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Members like you are a good resource for a Bishop to have....I could speak with you and ask your opinion if you were in the Ward and I were the Bishop.

Mark this date down. Palerider agreed with me.

Yes

I wonder where this thread is going?

I'm guessing the person that crosses the finish line Pale

Ditto JAG. In addition... I choose which rules I break very carefully. Whether they're breeches of etiquette (like putting my elbows on the table), societal constructs (sitting on a table, or walking outside in a bathrobe that covers more than the clothes I wear), other people's rules (including laws), my own rules, church rules, church law... The rules I choose to break, I do so knowingly/willingly/for a good reason. I do not (usually) repent of them. I may periodically regret the consequences, but my judgement is USUALLY sound... So given the same situation all over again, I'd do just the same thing. To ME, any kind of formal confession is part and parcel with repentance. If I would do the same thing, in fact PLAN on doing the same thing, much less judge it to be the right choice: that's not repentance. Would I admit to breaking the rule? Sure. Confession & Truth are two totally different things. I would only confess something I do not repant if it were something I was struggling with not doing. As an example: For ME, I'd throw my deck down and race to class, purposefully breaking that rule... Because it was worth it for me to not be late. I've done it before, would do it again. No confession necessary. I'm choosing to break a rule. However: If I didn't even KNOW I'd thrown my deck down, and kept catching myself breaking a rule on accident? Was actively trying not to break the rule? Then I'd be in the process of repentance. Would consider confession (not every durn time, but periodic sum ups of my progress). Some people confess every single minor wrong they've committed I'm not in that camp... I am, instead, a proponent of personal accountability. Church Rule, Church Law... Those I owe an explanation or admission to. Personal Rules... I may share. It depends on whether or not I am actually struggling / it is affecting or reflecting upon my spiritual progression. Q

In terms of formal confession, the only thing I'd feel is absolutely necessary to confess is the LoC violation--and then, only if it happened between your baptismal interview and the baptism itself. The other infractions you bring up don't necessarily require formal ecclesiastical confession in and of themselves; but your bringing them up here suggests maybe you feel your spiritual development isn't quite going in the direction you want it to go--and that's certainly something your bishop might have some good advice about.

Sometime people who have been assaulted try to make light of it to convince themselves what happened to them wasn't that bad. Some victims of sexual abuse become promiscuous because they think if they can devalue sex then they can make what happened to them feel less painful. - just a bit of observation from my social work days...

The Church released a Mormon Messages video on prayer. It's called origin. If it helps at all, the easiest way for me to pray (and my favorite way) is to just talk to God. I have a quiet spot on campus by a lake where I'll sit or pace and just talk to God as if he were right there. Out loud. I can imagine how silly I look to passers by. But it helps so much and helps me really have a heart to hear. Funny thing is, this form of prayer started as a way for me to "tell God off" when I was going through a bad time. Now is my moment of honest conversation with God as I try to make His will my own. Out of fear of sounding like a cop out answer, let me just say this: prayer is a process. We aren't going to have prefect prayers our first few times. We need to practice prayer through continual prayer. That's the only way we can approach it properly. Your friend is definitely in my prayers.

Here it is: (Quoted in Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual, online here.)

Every team needs the Hanson Brothers

I think home teaching and visiting teaching are one of the most important callings in our wards.

When we say Bishops dont receive training is not totally accurate. I cant speak for the whole Church but, it comes down to the Stake Presidents and the training they give to the Bishops. We were always encouraged to make sure door not locked and to leave it partially open and to have someone sitting outside the door. That could be a councilor or parent or even a youth leader. As for interviewing Youth I personally always used a different set of questions depending on their age. I am not crazy about having a Parent in the room with me while interviewing their son or daughter for two reasons. The first being I would be concerned with getting the young man or woman to open up and feel comfortable and the other reason is....I dont want Mom or Dad answering the questions for their son or daughter or trying to dominate the conversation. I have had some very good conversations with the youth when I interviewed them. There were times they told me things and would then ask.....are you going to tell my Parents?? I would reply No i am not....but I think you should. Had a few times where the youth asked if I could get their Parents and bring them into the room. Bishops are human and we make mistakes....these callings are hard enough as it is. You get more crap from members sometimes than what you got going door to door as a Missionary. If you have never been a Bishop you have no idea what its like. The first time I was called I dont think I did a great job at my calling being new and learning what I was suppose to do. I never asked to be called either time, but I am thankfull I was called a second time and I feel like I did a better job the second time around. Total combined years of serving both times was 11 years.

If my daughter did this, even if she truly felt uncomfortable with the Bishop's interview, I would be so ashamed--ashamed that my daughter has no regard for authority or appropriate behavior. Did I not teach her proper behavior? How could I as a parent fall so short of my responsibility of teaching correct manners. If this is an actual occurrence, and not some troll trying to get a rise out of us, I would be so embarrassed over my child's behavior. And, I as a mother, look at my children's behavior as a reflection on me. This is not a funny joke that she perpetrated. This is just totally uncalled for and inappropriate. I may rile a few people here, because I understand that children can go against their parent's teachings. But, this behavior is not acceptable. If the Bishop's questions were a little out of line, then she should have gone to her parents. This sounds to me like she purposefully egged him on. And recorded it! I should probably just erase what I just typed and not post this. I usually don't get upset over posts. And, it's not the post that is upsetting me, it's the behavior of a 15 year old girl. Not acceptable or funny!

Since this was an adult male, if he had been ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood (and particularly if he was endowed, whether currently active or not), the Stake President would have to be involved...that's church policy.

P.S., the spirits (demons) I spoke with were able to be detailed and give private information. And could have easily tricked me if I hadn't been scared, but the fear, I believe was the Holy Ghost warning me to get out of the situation.

Quite to the contrary. I believe the saying is that you go to heaven for the climate and you go to hell for the company. I don't think we fundamentally disagree at all: there's certainly a component of addiction that is chemical/physiological, and is just something that the spirit inhabiting the body has to deal with; and to which death does offer release. But does addiction often run concurrently with a spiritual ailment that will persist beyond the veil? I think the answer can be (not always, but sometimes) "yes". Obviously, that doesn't change our obligation to be universally compassionate in the here-and-now. It just means that we can't medicate, operate, or electrically stimulate our way out of every form of addiction. On a semi-topical tangent: Just_A_Girl swears that there's a quote out there from JFS implying that our bodies are not immediately perfect on resurrection morning, but that they gradually become so over time. I can't find it anywhere. Does it ring a bell to you?

My direction when it comes to dating is date anyone who says yes lol

And don't worry about your writing ability in English. We have many people on this site that English is their first language and can't write either. :)

I always thought it would be more like an RPG, like Dungeons and Dragons "Alright, roll the d20, do you have any skills in this area Elder?" "My missionary has a particularly strong testamony and thus I get +3 to my rolls instead of the usual +2!" "Then you get a +4 to your roll in total, as we have established this investigator already has a strong testamony himself, giving another +1" "Natural 20!" "Alright, you not only baptized the investigator but he convinced his wife and son to join as well, they will be temple worthy soon"

Sometime attending church is not about us or what we need. I personally know a young lady that has been through a great deal of difficulty, including giving birth out of wedlock. For her going to church is difficult because she feels out of place and not as worthy because of her past. Her struggles have tenderly touched me on many occasions and I cannot imagine the lost joy I would miss of not sharing her sweet spirit. I also am aware of at least 3 other young ladies that have become pregnant without a husband that this wonderful lady has been able to reach because of her experience in ways no one else could – She has made an incredible difference. We all have unique experience and if and when we allow ourselves to be an instrument in G-d’s hands can do things that no one else can. My plea is to all that may wonder concerning their contribution – You are needed and because of your unique perspective – no one else can bring what you offer. The Traveler

I don't find the question disrespectful. The questions we must ask ourselves is God an author of confusion? Or is God an author of order? I firmly believe God is an author of order and not an author of confusion. Thus, who then has the right to determine which religion is right and which religion is wrong? If all are right, then why are there conflicting doctrines which appear to be taught by the same God -- via different religions? If all the doctrines are right, then which path does one choose, when one religion specifies another religion's interpretation is incorrect? Each religion teaches something different, then the author (God) is the only person who has the right to say who is right and who is wrong. We profess simply that it is not us who has declared which religion/faith is correct, but God. Although, we declare the words of God pertaining to the truthfulness of this work, as Quin mentioned, "we allow all men to worship how, where, or what they may." Our Lord has given us the our agency, the freedom to choose between error and truth. We receive consequences and blessing according to our choices. The irony behind this question is that the question itself determines a "right" way that others should follow -- that there is no right religion; however, what we all should be considering is truth. If one bible teaches error (that God is not Heavenly Father), and the other teaches truth (God is our Father), then we have a choice to choose the truth, in order to accept Jesus Christ who is "the truth, the way, and the life." If one religion teaches from the Holy Bible that Jesus is not God, and one religion teaches from the Holy Bible that Jesus is God -- both cannot be correct -- these teaching by nature are opposites and both cannot be true. If one religion teaches that baptism is unnecessary, and another teaches baptism is necessary -- both cannot be correct -- and again one teaching is false and the other teaching is true. Who then decides? The author (God) decides. Thus, it is very important that we are actually desiring to follow the author -- Jesus Christ -- in order to obtain any blessing from him. This is why knowing which gospel is from God.

11 We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may. Articles of Faith 1Â* Q

i'm easily amused.......lol.......and a convert, so i KNOW how much less it weighs.......HA HA