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ConcreteAngel Vice Captain
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 Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 1:01 pm
This is for threads that have a specific idea that is not yet covered and is not really deep.
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 1:04 pm
Beyond Stereotypes:kaidako my 2nd cousin wrote this who lives in Alaska
Beyond stereotypes: Being a Mormon teenager offers challenges, rewards
By KATIE WALTHER
Perfect World
Published: February 18th, 2005
Last Modified: February 18th, 2005 at 05:34 AM
My mom yells my name from her room at 4:45 a.m. every weekday. Groaning, I get up, pull my towel off my bed stand and head for the shower. It is yet another day of seminary.
Most people don't realize what a typical Latter-day Saint's teenage life is like. Don't get me wrong, I understand other religions have to go through hours of Bible studies and church camps too, but this is just a peek at what life is like as a Mormon teen.
THE LOWDOWN
First off, not all Mormons are required to do anything. Our endless rules are like a string on a kite: seemingly restrictive, but in the end offering us freedom by lifting us up. Those of us who accept the offered standards find that being free from addictive behaviors more than makes up for what may appear to be restrictions to an outside observer.
Now that that's out of the way, back to seminary. After driving to our local church, we are assigned a room for each class level. Seminary starts our freshman year, as if high school wasn't busy enough.
As in school, seminary has its social classes: the kid who memorized all his Scripture mastery verses, the girl who does her makeup, the forced ones, the sleeping ones, the empty chairs and the ones who actually want to be there because they like it. I don't mind being there, but I lean toward the resting ones.
Seminary is basically like a normal class, except we can pray, sing and say the J- and G-words. Yup, Jesus and God. We watch movies and go though the usual lessons on happiness, converting and where we go when we die.
LIVING THE LDS LIFE
Each Mormon teen is given a guidebook called "For the Strength of Youth." Inside are all those things you've heard about, the excuses Mormons give. You remember that time you tried to ask out that hot freshman and she said that she's not 16 yet? How about the time you tried to share your Dr Pepper and the kid next to you said no to your vital source of caffeine? Don't tell me you thought it was normal when that Mormon guy yelled, "Oh, to heck!"
The fact is, the rules are just summing up what's written in the other books that we study such as The Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants.
On weekends, while some Mormons could choose to be at your local kegger by exercising their "free agency" (a principle that Mormons strongly adhere to based on their own history of persecution and the intolerance they once faced), the majority are more likely to be either at their jobs or at one of the Mormon dances, which are held a couple of times a month throughout Anchorage.
Teens basically run around a room to "Space Jam," "Cotton-Eye Joe" or crazy swing and salsa music. You know, like real dancing. Then again, they could be just standing there trying to get eye contact with any girl in the room. The only rules are that you have to be modest, appropriate and at least a full Book of Mormon-length away from your partner.
SO ... POLYGAMY, RIGHT?
When you think of Mormons, the first thing that comes to your mind is polygamy. It's no wonder; in high school, polygamy is the only thing listed in your U.S. history book under Mormonism. Chances are your English class suggested that you read "Under the Banner of Heaven" too, which makes readers hate Mormons without realizing they're reading primarily about the fundamentalists.
No matter what your cousin in Texas says, polygamy is illegal, even in Utah. There are colonies of polygamists, but they have been excommunicated from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Polygamy didn't start with Mormons, considering that it occurs in the New Testament.
What it comes down to is this: Polygamy was a practice that was used when it was needed. I'm not saying that I agree with it, I just don't deem it necessary to hold Mormons accountable.
One of the things that I respect about the Mormon religion is that none of the clergy get paid. The church is based on the volunteer work of its members. We tithe 10 percent to the church and have the options of donating to other funds, which go to causes such as families in need, missionary work and disasters.
It would be nice if I had some extra cash to put some gas in the tank or get those new shoes, but I don't think it's that much to sacrifice if I consider all the blessings I've gotten. Maybe it really is hard for some people to give thanks or be fully committed once money is involved. Maybe this test of faith is too much and personal satisfaction can't overcome greed.
NO FREE RIDE
Being a member of the Mormon church isn't easy, especially if you're a teen. There are organized groups finding any way they can to prove that it's a cult. It even gets to the point where a Mormon teen may come to school and a group of teens from a different church will gang up on him. They say that they attended a seminar or workshop during the weekend about Mormons and argue about things they don't even understand but that their pastor assured them was true.
I've seen kids come to school with little anti-Mormon pamphlets from a church and read from it to tick someone off. What ever happened to living in harmony with each other?
Maybe now that you've heard about the things we go though and the expectations we have to live up to, you have a different view of Mormon teens. The Latter-day Saints' teen population has grown in Anchorage over the years, especially in the very active Samoan wards. More teens understand what it's like to take part in a religion that weaves its way into every part of their busy lives.
It could be that the only Mormons you'll ever come across are ones that swear they're related to Napoleon Dynamite, but you should know that there are some Mormon teenagers out there who lack sleep, put up with intolerance, don't live in Utah and strive to keep their religion strong.
Katie Walther is a junior at Dimond High. Kafikee oh yeah, that was awesome. i keep wanting to write a something like that but i haven't had the time to put it together... so sad. but i really liked that edit: there's a thing we do on elfwood when you comment first on a piece of artwork or writing, and that is: FIRST COMMENT DANCE!!booyah!funtoys that was perfect. you did an awesome job putting that together. (except i live in utah so i dont get up as early for seminary) Torch24601 Rock on for Mormons living in the mission field getting up at 4 AM. Abinadi WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Imbemenelien That is awesome, "oh, to heck!" I swear, I have never heard that sentance out of the mouth of any LDS that I know... *starts using it now* But in all reality, that is an awesome article, though I am lazy and don't get up till 5:15 for myt %;%% seminary class (it will be so much easier after I get my car...but that's a year off) nakiato i think it is well written and gets the point across. thanks for shareing Mina Mormon that was so awesome! that really gives me a boost! is it ok if i print a copy of it and share it with the yw and ym in my ward? Merlin the White Thanks for this, reading it helped me change my opinion of Mormons, and I thank you for that. phoenix_echo hmm... *uses it for devotionals* *uses it for camp* *uses it for church* *uses it for helping Will* wait... no.. that might hurt his self-esteem... *gives Will his shoebox letter that i wrote this morning* *wanders around looking for other uses* aha! *uses it for a talk* xd i like it a LOT!! i've been through a lot of things like that, and even some things that are a bit worse... *laughs at the time she stood up in the middle of a sermon, glared at the preacher, then walked out* xp anyways, it's cool, awesome, amazing, etc. and i admire her for writing that... *uses it for the muse* ... soooo... yeah... *does a dance* End of Topic
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ConcreteAngel Vice Captain
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ConcreteAngel Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 7:23 pm
Going to the MTCElder Severson Hey just so everyone knows I'll be reporting to the MTC this saturday. So go ahead and say your goodbyes, or curse at me , call me names, whatever you want. Gwyndara Elder Severson Hey just so everyone knows I'll be reporting to the MTC this saturday. So go ahead and say your goodbyes, or curse at me , call me names, whatever you want. Good luck on your mission. tell us were your going. And remember to say what comes into your heart, because that is what is meant by speaking with the spirit. Leeta7 Elder Severson Hey just so everyone knows I'll be reporting to the MTC this saturday. So go ahead and say your goodbyes, or curse at me , call me names, whatever you want.
where is it that you are going???Elder Severson I will be serving in the Des Moines Iowa mission. Begining March 23rd 12:30 pm. JoshtheEvergreen Good luck, have fun, don't die. Termas That's great!!! Have fun at the MTC!!! My brother enjoyed it there. 3nodding paladin140 heh - it would be funny if I got sent there and you ended up being my senior companion in a year.... prinsessanna bye bye! Hope you have a good mission, ^.^ dont do anything that we wouldn't do, lololol blaugh blaugh blaugh ((sorry, just came to me, and I had to say it.,.......)) ConcreteAngel Have fun! If you ever meet Elder Greg Schulz, tell him Hi from Tamara! Torch24601 Iowa...Sounds like Boise Idaho (reference to the Singles Ward) Seriously, congradulations. Missions are awesome! Everyone go on splits with the missionaries as often as you can! Its great! funtoys hahahahaha! i love that movie! anyway... good luck on your mission. and tell us how many baptisms you got (reference to the best two years) Mormon_Seebs Whooott!!!!!!!! good for you! my brother says he liked it there (but i can't imagine in all my life being able to read the book of mormon in a couple weeks!) [RED]Kooler my friend says there is sometin with the food at the mtc that makes u gotta gooooooo!!!!!! xd he went and never made it past the mtc because he had a brain tumor like 5 years ago and he has nasty seizures.....he was out for like 2 weeks b4 he got brought back:/ Mahia M Ok. Drag HK along with you! 3nodding Mahia M Yeah . . . Onii-Chan says that it's really cool at the MTC because you get to go to the temple every week. 3nodding
((Also, his alarm clock got nicknamed "The Alarm Clock of Doom". Needless to say, it was very loud. It sounded like a big ringing buzzer. Like a fire alarm at school. But it was constant. blaugh )) Page 2 Tiancum Good Luck... dang it I don't know your first name, I wanted to call you it before you were called "Elder" of two years. Oh well, now your name is "Steve." Good Luck Steve-ey, We'll miss you. By the time you get back I will be on mine so Goodbye for 3 or so years. PEACE BROTHER, GO AND THRUST IN YOUR SICKLE! SEPERATE THE WHEAT FROM THE CHAFF AND ALL THAT GREAT STUFF! GOOD LUCK STEVE!!! Mahia M But, "You ought to give Iowa a try!"
sorry, couldn't help it. sweatdrop
Ok, that's it! Now I'm gonna have to post that song . . . *wanders off* funtoys yeah, good luck, have fun, and drive fast... and you dont have to wear your seatbelt... that just slows you down when you want to fly out the window. dersephy " IM GOING TO BOISE IDAHO!!!.........where's a map??" xd funtoys i love that quote... that's one of my favorites... that and "how many baptisms you got?" End of Topic
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Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 12:05 pm
Good Date IdeasJedi Master 1 I don't know what I was thinking when I created this. I just thought it might be kinda kewl. Acctualy I was reading the New Era and it was about dateing and I just turned of the dateable age ....... and yea! So any way just post what you think might be a good idea or several. Shruggs. Jedi Master1 Hellllllllllppppppppp!! I'm new to the date world and have no idea what to do! I'm haveing one young man over for dinner this Sat. and i'm totally going to spazz!! gonk gonk gonk crying crying crying redface redface redface ! Any ideas!!! Please!!!!! Tiancum be yourself that is all he wants to see, not some dressed up china doll who doesn't talk. Talk, Make conversation, you are not a toy, you aren't owned. Talk. Please. ... jus sec gotta go for a while okay back... My Ideal date is to go Snowboarding with "her" yeah... that is it ConcreteAngel" Picnis, roller blading, tobaganning, game nights, ect Mysterika Movies, picnics, bowling, fun science gaming museums if you both like, video arcade place? Kittenfreak1986 I remember at a fireside, the speaker talked about ice sledding. You grab a big block of ice (and waterproof clothing), find a hill, and use the ice block as a sled. Phoenix_Echo ummm *is not "of the dateable age" yet* *has no idea* dinner and a movie? but make it more creative, and have it at home instead of going out, and keep the lights on! for instance... make spaghetti and such, put paper or something you don't mind getting dirty ((but is clean at the moment)) on the table... don't set anything but that on the table... then put the spaghetti on there, no utensils or anything, you have to eat it with your hands.... oh, and make sure your hands are clean we did that as an activity one Wed. night.. the ice cream was rather hard to eat, though so i don't recommend that part O_o otherwise it was fun... oh, and go to like Red Lobster or somewhere and get those huge bibs!! lol Chibi_Brigham NOT MOVIE!!!!!!!! All you do is sit in the dark and dont talk. ....................fun[/sarcasm] Phoenix_Echo stare i said leave the lights on... and it could be something like Napolean Dynamite *pukes* since y'all seem to like that .... i never said it had to be what the media portrays!!!! xp Hikarikyokai Dating, hm... If the dude is LDS, can be loads of fun, from what I hear, but don't take anything too seriously. Dating SHOULD be fun, and for any person in their sane mind, it WILL be fun. I think my greatest date would probably be, like, Pizza Hut and then hitting the arcade. Or cooking. Invite him over to help cook a dinner for the two of you, but swear with each other, that no matter what comes out of the cooking, you will eat it together. Unless you think it's unheathly, then go hit burger King or something like that. I think that would be really fun. Than again, I'm not old enough yet, so I wouldn't really know. Just have fun, kinda like hanging out. Only one-on-one-ish... ^_^ [quote"kittenfreak1986"]Well... We are advised to group date... Plan a day activity with friends... Helaman Well I never was real big into group dates but there fun. I would sugest playing crokay at night with candals as the little hoop things. 3nodding , but anything can be fun if you get the right people. 3nodding Termas Chibi_Brigham NOT MOVIE!!!!!!!! All you do is sit in the dark and dont talk. ....................fun[/sarcasm] My friends and I always talk during movies. We even turn the subtitles on, so people can still tell what's going on. fluffyturtle KittenFreak1986 I remember at a fireside, the speaker talked about ice sledding. You grab a big block of ice (and waterproof clothing), find a hill, and use the ice block as a sled. nay nay nay! its ice blocking and yes, it is very fun....but pay close attention to the whole waterproof clothing thing........ Termas And find out if it's illegal in your area...it is where I live. sad Helaman Termas Chibi_Brigham NOT MOVIE!!!!!!!! All you do is sit in the dark and dont talk. ....................fun[/sarcasm] My friends and I always talk during movies. We even turn the subtitles on, so people can still tell what's going on. I hardly get the chance to talk during any movie I go on a date to see. Termas Well, we don't talk if we're in a movie theater, but if we're at someone's house... Ethena_Cursed Angel Go and do stupid things. For Example, hide in clothing racks at K-Marts and make voices in the clothing as people touch them...No what's funny and fun because people freak. Helaman Ethena_Cursed Angel Go and do stupid things. For Example, hide in clothing racks at K-Marts and make voices in the clothing as people touch them...No what's funny and fun because people freak. Bwuahahahahahahahahahahahaha. thats amusing. blaugh Paladin140 Give yourself a budget of ten dollars. Try to go as far as you can with it. ( Share a pop if you buy one stuff like that ) Jedi Master1 Ummmmmmm1 Does that mean I should call off dinner of lausania and garlic bread with a movie afterward?? sweatdrop xp sad crying Dersephy actually, and all of you may think me a total uber dork for this, but i find that multiplayer video games like mario kart can be hilarious on a double date. you ARE double datin' ....right?? stare Phoenix_Echo Helaman Ethena_Cursed Angel Go and do stupid things. For Example, hide in clothing racks at K-Marts and make voices in the clothing as people touch them...No what's funny and fun because people freak. Bwuahahahahahahahahahahahaha. thats amusing. blaugh *sigh* did it too much when i was little... i still do it sometimes, but it's practically lost its charm by now... now, when i go to Vanderbilt in Nashville, we normally at least go to the 2nd level cuz that's where the only clean McDonald's is in this area, i go and feed the birds there french fries ... and the squirrel... and those two chipmunkies ... now there's a good date idea if you live near a park... or a McDonald's like the VUMC one Phoenix_Echo Elven blade weilder Ummmmmmm1 Does that mean I should call off dinner of lausania and garlic bread with a movie afterward?? NO just keep the lights on... but with the garlic.... leave Mentos on the coffee table or something blaugh phoenix_Echo actually, i'm not dating yet so BOOYAKA .... gonk hopefully by March i'll have some offers.. that's when i turn 16 3nodding Mina Mormon fun dates are getting together with a group of friends of both people if they don't know everyone's friends that well, but a group not to big or not too small, hanging out in arcades, going bowling, maybe going to someone's house and playing games or watch really funny movies that everyone sits there and quotes and says "oh oh! here it comes!" and all that rot ^_^ i also like going on hikes or picnics or just going really random places with a budget, like randomly drive around and explore around where you live to get to know the place better Keign Personally, I think Halo/Halo 2 would be great. If I owned them, I'm sure I'd have tried it by now. Though, odds of it being a double date aren't typically high for us. ninja kittenfreak1986 Termas fluffyturtle KittenFreak1986 I remember at a fireside, the speaker talked about ice sledding. You grab a big block of ice (and waterproof clothing), find a hill, and use the ice block as a sled. nay nay nay! its ice blocking and yes, it is very fun....but pay close attention to the whole waterproof clothing thing........ And find out if it's illegal in your area...it is where I live. Fluffy: Same difference. Termas: It's illegal? Why?
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Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2006 2:17 pm
Page twoKafikee i've always found that a game of parappa tha rappa 2 (it's like ddr for your ps2 controller) is always a fun, competitive, and insanely confusing game to play with anyone ConcreteAngel That game is hilarious! And I suck at it! lol Tiancum 10 dollar dates are my favorite, I remember when we had a waterfight ((get your minds out of the gutter)) it was the funnest date ever and it was absoulutly, free at least to us funtoys just pretty much do whatever you guys want. movies, games, dinner, etc... something you both enjoy. and yes... you girls need to talk, nobody likes total silence. Ethena_cursed_angel KittenFreak1986 Wrote: Termas fluffyturtle KittenFreak1986 I remember at a fireside, the speaker talked about ice sledding. You grab a big block of ice (and waterproof clothing), find a hill, and use the ice block as a sled. nay nay nay! its ice blocking and yes, it is very fun....but pay close attention to the whole waterproof clothing thing........ And find out if it's illegal in your area...it is where I live. It's not where I libe because they catch a lot of crack heads and crystal meth users that way. x.x Termas *shrugs* Who knows? But it's just in this city. So we can always go past city limits... Jedi Master 1 Flowers & candy at the door I feel so loved!!! Hikarikyoukai Suck it up! xd There is no need to be shy around somebody your dating, no reason at all. Even if it means you just ramble (Oh, gosh, that's all I do when I call Jase), let the guys know that your mind is where they are... just not in the gutter, please. xd wink Torvilion I am elligable, but I am shy, and havent been on a date yet, I have heard that girls like dancing tho.. heart . ( What would you guys recommend for asking Girls out? i will accept advice from girls, as they know what girls like, also, I dont suppose there are any available young ladies living in orange county?heh...heh... wink ) Jedi Master 1 Fairly close but i'm not available at the molment. I have alot of friends that are available though.... And as for advice I would say.... . Be your self. Don;t act macho unless the girl likes that kinda thing, most girls don'e though. . Laugh, me personaly I love a guy with a sense of humor. funtoys i dont know where orange county is, but what you can do is cut out a bunch of hearts from like construction paper and post them all over her locker, house, room, etc... anyway. i asked someone to prom like that and she seemed quite amused by it. Pinkpoogleh Making something together, like, stir-fry, or dumplings(Homemade Dumplings ^-^). Or, just going all out asian at home, get some frozen dumplings, make some stir fry, rice, and don't forget the soysauce >3 Mabye have some Ramen... Imbemenelien Depends on who the girl is, If she's like one of your really good friends, ask her in person, send her an IM, something to that nature. If not, stick something in her locker, try and be creative (Build her a cake or something XD to all of you Napoleon Dynamite fans out there), we're total suckers for creative things like that. --Brie END PAGE
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