Tonight as I left the campus library, I felt impressed to go home a different way than my usual south-by-southeast decline.
As I walked by the Wilkinson Student Center, I spied a large cat, somewhat bigger than the usual housecat, but with tabby-like markings and not big enough to be something like a bobcat or cougar. Anyway, it noticed me first and the sound it made as it backed its head out of the trash can it was rummaging through was very quiet, but alerted me to look in its direction.
Its eyes met mine, not in a mutual communicative glance of gaze, but in an extremely alert, watching manner. My gaze quickly changed to a friendly one to comfort the wild critter so it could go back to its meal.
I just think it's so fascinating, the look in those eyes.
I wonder what feeling makes up that look. Is it fear? Maybe not. Maybe it's that extreme alertness that comes with fear, but isn't always caused by it. I wonder....
These wild animals must not exist always in fear. And when encounters occur, if it IS fear that motivates such intense stares, I doubt that it's the kind of fear that torments so many people.
It must, I suppose, be a fear without attachment. A sort of instinct without dread. That seems more right for the feeling of the look that cat gave me. I wonder....
Monday, October 13, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
finally conclude.
So please don't be angry with me. Please try to understand. I think we both want the same thing. We both want our children and families to be happy and have the best things in life. So I hope I haven't sounded argumentative or mean. It's just so important to me. Let's not be shocked and dismayed with each other's views anymore. Please let me keep my traditional family alive. Please help me always be kind to others, even if they don't want what I dream of.
even more...
After saying all that, though, the reason is love.
I love my family, and I love my future children and spouse. I want them to have a strong family and a mom and a dad to teach and care for them, and gain from all the strengths that a woman has, and all the strengths that a man has, to be more like our Heavenly Parents.
Yes, the traditional family IS an antiquated idea. It has never changed from the dawn of time, from before the creation of the Earth. It is older than you, me, our grandparents, our most distant ancestors, and even the first forms of life on this planet.
It is Eternal. I have to admit that makes it a little old-fashioned.
I love my family, and I love my future children and spouse. I want them to have a strong family and a mom and a dad to teach and care for them, and gain from all the strengths that a woman has, and all the strengths that a man has, to be more like our Heavenly Parents.
Yes, the traditional family IS an antiquated idea. It has never changed from the dawn of time, from before the creation of the Earth. It is older than you, me, our grandparents, our most distant ancestors, and even the first forms of life on this planet.
It is Eternal. I have to admit that makes it a little old-fashioned.
more
There is a reason for having males and females. It's not some ancient need that we've now evolved away from. It's like Hydrogen and Oxygen. You need both to make water. We need water to support life. Two oxygen molecules do not make water, and a diatomic Hydrogen molecule can't combine with another diatomic hydrogen molecule to make water, either.
Many other chemical compounds are possible, but we could not survive, or do anything without water. It is the only substance the has it's unique properties, and it's great range of abilities and effects. We must have water.
Likewise, we must have families. whole nations die and become defunct when the family disappears. That's what I'm trying to protect.
Many other chemical compounds are possible, but we could not survive, or do anything without water. It is the only substance the has it's unique properties, and it's great range of abilities and effects. We must have water.
Likewise, we must have families. whole nations die and become defunct when the family disappears. That's what I'm trying to protect.
actual posted response...
It saddens not only you when some of God's children choose to injure, spite, hate, or reject His other sons and daughters. It saddens Him, too. It saddens me! Everyone should be treated better than that regardless of their feelings or beliefs or orientation.
Families give strength to the children, the husband and the wife of the family, and their extended family, when they live in harmony and love.
I don't want families pulled apart, but I don't want them to disappear, either. There is a reason we try to build families from a man and woman united in love with respect for each other and God. Because it works! Many grow up without a loving mother, or without a loving father, and they do all right. But how they long for it when they know what it's like, and how much better would it be!
It's not about rejecting people who are different. When you get down to it, a man and a woman create children. They create families! That's because each is important to the family sticking together and growing in love and greatness! Families need everyone who went into the process of creating it. No family is perfect, but this is the model to follow. there really isn't any other way, logical, physical or emotional, that we can really have families! Without this, we wouldn't have families at all. just towns, communities, etc.
The position of the church hasn't changed. God's position hasn't changed. He has always loved all of His children no matter what they do. And He has never wanted His children to use sacred sexual relations for anything else but for a husband and wife bringing His other children into the world into a loving family, and for the man and woman becoming united and increasing in their love, honor, trust and kindness toward one another. There is no other right use. It's this way so that love and happiness can increase for everyone -- even people with homosexual tendencies.
Unfortunately we don't all get to have children or find a mate in this life, and sometimes marriages go sour or, worst of all, become abusive. This is also not God's will. He wants us to be happy, no matter what our gender or sexual tendencies are. He loves us all and expects us all to love one another. This has never changed.
Everyone is entitled to the same rights as children of God. This has always been. He wants us to become like Him and enjoy our individuality to the fullest, developing our unique personalities to a glory like His, and He wants to help us get there(takes more than a lifetime!).
Families give strength to the children, the husband and the wife of the family, and their extended family, when they live in harmony and love.
I don't want families pulled apart, but I don't want them to disappear, either. There is a reason we try to build families from a man and woman united in love with respect for each other and God. Because it works! Many grow up without a loving mother, or without a loving father, and they do all right. But how they long for it when they know what it's like, and how much better would it be!
It's not about rejecting people who are different. When you get down to it, a man and a woman create children. They create families! That's because each is important to the family sticking together and growing in love and greatness! Families need everyone who went into the process of creating it. No family is perfect, but this is the model to follow. there really isn't any other way, logical, physical or emotional, that we can really have families! Without this, we wouldn't have families at all. just towns, communities, etc.
The position of the church hasn't changed. God's position hasn't changed. He has always loved all of His children no matter what they do. And He has never wanted His children to use sacred sexual relations for anything else but for a husband and wife bringing His other children into the world into a loving family, and for the man and woman becoming united and increasing in their love, honor, trust and kindness toward one another. There is no other right use. It's this way so that love and happiness can increase for everyone -- even people with homosexual tendencies.
Unfortunately we don't all get to have children or find a mate in this life, and sometimes marriages go sour or, worst of all, become abusive. This is also not God's will. He wants us to be happy, no matter what our gender or sexual tendencies are. He loves us all and expects us all to love one another. This has never changed.
Everyone is entitled to the same rights as children of God. This has always been. He wants us to become like Him and enjoy our individuality to the fullest, developing our unique personalities to a glory like His, and He wants to help us get there(takes more than a lifetime!).
response to upset mother of 2 gay children about Proposition 8
The position of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has never changed on this: To love on another, regardless of sexual orientation; to be kind and considerate, not accusatory or prideful or hateful in any way. It has never changed on same-sex marriage being wrong. I know there are a lot of people who have grown up always having had feelings of attraction for the same sex. That's the way they tend to feel. I don't hate them for that. I don't. I haven't met very many where I live, or had the opportunity to be friends with them, but they're usually pretty good neighbors like anyone else. I'm supporting the Proposition NOT to take away my neighbors' rights, but to protect people's rights to their religious beliefs.
Tolerance of people and their feelings does NOT mean tolerance of them doing wrong things. In fact the more you love them the more you help them do what they know is right. You mention other kinds of people who are different, like mentally ill or disabled persons. It isn't okay for them to break the law because they are that way. It also is not okay for anyone to have same-sex relations. But there's no human law against it. Only laws of nature and God. God hasn't changed his feelings about this, but He hasn't stopped loving all His children whatever their orientation, either. He doesn't want any of them using sacred sexual relations improperly, even if they're heterosexual.
I love everyone, and I'm not doing this to attack or demean anyone or take away their happiness or anything like that. People can accept things as right because it is pleasing and makes life easier or gives them something they've longed for. But it's not necessarily right.
Try to turn it around and look at it from the other side. Proposition 8 is to prevent the "Judgment, bigotry and disdain for the civil rights of humans in our present day" that you talked about. Without it, people who favor heterosexual marriage could have their rights trampled on much more severely than homosexual groups ever did. And those rights would be trampled in the name of Tolerance! Our rights are as important as yours, and they are the same rights. I want everyone to have a full, satisfying life. I hope you understand why this is important to me and why I'm promoting it. I'll always try to be a good neighbor to you even if you're against what I feel is right.
Tolerance of people and their feelings does NOT mean tolerance of them doing wrong things. In fact the more you love them the more you help them do what they know is right. You mention other kinds of people who are different, like mentally ill or disabled persons. It isn't okay for them to break the law because they are that way. It also is not okay for anyone to have same-sex relations. But there's no human law against it. Only laws of nature and God. God hasn't changed his feelings about this, but He hasn't stopped loving all His children whatever their orientation, either. He doesn't want any of them using sacred sexual relations improperly, even if they're heterosexual.
I love everyone, and I'm not doing this to attack or demean anyone or take away their happiness or anything like that. People can accept things as right because it is pleasing and makes life easier or gives them something they've longed for. But it's not necessarily right.
Try to turn it around and look at it from the other side. Proposition 8 is to prevent the "Judgment, bigotry and disdain for the civil rights of humans in our present day" that you talked about. Without it, people who favor heterosexual marriage could have their rights trampled on much more severely than homosexual groups ever did. And those rights would be trampled in the name of Tolerance! Our rights are as important as yours, and they are the same rights. I want everyone to have a full, satisfying life. I hope you understand why this is important to me and why I'm promoting it. I'll always try to be a good neighbor to you even if you're against what I feel is right.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
That which blasts a flowering intellect
Deadlines. Emphasis on the prefix. That is how one comes to feel and act when he has too many of them, whether by his own device or the inadvertent pressure created by the need to cover the material he desires to learn.
Or does he...anymore? Perhaps when he sees a light at the end of the tunnel, he'll cease trying just to survive and maybe learn something.
Or does he...anymore? Perhaps when he sees a light at the end of the tunnel, he'll cease trying just to survive and maybe learn something.
General conference styles
While watching General Conference last weekend, I didn't pay much attention to the presentation techniques used, but I do remember the general feel of it all.
Some of the diplomacy was peeled away during Priesthood Session. This is probably because as Priesthood holders, we've already made covenants and obligations we're expected to uphold, so it is appropriate to use more direct speech concerning our faithfulness to those things. At the same time as being direct and bold, any such admonishment was given in a non-accusatory manner.
All the speakers did well in the General sessions to fit or explain their terminology (via context) to a general audience, without losing the meaning to the primary audience.
Some of the diplomacy was peeled away during Priesthood Session. This is probably because as Priesthood holders, we've already made covenants and obligations we're expected to uphold, so it is appropriate to use more direct speech concerning our faithfulness to those things. At the same time as being direct and bold, any such admonishment was given in a non-accusatory manner.
All the speakers did well in the General sessions to fit or explain their terminology (via context) to a general audience, without losing the meaning to the primary audience.
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