Righteousness never was happiness

[_Hoops]

I can't think of a single person who deserves an eternal hell. Unless you can think of someone whose sins are infinite.

If one believes in the infinite, then every sin is infinite.

[_Hoops]

He didn't mention me by name, but I think he may of had me at the back of his mind.

Hardly.

[_ajax18]

Which means your weren't actually living the gospel but rather, some pharisaical notion of it not extant in LDS doctrine.

Could it be that the happiness comes after all the initial unhappiness that righteousness causes? Or does being unhappy always mean you're not living the true gospel?

I definitely can empathize with those emotions. You could almost see the strain on some of the missionaries faces when they smiled. It was a fake and forced smile trying to live the commandment of being happy but unable to hide the hurt within. I got chastised for fake smiles all the time. But it honestly was all I could muster the first few months of the mission. Sometimes now I smile without even trying.

[_ajax18]

I certainly, in no way whatsoever, consider that it may be removed to any degree. It is what it is. It's there. It will always be there.

Is it like saying, "Once saved, always saved, no need to strain yourself any more than your gratitude currently pushes you to do so?"

I remember Selek telling me over at the MAD board that if happiness was my goal, I would never be able to be Christlike. He said Jesus Christ endured a lot of unhappiness. But would that make him a sinner by their definitions? Being unhappy is a sin in Mormonism right? Maybe it's just that they want the benefits provided by you doing things that make you unhappy but they'd prefer you be cheerful about it and cover up the unhappiness within.

[_Hoops]

Is it like saying, "Once saved, always saved, no need to strain yourself any more than your gratitude currently pushes you to do so?"

Not really, no. To the extent that I try to do good, it's much more than gratitude. I liken it to this - a secular comparison: I do certain things because of my environment, relationships, who I'm connected with.

I remember Selek telling me over at the MAD board that if happiness was my goal, I would never be able to be Christlike. He said Jesus Christ endured a lot of unhappiness. But would that make him a sinner by their definitions? Being unhappy is a sin in Mormonism right? Maybe it's just that they want the benefits provided by you doing things that make you unhappy but they'd prefer you be cheerful about it and cover up the unhappiness within.

I don't know what this means and I'm not Mormon.

[_ajax18]

I liken it to this - a secular comparison: I do certain things because of my environment, relationships, who I'm connected with.

Do you pay tithing? Have you ever had to give up something you needed to pay it? What made you want to do that? I know in Mormonism they refer to tithing as fire insurance. Would you worry that you're not going to heaven if you don't pay?

[_MCB]

they'd prefer you be cheerful about it and cover up the unhappiness within.

It has a lot to do with blaming the victim. If you are unhappy, it is your own fault, and has nothing to do with a dysfunctional environment.

[_Hoops]

Do you pay tithing?

Yes.

Have you ever had to give up something you needed to pay it?

No.

What made you want to do that?

I pay tithing because my church is doing good things with it. And I'm commanded to do so.

I know in Mormonism they refer to tithing as fire insurance. Would you worry that you're not going to heaven if you don't pay?

Not in the least. Never crossed my mind.

[_Blixa]

No one deserves to be tortured for an infinite amount of time.

Okay. If that's your sense of justice, I can't argue with that. It would seem your position is unique. Well, you and the guy who agrees with you.

That's my sense of justice as well, Hoops. And I think there are more than just two people who think like this.

Why answer justme in such a short and flippant manner?

[_Blixa]

I agree with the OP, except that I would tweak the phrase a bit make it read "Self-righteousness never was happiness."