Lost_one

We were living at my parents house for a short time and gave her the number so we could chat. As i said, i trusted this person.

I also hope this. But with me, it was almost a year of friendship. I even chatted with her husband. I just dont know where this came from. Oh well, hopefully its dealt with now. One of the things i did, was sat down with my wife and wrote a formal email to this woman, explaining the situation. I advised her to seek medical help and also made it plain, that if she contacted myself or my family, that i would take legal action. She hasnt emailed since.As i said though, it doesnt matter how long you know someone, you just cannot let yourself be put in a situation that is wrong. Im just glad, those around me, know me better.

Hi everyone, Ive just had a very wierd time tonight. I was online and a friend i made about a year ago. started acting funny. She told me that she had some news for me. So not thinking much of it, i asked what it was. It turned out, that she had called my parents house and told my sister that she was my girlfriend and that we were getting married. Now i might be a Mormon (Well ex'ed Mormon) But i already have a wife and im not in the market for another one, thank you very much. I let my wife read what she was saying and also talked to my family, thinking that she was just playing a joke on me. Turned out, she really had done all this. To say i was freaked would be an understatement. Thing is when i met this person, they were really nice and we had lots of good talks. We met on a Christian website, much like this one, so i didnt think anything about it. I guess i just thought, she is married and she is a christian, should be safe enough. She was also nearly 15 years older than me. I guess the point of this post is to warn others. Im lucky, in that my wife believed me and knows nothing funny is going on, But just imagine if she wasnt understanding. This woman could have cost me everything. I will be so careful in future. I will still talk to people and make friends, as i dont think its right that one nut should stop me being friends with people. Anyone else had something like this happen to them? Please share, as im still abit shaken by it and could use some prayers and support. John

Although my situation is slightly differant. I have a Bishop that doesnt want to deal with my situation. Im a ex'ed member. I commited adultry, Acted like an adult and accepted responsibility. I went to my Bishop and fessed up. I did this as i was sorry for what i did. My reward for being honest? Kicked out. I moved to a new ward and was basically told i couldnt speak in class or do pretty much anything. At the time i pretended it didnt hurt. But it did. Really badly. I sometimes think i should have done what your exwife is doing and just pretend i didnt do anything wrong, But i couldnt live with myself if i did that. If i had a choice. I would still stand up and take my punishment. Even if it means, never getting to be part of the church or going to the celestial kingdom. I'd rather go to hell honest, than go to heaven with a lie inside me. I cant understand how people can do that.

I read your post and the first thing that popped into my head was, she wanted to find something wrong with it. It almost felt like you were questioning the church and wanted to prove yourself right. I agree with some here who say that, maybe you should question the Patriarch, before you question the church. Ive met many people in the church in high places. In particular. I was in a ward once, where the Bishop had been serving for many more years than was normal. He was worn out and just wasnt able to do his calling properly. It wasnt the churches fault or even his, it was just that the situation was the way it was. Lucky for him, some new blood came into the ward and they were able to call a new Bishop and the ward began to pick up. They even gave me a calling. Yikes.

Isnt that interesting? I didnt realise it was rare. I did feel very blessed and while writing about the experience here, i remembered that feeling and how amazing it was. I really like your way of thinking and have a similar outlook in life.

Although all answers already given, have a similar vain. I also noticed that we all have differances to in how we recognise the Spirit. I like the quote above by Mormon, in Moroni 7:16. I think that is the scripture im going to ponder tonight. Thank you Vanhin for posting it. With that said. I wasnt really looking for scriptures. Im really interested in peoples personal feelings. For example, you could tell me a story of how you had a question answered or just knew it was HF talking to you. Here's one from me to help you understand what i mean. Although i was eager to be baptized into the church, i still had some niggling doubts. I arrived at the church that night. My ward didnt have a building yet so we all went to the one in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire. I got ready for my baptizm and after a little while, was sent for to "get wet" I followed Elder Harris's instructions and got dunked. Still those niggles wouldnt go away. After i got changed we all walked round to the little room next door so that i could recieve the Holy Spirit. I sat there infront of everyone. The Bishop, Elder Harris and Elder Griffith put there hands on my head and started to speak. I didnt hear a word. I was praying with all my heart to my Heavenly Father, I really was scared i had made a mistake. I called to him inside my head and begged him to tell me, if i was really doing what he wanted. I got my answer. As soon as i asked, it felt as though a hole had opened over my heart and warm water was being pored in. It started at my heart and spread out into my chest, down my arms and legs and eventually my whole body was filled with this feeling and i finally felt at piece. I knew i had done the right thing. Hope that helped.

I hear this quite alot. Someone prays to Heavenly Father with a question or problem and He gives them an answer through the spirit. Ive done this and it works. My question is: How do you know when its the spirit and when its just you? I know a person that will use this little sentence alot and for some reason, Heavenly Father ALWAYS seems to agrees with her. Im not so lucky. Sometimes when i want him to agree with me, he doesnt. Sometimes he does though. Sometimes however, im suspicious that im the one answering the question and not really listening for His answer. Mostly when i REALLY want him to agree with me and know in my heart that He wont. I guess what im asking is. How do you tell the differance? Thanks

Its ok. They welcome anyone here. There not fussy.

Im not sure. Well its raining right now. I wouldnt mind a little sunshine, but that sounds like to much.

Thats exactly what i was thinking. The churches teachings on how to live seem to also prepare people, not only spiritually, but also physically. Isnt Heavenly Father wonderful? :)

Hi CliffieDuckie,I can only tell you my experience of tithing. Hope it helps. When i first joined the church, i was unemployed, in fact, ive only been working for the last few years. I had a mental health problem that stopped me working. When i first joined the church, i thought tithing was just a way for the church to get money for the leaders, so they could live the good life at my expence. I was very angry at the world at the time, the church was just another thing trying to screw me, i felt. However, after a chat with my Bishop at the time, i decided that when i had got baptized, i made the promise to tithe, so i did. This is going to sound nuts, but dispite the fact that i had no money, i never once struggled to pay it. If anything, my money management got better. I always felt that it was Heavenly Father blessing me for paying my tithes. I stopped paying it when i went less-active and really felt the differance in my life. One of the reasons i cant wait to get re-baptized, is so i can start paying my tithing again. It was never hard and always was a blessing to me, even when that blessing wasnt that plain to see at the time. I always saw it in retrospect. Heavenly Father doesnt care if you pay 1pence or a million bucks. Its whats in your heart that counts. 10% is 10% regardless of how much that is. In Heavenly Fathers eyes, we all pay the same. @Ragnar: Where did you get your username? I know a Space Wolf of that name. Just wondering.

Thanks LostSheep. Im actually in the recovery stage, but as with any addiction, thinking your over it is the first step to getting sucked back in.People might not agree with this, but i do feel that addiction to porn is just as bad as addiction to alcohol or drugs. You never trully recover. Its always there. Forget that at your peril. I know my weakness. I also know the triggers. I just need to keep myself ahead of it and never let it get me again. As with alcoholics, one drink and there done for. Same with porn or any other evil.

Thank you everyone. My question has been answered.

Its his own personal shame. I wont judge him. He may be Norwegian, but he cant be all bad.

I hope this is in the right place and also hope this isnt breaking any rules, But are any of the top people in the church poor or from poor backgrounds? And if they are from poor backgrounds, are they still poor or do they have wealth now? I ask this, as i was reading in another thread, where someone said that all the leaders in the Presidency, 12 and 70 were rich and needed nothing from the church to live. Most being retired was also an answer. But that isnt my question. So are all the leaders rich?

I completely understand. I wouldnt talk to Norwegians either. Terrible people. Not the kind of people i would want around me. Bad bad people. Very judgemental as well and they also like to gossip. Im just telling you what i heard, but you can tell by just looking at them. Thanks Pam. Yes i guessed it was a joke.

No one should be forced to do anything against there beliefs. Im not saying im against same sex marriage, as the way i see it, if they want to get married then go ahead, do what you want. Its your choice, Just dont force others to do something they dont feel right about. Respect other peoples right to choose as well. This is a case of "My rights are more important than your rights" so do what your told, or there will be trouble. Well you know what they say. Give them an inch and they will take a mile.

Thank you Willow. I have noticed that i am becoming stronger spiritually now. Although i was feeling pretty low, just after i got ex'ed. Satan had a good hold of me at that time. I will say though. Last week i was at work and i was praying. I got really upset and started to almost get angry at Heavenly Father. I told him alot of the stuff that was getting at me. I even told him that he could do what he wanted with me as i didnt care anymore. After a few days, i realised that, that is what he had wanted me to do. I feel so much more free and i love him even more now, if thats even possible.

Could you imagine if a church was like that. You would go on Sunday, look around. Hey guys, wheres the Bishop/Minister/Priest? Oh, he wasnt at church last week, so we kicked him out. Yeah, he tried to say he was ill, but thats no excuse. From next week, if you dont bow your head at a particular angle, your out. There will of course be someone walking around with a ruler to check. Oh, but he will be kicked out the week after, because, HE didnt have his head bowed at the right angle, when he was checking that everyone elses head was. And so on. Hehehe.

Thats not why i was ex'ed. It was adultery. Not being able to attend church is whats stopping me getting re-baptized. If people got ex'ed for not attended church, there would be no one there. ;p

I look forward to it.

Im in the Glasgow stake area. Where in California are you living?

Hi Jenamarie,One thing you will learn about me over time is that im very open. By slip ups, i mean pornography. Its my big weakness. It would be in my own interest to keep quiet about any slip ups, But i just cant do that. I feel that, that would be living a lie. Also, yes the Bishop is being overly strict, But he is the Bishop, so i need to support him and respect him. Im not here to cry about that really. Im more interested to find other ways to prove myself to the church. And thanks to you guys, i have advice that i can follow. I will make a point of going to as many church things as i can. Thank you everyone.

I agree. To be Christ-like and to sin less is my goal. How wonderful that we have the fully restored gospel to help us? It shows our Heavenly Fathers love for us.