Why I like Paul Osborne

[_moksha]

Paul, I suspect not wearing ties and wearing colored shirts means there is a bit of a liberal in you yearning to breath free.

[_Paul Osborne]

ajax18,

I see no reason to rebuke you. Your reply wasn’t anything like the filth put out by Polygamy Porter. I thought your reply was honest, sincere, and reasonably cordial. Porter on the other hand leaves scum on whatever he touches. He is an Internet bum, a cyber drunkard who makes nasty slurs purely out of hate.

Note ~ I’m not at all concerned about a sifting should President Packer become Church President. A lot of people thought the same thing prior to Ezra Taft Bensen becoming Church President – they said he would take over the Church with his private agenda. Frankly, I think President Bensen may have been rebuked by God when he became President. God chastens those he loves and purifies their souls in order to perform their callings according to the plan of God. It’s the Church of Jesus Christ not the Church of man's agenda.

I recall the first thing President Bensen said after becoming President was that he loves all of Father's children. There was a marked changed in his demeanor as if he had gone through some kind of change. That’s how I see it. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Lord chastens those who become Church President in order to remind them who is really running the Church. So, I think elder Packer may very well have a little fire to go through in order to obtain a higher level of purification and reach the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. I believe he is a holy man who is learning new things. With that said, I am very careful not to criticize Church leaders. I am, however, willing to point out that they are not perfect and are learning just like the rest of us.

The LDS Church will continue to run its course, strong in numbers, solid in doctrine, and diverse with many cultures and people. I’m honored to be a member of this great Church – the Church of the Lamb.

Paul O

[_Paul Osborne]

Paul, I suspect not wearing ties and wearing colored shirts means there is a bit of a liberal in you yearning to breath free.

Moksha,

Admittedly, I am the only man attending the High Priest Group in my ward that doesn’t sport a tie. Oh well. I really like the air on my neck, the feeling of freedom! Ties suck! They are little more than a pretty cord wrapped around someone’s neck in order to designate a certain class in our worldly dress code. I don’t want to be part of that class structure. I put on nice pants and a nice shirt. That’s it, nothing more. Suits suck!

But, if I am called to a position that requires me to wear the “uniform”, then I will comply. Otherwise, I remain free to choose my own dress code. There ain't a damn thing anyone can do about it.

Paul O

[_ajax18]

[quote]Oh well. I really like the air on my neck, the feeling of freedom!

Freedom comes from doing what you're supposed to do Paul, not what you want to do


But, if I am called to a position that requires me to wear the “uniform”, then I will comply.

What if you have to administer the sacrament without notice?

[_MormonMendacity]

Oh well. I really like the air on my neck, the feeling of freedom!

Freedom comes from doing what you're supposed to do Paul, not what you want to do

But, if I am called to a position that requires me to wear the “uniform”, then I will comply.

What if you have to administer the sacrament without notice?

Paul's rebelious behavior is similar to mine when I was still going but bumping into a lot of the rules.

I rarely wore a tie the last few years except when giving a Sac meeting talk and always taught HP group lessons in colored, short-sleeved shirts sans tie. I did keep bright blue one in the car for the unannounced passing the Sac thing, but that rarely happened. I gave one of the Sac meeting prayers without a tie once -- I even asked the counselor if he was sure and he was okay with it!

But the picking and choosing of obedience sounds like a slide toward apostacy to me and when I disagreed with the sweet Gospel Doctrine teacher about her revelation that Hinckley was right about multiple earrings and tattoos, I thought she was going to faint.

[_Paul Osborne]

Freedom comes from doing what you're supposed to do Paul, not what you want to do

Ha! Nice try, but no cigar. Look, there are principles and there are preferences. One has to decide where the lines are drawn for their own lives. Do I listen to the music President Hinckley listens to? If I’m listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir! But when I’m cranking up the Led Zeppelin or ACDC it is readily apparent that I’m not listening to the music President Hinckley listens to. Neither do I dress like him. So what! I pick my own bands and my own clothes. No need to tell me how to dress in order to live my religion.

What if you have to administer the sacrament without notice?

I don’t because there is plenty of Aaronic priesthood in my ward. Administering the sacrament is not a function I do in this stage of my life. I take the sacrament but don’t handle it and pass it to others. Besides, I don’t have to do anything – the Church is a voluntary organization and no one should be made to feel like they will be penalized if they don’t pass the sacrament on demand. Perhaps if I received a phone call before Church started I would don a white shirt.

So there.

Paul O

[_Paul Osborne]

Paul's rebelious behavior is similar to mine when I was still going but bumping into a lot of the rules.

Ha! Your rebellion is not my rebellion. Rules! Don’t make chuckle.

I rarely wore a tie the last few years except when giving a Sac meeting talk and always taught HP group lessons in colored, short-sleeved shirts sans tie. I did keep bright blue one in the car for the unannounced passing the Sac thing, but that rarely happened. I gave one of the Sac meeting prayers without a tie once -- I even asked the counselor if he was sure and he was okay with it!

I think you should wear what makes you feel comfortable. Personally I like wearing black shirts but have only done it a few times at Church because I can tell it upsets members. I don’t want to interfere with their worship. But if they don’t like my colored shirts then tough luck. I won’t, however, push the black shirt on anyone.

But the picking and choosing of obedience sounds like a slide toward apostacy to me and when I disagreed with the sweet Gospel Doctrine teacher about her revelation that Hinckley was right about multiple earrings and tattoos, I thought she was going to faint.

My wife wears two earrings in one ear. That is fine by me. My teenage daughters also have multiple holes. Just so long as they don’t put rings or studs on their tongues, nose, lips, or sew them up along the sides of their ears it makes little difference to me. I think that is what the prophet was mainly focusing on. We don’t want our youth peppering their bodies with studs and rings. I would generally incourage one ring per ear but won't pass out condemnation cards for those who like two.

Paul O

[_Paul Osborne]

Paul, I suspect not wearing ties and wearing colored shirts means there is a bit of a liberal in you yearning to breath free.

Perhaps. But I'm generally conservative. Listen, I believe that the sabbath day was made for man not man for the sabbath. I don't get too wrapped up in the letter of the law. Although, once in a blue moon I'll eat out on a Sunday. I'd never go to a movie on the sabbath or look at porn because that would prick my concience. I do my shopping during the week.

My favorite movies are The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof, and the Exorcist. Go figure! There needs to be some room for flexibility or someone like me can snap or break. Perhaps I'm not as strong as I thought. But I've made it this far and have a valid temple recommend in my pocket.

I feel good about myself.

Paul O

[_ajax18]

Perhaps. But I'm generally conservative. Listen, I believe that the sabbath day was made for man not man for the sabbath.

I know this seems like a separate issue but Paul I was once told in the MTC that I had put my salvation in jeopardy for not coloring in the yellow threads around my doc martens with a black magic marker. Unfortunately my companion, the selfish, prideful, manipulative, future leader he was, refused to allow me the chance to buy a marker at the bookstore. Hence I got bawled out for not having them colored in. Geez that was a bad experience. No I don't trust church leadership.

They're so nice to you when they're reeling you in, but once you're on the hook and locked into place they really let you have it.

[_Paul Osborne]

Perhaps. But I'm generally conservative. Listen, I believe that the sabbath day was made for man not man for the sabbath.

I know this seems like a separate issue but Paul I was once told in the MTC that I had put my salvation in jeopardy for not coloring in the yellow threads around my doc martens with a black magic marker. Unfortunately my companion, the selfish, prideful, manipulative, future leader he was, refused to allow me the chance to buy a marker at the bookstore. Hence I got bawled out for not having them colored in. Geez that was a bad experience. No I don't trust church leadership.

They're so nice to you when they're reeling you in, but once you're on the hook and locked into place they really let you have it.

Well, that person at the MTC was being an ass. But when you're young and dumb it's easy to follow stupid orders. Some people are on power trips and love to order people around.

Paul O