Let's just say someone has become aware in some way that some Mormons believe that good weather is connected to righteousness. Let's also say that this person is curious as to whether this is a common belief among Mormons, or whether this represents a fringe element.
How would someone go about -- hypothetically, of course -- asking this question on this board?
------
Edit: I got an answer. It's okay to ask. It's not okay to directly link. *grin* So, that said, I'll ask: is it actually common among Mormons to believe that things like rainfall are strongly influenced by the righteousness of the stakes in an area?
[ April 13, 2005, 02:27 PM: Message edited by: TomDavidson ]
Posted by saxon75 (Member # 4589) on :
So, your actual, non-hypothetical question having been answered, what more is there to do in this thread?
Edit: Dang, too slow.
[ April 13, 2005, 02:27 PM: Message edited by: saxon75 ]
Posted by scottneb (Member # 676) on :
Weather has always been atributed to God, Tom. It's a common theme in religion that righteousness brings a person closer to God. So, God and weather and righteousness sort of blend together.
...and that's not just Mormonism.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
Think of Zeus and his thunderbolts!
Posted by IanO (Member # 186) on :
*was wondering what had happened*
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Scottneb: is that a "yes?" I mean, specifically, do Mormons as a rule believe that things like prayers for rain are effective, or that the ending of a drought may be indicative of, say, an increasingly righteous people?
[ April 13, 2005, 02:33 PM: Message edited by: TomDavidson ]
Posted by starlooker (Member # 7495) on :
"that's not just Mormonism"
That's the truth. You ever been to West Texas in the middle of a drought? You won't have to look too far on Wednesday nights to find people praying in parking lots for rain. Or to find preachers who tell you that if only the region would get it's act together, it would rain and the desert would bloom.
Personally, I think God (assuming God) created the desert, it's never had a whole lot of rain, droughts happen, and while I don't blame people for praying for rain I think assigning God's motivation for not providing rain to the sinfulness of an area is... well, presumptuous.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Hypothetically, I think it may be linked to the hypothetical quality of the education of the hypothetical Mormons.
Some might interpret all weather as a blessing/judgement on the righteous/unrighteous, etc. Some may just believe that there are many small miracles, and in some cases, some weather conditions may be given as an answer to prayer, but it probably goes on a case-by-case basis in very specific circumstances.
Hypothetically, having grown up in an area with a high population of scientists, I might hypothetically be expected to fall into the latter category.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Hmm...I don't think anyone can answer athouritatively how common beliefs are in the church.
In my experience...okay, I have no experience with this. I don't remember being asked to pray for rain, and I definitely don't remember the results. I've lived in a desert for most of my life (Dallas isn't), but not in a farming community, so a lack of rain was inconvenient but not devestating.
President Lorenzo Snow teaches the Lord's law of tithing. Includes selections from the movie Windows of Heaven to illustrate the Church's efforts to teach the law of tithing.
*draws from memory* in the early 1900s, the church was in danger from being deeply, deeply in debt, and there was a horrible drought. President Snow recieved inspiration to emphasize tithing in General Conference. He also taught it in the stakes of Zion (there were many fewer then), and people started paying tithing much more faithfully. The church pulled out of debt and hasn't been in it since (as far as I know - temples and church buildings are paid for with cash), and the drought ended.
[ April 13, 2005, 02:37 PM: Message edited by: katharina ]
Posted by scottneb (Member # 676) on :
I have a large amount of family in Souther Utah. An area that has been plaqued by a drought for almost ten years. The leaders of the church actually went to that area and told the people that it was because of their unrighteousness that was causing the affliction.
Posted by scottneb (Member # 676) on :
Of course there was a huge influx of rain in that area that swelled rivers that swallowed houses whole. So, I guess you should be careful what you ask for.
Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :
If you are plagued by drought and crop failures does that mean that you are unrighteous, or does that mean you should move?
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
And if an area has really good weather, does that mean one should emulate the common behaviors there?
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Skill: Could be any of the above. Ask the Lord.
Fugu: Other standards of behavior supercede that.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
They must all be saints in godless communistic Cuba, except for that sinful period around Hurricane Season.
If weather is a sign of ones closeness to God, all hail Saint Mauibabe.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
And people wonder why linking to Nauvoo is discouraged.
Posted by Vána (Member # 6593) on :
One of my problems with the idea that weather is linked to righteousness it that different people need different weather, even if they live in the same area. So how would God decide which weather need to grant among the differing needs? I think it's much more productive to pray for the ability to adjust to the current situation, weather related or otherwise. It's never seemed very productive, to me, to pray for changes in external situations over changes in your own attitudes/abilities/whatever.
Posted by maui babe (Member # 1894) on :
Thanks Dan. Posted by scottneb (Member # 676) on :
The LDS people are held to a higher standard according to the church. The population of Southern Utah is almost 80% Mormon and thus the area suffers if it's Mormon population falls into sin.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
The weather bit is incidental to the larger question. Obviously it isn't like a light switch - righteous = rain, unrighteous = no rain. It's more closely linked to the idea of prayer.
Do you think your prayers are more likely to be answered when you are doing your best to please God or when you are ignoring him? Do you think prayers make a difference at all?
Posted by Vána (Member # 6593) on :
Was that in response to me? Because I'd be willing to bet that not all Mormons in southern Utah have the same weather needs. Some might be farmers and some might have mold allergies. So...if they're being righteous enough to earn favorable weather, who will it be favorable to? The majority? It seems...too arbitrary for me. It makes me uncomfortable. I hold that it's more productive to pray about changing yourself than about changing outside circumstances.
Posted by scottneb (Member # 676) on :
The idea isn't to pray for rain. The idea is to change yourself to make yourself worthy of it. It's completely different.
Posted by Vána (Member # 6593) on :
I totally support the idea of praying as a means of self improvement. I just don't see what the weather has to do with it - more importantly, how someone can look at the weather somewhere and then make a judgement on the moral character of the people who live there. Does that make a better question? I'm struggling a little (and I don't think I'm the only one - maybe someone else can ask a clearer question?).
[ April 13, 2005, 03:36 PM: Message edited by: Vána ]
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
quote:how someone can look at the weather somewhere and then make a judgement on the moral character of the people who live there.
I don't see that anyone is doing that.
Unless you are referring to President Snow, and then it is his stewardship and his job to urge the Saints to greater faithfullness.
Posted by scottneb (Member # 676) on :
I didn't mean to imply that the people that live in Hawaii are better than the people of Antartica. God has the ability to do whatever he sees fit. If his people live off the land and they start to slip-up he can withdraw the rain from the area and make them suffer until they get the message and change their ways. I don't believe you can tell the righteousness of a people based on the weather in their area.
Posted by Vána (Member # 6593) on :
scottneb said
quote:I have a large amount of family in Souther Utah. An area that has been plaqued by a drought for almost ten years. The leaders of the church actually went to that area and told the people that it was because of their unrighteousness that was causing the affliction
That's what I was referring to, as well as what you said about President Snow.
I'm really and truly only asking about the weather connection here - I hope it doesn't sound otherwise. I don't want to make anyone upset, I'm only curious! One of my closest friends is a meterologist, and I have several other friends in meterology, so it's a topic that I'm in close contact with, and have a lot of interest in.
Edited because it's polite to spell people's names correctly.
[ April 13, 2005, 03:44 PM: Message edited by: Vána ]
Posted by scottneb (Member # 676) on :
No offense taken.
If I don't have the knowledge to defend my beliefs, why should I believe them?
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
It's the responsibility of the leaders to get inspiration for the people under their stewardship - to call them to repentance when necessary, and to speak on subjects that are necessary. No one gets inspiration for people's lives outside of their stewardship, but it's important that leaders do. Otherwise, they are just going on their own opinions, and the church isn't being led by inspiration.
I don't the weather is a specific subject of theology - it's more along the lines of being worthy so the Lord can bless you, in whatever it is you need.
Posted by Epictetus (Member # 6235) on :
I think its a common belief, (at least it is in my ward) but I don't personally put too much stock in it. I may live on the Wasatch front, but a desert is still a desert and it's going to be dry, a lot.
Posted by no. 6 (Member # 7753) on :
Is this why Utah has so few earthquakes? Posted by scottneb (Member # 676) on :
No, that's faultlines. Duh!
[EDIT] I didn't spell that right did I? Oh well, it wasn't serious anyway.
[ April 13, 2005, 03:55 PM: Message edited by: scottneb ]
Posted by starlooker (Member # 7495) on :
Wait a second.
One must be worthy of rain?
Matthew 5:44 - Matthew 5:45 -- 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[i] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Posted by UofUlawguy (Member # 5492) on :
It's not so much that some Mormons may or may not believe that weather is strongly influenced by prayer, or by righteousness/sinfulness. It's that many (most) of us believe that such things CAN be influenced by prayer, or occasionally by righteousness/sinfulness. I know of no one who would claim that weather is primarily influenced by these things.
Weather isn't special in this regard, of course. Mormons and other religiously-minded people tend to believe that all kinds of things, big and small, can potentially be influenced by such factors.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Right. And sometimes the Lord blesses you for no reason at all, and sometimes blessings come before you tried to be obedient and prayed for them.
I will not start with the dueling scriptures.
Why is everyone stuck on the weather?
Posted by scottneb (Member # 676) on :
Did you read the whole thread? That's not what we're saying.
If you're going to turn this into a Bible bash, I'm out. I don't want to be responsible for taking someone's beliefs away.
Posted by Vána (Member # 6593) on :
Because that's what Tom was asking about in the first place. I was actually impressed at how well we were sticking to the weather.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
But the question was answered, in that it is part of a larger context.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
"Why is everyone stuck on the weather?"
Well, it's actually a shame I can't link directly to the thread in question, because I wanted to discuss some things I saw specifically in that thread which I found intriguing from both a theological and sociological perspective. But it's my opinion that quoting -- and even paraphrasing -- those things is no better than linking, especially not when it comes to creating a "safe harbor" atmosphere, so I don't know how much freedom I have to answer your question, Katie. Had someone asked that question before reporting the thread....
[ April 13, 2005, 04:03 PM: Message edited by: TomDavidson ]
Posted by Susie Derkins (Member # 7718) on :
Saying that God has the power to affect the weather and saying that prayer is a way to actually communicate with God and saying that weather is a good consistent indication of the righteousness of a people are vastly different things. Weather and climate are vastly different things.
Yes, there is official LDS doctrine that God will intervene in the physical world. My stake just held a special stake-wide fast for precipitation, and it was implemented through the stake president and bishops. Will this help the situation? I don't know, and I don't think it really matters, since I'm in no position to evaluate the righteousness or the sincerity of the fasts of everyone else. I don't know what the principle is, or what the critical mass is. Are we pulling for 30% fasting this time? Does it operate on the same principle as Sodom and Gommorah - that even 10 righteous people will save the entire county? I don't know; I doubt it's that simplistic.
I do know that exercising faith on my part was a very important aspect of it. I know that I am a natural skeptic and not very good at fasting with a purpose, but I know that commiting myself to do so makes a big difference in my personal spirituality and faith. I'm not going to assume that my experiences with it are similar to anyone else's though.
This may seem contradictory; one of our apostles just addressed us during general conference about how sometimes things don't get better - sometimes the righteous person still dies. That doesn't negate the value of faith, and coming to a full understanding of the nature of faith is something that I'm only beginning to understand. But from what I've seen so far, its power is very real and very puissant in my own life. I'll keep working on assumptions based on my own anecdotal evidence as I increase my understanding of it.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
"I know that I am a natural skeptic and not very good at fasting with a purpose, but I know that commiting myself to do so makes a big difference in my personal spirituality and faith."
*nod* It's always been my belief that convincing people that they're sacrificing for a higher purpose is one of the single best ways to build faith in that purpose.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
That was a lovely answer, Annie. I think I'm in too much of a fighting mood today to express it.
Tom: It wasn't me. Posted by Susie Derkins (Member # 7718) on :
quote:It's always been my belief that convincing people that they're sacrificing for a higher purpose is one of the single best ways to build faith in that purpose.
That sounds like a pretty sound belief, as long as you're looking at it from the viewpoint of someone who wants to do some convincing. In my situation, I'm not really sure who would be doing the convincing, since I certainly didn't decide to participate just because the Bishop said so. In fact, he didn't even say so - he just announced that the fast would be held.
I guess if anyone is trying to convince me of said method for said purpose, it must be God, and in that case I'm pretty much OK with it.
Posted by scottneb (Member # 676) on :
Hey kat, why don't you start a new thread that we can fight each other in. I'll start the fight about why 2% mild is superior to any 1% or Skim you can mention.
[EDIT] Ha! "2% mild" apparently my spelling powers have been negated. It's supposed to be "2% milk."
[ April 13, 2005, 04:14 PM: Message edited by: scottneb ]
Posted by Susie Derkins (Member # 7718) on :
What, Scott, do you think she's fat? 'Cause she's not.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I think I need to. This is one of those days where I long to be climbing a mountain. I'm about to bounce off the walls here.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
"I guess if anyone is trying to convince me of said method for said purpose, it must be God..."
It depends on what you consider the purpose, I suppose. If the purpose of faith is to get rain, then no, this doesn't work.
I suspect -- speaking here as a secularist -- that the purpose of faith is faith. And demanding works as a demonstration of faith, particularly works that do not have obvious this-world benefits, is a fantastic way to produce more faith.
There have been ample studies on this; people tend to justify their labor to themselves and seek rationalizations to that end. For example, if someone pays slightly more for an item, they will convince themselves that the thing they bought is better than a similar cheaper item, even in the face of evidence contradicting them. In the same way, someone who has started walking to a destination is likely to continue walking to that destination, all else being held equal, even if a bus comes by -- because once you commit emotionally to a cost, you justify the value of the cost.
I believe this principle applies as strongly to religion as it does to politics, advertising, recreation, and the other realms to which it's been applied; people love the things for which they've made sacrifices more, in fact, than they are likely to sacrifice for the things they love. The decision to commit creates a fairly powerful emotional bond; I've often wondered if it isn't actually one of the major non-hormonal emotional factors in a sexual relationship.
[ April 13, 2005, 04:16 PM: Message edited by: TomDavidson ]
Posted by Vána (Member # 6593) on :
That makes a lot of sense, Tom.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
That doesn't obviate the truth of God, though. God would know that about us, being a fabulous sociologist. So, in order to engender a faith that could sustain us, one of the ways he has devised to bless us with it is to ask for sacrifices.
Posted by scottneb (Member # 676) on :
The thread is up and running.
Sweet! Tom's spin-off thread sparked a spin-off.
Posted by Vána (Member # 6593) on :
I didn't read it as a criticism....
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
I'm not putting that up as a disproof of God. I was saying that I understood and sympathized with the way sacrifice brought Annie closer to her faith. In fact, I've often wondered if one of the reasons that atheism/agnosticism has yet to produce a really solid "movement" of any kind is because, by its very nature, it does not demand sacrifice and conformity of its members, and therefore expects no emotional committment.
[ April 13, 2005, 04:19 PM: Message edited by: TomDavidson ]
Posted by Susie Derkins (Member # 7718) on :
I think I agree, and I think I do it to myself. I know that when I become more involved, I want to be more involved.
I like to think, though, that I understand the mechanism that makes this work, and it's not hormonal or sociolocial. Posted by starlooker (Member # 7495) on :
quote:Right. And sometimes the Lord blesses you for no reason at all, and sometimes blessings come before you tried to be obedient and prayed for them.
I will not start with the dueling scriptures.
Why is everyone stuck on the weather?
quote: Did you read the whole thread? That's not what we're saying.
If you're going to turn this into a Bible bash, I'm out. I don't want to be responsible for taking someone's beliefs away
Hi. Nice to meet you, too.
I didn't want to start a Bible-bash by ANY means. Also, no, I hadn't read the entire thread because while I was posting several new posts were added.
I was curious as to how someone who believes that one must be worthy of rain would interpret that particular verse, as that's what first came to mind. (I've had these debates -- generally fun-spirited -- quite often over the past several years.)
So, I was reacting to it as a religion-general question. Although I know the hypothetical question was directed at hypothetical Mormons, I know a lot more people from other denominations who hold a much more stringent view about the causes of rain, etc. This includes both believing in prayer that will alleviate drought and that the behavior of the people in the region and their unrepentance have caused the drought.
I'm more used to that debate and assume it to be a religion-general one than a religion-specific one.
Opinion on this varies widely within my home congregation, as well (during a ten year or so drought on the edge of the desert where cattle and cotton are still big players in the local economy, you tend to talk a lot about the rain.) I had assumed that among Mormons, similarly to people I know among other denominations, opinions vary and Biblical backing of these opinions is the norm.
I didn't mean to question anyone's faith in particular, although I was interested in interpretation. I figured it was one of those things where interpretations of certain Bible verses and the opinion of the meaning of the Bible as a whole naturally comes into play.
I'm guessing these conversations have gotten ugly here before, and that's why the strong reaction to me. Please note: I am very new, I didn't realize. I won't quote the Bible in a theological debate again.
*shrugs*
*moves on*
My personal opinion on the weather issue: I don't much care. Don't think it hurts to pray for rain, don't know if it helps, won't presume to assign either lack or abundance of rain to any specific reason in general or in case-by-case instances.
Posted by Susie Derkins (Member # 7718) on :
Nice to have you here, starlooker. And yes, religion topics can get a little tense in these parts.
I think Kat's main argument stems from this misunderstanding:
quote:I was curious as to how someone who believes that one must be worthy of rain would interpret that particular verse
You see, I don't think there's really anyone here who honestly thinks that.
(correct me if I'm wrong)
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Welcome, starlooker. I understand now where you were coming from. It's good to see you - thank you for your contribution here. Posted by Yozhik (Member # 89) on :
quote:So how would God decide which weather need to grant among the differing needs? I think it's much more productive to pray for the ability to adjust to the current situation, weather related or otherwise.
I agree with this, and I think it actually conforms better to LDS doctrine than the idea that "good things only happen to good people and bad things only happen to bad people." Abinadi, anyone?
Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
I have on several occasions prayed for rain. And on many more occasions I have prayed to thank God for rain that has fallen. I have encouraged my children to do the same. Whether or not my praying has anything to do with the actual rainfall isn't much my concern. But if it does effect it, and this land has sorely needed it, I have done what I can.
Posted by Occasional (Member # 5860) on :
Praying for rain is a very common Mormon practice in the West. The idea that there were places were Ward (i.e. congregation) leaders didn't advise the members to do this never crossed my mind.
However, for clarification, there is NOT a specific righteous/wicked point to it all. Never once did that come up in all my years of living in farming communities. Rather, it was precisely because it was farming and "desert" conditions by nature that the prayers were requested. NOTHING about "you should all repent," in connection with weather.
That said, there are Scriptural evidence that such righteous/wicked weather patterns have been used. One can think almost instantly of Noah's Flood. There is a story in the Book of Mormon where a Prophet deliberately asked for a famine to humble the people, and then prayed for rain when they were properly humbled by the experience. So, such ideas of wicked/righteous famine and rain do have presidence.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Since we're instructed to pray about anything we're concerned about, weather seems as good a thing as any to pray about. I mean, I thank the Lord often when we have beautiful weather, or even when we have thunderstorms. I pray for those who are displaced or injured or harmed in any way by weather of any kind. Jesus calmed the raging sea, I don't see any reason not to pray about it. But I would never assume that people are unrighteous because they're having bad weather, or righteous just because they have good.
Posted by Vána (Member # 6593) on :
quote:I mean, I thank the Lord often when we have beautiful weather, or even when we have thunderstorms. I pray for those who are displaced or injured or harmed in any way by weather of any kind. Jesus calmed the raging sea, I don't see any reason not to pray about it. But I would never assume that people are unrighteous because they're having bad weather, or righteous just because they have good.
That's me, too.
I'm glad - I really was confused for a while. But it makes more sense now.
Posted by mothertree (Member # 4999) on :
Has it already been pointed out that Mormons seldom pray about rain, it's generally moisture ? I find that kind of hilarious, personally.
Posted by maui babe (Member # 1894) on :
I guess it's because we're just as happy with heavy winter snowfalls or even extra heavy dew. Especially the desert dwellers amongst us.
I know that after living almost my entire life in one desert or another, I absolutely LOVE the rain here on Maui. We have all different kinds of rain here and grass and plants grow like crazy. It's pretty cool, actually.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I have never prayed about moisture. I've prayed about rain, snow, dew, mist, fog, humidity, thunderstorms, all by name, but never moisture.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Oh, forgot hail, drizzle, and sleet.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
How does humidity differ from moisture, pray tell?
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Humidity is heavy air. It's not visible as moisture of any kind, and it doesn't do the crops a lick of good. Just makes you sweat and makes the heat unbearable.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
*blink*
Percent humidity is a measure of the level of moisture in the air, relative to a maximum amount "holdable" by air at the current temperature.
High levels of humidity most certainly can affect crops.
In any case, I was saying that if you have prayed about humidity (and I have as well, often along the lines of "Dear God, please make it go AWAY!"), you have indeed prayed about moisture.
Posted by Boris (Member # 6935) on :
I've always thought of the word moisture as meaning something like sweat. Moisture isn't what I'd pray for (Though that is what everyone here in Idaho seems to be praying for...I was begining to wonder why there was an epidemic of Body Odor). I'd add a few sylables and ask for precipitation.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
Tom, an attempt to directly answer your question (if you don't think it has been...): No one, or certainly not the majority, feels that weather is directly related to righteousness of the people. Mormons do, however, believe in Godly intervention in the physical world in answer to the prayers of the faithful, be it weather, healing of the sick, or finding your car keys (seriously, that comes up a lot, not sure why ). The idea that prayer could change the weather is well within the belief structure of the Church, but that is all, a drought, a flood, normal weather, don't necessarily have anything to do with the morals of the society on which they occur.
Is that enough?
Hobbes Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Yep. It makes sense. There are some other issues I'd like to address, but I don't know how to do it obliquely enough that someone from Nauvoo reading this thread would be unable to identify the source. So I might wait a while and make a separate thread about it. *grin*
Posted by scottneb (Member # 676) on :
Go ahead Tom, I think it'd be alright. I got all my fighting out in the other thread.
[EDIT] I mean here on Hatrack. I've never been to Nauvoo.
[ April 14, 2005, 09:55 AM: Message edited by: scottneb ]
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
But rivka, there are no crops in Dallas! And I was saying, I didn't pray about moisture by that name. Only specific types.
And yes, that was the type of prayer that I was thinking of when I included humidity in that list.
[ April 14, 2005, 01:06 PM: Message edited by: ketchupqueen ]
Posted by maui babe (Member # 1894) on :
And there's no humidity in Utah or Idaho, so the folks there wouldn't be thinking of it when they say moisture.
Seriously. Growing up, I had heard of humidity (in Dennis the Menace comic books actually... Margaret saying "It isn't the heat, it's the humidity that's the problem") but I had no idea what it was until I stepped off the plane in Orlando, FL in Jan of 1980. THEN I knew.
[ April 14, 2005, 02:22 PM: Message edited by: maui babe ]
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Whenever I go to Utah or Idaho, my lips are chapped within three days. I'm going to start wearing a moisterizer on a string around my neck.
Posted by Portabello (Member # 7710) on :
The complete dryness is one of the few things I really love about Utah.
Posted by scottneb (Member # 676) on :
Your body gets used to the dryness. I prefer it to Mississippi where you step out of the shower and can't dry off.
That was also the place I found that a persons knees can sweat. I had no idea.
Posted by Susie Derkins (Member # 7718) on :
quote:Has it already been pointed out that Mormons seldom pray about rain, it's generally moisture ?
Yes! I hate this! For one thing, the word moisture is pretty gross on its own.
Last Sunday, though, when one of our bishopric counsellors (an old farmer guy who's not much for public speaking) was talking about the fast, he impressed me by using the word precipitation. This was very noble, I thought. The only problem was, he kept saying that we needed to be fasting and praying for participation.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Hey, participation is good, too!
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
"Meet the family. Joy, 41, is a Virgo. She is a career secretary and enjoys ice skating and John Grisham novels. She's pathologically afraid of balloons and hates the word moist. She thinks it's pornographic."
-Georgia Lass, Dead Like Me Posted by maui babe (Member # 1894) on :
quote:Whenever I go to Utah or Idaho, my lips are chapped within three days. I'm going to start wearing a moisterizer on a string around my neck
Three days??!?! Whatchutalkinabout? The last time I went to Idaho (I flew to CA and drove across Nevada) I had to stop in Winnemucca and buy some chapstick.
When I lived in Idaho, my skin was so dry and I was always itchy. I spent a small fortune on bath oils, lip balms and body lotions and never really felt better. My daughter had terrible excema, especially in the winter time and we spent a lot of money on prescription creams for her. Since we moved to Hawaii, we never use such products (just a daily sunblock) and we don't have the itches or the excema any more. YAY for humidity! I'll take the sweaty knees!
[ April 14, 2005, 04:35 PM: Message edited by: maui babe ]
Posted by punwit (Member # 6388) on :
*wonders idly what the denizens of Southern California do to earn their weather*
Posted by Portabello (Member # 7710) on :
quote:I spent a small fortune on bath oils, lip balms and body lotions and never really felt better.
I have found that if I use things like that, my body stops producing it on my own. Once my body got used to me not using it, it eventually got back into a good equilibrium.
I occasionally use chap stick, but a single stick will last me years and years.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
punwit, not tellin'. Posted by scottneb (Member # 676) on :
quote: bath oils, lip balms and body lotions
Your body produces bath oil?
That's where it comes from.
Posted by Susie Derkins (Member # 7718) on :
and lip balm? Sick!
Posted by Susie Derkins (Member # 7718) on :
Actually, the secret to surviving in a dry climate; and I'm going to tell you this and you'll wish I hadn't; is cutting back on your showering. Realistically, once every two to four days is just fine.
Posted by maui babe (Member # 1894) on :
'Shroom -
Yeah, the males in our house never used any lotions or chapsticks either. But I and my 5 daughters couldn't take the dry itchy skin. And we would go through at least one tube of chapstick (each!) a month.
It was especially bad in the winter time. And when I go back to visit (I'm going in June to see my daughter who's coming home from her mission in a few weeks ) I have to be VERY careful not to get dehydrated. I know when I lived there I did not have to drink as much as I do when I visit there. My body has adjusted to a wetter climate now.
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
quote:How does humidity differ from moisture, pray tell?
It's sort of a weird Utah-Idaho Mormon dialectal thing to use "moisture" in prayers to refer to any form of precipitation. It's pretty common to hear "We are thankful for the moisture we have received" in prayers when it rains.
Posted by Susie Derkins (Member # 7718) on :
I always assumed it started as a way to talk about rain and snow at once.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Ok . . .
*files that one away for future reference*
Posted by Dante (Member # 1106) on :
Yeah, "moisture" somehow made it into someone's "church register" once, and now it's stuck in many people's.
On a related note, my friends and I once determined that one of most cacophonic phrases ever is: "moist worm ointment." Go ahead, say it outloud. Slowly, and with feeling. And don't just glottal-stop those "t"s either; you gotta feel 'em.
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That was a lovely answer, Annie. I think I'm in too much of a fighting mood today to express it.![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
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