Roamer wrote:• Drinking alcohol
-Against current interpretation of Word of Wisdom
• Smoking cigarettes or cigars
-Against current interpretation of Word of Wisdom
• Gambling
Church Authorities are strongly on record as opposed to it.
• Dancing
Which kind of dancing? 19th Century Mormons were considered rather scandalous for the time for their encouraging it.
• Watching R-rated movies
Church authorities have well known positions on this, and they're anti.
• Listening to secular music
Again, which kind? Not all "secular music" is bad, although not all of it is good either.
• Watching MMA (Mixed Martial Arts)
No clue, this can go both ways, "depends" on some things.
• Using birth control
Again which kind? For which reasons? IIRC the LDS Church position is pretty straight forward on this, (most) birth control, condoms, etc are just fine. Its where you get to termination of an existing pregnancy that things diverge.
• Sporting tattoos or piercings
Advised to not do it, considered to be a defacement/defilement of the body.
• Sending your kids to public school
What? I guess that would depend on the Public School District, or even specific School in question...
• Owning a luxury car or other extravagant possessions
Depends, although clearly has potential to run counter to "Be thou humble" and the idea of consecration.
• Working on Sunday
Depends on the work being done.
• Observing Halloween
LOL, I can see some members going for that, but they're a definite minority.
The author just offered his list as examples. Alcohol and tobacco are pretty non controversial but decaffeinated coffee and tea could be seen as wrong by some and okay by others. I think we could come up with a list of controversial items for LDS that could spark a row in Sunday school.
How about one that is particular to members of this forum?
Is it okay to remove all clothing for strenuous recreation and swimming?
I think most of us would say yes but I, for one, would never assert it in Sunday school even though I think that it is just fine (if it isn't done in the presence of others who would be offended or where it is legally prohibited).
Some of us may have the caveat that it's okay to be nude for such recreation but not around the opposite sex. I am not one of them but I respect their reservation but ask them not to judge me because I think that it is okay.
As you read the linked articles it is clear that the motivation for our choices must come from a conviction that they fit within the exercise of Christian liberty and are not intended to be transgressive or rebellious or just a willful expression of one's individuality. It cannot be done with a spirit of "look at me, I can do what I want".