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We dumped Netflix about a year ago, just because their offerings weren’t that consistently great (and we wanted to wean our kids off My Little Pony). I’m not sure Disney would be an improvement—they’ve gone pretty Woke and now seem to be in the ChiComs’ pocket as well. We still have Amazon Prime, but surprisingly (given COVID) we find that neither our kids, nor we, have had a lot of interest in streaming media this summer.

It seems to the moderating team that we are getting more and more posts being reported by "guests." Yet they appear to be extremely familiar with the forum members etc. Many times we want to communicate with the person who has reported a post if we need clarification or perhaps clear up a misunderstanding. We can't do that with an anonymous person. Plus it makes it appear as if perhaps a disgruntled former member just has it out for someone. Going forward: Except with the case of pornography, vulgar language and spamming the site, we will not take action on a reported post that is done by a guest. It must be done by an actual named forum member.

Whelp, Cuties is now live on Netflix. We're getting ready to dump our account and move to Disney+ and Hulu - about the same price.

I'm glad you recovered from your heart attack. Sorry I dropped off the map. I have way less time to spare for checking into this group and I wasn't convinced I was doing anyone any good anyway. Now a year later, have you maintained the weight loss and near vegan diet?

You're not the only one. I'm super excited about the movie for all the reasons you mentioned. Now if they can just get a cameo with Patrick Stewart charging into battle holding a pug😉......

It seems to me that the power and keys of "this ministry", by virtue of the presiding power and keys to bind and loose in heaven and on earth, allow for these apostles to have primary focus areas or assignments, some ministering for those in heaven, some for those in earth, and some for both. Peter ministers (i.e. presides--the master is the servant) for James and John.

Unfortunate it may be, but it's not gone unnoticed that this version does at least make some sense out of the bizarre cover artwork of the original authorized US edition of Lord of the Rings. (Emus? What was that artist smoking when he read the books!?)

I heard the restrictions on full capacity magazines are toothless in Colorado. Many gun dealers sell sixteen to thirty round magazine parts kits. They are not assembled so you can buy one legally. Then one can take it home assemble it and have your own thirty round full capacity magazine. (Like you could not go to Wyoming or Utah and buy a full capacity magazine and bring it home anyway.) It's too bad the Colorado courts ruled against the common citizen owning sixteen to thirty round magazines. It doesn't matter though. Most Sheriffs in Colorado refuse to enforce the magazine capacity restrictions and also thankfully the Colorado red flag gun confiscation laws.

I don't have an answer to your question, but here's a church source that has a little section about adoption sealings and how Wilford Woodruff ended them. I remember when I first learned about these sealings that were so common and Woodruff's revelation ending them. It's always been interesting to me. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/sealing?lang=eng

I’ve struggled with prayer for a long time. Still do, in fact. Recently I’ve been studying the General Conference talks of Neal A. Maxwell. It has been of great help because he has such a wonderful, true perspective. Here are some things I’ve learned. The world would tell you to take time for yourself, to find yourself, to love yourself. That’s only descent advice if you know which self to do that with. Hint: It’s not the self the world is usually talking about. We mortals are dual beings. We have a natural/fallen man and a divine child of God wrestling for the supremacy of our soul. The scriptures tell us what to do with the natural man. We are to “put it off” and to “deny ourselves” (see Mosiah 3:19; Luke 9:23). The self we should nurture is our divine self. We do this by following the first great commandment and through the atonement of Christ. We put God first. We strengthen that relationship first. Remember that “by small and simple things are great things brought to pass” (Alma 37:6). Start small. You already have the desire to live with God in the Celestial Kingdom. Let that desire work in you (see Alma 32:27). Talk to Him through prayer. Don’t mince words. Just tell it like it is, as you have done here. He already knows, of course, but it’s important that you acknowledge that you know it, too. Ask for strength. And then watch, observe. He works by small means, too, and you have to pay attention to the subtle ways He will let you know what to do. Keep hanging on even if it’s just by a thread. Here is a wonderful talk where Elder Maxwell talks to people in exactly your situation. Read it over and over. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1991/04/lest-ye-be-wearied-and-faint-in-your-minds?lang=eng I hope this helps, even if just a little. I hope you are able to find peace.

To say I'm sorry to hear these things is an understatement. I'm sorry for your pain. You may not like my advice, either. Change is hard. Change often hurts. I can, however, tell you what built my faith as an adult convert. First, I had a testimony that the Book of Mormon was scripture. However, that was the ONLY thing I believed to be true. I had a testimony of nothing else. With that established, I worked to establish testimonies of other things. I lived as HE wanted me to live. What do I mean by that? Well, I read my scriptures daily. I served my brothers and sisters every opportunity I had, and looked for more opportunities. I didn't wait for the EQ President or the Bishop to call me, I called THEM. I was relentless in my ministering. I lived the Word of Wisdom, gave up bad habits I had, lived the Law of Chastity, and gave it everything I had. With that, I began to build my faith. I was receiving more than I was giving. I was converted more each day. When I back off from that, I notice a distinct difference in my life and relationships. Take that for what it's worth. I'm not an authority on anything.

First of all, I'm moved by your saying you feel like your faith has died. I'm sorry for the loss of your daughter, especially at such a young age. I know that my faith was jarred when one of my favorite CTR-4 students was diagnosed with cancer; I cannot imagine how shaken yours must have been. If there was a time in your life you know that your faith was strong, go back and read your journals from that time in your life. If you haven't kept very good journals, start. It's okay to reminisce in your journal; write about the things that you remember doing, thinking, and feeling during that time when your faith was strong. Mosiah 18:30 talks about how beautiful the waters of Mormon are to those who came to know of their Redeemer there, because that's where they came to know their Savior. If at all possible, physically return to those places in your life. For me, it's my college campus and the grounds of the Winter Quarters temple. Read your patriarchal blessing. View it as a way to see yourself and your life the way that God sees it. Recognize that it's going to take time to regrow your faith and be patient with yourself throughout the process. Surround yourself with uplifting, positive media and entertainment. Keep note of what the things you are reading, watching and listening to are causing you to feel. Even if you are only consuming "church approved" media, it can still cause you to feel hopelessness, especially due to your situation. You may find that, for the time being or years to come, there are lessons you skip over. I still get kind of prickly when I hear talks geared towards parents of wayward children because it reminds me that there are so few resources for children of parents who have gone astray. (The closest I can get is a scripture somewhere in the NT about loving God more than your parents and that Elder Oaks was raised by inactive parents, but there are no "this is how you deal with this issue" talks that I've found like there are with wayward children. So, if anyone has any....) I'm a lonely gal myself. Some years moreso than others. (Unwed, childless, seasonal depression.) When I catch myself feeling this way, I think about all of the people I've done proxy temple work for. I imagine at least some of them would like to greet me, shake my hand, give me a hug. I feel they are my friends and are cheering me on in my righteous endeavors. Even though I can't see them and can't remember most of their names, they know who I am and they love me for what I have done for them. They are the friends I know I have when I feel I don't have any.