Ryker

Member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, geriatric zoomer, bookworm, and movie buff. Exudes the “calming vibes of someone’s second chance”.

[Okpanachi Elvis Sunday @RealokpanachiNG]

Faith in God is at the center of who we are. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we should be cautious about philosophies that deny the existence of God, even when they borrow religious language or appear attractive on the surface.

We believe that God is our loving Heavenly Father and that we are His children. Creation testifies of a Creator. Just as every building has a builder, the beauty, order, and complexity of the universe point us to God.

We also believe that Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten Son of the Father, the Savior and Redeemer of the world. Through His atoning sacrifice, death, and Resurrection, He made it possible for us to repent, be forgiven, and return to God's presence.

In a world that increasingly emphasizes self-worship and radical individualism, we must remember that true joy comes not from placing ourselves at the center of our lives, but from placing Jesus Christ there.

The world often tells us to "follow ourselves," but the gospel teaches us to follow Christ. The world tells us that love means accepting every idea, while the Savior teaches us that love is inseparably connected to truth.

As Latter-day Saints, we reject both empty religion and the belief that humanity has no divine purpose. We know that we are neither accidents nor orphans. We are sons and daughters of God, redeemed through the grace of Jesus Christ and strengthened by His love.

May we always be careful to seek voices that lead us toward the Savior rather than away from Him, and may we never be ashamed to testify that Jesus Christ lives.

[Ryker @RykerJackson97]

@HB2552876 This is true and I’ve come to terms with it a long time ago.

Utah is Republican, but it’s McCain/Romney Republican and always has been.

I think that stronger conservatives can win here, but they will not win by trying to appeal to the MAGA base.

[Ryker @RykerJackson97]

I’m not a fan of MANY of Governor Cox’s policies, but this is retarded.

Are our only options in Utah really spineless RINOs or imbecilic conspiracy theorists?

Bleak stuff, man…

[Just Phil Lyman @phil_lyman]

If Tyler Robinson didn’t kill Charlie, then there are some dangerous and powerful people out there. When Governor Cox’s closest associates, including Mike Mower, attack and accuse me of some sort of involvement in killing Charlie, I have to assume they know something I don’t.

HAMLET Act 2 Scene 2:
GUILDENSTERN What should we say, my lord?

HAMLET Anything but to the purpose… there is a kind of confession in your looks which your modesties have not craft enough to color. I know the good king and queen have sent for you. - I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation prevent your discovery, and your secrecy to the King and Queen molt no feather.

[Ulisses Soares @Ulisses__Soares]

Recently, I participated in the delicate and lengthy process of removing my mother’s mortal remains from my grandparents’ family gravesite to make room for other family members in the future. It was a tender experience, one that brought back many memories and reminded me that, although death separates us physically for a time, the influence of a righteous life remains, and the promise of the Resurrection brings hope.

My mother was a wonderful example to me of what it means to be a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ. She passed away two days before her 94th birthday, just two months before my call to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 2018. As I reflected on her life during this unusual and sacred experience, I felt renewed gratitude for her faith, her goodness, and the lasting legacy she left to our family.

Until the end of her life, she remained remarkably healthy, mentally alert, active, and deeply devoted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. She often expressed her belief that many of the blessings she enjoyed throughout her life were connected to her conversion to the gospel and to the way she sought to live its teachings.

Although this tender experience reminded me of the sorrow of temporary separation caused by death, it also strengthened my testimony of the glorious reality of the Resurrection. I know that, through Jesus Christ, my mother’s mortal remains will one day be reunited with her spirit in a perfected and immortal body.

Because of the Savior’s victory over death, the gift of resurrection is extended to every person. I testify that the Resurrection is real and that eternal life is made possible through Jesus Christ as we exercise faith in Him, repent, make and keep sacred covenants with Him, and faithfully follow Him.

[Ryker @RykerJackson97]

@monsterhunter45 We getting Bigfoot next?

I’m excited!

[ExMos, ProgMos and FrogMos Posting their L’s | PhD @ExMosPostingLs]

I’m not kidding when people like @DeseretStone and I point out that the Fib has become a glorified blog at this point. There is literally nothing newsworthy about this article to report on.

[Ryker @RykerJackson97]

@BrighamTomco @JosephAddington I love how she still finds a way to make it Trump’s fault lol.

[Ryker @RykerJackson97]

Good morning.

[Ryker @RykerJackson97]

@Ari_will_sing I will never not be jealous of that absolutely incredible room!

Life goals, seriously lol.

[Ryker @RykerJackson97]

Goodnight.

[The Deseret Stone @DeseretStone]

Connecting the dots here:

-> Taylor Petrey, a “professor” (lol) at a “college” (with ~1,100 students and an 86% admit rate, lmao) heavily funded by Jon Stryker’s Arcus Foundation

-> is pushing a blog post by Religion News, another Arcus Foundation grant recipient

lmao

It’s just such a transparent propaganda op that it’s hard to do anything but laugh at it

[Ryker @RykerJackson97]

Perhaps de-emphasized is the wrong word, but the basic idea is that it’s less common currently in church magazines, videos, and teaching manuals to see hardline stances on social issues that the church used to be much more open about.

For instance, the tone that the church has taken in regard to same sex attraction is much more nuanced and errs more on the side of mercy than the justice that was the common focus in decades past.

Keep in mind that I’m not saying such a change is a bad thing necessarily, only that it is a sign of the church (at least in terms of communications) softening its tone, which is why I’m very skeptical of claims that a supposedly growing form of conservatism in the church is the cause of liberal members leaving.

[Ryker @RykerJackson97]

So church culture drifts consistently more left over the last 20 years, church members themselves drift consistently more left over the last 20 years, and official church publications consistently de-emphasize traditional RW perspectives over the last 20 years, yet somehow it’s the fault of conservatives that young women are leaving?

[Taylor G. Petrey @TaylorPetrey]

I've pointed out how a particular brand of conservatism today is uniquely alienating to most people's sense of morality and actively drives people out of churches, including LDS ones. This research suggests why there is a new gender gap in the LDS trend.

https://t.co/4Yk7QBa60b

[Ryker @RykerJackson97]

@SherylJensen69 @defense_of_fam I’m not trying to be rude, here, and I’m sorry if it came off that way.

I truly am confused as to what issue you took with my comment, though.

[Ryker @RykerJackson97]

Brother, that’s not the point I’m making.

I agree with you that political stances shift all the time.

What I’m referring to is the fact of the church (at least in its communications) visibly veering more left for decades and how that doesn’t square with the OP’s theory as to why young liberal women are leaving.

[Ryker @RykerJackson97]

@EmotionlDamaj Are you under the impression that I’m some kind of rabid Trump supporter or something?

What exactly in my comment are you attempting to respond to?

[Ryker @RykerJackson97]

Young childless people have more insight into the needs of children than the parents of said children??

*deep breath*

I’m not going to write all I want to, but suffice it to say, stay the hell away from people’s kids.

[Caleb Wait @calebwait]

I try to keep an open mind about new ideas and opinions, but this take on parents and children is the dumbest thing I’ve heard in a long time. Douthat’s response is perfect:

[Ryker @RykerJackson97]

@merrynick13 All of them.

[Ryker @RykerJackson97]

They’re doing this to me tomorrow:

[Ryker @RykerJackson97]

A great photo of the Pago Pago American Samoa Temple taken by Oscar Lawrence: