Superbaldguy

Great answers, folks, I think it's best not to fast during the actual lead-up to the exam, maybe the day before it possible - it's an immersion course, so it would be difficult.

I have an important exam to write in a couple weeks with regards to upgrading my insurance broker licensing. As we all know, fasting and prayer is one of the most effective ways to gain spiritual insights and to help overcome weaknesses - would this be beneficial at all in such a secular pursuit? As I am fasting, I would not be studying any scriptural material, per se. Thoughts?

Our last bishop once told me "we all smoke" referring to the fact we all have at least one serious weakness, often addictions, that need to be overcome. It's overwhelming to me that the Lord instituted the sacrament so those who are not perfect can partake.

We call can get carried away and a little OT, it happens to me a lot on the Web forums. If it happens, again, the Mormon police will come to your home......

Good discussions all around.

Wow, this discussion has got a little off topic......Sorry to sound like a mod, I have experience at that on other Web forums.:)

I didn't go through all 10 pages of this thread, but our invocation is done by a Priesthood holder and the benediction is done by an RS sister, is that backwards or against Church policy?

Ben, I wish our congregation was half as reverent as you the one you have, the chapel is a gossip hall, it seems, I guess we don't talk to one another enough during the week..........

That's a little more challenging for us, now - we recently shifted the order of meetings, sacrament is last.

I suppose ideal worthiness is perfection, which none of us are and never will be save the Saviour, Himself. It's incredible to my finite mind that the Kingdom can be conducted by imperfect people. Great answers!

Seems to be a reasonable position - a repentant attitude can go a long way. The Lord does look on the sincerity of our hearts at all times. I have seen others not partake and I, too, have occasionally done the same thing, it all comes down to a matter of whether or not the Spirit does prompt you to say "maybe I should pass this week." The covenant we are renewing is to take upon ourselves His name and His spirit will always be with us, the sacrament ordinance is the most important one we can do as individuals provided our hearts are in the proper orientation.

There are many times I struggle with weaknesses in life, as we all do, but I sometimes wonder if I am worthy to take the sacrament on Sunday morning. I know the Lord does give us this warning in 3 Nephi 18:29 - "For whoso eateth and drinketh my flesh and blood unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to his soul." Of course, grievous sins that would be confessed to the bishop would put stipulations on the member's partaking of the sacrament, but, aside from those serious transgressions, can we still feel unworthy to participate? Or, should we look at this as an opportunity to refresh and recommit to do better? We are, of course, renewing our baptismal covenants. Thoughts?

I was careful to use the term "almost." I firmly believe we can repent of almost any sin, even if we feel we are in so deep we cannot get out - this is Satan's way of trying to drag us carefully down to hell - but we should and cannot make it a practice to sin and repent like a yo-yo or roller coaster ride. I often feel I am guilty of this; sometimes, I know I have the Spirit, often because I have genuinely repented, but I end up going back to my same sin(s) given time and lack of discipline. Of course, we are all prone to sin and will inevitably commit it at some point, usually we do so many times a day. The beauty of the Atonement is it is infinite, not a once-only occurrence in the meridian of time. Because it is truly infinite and always ongoing, so is the process of repentance, it's natural "dance partner." I am so thankful for these two principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ; otherwise, we would be damned during mortality and have no purpose experiencing its vicissitudes.

Good answers, folks. I am concerned as I get older, my capacity for studying seems more difficult, and the companionship of the Holy Ghost is more imperative. I don't think that for one moment that we get "stupid" as we age, it just seems harder to focus on new secular studies. I am required to upgrade my insurance career by taking certain courses. These may have seemed easier to grapple 20 years ago, before the days of the Church, but I would hope my quest for the companionship of the Spirit might allow me, as one of the offshoots, to be able to learn such things. I may not make a high score on the exams, but I would hope and pray I could get through the endeavour I just spent the last hour studying a textbook, I could not feel the influence of the Holy Ghost as I did something to possibly grieve the Spirit before I started, but I am already finding it is slowly flowing back as I keep plugging along - I should really go back and review the material, tomorrow. This "flowing back" of the Spirit into my life, for whatever reason and time, is an interesting phenomena, and it feels good.........The Lord is so forgiving, it's like we almost have an infinite number of attempts to get it right.

Of course, we know the companionship of the Holy Ghost facilitates gospel learning, is it any different for such things as secular studies?

The simple answer, for me, is to make sure you avoid such activities that would offend the Spirit - if you have its presence, you'll know what they are. The Light of Christ is often enough to know this simple truth.

I often pray in my car if I drive to a restaurant venue, or even go to our meetinghouse in town, I feel more comfortable doing that.

I have seem many members chew gum when fasting, I suppose this is one of those personal choice issues. For fresh breath purposes, it's practical - you can use a Listerine spray inhaler to get better results.

Well, this is not what you call deep doctrine, but I am wondering if gum chewing is considered to be part of fasting. One of my angelic 9-year-old friends says I wasn't fasting yesterday, she was trying to get candy from me and was using this as an excuse, since she stops fasting after lunch. Rascal. Thoughts?

Just stumbled on this news, an ES is supposed to know everything=) Sad news, as always, but Elder Wirthlin was a valiant servant and Apostle. One of the greatest assets of the Church is we never forget such great people since there is much written by them and are constantly being quoted. Let the speculation begin on who will be called to the Twelve..........

Besides the moderation issue suggested in Section 89, anything we do to put our lives out of balance by overindulging could be viewed as both temporally and at least a bit spiritually detrimental. There are those amongst us who spend too much time on family history work, or spend all of our free time in the temple, and may not have time to go Home and Visiting Teaching. The Lord wants our lives to be full and harmonious, and be able to partake in all of the gospel, not just touch the parts of it that are the most appealing or the easiest. The Word of Wisdom helps us reach that goal.

President Eyring's GC talk was especially uplifting and encouraging.

In reality, we are in need of a repentant attitude at all times, as we are constantly trying to overcome sin. The Atonement is infinite and eternal. Thank the Good Lord for His sacrifice and the enabling power of His grace, we would have no purpose in earth life.

That was amazing, great first post=) Gives us all hope when we are being buffeted.

I was told our resurrected bodies will be what we would be like in our so-called "prime" meaning I should have a full head of hair......"not so much as a hair of their heads be lost" (Alma 11:44). However, I prefer the bald look, personally, I wonder if the Lord will allow me to have that in the Resurrection.:)