Are we a becoming a nation of bullies?

I've been thinking about bullying since last week when a friend warned me about a new Facebook "hack" where a hurtful comment, supposedly from you and invisible to you, is inserted into your Facebook responses. I've been thinking about all the hate and just pure meanness that we see all around us, and I have been wondering why this is happening. 

Are people seeing this cruel behavior modeled as "normal" in their entertainment? Yes, that is probably a factor, but you will have to evaluate the extent because I quit watching TV shows and current movies (except for the Hallmark type) years ago. When I saw darkness, hopelessness, violence, rudeness, crudeness, dishonesty, mocking the good, and selfishly using people portrayed as "normal", I flicked to the next channel, until finally, I just turned my TV off. The same with movies. When even the short advertising trailers made me cringe inside, I knew it would hurt me to watch it and make it a permanent part of my "memory banks", so I quit watching most new movies. 

Perhaps, I am more shocked by the bullying today because my "frog" stayed out of the "pot" by avoiding the hidden agendas of those in Hollywood.

Watch out for Witch Hunting

Seeing the news, made me think of the Salem Witch Hunts. As I studied the causes of the hunts, I was startled to learn that the people doing this "hunting" had many things in common with us today. In the late 1600's in the Salem Massachusetts area, they were having unusually cold weather and food shortages. They were experiencing a serious economic downturn and people were fighting over control of their village. The wealthy merchants wanted to see more development and the farmers wanted the area to remain agrarian. On top of all this stress many people were ill.  A fungus blight was causing strange hallucinations.

What Does God Think of Us?

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-01-001-abide-with-me?lang=eng

Who hasn't experienced a child who has the "gimmies". This child never has enough, doesn't appreciate what she has, and never even says, "thank you". She works on her never ending Christmas list year round. Though she doesn't even know what she has in her vast hoard, she is sure that she must possess more than anyone else has-- far more! 

How about the youth who packs up his car with all he can lay his hands on from home, then heads out to be on his own, ignoring his parents --until he needs help. Then after disregarding all his parent's advice and counsel, he expects them to come running to bail him out. Arrogantly, he expects his parents to always be there for him, endlessly supplying his all wants. If ever they refuse to indulge him, he poutingly declares, "You don't love me". 

How Do You Find Happiness?

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-06-01-we-can-find-happiness?lang=eng

I'm always surprised when people give me sympathy. By this time you wouldn't think that I would be surprised since I've been ill for over 45 years. When I tell them that I can't eat wheat or dairy, must avoid petrochemicals (plastics, perfumes, polyester etc. . . . ), and often have little energy, their eyes grow round, then they blurt out that "They couldn't live that way!" They actually seem to have a hard time believing that I could really be happy.

Are Polygamist Cults Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

Some people think of Polygamist groups as apostate members, because once members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were commanded by God to practice polygamy. By that reasoning these groups could also be called Jewish, because long ago God also commanded them to practice polygamy. Since Christians also believe in the Old Testament, then would Polygamists be considered Catholic or Protestant?

Yes, these Polygamist groups claim to be living the revelations that were given to the Prophet, Joseph Smith, but are they?  Take a closer look.  Basically, they seem to have only heard of some of the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They consider the Book of Mormon as just a good book, not scripture revealed by God as members of The Church do. They have a man they call a "Prophet", but he is not chosen by God and he does not receive revelation from God, so he is not what we would consider a Prophet.

 In my opinion, any one who latches onto an old revelation of God given for a specific time and tries to continue it when the Lord has revealed that it must cease, is not following the Lord. He certainly is not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.