Interesting article. Just a few serious questions;
Is Second Life a way for extremely shy people to learn to interact with people in a virtual world, or does it enable them to continue to avoid the real world while pretending to be social?

Also, as Keith Thompson has severe A.D.D., he has been able to pay alot of attention to Second Life. I have noticed others with ADD also able to spend many hours chatting online, playing video games or skateboarding. It seems that they are able to focus their attention on things that they are interested in, or don't bother them.

Does Second Life fall under the 'wherever two or more are gathered in my Name' qualification for when the Holy Spirit can be present?

I don't know what to make of this. I loved the reporter's writing, it was a great, well-written article. I don't know whether this Mormon second-life thing is a good thing or a bad one. SO you have to get a temple-recommend to go into avatar temples... do you actually see the insides of temples when you go in? That could be very dangerous if the wrong hands get into that...

sometimes what comes off as fun and games from some, others can trash. Hopefully this doesn't happen. Sounds like a fun virtual world for young people with social issues or old people with nothing to do...

Great. Now there is a virtual world where we can all meet and drink virtual diet decaffinated coke and discuss the latest BYU football game.

I think I will pass.

Is Second Life for people who don't have a first one?

lame.

This is just weird. I'm not, nor would anyone in my family, nor any of my LDS friends, be interested in something like this. Maybe I don't really get it??? It just comes off as really strange.

Nerd alert!

Second Life ... you beat me to it. People who live in a virtual world need a first life before they can have a second one.

It's interesting how some people can find something negative to say about just about anything. I think they need to get a life, one that is a little more positive. You could spend more time building others up instead of tearing them down, or is that what you do to make yourselves feel good? How sad for you.

I am very surprized at all the negative comments here!!!! I am a VERY active LDS grandmother and I think that this is totally awesome.. When I think of all the crap that is on the internet that we have to fight to keep people from dealing with I think that a positive sight where they can play a positive spiritual game is really great!! I hope that this is the beginning of many more to come!!

For all those insinuating this is a waste of time,
I would ask, have you ever spent a couple hours or more watching TV in a day?

I can't say what's the bet way to waste your time, but don't tell me you never do.

This is just too delusional, living a real life in a fantasy land and seeking a second virtual life in a computer fantasy life: is this an attempt to escape from all reality. Are people who live a life of fantsy happy, do they seek or receive more than average help or therapy and is there more than normal competition or antagonism between fantasy groups like the LDS and FLDS. Why do they want to destroy or conquer each others fantacies, what is to be gained. It almost seems like a big monoply gave but this is real life so it seems there must be a down side where real people are impacted.

Wow! a lot of negative comments! Being negative is a sin. Don't you remember when Jesus said, "Thou shalt not be negative, you den of vipers and hypocrites!"

The reality is that these online virtual social reality things are here to stay, regardless of whether you think they are good, bad, a waste of time, or the best thing since Google. People are enjoying alternate realities for a number of reasons, and there is not a darn thing you can do about it.

And to the Grandma who is paranoid about all the bad stuff out there "on the Internet" -- get a clue. There is nothing "on the Internet". You have to deliberately bring the stuff into your home by downloading the crap. Nobody forces it into your computer (unless you haven't a clue about security protocols). People get from the Internet exactly what they want. I you are "battling" bad stuff on the Internet, then you are the one downloading it! Stay off the porn sites, granny, and you won't have a problem!

Copyright/Trademark infringement!

If the Corp guys don't defend their usage rights someone is going to create a game where they can blow up temples & tabernacles.

If you don't defend it you lose it.

Cool. There is something for everyone on this planet. 2nd life isn't for everyone... but neither is anything else.

Odd balls

Living the lifestyle is demanding enough without doing it in the virtual world too.

Mmmmmm!! This is all good as long as people dont end up dreaming instead of real faith and real work to prepare for the real second life when we leave this real world.

This is no different than being an LDS member - you go to meetings and sit around agreeing with all the other LDS about how right we and our Church are, pretending to be as righteous as possible so we can get an impressive calling; turning our noses up at those who aren't as righteous as we are, or who have not been to the Holy Land on a tour, or who are not good friends with a high-ranking General Authority. Then we dismiss after 3 hours of meetings where we are taught for the millionth time the same primary school lessons we have heard our entire life, to return home and act like regular folks again, with all the biases, prejudices, contention, pride, and sin that everyone suffers from. It is VIRTUAL RELIGION! That is all the LDS Church is, so this kind of virtual thing is PERFECT for the LDS membership!

Oh Dear "Virtually LDS"-

You know, you're right. There are some members of the LDS Church who are exactly as you describe, in every way. But. of course, they are a minority. And for you to insinuate that ALL members of the Church are like that is proof positive that you are about as delusional as they come.

Someone that is pretty much "spiritually corrupt," WOULD believe that "we dismiss after 3 hours of meetings where we are taught for the millionth time the same primary school lessons we have heard our entire life, to return home and act like regular folks again, with all the biases, prejudices, contention, pride, and sin that everyone suffers from. . ."

Wow, they just can't get away from the Mormon Machine can they.
"Spiritually Corrupt"? Is that what you call people that don't believe in Magic Angels who hide Gold plates? Does that make you "reality deficiant"?

Virtually LDS
There is no such thing in the church as impressive calling!!especially when your stewardship is to the lord and no one else, im a 5th generation LDS living in the pacific island and i have only seen a living prophet once(spencer w kimball)when he visited our shores,i can only dream of coming to america to visit the sacred grove..will i ever come!very unlikely!will it bother! dont think so,why! cause i read comments like yours and know that some members are not grateful for what they have.

I love the "Dear..."

as if you really care about me!

How laughable. just more of your self-righteous aires.

People find more closeness in the virtual world than they ever do in an LDS Ward where everybody is so superficial you can almost see the PVC showing through their skin!

People claim to be your friends only as long as it takes to get you baptized, and then they disappear. Then someone you would never associate with is assigned as your home teacher. They visit you for no other reason than because they are assigned to. The fake like they are interested in you and are there to help, but they are just putting in their time, earning their righteousness points to impress the Quorum President or Group Leader or Bishop.

At least in these online communities, people are there because they WANT to be, not because they are assigned! At least the friendships have some hope of being genuine rather than forced by calling and assignment by the Church!

I'll take a virtual world any day over the plastic world of being LDS. If my family wouldn't disown me, I would leave the Church in a heartbeat!

Wow, Virtually LDS, I didn't know my home teacher was only trying to get points w/ the Quorum Pres & Bishop.

What do the Quorum Pres. & Bishop do to earn points? Maybe spend hours and hours serving and helping others?

I am so surprised at all the arguing people do. Yes, is this a place to have an OPINION but no I don't think that you are helping by bashing each other. I don't understand why so many people go out of thier way to bash the LDS faith ( and others ). Does it really help you? Does it make you a better person? I don't mean to sound like I am perfect because I am not but I personally think it is the same as being racist. Does it help you to put others down, no. I think there are LDS people that bash other religions, I think there are Catholic people that bash other religions, etc... so does it make it right when you do it? No. I don't think it is helping anyone. It is just a surprise that people waste thier time bashing when you could do other things to help the world

Not surprisingly, the virtual world has been host to a number of religious-themed games throughout the ages. Take Zoroasteroids (please). Or Khalif Duty 4. How about Flogger. Hindi Anadjons and the Temple of Doom. And of course there's Presbytears 4 Fears, and AniMyst.

In this Age of Mythology we all want to have a Halo around our heads. But it's all just a Right Simulator.

My kids got me into this stuff in general and I am going to check this out. It sounds real neat. I am sure I can have a lot of fun with it.

I'm confused. In the real world home teachers pretend to care about you when they visit, but in the pretend world, they really care about you when they visit? So when you tithe in the pretend world, do you have to fork over real money? Why didn't anyone teach me about this in Primary? After all, if I can sing about popcorn popping on the apricot tree, I've obviously had some indoctrination about the pretend world...

Scene: Deseret News Mormon Times story brainstorming session.

Mood: Enlightened

... And, action!

Writer 1: "Hey, here's an idea. Let's write about a virtual landscape where Mormons go to escape their reality, the hard trials of life, but where they still have a swell and edifying time! I think I heard something about a web community called Second Life."

Editor 1: "Hmmm...that does sound interesting. And safe. And not one bit challenging. Let's do it!"

Writer 1: (Scratches head) "Do you think there is a Brother who has already built a community? I should investigate."

Editor 1: "Sounds like you've got some real news digging to do. Get to work, it's why we pay you."

(Several hours and days of intense and earnest online website perusal passes.)

Writer 1: "Eureka! (Expertly whistling tune of "Dixie") I've found a fellow Brother in the Gospel who is a Second Life Expert! I hope it's OK that we will tell people all about him and his safe, non-challenging hobby!"

Editor 1: "Solid. Let's go with it. Copy!"

(Fade to high-fives all around, whistles and refreshments: cookies and Kool-Aid.)

Moral: In Second Life, but not of Second Life.

People need to have fun!! You have No Control over what you can not do anything about. You can be the most informed Voter in the World but be balanced out by someone who is Voting for someone because they are Cute. Do what you can and then have some good fun, this sounds like good fun. I hear the wives in this do not have headaches and do not shut down, and do not think the Eternal Marriage means the Eternal Buffet. That they can be Slim, Trim, and loving him. I have had some fun with these types of games and look forward to trying this one.

Dont all LDS folk already live in a virtual world???

Take all that 'virtual' goodness and head out your door and into a world that could use more of the real thing. And hey, it's good not to be connected to anything but the air we breath and the sun that lights the way.

I love all the comments. I'm glad this didn't happen in Utah... Sheley would have been another victim of Mormon's picking on a guy for smoking outside a bar - "Sheley was taken into custody around 6:40 p.m. Tuesday while smoking a cigarette outside Bindy's, a bar in Granite City about 10 miles north of St. Louis, witnesses said."

Some people call it questioning, others critizizing. to Fact at 11:01 am. Is being negative about others negativity a sin?

In the real world real people are hungry for food, compassion and companionship. In real religion, all of those needs can be met by caring individuals acting together. In the virtual world, all they can find is companionship and compassion. And heaven forbid if they find anyone who cares enough about them to say get up and do something worthwhile. That is just too negative. It's too mean. Leave me alone so I can make some real pretend friends.

Some people just see the PVC on peoples faces. Maybe because they see so much of it in the mirror. I go to church for those 3 hours, and I see someone wearing a new set of clothes given them by an anonymous friend. I see a family who needed help with their mortgage payment because the father lost his job, and recived help, along with a job offer from someone who really didn't need another employee. I see a friend who is free from the demons of drug use with the help of a home teacher. That cannot happen virtually.

Is being negative about negativity a sin? Or is it a negative sin?
If all you see in the faces of others is PVC, it's probably because you are so used to seeing the same thing in the mirror.
People in the real world hunger for acceptance, compassion and companionship as well. Why discriminate against them just because they are not part of your online community?
I go to chuch, and I see more than people just doing what they are told. I see a family who recieved help with their mortgage payment because the father lost his job. I see a business owner who already has all the help he needs offer to hire someone who needs a paycheck. I see a friend who is now free from the demons of drug use because of the help of a home teacher. I see people volunteering to drive to Indiana on the 4th of July to help clean flooded houses. (No, I'm not in Utah)

Instead of just practicing friendship in the virtual world, become part of the real world. Just because something is never going away does not make it good.

This is the the most ridiculous thing i've seen all year!