It’s part of a sacred covenant made in the temple. In the endowment we are told (in no uncertain terms) that we have to live up to every covenant we make, or god’s really going to be pissed.

So our standing before god, and possibly our chance at exaltation depends on obeying a promise that nobody can explain (at least I never met anyone who seemed to know what it means).

Don't go and hear a F/T meeting then....

Gatorman
3-1

I never did get an explanation of what it means from anyone but my husband who tried to say it mean bawdy, drunken, laughter,or making fun of sacred things!
I always claimed that "loud laughter" is extremely healthy (long list of the values) medically proven.

Many of the commandments or rules in Mormonism are totally against medical evidence.

It’s funny how the Mormon god can say simple words, and leave it up to his children to make up convoluted explanations. If god really didn’t want us to make fun of sacred things, why didn’t he say “don’t make fun of sacred things”? If he wanted us to avoid bawdy, drunken laughter, why didn’t he say that? Why say “avoid loud laughter” if you mean something else?

It’s the same way with the WoW. The “saints” are told to avoid hot drinks. If he wanted them to avoid coffee and tea, why didn’t he say “avoid coffee and tea”?

The whole scenario postulates a ghawd who is capable of getting so pissed that he tells a child who laughs too heartily to go to hell. Who on earth believes in that ghawd?

I don't believe in that Ghawd.

I too don't believe in that Ghawd.

I three don't believe in that gawd!

I don't believe it either, guys.

;o)

Ghawddammit, EOD!

Can't you show at least a sliver of respect here?

How would you like it if I intentionally misspelled your name in depricating tones?

ElderOldDhawg! There! How does THAT feel?

this makes as much sense as anything else in the TSCC

Loud laughter is the reaction one has to Joe when he drops one of his giant sized whoppers on you;

‘I am a lawgiver; I am a big lawyer and comprehend heaven, earth and hell, to bring forth knowledge that shall cover up all lawyers, doctors and other big bodies.’ The History of the Church, Vol. 5, p. 289.

‘I know more than they all.’ ibid. Vol. 5, p. 467.

‘I solve mathematical problems of universities with truth - diamond truth; and God is my right hand man.’ ibid. Vol. 6, p. 78.

"one man's religion is another man's belly laugh"-- Robert A. Heinlein

Very few things are as satisfying as a good, deep belly laugh. I do mean very few.

It means that you can only laugh at the lame jokes delivered by the speakers at general conference or when Monson wiggles his ears.

Much preferred by the Mormon leaders is the knowing smirk, or, if necessary, the soft chuckle into a palm or fist.

Yes the Snicker . . . or maybe even a Milky Way . . .

but not coffee!

I read title of the thread and was sure it is off topic and you were refering to this https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/29/turkish-minister-women-laugh-loud-bulent-arinc

This turkish minister in islamist government said it is outrageous women laugh loud. Well if he is a closeted mormon (possible US spy) this might have consequences :)

I work with one nurse she loughs so much and so loudly and probably that is why everyone loves her. But than I am in IL not in Turkey, Saudi Arabia or some strange state in the middle of US :)

I'm in Illinois too! We love to laugh loud and long... it makes the corn and beans grow!

loud laughter is what helps me cope with leaving this church. Thank you, RfM

liesarenotuseful Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> loud laughter is what helps me cope with leaving
> this church. Thank you, RfM


It really really does.... I think it's healthy.

It means..."stop having fun." LDS makes sure an "F" "U" in any fun mormons have.

*snicker*

;o)

"I don't know that we teach that" -> The Hinkster

I realize that, truth be told, I enjoy the occasional muffled snort.

I'd better schedule a meeting with my bishop, to confess, before this gets out of hand. I don't want it to affect my temple recommend!

It's what you do when some teacher or leader tries to explain what God is telling us to do to get into Mormon heaven.

Loud laughter that you feel from your toes to your frontal lobes and back again is one of the most psychologically healthy things that can happen to you.

The last thing the Mormon church wants is psychologically healthy people.That would not work in their favor. They probably fear that more than the makers of Xanax do.

I always felt that it was the cult's way to force you to change your personality. I remember how I was shocked when I was compelled to make a covenant in the temple to avoid loud laughter.

A sense of humor is what allows me to make it through the day and I didn't like how I was expected to become some lobotomized fool with a permanent aurora of reverence.

This also went hand in hand with what sports you were encouraged to participate in. I became the ward's activity chairperson before leaving on a mission. They told me to come up with some new outdoor Saturday activities in order to encourage greater participation. So I did and every single one was shot down. Reason?

Someone might get hurt. (touch football, soccer, softball, water balloon fight, swimming pool party)

So we resorted to weekly men's basketball and volleyball every 3 months. And I got corralled into a ppi because I wasn't showing up for basketball and therefore I was setting a poor example by not magnifying my calling. So I told them that I had no interest in the sport and they told me to go home and repent. And that I needed to humble myself for not liking the celestial sport of basketball. My MP told me the same thing 6 months later because I didn't want to watch people play it for 5 hours straight on my p-day.

" . . . a permanent aura of reverence."

That's it. Posts like yours always remind me of when I was kid and watched the original "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" home alone one night.

Besides the pods, I remember the sole survivors being forced to show no emotion whatsoever in order to go undetected. The pod people had become programmed faux versions of themselves on the lookout for any real humans and the sign of this was no laughter or emotional outburst of any kind.

I wish when I went through the temple for my endowments that I had checked for a pod under the chair.

"... to go home and repent. And that I needed to humble myself for not liking the celestial sport of basketball. My MP told me the same thing 6 months later because I didn't want to watch people play it for 5 hours straight on my p-day."

This made me laugh loudly

I read somewhere that it was part of the new england cultural/religious milieu that mormonism grew out of. I think either Brigham or Joseph's brand but can't remember which. Anyone know?

I also remember hearing that it was related to the possibility of "evil spirits" having influence over you when you are out of control like that. Must remain pious at all times or else stan is gonna get you.

Anyone else remember that stuff?

Like everything else, if they think this "gospel principle" makes them look bad these days, they would undoubtedly say it is more of a practice than a doctrine.

I read a quote by the Brigster once where he brags that he barely ever laughed out loud. I think that the covenant originally meant exactly what it says, not to laugh. People slowly just realized how little sense that made and made up other possible meanings that made more sense to them.

This directive proves what a fraud the church is.

Doctors say that loud laughter is healthy for you.

http://www.helpguide.org/articles/emotional-health/laughter-is-the-best-medicine.htm

Just sayin'.....

Saucie, as usual, you are right on! A good hearty laugh releases endorphins, which are good for you mentally AND physically!

::::::::::sending a Bronx cheer to the morg::::::::::

Doxi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Saucie, as usual, you are right on! A good hearty
> laugh releases endorphins, which are good for you
> mentally AND physically!
>
> ::::::::::sending a Bronx cheer to the
> morg::::::::::


Thank you Luv!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This solemn dissemble...

"avoid loud laughter" was part of a temperance movement pledge that people took in the 1830's. Like all things Mormon it is a 19th century construct that JS stole along with the Word of Wisdom from temperance tracks that were circulating at the time.

I think it means don't laugh at those old men who are dishing out silly rules.

You might actually have a point there.

I lost faith in a God who was stuck in the 19th century with his commandments regarding loud laughter, booze and women's roles.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/29/2016 09:44PM by evergreen.

It Means: take Everything in life 'Dead Serious', as in Not to have any fun...


Eye on the Ball

Shoulder to the Wheel

Be engaged in a good cause (tscc)

etc.

well, according to my father it meant that I was being too loud with my friends and if I laughed too loud it was against God, and all my friends would think I was foolish like a clown.

Reverence is an inner feeling of admiration, not a deadpan outer facial expression.

There are so many silly laughable beliefs in mormonism that the whole thing would fall apart if members started laughing out loud. The temple rituals are silly as is the regulation underwear and the worship of buildings and books.

I'd place my bet that ole sleazy Joe indulged frequently in loud laughter at his wine parties and such. The facts show that he liked his good times both with wine and women/young girls.

I support the idea that he added loud laughter to the temple ceremony to prevent members from, hmmm let's see, belly-laughing at the ridiculous ceremony that he was trying to sell them as being sacred and essential to their salvation. I recall reading that Joey was pressed to come up with something in a hurry to justify polygamy....meaning that he did not take a lot of time and thought in coming up with the temple ceremony.

Who and what always came first?.....Joey and what he wanted!!!

At the time of the admonition, I believe it meant, "Don't laugh at Joseph Smith or at Mormonism."

chuckles, ha-ha's and tee-hee's are acceptable.