JustMiss

I wrote a letter to slc. I got a letter back stating that all the eternal workings of my baptism would be voided or undone or something like that. Thanks for your help and support. I'll write a letter to slc and see what happens.

No it's ok. There is no need to report you to anyone. I've been on several discussion boards and it's the Moderators that set the standard. I can see the standards that you set for the people here. There is no need to report you to anyone. You make your comments and you feel nothing from them. You don't see or care that they may come across and rude or insincere. You know absolutely nothing of me but you feel the need to lash out in a condensending manner. Don't comment on my feelings or how easily they may or may not be hurt, because it's obivious you don't care about them anyhow. Your actions don't have to be reported to a team of moderators because there is a Mediator that sees your comments and knows your harden heart. Your actions on here don't go unnoticed. So you just continue on what ever path you choose. It's none of my concern. Take care and God Bless!!

Thank you kindly Rachelle.

John Doe, No worries, Your post was succinct enough to convey your feelings on the matter. But really it doesn't matter what you "feel" on the matter. So if you want a pat on the back or a thumbs up for being insulting then yeah I agree I think you deserve it. Take care and God Bless!

I'm not LDS but here is what I think Honestly, you will continue to change. Things that didn't use to bother you will start bothering because you are now more in tune with sin in your life and surrounding your life and that's natural. It's not rude to have lunch elsewhere. But if you are at the table and the subject starts to change and you start feeling uncomfortable then tone them out. My husband deals with a lot at his job. He too is a teacher. He actually pulls out magazines and starts reading them. He has gotten up before and said, "Ok and on that note I'm going to head out" He is polite and smiles and tells them bye so they aren't offended but he doesn't stay and listen to the flith either... and his coworkers are learning and they also have a level of respect for him that they try not to talk about things when he is there.... It's an adjustment for you to be around and it will also be an adjustment for your co workers. But that's not a bad thing. My co workers and my husband's as well know what is acceptable for them to joke about and what we may find offensive. It all comes down to respect alot of times. And there is nice ways of asking for a subject change. I wish you luck, I know it's not a easy situation. :) Ok with this one you have to do what is right for you. If it makes you feel sick at the thought of taking your family to a party where there is alcohol then don't go. And by all means, no it isn't rude. If you choose to go I don't think it would reflect badly on you or the church if you keep your standard. I don't drink. And we have gone to formal parties where there have been alcohol. If someone offers me a glass of wine or something, I just politely tell them something like, "no thank you I don't drink, but I would love a sprite or coke or something" and I smile and never act offended that they offered. Because they didn't know I dont' drink... You shouldn't feel akward because you don't drink. You can go to these events and be a positive role model for the people around you. But know this, It's not rude to not go because you think you might be uncomfortable. I have gone to lots of things and most people now know that my husband and I don't drink and they don't even offer it. They bring us water, soda etc. There is lots of options and you'll adjust as you go! Good luck and God Bless! :)

Jennie, Welcome to the boards. :) This might just be the mom in me coming out but please be careful online and don't give out your personal information :) God Bless and take care!

I was afraid of something like that. I know when I got my letter of them removing my name from the records it said something along the lines of all the eternal works of my baptism will be undone. I would think that even if they think the PB is voided because I am no longer a member, they could still give me a copy. Yeah my name was removed but that was still mine and it wouldn't be hurting anyone by me getting a copy of the blessings even if they are considered undone. I'm not sure if that makes sense but it makes sense in my head. Thanks for your input. I'll request a copy and see what happens. It's all I can do anyhow. If they say no, they say no.

I've been listening to the Christian stations here and I love them. The music is upbeat motivating and I love that I can listen to in my car driving anywhere with my kids and not worry about the lyrics being inappropiate. I love hearing them sing along. It's exciting to hear them singing songs about Jesus. We were on our way into town one day and my oldest said, "oh Mom turn this song up it's my favorite".. It was the song, Blessed Be The Name of the Lord. I've noticed a lot of the songs are actually scripture versus put to music. I enjoy reading in my bible and seeing versus that I've heard in the songs. There will be some differences on what you have been taught and how you worship and what they sing about. I know alot of the songs on the stations are worshipping Jesus. I know when I was LDS the main focus in prayer and worship was to heavenly father in jesus' name. In alot of the music you'll hear a big focus on Jesus. Any ways, take care and good luck in school.

Thank you everyone for the resources. I appreciate your help and assistance. You all seem like a very nice group here :)

I just first want to compliment this site for really nice advice section on this discussion board. I was reading through alot of the post and am moved by the support you offer to those in need. I just have a quick question and I'm hoping someone will be kind enough to point me in the right direction. I am a former member of the LDS church and I would like to obtain a copy of my patriarchal blessing. I've been aways from the church for several years and I'm not sure where to begin. Does anyone know the steps I need to take to get another copy? What information they would need? Where I would put the request in? etc.? Thank you kindly for your time and I appreciate any assistance you can offer. Missy

Brother Dorsey, I do hope you feel better now that you vented. I honestly don't mean that sarcastically. I just have a couple comments and forgive me if I don't do this quote thing correctly. my Comment: Your Comment: I wasn't trying to build a wall of resentment, nor am I trying to score brownie points. When I attend the LDS church at that time the members and leaders didn't want to be referred to as Christian. They didn't even want to be referred to as Mormon. They wanted to be referred to as LDS. The tone at that time was that of looking down at Christians (people that attended churches that weren't LDS) Comments like they don't have "the fullness of the gospel" and others such as "All their teachings are an abomination" Things like, "The Christian God is the Mormon's Devil." It was an insult at that time to be referred to as a Christian. And I seen it on several occasions if someone made a reference to an LDS member saying something like, "Oh are you Christian?"... There reply would be.... "No, I'm LDS" I'm not sure at what time the LDS members wanted to be referred to as Christians. So my apology. My Comment: Your Comment Yes I know you have a large number of missionaries. I know every member is to think of themselves as a missionary. What I meant by my comment is something on a different level. What I was taught as an LDS member was that while talking to someone about the church, or teachings or my testimony that if they seemed frustrated or said something against the church I was to stop. That I didn't have to answer questions. That if they raised opposition to what I was saying then their opposition was my confirmation that what I was testifying was the truth and the amount of their opposition let me know the significance of what I was saying. Truth was the quiet whispering in my heart. Opposition was the confirmation of the truth and the amount of opposition determined how important what I was saying was. When I was taught that if I meet opposition, that I do not need to continue that discussion with that person. I was told they will not understand because they do not have the fullness of the gospel and that they are actually part of satan's schemes to try and pull me from the truthfulness of the church. I was also told not to worry about it because the person if they aren't taught the gospel here will have a chance to accept or reject it in paradise after they die. That was a lot to take in at the time it was being taught. I've seen my sister, who is active in the LDS church visit our relatives when they were dying and never discuss the gospel with them. I could never understand that. My thought was, if she believes and she does, that she is a member of the only true church then why in the world wouldn't she discuss it? But she didn't. She let 3 years lapse with out ever even trying. But as soon as they died, she went to the temple and had their name added in for the baptism of the dead. That's why I made that comment. Because to me and others it seemed not right. I can see from my comment how you and I'm sure others thought I was talking about missions but I wasn't. Your Comment: I actually don't criticize her. What good would that do? Absolutely none. She has resented me from the time I had my name removed from the church records. She does the criticizing and I rarely say things back. We at one point had to agree to disagree and that didn't last long. She makes comments. One day we were at a family gathering. Most of the family attending were non LDS. We were sitting around the table and my great aunt told my cousin what a beautiful cross pendent she had on. My sister looked at it and rolled her eyes in disgust and said, "I think it's morbid!"... My cousin was taken off guard and said, "I don't understand why do you think it's morbid?". my sister said, "It makes no sense! It's like if your father died and your wore a hub cap around your neck from off the car that hit him! It's morbid and it makes no sense!". I bit my tongue for a few moments but I'm sorry, but I can't wrap my mind around that way of thinking. So I said, "Well if my father pushed me out of the way of the car and sacrificed himself so that I could live, then wearing that hubcap wouldn't seem so far fetched." She had no right to lash out like that. She learned that attitude from the LDS church. I've heard it alot when I went there. Comments like... "well if Jesus was shot you'd probably wear a gun around your neck."... Christians view the cross as a symbol of Love. Jesus willingly gave up his life on the cross for our sins. Wearing a cross to remember that great loving sacrafice is not morbid. It's an empty cross symbolizing Jesus is alive and victorious over death. How that can be viewed as morbid I'll never understand. But anyhow, It's not a matter of me just having to shut my mouth and love her. I already love her. If I didn't, I wouldn't care one way or the other about what she does. Your comment I'm not here to condemn anyone. I am open for discussing. I'm not one that intentally hurts people. It's not my nature and brother dorsey your comments are not a little sarcastic but very sarcastic and they aren't rough around the edges they are rough all the way through. And as I posted before, I'm not here to cause a change of heart or "convert Mormons" as you put it. It's not my job to do that. God is the only one with that power. If seeds are planted, He adds the increase. I am a faithful member of the Lord's church. His church consists of His body of believers, not according to what church I had membership in. and I almost forgot.... truce. :) Take care and God Bless!

I have no "hidden adgenda" I'm not here to convert Mormons. Nor am I determined to convert anyone. People do not do the converting. God does. I am not anti Mormon. Because in order to be anti mormon that would require me to hate mormons. Which I don't. I didn't come to this website to do evangical work or as you try and state it .."convert Mormons". She asked questions, I gave her some of what I learned while a member. There was nothing I put in my post that was hateful, or untrue. If you don't like what I have to say then by all means don't read it. You have that option. I know and understand the LDS mind set. I was one. You want to call me a wolf in sheeps clothing. So be it. You judge me with out knowing me based of some preconceived notion you have in your head. I dont think me telling someone to study their bible in context is a bad thing. Should I tell her to study it out of context? Should I tell her to cherry pick the bible and only pick out the verses that she likes? You're upset because I point out teachings that the LDS religion teaches. What exactly did I twist? It's up to Rachelle what she believes. If she chooses to go another step into the LDS faith, then that's her choice. I think a person should know what a religion teaches and have the option to compare before they decide. How is that anti anything? What would she be out by studying the bible in context? Absolutely NOTHING. What is she out by knowing everything the LDS church teaches as well as the history of the church before deciding to join? NOthing. So don't accuse me of hidden adgendas. I'm sure you rather just give her the milk of the religion now and save the meat until later. You asked if I think that LDS people are nice and loving why don't "people like me" leave them alone? I'm don't hunt down LDS members and down them on their religion. If the LDS religion is brought up in conversations, of course I will discuss it. We are instructed to share the gospel. If that offends you, then honestly I'm sorry. But that would seem to be a problem for you to work out with in yourself. If you want to play a victim role and make it like all evangicals just harrass LDS members, then you are the one with the issue. What you are missing out on is this, When a christian is discussing with you the gospel then they are doing it out of LOVE for you not hate. LDS members often will not share the gospel because they feel that, "oh well, that one seems to difficult, they can choose to accept the gospel after they die and someone does baptism for the dead for them" Christians do not believe that after you die you have the option so it would be irresponsible for them not to share if questions are brought up. If a Christian shows concern about LDS eternal state and that's viewed as christians harrassing LDS. Are discussions heated? At times yes they will be. ARe all christians eloquent when discussing the gospel with LDS? no they aren't at times. I come here to discuss and read and take in and yes make comments at times if I feel lead to do so. My sister is LDS and coming here and reading helps me talk wtih her. A LDS person actually is the one that suggested I look into the LDS discussion forum. She felt that if I came here and read some of the discussions it would help me better to understand my family. How is that a hidden agenda? I don't believe what my sister believes and out of a loss of what to do I'm here. So I can hopefully understand somethings a little better, so her and I can talk with out walls and resentment, so my kids can have their Aunt in their lives. Don't accuse me with out knowing me. Take care and God Bless Missy

Hi My name is Missy, I am not a member of the LDS church but I do have a great love for the LDS members. I was a member for about 12 years. I enjoy visiting different sites and disscussion boards and getting different view points. I hope that won't be a problem. I do hope to get to know the members of this board. :)

Rachelle, I was a member for over ten years. The meetings don't change. I was taught to sit quietly, reverently with my arms folded. I was taught that was a sign that you were paying attention to the person presenting the talk or lesson. I sat there and would pay attention. I heard over and over , "I know this church is true, I know Joseph Smith was a true propet"... I was excited to belong to the "only true church." The church really emphasizes trusting your feelings. You'll hear things like.... "when you hear a testimony you'll know what the person is saying is true by the warmth you feel in your heart. That's your confirmation of truth. It's a slippery slope. The bible has many warnings about not only trusting your feelings. But also trusting different gospels. In Galations 1: 6-9 6I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. the bible also warns about false prophets going out into the world. It also says that God allows this to happen to test us. The bible also gives us things we can do to determine if one is a false prophet or not. As well as if what is being taught is the word of God. It instructs us to not trust every spirit but to test the spirts. It also tells us to use the Bible as a benchmark for truth. In other words, if you are taught something, refer to the Bible and compare. What does the bible teach about this. If it isn't what the bible teaches then you are not to trust in it. For example... the law of eternal progression where after you die you continue to progress in knowledge. The bible "in Context" doesn't teach that. The key to determining the the truth of the teaching is reading the bible in context. If you are given a bible verse to support a teaching. Don't just read the one verse you are given, But read the entire chapter in context to understand what is really being discussed. There is so many teachings that are so against the teaching of the bible. The idea that man can become gods alone is so far from Christianity. And the teaching that God was once a man that walked a earth like you and I, that died and continued to progress until he was exalted into being god over his own realm. Where him and his many wives hat spirit babies and continue multiplying until there were enough spirits to come to earth to gain physical bodies. So they can live the ordinances of the "only true church" and gain in knowledge and spiritual understanding so that when they die they too hopefully can continue to progress and hopefully become exalted and become gods/ess over their own realms. God put on flesh and became man, to come and teach us, and to die a horrible death on a cross. He was victorious over death and was resurrected so that we can have eternal life to honor and worship him, not exalt ourselves or becomes gods. Rachelle I just hope and pray you will remember the teaching you were taught in your Christian chruch. Compare the teachings to the bible and you will know that as nice and loving as the LDS people are, their teachings are not true. God Bless you! Missy