ryanh

Some things don’t change much over time. PC, when are you going to stop asking all the thought-provoking questions and just become LDS already? You know . . . having the Gift of the Holy Ghost by priesthood authority will distil many of these understandings on you in ways that most LDS are not even aware happens, but certainly happens nonetheless. IMO, the question(s) posed are a bit too broad to address without various qualifications. I am not aware of any LDS member who meditates to reach some sort of enlightenment as your initial questions seem to indicate is the paradigm you are working from. (e.g. “place where the veil . . . is thinner”, “seek glimpses into future exaltation”, “fear of welcoming ‘unclean spirits’”) As I understand it, the Buddha eschewed religious questions altogethe. Enlightenment was not about seeking God, or becoming enlightened spiritually. In fact, in the ways we westerners view “religion”, Buddhism is not a religion at all. Rather, the Buddha taught that the enlightenment he was teaching was to properly see the sources of our own mental anguish, and to overcome them. To end suffering. The Buddha is reputed to have said: "I have taught one thing and one thing only, dukkha and the cessation of dukkha." Dukkha being suffering, anxiety, or lack of satisfaction. To this end, meditation and mindfulness as taught by Buddhism are wonderful tools LDS can and should use in everyday living to become more like Christ and Heavenly Father. A very good resource for mindfulness meditation is The Science of Mindfulness: A research-Based Path to Well-Being. The practice as I understand it is entirely in line with LDS/Christian teachings, and in no way opens one to “unclean spirits”. On the contrary, it teaches one of the unreliability of some of our thoughts that could be impressions/temptations, and how to critically analyze the thoughts and dismiss them. Very powerful for those prone to anxiety, depression, or addictions or other social/mental issues. “The purpose of this thread is to explore whether or not the doctrines of premortal existence and Exaltation make the idea of the emptying kind of meditation more palatable.“ I see no logical connection given my (limited) understanding of what meditation is, and what it is not, at least from the Buddhist perspective. Perhaps an understanding of Zen, Hindu, or modern western ideals would change that. Or perhaps I’m missing the how the absence of such doctrines might generate fear of being mindful of the present, and impassionately observing one’s own thought processes. I don’t see how such would present a fear in the absence of those doctrines, as I can’t see them connected with inviting evil spirits, or other undesirable effects.

Thank you ladies! Sat I made a batch using a recipe from the web. It was such a hit that it was requested I make another batch on Monday. Next time I'll be trying one of the two recipes provided here. Thanks!

Do either of you (or anyone else) have a favorite lumpia recipe you wouldn't mind sharing?

Nadia, at various times I have observed in myself and others an apparent motivation to attempt to "atone" for failures of the past. Restitution is a sound principle, yet I feel it is all too easy to let guilt, rater than love become a motivator to the point that we get confused. I'm wondering if you might be in a similar situation. I think one of the first things you need to define (for everyone here to give advice, if not for yourself too) is: What do you want for your two adult children? Do you want them to 'have it easy' and not have to work, etc in order for you to 'make up for the past'? Or do you want them to grow up, get clean, get a job and move out? Or something in between?

When I heard the story on KSL radio yesterday driving into, of all places, SLC, I had a good chuckle when Amanda stated that the ranking was 'based on non-traditional criteria such as number of lgbt oriented businesses and nude yoga centers per capita'. "If we were having a more scientific survey, I don't know that we would choose these as indicators," Valerie Larabee, director of the Utah Pride Center in Salt Lake City, told the Salt Lake Tribune. So, Valerie is politely saying the survey is a spin job. And I agree if the measures are attributes such as nude yoga centers, and the number of semifinalists in the International Mr. Leather Contest.

You might enjoy reading (audio can be downloaded as well) a talk by Dallin H. Oaks (Apostle) regarding Sins and Mistakes.

Merrill J. Bateman:The story teaches at least two lessons. One concerns Christ’s spiritual sensitivity to the individual. The other lesson concerns the depth of the woman’s faith. Because of her faith, she was healed both physically and spiritually. The phrase “thy faith hath made thee whole” often refers to a spiritual healing. It is the same phrase Christ used to bless the one leper who returned to express thanks. All 10 lepers were cleansed of leprosy, but only one was made whole—only one was cleansed from within (see Luke 17:11–19). It is also the phrase the Lord used in answering Enos’ question regarding forgiveness of sin. When the voice said, “Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed,” Enos inquired as to how it was possible. The answer was, “Thy faith hath made thee whole” (see Enos 1:5–8). Enos’ spiritual cleansing came through faith. His faith had the power to produce humility, repentance, and a baptism of water and fire. The woman’s faith brought the same power enjoyed by Enos and the leper. Her faith produced a spiritual rebirth in addition to solving her physical problem. Her faith and determination allowed her to lay hold on two good gifts.

I like the way Elder Maxwell often couched such individuals/interactions - they are the "clinical material" upon which we all practice our Christianity. Quickly forgotten by those who are offended is the fact that the Church is “for the perfecting of the saints” (Eph. 4:12); it is not a well-provisioned rest home for the already perfected. Likewise, unremembered by some is the reality that in the kingdom we are each other’s clinical material; the Lord allows us to practice on each other, even in our imperfections. And each of us knows what it is like to be worked on by a “student” rather than a senior surgeon. Each of us, however unintentionally, has also inflicted some pain. It helps me to mentally frame the actions of those such as you described Jayanna as the actions of an "ill" individual - one is who clearly not whole. One who deserves some pity (and potentially rebuke) for their weakness and thoughtless simple-minded gossip. In discussing marital relations and conflict, a BYU Education Week presenter stated: "[W]hen people take the cheap shot, we can recognize, 'well, this must be about them'. Because healthy people never attack. Let me just repeat that, because this is really important. Healthy people don't attack!" Lili Andersen It helps me (when I am able to bring it into my active thoughts) to contemplate that the individual gossiping, back-stabbing, or otherwise speaking ill of another would not be doing so unless they were unwell themselves. They may be insecure, they may be prideful, I don't know, but what is clear is that they are not emotionally well. They too can become our “project” to help similar to the way that the poor and needy of temporal goods can be a focus. It’s just that the help they need isn’t so readily apparent, and not so easily succored (or suffered!).

I don't disagree with you one bit LM. Just adding to the direction the conversation went.

And yet, changes to policy (or much of anything related to revelation) infrequently occur until a question is asked to address a need. Such it was with JS's first vision, blacks and priesthood, and countless other Church and personal examples. Revelation most often comes in response to inquiry. And how would the FP know a beneficial change needs to be taken to the Lord unless it bubbles up through SPs to 70's, to the top? I think there is value in floating ideas out there to address changing needs of our people. But in the mean time, follow policy - it is there for a reason.

Dahlia, have you ever considered the possibility that the strong negativity towards men in general may deter those that are worth getting to know? A self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts?If my wife had exuded 1/10th of that gender bias when I met her, there would have been no second date.

Are you aware of the changes, and allowance/expectation for additional delegation made in the new 2010 handbooks? These are changes that past bishops did not operate under, and likely are not fully aware of. Ram and his stake are following the direction of the First Presidency to delegate more away from the Bishop's role.

I discussed a similar matter recently with a member of the Bountiful Temple Presidency. Children born under the covenant follow the mother they were born to. A child fathered by a second husband would be granted the blessings of being born under covenant, but not necessarily bound to the first husband. These are situations that will not be sorted out in this life, but will have to be sorted out later. When the woman and second husband pass away, they can be sealed to each other (current policy allows for women to be sealed to multiple husbands if all are deceased), and choices can be made in the hereafter as to lineage links. No one faithful - neither the first husband, the second husband, the woman in question, or any of the children - will be denied the blessings of eternal companionship and family. But there will be some 'sorting out' to be done later. I haven't heard anyone (with authority) presume they know how that will happen, other than to reassure us it will be more than fair.

Well . . . I suppose. If you INSIST on using it for other than it's specified purpose! Is that a pot of (super) dark hot chocolate I see in the background of the tumbler pic? Funny, I thought it was coffee.

Uh, that's not quite what is being suggested: