Monday, May 2, 2011

Be Ye Not Offended

As a stake president I have seen many people drift into inactivity due to being offended when clearly no offense was intended.  Allow me to discuss a recent example in my stake. 

A 24 year old overweight single sister went to see her Bishop for some advice.  She hadn’t been on a date for a few months and felt left behind as she attended several of her friend’s weddings.  She felt lonely and depressed.  In the purity and goodness of charity, trying to help the poor girl, the bishop counseled her that it might be a good idea to lose a few pounds and wear some makeup. 

The sister was heartbroken at this counsel and did not return to church the next week nor the week after that.  Her father came to see me and complained about the bishop in question.  This of course was a very delicate matter but I want you to know that I defended that great bishop.  I had called and set him apart myself and knew him to be a man of God. When you keep your life in harmony with the gospel it is promised unto you that the spirit will bring all things to your remembrance.  At this time I remembered an inspiring talk given by Vaughn J. Featherstone which due to its importance is still featured on lds.org today.  Please click on the below link so that you can see that I followed the example given on the church’s official website that day:
(I suggest you read the whole talk but for the purpose of this discussion please go to just over half the way down the page where a similar situation is disussed)

I said to this father, “You are wrong. That sweet bishop, out of purity and love for your daughter, felt and did that which he was constrained by the spirit to do. I know that it was a message from the Lord to your daughter”.  Like the woman in the talk by Vaughn J. Featherstone I assume that she was probably up in her bedroom the night before praying, ‘Heavenly Father, I am lonely. I need someone. Please help me. Help me to find someone so I won’t be so lonely.’” And yet oftentimes we are offended because a sweet bishop gives us some instruction which is hard for us to live.

This experience clearly shows that when members choose to be offended at the counsel of priesthood leaders they only end up hurting themselves.

Please let me know if you have been offended by a church leader and share what you did to overcome such feelings.

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

As a young woman I faced my first bishops meeting. At this point I was already rebellious, and should admit dear President, that I entered into that sweet man's office defensively. The interview went according to whatever rules and handbooks you priesthood holders follow, and eventually the bishop came to my sexual purity. As he questioned me I became more and more uncomfortable with a man many decades my senior asking me sexual questions. I was absolutely disgusted when he asked me if I masturbated. I could not answer him at all. And eventually left the interview in stunned silence. I found myself angry at my bishop, the Church, my family, and God.

This turned into a bitter seed in my heart and eventually I strayed from the church. And I must admit that I did indeed masturbate frequently (and still do). I have not returned and do not know how to overcome my natural hesitation to reveal such intimate details to a man. Even one ordained by God. I find the whole thing to be vaguely pedophiliac...

Anonymous said...

Dear President.
I was offended by my bishop when he touched my boobs. He told me that Jo Smith told him to do it and that I was to be his new wife. I guess I totally over reacted. I guess I shall return.

Anonymous said...

I actually appreciated that Brother Featherstone juxtaposed masterbation and leaving early for meetings. (Not implying that's why they were leaving early :)
It's refreshing contrast to consider masturbation about as serious as leaving early instead of second only to murder!

Anonymous said...

Wait, did he just say Cola was bad?! I thought David O. McKay demonstrated it was fine.

J Hume said...

President, my brother has recently taken offense over some alleged 'facts' about church history. I lovingly rebuked him for reading anti-Mormon literature and this only made him more offended. I know that the 'wicked take the truth to be hard', but I don't know what else to do! I have already committed in my heart to do whatever you recommend. Please, counsel me.

Spencer L. Jensen said...

I appreciate the link to Elder Featherstone's inspired counsel. I took it to be hard at the time, as I had fallen into the web of masturbation after a combined Young Men/Young Women activity.

Though only once, this act has haunted me ever since, as surely as if it were written on a scroll for all to see. Sometimes people ask me if I have masturbated before, as though the dirty deed has been written on my face.

I wear the burden of this grievous sin like a latter-day scarlet letter. Let this be a warning to the youth who read this great article...never break your winning streak!

Anonymous said...

Several years ago I was living in SLC and working for CoJCoLDS. One Sunday my sweet Bishop, frustrated with the low home teaching numbers in the ward said over the pulpit (opening exercises) that if home teaching numbers didn't improve he would be asking about it during temple recommend interviews and would take away the recommends from those that weren't home teaching.

At first, I was "offended." Did this man not realize that my job depended on my keeping my temple recommend? I was worried that for a lack of home teaching diligence I could go bankrupt, lose my home, and potentially my family.

All I needed to do was to look my dear wife and kids in the eyes and realize they were counting on me to be a diligent home teacher. I began motivating myself each month to visit the families on my list. Wanting to share my new love of home teaching to those outside of the mountain west, I chose to leave employment with the church and found another job in the east.

Vince said...

I have a question for you President. My question deals with politics and the reason why I ask this specific question is because I believe many fellow members are thoroughly deceived by the secret combinations that exist here in America.

If you had to choose between the presidential candidates, assuming they both run, Ron Paul or Mitt Romney who would you choose and why? Also, why not?

Upon your answer I will reply. Thanks.

You may also say that you'd vote for neither.

Unknown said...

This blog is pure inspired genius. I have been adequately warned, and will repent straight away.

I have been too slow to point out the large gut of the single sisters in my ward. I will make amends.

Stake Pres. said...

Thank you all for your wonderful and heartfelt comments. To the first anonymous commenter I am afraid that part of the law of chastity does include abstinence from all sexual relations including with oneself. Your bishop is justified in asking this question as part of “Do you live the law of chastity”. Allow me to quote from the same talk as linked to in my original post “President J. Reuben Clark gave me great light many years ago on a great tremendous subject. He said that the sex urge does not have to be satisfied, that Satan’s old lie is that it does have to be satisfied.” I would urge all to keep this in mind at the very hour of your temptation.

Yes in this talk he did say that Coca Cola was bad as it is a habit forming drink. As per this talk “there can’t be the slightest particle of rebellion…We can find loopholes in a lot of things if we want to bend the rules of the Church”. Please do not attempt to find such loopholes. My lips have never indulged themselves in such substances and here I am today a stake president in Zion.

J Hume I would counsel you to go to the temple and put your brother’s name on the prayer roll. Then I want you to call his bishop. If you act quickly your brothers’ soul may still be reclaimed from the grasps of the great deceiver of mankind.

Thank you Brother Jensen for your powerful words of warning. It only takes one slip up to become unclean. You slipped up and have felt the pangs of guilt within you since that day. Please continue to pray for the Lords mercy and forgiveness.

Anonymous the temple question with regards to sustaining of local leaders is an important one. One cannot sustain ones Elders quorum president all the while failing to do ones assigned home teaching. Please see my 2nd blog post from January where I address this very issue.

Vince, there are many secret combinations in our government. This has been prophesied in the Book of Mormon and is why the Church’s mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, not to elect politicians. The Church does not endorse, promote or oppose political parties, candidates or platforms and neither do I. I am however intrigued by your thoughts on the matter so please feel free to post them.

Jason, please do return to the fold and help the sisters in any way you can as directed by the spirit.

Sunshine said...

Ok Patternoster. I may have to put up with you at stake conference. And my idiot husband is forcing me to endure a portrait of you in our barn (it scares the owls away).

But be warned - you darken my fridge with your presence, and you'll be drinking your burger and fries through a straw.

Cindy said...

When I was a youth I was once counselled that often the very thing I am hearing that is hard for me to hear is what I need to hear the most. I have tried to live by this council and it has helped me to learn humility and direction for my life that has made be the person I am today. I don't even want to imagine what my life would be like if I didn't have the church to guide me. It was probably really hard for that bishop to tell that sister what she needed to hear but he did it anyways. I understand that it may have been painful for her to hear what she already knew but if she were to have taken that council it could have blessed her life and she would have ended up being grateful. Our leaders have not shrunk away from pressure by others to say what the Lord would have them say. That's one of the things I love about this church.
Coca Cola is an addictive drink, our body's are sacred and should not be violated and we should be doing our best to take care of ourselves, even if that means losing some weight. If people get offended at these teachings it is only because they have allowed Satan to enter their hearts.

Vince said...

I have to submit it a number of times due to length.

Thank you for your intrigue and sorry for the lengthy post. President I bring this up for a number of reasons. First, I have high regards and love for all bishops and stake presidents. If I could talk more frequently with my own leaders about this subject I would but more appropriate matters need to be addressed currently with them. I posed that previous question to you because I believe that by the grace of God, and many strugglings of mine own, I have been blessed with knowledge to decipher wickedness and truth. This of course does not mean I always exercise agency in wisdom and often times I do not. I have to say that since a young age I have absolutely loved the Gospel or rather truth for various reasons. Again, this does not leave me without fault. I am not trying to toot my own horn by any means.

Well, I perceive that many of my fellow members are deceived as to the things of this world but are some of the best people I know. Good, hard working people trying to make do. But I believe they have been thoroughly deceived by Satan's cunningness especially in regards to our government. I believe that people don't credit the devil with his preciseness. Wickedness and sin isn't just something that "happens" rather it is thoroughly, for the lack of a better term, controlled and regulated. I believe that these controls come largely from government. Now do not get me wrong, government is good and instituted by God. Law and order are good. We know, according to the Doctrine and Covenants, that the Constitution was given to men by God.

Let me form a base here as I could write for hours about this subject. I want to share some scriptures with you. Actually I am just going to link them. Mind the chapter reference and specifically verses 21 - 25.
http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/ether/8?lang=eng

Vince said...

Essentially, I see that many members here, while supporting mostly conservative members of Congress, fail to see that they are largely working against us. Let me explain. Deep rooted inside of me is the desire to attain more truth and at the same time question other truths. I do this with all men including our leaders. We are told to seek the Lord's confirmation of taught truths. Therefore I simply do not take the Apostles, the Prophet and General Authorities for face value and while I love and respect them I do question their teachings. Not quite the Apostles and the Prophets but definitely more so with General Authorities. I believe God would want me to do this. Also, I have ZERO problems with the Church's official doctrine. In fact I fully support it. I find it very saddening when people question the faith when the Church speaks out about things such as gay marriage or immigration etc. These individuals have not their footings on a sure foundation. In fact, as a side note, the Prophet would speak more politically in my onion if he could legally. Members who say this isn't true do not know God's history. We have had entire civilizations living entirely under God's laws and we will one day after America is cleansed but this is for another time.

God's teachings all should be very well understood to us and even the teachings that are harder to swallow for some members. Blacks and the Priesthood, polygyny (polygamy allows women to marry multiple husbands), gays, Joseph Smith's plural wives, Church's modern day positions etc. If we took the time to understand these subjects we would find ourselves greatly enlightened. I bring this up because as much as I think members falter on Church doctrine they falter on geopolitical, social and economic issues.

Here is what I am trying to get at in a nut shell. Mitt Romney for president? Horrible idea. Ron Paul for president? A marvelously brilliant idea! Yet members are so misinformed about politics and economics that they'd rather choose Mitt Romney simply because he is a member. Then you have members who support people like Obama which is beyond me. Not to mention most members support perpetual war which we are taught differently.

Why would Romney be a bad candidate? Now I am not suggesting that he is a bad person by any means. I am sure that he is a member in good standing with the Church and I am glad he is. But as his political career goes it is far from what the Constitution demands. So why would Ron Paul be a great candidate? Simply because he adheres 100% to the Constitution. I mean no offense but I believe him to be on the Lord's errand. Let me share a quote with you.

"Perhaps the Lord needs such men on the outside of His Church to help it along," said the late Elder Orson F. Whitney of the Quorum of the Twelve. "They are among its auxiliaries, and can do more good for the cause where the Lord has placed them, than anywhere else. . . . Hence, some are drawn into the fold and receive a testimony of the truth; while others remain unconverted . . . the beauties and glories of the gospel being veiled temporarily from their view, for a wise purpose. The Lord will open their eyes in His own due time. God is using more than one people for the accomplishment of His great and marvelous work. The Latter- day Saints cannot do it all. It is too vast, too arduous for any one people. . . . We have no quarrel with the Gentiles. They are our partners in a certain sense." (Conference Report, April 1928, p. 59.)

Vince said...

If one looks at Ron Paul's life it greatly mirrors the higher brethren of the Church. He is a hard working man, independent, debt free and married since 1957 with 5 children and many grandchildren. He has continued to "prophesy" about America's future since 1970. Now, I am not saying nor does he claim to prophesy but can't we agree to say that God wants all of his people to be prophets? I would venture to say that Monson had prophesied about many things in relation to his family, his own life, government, economics and the like before becoming the Prophet of the Church. Essentially Monson was a very good prophet before actually becoming the Prophet for the Church. I should also mention that he was an Apostle for decades which is quite amazing. So what is the hold up with members and Ron Paul? I will tell you and it is simple but first you must, absolutely must, believe that secret conspirators control much of our government. If this is true and I ensure you it is, they or the Establishment would greatly want the American people to either hate Ron Paul or think he is completely bonkers. Many people I talk to think he is crazy. Many people think that Joseph Smith Junior was crazy too! The problem is that the people do not understand the Constitution and what a free society really is! This is where Ron Paul’s logic compared to the majority takes a turn for the worse.
Ron Paul would say to abolish the IRS, the Department of Education, the Federal Reserve and like programs and this completely goes over the peoples’ head. They can’t seem to grasp the idea of not having these departments and similar ones to it. I suppose I questioned you because I would like to know how you feel. I rarely speak to members who have higher callings than that of my bishop. And I know I know that this isn’t your calling but I would hope that my higher leaders would be accustomed to or understand these secret combinations. Not because we wish to study the workings of the devil but rather so we aren’t deceived!
I have spent many hours discussing these matters with members in person and on social networking sites such as Facebook. I find that so many, although good, are deceived. They trust the government way too much! We are taught that it is a sad and common thing that when any man receives even a little authority that he wishes to exercise it unjustly. Maybe that is a problem among the saints. Because of our good nature and because of our knowledge of the Spirit and revelation we accept our government leaders like we do our Church ones?
I know I haven’t spent sufficient amount of time to cover these subjects more thoroughly but I can assure you that Ron Paul is a patriot and a far better candidate than any other candidate. He has been attacked from the main stream media for years to try and discredit him yet he continues to shine his light continually before the government of our nation. He is the champion of the Constitution.
Thanks for reading and I would gladly continue to respond if you have any questions or insight. I don’t expect you to create such a large reply as I know you are busy.

I didn’t delve into specifics so much but I will if you are interested. I have loads of info and am more than happy to share it with whoever I can. The fight for freedom isn’t just in our individual, family, or Church lives. It is the fight against Satan and his workers. Lastly, let me leave you with a a talk by Ezra Taft Benson.

http://www.latterdayconservative.com/articles/ezra-taft-benson/a-witness-and-a-warning/

Anonymous said...

Vince, you seem like a person of great sincerity and quite passionate about your convictions. Although I suspect you and I would have very little in common, in terms of political and religious views, I respect your sincerity. This is why I'm just going to come out with it, President PN is not exactly who you think he is, and this blog is not what you think it is either. Look up this term in a google search "Poe's Law". That is what Pres PN and this blog is about. It has it's place in society and I think it's a way to start new discussions, maybe open some eyes, present a perspective not commonly seen. As satire, it does what satire does best, it holds up a mirror to society and begs us to look at ourselves more consciously. It asks us to not take ourselves so seriously. But it is anything but conservative. President PN isn't one of "your people". I hate to be the spoiler but I felt bad reading your post and thinking you were investing so much time and energy in this. I would stick with your verifiably conservative web places. President PN probably voted for Obama, like most of his readers, including myself.

Anonymous said...

This is the last anon poster again. Pres PN, I know you said you don't delete posts but I'd be pleased if you would delete my last one. (maybe after Vince has had a chance to digest it) No one likes a spoiler.

lambness said...

Vince,

I get what you are saying. A couple of great sites are www.stoptherobbery.com & www.thecrowhouse.com.

The deception runs deeper than perhaps you are even seeing right now, or at least are saying, based on your comments. Keep digging & never be afraid of the truth. Things are almost always never what they seem - Especially what they first appeared as! - Even things we were planted & founded upon can dramatically shift, especially when the truth, the hidden truth, comes into view. One may even ponder, "how was it that I never saw or considered that before?!"

You make some excellent points in your commentary about the new world order, politics & church. Just because a candidate can pass the garment test doesn't mean they have necessary knowledge to run a country.

I wish you the best on your mind blowing journey. God be with you.

Stake Pres. said...

These are great comments everyone.

Sister Sunshine I consider myself warned and will not require members of my stake (such as your good self) to have my picture on their fridges.

Cindy thank you for your insights.
I too don't even like to think where my life would be had I not listened and followed the counsel of my priesthood leaders.

Vince your views are most welcome here and are appreciated. Like the anonymous poster after you I appreciate your sincerity and the depth of your research. Many readers will see this research no matter what their opinions are of this blog.

Anonymous, 'spoilers' are most welcome on this site - no need to delete such comments. Please feel free to continue to add to the diversity of our discussions.

And thank you lambness for adding to the political discussion taking place.

Vince said...

I was being sincere and it's OK. I suppose I may have been weary about some of the President's writings but I figured he was just hardcore Peter Priesthood.

I don't feel bad or misused though. While it did take some time to write the previous post I can guarantee I haven't put as much time into it as President.

Well, I may come back one last time to check any replies but after that I'm done.

Anonymous said...

You're a good man Vince. Don't leave.

Stake Pres. said...

I agree with anonymous. We can all have great discussions on Mormon matters here no matter what one's opinion is of the blogs author.

Anonymous said...

We celebrate your line of authority, President.

Sweetie said...

Vince, your contributions are noticed. Don't underestimate the impact on others. Personally I was glad you said what you did! Very few can or will see what you say is true. I personally wonder what you think regarding the leaders of the church... Why don't they speak with committed authoruty as pres Benon did? I've asked many what they think about this & why the brethern are silent for the most part; I've yet to find a satisfactory answer.

So thank you Vince.... Keep being the warrior that you are!

Anonymous said...

Personally, I read followed the link you supplied and read P Bensons talk and I'll admit my opinion of him improved somewhat. (which is saying a lot for me. His talk about mothers in Zion incited fury in my rebellious heart).

~Clint~ said...

Vince, I think Mit Romney is the ideal cantidate for president because as you said :

"I am sure that he is a member in good standing with the Church"

This being the case, we should assume he has a temple reccomend, which is just the incentive that he needs to stay in line with Church authorities even if his personal polical beliefs do not align exactly with the constitution or the leaders of the church.

This leverage will be a valuable tool in helping him to make correct decisions to support our great and inspired country in the way "The Lord" wants it run.

~Clint~ said...

Also, although there is talk about Ron Paul being a candidate (and I think he would an exceptional one) I do not think that this will ever actually manifest.

I'm so sure I would be a nickel on it. :-)

Vince said...

Clint - Thanks for your comments. I suppose I will try hard to distinguish the sincere comments from the not so sincere. But for the record, I would never vote for Mitt Romney. To me he wants to be along with elite of the world although he is not. He does not wish to criticize the Federal Reserve which happens to be one of the core problems of our day. I love Ron Paul. I am happy that he is exploring an option to run. With the power the elite have it is very unlikely he would ever be able to become president and I would fear for him if he did. Yet, I know in the process many hearts and ideas will change and become more aligned with the principles of freedom and liberty.

But, I challenge any here who know little of him to pay close attention to what he says during the debates. I honestly think it will make a lot of sense to you.

~Clint~ said...

Well if Ron Paul were an actual candidate he would have my vote, but that is probably largely irrelevant in Utah since a Republican is guaranteed the Presidential vote anyway.

You might like this comment made on the Pure Mormonism blog regarding the 2008 republican primaries:

"Nearly 90 percent of Utah Republicans -most of them LDS- favored Mitt Romney, a poor excuse for a Mormon whose public positions stand in open defiance of the teachings of Christ. How someone so antithetical to the doctrines of the restoration ever attained stature as a leading Latter-day Saint is a topic I’ll address another time, but the fact that so many active Mormons went all googly over him has to be cause for concern among the remaining faithful. Ron Paul, the only Constitutionist on the ballot and a man whose values are so aligned with Mormon teachings that people often ask if he’s LDS, pulled less than three percent of the Utah vote."

So I think there are some Mormons who are strong supporters of Paul, but I think they are in the vast minority.

Bro Jenssen said...

Rather than be offended by the Gospel, why not be defended?

Defend the right, when the choice is the place before you!

Anonymous said...

You and your fellow disciples have invested a lot of time and energy into this blog. Is it because you had a Stake President that behaved like a Prophet and offended you? I get it, 100%. I'm currently excommunicated and working with the Stake Prophet (LOL) to be re-baptized and I find it all quite amusing.

I'm able to laugh about it because I understand that Heavenly Father puts these wolves in sheep's clothing into the Church for His own purposes.

In Ezra Taft Benson's general conference address of 1963, "Be Not Deceived," we read,

"Six of the original Twelve Apostles selected by Joseph Smith were excommunicated. The Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon left the Church. Three of Joseph Smith's Counselors fell-one even helped plot his death.

A natural question that might arise would be, that if the Lord knew in advance that these men would fall, as he undoubtedly did, why did he have his Prophet call them to such high office? The answer is; to fill the Lord's purposes. For even the Master followed the will the will of the Father by selecting Judas.

President George Q. Cannon suggests an explanation, too, when he states:

"Perhaps it is His own design that faults and weaknesses should appear in high places in order that His Saints may learn to trust in Him and not in any man or men." (Millennial Star 53:658-659. February 15, 1891.)

And this would parallel Lehi's warning; put not your ". . . trust in the arm of flesh. . . ." (2 Nephi 4:34.)

"The Church," says President McKay, "is little, if at all, injured by persecution and calumnies from ignorant, misinformed, or malicious enemies." (The Instructor, February 1956, p. 33.)

http://www.latterdayconservative.com/articles/ezra-taft-benson/be-not-deceived/

Understanding who my Stake President really is, a wolf in sheep's clothing, enables me to fight this fight. I enjoy correcting him on false doctrines he preaches, both publicly and privately. He squirms and hisses as I turn people's eyes away from him and toward the true Prophet. He gets so offended by it and tells me so. I tell Him that if he is offended, he can take it up with God because it's his truth, not mine and walk away.

Now that takes balls and I am definitely despised and judged for it. A great sifting is going on within the Church. It is full of tares. People hiss at me for what they perceive as disrespect for my local leaders. I'm in a very far away and rural area of the Lord's Church and it is teeming with leaders who are seduced by false doctrines.

People think that I am the one who is Apostate and have no clue that we are not required to follow our so called leaders when what they tell us is contradictory to the prophet. They forget...
http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/121.34-40?lang=eng#33
...They don't get it all and they will fall. But that is not my problem. I try to tell them and they don't want to hear it. I've learned much about not casting pearls before swine here.

I hope that you are aware of this reality within the Church. You are expending an enormous amount of energy here to try and lead the weak things of the Earth astray. You won't move anyone away from the Lord nor His Prophet here that isn't already lost. Anyone with eyes to see will know what is going on here with this blog...... (cont. below)

Anonymous said...

"The Church is little, if at all, injured by persecution and calumnies from ignorant, misinformed, or malicious enemies."

The very elect will be deceived in the last days, but it will take more than a blog to cause them to fall. This is mere electronic postings of the philosophies of men mingled with scripture. It's kids stuff. All you are doing is shepherding already lost sheep.

"The Church is little, if at all, injured by persecution and calumnies from ignorant, misinformed, or malicious enemies." Here, I believe he is talking about the Church of the Firstborn, not The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

You are quite intelligent. Why not use your gift to fight the big boys, the actual wolves in sheep's clothing in high places within the Church. It's a much more fair and immensely rewarding fight.

Here, you simply make yourself out to be a fool by battering the weak like child abuser. No one here who is fooled by you would ever make it Home anyway. You are accomplishing nothing but digging your own grave.

Come back and use the talents God has given you and fight the real fight, like a real man, like a Stake President that God uses to promote truth, not lies.

You've stooped much lower than whoever offended you. They could have been a wolf in sheep's clothing. They could have pushed you out of the Church consciously and now they sit back laughing every time they think about it. You are the one who has been conquered. You conquer no one here.

Look... I get it. I left the Church for 13 years and did a lot of the same kind of thing that you are doing here but not so elaborately. It sucks when the people in the Church are such a pain in the ass. I dealt with it before my excommunication, I'm dealing with it again as I try to get re-baptized. Nothing has changed, except me. Don't let these fools stand in your way. Come back and work out your salvation between you and God and forget about all these other jokers, even the ones called by God to high Church positions. He has called some of them there to test us. They are His tools to sift the wheat from the tares. You're smart. Don't be a tare. Come back and fight the good fight with me brother.

You still have time to repent. Don't procrastinate it till it's too late. Come back and you will be an instrument in the hands of God and be the means of doing much good in His name, which will make you full joy. Stay here and you will continue to reap what you already sow... a few laughs and a false sense of vindication. It is so hard core not worth it.

Anonymous said...

What is to be done regarding this dire situation (i.e., pornography and dogmatic beliefs about sex)? Below is an excerpt from an article in the Daily Mail:

Strict religions such as Mormons ranked highest on the scale of sexual guilt. Their average score was 8.19 out of 10. They were followed closely behind by Jehovah's Witness, Pentecostal, Seventh Day Adventist, and Baptist.

Catholics rated their levels of sexual guilt at 6.34 while Lutherans came slightly lower at 5.88 . In contrast, atheists and agnostics ranked at 4.71 and 4.81 respectively.

Of people raised in very religious homes, 22.5 per cent said they were shamed or ridiculed for masturbating compared with only 5.5 percent of people brought up in the least religious homes.

Some 79.9 per cent of people raised in very religious homes said they felt guilty about a specific sexual activity or desire while 26.3 per cent of those raised in secular homes did.

Worryingly, children raised in strongly religious homes were more likely to get their sex education from pornography, as they were not confident enough to talk with their parents.

However, there was some good news for religious groups. People who had lost their belief and became atheists reported a significant improvement in sexual satisfaction.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1388827/Atheists-better-sex-religious-followers-plagued-guilt.html#ixzz1fzxw9Znx