Are face cards still bad news?

[_The Nehor]

On my Mission we only used Prophet playing cards. There I learned as my grandfather would have said if he used those cards, "Three Brighams beats Smiths and Bensons".

That sounds interesting and I wonder if I will get to play these kind of games on my mission!

I find your rules a bit confusing. I thought living prophets teachings were held over deceased ones? How could a Brigham beat a Benson?

My grandfather used to say, "Three deuces beats aces and kings".

He taught me to play poker at the tender age of six. He was the Stake President. He's the closest thing I ever knew to a J. Golden Kimball. The funniest story is when in Stake Conference he used an analogy about how when you're driving down the street and you see panhandlers and the homeless begging for money sometimes you feel the sudden urge to swerve a bit and run them down......

To this day no one remembers what principle was being taught......but they all remember the story. :)

Also known for instituting an eleventh commandment for his stake, "Thou shalt keep thy commitments."

[_collegeterrace]

My grandfather used to say, "Three deuces beats aces and kings".

He taught me to play poker at the tender age of six. He was the Stake President. He's the closest thing I ever knew to a J. Golden Kimball. The funniest story is when in Stake Conference he used an analogy about how when you're driving down the street and you see panhandlers and the homeless begging for money sometimes you feel the sudden urge to swerve a bit and run them down......

To this day no one remembers what principle was being taught......but they all remember the story. :)

Also known for instituting an eleventh commandment for his stake, "Thou shalt keep thy commitments."

WHat?? Your Stake President Grandpa taught you poker???

I thought it was against our beliefs? How could he disobey the prophets about face cards and still be the Stake President? Was this before he was called to the Stake President position? Did he do other things like that?

Who is J. Golden Kimball?

[_The Nehor]

My grandfather used to say, "Three deuces beats aces and kings".

He taught me to play poker at the tender age of six. He was the Stake President. He's the closest thing I ever knew to a J. Golden Kimball. The funniest story is when in Stake Conference he used an analogy about how when you're driving down the street and you see panhandlers and the homeless begging for money sometimes you feel the sudden urge to swerve a bit and run them down......

To this day no one remembers what principle was being taught......but they all remember the story. :)

Also known for instituting an eleventh commandment for his stake, "Thou shalt keep thy commitments."

WHat?? Your Stake President Grandpa taught you poker???

I thought it was against our beliefs? How could he disobey the prophets about face cards and still be the Stake President? Was this before he was called to the Stake President position? Did he do other things like that?

Who is J. Golden Kimball?

Gambling is a sin. Poker is not. To this day when my brothers and cousins get together we split up poker chips and play for victory. My grandfather never taught me to gamble. In fact though he never explicitly told me not to he taught me that it was a bad idea.

He could be the Stake President because God called him to do it. It was while he was Stake President. He did all kinds of things. He served his God and enjoyed life to the fullest. I want to die like he did, water-skiing the year before and dying right before the next big boating trip (my theory is he decided that if his body wouldn't go he would go without it).

[_Alter Idem]

Joseph F. Smith didn't like cards because they were a waste of time. My Grandmother (his daughter in law) told me that during her day women used to play Bridge regularly, leaving their children and spending large amounts of times on these game days. Also, people played cards and gambled--hurting the financial stability, etc.

Today, unfortunately, some people have taken the Catholic church's stand that "face" cards were evil and thought that was why Pres. Smith spoke against them. I'm certain that if he lived today, he wouldn't say a word about card playing--he'd be speaking out against Television, video, computer and online games! They are the time-wasters of our day--card playing is more a way to socialize--which he would have approved of.

[_Blixa]

That's an interesting anecdote, Alter Idem, thanks for sharing it. I like to read these "bits" of Mormon history...

[_bcspace]

The only thing we should do is to ask bcspace if this is doctrine. He knows it.

It is. There is a much more modern (1970's or 1980's I think) Ensign article on it.

However, I personally disagree with the assessment that one should not play face cards but do agree with the sentiments against gambling etc.

I love to play hearts and canasta and do so freely with anyone. In my youth, I also enjoyed playing Dungeons and Dragons. Now THAT was a real "time waster"!

As four missionaries living in the same apartment, we'd always spend lunch playing UNO.

So am I an apostate? You decide.

Aren't the F. Smiths, McConkies and Bensons basically speculative wild cards anyway? Combined all you could say is that you may or may not have either a flush, a burning bosom or heartburn.

I think sometimes the Church feels pressured to make a statement on some minor issue and personal opinion get's put into doctrine without any scripture or revelation to back it up.