The general feel of this site

[DJB]

Haven’t logged in for many months, but decided to quickly log in for one reason. To see if the general feel of all the posts still had a negative feel about them.

Sure enough, they do.

For a site that is about people trying to be like Jesus Christ, there is certainly a major flow against his principles….

I hope we can all take a better look at ourselves and ask this question of ourselves.

Am I lifting people up, or putting them down?

Remember who we are striving to be like friends. I have been guilty of this at times too, so my address is to all of us including myself.

If you disagree with me, then go read the life of Jesus Christ again and then ask yourself the question one more time.

Thanks for your time.

[Niemand]

Some of it is to do with what has been in the atmosphere in recent times. It has been an horrific decade so far and the leadership, instead of instilling hope has played into it. I could mention numerous other things, like trashing Mormon heritage in temple renovations etc.

The danger is we live in a society which says, "If it feels good, do it." People are afraid to stick their heads above the parapet in case they become a target for cancel culture etc. I remember once being told by a former stake president that a story I told him about my uncle wasn't "uplifting", and I replied, "Maybe not, but it's true." (He'd asked about my uncle.) The short version is that my uncle had been wronged by someone at work, which was provable. I pointed out the Bible had stories which were not "uplifting" in that sense, like Judas Iscariot's.

That said, I have tried to post on other subjects. One of them has been going through the Apocrypha and non-canonical books and writing threads about them. I don't see these as particularly negative, although my views on the various books vary a lot.

[Libertas Est Salus]

I don't believe in the whitewashed version of Christ's life where everything was sunshine and roses and where all he did was spread cheer and speak smooth things.

Christ was certainly loving and He did do and say pleasant things. But he also did and said things that could be perceived as critical, negative, and even harsh.

I just don't believe the invitation to "be more like Christ" carries the significance intended by those who typically use it. Christ was not the one-dimensional teddy bear that modern Christianity and Mormondom have imagined.

But I absolutely welcome the invitation to be a better disciple of Christ, and will work hard to do so.

[tmac]

Haven’t logged in for many months, but decided to quickly log in for one reason. To see if the general feel of all the posts still had a negative feel about them.

Sure enough, they do.

For a site that is about people trying to be like Jesus Christ, there is certainly a major flow against his principles….

I hope we can all take a better look at ourselves and ask this question of ourselves.

Am I lifting people up, or putting them down?

Remember who we are striving to be like friends. I have been guilty of this at times too, so my address is to all of us including myself.

If you disagree with me, then go read the life of Jesus Christ again and then ask yourself the question one more time.

Thanks for your time.

Your point is well-taken and definitely worth noting. Unfortunately, there are plenty of LDSFF members and participants who seem to struggle with the concept of simply discussing topics and voicing their thoughts, opinions and paradigms, without seeking to put-down not only the thoughts, opinions and paradigms of others, but also seeking to put-down other participants they don't agree with, or seem to lock horns with. From my perspective, it is one of symptoms of the Natural Man that we all seem to struggle with to some extent. That is certainly an area that could always use improvement, both individually and collectively.

In addition, in terms of the general concept of "lifting people [in general] up, or putting them down," there are other dynamics at play here on LDSFF. Many LDSFF members and participants seem to come from an LDS Church background, where they simply accepted the conventional, mainstream LDS Church narrative, and assumed that it was true, and it was not possible to be led astray, which is a narrative that has been promoted for decades. Many LDSFF members and participants, however, seem to have awakened to the realities of our awful situation, including the now seemingly obvious reality that much of that narrative simply is not true, and those members and participants are at myriad different stages of coming to grips with that reality, which seems to put people more on both the offensive and the defensive, in terms of discussing related topics, and at odds with each other in addressing the organization and leaders that have been promoting these deceptive narratives for so long. To a certain extent, this creates a "Truth Vacuum" that people seek to fill in various ways, ranging from genuine, sincere seeking, to pure speculation, to striking-out at others. Unfortunately, like politics, it is likewise a sausage-making process, with a lot of rough edges, and undoubtedly, we could all do better in these regards.

But that doesn't mean that Christ himself did nothing but lift people up. He lifted up those with faith, and those who were genuinely, sincerely seeking, and those with broken hearts and contrite spirits. But He also rebuked Satan, unclean spirits, and money-changers, in the temple, and chastised and "put down" many others, particularly including the pharisees, sadducees, and scribes, and admonished plenty of others, including His own disciples, as well as Nicodemus, and the rich young man. Not everyone came away from conversations with the Savior feeling uplifted.

The thing is, none of us are really in a position to completely follow that example, because as imperfect mere mortals, few of us really have much actual moral high ground to stand on, as we often seek to exercise dominion and/or influence over our fellow-sojourners. We are all hypocrites, to one degree or another, with plenty of room for improvement.

Again, point well-taken. There is plenty of room for improvement.

[Fred]

Haven’t logged in for many months, but decided to quickly log in for one reason. To see if the general feel of all the posts still had a negative feel about them.

Sure enough, they do.

For a site that is about people trying to be like Jesus Christ, there is certainly a major flow against his principles….

I hope we can all take a better look at ourselves and ask this question of ourselves.

Am I lifting people up, or putting them down?

Remember who we are striving to be like friends. I have been guilty of this at times too, so my address is to all of us including myself.

If you disagree with me, then go read the life of Jesus Christ again and then ask yourself the question one more time.

Thanks for your time.

I don't come to this site to feel good. I come to find truth. Maybe you have completely missed the purpose.

[Niemand]

For many of us this is one of the few places where we can vent our feelings, within an LDS context. There are sites for LDS dissidents that do not allow open political discussion, and political groups where few of the members understand LDS questions.

This is also one of the few places online where one can talk about certain issues pretty freely.

[TwochurchesOnly]

Haven’t logged in for many months, but decided to quickly log in for one reason. To see if the general feel of all the posts still had a negative feel about them.

Sure enough, they do.

For a site that is about people trying to be like Jesus Christ, there is certainly a major flow against his principles….

I hope we can all take a better look at ourselves and ask this question of ourselves.

Am I lifting people up, or putting them down?

Remember who we are striving to be like friends. I have been guilty of this at times too, so my address is to all of us including myself.

If you disagree with me, then go read the life of Jesus Christ again and then ask yourself the question one more time.

Thanks for your time.

I don't come to this site to feel good. I come to find truth. Maybe you have completely missed the purpose.

I find truth here
I find fellowship
and plenty of feel good, LOL moments

[Being There]

Haven’t logged in for many months, but decided to quickly log in for one reason. To see if the general feel of all the posts still had a negative feel about them.

Sure enough, they do.

For a site that is about people trying to be like Jesus Christ, there is certainly a major flow against his principles….

I hope we can all take a better look at ourselves and ask this question of ourselves.

Am I lifting people up, or putting them down?

Remember who we are striving to be like friends. I have been guilty of this at times too, so my address is to all of us including myself.

If you disagree with me, then go read the life of Jesus Christ again and then ask yourself the question one more time.

Thanks for your time.

negative meaning - of course being - those that don't just blindly go right along with the church
and the "all is well in Zion" paradigm, and with TBM like you.

[JuneBug12000]

Anger is a stage of grief.

And many people are grieving.

Feeling betrayed by a lifetime of commitment can do that.

But, thankfully, most here are true seekers of Christ.

We will heal with Him, in time.

[Wolfwoman]

We are discussing religion and politics, so it’s bound to happen, I guess.

This was a recent positive thread:
viewtopic.php?t=72431

Also kirtland r.m. posts a lot of uplifting and interesting things.

[Nobody]

It has changed quite a bit. I’m surprised that there was that post with the poll where people could vote about whether or not a specific forum member is mentally disabled. Kinda wild, don’t think that would have been okay 10 years ago.

[Reluctant Watchman]

For many of us this is one of the few places where we can vent our feelings, within an LDS context. There are sites for LDS dissidents that do not allow open political discussion, and political groups where few of the members understand LDS questions.

This is also one of the few places online where one can talk about certain issues pretty freely.

The LDS church is anti 1st amendment. Do you have legitimate questions or concerns? Please express them elsewhere you apostate.

[creator]

This building was on fire when I left. I have come back only to see whether it is still on fire. It's still on fire. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[nightlight]

This building was on fire when I left. I have come back only to see whether it is still on fire. It's still on fire. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Must be that 'everlasting fire'

[Chip]

This building was on fire when I left. I have come back only to see whether it is still on fire. It's still on fire. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

By "building", do you mean the church or this forum?

[creator]

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Reluctant Watchman]

In two of Joseph’s last three dreams, fire was a dominant symbolic element. Boats were burning and sinking and and cities were catching fire. The only true relief was to seek God himself.

[InfoWarrior82]

This building was on fire when I left. I have come back only to see whether it is still on fire. It's still on fire. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

By "building", do you mean the church or this forum?

Yes.

[Being There]

Haven’t logged in for many months, but decided to quickly log in for one reason. To see if the general feel of all the posts still had a negative feel about them.

Sure enough, they do.

For a site that is about people trying to be like Jesus Christ, there is certainly a major flow against his principles….

I hope we can all take a better look at ourselves and ask this question of ourselves.

Am I lifting people up, or putting them down?

Remember who we are striving to be like friends. I have been guilty of this at times too, so my address is to all of us including myself.

If you disagree with me, then go read the life of Jesus Christ again and then ask yourself the question one more time.

Thanks for your time.

negative meaning - of course being - those that don't just blindly go right along with the church
and the "all is well in Zion" paradigm, and with TBM like you.

but I will say - that - even the truth, can be taught with a little more love and understanding-
I guess I just don't have the knack for it - especially after following the words of Isaiah -
(whose words aren't really that kind, and can be more "NEGATIVE" than I ever could be -
at condemning the Q15 - The Drunkards of Ephraim" as Isaiah says - "dumb watch dogs" etc. etc.)
but of whom Jesus said - and gave a commandment -
that we "search diligently" the words of Isaiah - "FOR GREAT ARE THE WORDS OF ISAIAH".
( WONDER WHY ? !!! )

[OPMissionary]

Haven’t logged in for many months, but decided to quickly log in for one reason. To see if the general feel of all the posts still had a negative feel about them.

Sure enough, they do.

For a site that is about people trying to be like Jesus Christ, there is certainly a major flow against his principles….

I hope we can all take a better look at ourselves and ask this question of ourselves.

Am I lifting people up, or putting them down?

Remember who we are striving to be like friends. I have been guilty of this at times too, so my address is to all of us including myself.

If you disagree with me, then go read the life of Jesus Christ again and then ask yourself the question one more time.

Thanks for your time.

This post feels like toxic positivity. Have you read Matthew 23? Is Jesus lifting up the pharisees when he calls them liars and hypocrites? What about when he stormed the temple with a scourge?

[Yeliab]

Some of it is to do with what has been in the atmosphere in recent times. It has been an horrific decade so far and the leadership, instead of instilling hope has played into it. I could mention numerous other things, like trashing Mormon heritage in temple renovations etc.

The danger is we live in a society which says, "If it feels good, do it." People are afraid to stick their heads above the parapet in case they become a target for cancel culture etc. I remember once being told by a former stake president that a story I told him about my uncle wasn't "uplifting", and I replied, "Maybe not, but it's true." (He'd asked about my uncle.) The short version is that my uncle had been wronged by someone at work, which was provable. I pointed out the Bible had stories which were not "uplifting" in that sense, like Judas Iscariot's.

That said, I have tried to post on other subjects. One of them has been going through the Apocrypha and non-canonical books and writing threads about them. I don't see these as particularly negative, although my views on the various books vary a lot.

I could not have said it better myself. !00% agree

[InfoWarrior82]

W.W.C.M.D.

What would Captain Moroni Do?

[Robin Hood]

I don't believe in the whitewashed version of Christ's life where everything was sunshine and roses and where all he did was spread cheer and speak smooth things.

Christ was certainly loving and He did do and say pleasant things. But he also did and said things that could be perceived as critical, negative, and even harsh.

I just don't believe the invitation to "be more like Christ" carries the significance intended by those who typically use it. Christ was not the one-dimensional teddy bear that modern Christianity and Mormondom have imagined.

But I absolutely welcome the invitation to be a better disciple of Christ, and will work hard to do so.

"One dimensional Teddy bear" .... brilliant. I'm stealing that.

[Reluctant Watchman]

This post feels like toxic positivity. Have you read Matthew 23? Is Jesus lifting up the pharisees when he calls them liars and hypocrites? What about when he stormed the temple with a scourge?

WWCMD > Moroni sounds pretty chipper in these verses:

35 Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.

36 And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.

37 For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.

38 O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world?

39 Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?

40 Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations to get gain, and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans to mourn before the Lord, and also the blood of their fathers and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground, for vengeance upon your heads?

41 Behold, the sword of vengeance hangeth over you; and the time soon cometh that he avengeth the blood of the saints upon you, for he will not suffer their cries any longer.

[~ternal-tummim]

Jesus Christ

!!!
!!!
!!!!
!!!!!