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I had my patriarchal blessing this evening, was an amazing experience! Obviously I won't go into any details but I felt so close to Heavenly Father during the blessing, it was just amazing!

President Lorenzo Snow“There is no Latter-day Saint who dies after having lived a faithful life who will lose anything because of having failed to do certain things when opportunities were not furnished him or her. In other words, if a young man or a young woman has no opportunity of getting married, and they live faithful lives up to the time of their death, they will have all the blessings, exaltation, and glory that any man or woman will have who had this opportunity and improved it. That is sure and positive” (Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, 138). Elder Richard G. Scott“If you are single and haven’t identified a solid prospect for celestial marriage, live for it. Pray for it. Expect it in the timetable of the Lord. Do not compromise your standards in any way that would rule out that blessing on this or the other side of the veil. The Lord knows the intent of your heart. His prophets have stated that you will have that blessing as you consistently live to qualify for it” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1999, 33; or Ensign, May 1999, 27).

In many ways I am glad that Lilith is not part of LDS Doctrine. Lets summarize the most common parts of this myths. Lilith's sin/crime/rebellion was in not submitting to her Husband's (Adam) authority.. The consequence were two fold. One she was replaced by Eve (who did submit) and she became a baby killing demon. That is a story that I am very glad don't have to try to reconcile with what I understand the role of women in the church and their role in the world

I would second Traveler's response. I know every young men in our ward has been taught and read from the Oath and Covenant, they have read from D&C 20 and other chapters that specify their duties, however the one they remember -- the one they practice every Sunday. This new system, curriculum, the Church has for the Youth is wonderful. The struggle is changing the culture of teaching. At the same time, the duty rests upon the Father to teach the children their preisthood responsibility, the Church assists. I am hoping my three boys will be able to answer a question like yours fully.

To be honest I find it interesting that you teach a youth Sunday School class and find that your students do not seem to know the answers. If I was a betting person - I would bet you that if you asked the same question this next week - even though you just went over all the information the previous week - you would get much the same answers you got the first time. Rather than explain why this is; I would point you to the whole purpose of the Follow Me direction recently adopted in teaching the youth. In essence the objective is not to disperse information (which has been the objective in teaching for millennia)? But to train and encourage youth to study on their own. Your asking question is a good way of teaching and the way we have encouraged teachers to lead class discussions -- but misses the new objective which is to teach youth to ask the questions and seek out their own answers in order to gain or strengthen testimonies and change behaviors and lives. As the SS president in our ward I have struggled with this new method and our teachers for a year and a half now. Not that the teachers are not among the best in the church - just that changing the culture is more difficult than I ever thought. If you figure this out - please let me know. If you have not figured this out yet -- don't feel bad and please do not give up. You are the vanguard for perhaps the greatest effort in the restoration - I am convinced that your concern and efforts are as needed now as any have been in the history of man. We are preparing a generation for something that few generations before have ever faced.

Please pray for a quiet, peaceful passing for my uncle.

Yes He did. And the entire process is described as you read on (with sinew attaching to the dry bones and skin on top of that). The whole thing serves as an allegory for dead Israel to receive life again, while testifying of a literal resurrection. As you read on, you find another allegory coupled with a literal prophecy. The gathering of Israel will principly be the joining of Judah with Ephraim (or Joseph) who have long since been estranged. This is alluded to by joining two "sticks" (which could also be translated "books"). The literal fulfillment of two books joining together can be found when both the Bible (a book written and preserved predominantly by Judah) is joined with the Book of Mormon (a book written and preserved predominantly by Joseph). Both testify of the future gathering of Israel, while the Book of Mormon openly states its purpose is to renew Jehovah's covenant with lost Israel.

Confession time: For breakfast my kids usually had cold cereal with milk. They would often have it for lunch, snacks, and dinner too. And, I let them. On days when I did not have the energy to fix anything, I was grateful they could fix themselves a bowl of cereal rather than go without. Now that I have confessed, I also want to add that I do not feel a lot of guilt over this--some, but not a lot.

Glad you came back!!

I had an interesting experience teaching my 14-15 y.o. Sunday School class this past Sunday. The lesson was on the Priesthood, and included having the students read the relevant sections of the Doctrine and Covenants (The Oath and Covenant, the one that spells out the responsibilities of the Aaronic priesthood, and a few others). My class had 5 boys and 2 girls, and before we got into the reading I asked the YM if they could share what some of their responsibilities are, as Teachers, so I could write them on the board, then we would add to them as we found more in the scriptures in regards to the other offices. All they could give me was "prepare and bless the Sacrament". That was it. And when we got into reading the scriptures, particularly the Oath and Covenant section, more than one remarked that it was his first time ever reading that section, and when it came to the scriptures outlining the responsibilities of Teachers, they seemed genuinely surprised of what was expected of them. (and to be fair, the girls were, too) Please tell me this isn't typical of the young Priesthood holders of the church? These YM seemed to be genuinely learning for the first time what was involved with this stage of their ordination. I realize the Church can't be responsible for teaching its members every single detail of the Gospel, but are the young men not asked if they understand what's going to be involved when they take on the Holy Priesthood? Wouldn't a Bishop want to know that a young man was fully educated on what his sacred responsibilities would be before he conferred them upon him? I don't know what all goes on in the worthiness interviews for Priesthood ordination, but I guess I kind of expected that knowing what was being taken on would be a part of it. Or are my Sunday School boys an exception?

Hi, My name is Chris and I have been recently called as the Elder's Quorum president. I have a strong testimony of the Gospel and love Jesus Christ has for all the Earth. I am an adult convert, and was able to convert my parents and perform their baptism just 4 short weeks ago. I am married with 4 children.

I had cottage cheese with blueberries today.

I eat carnation instand breakfast in the summer and oatmeal in the winter. I also like left over mexican food. :)

When my three older boys reached their teenage years it was as if they were bottomless pits. We went through a lot of food! Now, my youngest son, who just turned 20, isn't like that. He eats, but he seems to graze rather than snarf down everything in sight. My youngest also didn't have the same mom as the older kids. I was in school full time when he was born, and then I went to work full time after I graduated. I usually had night shifts, and he would have to get himself up, fix his own breakfast, and then get himself off to school on his own. He did that from kindergarten onward.

Cold cereal is great.....I have that in the morning or evening time myself.

Based on this I don't understand why you wouldn't be against it yet. The article mentions that the 5 minute personal interview is to talk about the online account and blocking parents. It is also about STD's and birth control. Do you want them teaching or suggesting things that you, as the parent, want to be teaching at home? Because I seriously doubt that they are teaching them anything about the moral side. Both go hand in hand.

In other words you put your faith and trust in strangers and the state over the bonds of familial love. What if the medical personel, police officer, public school teacher wants to molest your child? If we continue down this road not only will they be able to do so, but they will be able to blame you and throw you in prison. My wife is in the medical profession and has seen horrible things. But in the end knows it's far more dangerous on principle to allow strangers, even professionals, unfettered closeted access to our children.

I would say take the attitude of the aunt for what it's worth. You mentioned she is feeling very stressed and overwhelmed. I would call her and let her know that you are coming. Let her know that you understand the stress she has been under and will do whatever you can to help relieve any of that within her wishes.

Is it possible that I agree with windseeker and anatess both?

I've always found myth's to be interesting. We make a specific set of covenants in the temple and we are taught true doctrine at the same time. I think that answers any question regarding Lilith.

In some ways, I will agree with applepansy, though I can certainly empathize with Windseeker. I am reminded of this post just a few days ago by Brad at One Flesh Marriage (http://www.onefleshmarriage.com/2014/06/look-great-no-i-dont.html). For whatever reason, it seems that this is a common problem in our society. How to learn to give and receive honest compliments is difficult enough. Combine with the familiarity of marriage relationships and the outside world's fluctuating, irrational definitions of "beauty", "attractive", etc. and it is probably a wonder that anyone manages to get this right. One observation on Charity Pierce: Even in her case (grossly overweight due to physical illness), we frame the discussion of "is she beautiful" in terms of finding a man who says that she is beautiful and worthy of love and affection. Maybe it is difficult to describe "hotness" without it, but it sometimes seems to me that some of this issue needs to be about our relationship with ourselves. Can we each learn to describe ourselves as attractive, beautiful, valuable, "hot", acceptable, loveable, or whatever on our own terms without needing someone outside of ourselves to prop us up? Can we learn how to do it without deluding ourselves?

..one additional thought on this. In the last two Disney movies we've seen that true love is more then physical attraction or something that only occurs between helpless women and wealthy men. True love is caring more for someone else then you do yourself. I think this is a positive change.

My feeling is that, unless it is in the ward boundaries, parents need to be notified and sign a permission slip before the leaders can take the girls anywhere. Even within the ward boundaries, if the activity is going to leave the building, parents must be notified* (even if only be mass e-mail). And 10:00 is far to late to be out on a weeknight. Especially without parental permission. I'd raise a holy stink about his one. * Full disclosure: we sometimes take our scouts to the park just down the road without really notifying parents. However, we also leave a few adults at the church where we meet to greet parents when they come to pick up their kids, and we make it a point to be back by the normal ending time. The boys never, ever get into our cars without a signed permission slip.

I went to highschool in Washington State in the 1990s. A similar law was in effect there, then, although it was newish. From my family in Seattle -teens assuming responsibility for their own healthcare- I assume it's still in effect. Q

I miss having a classy first lady, a conservative family in the white house, and a President that is actually a real man(watch his newly released working out video...), not weak at heart. I saw this earlier and I find it very disturbing, just one of the many reminders that I was fortunate enough to have grown up in the time that I did so I would not have to encounter this stuff as a child. I fear for the junk my daughter will be put through though, but she is a die hard conservative just like daddy so we will see who she puts in their place. We live in an invasive era that many would rather accept and deal with than fight. The government should fear its citizens, but that is not the case anymore.

It's not the fact that HER child was 17. According to that new law it states 12-17. As a mother, until that child is 18 I have every right to be with my child in a doctor's office while they are asking questions.

Now that just made my day! Has been a very trying day...but, the Lord knows just what I need and when I need it. Thanks!

And I'm glad you joined us here on the forums. I enjoy having you around.

Sounds to me like the mom is pretty uptight. Her daughter is 17, and Mom is completely deluded if she thinks that the daughter isn't getting information about sex and drugs from anyone but her. Laws like this make people who have nothing to hide, completely uncomfortable, but they are absolutely necessary. A doctor who offers a 13-year-old girl birth control isn't encouraging her to have sex. He's assuming that that she already is having sex, or is likely to do so soon, which is, like it or not, accurate. He's helping prevent her becoming a teen mom, which is a responsible thing for him to do. Same thing with a boy and condoms. Children who are abused by their parents aren't going to accuse the parents while in the same room. Many won't accuse the parents even in a safe space, largely because such a thing doesn't exist in their minds. Parents who abuse their children are also the least likely to permit those children to be in a room alone with an authority figure who could do something about. If I have nothing to hide, I have nothing to hide. So why am I going to get upset about it?

I think Gramps took the right approach from a doctrinal standpoint. But if you're asking for my speculative opinion: I prefer to keep an open mind. Brigham Young is on-record (in, admittedly, a discourse widely interpreted as promoting the Adam-God theory) as saying that Eve was one of Adam's wives.

In regards to your question...Hugh B. Brown had this to say: Hugh B. Brown "Each man or boy, whatever his age or his station in life, is subject to the temptation to destroy himself by reason of a God-given power which all of us have. All of us who know good sometimes feel within ourselves the possibility of evil, and while we may condemn sincerely and without any hypocrisy the evil in us, we are conscious that at times we ourselves are tempted to do the very thing we hate, and in doing it we hate ourselves as well as the thing we do. I think this caused Paul to admit, '. . . the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.' (Romans 7:19.) "Real character is formed in the midst of the battles of the soul. Christ offered peace, not in the sense of freedom from disturbance, but in the midst of disturbance. When He said, 'Peace, be still,' it was in the midst of a storm. We need to develop within ourselves the kind of self-control that will enable us in the midst of disturbance to find the peace that comes into the soul of a man who is living as he knows he should live." (The Abundant Life [salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1965], 127.)

Once, when I requested orange juice on a flight, the flight attendant asked me if I had ever tried mixing orange juice with apple juice. He then mixed it for me, and I was actually very pleased with the result.

I know, right? My husband likes "the girl next door" look. Which apparently means... what you said.

Baptized in 1972. Walked away from the Church in 1979 and returned fully active in 2010. Funny how one little thing that happened turned me away from going to Church...not turned away from the Church, but away from going. Time just kept ticking away until one day there I was back in Church. I love this Church!

I am not member, but from what I understand the problem you have currently is more common than one might assume. Clearly consulting your Bishop and being entirely truthful is the way to go, he renders guidance and possible punishment depending on the situation at hand. In regards to your petting problem and viewing adult material, perhaps changing your lifestyle a little so you are not in that situation that it is more inclined to happen in the first place would be the best route to go. Say, working out more or just being out of the house in general more often will make you feel less inclined to do such things than say... sitting around the house or just hanging out on the computer. Idle hands do the devils work I have been told. Even I have found my mind to wander when I am very bored so I try to keep busy. If you feel yourself going into a 'lapse' immediately change your situation or setting whether it be reading from the BoM, going on a walk, or heck trolling some newbs on CoD. My two cents, or rather a few cents in this post.

None of us here can answer how your Bishop will handle this situation. Each of them are inspired to handle things differently. All I can recommend is talk to your Bishop as he is the only one that can answer your questions.

I look at it differently.....Yes. I wouldn't be happy about not getting it back....however.....I would want to forgive them so the sin if any is on their head and not mine....there could always be a time in your life when your all in the Temple and the same time and in the same session and you wouldn't want this to detract from your growth..

I've been a member for 50+ years and I've never seen anything that even remotely comes close to this and I grew up in a military family as well and moved around. And was married to a retired military person. I've been in numerous leadership positions in the church and our opinions were taken seriously.

I agree.....if you don't bring out the best in each other ....time for concern.

If you are wanting to throw books across the room, might I recommend a book on anger management?

So my parents really converted themselves. I tried discussing religion with them, but they never wanted to talk about it. I just made sure they knew my standards when it came to our family and they understood that. Then one day they called and said they were going to start going to our church in another city(where they live) and began discussions with the missionaries. It has been a blessing!

It is possible the bishop will tell you to stop taking the sacrament for awhile. That is a call for him to make. The interviews are to be keep confidential, barring some kind of legal requirement. If you wish you can ask you bishop straight out not to tell your father before you confess anything. That might help him remember his responsibility if you are afraid he might mess up. (Bishop's are human after all)

Since you are asking from a position of fear... lets talk about what will not happen. You will not be kicked out of the church. You will not be laughed at. You will not be publicly humiliated. You will not be told you are a horrible person. While we can not tell you details of what will happen, in general your bishop will listen and learn about what you are struggling with. Then he will recommend certain actions and changes for you to make to help you overcome your issues. Then he will follow up to offer encouragement and support as needed.

Only the Bishop can answer that. Bishops handle situations differently depending on their discernment and perception of the situation. There is no standard answer.

We also say, if you are concerned enough to ask the question it's probably something you should talk to your Bishop about. And this is something you should speak to your Bishop about.

As much as you like and love the missionaries your bishop is the one with the keys and authority to deal with the issues members have. Around these parts the question of "should I talk to my bishop about..." is answered with. "That is a good question to ask your bishop." Do understand that unless your bishop is brand-new your problem will not be the first of its kind the bishop has handled. He can help you and will help you, if you will let him.

I would go speak with your Bishop....after all your both human and both make mistakes.

Just a reminder that this particular forum is for introductions. Let's try and keep it to that. If you have further questions or issues to discuss we have other forums for those. Thanks.