Oaks complains about the Christmas cards he gets

[_annie]

"A few were so daring as to refer to “Peace on Earth” or “Faith, Hope, and Love,” but none had any pictures suggestive of religion."

Ugh, this is dripping with rudeness and sarcasm. And I'd have thought that a "special" witness of Christ would realize the phrases he quotes are SCRIPTURE and therefore don't have to be accompanied by illustrations (or "religious visuals" as he calls them) in order to be religious.

What a petty, small-minded Facebook status. The sad thing is that people like my parents may see this and end up feeling bad for failing to meet yet another requirement of the unwritten order of things.

[_hagoth7]

"A few were so daring as to refer to “Peace on Earth” or “Faith, Hope, and Love,” but none had any pictures suggestive of religion."

Annie I agree with you that such things as "Peace on Earth", "Faith", "Hope", and "Love" are central to the scriptural message.

Would it not be worthwhile to adopt such an attitude in this thread - especially at this time of year? Peace? Faith? Hope? Love?

What a petty, small-minded Facebook status.

I suggest it would be more in the spirit of the season to simply give the gentleman judge a pass for occasionally doing what's in his nature, rather than becomingly overly judgmental to follow suit...and then some.

Should I also judge and condemn my cat for walking across my keyboard? It's simply what cats do.

Thoughts?

[_Jesse Pinkman]

"A few were so daring as to refer to “Peace on Earth” or “Faith, Hope, and Love,” but none had any pictures suggestive of religion."

Ugh, this is dripping with rudeness and sarcasm. And I'd have thought that a "special" witness of Christ would realize the phrases he quotes are SCRIPTURE and therefore don't have to be accompanied by illustrations (or "religious visuals" as he calls them) in order to be religious.

What a petty, small-minded Facebook status. The sad thing is that people like my parents may see this and end up feeling bad for failing to meet yet another requirement of the unwritten order of things.

Agreed. This is what really bugs me about the LDS Church. No matter how hard you try, you can never be perfect. There is always something you should feel guilty about.

I think it would be hilarious if Elder Oaks received 1000 Christmas cards in the mail, all with pictures of Santa and Rudolph!

[_annie]

I suggest it would be more in the spirit of the season to simply give the gentleman judge a pass for occasionally doing what's in his nature, rather than becomingly overly judgmental to follow suit...and then some.

Should I also judge and condemn my cat for walking across my keyboard? It's simply what cats do.

But you're not required to follow your cat and your cat won't make you feel guilty if you don't join him in walking across the keyboard.

*I* don't particularly care what Dallin Oaks says (though in this instance I confess that I'm somewhat glad he made this remark because it makes him appear grumpy/foolish - and yes, I know that's unkind of me) but I think of people like my parents, who may have even sent him a card, and how embarrassed/flustered they'd feel to discover that they had sent the wrong kind of card according to his three tier system, and that thought makes me feel cross. He has so much influence, and instead of showing a little kindness and a little generosity of spirit, instead of thanking people for the many cards he has received, he chooses to shame people.

[_just me]

My thought is that this type of thing absolutely *does* cause Mormons to feel bad about themselves for totally innocuous things. That is BAD, it is unhealthy.

This man (not cat or animal) is supposed to be setting an example. He is supposed to be teaching people how to draw closer to Christ. This type of thing does not do that. He's made covenants, he is responsible for his mistakes.

I'm surprised he didn't rail against the buying of Christmas presents. How does giving your kid a new Nintendo for xmas really celebrate Christ?

To nitpick like this is totally ridiculous. And, yes, he was totally snarky and rude while doing it. How does that make people feel this time of year?

[_hagoth7]

You know. I really hate that when you have a man like Norman Borlaug who has probably saved, easily, over a billion lives through his lifetime's work. Hands down one of the greatest, and most humble men ever to live, who has done real work, expressed real concern, demonstrated real compassion...

Just read up on the link you provided.

Sounds like a person I would like to visit with some day, if I'm ever allowed to visit the Elysian Fields.

[Guest]

But you're not required to follow your cat and your cat won't make you feel guilty if you don't join him in walking across the keyboard...

Excellent reparte.

One of the funnest and funniest posts I've read in some time.

We all know, however, that cats expect and demand that humans do their bidding. I'm a well-trained cat "owner". (Who really owns who?)

What I also enjoyed was a recent bumper sticker about pet adoption, which said in bigger letters with a large red heart: "Who saved who?"

[_Maksutov]

Dallin Oaks may have been many things in his life but nowadays he's a preacher. Preachers preach. People who want to hear preaching will listen to him. Others of us see him as a well dressed, overpaid and well groomed version of the guy on the street corner yelling at people about sin and judgment.

I don't do Christmas cards or any other kind of cards. If I want to send people a letter or a message, I do it when it occurs to me or when the situation seems to warrant an outreach. Holiday cards are a tradition. I already have my own.

[_hagoth7]

My thought is that this type of thing...

My thought is that you make several excellent points.

Wishing you and yours, and the rest of the participants in this forum, a meaningful Christmas season.

[_just me]

My thought is that this type of thing...

My thought is that you make several excellent points.

Wishing you and yours, and the rest of the participants in this forum, a meaningful Christmas season.

Right back atcha!!