Connie

Welcome. Glad your here. :)

You guys are so funny! I love checkers and chess, too, sometimes (prefer suicide chess, i'm better at it). I'll have to post the picture i took of when i beat my husband in chess really fast and regular chess at that (i always win suicide chess...okay, maybe not always). It was a once in a lifetime event, i had to get it on camera!

Alma 32:30-34 i'll just quote 33, 34: And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good. And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand. "A testimony of the gospel is a personal witness borne to our souls by the Holy Ghost that certain facts of eternal significance are true and that we know them to be true." As quoted in the article from a talk entitled Testimony by Elder Oaks We CAN know certain things through the spirit. I would submit that there are different levels of knowledge as well as different levels of belief. As MormonMama said "we are all at different places in our journey." A testimony is a very personal thing. I don't mind people saying "i know" nor "i believe." Their testimony is between them and God. I think there are some people who would say "i know" when it's obvious that it's just a belief and perhaps "i believe" when maybe it's a little more than that. I have had a personal witness from the spirit, and i can say I KNOW Jesus is the Christ, my Redeemer and Savior. I KNOW he lives, even though i have not seen him. I KNOW we are lead by a prophet of God today. I KNOW Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God and restored the true and living church. I KNOW the Book of Mormon is the word of God. My testimony may be simple, but these are the things i KNOW. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Ha! You guys are great! I seriously enjoy being a part of the welcoming committee, even though all i can think to say sometimes is "welcome."

Welcome Checkerboy! Do you like checkers?

Welcome, glad you came. :)

Oh well, sometimes you just have to get it out of your system. Better to be sarcastic about that than some of the other things i've read. :)

Welcome. :)

Welcome. :)

Sarcasm is stating the opposite of an intended meaning especially in order to sneeringly, slyly, jest or mock a person. This definition comes from Widipedia. Using this definition, I see nothing sarcastic in Jesus' answer. I don't know of anything he said where he meant the exact opposite, especially to mock anyone. I won't go into this further here. If you want to know my very strongly feelings on sarcasm you can read this thread: http://www.lds.net/forums/advice-board/13527-sarcasm.html

I agree, these "silly" comments are not funny. No wonder many people still have horrible ideas about Mormons when we keep adding to it in this way. Some people will take these comments seriously even if they arn't meant that way. Christ would not respond to a legitimate question such as this in a sarcastic way, let's just keep that in mind. What ever happened to the LDS people and the question, "What would Jesus do/say?"

Sorry, guess i was a little vague. I really liked this article and thought some of you might like to read it, too. I already know the church is true, so i'm not asking the question for myself but feel free to discuss it. I think you're right, though, we have to start out with a belief or at least a desire to believe as Alma says in the Book of Mormon. But i think our ultimate goal is knowledge, which is why i liked the article.

I hope all goes well and you are able to stick with it and meet your goals. I agree that diets usually don't work but healthy eating does. One thing you may want to consider and probably already have is portion size. I am amazed how much very active people can eat and still not gain because they are so active. This may be one thing your mother could consider. You eat how much you need for your activity level.

Welcome! :)

Should “I Know” the Church is True? : The Millennial Star

Okay, here is some more of my musical freakiness coming out again, but i love this song from White Christmas. When I'm worried and I can't sleep I count my blessings instead of sheep And I fall asleep counting my blessings When my bankroll is getting small I think of when I had none at all And I fall asleep counting my blessings I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds If you're worried and you can't sleep Just count your blessings instead of sheep And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings But seriously, counting blessings HAS helped me on occasion.

Thanks for this! I especially liked the part about mothers. :)

Welcome! I love the name Bethany! I would use it for one of my own except i already have an Elizabeth and it might get a little redundant with all those Beths running around. I still have a lot to learn, too. We are never through learning. Hope you enjoy the site.

I don't see anything prideful in being proud of your son, as long as it's not a "my son is better than yours" or "look at what a great parent i am" kind of attitude. Pride is competitive and hateful in nature, and i don't see those attitudes in your description. Here is a great talk from Pres. Ezra Taft Benson on pride, quite famous actually (at least in the church): LDS.org - Ensign Article - Beware of Pride

Welcome. Hope you enjoy. :)

Congrats! That's exactly how big my first baby was! Excellent name choice as well. Wishing you well!

Welcome. :)

Welcome. I LOVE Scottish accents. I could listen to them all day long, but alas none of the doctors i transcribe for have one (sigh).

Welcome! Hope you enjoy the site. :)

"Look, you're really cute kid, but I don't know what you're saying!" Marlin from Finding Nemo Welcome. :)