral degradation. And young women, please understand that if you dress immodestly you are magnifying this problem by becoming pornography to some of the men who see you. Please heed these warnings.

What about men - they can walk around half naked?

There is a very TBM family in our community. The daughters have to wear LONG PANTS and Tshirts when going to the swimming pool. No kidding. They are in their teens but this it's always been this way for them. I would think this would bring MORE attention to them. Hey, when you are wet, you're wet.....wet clothes CLING to your body.

Anyway - back to the half naked men. I live in a new housing community - new construction all over the place....Actually I am glad the leaders are not addressing those HOT HARD MUSCLED YOUNG MEN who are a dime a dozen around here. Nice eye candy. I like to look. Tanned, hard lean bodies, sweat on the brow..strong hands.....

ummm where was I?

Oh, yeah.....

C'mon - do church leaders think LDS women are FRIGID? LDS women don't have hormones? LDS women don't like to look?

Women are harlots and men are what? Preparing for polygamy?

Edited to add - My buddy (and also neighbor) states the highlighted is from one of the talks. I cannot confirm this because I never listened to it. So use your best judgement regarding the accuracy of the excerpt.

[nate]

...for anyone who cares. It's always all over the news here in Utard.

http://tv.ksl.com/index.php?sid=177631&nid=5

http://www.4utah.com/local_news/local_headlines/story.aspx?content_id=DFBD7A66-E53E-4C59-AE23-948A5C8DB287


Here's another great one:

"Our membership in this church, with eligibility for all of the blessings that flow therefrom, should never be any cause for self-righteousness, for arrogance, for denigration of others, for looking down upon others," Hinckley said Sunday.

First time I've heard of him saying that. Is this because of the growing number of people leaving because they were "offended"?

[silverfox]

Here's another great one:

"Our membership in this church, with eligibility for all of the blessings that flow therefrom, should never be any cause for self-righteousness, for arrogance, for denigration of others, for looking down upon others," Hinckley said Sunday.

First time I've heard of him saying that. Is this because of the growing number of people leaving because they were "offended"?

I wonder - What does he consider self-righteousness, arrogance, denigration of others, etc. He is guilty of this stuff just as much as any member is.

[dogzilla]

Here's another great one:

"Our membership in this church, with eligibility for all of the blessings that flow therefrom, should never be any cause for self-righteousness, for arrogance, for denigration of others, for looking down upon others," Hinckley said Sunday.

First time I've heard of him saying that. Is this because of the growing number of people leaving because they were "offended"?

Hey, what are the blessings that flow therefrom? Exactly.

Can any of you list the blessings you've experienced due to your membership in the church. Your children do not count, as you might have had children even if you weren't a TBM at some point in your life.

Besides porn and your children :D , please list blessings you received as a TBM that you would NOT have experienced as an apostate or Catholic (same thing in some books).

[silverfox]

Hey, what are the blessings that flow therefrom? Exactly.

Can any of you list the blessings you've experienced due to your membership in the church. Your children do not count, as you might have had children even if you weren't a TBM at some point in your life.

Besides porn and your children :D , please list blessings you received as a TBM that you would NOT have experienced as an apostate or Catholic (same thing in some books).

The blessings I have experienced that have anything to with my church membership is what I am currently experiencing without my membership. How ironic.

[dogzilla]

My point exactly. Not that a data point of one is a statistically sound representative sample, but I was struggling to think of (and would have had I heard that talk in person) a blessing that comes from being a TBM, that you could not possibly experience as a nonmo.

[Jeff_Ricks]

Here's another great one:

"Our membership in this church, with eligibility for all of the blessings that flow therefrom, should never be any cause for self-righteousness, for arrogance, for denigration of others, for looking down upon others," Hinckley said Sunday.

First time I've heard of him saying that. Is this because of the growing number of people leaving because they were "offended"?

I think it might be a sign that the Hinckster is further trying to postion the Church for more blending in with mainstream Christianity. Someday they'll be saying, "I don't know that we teach that we're the only true church. I don't know that we've ever taught that." yada yada ysda

Jeff

[peter_mary]

And young women, please understand that if you dress immodestly you are magnifying this problem by becoming pornography to some of the men who see you. Please heed these warnings. [/COLOR] [/COLOR]



I actually watched or listened to about 5 conference talks, and I have to tell you...it was pretty bad. I thought how interesting it is when you are an outsider looking in that the message of conference is not one of joy in the gospel, but rather one of "you are not good enough." Virtually every talk we tuned in to was a message that tells the saints that they aren't doing enough, working hard enough, paying enough, faithful enough, and that if they want the blessings, they have to do more.

But the quote above by Dallin Oaks was my favorite of all. Holy-moly, talk about raising the bar! No longer is it "immodest" if your shoulders are bare, now it's "pornographic!" A few days ago I posted a comment from an Afghani man who was freaking out because he spotted a woman's wrist poking out from beneath her burka, and how "erotic" and inappropriate that was. Clearly, by raising the standard from "immodest" to "pornographic," this is the direction the Church would have us go.

This is so wrong. So wrong. It's time we get those billboards up. Jeff, send me note and tell me how to help pay for the incorporation documents, so we can get this show on the road. There are millions of young people out there who need to find us...before they start to believe that their bodies are "pornographic!"

The other thing I was reminded of was the fact that there are only 8 talks ever given at conference. You can sit and listen to the first minute, and when you realize this is "the tithing talk" or the "temple talk," you can click mute and come back in 15 minutes. I remember laughing out loud when Big Eddy talked about the day he realized there was only one book at Deseret Book, just with different GA names on it...well, conference talks are the same way. A really clever person could write a program for a "General Conference Talk Generator," in which you would simply identify the topic from the menu of eight, indicate the level of guilt you wish to impose, insert one idea for a personal anecdote about a family member (another menu choice), and press "enter" and out would pop a standard talk. Then all you have to do is deliver it with the standard GA voice modulation and cadence, and presto! You are a General Authority!

Oh, and :duh (I just had to use that little guy...)

Peter_Mary

[tjohnson]

I still find it amusing how the church includes aaaaaaalllllll those inactive people in their member numbers. 12 million...yeah, right. In your dreams, Hinckley dude.

Yes, me too. The other "fact" that I am still researching is the number of current missionaries. The newspaper in this area said "60,000" on Saturday, and the newspaper today says "59,000"... yet, according to at least one statistical website, the number is down to 39,000. :duh

Just has to make you wonder how they arrive at some of their numbers... "Hey, since we purchased Main Street in SLC a few years ago, all of the church employees have to walk down that street and probably talk to people... can't we count those as missionaries too?" :eek:

[free thinker]

I didn't even realize that conference was this weekend. I picked up a paper at my favorite place while I was having some great dinner. There was a little blurb in our local paper about Hinckley and some of the conference message. I cannot begin to describe to you how absolutely glad I was that I not only missed it, but didn't even know it was going on. Oh man, the guilt and the shame, and all the same old nonsense. I'm glad I did not hear one word of it. I am sooooo glad I am post-mo!!! So very glad!!! :) :o ;)

Life is so much better now!!!


Free Thinker

[Born Free]

I didn't even realize that conference was this weekend. I picked up a paper at my favorite place while I was having some great dinner. There was a little blurb in our local paper about Hinckley and some of the conference message. I cannot begin to describe to you how absolutely glad I was that I not only missed it, but didn't even know it was going on. Oh man, the guilt and the shame, and all the same old nonsense. I'm glad I did not hear one word of it. I am sooooo glad I am post-mo!!! So very glad!!! :) :o ;)

Life is so much better now!!!


Free Thinker

I would have expected at least an adrenalin withdrawal, after the rush GC must have been all those years!

Like, I am sitting here drooped in Post-Mo depression, wondering how ever I dragged myself away! Yeah riiiiiiightttttt! :cool:

Daryl

[silverfox]

I actually watched or listened to about 5 conference talks, and I have to tell you...it was pretty bad. I thought how interesting it is when you are an outsider looking in that the message of conference is not one of joy in the gospel, but rather one of "you are not good enough." Virtually every talk we tuned in to was a message that tells the saints that they aren't doing enough, working hard enough, paying enough, faithful enough, and that if they want the blessings, they have to do more.

But the quote above by Dallin Oaks was my favorite of all. Holy-moly, talk about raising the bar! No longer is it "immodest" if your shoulders are bare, now it's "pornographic!" A few days ago I posted a comment from an Afghani man who was freaking out because he spotted a woman's wrist poking out from beneath her burka, and how "erotic" and inappropriate that was. Clearly, by raising the standard from "immodest" to "pornographic," this is the direction the Church would have us go.

This is so wrong. So wrong. It's time we get those billboards up. Jeff, send me note and tell me how to help pay for the incorporation documents, so we can get this show on the road. There are millions of young people out there who need to find us...before they start to believe that their bodies are "pornographic!"


Oh, and :duh (I just had to use that little guy...)

Peter_Mary

And they don't even realize the damage they are doing - *heavy sigh* No, let me rephrase that...they don't WANT to know what kind of damage they are doing.

Ever walk into another church? Nah, me either.....just kidding. Just curious if this subject comes up at all in this manner.

[Born Free]

A buddy and I were discussing the Porn talk via email.

She just sent me this gem:

And we should build the spiritual strength of our families by loving relationships, family prayer, and scripture study.

Finally, do not patronize pornography. Do not use your purchasing power to support moral degradation. And young women, please understand that if you dress immodestly you are magnifying this problem by becoming pornography to some of the men who see you. Please heed these warnings.

What about men - they can walk around half naked?



Oh how I'd love to debate this moral and logical pygmy. Let me do some deconstruction.

"magnifying this problem by becoming pornography to some of the men who see you".

I'd challenge him to state who he is speaking on behalf of. Who are the "some men" of whom he claims intimate knowledge of how their heads work?

I don't know any men personally who make the shift from a bare shoulder or midriff to pornography. So I resent his presumption to speak on behalf of "some men".

Who are the men he knows whose minds work like that? I don't know this guy's leadership callings, but presumably he is no longer at the coal face, so he is most likely interviewing people for and in leadership positions; for LDS leadership positions most the time.

Presumably that is where he is gaining the impression that "some men" easily make the connection between bare shoulders and porno. So, IMHO what he says, says more about candidates for Mo leadership than it does about "some men" or "all men".

This mindset can be followed all the way to the burkah. And just like in the Middle East, it says more about the mind of the man/men who is/are suspicious that all men lust incessantly after women, than it does about any reality out there.

This mindset is part of the problem. As I have stated before on this site, I believe that this sloppy type of reasoning says in effect:

Women induce in men an uncontrollable lust.

Men are incapable of controlling their lust.

These are both wrong in fact, and the promotion of that mindset is unhelpful in the extreme, EXCEPT in producing ill-informed fear, and mindless little zombees, easily manipulated by self-serving controllers (I will refrain from using 'leaders' as the word does not fit here).

Let's start calling these men who appear to mix frequently with lechers. Don't let them get away with loose, unaccountable statements. Put up or shut up.

I have worked with many men for over a decade and the majority of the men with the biggest problems with sex, were from religious families who lived a lie, one face for the world and another behind closed doors. And the two-faced behaviour was more problematic than the sex. The twisted attitudes to sex came after abuse and neglect, and the lack of real love and affection.

Daryl

[silverfox]

Oh how I'd love to debate this moral and logical pygmy. Let me do some deconstruction.

"magnifying this problem by becoming pornography to some of the men who see you".

I'd challenge him to state who he is speaking on behalf of. Who are the "some men" of whom he claims intimate knowledge of how their heads work?

I don't know any men personally who make the shift from a bare shoulder or midriff to pornography. So I resent his presumption to speak on behalf of "some men".

Who are the men he knows whose minds work like that? I don't know this guy's leadership callings, but presumably he is no longer at the coal face, so he is most likely interviewing people for and in leadership positions; for LDS leadership positions most the time.

Presumably that is where he is gaining the impression that "some men" easily make the connection between bare shoulders and porno. So, IMHO what he says, says more about candidates for Mo leadership than it does about "some men" or "all men".

This mindset can be followed all the way to the burkah. And just like in the Middle East, it says more about the mind of the man/men who is/are suspicious that all men lust incessantly after women, than it does about any reality out there.

This mindset is part of the problem. As I have stated before on this site, I believe that this sloppy type of reasoning says in effect:

Women induce in men an uncontrollable lust.

Men are incapable of controlling their lust.

These are both wrong in fact, and the promotion of that mindset is unhelpful in the extreme, EXCEPT in producing ill-informed fear, and mindless little zombees, easily manipulated by self-serving controllers (I will refrain from using 'leaders' as the word does not fit here).

Let's start calling these men who appear to mix frequently with lechers. Don't let them get away with loose, unaccountable statements. Put up or shut up.

I have worked with many men for over a decade and the majority of the men with the biggest problems with sex, were from religious families who lived a lie, one face for the world and another behind closed doors. And the two-faced behaviour was more problematic than the sex. The twisted attitudes to sex came after abuse and neglect, and the lack of real love and affection.

Daryl

I often wonder if the church receives any mail questioning these kinds of comments. Are there ANY members who would write and say.....WTF? You are causing damage here? You are doing nothing but causing confusion and providing inaccurate information? At least know what you are talking about!

I know, I know, it would do no good anyway...the "prophet" has spoken and anything he states is from God. Period. Sick twisted $hit.

[taegan]

I love this quote:

"As the choir sang his name President Gordon B. Hinckley talked of Joseph Smith's influence. Books, symposia, pageants and a movie will pay tribute to the church founder this year. Joseph's revelations make this church different he said, starting with his vision of God the Father and Jesus, the Son."

and this one:

"This year marks the 200th anniversary of Smith's birth. A yearlong celebration will begin May 6-7 with a commemorative event at the Library of Congress."

Ok fine. He talked to God and created the Mormon church, but really.... they worship this guy more then Jesus Christ. Last I checked JS didnt die on a cross or anything... or am I wrong? :rolleyes:

I called my mother during confrence (didnt know it was confrence) and she wouldnt talk to me (did I mention I was calling from Germany?) because it was on and that I needed to find a more "appropriate" time to call her.

I cant believe I almost considered going back to the church. They have your mind so mushy! :duh