Connie

Third drawer down, next to the dishwasher.

I’ve struggled with prayer for a long time. Still do, in fact. Recently I’ve been studying the General Conference talks of Neal A. Maxwell. It has been of great help because he has such a wonderful, true perspective. Here are some things I’ve learned.
The world would tell you to take time for yourself, to find yourself, to love yourself. That’s only descent advice if you know which self to do that with. Hint: It’s not the self the world is usually talking about.
We mortals are dual beings. We have a natural/fallen man and a divine child of God wrestling for the supremacy of our soul. The scriptures tell us what to do with the natural man. We are to “put it off” and to “deny ourselves” (see Mosiah 3:19; Luke 9:23). The self we should nurture is our divine self. We do this by following the first great commandment and through the atonement of Christ. We put God first. We strengthen that relationship first. Remember that “by small and simple things are great things brought to pass” (Alma 37:6). Start small. You already have the desire to live with God in the Celestial Kingdom. Let that desire work in you (see Alma 32:27). Talk to Him through prayer. Don’t mince words. Just tell it like it is, as you have done here. He already knows, of course, but it’s important that you acknowledge that you know it, too. Ask for strength. And then watch, observe. He works by small means, too, and you have to pay attention to the subtle ways He will let you know what to do. Keep hanging on even if it’s just by a thread.
Here is a wonderful talk where Elder Maxwell talks to people in exactly your situation. Read it over and over. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1991/04/lest-ye-be-wearied-and-faint-in-your-minds?lang=eng
I hope this helps, even if just a little. I hope you are able to find peace.

I don't have an answer to your question, but here's a church source that has a little section about adoption sealings and how Wilford Woodruff ended them. I remember when I first learned about these sealings that were so common and Woodruff's revelation ending them. It's always been interesting to me.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/sealing?lang=eng

Yes. I discovered a community of saints who valued charity and possessed childlike faith and hopr: my home ward.

And was that a successful search?

https://www.latterdaysaintcharities.org/
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/bc/content/shared/english/charities/pdf/2019/LDS-Charities-Annual-Report-2019_R11.pdf?lang=eng
No. The temple itself needs the higher priesthood to function fully. The bishop has no authority in the temple.

One might hope.  Because there is a world of difference between being excited at the new possibilities Technology gives us to Preach and Live the Gospel.  And declaring the old ways of doing so as being the cause of all our woes and problems... Because he has being doing the later ever since he joined the site.

That’s a very interesting perspective. I’m reminded of books like Orwell’s 1984 and Huxley’s A Brave New World where there just are no families. In A Brave New World babies are manufactured. Everyone belongs to everyone. Isn’t that a big goal of socialist/communist ideals? The state is your father/mother or your big brother who watches out for you.
Or just the idea that’s been floating around for years now that you should “create your own family.” I have a sister who has in many ways rejected the family she grew up in and considers her friends to be more her family than her actual family.

That’s a very interesting perspective. I’m reminded of books like Orwell’s 1984 and Huxley’s A Brave New World where there just are no families. In A Brave New World babies are manufactured. Everyone belongs to everyone. Isn’t that a big goal of socialist/communist ideals? The state is your father/mother or your big brother who watches out for you.
Or just the idea that’s been floating around for years now that you should “create your own family.” I have a sister who has in many ways rejected the family she grew up in and considers her friends to be more her family than her actual family.

I don't have an answer to your question, but here's a church source that has a little section about adoption sealings and how Wilford Woodruff ended them. I remember when I first learned about these sealings that were so common and Woodruff's revelation ending them. It's always been interesting to me.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/sealing?lang=eng

That's such a lawyer way of putting it. I love it! 😀

Given the traditional sacredness/secrecy of the text of temple rituals generally, I personally wouldn’t feel comfortable getting into discussions where either the current or past variants of those rituals were parsed in detail.
Generally speaking, though:  the parent-child sealing makes the child an heir to the Abrahamic covenant, through the intermediary of the parents.  The spousal sealing binds two heirs of the Abrahamic Covenant as partners to each other, and sets them up as legators of the legacy of the Abrahamic Covenant to their future offspring (whether those offspring come in this life or the next).  In other words:  the spousal sealing is a peer relationship of functional equals united as partners in a common task; whereas the parent-child sealing is a hierarchal relationship between a parent and a child, leader and a follower, an instructor and a student, a testator and an heir, a grantor and a grantee.
That’s one reason why you can’t  (for example) just take the old male-male “adoptive” sealings and overlay/adapt that paradigm onto modern gay sealings.  To do so in a theologically accurate way would be to impute a “master-and-servant”, “dominant-and-submissive” dynamic to gay marriages that I daresay most gay couples would find tremendously insulting.
It’s also why LDS leaders (I think in the early 20th century), based on reports that Joseph Smith had offered “sealing” to Jane Manning, performed an awkward (and never-again-used, AFAIK) “sealed as a servant” ordinance between the two.  Given the standards of the day, they just couldn’t fathom the possibility that Joseph might propose such an exalted, egalitarian, marital relationship with a black woman.

I don't have an answer to your question, but here's a church source that has a little section about adoption sealings and how Wilford Woodruff ended them. I remember when I first learned about these sealings that were so common and Woodruff's revelation ending them. It's always been interesting to me.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/sealing?lang=eng

Just because I'm ahead of the times.

I would like to take this opportunity to point the finger at Traveler for taking such a dark turn to a simple picture of adorable kittens. And not so subtly suggest that he apologize to classylady for dredging up such a traumatic memory.

*Evil laughing*  Why, no. It will never end!  *More evil laughing*  It is part of my evil plot to make you apologize for all minuscule infractions, real or imagined.
Wait... Did I say that out loud? Ummm... I will now attempt to distract you with.....
ADORABLE KITTENS!!

I don't know if it's a perk, but I would say that they are given more responsibility toward others. "Feed my sheep, feed my lambs."
The other thing that comes to mind is that they have a deeper understanding of God and His mysteries.
Those are my initial thoughts. It's an interesting question, though, I'll have to think about it some more.

I would like to take this opportunity to point the finger at Traveler for taking such a dark turn to a simple picture of adorable kittens. And not so subtly suggest that he apologize to classylady for dredging up such a traumatic memory.

It would seem that those desiring an apology from me need to get in the back of a very long line - for which I guess I must apologize for as well  😨
 
The Traveler

I would like to take this opportunity to point the finger at Traveler for taking such a dark turn to a simple picture of adorable kittens. And not so subtly suggest that he apologize to classylady for dredging up such a traumatic memory.

I believe that sometimes to realize the perks that such things can be seen better when realizing the contrast or what is lost by refusing righteousness.   Anciently the term righteousness did not necessarily mean an honest citizen - it was a reference and an identification of someone that has entered into a covenant with G-d.  The contrast is someone that enters into a covenant with Satan.  Sometimes we like to think of this as a binary condition - that it is either one or the other but with some simple logic we can realize that there is another condition and that is the option of neither or pre-choice or the state of innocence before we establish or make a covenant.  For the sake of understanding and the time to explain everything - I will proceed with a shortened version.
What does it mean to be favored of G-d - or to have covenant with G-d?  There are three basic elements or promises that G-d gives with his covenants:
#1. Is a Promised Land.  Most people think of this as a place on earth that is our's to have and to keep.  But there is much more than that.  It is also freedom and liberty.  Often we think of such things in a political setting but it needs to be understood to mean that we can exercise Agency and be responsible.  It means that we are not forced into a state of bondage where the fruits of our labors are not ours to determine.  We can serve others without being compelled or forced.  We can live free by the delight of our agency and choice.  There is much much more that could be said about this perk but I will leave the rest as an exercise for the reader.
#2. Is protection and deliverance from our enemies.  Having a Promised Land is not so great if someone can come in and take it away from you.  G-d premises that if we loose our promised land (our freedom and liberty) that he will hear our pleas and come to our rescue and deliver us.  There are both physical and spiritual perks with this particular promise and perk.  Some to be realized in this life but most importantly deliverance from our arch enemies of death and hell.
#3. Is an enduring seed.  Mostly this is thought of as having a good marriage and lots of children, grandchildren and so on and so on for generations and generations.  Of course we all would like to see this particular promise fulfilled in this life.  But the real promise is for eternity or after this life.  This life being but a type and shadow of what is to come.  I realize that not everybody is married to their eternal partner in this mortal life - (though a great many are).  The promise is that you will become part of the family of Saints and the children of G-d - even in this mortal existence.  That the priesthood will be part of your heritage and that you will enjoy the loving family relationship of the Saints of G-d throughout all the dispensations of men.
 
These are the basic perks that can and will include many blessings and additional promises to fulfill the basics.  But we must also realize two additional things.  Number one additional thing is that we promise to give something to G-d in return for these perks.  With many in the religious community; they hear that G-d's perks are free (that we do not earn them) so they do not realize that to covenant with G-d we are under obligation to be loyal to him and obey his commandments.  This bring me the a closure and the second very important additional "thing" that we call a trial.  It is not enough that we say we covenant - a covenant with G-d demands we are loyal to that covenant through a trial or perhaps more than one.  The trial is necessary so that we can fulfill our choice and be responsible and loyal - That we do choose G-d not just in word but in deed also.
I thought to go on with the contrast of what happens when we covenant with Satan and succumb to his flattering words and temptations.  But alas this post is long enough - though I am willing to discuss openly any issue of infection to our perks of deliverance, healthy freedom, liberty  and family (marriage between a man and a woman).
 
The Traveler

Receiving blessings from the Lord.
The Holy Ghost can comfort us and any who have received it.  Those who have this gift are all favored (in my opinion) and the comforting influence of the Holy Ghost can keep us calm in times when others are panicking or afraid.  It can help us weather the storms of life and help us have an easier time with the troubles of life.
The Holy Ghost can also teach us the truths of the Gospel.  While others wonder about our purposes in life, our purposes in regards to heaven, or why things happen in this life as they do, we can learn for ourselves directly from the Holy Ghost about the plan of salvation and our purposes here.

I'm sorry you're stuck with all the mediocre minds.