Same with the population in the Church, except we do believe it's for the better. In fact, it's an official doctrine that the "restored gospel," or the creed of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is to be brought to every "nation, kindred, tongue, and people." That's what the silly boys in the shirts and ties are doing. So I will stand behind the bold declaration that Mormons are not an ethno-religious group.
dude, I get it you're "tribeless," I get it. you can go ahead and watch family guy or insidious or whatever you want to, it won't make you a less worthy man like the Young Women's president told you. But reject pornography. That is the way of Kings.
( ^ :
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints get a pass because they're usually better than to care about the opinions of the uninformed.
It's really not that hard to be a part of the "cult". Just take a deep breath before you talk to the missionaries, it'll clear your mind a little.
Only we're allowed to criticize the higher ups, the Covey's, Ballard's, McConkie's, etc. It's kind of a thing (:
There's some sad stuff out there in southern Utah with the fundies. It's too bad they left the church over a century ago.
You might be right. One thing though, NASA isn't industry, NASA gets contractors to build rockets and spacecraft, which has historically been the domain of the aerospace/defense industry. The difference now is just the competition SpaceX provides. Now SpaceX don't play along with the monolith of Boeing/Lockheed/Northrop etc. who act like they are competitors, but they're all just pushing around DoD funding to one another. So SpaceX, with its vertical integration, have shaken up the industry, and that's a good thing.
I'm not the OP you're replying to, and I've probably been stirring the pot a little more than I should in this post. Not the most Christian thing to do. But your first question got me thinking a little bit about it.
Why did Christ, after completing his infinite atonement, after being resurrected in Eternal glory, see fit to visit the people in the America's?
It's not because his atonement was unfinished. I believe, and the Book of Mormon teaches too, that he completed his role as Redeemer of the World on the cross at Calvary.
His work was not yet finished, though. He still visited his disciples, Peter still needed more help fishing ;) and He gave the great commission, that after the Holy Ghost came upon them on the day of Pentecost, they would witness in Jerusalem, and onward. His work was still far from finished, and I believe it even is today.
What was so special about the people in the Americas is that they knew the Lord. Now, this requires that you accept the premise of the Book of Mormon, which I'll be assuming for the purpose of the conversation. The people in the Americas originally left Jerusalem in the time of Jeremiah, when Babylon sacked the city. A righteous father left the city with his family by the direction of the Lord, and established a new civilization in a promised land. These people had prophets, like Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, etc, who maintained the laws of the gospel. These people fought tooth and nail one with another, but a portion remained faithful to the covenants of God. And the Lord promised them that Christ would come to the earth, and they looked forward to the promise of redemption.
So what did Christ do when he visited the Americas, what was his purpose? He ministered. He healed the sick, sight to the blind, the lame walk. He called disciples and gave them authority to baptise, gave them the Holy Spirit's baptism by fire. He taught the beatitudes, instituted the sacrament, or communion, of His flesh and blood. He touched the lives of his lost sheep, because they maintained their faith in Him.
The purpose of the Book of Mormon is to show that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, who manifests himself to all nations. Would the people in the Americas have been okay at the Judgement Day if he had not visited them 2000 years ago? I'm certain so, because that act in Gethsemane and on Calvary was an infinite atonement, and it saves all mankind from the grave, and redeems all those who love Him. But do I believe that he visited those people and more? I do, because it sounds right to me. It feels right that my omnipotent, omniscient, and ever-loving God would feed his sheep.
So that's my essay, and scripture study for the day. :) I'm afraid I'm no theologian, and I probably can't keep up with heavy duty discussion. I'm just a kid who read the scriptures a lot for a couple of years. ;) But I believe your heart's in the right place, too, and I wanted to share the good things I know.