Disclaimer: In my other life, I'm a rock-'n-roll DJ, an ex-Mormon apostate and a foot soldier of Satan. That out of the way, let us proceed:
_____


"DANCE MOVEMENTS: Can Dance Movements Drive Away the Spirit? What is Proper Dancing Posture? Can Dances Be Good or Evil?"

--"Prophetic Statements

"John Taylor

"I remember the time very well, and many of you do, when we used to commence our theatrical amusements here by prayer. We do not do so much of it now. . . . All our acts should be sanctified to God. You know that we are in the habit of having parties occasionally. I will give you my ideas about some of them. I have attended one or two lately, and I think we are running rather wild, and we do not act as much like gentlemen and ladies as we should, nor quite as much like saints as we ought to do. I think there is a great deal of impudence and pert- ness, a great amount of interfering with other people’s rights in these places, and I think that we need correcting, . . . I think we ought to elevate everything of this kind to its proper standard. We ought not to intrude upon or take advantage of anybody, even in amusements." [1]


"David O. McKay

". . . The enclosed statement of acceptable dancing states that if one concentrates on good dance posture, many dances can be danced in a manner which will meet LDS standards. Examples of these dances are the waltz, the fox trot, tango, rhumba, cha-cha, samba, and the swing, and most of the folk dances, for which the Brigham Young University has a very wholesome and fine reputation.

"The seven dances which I have enumerated have all been approved by the General Boards of the Mutual Improvement Associations. This should provide a sufficient variety of dances to enable the youth of Zion to have a good time.

"After all, young men and women of our Church should shun even the appearance of evil, and that is why we would very much prefer that you and others avoid the current trend of what, to many of us, appears to be vulgar dancing. There are too many fine things in this world for the young people to engage in without resorting to dances that are questionable.

"I hope that you and your friends will follow my advice by dancing in accordance with the standards. You will find that when you accept those standards you will get much more joy and wholesome satisfaction than you do from the questionable dancing engaged in by many, and you will not be in an atmosphere where there is smoking or drinking as described by you in one of the places where you dance." [2]

"Later, they built the Social Hall. Perhaps there are those in the audience today who, after listening to the opening prayer, joined hands in the cotillion, dancing in a spirit best understood by the remarks of President Brigham Young, who once said, in substance: 'The atmosphere of the dance should be such that if any elder be called from the party to go to administer to a sick person, he could leave with the same spirit that he would go from his elders’ quorum meeting.' [3]


"Harold B. Lee

"I could only wish in your dancing parties that you would encourage frequent changes of partners during the evening, as well as group dances, and faster dances of beauty and grace with music that makes an appeal to beauty and harmony rather than to boisterous performances that might well be confined to the circus or the vaudeville stage." [4]


"Spencer W. Kimball

"Group music activities have similar effects, and also can soften and mellow the spirit and satisfy the aesthetic needs.

"The properly-conducted dancing party can be a blessing. It provides opportunity to spend a pleasant evening with many people to the accompaniment of music. It can create and develop friendships which will be treasured in later years. Alternatively it can become a restricting experience.

"Well-ordered dances provide favorable places, pleasing times and auspicious circumstances in which to meet new people and to enlarge circles of friends. They can be an open door to happiness. In an evening of pleasurable dancing and conversation, one can become acquainted with many splendid young folk, every one of whom has admirable traits and may be superior to any one companion in at least some qualities."


"Ezra Taft Benson

"Youth leaders, are you holding aloft our standards, or have you compromised them for the lowest common denominator in order to appease the deceived or vile within the Church? Are the dances and music in your cultural halls virtuous, lovely, praiseworthy, and of good report [5], or do they represent a modern Sodom with short skirts, loud beat, strobe lights, and darkness?" [6] [7]

"Attend dances where the music and the lighting and the dance movements are conducive to the Spirit." [8][9]

"Have you noticed some of our Church dances lately? Have they been praiseworthy, lovely, and of good report? [10] “I doubt,” said President David O. McKay, 'whether it is possible to dance most of the prevalent fad dances in a manner to meet LDS standards.'" [11] [12]

"Satan uses many tools to weaken and destroy the home and family and especially our young people. Today, as never before, it seems the devil’s thrust is directed at our youth. A letter from a concerned father, a well-informed teacher of youth, about the evil effects of some popular music is one of many:

"'Music creates atmosphere. Atmosphere creates environment. Environment influences behavior. What are the mechanics of this process?

"'Rhythm is the most physical element in music. It is the only element in music that can exist in bodily movement without benefit of sound. A mind dulled by drugs or alcohol can still respond to the beat.

"'Loudness adds to muddling the mind. Sound magnified to the threshold of pain is of such physical violence as to block the higher processes of thought and reason. (And turning down the volume of this destructive music does not remove the other evils.) . . .

""Repetition to the extreme is another primitive rock device. . . .

"'Gyrations, a twin to rock rhythm, are such that even clean hands and a pure heart cannot misinterpret their insinuations. . . .

"'Darkness [and dimmed lights] is another facet of the rock scene. It is a black mass that deadens the conscience in a mask of anonymity. Identity lost in darkness shrinks from the normal feelings of responsibility.

"'Strobe lights split the darkness in blinding shafts that reduce resistance like the lights of an interrogator’s third degree or the swinging pendulum of the hypnotist who would control your behavior. . . .

"'The whole psychedelic design is a swinging door to drugs, sex, rebellion, and Godlessness. Combined with the screaming obscenities of the lyrics, this mesmerizing music has borne the fruit of filth. Leaders of the rock society readily proclaim their degeneracy. . . .

"'And the most diabolical deceit of this infamy is that it denies evil to be an absolute. Our religion is one of absolutes and cannot be rationalized into a relativistic philosophy of the “liberal Mormons.” We cannot safely rationalize away righteousness.

"'What could be more misguided than fear that "if rock music were not endorsed by our leaders, we may lose many young people." [13] Even now we are losing them to the songs of Satan, drugs, sex, riot, and apostasy. We could be well reminded by a message from the Mormon Miracle pageant: 'Moroni knew that you cannot compromise with evil. If you do, evil always wins.'" [14]

"This letter from a father, teacher of youth, and member of a college music department, although analytical, expresses the concern of many other parents and youth leaders.

"The Church must not compromise standards before popular demands. Surely tobacco, coffee, and alcohol users have been alienated by uncompromising standards as much as today’s rocking miniskirts." [15]

"We attach to most of our chapels a cultural hall so that our youth may have a place to dance, to perform their talents in musicals and other uplifting entertainment, and we hope our youth leaders as trustees of the building will see to it that only wholesome, uplifting activities are performed in this building. Should you have any reservations whether or not an activity, a style of dancing or tempo of music is in accord with Church standards, may I suggest this guide: Does it uplift and inspire one to higher ideals? Does it develop wholesome relationships between young men and women, or appeal to and arouse their baser instincts? Will it cause one to be a better Latter-day Saint and lead one closer to the Savior? Avoid all activities and dances which bring the world’s demoralizing standards into this sacred meeting place. If you adult leaders will counsel the youth, they can understand the inconsistency of opening our meetings with prayer asking that the Lord’s Spirit be with us, and then engaging in an activity which repels His Spirit. We ask you to be very mindful of this." [16]

"Our young people must lead clean lives--clean in their actions, clean in their thoughts. This means that they cannot indulge promiscuously in so-called petting and necking. My advice to them would be not to engage in these promiscuous relationships, these close and intimate contacts including cheek-to-cheek dancing on the ballroom floor, whether it be at a Church dance, a public dance, or wherever it might be. I urge that they never do anything, on the dance floor or off the dance floor, that they would be ashamed to have their own fathers and mothers witness." [17]
_____


"Scriptures

"Nephi 18:9

"'And after we had been driven forth before the wind for the space of many days, behold, my brethren and the sons of Ishmael and also their wives began to make themselves merry, insomuch that they began to dance, and to sing, and to speak with much rudeness, yea, even that they did forget by what power they had been brought thither; yea, they were lifted up unto exceeding rudeness.'


"Mosiah 18:9

"'To stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God' . . ."
_____


--"Supporting Statements

“'For The Strength of Youth' [Mormon Church] pamphlet:

"'Dancing can be fun and can provide an opportunity to meet new people. However, it too can be misused. When dancing, avoid full body contact with your partner. Do not use positions or moves that are suggestive of sexual behavior. Plan and attend dances where dress, grooming, lighting, lyrics, and music contribute to a wholesome atmosphere where the Spirit of the Lord may be present.'" [18]
_____


--Sources:

1. John Taylor, "Journal of Discourses" 15, pp. 270-72, January 5, 1873;, p. 62

2. David O. McKay, as printed in the "Daily Universe," Dec. 3 1965, pp. 1-2; and "Living Prophets for a Living Church," Church Educational System college student manual, 1974

3. David O. McKay, "Pathways to Happiness," p. 72

4. Harold B. Lee, "Decisions for Successful Living" [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1973], pp. 156-57

5. "Article of Faith" 13

6. Ezra Taft Benson, "God, Family, Country Our Three Great Loyalties" [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1974], p. 229

7. Ezra Taft Benson, "The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson" [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988], p. 323

8. Ezra Taft Benson, “To the Young Women of the Church,” Ensign 16 [November 1986], p. 84

9. Ezra Taft Benson, "The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson" [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988], pp. 326-27

10. "Article of Faith" 13

11. "Conference Report," April 1969, "Improvement Era" 72 [June 1969], pp. 46-47

12. Ezra Taft Benson, "The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson" [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988], p. 325.

13. "MIA Music Committee"

14. Richard Nibley, excerpts from letter

15. Ezra Taft Benson, "God, Family, Country: Our Three Great Loyalties," p. 242.

16. Ezra Taft Benson, Finglas Ireland Branch Dedication, 10 September 1980; "Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson," p. 153

17. Ezra Taft Benson, "Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson," p. 323

18. "For the Strength of Youth," Mormon Church pamphlet

http://www.josephsmithforum.org/research/faqs/06-dance-movements-can-dance-movements-drive-away-the-spirit-what-is-proper-dancing-posture-can-dances-be-good-or-evil/

**********


Allow me to pass along some personal musical memories of how, in my formative years, Satan tempted me with Holy-Ghostless vibrations--and I got hooked:

--When I was a kid in Salt Lake City, me and my younger sister, Stephanie, got caught by our mom in the living room of our home being swiveled into sin by the devil music of Chubby Checkers. We were dancing to "The Twist," with blue-colored Tinker Toy sticks in our mouths, pretending they were cigarettes. We really got read the riot act on that one. C'mon, suck on a Tinker Toy while you rock!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im9XuJJXylw
_____


--Indeed, for me growing up, Salt Lake City was Sin Lake City. In another example of being caught in the web of bad music, Utah Power and Light had a little 45-rpm record that it mailed out as a promotional gimmick to its customers, entitled "Cool Blue Flame." The words went:

"I'm a cool blue flame and all you gotta do is turn me on. I'm a cool blue flame . . ."

As kids we thought that was a cool song and would play it over and over on our little record player out on the back porch, but my parents thought it was way too suggestive--so they busted the record in half.
_____


--Then, when I was a teenager in a north suburb of Dallas, Texas (Richardson), our ward and stake used to hold regular and very popular youth dances. Of course, in order to be be popular for that generation of kids, this music had to be a joyful mix of good ol' classic rock, hard rock and soft rock--otherwise, no one would dance. Our stake had a youth dance committee program where we kids would pick tunes from hit songs of the day for playing at these dances.

But we didn't have the final say on what was, well, actually played. You see, our preliminary selections were then reviewed by a Mormon adult authority figure who had the official power and blessing from God to unilaterally nix any song regarded as being inappropriate--i.e, not up to high moral standards required for Mormon youth dances. I was on one of these youth dance committees that initially (and theoretically) chose the playlists.

Unfortunately for my choice and the concurring choice of my fellow teens, my dad was appointed as the adult overseer assigned the solemn priesthood responsibility of approving or tanking any of our desired tunes. He came over one evening to the home of a ward member where we kids had gathered to choose the classic rock tunes for our next dance. I was totally into the group, "Bread" (one of the greatest soft-rock bands of the 1970s). I particularly liked their moving ballad, "Sweet Surrender." Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB10NmTPwuw


My dad saw the title of that song and proceeded to give it the holy heave-ho.

Say what??

He didn't even bother listening to the tune or reading the lyrics. I asked him why he kill-joyed it. He said it was because of the title: "Sweet Surrender." I asked him what was wrong with the title (it was, after all, a sweet love song) To understand my dad's reason for beheading "Bread," it bears noting that during this time of my life the Vietnam war was still raging. My dad said that the name of the song was actually a message to the youth of America to surrender to the Vietnamese Communists (who, he believed, were not only regional Communists but were being backed by Moscow's Marxists in a worldwide conspiracy to destroy America and eventually take over the planet. (After all, didn't you know that the Beatles were trained in Moscow?)
_____


--And, here we go again, dear ol' mom. During that same period in my teenage years, one evening our Texas ward MIA group reserved the local city rec center for a night of shooting hoops, consuming Mormon-approved refreshments and engaging in other good, wholesome fun.

Alas, over the rec center's PA system (operated by the facility's non-Mormon staffers) was playing the classic rock tune by Jim Morrison and "The Doors," that sultry and soul-destroying "Light My Fire."

Here it is, from a "Doors" concert:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw40NMa_0RM


My mom was very upset about such satanic sounds poisoning our LDS youth-group activity and wanted it stopped immediately. Despite her request, I refused to go to the non-Mormon management and ask that "Light My Fire" be doused. As a born-in-the-bed faithful Mormon boy, even I had my limits.
_____


--And how can I forget W. Cleon Skousen and Ezra Taft Benson messing with my mind and my music? Skousen led a full-on assault on satanic rock 'n roll--with my grandpa's full-throated encouragement.

In my personal library, I discoverd a book that once belonged to ETB entitled, "Rock 'N' Reality: Mirrors of Rock Music--Its Relationship to Sex, Drugs, Family and Religion," by Mormon author and BYU graduate E. Lynn Balmforth (Hawkes Publications: Salt Lake City, Utah, 1971).

My grandfather clearly had a special fondness for this thin, paperback volume. He had signed his name in his big, flamboyant style above the title on the front cover, along with noting in the upper right-hand corner of same, "Return to E.T.B." He further autographed the inside of the front cover, along with noting the date--February 18, 1972--that he received it. He very much seemed to want to make sure he never lost it.

The book's "Preface" was authored by Skousen, one of ETB's closest ideological allies. My grandfather had dog-earred the first page of that section and underlined several of its passages in ballpoint pen.

In the left-hand margin next to the third and fourth paragraphs of the first page, respectively, he wrote the words "on card" and "card," indicating that he wanted these particular passages transferred to his typed-card file, which he used as a sermon resource.

My grandfather highlighted, via underlining and/or margin brackets, the following from Skousen's words of warning:

"We've combined youth, music, sex, drugs, and rebellion with treason!

"This was the way Jerry Rubin, chieftain of the Yippies, described the current assault on America's up-coming generation in his book, 'DO IT!'

"Later, in a speech at Salt Lake City, Utah, he [Rubin] said: 'Rock 'n' Roll is the center of the Revolution!'

"Americans are well aware that there has been a revolution. In morals. In manners. In speech. In crime rates. In riots. In violence. In drugs. In sex. In pornography. In politics. In movies. In education. In music.

"What most of us failed to realize at the moment was how important the music revolution would become. It turned out to be the catalyst for all the rest. It became the prod to promote drugs, the advertiser of sex in the hedonism manner, the mind-conditioner for four-letter gutter speech, and eventually the blatant propaganda funnel for political subversion. It also became the seductive Jezebel for a modern philosophy of no God, of Man as merely a graduate beast of the jungle, of Jesus Christ as a phoney actor--a superstar, of peace and prosperity being possible only under communism, of America as the enemy of the world, of Russia as the hope of the world."

(p. 3)


Turning the page, Skousen continued his tirade against rock music, while my grandfather's marking pen took a momentary break:

"Just as a sampler, here are the lyrics to America's number-one-hit-recording at the moment of this writing. It is by John Lennon and is called, 'Imagine.'

'Imagine there's no heaven,
It's easy if you try,
No hell below us,
Above us only sky,
Imagine all the people,
Living for today.

'Imagine there's no countries,
It isn't hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too.
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace.

'Imagine no possessions.
I wonder if you can.
No need for greed or hunger--
A brotherhood of man.
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world.

'You may say I'm a dreamer,
But I'm not the only one.
I hope someday you'll join us,
And the world will be as one.'"

(p. 4)


How about we let John Lennon speak for himself?:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qq7qZrXYtvk


Skousen continued his message of clear-and-present danger:

"I observe that many young people have taken from this song only the theme of 'brotherhood' and 'all the world for all the people.'"

At this point, Ezra Taft Benson's marking pen picked up again, as he underlined Skousen's next words:

"However, the professional debunkers who were behind the engineering of this song took colossal satisfaction from the fact that they are succeeding in getting tens of millions of young Americans to mouth the artfully-planted brain teasers of 'no heaven,' 'no hell,' 'above us only sky,' 'no countries,' 'nothing to kill or die for,' 'no religion,' 'no possessions,' and 'all the world as one.'"

At this point, my grandfather's marking notes temporarily ceased, as Skousen climatically rolled forth:

"Yes, it's turning out to be quite a revolution."

(p. 5)


Skousen somberly concluded the "Preface" with this gloomy prediction, highlighted once more by Ezra Taft Benson's pen:

"The problem expertly treated in ths book by Mr. Balmforth is of historical significance. This problem may turn out to be a major factor which contributed to the downfall of civilization."

(p. 6)
_____


--Here's a related link (also from the Benson family files) on what this appalling evilness is all about:

http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,996699

**********************


--Today, as a heathen-Stephen hobby, I DJ dance parties, specializing in good ol' classic rock, hard rock and soft rock, 'round the clock:

**Black Eyed Peas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IDrg1zaIm8

**Katie Perry http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJuMBdaqIwand

**Rolling Stones http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B0Y3LUqr1Q

**Bruno Mars http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjhCEhWiKXk

**Beyonce http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FxZZj5S0uQ

**Grand Funk Railroad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7B5jXYRy3Q

**Lady Gaga http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl0N7JM3wZk

**CCR http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljvFK-S2RZc

**The Hollies http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0LTRPMpOVM

**Santana http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wehDB5Z-bFY

**ZZ Top http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4VFFBCa5Aw

**Wild Cherry http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRr2kf84V2M

**Thicke http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyDUC1LUXSU and last, but certainly not least . . .

**Elvis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNWLog3-Yug



C'mon, baby, light my fire with that cool blue flame as we twist our way through the wonderful world of sweet surrender. :)



Edited 39 time(s). Last edit at 08/21/2013 05:53PM by steve benson.

I remember when, my family's social circle, the Twist was a sure sign of social decadence presaging the Second Coming of Christ.

I kid you not.

Sweet! That made me laugh!

so if you dance wild, you will become a sex and drug addicted, atheist!!! I want to learn to play drums, but a repetitive beat is evil.

maybe if these old men take off their diapers and garments they could participate in dances. physical activity is better than sitting in their high rise apartments watching their wives make crafts and quilts each night and listen to hie to kolob

I've had my head turned by the Houghs more than a few times, and I'm left with total admiration for their incredible gifts. Can't say I've noticed any restrictions on their dancing, or their costumes for that matter. In your face, morg. Go, Julianne (and Derrick).

"Swing"? They obviously have not seen the same swing dancing that I have seen.

When I was a teen in the 60s each ward had a couple who were called to be Dance Directors. Once a month for the last half of MIA we would have a dance lesson followed by a dance.

We learned the waltz, fox trot, polka, cha cha and jitter bug. All music had to be approved. Pat Boone was approved, Elvis was not. We were not allowed to do the twist, or the pony, on the watusie, or the mashed potatoes, but the stroll was okay. We were strongly warned about those "Jungle Rhythms".
It strikes me now, that that was a racist remark,

They asked me once to supervise a YM/YW dance and they played Brittney Spears "hit me baby one more time". When I was in YW they would have never played such a wild song.

Tango and Samba are on the approved list?

Does that mean I can spend three glorious days in Rio at the Samba parade and not feel guilty?

Anybody want to bachata?

I've never been more in the mood for a rock show.

I guess my two rock bands are banned from Cultural Halls.

Damn!

So many things scare him off. Just when you might need hig guidance to lead you from sin, poof, he's gone.

At youth conference some lady spoke about how before Elvis people didn't dance with there hips because it was considered indecent. She told us to not dance with our hips.

This was the 90s. We weren't worried about hips but grinding on each other "freaking."

The tango, done properly, is one of the most erotic and sexy dances in existence. Swing can also be extremely suggestive and sexy. All of the Latin dances are sultry, sensuous, and sexy.

And now there's twerking, which I do not consider to be "dancing" because it requires no skill or rhythm whatsoever. But the pole dancing requires both. So hopefully, that is driving away the mormon spirit from my house so people can have fun up in there. ;>)

To make this relevant: There was a woman at church -- YW president and Bishop's wife -- who would not let her oldest son ask me out. We were seriously into each other and had a great connection -- he could have been The One™, but she wouldn't even let him take me out on one single date. Later, her younger son wanted to ask me out and he wore her down until she consented. But first she had to come over to my house and put the fear of HER into me, threatened me with all kinds of crap if her son came home from dates with me with his virtue sullied. No consideration whatsoever that I might be concerned about my virtue and perhaps her son might be the sexual aggressor (He wasn't; I wasn't -- it was all very innocent and chaste. Besides, I was into his brother so dating him was more like just hanging out with a friend.) The reason she thought this, she said, was because she'd chaperoned a bunch of church dances and thought I danced too suggestively.

Thing is, I went to a mostly black high school right at the time that rap and hip hop became a thing. I learned how to dance in gym class from the black girls in my class. That meant that my dance moves were basically 80s hip hop (which is why I have no respect for twerking). So, because I have rhythm and I'm not afraid to shake a tail feather and move my hips, that made me a wonton slut who would corrupt her innocent, chaste, virtuous young sons. * gag *

Back ground music on KSL this morning(no words) "you ain't seen Nothing yet" by BTO.

Lyrics start with, I met a devil woman...any lovin' is good lovin'...you ain't seen nothing yet.

I almost stood up and start a very sinful dance, but the knees, feet and really all body parts stopped me in my tracks.

But...alas I would have sinned a great sin by dancing in the street.

Twerking and freaking aren't even dancing anymore.

Anyway, I saw several great new screen names in Steve'e OP:

Perk-ness
Devil's thrust
Short skirts, loud beat
Vulgar dancing
Rock'N'reality
Cheek to cheek
Mind conditioner
Seductive Jezebel

During the later 70's i was a musician in one of the preferred and approved Ricks College Pop Bands that performed for many of the school's social events.

Before each gig the entire Band was invited to a banquet where every time we were treated during dinner to the film-strip "Worthy Music, Worthy Thoughts" by Boyd KKK.

That tripe was almost enough to make one lose their appetite.

The onus was always placed upon us to make sure that things didn't get too out of hand at those dances.

But i can also recall that sometimes we did rebelliously push the envelope on-stage without proper clearance by playing some tunes...heaven forbid...by the Bee Gees!

I lost count of how many times we essentially were forced to play, "You Light Up My Life" during my music career at Ricks.

Or so it seems to me...

I remember your band! I HATE that song because of it being the only thing you could have at a Ricks college dance! Isn't the one that goes on with "color my world......" by Chicago???? I hated that one too.

Or am I mixing songs up?

I had an "evil" roommate who would work the crowd at those dances. We would pass near a group of guys and she'd pinch one of them on the butt as we passed.

The looks those men gave each other was priceless! We kept our "poker" faces and walked on out to the hall where we'd laugh our heads off.

Ha. Pretty funny.

I would have loved to be in the meeting when the old guys determined which dance types were okay.

Perhaps they brought in live dancers to demonstrate ala Dancing with the Stars?

I would have loved to see the look on Boyds face if one of them brought in a pole.

I'm afraid they'd have to do CPR right after that. ;>)

re: praying at the theater

Nearly 30 years ago, at the old Fox Theater--glorious movie place in Provo--it was standard for the management to ask for a volunteer to lead a prayer before each showing. My not-yet-Hubby was there with a date, and she volunteered to lead the prayer. She got up front, pointed and said "Mecca is that way," then bowed and began the proper Islamic prayer. She asked what she was doing wrong when management hurried up to stop her but obligingly stopped.

No more prayers at the Fox Theater after that.

I enjoyed reading this. And do you really DJ? There is always something new to learn every day! =)

Thanks Steve, for the playlist. You and I are obviously from the same generation and I'm going to rock out on adoslescent memories tonight.

I met Cleon Scousen once in Los Angeles. I didn't know he was a whack job then (not that - umm - your grandpa was too or anything, seeing how close they were and all). Anyway, when I spoke to him, he wasn't ranting about rock music and the Gawdless communists. He was actually pontificating more about Jerusalem, the Second Coming, and the Dome of the Rock.

In hindsight, I think I would have rather had old Cleon raging about the Commie Beatles. Now THAT would be interesting!

;o)

P.S. Thanks for posting John Lennon's "Imagine" again. I started a whole thread about that song the other day. John Lennon . . . THERE'S your Latter-day Prophet!

Steve,
The quote from a concerned father (R.N.) came from a man who is a brother to the churches most famous apologist. As a young person, I idolized him and took in every word he said. During my career as a musician, his ideas were so permeated in my mind that I was limited for so many years in being able to fully express myself as an artist or engage in various music genres. Here I am in my late 50s and just now finally able to appreciate different forms of music that I shut out most of my life because of his brainwashing.
This man didn't even own a television and his daughters grew up wearing pioneer dresses and braids and were some of the weirdest kids in town. Of course they have all found their own paths now and it certainly does not include the church. The strange thing about this man, who eschewed popular music, was actually a pit musician on Broadway along with his wife in his younger years. Oftentimes though, I wondered if he was really serious about all of his writings and rantings, because oftentimes he would wink when talking about other church doctrines and about his more famous brother. He even had another famous brother in Hollywood who was a screenwriter and absolutely would not have anything to do with the church.
I had a conversation with another well accomplished musician from the same town we all lived in in central Utah and he had no idea that R.N. had brainwashed me in such a sever manner. I could go on and on about him, and I respected him highly as a violinist and scholar, but the damage he did is almost unforgivable.

By far, one the greatest (and scariest) enemies of the Mormon Cult is Creative Freedom.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/21/2013 08:17PM by steve benson.

Chubby Checker was in concert recently. He was famous for "The Twist". Chubby had another song/ dance called huck a buckle or something like that, which he performed, that ended up being banned back in the day for being too provocative/ "nasty". Chubby laughed about it, noting that the stuff that is done on the dance floor now is what is really flat out nasty.

I laugh about MORmON dancing / dating/ mating/ morality conventions too. (They only let young people date to keep the thing going because they have to, and even then they mess it up with their MORmON meddling. Dont touch the girl on a date before a mission. After the mission, date!!! just enough to get engaged /married and get it over with to get on with touching the girl AS IN SCREWING her brains out so you will get pregnant. Thanks for the MORmON recipe for DISASTER, MORmONS!!!
Then the stupid ass MORmON leaders wonder why the post mission LDS young men are failing to track with the MORmON plan.)

I also had a few things figured out back in the day. Despite all the stupid ass MORmON bluster about dance being a cultural refinement thing, I knew that it was really just the MORmON version of acceptable sexual interaction, and that the male youth engaging in it were not doing so for cultural refinement concerns. Those MORmON boys involved in the MORmON dance program had things figure out too. It was really all about tyring to experience inadvertent booty contact. It was the best way that was officially allowed to get as close as possible to gender specific female anatomy. I just could NOT stand being THAT pathetic and desperate. (It's like looking at the SI swim suit issue because it is technically OK, if I am going to travel that road then I am going to go down it looking at Hustler style mags, or not do it at all) Being a real puritanical MORmON, I chose to simply do with out this MORmON form of acceptable sexual contact. You'd think I had peed on the last existing copy of the bible, by the response I elicited.

MORmONS really do need to watch their dance moves (STUPID ASS MORmONS) (sorry for the really sucky music)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vna-RMJ8X4M



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/21/2013 09:05PM by lucky.