I've never understood why the Song of Solomon made it into the Bible. What Solomon and his lady thought of each other is their own business. IMO it did not need publication and cannonization.

I'd eat it, but if I was answering the question on a food handlers test I would say that I would throw it away.

All of the above. There are verses here or there from the Bible (there isn't much there on the topic, though I haven't seen anything in the Bible that contradicts this), but most of the details are found in modern LDS scripture like the Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price, often expounded on by prophets. Would you like specific references, or is that all you were asking?

I'm not quite sure here if you are asking questions that you want answered, or if you are asking questions because you feel they further your argument. We obviously are going to disagree here. I believe Abraham knew God so well he knew He wouldn't ask for anything that wasn't right. I know I'm not going to convince you (that was never my intent), and I don't think any explanation I give you would even satisfy you as to why I could hold my beliefs. So I think I'm just going to leave this part of the conversation alone.

I see Forget-me-not beat me to it. :) I even almost posted those same links at the end of what I wrote.

It's actually a little hard for me to explain this, because I have a hard time seeing a better alternative. I'm not being snarky or anything. It's just often hard to look at something from a point of view very different from your own. And I'm not trying to debate here AT ALL. Just answering the above question. I'll briefly explain as best I can. There are other LDS members on these boards who would do a better job (and I think they have if you feel like doing a forum search). Anyway, according to LDS belief, we all lived in Heaven with our Heavenly Father as His spirit children. As children, we grew (metaphorically, I don't know about spiritual mass and whether or not it increases or decreases ;)) and progressed as far as we could in His presence. Sort of like how there is only so much our kids can learn from home, and how they eventually need to head out on their own to learn things for themselves. God presented us with a plan where He would make earth, and send us here to learn for ourselves how to make choices, without Him right there. We wouldn't even remember Him. He knew we wouldn't be perfect (except for one of His sons). And no unclean thing can enter the Kingdom of God. So he told us that even though we would mess up, He loved us so much he would prepare a way for us to return. He would send a mediator, a savior, one who would not sin and therefore could act in that capacity. One who was also half god and half mortal, so he could die, but wouldn't have to until he willingly gave his life. One who could break the bonds of death, both mortal death (the death of our bodies) and spiritual death (being separated from our Heavenly Father due to our sins). Christ volunteered. He was the only one who could fulfill that sort of mission. Satan volunteered too, but he didn't want to follow God's plan, but set up his own where he got all power and glory, and didn't let us use our agency. He was cast out. Adam and Eve went to the Garden of Eden. Them partaking of the fruit was part of the plan. We were all born on this world, temporarily forgetting our life before, so we could learn to use our agency. To an LDS person, a world where we couldn't sin if we chose to defeats the purpose of any earth at all. I kind of rambled a bit. Does that answer your question? I'm not trying to tell anyone what to believe or anything, just explain what I believe as best I can. I found something more official and better worded here. It's an address to the church members from about 20 years ago. The first half explains our beliefs in the matter. The second half is more about how it applies to members of the church. I'm not trying to hijack this thread though. If my answer doesn't suffice, maybe start a spin off thread?

I haven't read all the responses, but I'll go ahead and give my view. In the LDS (Mormon) faith we believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly. We believe that many parts have been changed or lost over the thousands of years of transcription and translation. One of our prophets went through parts of the Bible and retranslated them. The whole deal with Lot happened a bit differently in that version. Also Pharoah hardened his own heart. I read the Bible with the retranslation in the footnotes, so I see both versions. The whole Bible didn't get retranslated, and there are a few spots I wonder about. But I deal with some of the weird stuff with the belief that we don't always have the whole story, and things have been lost or changed over time. Other things you mentioned (like Abraham and Isaac) I don't find weird. God didn't, in the end, make Abraham sacrifice Isaac, but through his test Abraham and Isaac could learn in a very personal way about the atonement. Oh, and on that note, I don't hold the common view of the Trinity. I believe Christ is the son of God, not God the Father. But, like others I read here, I believe Christ willingly atoned. We actually believe he volunteered before the earth was even made. It wasn't forced on him. So the story of Abraham and Isaac is a pretty good Type of things to come. I realize most Christians here disagree with me, but as a believer who has read the entire Bible through a few times, I thought I'd share my own view.

I'm on week 8. I did day 1 Monday, and skipped day 2 because the week was crazy. But today is day 3 and I just got back from my 1st 5K! It took me 38 minutes and I came in 39th out of 50. Ds(8) came in 37th. I only took a short 20 second break at the half-way water table, but otherwise jogged the whole way. And I even made a new friend who has also been doing couch to 5k this summer. :)

Yes, but it took A LOT longer than 90 days. :)

Peas I have never liked them. Most foods I like, or can at least tolerate. But my poor pea-loving kids rarely get their favorite veggie because I just can't stand them.

I was wondering that too. I'll just report here for now. I just did week 8 day 1. :)

When we lived in places where it needed watering or it would die, we watered. But now we live somewhere where we don't even have a hose hook up, let alone sprinklers. It rains several times a week, so there is no reason to.

Watching this because my big three will be in school full time this year, and my preschooler will be gone three half days a week. I think my toddler will love having me to himself for a year.

Me too!

:grouphug:

Week 7 Day 2 done. :)

:grouphug:

W7 D1 done. I actually jogged 26 minutes before I checked my timer. My toes are starting to get tingly though. I think it's time to buy some real running shoes. I wanted to make sure I'd stick with this before spending any money.

I doubt I'll run the whole thing. :) It'll be my workout for that week, which I believe is a 28 minute jog. Finishing is the goal. But I am excited to give it a try. I haven't entered a race since elementary school.

Yes that's hot. But people here complain when it's in the 80s. I even read a newspaper article a couple of days ago about some city workers "braving the heat" in 80 degree weather. I have lived in the Caribbean before though, and that humid heat is terrible.

We almost always bring a big bowl of mixed chopped fruit. (Berries, bananas, melon, kiwi, grapes, or whatever else looks good at the store.)

Not humans, but... Our first cat was named Gypsy, but she ran away. Our second cat was named Sugar, but she died of diabetes. We need to be very careful naming the next cat.

Week 6 day 3 done, sort of. Wednesday night we went to a family fun night. There was a relay obstacle course race that my three big kids did. First up was ds(8). He outran everybody, then tagged ds(6), then ran WITH ds(6) to show him the way. When they got back he tagged dd10 and went with her too, still finishing nearly first. Then he challenged dh to the course and beat him. Then he challenged me and beat me. Then he ran part of it again just for fun. There is a 5k in my town August 1st, so after his exploits I told him he might want to sign up. To see if he had the endurance i took him along today. He was overall faster than me, but needed more breaks. At first I had to stop with him, so I didn't run for 25 min in a row. When we got to a more familiar area for him I could give him a goal (like run to McDonald's and meet me there) he would sprint ahead and get his breaks while I was still jogging. 2 more weeks until the 5k, and we're both going to sign up. I'm sure he'll beat me, but I will finish it too!

Thanks for all the great ideas! I knew I came to the right place for help. :)

Ooh, I think she'd like some of those. :)