A comforting thought to all disaffected and ex-Mormons

[_Buffalo]

Well sadly, buffyload, I did not indicate anything like unto that.

Is marital fidelity a good characteristic? Yes or no.

[_stemelbow]

I am not assuming anything. I have never slept with anyone behind my wife's back (in fact, I've never slept with anyone other than my wife, ever). That's a fact. Joseph Smith slept with a lot of women behind his wife's back. That is also a fact. The only assumption, it seems, is that sleeping with other women behind you're wife's back is wrong. Maybe you don't believe that. I hope your wife knows that.

Sure you're assuming stuff. But I won't quibble with ya on that. I'll justmake a mental note for myself that when you claim fact, that means, at least sometimes, your assumption. No big deal. I appreciate the dramatic reference to my wife. I hope it draws the needed effect. I mean that seriously. Mention of my wife should be kept to a minimum around these parts, as I see it, and when she is mentioned, I hope its for the good of another. that would be her wish, at least, bless her heart.

It doesn't help me get by. As I said, I feel bad that I once rationalized what Joseph did. I don't spend any time thinking "Thank God I'm better than Joseph Smith." But the subject came up, and I offered my opinion. That seems to really rankle you, for some reason.

To quote Wade, "To each his own."

That is in essence my point. To each his own. It doesn't bother me. It doesn't rankle me. I don't know why you keep attributing stuff like that to me, or assuming as much about me. Anyway, to each his own...If it hepls ya, keep it up. As I said, I wish ya the best.

[_stemelbow]

So the Celestial kingdom isn't superior to the Terrestial? Having the Holy Ghost isn't superior to not having it? Having the one true gospel isn't superior than not having it?

1. not for some. I think people will be happy/satisfied with where they end up knowing the judgment was just. If they ended up in the Celestial when they should have ended up in the Terrestrial, then I'm sure there would have to be some miserable feeling involved.

2. of course having the Holy ghost with ya is better than not having it. Does that mean people who have not had th egift of the Holy ghost conferred upon them will not have the Holy ghost with them? 'course not...and I assume there are plenty of non-LDS who engage the Spirit far more than many an LDS.

3. Not really. Some will end up learning truths that many an LDS will nevre discover.

[cacheman]

Actually, you don't have to put yourself in anyone else's shoes, look as far as your own. Mormons are the one that think they are better than everyone else. I'd say it's one of the most common attitudes among the Mormons. . . it must have something to do with them being the most valiant in the pre-existence to make it down here as a Mormon!

I think you're missing half the equation. As Mormons, we were taught that we were better than "the world." Think of all the LDS folks you've heard say that, if they didn't have the gospel, they'd probably be addicts or drunks or whoremongers.

On the other hand, we were also taught that we weren't good enough. There was always room to improve, to lengthen our strides.

The great thing about this "double-whammy" is that you need the church for both: you need the church to keep your from falling and becoming like the world, and you need the church to improve and perform like God wants you to.

[_stemelbow]

Is marital fidelity a good characteristic? Yes or no.

What if I said, yes and no? pep pep. don't worry...I'm with ya on this. I simply don't hold to the same assumptions you do.

[_stemelbow]

I thinki you're missing half the equation. As Mormons, we were taught that we were better than "the world." Think of all the LDS folks you've heard say that, if they didn't have the gospel, they'd probably be addicts or drunks or whoremongers.

I've never heard that in my life--sorry to disappoint. Although I have heard some LDS compare themselves favorably to other non-LDS and to some LDS for that matter. Something akin to what the non_LDS are doing in this very thread, in fact.

On the other hand, we were also taught that we weren't good enough. There was always room to improve, to lengthen our strides.

The not good enough, isn't something I haven't heard either. The room to improve and legthening our stride sounds quite familiar within and without LDS circles I've ran in, though.

The great thing about this "double-whammy" is that you need the church for both: you need the church to keep your from falling and becoming like the world, and you need the church to improve and perform like God wants you to.

I haven't heart it put that way either. but the Church does serve its purpose. of course the becoming part is more an individual thing, for LDS, and thus it is more about needing God than the Church per se.

[_Runtu]

What if I said, yes and no? pep pep. don't worry...I'm with ya on this. I simply don't hold to the same assumptions you do.

I'm sure Sister Stemelbow will be thrilled to know you don't believe fidelity in marriage is necessarily a good thing. Mrs. Runtu wouldn't be happy with me if I said that.

[_Buffalo]

Is marital fidelity a good characteristic? Yes or no.

What if I said, yes and no? pep pep. don't worry...I'm with ya on this. I simply don't hold to the same assumptions you do.

I would ask under what circumstances is marital fidelity a bad characteristic.

[_Runtu]

I've never heard that in my life--sorry to disappoint. Although I have heard some LDS compare themselves favorably to other non-LDS and to some LDS for that matter. Something akin to what the non_LDS are doing in this very thread, in fact.

The not good enough, isn't something I haven't heard either. The room to improve and legthening our stride sounds quite familiar within and without LDS circles I've ran in, though.

I haven't heart it put that way either. but the Church does serve its purpose. of course the becoming part is more an individual thing, for LDS, and thus it is more about needing God than the Church per se.

That's OK. I wasn't talking to you. I think Redefined will understand what I am saying.

[_Redefined]

So the Celestial kingdom isn't superior to the Terrestial? Having the Holy Ghost isn't superior to not having it? Having the one true gospel isn't superior than not having it?

1. not for some. I think people will be happy/satisfied with where they end up knowing the judgment was just. If they ended up in the Celestial when they should have ended up in the Terrestrial, then I'm sure there would have to be some miserable feeling involved.

Not for "some", but for a Mormon. AND impossible example. . . No one would end up in the Celestial that didn't belong there, God is perfect.

2. of course having the Holy ghost with ya is better than not having it. Does that mean people who have not had th egift of the Holy ghost conferred upon them will not have the Holy ghost with them? 'course not...and I assume there are plenty of non-LDS who engage the Spirit far more than many an LDS.

Must one be baptized to enter the Celestial Kingdom?

3. Not really. Some will end up learning truths that many an LDS will nevre discover.

That has nothing to do with having the one true gospel over not having it. For a Mormon, is being part of the one true church, better than not being part of a church that doesn't have the truth?