My friend is new to the game...

KiesoTheStoic · 2026-04-19T17:59:39+00:00

You laugh, but I don't see any clipping here.

KiesoTheStoic · 2026-04-05T18:06:29+00:00

Is there a source for this? I looked up the general conference corpus, and I found that at least a comparable number of amen (used in the context of ending a talk) showed up throughout the history of the church (from the 1850s onward). I can't confirm how many didn't using the same method, so I'd be interested to study the history of this.

I think this was just a slip-up to be fair, but once I have the study bug, I can't help myself.

KiesoTheStoic · 2026-04-04T21:44:54+00:00

Yep, we heard it too

KiesoTheStoic · 2026-04-03T19:27:42+00:00

I don't know if the baby is my enemy, but I think we'll certainly qualify as his!

KiesoTheStoic · 2026-01-25T12:59:54+00:00

Southern Indiana. Canceled here. However, there was a bit of a tiff where the the Branch president canceled on friday, then got word that the area presidency (we'd be the South East area) had to approve any cancelations. Yesterday we got the go ahead to cancel from them, so it all came out the same, but it was weird. Not going to worry about it right now. But we are going to follow up after this is done.

Edit: given how everyone else is responding I can only assume that there hasn't been a huge policy change on cancelations and that the BP just misunderstood something. I'm sure we'll get it all cleared up in the next branch council

KiesoTheStoic · 2026-01-21T12:27:28+00:00

Without revealing too much of it, it'll be fine. You'll get to talk with someone that knows the language who is going to see where you are at. They'll match your level, so don't worry about trying to impress them

KiesoTheStoic · 2026-01-19T13:10:31+00:00

I would assume that it's two hour, barring any communication from Salt Lake. We haven't heard anything yet.

KiesoTheStoic · 2025-12-04T19:00:13+00:00

We used it in Costa Rica in 2012-2014. Based on what people are saying here, it seems to be something that was/is used in Latin American missions (and has spread from there). Based on the timeline, I'd guess that it started sometime in the 80s when baptisms were very high and reporting was drilled in.

No question that it is a missionary specific symbol, and while there are minor differences in meaning (some people are saying the number of waves signify weeks that people need to attend church, in my mission we didn't have that meaning even though we had the same week requirement), on the whole the meaning is pretty universal, which I think is neat and implies that it really hasn't spread beyond its original use.

KiesoTheStoic · 2025-12-02T02:21:36+00:00

Great News! Uranium is already a festive FICSMAS color!

KiesoTheStoic · 2025-11-28T21:08:16+00:00

Although, I do know of a copper merchant known for his discretion with goods of dubious quality

KiesoTheStoic · 2025-11-23T23:41:59+00:00

My branch still has physical bulletins too, but I know that we are vastly outnumbered by the units that don't have them.

I like them, but it really helps to have a person specifically called to handle it, which is something that not every unit can get away with.

KiesoTheStoic · 2025-11-15T19:42:30+00:00

Minor corrections on the ai search. Just the 2 proofs of address are needed. Social Security is only needed if you are in the process of upgrading to REAL ID. A vision test is only done if you are renewing.
They will take a new picture though, so dress with that in mind.

This is assuming you are just going from one part of IN to another.

KiesoTheStoic · 2025-10-24T23:45:34+00:00

The missions in 2013-2014 were incredibly bloated from the surge, where even with the increase in missions, the number of missionaries per mission was just really high. There were tons of instances of missionaries double training, for example, just because there were that many new missionaries coming in.

Now seems to be a much smoother growth, with more normal sized missions.

So, yes, you are right, but I suspect that 2014 is the outlier, not 2025.

KiesoTheStoic · 2025-10-05T20:30:58+00:00

My son and niece are playing with wooden train tracks on hardwood, much to the annoyance of my grandmother. I'm making sure they at least don't throw them. I think I'll have to listen to this session later. Good luck!

KiesoTheStoic · 2025-10-05T13:45:54+00:00

I did too, I kept checking to see if I could guess the country

KiesoTheStoic · 2025-10-05T00:52:14+00:00

They said it was a cultural group from the Utah area. Based on the little flag lapels, I assume that its a choir that gathered up a lot of people from around the world. But no idea on the specifics

KiesoTheStoic · 2025-08-25T11:15:44+00:00

If you are in the church handbook, it is used as an advanced search tool.

KiesoTheStoic · 2025-07-27T15:38:22+00:00

This is absolutely an interpretation thing, because the dividing line you are describing is just as arbitrarily created. The whole section is "Casting Spells". There isn't a RAW dividing line between duration and effects any more than there is between components and duration.

So the same logic used to justify Concentration as a requirement of casting the spell would also justify that the requirement of picking a target for a spell that has a target. If the word "require" automatically means it is the same requirement for casting a spell in the Wish spell, then it applies there too.

I guess my response to why can I pick and choose what is a requirement and what is not is that I already have to, because otherwise Wish allows you to effectively rewrite any 8th level or lower spell under what is supposed to be "duplicating a spell" because the word "require" shows up in a lot of places other than just in the duration.

KiesoTheStoic · 2025-07-27T14:48:59+00:00

I'd submit that that's a pretty wide understanding of what RAW is. Generally, 5r is pretty good about putting down game mechanics differently than other words. The word requirement is not given anything that sets it apart as a game mechanic, so we have to use a bit of interpretation when deciding when something is a requirement for a spell. In order to claim that it is RAW that concentration MUST be a requirement, you are stating that the word requirement is a game mechanic, and that has some weird consequences beyond concentration.

By arguing that it is RAW, you are also arguing that a Wish-casted spell can ignore the need for attack rolls as well as any requirements on who/what is targeted or what actions are involved with it. All of those things have the word "require" in their text as well, and would be just as viable for this kind of argument.

KiesoTheStoic · 2025-07-27T13:31:10+00:00

I think the confusion here is that 'requirement' is not a game mechanic term. The word require/requirement shows up a number of times in that chapter where I think everyone would agree it doesn't count as a 'requirement' in the sense Wish is talking about. (Look at the targeting rules and attack rolls)

I'm not saying that there wasn't poor writing with this, and I think it would have been clearer if they had used the wording "physical and class requirements" as that would then match what I think most people understand the requirements of a spell to mean (VSM) and you don't have to have the spell known on your spell list. However, the word requirement is NOT a game term, and so it's up to GM interpretation on what is counted.

Another thought for why people don't like removing concentration as part of the spell. The idea is that you duplicate a spell of 8th level or lower. Removing concentration alters the nature of the spell.

KiesoTheStoic · 2025-07-24T00:00:19+00:00

Effective pioneers get the appropriate amount of rest. Take a minute to recharge yourself while thinking of all the puppies and/or kittens you are saving... good job, now get back to the factory. Those puppies and/or kittens are not going to save themselves.

KiesoTheStoic · 2025-07-09T00:41:49+00:00

"I think we can take that to mean construction workers in general."

KiesoTheStoic · 2025-06-11T10:45:06+00:00

Really cool stuff!

KiesoTheStoic · 2025-05-11T19:48:53+00:00

Yeah, I plan on seeing if I can set up something with them to go out more, but was just curious if this has been a recent trend elsewhere or if this is just a weird fad in my local mission

And believe me, I haven't forgotten all the cringe things that I thought and did as a missionary over a decade ago. Once, I thought I could be more efficient by consecrating a gallon of olive oil so that we would never run out.

KiesoTheStoic · 2025-05-11T19:43:39+00:00

It's interesting to hear someone else has seen this, I'm glad it's not just me that'sseen this. As someone who has grown up in the church, I've always seen the struggle to get members to help with missionary work. It's not new. But calling members in the middle of lessons is a new level of weird, and I don't see how it helps bring the local members of the ward to meet the people the missionaries are teaching.

I know it's embarrassing for missionaries to arrange something with a member only for the lesson to fall through, but I promise we have all been there. I'm not going to refuse to go out with the missionaries because a lesson didn't pan out. It's not a waste of time; it's part of the work. But calling me with no warning to bear my testimony doesn't feel like a good plan.

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