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So last night I went to do my very first home teaching. It was great. We visited the 2 girls in my ward know the best. My companion did most of the teaching though he says next month I'm teaching something from General Conference. I really enjoyed it. Hopefully I can do a good job with this!

Wow. So many many moons ago... I knew I was supposed to break up with my boyfriend. Put it off. Found out I was pregnant. Broke up with him. As I was giving him no say in the matter (abortion WAS on the table, I decided not to, and was giving him no say in it), I told him he was welcome in the baby's life if he wanted to be, but if not? No worries. No child support, no et cetera. Well,.. When I was 6 or 7 months pregnant (and weeping at sports drink commercials)... I allowed myself to finally bend under everyone but god begging me to marry the bloke. Seriously, guy proposed 6 times one month. In MY case, "yes" was wrong wrong wrong. Your guy min not be an ubercharming sociopath with violent tendencies... So I can't say what would be right / wrong for you, your guy could be best friend / best coparent/ best husband ever... Mine was the sociopath. And despite countless thwack upside the head from the spirit I still married him and stayed that way for over a decade. Bad news. But whether Prince Charming or Dr. Evil... EXPECT pressure... If he doesn't run for the hills... To marry him yesterday. From everyone around you. At all times. Including strangers. Really. Strangers in the supermarket when they looked at my left hand would give me advice on how to "snag him" or how it's soooo much better for the baby (blah blah blah. I mean, asked for advice is one thing. But there is something about a bulging belly that removes everyone's boundaries and sense of common decency! Hands off! Nose OUT of my business! No, really, take your hands off of me. That's still my stomach and I did not tell you to rub up all on me while telling me your horror of a birthing story, and tell,if me what a terrible life my child will have from a single parent Ms. Bluebird of Happiness XP ) KNOW that the idea that you won't be operating with all your marbles at all times due to massive hormonal fluctuations is going to be insulting, and feel ridiculous. Also know that if you're crying at commercials and yelling at 6yos who could be cast in a Mary Poppins movie... Your marbles WILL return. But in the meantime Try not to make major life changing decisions . Decide that now. Before your heart swells up and starts overflowing with so much love someone you wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole you bind yourself for all eternity. If he's the guy, great... But don't decide that with a shotgun. 3rd (4th 5th 92nd?] Consult a family law attorney. Q

You know, whenever I hear someone going on about "organic" food, I always want to ask if there's any inorganic food.

This was a very powerful Latter-Day Saint video to me. I want to share it with all who would watch it. The name of the video is: The Savior Wants to Forgive http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=3446112587001

Chemically speaking this is true. Although it has always seemed a somewhat stupid title, organic in the marketplace does refer to specific standards that said product must meet to be labeled as such. Sadly it is also true that the organic label does get abused, but to state that those supporting organics lack intelligence (don't know any better) is simply uncalled for.

I wonder if vultures eat dead skunks? I wonder if the skunks just emit a horrible smell to fend off threats? If we run over a skunk does all the "stinkiness" sink into the rest of the meat? I wonder if stinkyness or stinkiness is the way to spell a word that isn't a real word? I wonder if any of you were actually trying to spell it "the right way"?

Not quite, since organic/inorganic has to do with the presence or absence of carbon. Everything else is marketing to people who don't know any better.

This article gives some ideas http://earthopensource.org/index.php/7-feeding-the-world/7-1-myth-gm-crops-are-needed-to-feed-the-world-s-growing-population

I'm going to be using metaphors again. They aren't perfect but hopefully they will help in making my thoughts understandable. The temporal body is the instrument that refines the spirit. I believe that the spirit without the body is incomplete in the same sense as the man without the woman is incomplete. A fullness of glory requires that both eternal elements, matter and spirit matter, be united as one. I also believe that not only does the physical body provide a means for our spirit to be refined it also acts as an alloy. In order to convert iron in to steel it not only requires that impurities be removed from the iron but it also requires that alloys be added to the iron to produce the steel. Once these alloys are added to the iron and steel is produced, the alloy and the iron are one. Our bodies act as that alloy that allows our spirit to become exalted and our spirit acts as an alloy that allows our body to become exalted. There is no fullness without each component. And yes, the infusion does not occur during our temporal existence. It is something that will happen after our resurrection. I'm glad that you are doing well. -Finrock P.S. We talk much about our spirit being refined but I also think that our spirit in turn refines our body. As our spirit becomes more in control our bodies can begin to literally glow with light and glory. Eventually, as we progress and our spirit becomes more refined it in turn glorifies our body which in the conclusion of our salvation will emanate light and glory brighter than the noon-day sun.

First, EVERYONE is welcome at church... not just members or investigators! :) The bishop is probably just 'advising' you about the process. It's actually not up to him, but the local mission. You actually don't have a decision yet... until you meet with a member of the mission presidency. https://www.lds.org/manual/preach-my-gospel-a-guide-to-missionary-service/how-do-i-prepare-people-for-baptism-and-confirmation?lang=eng It's question #4 that would require a member of the mission presidency to conduct a baptismal interview. Please don't assume that you cannot be baptized, or that there isn't a place for you in the Lord's Church. Your situation is unique... but based on similar posts, it's becoming more common. Please don't judge the leaders too harshly. They're just trying to do their best in a very gender-oriented environment. I think their intentions to do what's right and to help you feel welcome are there. I'm sure it's disappointing so far, but be patient and have faith. Please don't assume anything until you meet with someone in the mission presidency. Only they can tell you what the next steps will be. :)

I would suggest enlisting the parents: "Parents, due to the messes usually made during our activities, we ask that you not leave with your youth until we have finished cleaning up. Thank you." This way you have additional authority figures making sure the kids are doing what they're supposed to do in a timely manner. The parents want to go home, too!

When I was inactive (20+ years) I had the same HT/VTeachers. Husband and wife - for 20 years she sent me letters and he added the spiritual message (my then husband would beat me down if any religious people visited me). When I left him, my HT/VT helped me to move, they found me furniture, cleaned out their storage and gave me cookware, knick-knacks, etc. Then they started visiting me. I was ecstatic - finally I could have religious people IN MY HOME!! The only thing was, there was no more spiritual lessons. 5 years go by, I remarry, move. For 6 years husband and I never see out HT. I got visits regularly from my VT, but we never saw a HT. In early Nov 2010 we move back to my old town. We are assigned HT and I am assigned VT. My VT come regularly, but the HT seldom come to the house. They claim they visited - we talked with them in passing each Sunday - but they only visited the house once in 2.5 years. Our new HT is our Branch President and his oldest son. They visit regularly - we spend a good deal of time talking about our trials and tribulations. The good and happy events. Then the last 10 minutes is hurried spiritual lesson. His son told us how he does the lawn care for the sister who lives next door to them. Our yard is a mess - so we hired him to do our lawn. At 14, he is a darn good worker! When they come next month - I feel comfortable enough to ask for the spiritual lesson first - then we can go over the emotional highs and lows of Hubby and my life. My VT don't always give me a spiritual lesson - which is okay - once the time was spent listening and conversing about the emotional highs and lows of one of my VT. That was okay too - - - she is like a second mother to me, and I am always there for her to cry on my shoulder, to bounce worries off of. To hug her and to sometimes just help her to cry. AndyPG - Before you join your companion, kneel in prayer for Father to Walk With You. Your HTeachee's will definitely feel His Spirit that will surround you. You don't always have to give a spiritual lesson. But you do NEED to always have the Spirit walking with you. Oh, and my VT in the other state - she brought the conference issue with her and asked me to pick a talk - then we BOTH taught from it. I didn't want her to think I hadn't watched the conference (sometimes I didn't), so I made sure I did - and as I was watching I made note of the talk that hit me the hardest. THAT is the one WE taught to each other. You will do fine. Walk with His Spirit, pay attention to your teachee's, observe their surroundings and don't hesitate to act when the promptings and nudges come.

Pray as though everything depends on God. Work as though everything depends on you.

For personal reasons and via personal study I would very much like to see GMO labeling. For the same reasons I advocate 100% truth in advertising and truthful labeling of all ingredients in a product, I likewise advocate GMO labeling. I prefer being given the Agency to choose for myself, and alow others the same privaledge, whether I eat such foods or not.

I tend to agree. Monsanto is a vile organization and is better shut down for their business practices, but the GMO's themselves are a boon. I liked this article on it. If you're anti-GMO, you're objectively pro-starvation of the poor.

My objection to GMOs is their parent companies business practices, including going on to non-customer's farms and stealing samples of the plants to test for patented genes from cross-pollination and then suing the poor farmers. The actual gene tampering to increase yields are a good thing, IMHO . edit: I apologize for errors, apparently my wireless keyboard's batteries are dying.

See. MoE and I can agree.

I think it is unnecessary because there is absolutely zero reproducible evidence that there is any harm in consuming genetically modified foods. We've been doing it for centuries. I don't see any reason to get concerned about it now.

Everything WILL be okay!!!! Please, do not consider abortion. I have a friend that has been involved with it. It troubles them, and that is putting it nicely. Forgiveness for something of such a serious nature, especially when one has the knowledge that it is grievous, is much more difficult than raising a child or choosing adoption. Wanting peace in your life, wanting to go back to church, wanting to get married in the temple- these are all things that you can have and can do! You can have a happy marriage. You can have a happy family. God has not left you and he never will. Go to church and meet the Bishop. Satan will try to make you think that everyone at church is perfect or only has minor problems. I can tell you that is most certainly not the case and very far from the truth. We all have our problems and we are all in need of the atonement. Spiritually, it does not matter where you are at, only the direction you are traveling. You are not alone. Jesus Christ knows you and how you feel. He knows your pain, your sorrow, and despair. From the Savior himself: "For the Father himself aloveth you, because ye have loved me, and have bbelieved that I came out from God." "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might haveapeace. In the bworld ye shall have ctribulation: but be of gooddcheer; I have eovercome the world." (John 16:27,33) Remember to think of the good and try to be happy in your tribulations. The Messiah has overcome the world so that we can have happiness here. Things might be really tough right now, but they will get better. In the end, repentance always brings the peace of forgiveness and the comfort of healing. You can do this.

I have been bothered enough by this to speak up. Simply put, from a gospel perspective, this is not an option. Do not deceive yourself. You could be forgiven...but it is not guaranteed. This is not a cavalier thing and you run great, great risk. You know better. Forgiveness for intentionally ending a life when you darned well know better? Well...no one can say absolutely. It is the Lord's to judge. But the risk you are taking in approaching it with this as an "option" is beyond monumental. I cannot state this strongly enough. Take this option off the table!

I liked Now You See Me also. And I did not predict the ending; I thought it was clever. M.