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Month: August 2014

2014 List of Banished Words

2014 List of Banished Words

Originally Published August 26, 2014 at Modern Mormon Men Lake Superior State University has been publishing an annual list of banished words since 1977. Their website catalogues all the entries over the years, but be forewarned: reading too many of these lists will put your hate-coefficient into the red zone very quickly. There is a lot of painful memories buried in these archives. Though its difficult to admit it, I’m as guilty as the rest of you in creating this sad legacy….

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Conform Or Be Cast Out

Conform Or Be Cast Out

Initially published August 15, 2014 at Modern Mormon Men It’s a well-documented fact that Rush is the greatest rock and roll trio that ever toured the planet. Neil Peart not only has superhuman abilities as a drummer, but he’s a gifted lyricist as well. In the chorus of Subdivisions (Signals, 1982; music video here), he captures that all-to-familiar pressure to conform to those standards established by our peer group, or risk being cast out. It makes for a another excellent Rock & Roll Parable.* (Lyrics by…

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Lessons From a Tibetan Buddhist

Lessons From a Tibetan Buddhist

Originally published August 11, 2014 at Modern Mormon Men Tibetan Monk – Sera MonasteryLhasa, Tibet We recently returned from a trip that took us to a number of cities in China. Without a doubt, our stay in Lhasa, Tibet was a highlight. The contrast between one city teeming with 32 million people and another nestled in a valley surrounded by the Himalayas could’t be more dramatic. The blue skies, towering slopes and clean mountain air make you realize very quickly…

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Searching For Help: Google or God?

Searching For Help: Google or God?

I was preparing a lesson for priesthood recently in which we reviewed a General Conference talk by Elder Russell M. Nelson entitled Let Your Faith Show. His talk highlighted a perspective that is increasingly prevalent in our society. It is the notion that religion has become irrelevant in modern life. This message is broadcast a thousand times a day in a myriad of forms that range from overt rejection of God to the more subtle ideas (such as the belief…

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