MarginOfError

Congratulations on achieving your senior member status! If you want the financially minded answer, you have to consider how much your earning potential will increase if you complete your education. Will you be able to earn a dollar more per hour or 10 dollars more per hour? Will you work full or part time? Will your job after education provide benefits? If the cumulative sum of your increased earning potential is greater than the sum of the debt you will incur, then it's worth it to go to school. However, in matters like this, I don't think it's always best to think strictly financially. If getting a job now will lessen your debt while making you miserable at work, then it's probably better to get the education, and vice versa. So, I'd say consider the options, determine which one you think will give you the most long term happiness, and go for that one.

You'd like to think so, but my wife worked with the administrator of their elementary school and has verified the account.

That's actually a really good point. Somewhat related to that, I remember discussing a study in one of my college Communication courses about fatherless communities. The study found that children who lived with a single mother turned out just as stable so long as they grew up in communities where the majority of children had fathers in the home. In communities where most fathers weren't in the home, the children grew up with all sorts of drug, behavior, and crime related issues.

This is one I actually support. If you want more good research on the subject, check out the Gutmacher Institute.

Concerning that there were boys named Orangejello (pronouced o-RON-zhelo) and Lemonjello (pronounced le-MON-zhello), and even one kid who's name was pronounced sha-TEED (I can't spell it here), yeah, I think it's appropriate to have a judge step in.

I'm having trouble finding a more official source, but I'm reasonably sure this is true. The article I pulled this quote from is at: LDS programs evolve over the years | Deseret News (Salt Lake City) | Find Articles at BNET

One of them was a stripper. Well, she used to be. She'd gotten out of the line of work a couple years before. But let me tell you, nothing is so awkward as being on a date with a girl, watching a movie in your dorm room, and she tells you she was a stripper.

Family meals reduce risky teen sex | NEWS.com.au When I was in grad school I did some studies on teen sexual behavior, and I've kind of followed the new studies coming out since then. It amuses me how every step of the way, the best thing we find for delaying sexual activity in teens is positive parental involvement. This new one is fantastic! Teens who report eating a meal with their family more than once a week engage in fewer and less risky sexual activities, and don't start until they're older.

Who was the prophet when Deborah was judge?

I used to get that, so I started showing up to Church with a different girl every week. Eventually the questions stopped. In fact, as a result, my dating life so far off the gossip radar that when I actually did get married, they announced it the weekend after the wedding, and half the people in the ward went, "REALLY?!" They didn't even know I'd been dating anyone.

Everyone has made good suggestions so far. Allow me to try to combine suggestions and add a little: Books that explain LDS background 1) Our Search for Happiness (M. Russell Ballard) 2) Truth Restored (Gordon B. Hinckley) 3) Our Heritage (Church Publication) 4) Gospel Principles (Joseph Fielding Smith, this is really, really dry. Books that compare LDS theology to other religions (be warned, some of these can seem rather aggressive and hostile toward other faiths at times) 1) The Great Apostasy (James E. Talmage) 2) A Marvelous Work and a Wonder (Legrand Richards) 3) The Missionary's Little Book of Answers (I don't know who the author is. I, personally, am not a big fan of this book as I've seen too many missionaries try to bludgeon other religions with it.) The books I would start with to understand the LDS perspective are 1) Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage. 2) Articles of Faith by the same author. One of the best books I've ever read was 3) Things of the Soul by Boyd K. Packer. (It's a collection of his talks that he considers to be the best and most profound he's given; in other words, the talks he most enjoyed giving. I didn't see it on Amazon, but the contents of the book are probably on the Church website if you're interested.) If you're interested in LDS Church history, try 1) History of the Church (6 volumes, but gets kind of dry. I wouldn't try reading them all at once) 2) History of Joseph Smith (Lucy Mack Smith) 3) Work and the Glory (Gerald Lund. I never saw the fascination with these books, but I'll add it to the list because I know how ubiquitous my own opinions are)

I'm afraid I'm not sure what you mean. If you're asking if non-LDS boys may participate in a troop that is sponsored by the Church, the answer is yes. However, they will likely have to endure some firesides and devotionals that are commonly done while out camping, as well as all the religious undertones that the LDS majority in the troop will likely bring. At the same time, non-LDS boys should be encouraged to develop their own faith through the BSA's religious awards programs.

Thosre are words of advice that I sarcastically rank as most helpful right after the following words when someone has broken up: "There are other fish in the sea." "You'll find someone else." Too many people don't realize that the healing process involves a certain amount of suffering. Sorry about God cutting it so close for you. Let's get together sometime, watch some tear jerkers, eat chocolate, and complain about getting fat sometime :-) All my best.

Next time she leaves you a message that she set up an appointment for you without consulting you first, mysteriously disappear for the evening. Come home after 9.30 and all will be clear. She'll quickly learn not to waste her time.

I distinctly remember one night where I was in stitches laughing because of things I was saying in my prayer. It's probably the closest I've ever felt to God in my life.

If you want some ideas that are a little out of the box, try these: Write down an outline for your prayer before you give it. This is really only reasonable to do for personal prayers, but take some time to think about what you would most like to talk about. Write the ideas down, and then talk about them. Even if you only do it once or twice a week, it might help you share more meaningful thoughts. Tell some jokes. God has an incredible sense of humor. And the great thing is, even though he's heard all the jokes before, he still laughs. Carry a note card with you, write down things that strike you as odd, funny, profound, or otherwise something worthy of sharing with a friend. Share a few of these during your prayer at night. Try to see how long you can pray without the bulleted version of prayer found on missionary flip charts. I also have some really really irreverent ideas, but I'd probably be burned at the stake if I shared them.

Have you been sealed in the temple before? If so, this is somewhat a non-issue (as strange as that sounds). If you've both been sealed previously, then you're both entitled to the blessings of those Covenants. All of your children current (presumably) are sealed to their parents, so they are also covered by the Covenant. Any children born to you and your current wife will also be born under the covenant as both of you are sealed. The only loose end to tie up is to which parent will new children be sealed to? Simple answer: that's irrelevant because your children will hopefully be sealed to their own spouses. Having said this, I recognize that there are emotional reasons for wanting to be sealed to your wife, and those are valid too. I only say what I have so that you don't have to worry that your salvation is up in the air while you pursue this goal. If on the other hand, you personally haven't been sealed, then the Church is likely to pay more attention to your situation, because it is important that you be sealed, if possible, while living in mortality. I'll also parrot what Palerider has said; your temple presidency will understand this best, or will at least have the most direct access to higher sources. Ask them if you can, and talk with your Stake President.

I guess I can see what you suggested before taking place. Just not quite how I'd do it. And since I obviously know everything...yeah, right.

If my understanding of the situation was correct, the bishop was under reporting to the Church what members were donating, and pocketing the difference. So the Church's audit system would never have a chance to pick it up. The discrepancies were between the members' copy of slips and what was being reported to the Church. Tithing settlement is where members can verify that both of those records agree. I don't mean to say that the Church didn't go after the Bishop either...they did. But they didn't absolve the members of their responsibility. I'm also unclear of exactly how the bishop managed to get the funds. I'm not sure if he had an accompilce or if he handled the funds alone (a big no-no). So I can't explain exactly what the reasons for the Church's actions are. I just know what they were. Sorry I can't be of more help.

That might almost make sense except I sign the Fast Offering checks too. There could be other reasons for wanting the knowledge too, such as preparing to split a stake or ward. I've seen reports of how are declared full-tithe payers in those instances because they need to know if each unit has enough Priesthood holders to support itself (all members of the Bishopric and administrative staff must be full-tithe paying Melchizedek Priesthood holders).

I think Single's Wards are a waste of time. Hit up the traditional ward and make sure you're active in Institute. Just my opinion.

I'll keep you in my prayers. Enjoy your son's company while you've got him.

Okay, I just stared at my screen for a whole 30 seconds. I have no idea what to say to that. I'm just glad you are still alive. You know, two days ago I almost started a thread titled "Where is Hemidakota?" and the first line of it was going to be "Is Hemi even still alive?" I swear, I'll never make a joke of your life again. Except to say that I find it ironic you reveal your health condition in a thread about Eternal Progression. Did you get any first hand insights? But seriously, are you okay? How limited are your activities? What's the next few months look like for you? Have you started looking for flavored aspirin?

HEMIDAKOTA! Good to see you...I was getting worried. I was an inch away from calling out Search and Rescue.

Stacey, it was me who had to compile the list of tithe payers, and there were some other things I had to look at. The primary question was who in the ward may be in need of help. We have a lot of low-income families in our ward, but we have a huge surplus of Fast Offering funds. The Bishop and Stake President wanted to see if they might be able to glean some information on who might be in need of help. Even though that was the intent, it was still rather intimidating to look at the list of tithe and non-tithe payers. For whatever reason, it just isn't information I want to know. But oh well. Tithing and donations aren't kept anonymous for several reasons. One of those reasons is for tax purposes. However, those tax benefits don't necessarily apply around the world. The larger reason is so that members can be sure that the Church is actually getting the money they are donating, and to prevent leaders from embezzling the money. Tithing settlement at the end of the year serves a few purposes. The first is for each member to declare him or herself a full tithe payer. This is repetitive for members who have temple recommends, but it's the only chance non-temple recommend holders have to make this declaration. The second is for the members to get a chance to address concerns and questions about tithing to the bishop. This also allows the bishop to teach members about the uses of tithing and touch base with each member on their financial situation. Tithing settlement can be as much about Fast Offering as it is about tithing. Finally, it's a chance for the members to verify their records against those of the Church. There was a ward in Southern California where the Bishop took off with a lot of money that he'd embezzled from tithing and fast offering. General Authorities came to the ward and chastised the members for not verifying their records and holding the bishop accountable. Essentially, the members were just as guilty as the embezzling bishop, and all were equally responsible for Church funds.