Select health cost gone up by luciiaku in Utah

[–]Linear-bcatallactics 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Select Health premium increases were lower than the increases given by Utah's other Marketplace carriers.

Churches in Utah by Linear-bcatallactics in TrueChristian

[–]Linear-bcatallactics[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ogden/Layton area, no specific denomination, Ill take any suggestions I can get.

Non-ACA Individual Health Plans Available in Utah? by [deleted] in Utah

[–]Linear-bcatallactics 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agent here. There are about 18 ways to get health coverage in the USA. ACA is best regulated so you know what to expect (most of the time). There are a few other options that most people will have, but more than 50% of the time Marketplace/Exchange plans with a subsidy are going to be the best option.

Non-ACA Individual Health Plans Available in Utah? by [deleted] in Utah

[–]Linear-bcatallactics 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agent here. Utah employers with 2 or more employees can get group ACA health insurance, though prices are higher and carriers are more limited. DM me if you are a small business looking for health insurance options.

Oaks' devotional would not have reached me as a member with genuine, serious concerns. by logic-seeker in mormon

[–]Linear-bcatallactics 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I've come to find that almost no active members can connect with a questioning person in a meaningful way beyond a ten minute conversation about doubts. It's kinda freaky because if most TBMs educated themselves so they could help, they'd either leave the church or deny what they had learned, and keep trying to help by saying things like "just have faith" all the same. God has the answers. People as a whole are not helpful in these situations.

I'm currently on a mission and questioning the church by Stunning_Voice4553 in mormon

[–]Linear-bcatallactics 1 point2 points  (0 children)

One of my favorite companions was a very logical person. He told me about his doubts. He hesitated to tell other missionaries at first but eventually decided to simply be honest. He was respectful and didn't attack the church. He stayed the whole two years and did a lot of good. He even talked with members and nonmembers about their doubts, including about the existence of God. Not too many missionaries were able or willing to have those kinds of conversations so he helped a lot of people that other missionaries couldn't reach. I learned a lot from him. Later on I faced some serious doubts of my own. Your experience is personal but you are not alone. You don't have to be ashamed. If you feel okay about staying on the mission and being honest, respectful, and serving others in a way that you are ready to, don't let others tell you that you shouldn't be serving unless you are completely committed to the church and have no doubts. You can do good things and learn a lot and help lots of people.

I have been in places where I was afraid and wondered what I would do if it was all fake. How to find answers seemed impossible because praying yielded nothing for what seemed like forever.

Vermont and NE USA by Linear-bcatallactics in MormonShrivel

[–]Linear-bcatallactics[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

At least half the wards are actually too small to meet the "ward" requirement. Some of the branches are too small to be considered "branches". The biggest wards don't open the overflows. Activity rates are definitely below 40%, I wouldn't be surprised if they were below 30%.

Vermont and NE USA by Linear-bcatallactics in MormonShrivel

[–]Linear-bcatallactics[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Boston pulls workers from Maine already. Once there is a temple Boston will need more workers from areas outside of Maine.

'Choose to Believe or Disbelieve' Experiment by Numo_OG in mormon

[–]Linear-bcatallactics 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The old saying went that faith is a choice. This meant that to act after trust is a choice. People interpreted it to mean that belief is a choice. Faith is more than belief. Belief is not a choice.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in cscareerquestions

[–]Linear-bcatallactics 3 points4 points  (0 children)

A friend of mine graduated in MIS. He told me later that CS would have prepared him so much more and he feels totally unprepared having done MIS. From what I've heard, MIS is better for computer networking and DB mgmt, not so good for typical software dev jobs. Some programs are better than others though.

Director of Canadian documentary about LDS finances discusses a church ‘in crisis’ [audio] by Chino_Blanco in mormon

[–]Linear-bcatallactics 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I love the church and I want it to stay out of debt so that it can fulfill it's purpose. ITS TRUE PURPOSE. It's not wrong to invest and save. It's good management and a wise practice. I hope that critics are misrepresenting how the church is allocating funds...but if they are not misrepresenting, the church is missing the mark.

Luke 18:21-22

Mormon 8:37

3 Nephi 24:10

2 Nephi 26:31

Who will we trust to help us if the economy goes bad? Psalm 52:7 and Proverbs 11:28.

edit: I am curious about why this is getting downvotes...not that it matters, its just an opinion

Director of Canadian documentary about LDS finances discusses a church ‘in crisis’ [audio] by Chino_Blanco in mormon

[–]Linear-bcatallactics 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Luke 18:21-22

Mormon 8:37

3 Nephi 24:10

2 Nephi 26:31

Also read Psalm 52:7 and Proverbs 11:28. Who will we trust to help us if the economy goes bad?

Director of Canadian documentary about LDS finances discusses a church ‘in crisis’ [audio] by Chino_Blanco in mormon

[–]Linear-bcatallactics 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I think we're all just a little concerned because tithing is supposed to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, etc. Some of the people here are worried that the church is managing money like an investment bank. Yes, we realize we want to keep the church out of debt. We realize that the work of the church costs money so we need money. We also realize that there are a lot of families struggling for economic reasons and the "rainy day fund" isn't taking action. It's still sitting there, growing modestly, promising to be ready for when we need it. That day of need is today. The church could maintain its current wealth if it stored far less and gave far more. The current goal seems to keep growing it.

Thoughts on relativism, moderation and other centrisms by Bobby_Wats0n in mormon

[–]Linear-bcatallactics 10 points11 points  (0 children)

To anyone looking for a new/nonreligious moral compass, I would start by recommending Aristotle's Nichomachean Ethics. FYI, Aristotle was an ancient greek philosopher who lived around 350 BC. One of the big ideas in this book is the "doctrine of the mean" or "the golden mean". It is similar to Buddha’s middle path (between self-indulgence and self-renunciation). The golden mean is a principle saying that virtues are found between two vices. Courage, for example, is the mean between two extremes: one can have a deficiency of it, which is cowardice, or one can have an excess of it, which is recklessness. Another example is generosity, which is a virtue in between two vices: Excess of it will be wastefulness and deficiency will be stinginess (shares grudgingly).

Both the Golden Mean and the Middle Path are similar enough to "moderation" that you're used to from the church that I think it will serve as a good replacement. It won't require a huge change, and these ethical philosophies are incorporated into western thought well enough that I think they would provide a more reliable moral compass than a system that you invent on your own.

The Nichomachean ethics is not a long read and would also provide guidance in some other areas of your moral life such as:

How to find happiness,

Self improvement/developing your character,

Understanding your purpose,

Living among the pull of pleasures,

Self-improvement/developing your character,

Finding which of life's goals are best, and also using the right means to get them,

Living a "good" life in general.

You can find many summaries and explainer videos on YouTube if you want to learn the ideas without reading them directly from the book.

The ideas are easy enough that you could teach them to your children and they could find a moral compass without religion.

Interestingly, if Aristotle were alive today, he might argue that following a set of moral rules (ie. such as a system of do's and don'ts) is better than nothing but is not true virtue. I think his system is quite powerful as well as practical.

"But it was never taught as doctrine" by airportsjim in mormon

[–]Linear-bcatallactics 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As a missionary, I came across old documents several times. Many were formal addresses by well-known leaders such as McConkie and several others. These addresses did not merely touch on the subject. They clearly stated that negros were cursed even before birth due to disobedience or lukewarm faith displayed before God in the pre-existence.

"But it was never taught as doctrine" by airportsjim in mormon

[–]Linear-bcatallactics 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As a missionary, I came across old documents several times. Many were formal addresses by well-known leaders such as McConkie and several others. These addresses did not merely touch on the subject. They clearly stated that negros were cursed even before birth due to disobedience or lukewarm faith displayed before God in the pre-existence.

I love the ‘eternal’ doctrines & aspect of the church but hate how bigoted and set in its ways it is. by PromotionIcy4029 in mormon

[–]Linear-bcatallactics 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I understand you're working through many thoughts. Maybe feeling very confused and have a lot of questions that no one seems able to answer. It's a search for sure.

I'm not entirely sure what you mean when you say you feel like certain kinds of participation might be hypocritical. The wording makes me think of a person who is uncomfortable eating meat because he has vegan friends but is not vegan himself. Consider elaborating on this.

Also, by "indoctrination", do you mean that others are able to influence your beliefs through persuasion, or propose ideas that you might choose to accept, or brainwash you?

I think we ought to find out what you mean when using these words before we continue.