LDS Mamas and Papas~ Fall/Winter '08 (all are welcome!) - Page 2

[GearGirl]

From the US tax codes:


In general, no organization, including a church, may
qualify for IRC section 501(c)(3) status if a substantial
part of its activities is attempting to influence legisla*
tion (commonly known as lobbying). An IRC section
501(c)(3) organization may engage in some lobbying, but
too much lobbying activity risks loss of tax-exempt status.

[lacysmommy]

The church sent out one letter to encourage members to participate in this process. I'm unsure if church dollars went toward this effort, and if they did it is unlikely that it came from tax-exempt tithing money. Most of the Mormon money in support of prop 8 came from private donors who belong to the LDS church. They have not engaged in "too much lobbying activity." Depending on the size of the organization, even millions of dollars toward a lobbying effort is not considered too much lobbying activity. The Church is a very large organization with 13 million members worldwide.

Being tax-exempt actually protects the church from being taxed twice. The church pays property tax and other taxes so it's not like we're tax-free. The tithing money has been donated from tax paying members of the church and has already been subject to taxation.

[transformed]

whats up with the 700 club then?

Originally Posted by GearGirl

From the US tax codes:


In general, no organization, including a church, may
qualify for IRC section 501(c)(3) status if a substantial
part of its activities is attempting to influence legisla*
tion (commonly known as lobbying). An IRC section
501(c)(3) organization may engage in some lobbying, but
too much lobbying activity risks loss of tax-exempt status.

[GearGirl]

I disagree that encouraging members to fund this is not akin to funding it, and so does the tax code.

[lacysmommy]

How is one letter considered "substantial?"

[transformed]

so back to the peaceful home discussion

oh, an aside: I am going to start studying with a missionary soon. LDS has always called me - since I was in 4th grade. I am ready to check it out and find out why.

So how do you learn "order?" Do you pray about it?

What are your favorite resources to study? Anything in the book of mormon that inspires you especially?

[ORLY?]

Originally Posted by transformed

So how do you learn "order?" Do you pray about it?

The practices of the church, IMHO and experience, brings order and peace. As a family we pray together morning and evening, we pray for each other. We have a Family Home Evening on Mondays (anyone of any faith or background could profit from this practice IMO), we go to church together.
I'm sure others on the thread could tell you of their experiences with how the church has streghtened their family.
In my own experiences, I have felt a huge (searching for the right word here...) "void" (I guess) in my husband and mine relationship when we don't pray together. When we pray together we commicate to God that which is sometimes hard to communicate to each other. YKWIM? It's hard to explain.

The missionaries will discuss some of our practices with you, ask lots of questions, if you want to strenghten your home and family ask them how the church can do that for you, make the most out of your visits with them!

Originally Posted by transformed

What are your favorite resources to study? Anything in the book of mormon that inspires you especially?

I grew up reading the Bible, this is still my favorite. Besides the Bible, I always reccomend the Book of Mormon, especially 3 Nephi (when Christ visits the Nephites) PM me and I'll send you my testimony of the Book of Mormon.
Other than the standard works (that is what we call the scriptures) I also like the Ensign (it's one of the church magazines.)

If you haven't already, I would suggest looking at Mormon.org for basic infomation about the Church.

Hope this was helpful. I've only been a member for five years.

[ORLY?]

Everyone is welcome :
as long as they follow the forum guidelines:

"While we will not restrict discussions to persons of the faith being discussed we will be active in discouraging an individual from posting for the purpose of disagreement, with no interest in practicing the faith or belief in discussion, or to prove a faith or a belief to be wrong, misguided, or not based on fact."

Again, I wasn't sure if your comment was snarky. I apologize.

[wombatclay]

Heyla everyone! Thank you for your patience.

As mentioned above, the Spirituality forum guidelines say:

The Spirituality board is a forum of support, respectful requests of information, and sharing of faith and practice. To uphold this purpose the board will not host discussions of debate or criticism. Disagreements about spiritual issues should be set aside out of respect for the diversity and varying interpretations and beliefs that we hold as a community.

While we will not restrict discussions to persons of the faith being discussed we will be active in discouraging an individual from posting for the purpose of disagreement, with no interest in practicing the faith or belief in discussion, or to prove a faith or a belief to be wrong, misguided, or not based on fact. Prosletyzing, to convert to a faith or from one, will not be permitted. Controversial subjects of discussion related to spiritual and religious beliefs and origins can be found elsewhere on the internet and we invite you to seek out other sites for that purpose.

Posts which fall outside these guidelines will be removed, and threads that drift too far beyond these guidelines may be removed. I appreciate the passion and committment shown by everyone in this thread, but hope we can all share our opinions within the Spirituality Guidelines and the mdc User Agreement. And in case anyone wants to persue a more in depth discussion of the role of politics in religion or religion in politics, please consider posting a thread in Religious Studies.

Thank you again and have a good thread!

wombatClay

[holyhelianthus]

Hey transformed!!!!

If I remember correctly you and I have frequented a lot of the same threads so I am glad to see you here! :

I want to get in on this peaceful home convo as right now this is what I am striving toward (after all more peaceful homes makes a more peaceful world!) I'll be back after my work is done (hopefully).

[transformed]

Had 2 missionarys drop by today and bring a Book of Mormon.

[lacysmommy]

Originally Posted by transformed

Had 2 missionarys drop by today and bring a Book of Mormon.

:

[holyhelianthus]

Originally Posted by transformed

Had 2 missionarys drop by today and bring a Book of Mormon.

Yay!!! : Can I share 2 of my favorite scriptures from the BOM?

Ether 12:6
2Nephi 4:18-35 This one always warms and comforts my spirit (it's pretty long)

[ORLY?]

Originally Posted by transformed

Had 2 missionarys drop by today and bring a Book of Mormon.

Enjoy reading! Write down any thoughts or questions you have while reading!
Of course you can always ask any of your LDS friends or missionaries, but please know we are here too if you have any questions.

[KariM]

Hi! I'm Kari, mama to three children - 17 y/o DS, 4 y/o DD, and nearly 8 month DD. I'm called to serve as the Primary Secretary and DH is serving as the 2nd Counselor in the Elder's Quorum. We've converts and been members for just a little over 8 months now. :

[KariM]

Originally Posted by magstphil

And while I have y'all can I just say that I LOOOOOVED the Conference talk on "simple living". I keep meaning to bring this up on nLDS

I was so happy to hear that talk! We were at Church in the Relief Society room (with the girls, so it was a bit wild) and I was so surprised and happy when that talk began.

[KariM]

Originally Posted by transformed

can you LDS women tell me something? I hope I am not stereotyping (please call me out if I am) but how does your faith govern your ability to make a home? Every LDS women/family I have ever met have been so extraordinary - well behaved, peaceful, clean homes, strong relationships, etc.

I am actually thinking of investigating the church to see if I would fit in because everything in LDS friends I have had is what I want.

I think its the Peace mostly.

What if you are LDS and you are just undisciplined and messy? Then what?

LOL - I'm disciplined (at least I think I am) but our house is often messy. We homeschool and my DD1 is just a whirlwind of activity. We can't keep ahead of her on the mess.

As a recent convert to the Church I can attest to the peace that the Spirit can bring to a home. : (even when the home is messy)

As for faith relative to the home, I believe that I was preordained to be a mother - that it was a role my spirit had been called to fulfill before I was born to an earthly body. I also believe that it's my sacred calling to prepare a space - a home - where my child can grow in and learn the Gospel. That necessitates some order, but more than that it creates a safe home where we can be a family and our personal spirits can grow closer to God.

[KariM]

Originally Posted by transformed

So how do you learn "order?" Do you pray about it?

What are your favorite resources to study? Anything in the book of mormon that inspires you especially?

I really can't adequately answer the order question. I've never prayed about order, but I have prayed about having peace in our household. That prayer was answered with my son converting.

As for resources to study - I really enjoy the New Testament and find 3rd Nephi in the Book of Mormon to be especially inspiring (that's when Christ appears to people of Nephi).

One verse that especially inspires is me is from the Old Testament - Joshua 24:15, "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. "

[holyhelianthus]

Originally Posted by transformed

can you LDS women tell me something? I hope I am not stereotyping (please call me out if I am) but how does your faith govern your ability to make a home? Every LDS women/family I have ever met have been so extraordinary - well behaved, peaceful, clean homes, strong relationships, etc.

I am actually thinking of investigating the church to see if I would fit in because everything in LDS friends I have had is what I want.

I think its the Peace mostly.

A quick disclaimer this is NOT me I wish it were but I'm more of this...

What if you are LDS and you are just undisciplined and messy? Then what?

It's really not an issue to be undisciplined and messy as in you won't get kicked out of the church although I'm sure some LDS women wouldn't talk to you Every religion has them! Don't think we're all that way. And none of us is 'perfect'. We're just here to strive for perfection. The point is the journey.

I'm about to go all over the place so please bare with me!....

My version of a clean, organized, beautiful, functioning home is much different then Sister So-and-so and hers is different then Sister Whats-her-butt. Contrary to popular belief both within and without of the church this isn't about being a perfect cookie cutter cut out of the Sister next door (the quintessential LDS homemaker). So we all need to find what we love in our homes and make it that.

We believe (and this might be the reason for so many LDS homes being peaceful and in order) that the family is seriously it- the center of being. Because we view the family and the home as so important we aren't "bogged down" by 'having' to make a home. To us it is a duty and an honor. I think when we change our perspective of keeping a home it turns the task into something more. In our society today staying home with your kids and/or washing dishes, etc is seen as less desirable. I think THAT is the problem. I know it's MY problem! That and I have no idea what I am doing most of the time. But that only makes me want to make sure my children know what it is they need to be doing so they don't grow up like me suddenly have this home and family thrust on them and think "Uh, now what?"

Julie B. Beck- the General Relief Society President- gave a talk a while back. Mothers Who Know has gotten a lot of flack but I think if we look at it and face our flaws and embrace it rather then choose to pick out the offense and cling to that it will be a lot easier to digest and can really be an aid. I know it smacked me across the face and does every time I read it but I know I NEED that. And with that it makes me feel like I am on the right track and that God is with me.

In my mind the natural order is just that- an order! Everything the Lord creates has an order to it right down to the ittiest of molecules. Structured, ordered, and even scheduled.

HTH! :

[transformed]

Hey ya'll - I have a question for you.

Why do people end up leaving the LDS church? People you have known personally, I mean.

and part 2: Do you mostly socialize with people within the walls of the church, or do you often have close friends outside the church?


It doesnt seem like, to me, that The LDS church is that much more different than any other christian church however, the whole lifestyle thing is really different. Kind of reminds me of a verse actually, "You will know them by their fruit."

The lifestyle is what intimidates me because I am so far gone from living like "Sister Sally Homemaker" but I figure if its the right thing for me, it wont be my burden anymore. kwim?