Posts by SusanHere

37

its just me ,,,,

by looking-4-the-truth in

how are you ... and hope everyone is good.

anyways, i'm a muslim guy and i live in the states ,,, i do love living in here ,,, and my wife is christain " mormon " ,,,,,,,,,,, .

and i'd love to discuse with one of you about the bible ,,,,,,, .

SusanHere

Let me help out a little here ...

Mormons are not "sanctioned" or "excommunicated" for marrying out of their religion. It is discouraged, but that's all.

Many part-member families are happy, though they have special challenges that simply won't be a factor if both spouses are LDS, such as what values to raise the children with, what holidays to celebrate and how, how important education should be (very high if you are LDS), morality issues, money issues, how to spend Sundays, importance of families, and on and on and on.

With part-member families, all of these, and more, become potential problem issues as they will have to be faced and dealt with and can be an ongoing conflict that will affect the entire family. Every family has issues to be settled and compromises to be made, but it helps if the core values of both spouses are the same, and LDS people tend to value their religion greatly. Even if they truly think they can compromise on issues once they're married, or once the children come, they usually find compromise unacceptable, especially where the children are concerned. It can be a problem, obviously.

So, I'd also like to hear how this couple got together, and congratulations on being happy thus far! May it always be so!!

Susan

60

MORALITY: what is it really?

by Terry in

what is morality?

how is it different from ethics?

do we just make it all up to suit our fancy?

SusanHere

Terry,

Thank you for the best topic I've read in here in a long time. Reading you, it's almost as though I'm back in college listening to favorite professors, stretching my mind to absorb it all, to evaluate and weigh each phrase, to grasp the meaning behind the words, and then to apply those parts which are valid to my own life and to the world in general. And yes, there are universal laws that we cannot escape, though many try. Morality is one of them.

Delightful! Thank you again,

SusanHere

16

America's Favorite Mormon has finally lost!

by TresHappy in

jw
friends

after 74 wins and 2.5 million, ken jennings has finally lost!

SusanHere

First of all, thank you, DoubleEdge, for showing the only touch of class in this entire thread. You are always a class act.

As for the rest of you, underwear concerns only those who wear it, unless they are flashing for all the world to see, which Mormons do not. What underwear anyone chooses to wear is a private, personal choice. My only concern is that they occasionally wash whatever they wear so that I don't have to smell them should I be in the vicinity of where they either are or have been.

I would also appreciate them keeping their personal choice of undergarments to themselves. I do not care to see it. They don't need to see mine, either.

Secondly, not everyone is as obsessed with sex as some in here. Must every topic denegrate to that level of conversation?

And lastly, anyone with any decency will show respect for the deeply held religious beliefs of other faiths. To a moral person, not everything is fair game.

SusanHere

81

Do you believe in "same sex" marriage?

by Carmel in

jw
friends

yesterday i tuned into espn sports radio and listened to a semi-political debate on several issues.

when "same sex" marriage came up one of the talking heads refrained that "all marriages are same sex.

" you get married and have the "same sex" over and over again!

SusanHere

NO. And neither does God.

Susan

20

Adoption

by RR in

.

has anyone here adopted any children?

rr

SusanHere

We adopted two boys after having four children of our own. The adoption was in California, which is not an easy state when it comes to these things. Took FOREVER. But got it done. They're all grown now and turned out very well.

I presume you have some questions?

Susan

11

No marriage after resurrection-MORE LIES

by Jez in

jw
friends

this really irritates me.

millions are being mislead by the society because they are holding out a false hope that they will see their dead loved ones again, including marriage mates.

how many do you know that are aching and waiting to see their husband or wife in the new system?

SusanHere

Hi again,

The way this was explained to me, just recently, by active JW family, is that sex is only available now as a means to produce children, so after the resurrection, when enough children are produced to make the earth "full" there would be no further need for sex and the "desire for it would be taken away".

Also, the children would grow to be adults, so the Watchtower image of happy forever families of parents and children would be a very temporary thing. Eventually everyone ends up the same age, at least in appearance. Would be a very sad place without the sweet laughter of children. No joy there.

When discussing this topic in a way that didn't make them defensive, they did confirm the current belief being that only those who BOTH survive into the new system will be married. Those who died first have lost out on that privilege. Also, those who have mates who are of the annointed class will be left on earth without a mate and unable to remarry.

I guess for some this might sound like a great thing to look forward to, but to me it's so tragic a belief that only the very sick could look forward to it.

For me and my household, we rejoice in knowing Families Are Forever, children are pure and innocent, and love, being the only eternal, is meant to BE ETERNAL. Our challenge is to learn to be kind and loving individuals.

Okay, next!

SusanHere

61

Sometimes I Hate Being The Father Of Teenagers . . .

by Corvin in

jw
friends

i am a pretty liberal dad.

i talk to my kids alot and openly about everything from sex to drugs .

i always try to give them options and let them make their own decisions .

SusanHere

Corvin,

Way to go, Dad!! Raising teenagers is really great/really rewarding/really sucky/totally sucky/makes you want to hug them/makes you want to throw them out the window/etc.

I raised six. They all loved me, most of the time, liked me some of the time, and hated me far more often than any of them now want to admit. It's tough being a parent, and even tougher being a GOOD parent in today's world where values and standards are so often upside down.

Sounds to me like you are putting the wellbeing of your children first, and bless you for it. Stick to your guns. Your children will thank you when they are grown.

Susan

4

Medical Emergencies - I Guess You've Just Got To Laugh...

by Stephanus in

jw
friends

my eldest son (13) has been fainting quite often recently and "fitting" along with it.

he was put through a series of tests a couple of weeks ago at the emergency room, including a cat scan, but they failed to show any signs of epilepsy - he's booked in for an eeg in a month.

yesterday was the first day in a week we sent him to school, but at recess he fainted again and the school reckons he was "fitting".

SusanHere

Seizure activity in an otherwise healthy child is NOT normal. You need to stop listening to GP's and take him to a Neurologist. If you can, find one who specialized in pediatric neurology. Not to frighten you, but seizures are basically short circuits in the brain and can literally fry a child's brain. I've seen it happen.

As for the EEG, yes, he needs one. But remember... a negative EEG test doesn't mean anything more than THEY DIDN'T CAPTURE SEIZURE ACTIVITY AT THAT TIME. It does not mean he isn't having seizures. It simply means they didn't catch it at that time.

With EEGs, a positive test, meaning they caught activity, is always positive for seizure activity, but a negative means nothing, zero, zilch.

Please insist they sedate your child during the test. It is during the transitions from wake to sleep and back again that activity is most often caught. If he lays there wide awake, they are more likely to miss it.

I was a neuro tech for years, so I have some experience here.

Good luck and God bless.

Susan

16

Jews object to Mormon practice of baptizing dead Jews

by Gopher in

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=519&e=6&u=/ap/20040410/ap_on_re_us/baptizing_the_dead

jewish group: mormons still baptize dead .

fri apr 9, 9:28 pm etby mark thiessen, associated press writer.

SusanHere

Let me see here... So none of you believe what the Mormons are doing is valid. You do not believe it is an authentic practice that will have any bearing on anyone's eternal life. It is being done only for DEAD people. You believe the dead are totally unaware that anything is being done "for them". It is not a matter of public shame to the families of the dead since no one knows any ordinances are being performed (other than the few faithful people involved in the ordinances themselves).

But....

Many of you are "outraged" that anyone would do such a "horrible thing" to your dead ancestors as to give them them a chance to be taught what they didn't get to hear in this life. Woooo, awful, horrible, baaaaaaaad Mormons! Yep, them taking time out of their busy lives, away from their jobs and families, to travel to the temple and perform ordinances that are of no benefit whatsoever to themselves, but can only intended to benefit others, wow, that's REALLY BAD!!!! How dare they!!!!

Can I end this sarcasm now? Has anyone gotten the point? Anyone at all?

English Patient wants to visit people on the next block who are total strangers and do vengence on them for being part of such an evil organization. What a man! While you're at it, go beat up on the nuns who dare to flaunt their religion by wearing those get-ups out in public. Surely they only do it to shove their religion in our faces!!! Yeah, that must be it!!! I'm sure you can really teach them a thing or two, English. Maybe they'll remove their robes before daring to walk down YOUR street!!!

The world needs more violence and hate, EP? We don't have enough already? Shall we now do violence on good people just because we don't happen to like one facet of their religion? You really think that's going to make the world a better place?

Bottom line, folks ... If you don't believe what is done in the temples is of any value or has any effect on the dead, then why get your shorts in a twist over it?

I lost a child. I held its tiny body in my hand -- yes, in one hand. If any of you Catholics want to light a candle for my child, please feel free. Light a whole box of them. If you want to light a few for a mother who still grieves over the loss of her child, feel free to do that to. If you want to say a rosary for me or for my child (if that is part of your belief) please do that to. If you are Jewish and want to do whatever your faith says you can do for my child, please feel free. If you are wiccan and want to do some ritual under the full moon, feel free.

In no way can the prayers of the faithful OF ANY RELIGION harm my dead child. I have no reason to be anything but grateful for anyone who cares to do any religious ritual intended to be of BENEFIT AND BLESSING TO MY DEAD CHILD.. Whether what you do is valid or not, God will bless you for caring enough to do what you can for anyone who has died, who has suffered or is now suffering, whether family to you or not.

What can the world use more of -- those who do too much to help others, or those who do violence and intentional harm?

The dead can use all the prayers they can get. God will know which ones are valid, and he will recognize and honor the ones he choose to recognize. He will also know who is doing what they can out of love for others and who has another less exalted agenda. Don't you trust him enough to let him do his part?

Why don't we all do what we can to make things better, in whatever way we can, and leave the rest in his capable hands? Is that so hard?

As always,

Susan, of the temple-going Mormon class

24

Mormons tried to recruit me on the phone

by Mulan in

i think the mormons are trying a new tactic.. i got a call yesterday from the mormon church in salt lake city.

it seems one of my malaysian friends, is a bishop or something with the church in malaysia.

i knew he had been in slc recently, because he called me one night.

SusanHere

Hmmmm, do I answer this one or not?

::: tossing coin into air :::

Okay, most of it I won't bother to refute, as I have before, several times, and either got stomped on, or ignored. Most of you seem to think Mormons and JWs are cut from the same cloth. They are not, but if you prefer to think they are, have it your way. I AM Mormon, and I have JW family members whom I dearly love, so I know first-hand many of the differences between us and them, and they are legion.

One big, BIG, HUGE difference is that we DO NOT SHUN. We do not shun the young missionaries who do not complete their missions. No matter why they came home, they are not shunned. We do not shun the ones who are caught in transgression or who come forward in transgression. We do not shun those who choose to no longer be associated with us for whatever reason. We do not shun those who slam the door in our faces when we take plates of Christmas cookies we baked and decorated ourselves. WE DO NOT SHUN.

I really don't care how many people have told you they THINK we do, or that they KNOW we do because some friend of a friend of a third cousin said she once heard from her neighbor of someone being shunned by us. It's simply not true. People may choose to leave us, and that is their right. The door is always right where you left it when you came in, so you are free to go out the same way, and good luck and God bless, we wish you every happiness and if we can ever be of assistance, please don't hesitate to call. (We love being called to help them, actually.)

As for control in a JW fashion...get real! It is night and day different. I can attend any worship service I choose, at any church I choose, and even participate in the service if I wish to do so. And I have, and will continue to do so. I can choose my own political party and candidate and publicly support them. I can have the local polling place be my own home (and I have). I can go nose to nose with my Bishop (we are actually the same height as he is short) and tell him EXACTLY what I think of whatever I care to tell him about, and he will listen with respect even if he disagrees with me. And then we will part friends, and still on good terms with each other.

I am free to say, "No, I won't accept that calling, assignment, or responsibility at this time." (no excuse needed) and still remain a member in good standing. I can fall down on the job of whatever calling, assignment or responsibility I have already accepted, and not be shamed for my lack of due dilligence. I can choose my career, my education, the number of children I have or don't have, how I come by those children (born to me, stepchildren, adopted or foster), the kind of car I drive, the kind of house I live in, etc. Free agency is paramount to Mormons.

I refuse at all times to make a "show" of my faithfulness. I don't spend a lot of time making sure never to "stumble" anyone or make any mis-step. I call a spade a spade and often tend to offend member and nonmember alike. I live my life my way and if anybody doesn't like it, they are more than welcome not to look! I won't waste time and effort "giving a good witness" through doing whatever silly thing someone decides will make non-members look at me, my home, my car, my family, or my dog with great admiration and thereby decide to become part of my religion so they, too, can put on such a "show" of their religion. Anybody who joins a religion because of someone's "show" deserves exactly what they get.

How many of my JW family members can do these things without suffering serious consequences?

No, we do not "collect" 10% tithing. Nobody knocks on your door or stops you in the hall to demand it. Nobody says, "Brother, can you tell me how you managed to (buy this item, go on this vacation, have a nose job, send a child to college, fill in the blank) and yet you haven't paid tithing so far this year?" NOBODY. Tithing is a private thing between the member and God. At the end of the year, IF WE CHOOSE TO DO SO, we may meet with the Bishop and go over with him what we did with regard to that principle, whether it is full tithing, partial tithing, or no tithing, If we choose not to have such a meeting, we don't.

Nobody knows who pays and who doesn't, nor how much.

So, please, please, PLEASE don't paint Mormons with the same broad brush as you do JWs. That sort of unfair comparison does nobody any justice.

And with that, let me wish you all a most Happy New Year!

Susan of the Outspoken Mormon Class