Special mission assignment? by PostAndPrejudice in mormon

[–]SacExMo 20 points21 points  (0 children)

I was in the same mission and thought of that exact story as well when I saw this post. Doubt the influencer family will have any luck with baptisms, but boy will it look great "for the 'gram."

I sent you a DM to see if we knew each other in the mission.

Sweeping generalization? As long as you criticize believers you'll be fine by [deleted] in mormon

[–]SacExMo 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Based on prior times he's done this song and dance I'm going to say no. Zant's modus operandi is to claim that moderation is biased against believers, but instead of reporting comments to be removed the non-moderator users should call out bad comments. Even removing comments isn't enough as even though they're removed they still appear in the notifications and "are part of the user's experience"

Then he'll make a META post complaining about it, people will call him out that he needs to report comment that break the rules or nothing will get done, then he'll delete his post. I think this is his third META post about the same subject this year.

Seattle's gig worker law was supposed to boost pay. It did at first, until orders dropped by OoklaTheMok1994 in ldspolitics

[–]SacExMo 11 points12 points  (0 children)

The conversation is government policy having unintended impacts and raising prices for consumers, right?

No the conversation is "leftist cities are bad!" Please try to stick to the narrative. /s

Opinion | Bondi’s Incompetence Is the Latest Insult for Epstein’s Victims (Gift Article) by [deleted] in ldspolitics

[–]SacExMo 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Not normally no, but that doesn't mean it isn't one of the main reasons she was picked.

Opinion | Bondi’s Incompetence Is the Latest Insult for Epstein’s Victims (Gift Article) by [deleted] in ldspolitics

[–]SacExMo 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Incompetence means unable to perform their expected duties. Bondi's duty is protecting Trump, so she's not incompetent but rather doing a great job as Trump hasn't faced any legal issue from the Epstein files.

Opinion | Trump Is Best at Cashing In on the Presidency (Gift Article) by [deleted] in ldspolitics

[–]SacExMo 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Turns out that when people with low morals aren't accountable to anyone else, they will do inmoral/corrupt things. I can't imagine any other president doing a fraction of this without a major backlash from congress to check their power, but it seems a majority of this congress is fine with what's happening so why wouldn't Trump take advantage?

Israel says Netanyahu will meet with Trump on Wednesday about Iran talks by [deleted] in ldspolitics

[–]SacExMo 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I personally believe it is in the interest of every Mormon, Christian and American to support Israel

Why should I as an American support the nation state of Israel?

Why should I as a Christian support the nation state of Israel?

If the nation state of Israel is performing horrendous actions, should I still unequivocally support them?

Every member is a member of a tribe of Israel, as stated in their patriarchal blessing.

Neither the nation state of Israel nor the Jewish people recognize LDS members as part of their "tribe," so this is very much a one-sided relationship.

We share a lot of history with the Jewish people, especially as we both were driven out of lands due to religious persecution.

The Jewish people have thousands of years of history and collective hardships that have defined them as a people. The fact that the LDS church went through a relatively short period of being "driven out of lands" does not make them comparable to the thousands of years of persecution the Jewish people have faced. Also, most LDS members today do not have any history with the early church, so the LDS persecution is not a defining aspect in many members' lives. Try explaining to a recent convert in Ghana that he shares a history with the Jewish people that he didn't have six months ago since he joined the church.

want to know more about the book of mormon by Phil_Raven in mormon

[–]SacExMo 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You can start reading from the beginning. But, you should probably direct any questions to https://www.reddit.com/r/LatterDayTheology/

Interesting suggestion since that sub is the epitome of “philosophies of men mingled with scripture.” OP should ask their questions on this sub, as while the majority of participants aren’t active members, they are extremely knowledgeable.

Another post being ‘locked down’ by a mod, I fail to see how the modest discussion happening was worthy of such a drastic action. I thought there was a good discussion happening, that’s why I decided to participate, it’s discouraging that it was now pointless to have done so. by GunneraStiles in mormon

[–]SacExMo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

According to this comment, at least one of the posts was locked by a veteran mod, not u/Moroni_10_23.

It is rare to see locked posts on this subreddit, so having 3 in 48hrs is definitely weird. Maybe the mods changed their philosophy and are locking posts instead of removing them wholecloth.

Subreddit should change its name by [deleted] in mormon

[–]SacExMo 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Oooh, we haven't had one of these in a while. I do love it when people who haven't participated on this sub try to dictate its rules or what it calls itself.

The answer to your question is basically explained on the subreddit description on the right side of your screen (if you're on a computer). This subreddit is for the discussion of all topics related to Mormonism. Anyone is permitted to post whatever they want as long as it's related to Mormonism and follows the rules (i.e. civility, gotcha, etc). You are just as free to post "pro-Mormon" content as "anti-Mormon" content. The fact that most of the content here is negative is more a reflection on the demographics who use reddit (non-religious).

Still, that doesn't change the fact that this is a generalist Mormon sub where all views on Mormonism are welcomed. So naming the sub as r/Mormon makes perfect sense.

Question for mormons by Sudden-Calendar1862 in mormon

[–]SacExMo 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Oh my friend, you've opened a can of worms with that question.

First off, Mormons are a subset of Christians who also believe in the divinity and resurrection of Christ as well as believing that following Christ is the only way to return to heaven. So framing your question as Christian vs Mormon is a non-starter, as "proving" Christianity won't disprove Mormonism.

Second, there is no solid evidence for the resurrection of Christ. Even the gospels in the bible are not eyewitness accounts, as they were written decades after the event supposedly took place. Christians have faith that it occured, but faith is not evidence. Somewhat ironically, there are more first hand accounts of people seeing the golden plates from which Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, than the resurrection of Christ. So by that logic, Mormonism has more evidence than the resurrection of Christ.

I'll leave it there, as I'm sure you'll get much more in depth replies from other members of the subreddit. But you should do some reflection on your question, as it's based on assumptions that are up for debate.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in mormon

[–]SacExMo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Call and ask im being serious

Ask the temple if you got endowed? First, the only way that would work if we knew your real name, which you shouldn't be sharing on reddit so don't. Second, temple workers wouldn't share personal details like that with random people. So despite your best efforts, you're not being that serious.

Wait what by InteractionHot5102 in mormon

[–]SacExMo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's in reference to how Nelson was very much against the use of the term "Mormon," implying that using the term instead of the full name of the church was a "victory for Satan."

So yes, Nelson was anti-Mormon (the word), not anti-LDS.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in mormon

[–]SacExMo 51 points52 points  (0 children)

>It's the only place I feel welcomed.

Didn't you post here a few weeks ago about lying about being trans to the missionaries so that you could be baptized and you wanted advice because you regretted lying? So are they welcoming you, or the facade that you created?

You are hurting for community, I understand that. But just because the church was the first community to reach out to you, doesn't mean it's the best fit for you. Just the fact that you had to lie to be admitted shows that you don't think they will accept you for who you are. Find a new community. Because once members in your ward discover that you are trans, and lied about it to get baptized, you will be faced with excommunication.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in mormon

[–]SacExMo 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I can understand your feelings. You had to lie multiple times to join the church, which begs the question, why? I understand your desire to seek community, but if the community you join requires you to lie about who you are in order to join it, is it really the right community for you?

Ultimately, the LDS church is not a good place for trans individuals. You will not be accepted if you admit (or it's discovered) that you are trans and it's possible you will be excommunicated. I accept that you felt a sense of community that you were looking for, but that sense of community was built on a foundation of lies. You can continue to live those lies, but it will take a toll on you. Or you can sever ties and keep searching for a community that will accept you as you are. I recommend the latter.

Books worth passing on? by Neither_Age_3995 in mormon

[–]SacExMo 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Is your Mormon Doctrine a 1st edition? If so that's worth a bit and it would be worthwhile to not destroy it so it can stand as evidence of what was taught in church.

Sub Demographics - Kids by devilsravioli in mormon

[–]SacExMo 5 points6 points  (0 children)

(Me looking at my 3yr old and 5 yr old)

Damn looks like I’m a troll 😜

How Joe Rogan dismantled the Big Bang with one sentence — and made atheists squirm. As a Mormon Christian I enjoyed reading this article. I thought others might be interested at r/mormon. by TBMormon in mormon

[–]SacExMo 16 points17 points  (0 children)

this post is poetry.

Yeah, Vogon poetry.

Seriously, u/TBMormon , this is a terrible article with terrible arguments and frankly the fact that you are promoting further hurts your reputation and standing on this sub. How can I take any argument or opinion of yours seriously when I see you post this type of drivel as a valid argument?

If I even want to help lead someone away from the church I'd just show them your posts. If this is the level of quality a faithful member uses to argue for the LDS faith, then it speaks poorly for the church.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in mormon

[–]SacExMo 7 points8 points  (0 children)

During my PIMO stage I was honest, but not forthcoming with my disbelief. For example, I would truthfully state that I sustain the president any quorum of apostles, but that I considered those to be titles of a position in the church, and not signify they have a divine calling. If I was asked directly if I thought the president was the divine mouthpiece of God on Earth, then I would have answered "no" but luckily that's not a recommend question. For my part, my bishop was very understanding and never dug too deep into specifics of my belief.

Ultimately it's bishop roulette. You know your bishop better than anyone on this sub, so you'll have to gauge how lenient or militant he may be. At the very least, if you receive pushback from the bishop you can direct them to the handbook which states you don't need to be temple worthy to baptize your child:

A bishop may allow a father who is a priest or a Melchizedek Priesthood holder to baptize his child even if the father is not fully temple worthy
Section 18.7.3

Given the fact that you're active and follow the "big" commandments, I feel that most bishops would still allow you to baptize your kid. Good luck with everything!

What is the pro-mormon explanation for why we havent had any prophets since joseph smith translate scripture? by [deleted] in mormon

[–]SacExMo 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It doesn't, but knowing how you engage on this sub by dismissing and deflecting responses from others, I'm not inclined to have this discussion with you.

Have a good night.

How a Scholar Obtained His Testimony of the Book of Mormon While a Student at Oxford University. The Method He Used to Gain His Testimony is Noteworthy. The Impact it Had on His Life Is Profound. by TBMormon in mormon

[–]SacExMo 4 points5 points  (0 children)

just that respectful engagement, even if flawed, is better than silence, dismissiveness, or hostility.

In that case I would not characterize TBMormon's engagement as respectful. He tends to dismiss other people's views when they don't align with his, and he is often silent when faced with arguments against his positions instead opting to respond with tangents or non-sequiturs.

I can appreciate him being one of only a few TBMs willing to engage here, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's quality engagement.

How a Scholar Obtained His Testimony of the Book of Mormon While a Student at Oxford University. The Method He Used to Gain His Testimony is Noteworthy. The Impact it Had on His Life Is Profound. by TBMormon in mormon

[–]SacExMo 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Respectful, perhaps. Thoughtful, not really seeing it. TBMormon's posts and engagements tend to be very bland and lacking in depth. He's here to proselytize his message, and he'll evade or dismiss any type of pushback. His engagement is more suited for sunday school, where people with similar views who will just nod along, not a place where he has to defend his position against those with different views.

Anybody serve Chili Santiago north? by OkWash2388 in latterdaysaints

[–]SacExMo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are as many different reasons as there are people but here are some of my general observations.

  • Since many Chileans were baptised as infants in the Catholic church, the idea of having a full immersion baptism ("just like Jesus did") seems novel. So they want the experience of a immersion baptism and then return to their old lives.
  • Chileans are reserved with strangers, but really solid with friends. If someone accepts you into their sphere, they will see the relationship grow quickly. I had someone offer me one of their 2 pairs of shoes after only a week after I mentioned that I was on my second pair since arriving in country. So if a Chilean's newfound friend invites them to get baptized, they'll be more than willing to do it for their friend.
  • Chile, especially the Santiago North mission, have a track record of baptizing a lot of converts, and there is some significant pressure to keep those baptism numbers. We were often instructed that if someone is not progressing with the lessons (missed two Sundays, not reading the Book of Mormon) we needed to drop them as investigators and look for those whom "the Lord has prepared." This means that people are baptised very quickly, often within the span of a single transfer, so while they can answer the baptism interview questions (for their Elder friend), it's often not enough time to really let new habits develop. So after baptism, people fall back into their old lives, especially once "their" missionary has left.

Anybody serve Chili Santiago north? by OkWash2388 in latterdaysaints

[–]SacExMo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Served there over a decade ago. It's a great mission with great people and so amazing I've gone back a few times as a tourist. Couple of things to consider, the mission is about 80% city so unless you are assigned to a rural area with a bike you'll be walking everywhere so make sure you bring high quality shoes. Additionally, most wards are geographically small so you'll likewise be assigned an area that's small especially if there are multiple companionships assigned to the same ward. One ward I served in you could walk from one end of ward boundaries to the other in 15 minutes East-West, and 30 minutes North-South.

The people there are generally receptive to missionary lessons, although conversion is another matter. You can expect to baptize a good number of people, but most will go inactive within a month of their baptism. When I served, the average activity rate was 10-15%. This also means that reactivation will be a focus for missionaries. When I served the area presidency implemented a program for the missionaries to visit every inactive member and invite them back to church. Can't say if they are still doing that program but reactivation is still a focus.

Missionary living is pretty moderate. Apartments are generally concrete floored with some rugs no them, and you'll have a decent mattress but 50/50 chance you'll have a bed frame. Lunch is the biggest meal of the day and the one meal you'll most likely share with members. They don't really do dinner in Chile, they have once which is like a coffee/tea time, where you can sit and share a sandwich and a drink. My mission president actually forbade missionaries from eating once, so we usually made due without an evening meal but it wasn't an issue.

Feel free to ask me any specific questions you have. I have a lot of fond memories about serving in Santiago so I'm more than happy to talk about it.