LDS Freedom Forum

I've been rethinking my approach to many topics and I've decided to ask everyone what's okay to say on this forum.
I honestly want to know what everyone has to say about these questions. I have no hidden agenda.
I have said many things that have met a large amount of resistance. Some times it's understandable, and I've apologized for some of those things. Other times people misjudge the intent of my posts and assume I have some hidden agenda, or that I'm trying to establish my superiority.

This is causing me to rethink some things. I'm sure I have to repent of some of the things I've said here and some of the accusations I've made. In order to help me and others, please address these questions.


Is it okay to share your experience of being born again? Is it prideful to do so?
Is it okay to share you experience of Calling and Election? Is it prideful to do so?
Is it possible to share these things and talk about these things without appearing to "place yourself in a position of superiority?
Is it possible to urge others to seek to be born again and receive their calling and election without seeming like you think you're better than others?

Is it possible to speak against "leader worship" without speaking evil against the Lord's Anointed?
Is it okay to make observations of problems you see on the forum?
Is it okay to suggest that a specific problem permeates this forum? Like Apostasy, Idolatry, Leader Worship, Pride, Blindness?

Is there a gray area? When is it okay to bring up these subjects?
Can you bring up these subjects only as long as you have a completely objective view, and present the topic in an objective way?

How can we share our spiritual experiences without seeming arrogant? How can we urge others to do something that we have done without making ourselves appear to be "superior?

I think the great asset of this forum is the diverse perspectives, so I think it's good to share where you're coming from as honestly and respectfully as possible.

One thing I need to work on, but sometimes I do ok, is trying to understand and empathize with different perspectives. Often, I'm too eager to be understood and less interested in understanding and letting others know that their perspectives are also valid ways of looking at it, even if I choose not to conclude that way.

Thinker wrote:I think the great asset of this forum is the diverse perspectives, so I think it's good to share where you're coming from as honestly and respectfully as possible.

One thing I need to work on, but sometimes I do ok, is trying to understand and empathize with different perspectives. Often, I'm too eager to be understood and less interested in understanding and letting others know that their perspectives are also valid ways of looking at it, even if I choose not to conclude that way.

So we should be less eager to be understood and more eager to understand

Stahura,
I'm speaking for myself - how I need to improve.
My impression of your approach is that you have often asked people questions, as you are asking now - and express "active listening." That's good!

Well, Stahura, not to discourage you, but I gave up long ago. No matter what I say or how carefully I say it, someone can misinterpret it. Usually those who do are accusing me of saying things I never even said. So how on earth can I say the right thing?

Good luck in your efforts. If you fare better than I have, let me know.

Haters will always hate.

Just accept you're an arrogant ba$tard and move on.

Works for me.

marc shares quite a lot but I don't think anyone would ever use arrogant to describe him.

1. I don't share personal spiritual experiences.

2. I try to share ideas in terms of "this is my opinion, or this is an idea, or this is a possible interpretation" instead of "the spirit has confirmed to me that --such and such-- interpretion is the truth"

3. The only things I know for sure are the 5 elements of my testimony. Everything else is not on the same level of testimony.

ajax wrote:Haters will always hate.

Just accept you're an arrogant ba$tard and move on.

Works for me.

HAHA! this made me laugh so hard!
Great advice.. lol

davedan wrote: 2. I try to share ideas in terms of "this is my opinion, or this is an idea, or this is a possible interpretation" instead of "the spirit has confirmed to me that --such and such-- interpretion is the truth"

I think THIS right here is key. Perhaps I can learn from this.

Although it seems like we are discouraged from sharing what we know by the power of the Holy Ghost, and only express our intellectual opinions.

Stahura wrote:I've been rethinking my approach to many topics and I've decided to ask everyone what's okay to say on this forum.
I honestly want to know what everyone has to say about these questions. I have no hidden agenda.
I have said many things that have met a large amount of resistance. Some times it's understandable, and I've apologized for some of those things. Other times people misjudge the intent of my posts and assume I have some hidden agenda, or that I'm trying to establish my superiority.

This is causing me to rethink some things. I'm sure I have to repent of some of the things I've said here and some of the accusations I've made. In order to help me and others, please address these questions.


Is it okay to share your experience of being born again? Is it prideful to do so?
Is it okay to share you experience of Calling and Election? Is it prideful to do so?
Is it possible to share these things and talk about these things without appearing to "place yourself in a position of superiority?
Is it possible to urge others to seek to be born again and receive their calling and election without seeming like you think you're better than others?

Is it possible to speak against "leader worship" without speaking evil against the Lord's Anointed?
Is it okay to make observations of problems you see on the forum?
Is it okay to suggest that a specific problem permeates this forum? Like Apostasy, Idolatry, Leader Worship, Pride, Blindness?

Is there a gray area? When is it okay to bring up these subjects?
Can you bring up these subjects only as long as you have a completely objective view, and present the topic in an objective way?

How can we share our spiritual experiences without seeming arrogant? How can we urge others to do something that we have done without making ourselves appear to be "superior?

My answer to most of those questions would be "use discretion, according to what the Spirit says."

samizdat wrote:

Stahura wrote:I've been rethinking my approach to many topics and I've decided to ask everyone what's okay to say on this forum.
I honestly want to know what everyone has to say about these questions. I have no hidden agenda.
I have said many things that have met a large amount of resistance. Some times it's understandable, and I've apologized for some of those things. Other times people misjudge the intent of my posts and assume I have some hidden agenda, or that I'm trying to establish my superiority.

This is causing me to rethink some things. I'm sure I have to repent of some of the things I've said here and some of the accusations I've made. In order to help me and others, please address these questions.


Is it okay to share your experience of being born again? Is it prideful to do so?
Is it okay to share you experience of Calling and Election? Is it prideful to do so?
Is it possible to share these things and talk about these things without appearing to "place yourself in a position of superiority?
Is it possible to urge others to seek to be born again and receive their calling and election without seeming like you think you're better than others?

Is it possible to speak against "leader worship" without speaking evil against the Lord's Anointed?
Is it okay to make observations of problems you see on the forum?
Is it okay to suggest that a specific problem permeates this forum? Like Apostasy, Idolatry, Leader Worship, Pride, Blindness?

Is there a gray area? When is it okay to bring up these subjects?
Can you bring up these subjects only as long as you have a completely objective view, and present the topic in an objective way?

How can we share our spiritual experiences without seeming arrogant? How can we urge others to do something that we have done without making ourselves appear to be "superior?

My answer to most of those questions would be "use discretion, according to what the Spirit says."

What if The Spirit says to share? And we are still called arrogant?

Do your thing and let the consequences matter. Don't worry about what others have to say. If you feel sincerely that the Spirit has asked you to share it then please do so.

samizdat wrote:Do your thing and let the consequences matter. Don't worry about what others have to say. If you feel sincerely that the Spirit has asked you to share it then please do so.

So be it