Interracial marriage still discouraged in the church?

[_Ray A]

Ray, President Kimball wasn't saying that interracial marriage is a sin. He was simply giving pragmatic counsel. (Interracial couples have long been, and continue to be, sealed in the temples. Black/white couples began to be sealed immediately after the 1978 revelation on priesthood.)

I never saw it that way, Dan, i.e., as "sinful". But, coming from one of the most multicultural countries in the world, I suppose I find this quite outdated counsel, and from a gospel perspective even more so. Note how the JWs approach this too, very different to Mormons. I can understand the advice to marry within one's religion, that makes sense. But if two people share the same beliefs, does racial background matter? How?

My former wife was from 5th generation Anglo-German, Anglican ancestry brought up with Aussie traditions. I am from Italian/Portuguese background and a very different cultural background from another country, and Catholic. Christmas traditions were different, but we made a compromise. My children are so different in looks I've often been asked if we had a too friendly milkman (no joke). They range from blond/e hair, blue eyes, white skin, to brown skin, brown eyes. But my wife and I had one important thing in common - Mormonism. While believers that common religion was what made the marriage work. The marriage break-up had nothing to do with racial/cultural backgrounds.

And does love have anything to do with racial/cultural differences?

I also have two part-Aboriginal grandchildren. If I had married an Australian Aboriginal Mormon, how would that make any difference? If the religious belief is strong enough, how will different racial backgrounds diminish that? That's why I quoted Acts 17, in regard to believers; they are no more "different", but of "one blood", one belief, and all are alike unto God. Yet it seems men still insist on emphasising "cultural differences".

[_Ray A]

Soul mates are an illusion? It sounds as though Packer has never had one meaningful human interaction in his entire life.

There's a reason for that statement - it does not square with the concept of polygamy, past or future. If polygamy is going to be practised in the CK, the idea of one "soul mate" does not make sense.

[_The Nehor]

Soul mates are an illusion? It sounds as though Packer has never had one meaningful human interaction in his entire life.

There's a reason for that statement - it does not square with the concept of polygamy, past or future. If polygamy is going to be practised in the CK, the idea of one "soul mate" does not make sense.

Another reason for that statement. If everyone has one soulmate then one person picking the wrong person would cause a chain reaction and destroy the whole soulmate system. So unless you're convinced that every marriage on Earth is between soulmates (in which case I suggest a short stay in a sanitarium) soulmates don't work.

[_Mad Viking]

Another reason for that statement. If everyone has one soulmate then one person picking the wrong person would cause a chain reaction and destroy the whole soulmate system. So unless you're convinced that every marriage on Earth is between soulmates (in which case I suggest a short stay in a sanitarium) soulmates don't work.

A preponderance of "bad" marriages does not negate the notion of soul mates.

[_Ray A]

Another reason for that statement. If everyone has one soulmate then one person picking the wrong person would cause a chain reaction and destroy the whole soulmate system. So unless you're convinced that every marriage on Earth is between soulmates (in which case I suggest a short stay in a sanitarium) soulmates don't work.

I don't believe everyone has a soulmate. In fact I think it's rare, but I have seen it. I have also experienced it, but I didn't marry my soulmate.

Tough luck for me, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

[_Moniker]

Soul mates are an illusion? It sounds as though Packer has never had one meaningful human interaction in his entire life.

Funny how he denigrates something his has obviously never experienced, but would turn around and denigrate me for not believing in the church for exactly the same reason.

I think soul mates are an illusion, too, and I'm not even an religious old white man! :)

[_Moniker]

Another reason for that statement. If everyone has one soulmate then one person picking the wrong person would cause a chain reaction and destroy the whole soulmate system. So unless you're convinced that every marriage on Earth is between soulmates (in which case I suggest a short stay in a sanitarium) soulmates don't work.

I don't believe everyone has a soulmate. In fact I think it's rare, but I have seen it. I have also experienced it, but I didn't marry my soulmate.

If you married her maybe you would have realized she wasn't your soulmate? ;P

Yanno, I like romance and think the bubbling of passion, intimacy, long term bonding that can occur is marvelous -- yet, I just don't think of people as having soul mates, really. I mean, I understand the chemical reactions that happen in our body, attraction, bonding, etc... that results in unions. If people can remain friends, still enjoy each other, create a pleasant life, have things like family or interests that bond them together then that's a winner, I think.

[_Ray A]

If you married her maybe you would have realized she wasn't your soulmate? ;P

Soulmates get divorced too. One of your children can even be a soulmate. I don't limit the concept to love and marriage only. And think of Jonathan and David in the Bible.

Yanno, I like romance and think the bubbling of passion, intimacy, long term bonding that can occur is marvelous -- yet, I just don't think of people as having soul mates, really. I mean, I understand the chemical reactions that happen in our body, attraction, bonding, etc... that results in unions. If people can remain friends, still enjoy each other, create a pleasant life, have things like family or interests that bond them together then that's a winner, I think.

A soulmate is someone you "click" with, at almost every level, even to the point you can almost "read" their thoughts. It's always feeling comfortable, at ease, and able to share intimate confidences knowing you'll never, or very seldom be misunderstood. This isn't "just any" kind of relationship.

[_The Nehor]

Another reason for that statement. If everyone has one soulmate then one person picking the wrong person would cause a chain reaction and destroy the whole soulmate system. So unless you're convinced that every marriage on Earth is between soulmates (in which case I suggest a short stay in a sanitarium) soulmates don't work.

A preponderance of "bad" marriages does not negate the notion of soul mates.

Perhaps, but if my soulmate chooses the wrong person before meeting me then I guess I'm screwed.

[_EAllusion]

What Boyd is calling an illusion is the notion that there is one person out there perfectly suited and meant for one other person. That's true enough. Actually romantic compatibility is a matter of degrees and is fluid over time. The reason BKP was saying it is to discourage people from waiting on finding their soul mate and encouraging them to settle.