Honest question...

[ute4ever]

In his April 2001 GC talk, Elder Ballard essentially said, whether or not a young women chooses to obey the prophet's admonition to wear only one pair of earrings will probably not have eternal consequences. But if she obeys all of the little things, how much more likely will she be to obey when it really matters?

Meanwhile there are exceptions to nearly every rule.
-A person who avoids R ratings like the plague will never see Schindler's List, which has a powerful message.
-I am sure that many GA's have purchased gas on Sundays while out fulfilling their assignments.
-Many people have been baptized as a result of missionaries breaking the rule of never teaching a single female alone.
-Many people have to drink coffee daily for medicinal purposes.

Etc.

It all boils down to what is your true intent. Think of the Pharisees scorning Jesus for taking too many steps on Sundays, while he was preaching the gospel.

If the occasional tv night with your roommate leads to peace in the home, then what is the harm in it? Yeah you'll probably see a lot of smut and drama. Just don't incorporate it into your real life.

[Black Diamond Bay]

Originally Posted by ute4ever

In his April 2001 GC talk, Elder Ballard essentially said, whether or not a young women chooses to obey the prophet's admonition to wear only one pair of earrings will probably not have eternal consequences. But if she obeys all of the little things, how much more likely will she be to obey when it really matters?

Meanwhile there are exceptions to nearly every rule.
-A person who avoids R ratings like the plague will never see Schindler's List, which has a powerful message.
-I am sure that many GA's have purchased gas on Sundays while out fulfilling their assignments.
-Many people have been baptized as a result of missionaries breaking the rule of never teaching a single female alone.
-Many people have to drink coffee daily for medicinal purposes.

Etc.

It all boils down to what is your true intent. Think of the Pharisees scorning Jesus for taking too many steps on Sundays, while he was preaching the gospel.

If the occasional tv night with your roommate leads to peace in the home, then what is the harm in it? Yeah you'll probably see a lot of smut and drama. Just don't incorporate it into your real life.

Yeah...again, I think this one is missing the point too.

[jay santos]

Originally Posted by Black Diamond Bay

No, I get that. I don't think that's exactly the point. It's more what about those things that I could do to be better and I plain and simple choose not to, because it would require changes to my lifestyle that I, and others may deem extreme? Do we just get a pass on that stuff?

But could you really do it? I could decide to get up two hours early every morning and go to temple every day, read scriptures during lunch hour, stop posting on internet and be 1,000 times more proficient at work, skip watching South Park reruns at night, and go to bed an hour earlier. I could say I could do that, but really could I? And does God really expect me to be able to do that? Don't know. If I think I can, then maybe I ought to try and see if I can. If I fail, no biggie, keep trying.

[Tex]

Originally Posted by jay santos

When I watch a rated R movie, I know it's a sin. But I do it anyway. Someday when I've got a lot of other things taken care of, I'll maybe address that one, but for now I'm not ready.

I agree. Better to acknowledge the sin and one's own weakness, than to rationalize and ignore it. What is that quote attributed to St. Augustine? "Give me chastity and give me constancy, but do not give it yet."

[Black Diamond Bay]

Originally Posted by jay santos

But could you really do it? I could decide to get up two hours early every morning and go to temple every day, read scriptures during lunch hour, stop posting on internet and be 1,000 times more proficient at work, skip watching South Park reruns at night, and go to bed an hour earlier. I could say I could do that, but really could I? And does God really expect me to be able to do that? Don't know. If I think I can, then maybe I ought to try and see if I can. If I fail, no biggie, keep trying.

Valid point...I guess I should be trying before I say that I can.

I went out with a guy who said that he won't play board games on Sunday, because they tend to create an atmosphere that he deems inappropriate for the sabbath day. There's no part of me that even wants to try and be like that. I thought I was doing pretty good to avoid watching football on Sunday, because I fear it could be my highway to hell. It kind of makes me wonder if that's just a shortcoming on my part, and he's just got enough other things in line that he can worry about that, or what...I don't really know.

[RockyBalboa]

Originally Posted by Black Diamond Bay

Valid point...I guess I should be trying before I say that I can.

I went out with a guy who said that he won't play board games on Sunday, because they tend to create an atmosphere that he deems inappropriate for the sabbath day. There's no part of me that even wants to try and be like that. I thought I was doing pretty good to avoid watching football on Sunday, because I fear it could be my highway to hell. It kind of makes me wonder if that's just a shortcoming on my part, and he's just got enough other things in line that he can worry about that, or what...I don't really know.

That guy sounds like a nutjob. No offense.

[jay santos]

Originally Posted by Black Diamond Bay

Valid point...I guess I should be trying before I say that I can.

I went out with a guy who said that he won't play board games on Sunday, because they tend to create an atmosphere that he deems inappropriate for the sabbath day. There's no part of me that even wants to try and be like that. I thought I was doing pretty good to avoid watching football on Sunday, because I fear it could be my highway to hell. It kind of makes me wonder if that's just a shortcoming on my part, and he's just got enough other things in line that he can worry about that, or what...I don't really know.

The tolerant, non-judgemental side of me says that we all have a system that works for us. That may be something that for him helps him worship on Sunday and feels close to the spirit, and for him to not do that may be a big deal.

But the cynical side of me says that we all have a hierarchy of sin and his is really wacked and he places board games on Sunday as more serious sin than sins that are actually much more serious, like things to do with charity for example.

Come to think of it, this guy sounds like he's hiding something. I'm guessing he's a porn addict and visits prostitutes in dark alleys once a month.

[Black Diamond Bay]

Originally Posted by jay santos

The tolerant, non-judgemental side of me says that we all have a system that works for us. That may be something that for him helps him worship on Sunday and feels close to the spirit, and for him to not do that may be a big deal.

But the cynical side of me says that we all have a hierarchy of sin and his is really wacked and he places board games on Sunday as more serious sin than sins that are actually much more serious, like things to do with charity for example.

Come to think of it, this guy sounds like he's hiding something. I'm guessing he's a porn addict and visits prostitutes in dark alleys once a month.

Yeah...it does kind of sound like he's one of those people that fixates on correcting some petty little sin, and then hides something bigger and darker...but no...I'm just not seeing it. I think he's got it all together.

[Jim Swarthout]

And that is to abandon guilt as a human emotion in your repertoire. The type of guilt you describe sounds like it is arising because you are not living up to expectations that others define for you. Once people understand that they are 100% in control of their emotions, it's extremely liberating b/c you can finally choose your emotions without the baggage of other people's expectations.

[RockyBalboa]

Originally Posted by Jim Swarthout

And that is to abandon guilt as a human emotion in your repertoire. The type of guilt you describe sounds like it is arising because you are not living up to expectations that others define for you. Once people understand that they are 100% in control of their emotions, it's extremely liberating b/c you can finally choose your emotions without the baggage of other people's expectations.

Bingo.