beefche

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Posts posted by beefche

  1. ...or any men with fashion sense.

    What is the purpose of the little cloth (and now they are clear plastic) tab thingys sewn into the shoulders of blouses? I always thought they were to make sure that they don't fall off the hanger (I don't know what they are called--they are a one big loop thing). Now I'm wondering because they have changed from being cloth to a clear plastic (very similar to the straps on some bras that are to be worn with tank tops).

    These things drive me batty. I don't need them at all--my blouses hang fine on a hanger and these thingys just hang out when I wear the blouse--which makes me fiddle with it or have someone comment that it's showing.

    Please educate me! I'm taking my scissors to some in a moment.....

  2. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?

    This week, I found out.

    From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

    -The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

    -Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

    -Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

    -The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

    -The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

    -The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

    -Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

    -The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

    -Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness,

    Gentleness, and Self Control.

    -The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

    -The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

    -The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

    So there is your history for today.

    So, ceebo has been holding out on us? He understands this song and never let us know the deeper meaning? :mad:

  3. Posted Image

    No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude, and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God. . .and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven."

    (Quoted in Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle, p. 98.

    Help me understand. When I read this, I agree with Pres. Kimball. However, it sure doesn't sound very hopeful. How do we understand this quote with the quote from Joseph Smith who said, "Happiness is the object and design of our existence..."

    Perhaps I just don't have a good perspective, but suffering and sorrow doesn't sound very happy to me.

  4. Good question, ceebs. I think that if you do what you can, then you've done enough. I know you're Catholic, but there is a scripture in the Book of Mormon that says it better than I:

    Mosiah 4:27 And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.

    To me this means that the Lord only expects us to do what we can. God is a God of order and care. He cares about you just as much as he cares about your neighbor. So if your best is doing the 5 houses rather than the 6th, then you've pleased God and you can be satisfied.

    Obviously, you haven't pleased neighbor #6, but if it's that big a deal, send a shovel with cookies on the shovel part (use decorative plastic wrap). Cookies makes everything better!

  5. This has been my pet topic recently. I'm 1st counselor in the RSP in my ward and I've noticed many, many times new sisters or visitors sitting alone in RS. I've talked about getting out of our comfort zones and invite someone into our circle.

    I learned a long time ago that going to church doesn't require friends or socialization....but it sure makes it easier. I often quote the scripture from Moroni 6:

    5 And the church did meet together oft, to fast and to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls.

    6 And they did meet together oft to partake of bread and wine, in remembrance of the Lord Jesus.

    How can you meet together oft and speak with another if no one talks to you? I do want to stress that although I feel the greater burden is on the active members of a ward, I do believe that everyone has a responsibility to at least try to speak to others. I understand shyness and introverts. But, trying is required (some person's efforts vary from another's).

    So, I think that it is important to have members of the church (no matter what the denomination) as friends. But I also think that we shouldn't limit ourselves to having friends of only one denomination. My best friend from high school is a Nazarene. My best friend from college is LDS. I value both of their friendships and admire and love them equally.

  6. Thanks, guys. Here I am trying to thank you all for being a goofball and you have go and be nice goofballs.

    And I have a confession: I'm a cannibal. I love steak so my family members are very cautious around me. Hmmm, family Christmas on Sunday...where's my A1?

  7. I feel ashamed of the things I have done, and to put them to voice makes them truely real and they can not be hidden away in the corner with a sheet over it depending on what company is around.

    First, shame isn't a very helpful feeling. I think guilt is a better feeling, because oftentimes guilt will incur action. Shame incurs hiding.

    Perhaps if you understand a little of the Bishop's responsibilities you may feel more comfortable. His job (if you will) is to be a spiritual guide for you. He cannot condemn you. He does not have that right. He has been blessed by the Lord to feel compassion and love as well as be guided by the Spirit to guide individuals (specifically, YOU) to greater peace and happiness.

    This doesn't mean that you won't be required to do some hard things. You will. But, the wonderful aspect of talking with the Bishop is you will actually FEEL his love and God's love for you. It will be a physical feeling.

    Start first by just going to church. Introduce yourself to the bishop and let him know you need to speak to him. Then when you do meet with him, if you don't feel you can "confess" that's ok. Simply tell him of your desires to change your life and that you need to do it a step at a time. Who said you need to confess all on your first meeting with the bishop? Maybe you will, perhaps you can't. He will likely want to meet with you on a regular basis (whatever regular is for the 2 of you). T

    he missionaries can help, but even greater help will be some good home teachers. These will be men from your ward (congregation) who will visit you and help you. Ask that you be assigned to a couple of gentlemen who will visit you regularly. They will become your friends who will be there to help you.

    Take the plunge and go to church Sunday.

  8. I feel that I can not return until I have freed myself from my past ways and thoughts, and am again worthy to be a member and partake in the Sacrement.

    however I find it difficult to bring myself to prayer. I feel Heavenly Father will not hear my words because my mind and spirit are clouded by my immorality by not following His teachings and commandments. I know it is in these times moreso then ever that we need to turn to Heavenly Father in thoughtful prayer, yet I still struggle with this.

    2 Nephi 32:8-9

    8 And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing. For if ye would hearken unto the aSpirit which teacheth a man to bpray ye would know that ye must cpray; for the devil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray.

    9 But behold, I say unto you that ye must apray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall bpray unto the Father in the cname of Christ, that he will dconsecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the ewelfare of thy soul.

    It's Satan who is putting these thoughts that you have to be worthy to go to church, pray, read scriptures, etc. Jesus was a Healer--not a museum curator. He came to the sick, not the whole.

    When the thoughts that you aren't worthy to pray or to go to church come, then immediately remember Christ's love for you. Even if you can't feel His love, KNOW He loves you. Trust the scriptures. Trust Him to know YOU, really know you.

    Contact your bishop. He is there to help you--he'll love and guide you, not condemn you. To find your local meetinghouse go here: LDS Maps

    Good luck, brother.

  9. I'm going through one of the toughest, most stressful times I have ever known. I find it difficult to enjoy moments right now. But, I've been able to laugh at you, with you, and about you here at lds.net. And for that I thank you.

  10. Alright, kona. I took the plunge:

    1. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (100%)

    2. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (95%)

    3. Jehovah's Witness (91%)

    4. Eastern Orthodox (79%)

    5. Roman Catholic (79%)

    6. Orthodox Judaism (77%)

    7. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (74%)

    8. Baha'i Faith (69%)

    9. Orthodox Quaker (69%)

    10. Islam (68%)

    11. Seventh Day Adventist (61%)

    12. Sikhism (56%)

    13. Hinduism (54%)

    14. Jainism (49%)

    15. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (47%)

    16. Liberal Quakers (46%)

    17. Mahayana Buddhism (46%)

    18. Theravada Buddhism (44%)

    19. Reform Judaism (38%)

    20. Unitarian Universalism (36%)

    21. Neo-Pagan (27%)

    22. New Thought (25%)

    23. Scientology (22%)

    24. New Age (19%)

    25. Nontheist (18%)

    26. Taoism (16%)

    27. Secular Humanism (14%)

    I CAN KEEP MY TR! :cheerleader:

    It's interesting that I was baptized as a baby into an Eastern Orthodox church which is #4 on my list.

  11. Maybe I don't wanna retest. It will just say I am LDS again and I know I am not.

    Ok, you and I are opposite. You aren't LDS and are scared this test will show you "are." I am LDS and am scared it will show me as not LDS.

  12. I was raised in a home with an inactive mother and non-member father who wouldn't allow me to go to church. Through the years, we had missionaries, HT, and VT visit us regularly, sporadically, not at all, etc. The result of those visits was that when I was 18 I was baptized by my HT (who was completely surprised since I took the missionary discussions at BYU and waited until Christmas to get baptized by my HT--he had no idea). I served a mission and am now serving in my ward.

    My dad has softened so much towards the church. He still isn't a member, but he accepts HT visits (my mom passed away last year). Isn't that fun? A HT is assigned to my dad who is not a member and has attended church maybe 3 times total through 20+ years.

    No one knows of the influence he/she can and will have on individuals. Thank you lilered for your dedicated service.

  13. It's not even so much I like soft drinks...I like the burn the carbonation provides when drinking it. lol

    I love the carbonation too! I love to drink sparkling water with either fresh lime or my favorite is Sour Apple Martini Mix. Yummy!

  14. Just a note for you women, cola drinks inhibit the body's ability to process Vitamin D and Calcium, which are pretty essential in preventing osteoporosis. This effect becomes very pronounced after menopause. I'm not saying you have to give it up entirely, nor do I think you should eliminate one of the joys of life (Pepsi, that is), but please consume sparingly (particularly after menopause).

    Okay, I'm done playing mom.

    I can give up my Mt. Dew anytime I want....I just don't want to yet. Nope, not addicted. Never that. I don't care what my therapist says. What does he know? Shaking hands and rapid speech is normal, I tell you. NORMAL!

  15. I am not usually a "combiner"...but I will try anything once. I will get back to you on that, O:K:?

    I get the strangest looks at movie theatres. I HATE Diet Coke. I can handle regular coke, but diet is NASTY. But I don't want all the calories. So, I always ask the nice little teen to mix 3/4 diet coke with 1/4 Cherry Coke (or Coke, or Mr. Pibb). I get a strange look because most of the time, the teen doesn't know his/her fractions (I then show on the cup where to draw the line). Then they think it's odd.

    Pepsi/Dr. Pepper--yummm.