Nibowaka

1. For centuries blacks were denied the priesthood because of the "curse of Cain". They were said to be spirits who were "not as valiant" in the pre-mortal life. 2. Children who die before the "age of accountability" are said to be Celestial spirits. 3. Millions of black children died before the "age of accountability" prior to blacks being allowed to hold the priesthood. 4. If blacks were punished for being "not as valiant" in the pre-mortal life, how then did black children who died before the "age of accountability" earn Celestial glory? As for me, I accept all of God's children. We are all special spirits of our Heavenly Father. If their are any weak among us, they need to be lifted up.

And guess what...not being given a ride today either.

The person who was supposed to pick me up is my home teacher. He called a couple of days later and apologized; he had "forgotten". It happens. I forgive him. Tomorrow I expect to be picked up by someone else. As for walking, I am tired from having to walk to work five days a week. The bus drops me off about a mile and a half from work, so I have to walk the rest of the way. Too, walking in church clothes in this desert heat would be very hard, and by the time I got to church I'd be a sweaty mess. My crimes from years past, and the way society treats me today, cause a lot of judgment and disdain from people. I suppose you can guess my crimes, but I really do not want to discuss that issue. Thank you to everyone who posted a response, even though some were judgmental and haughty. Many others were very kind.

Hemidakota wrote, "If it doesn't moo, oink, or cluck at dinner time, I WON'T SWALLOW!" Well, if it is still mooing, oinking, or clucking, I'd suggest killing and cooking it first...then swallow!

I finished reading 3 Nephi tonight, on my way to reading the entire Book of Mormon by year's end. This scripture struck me as never before: 3 Nephi 6-7. In part this passage reads, "Yea, wo unto him that shall deny the revelations of the Lord...." / "Yea, and wo unto him that shall say...there can be no miracle wrought by Jesus Christ; for he that doeth this shall become like unto the son of perdition...." [emphasis mine] I had always been taught that to become a "son of perdition" you had to have a direct knowledge of Jesus as the Christ, give by the Holy Ghost, and then you deny the Holy Ghost and the divinity of Jesus. 3 Nephi 6-7 seems to say that just denying the revelations and saying there can be no more miracles is enough to make one a "son of perdition". Please clarify.

Good for you for returning to Church activity. Get back on the straight and narrow path, hold to the iron rod, and walk tall to the tree of life. I pray for your success.

There are many here wiser than I. Having acknowledged that, let me give you my poor thoughts: As I understand the Church policy on helping the poor within the Church, first the supplicant seeks help from his family. Secondly, he seeks assistance, legally, through public and governmental services, e.g., welfare or employment services. Thirdly, he seeks blessings from the Bishop, e.g., the Bishop's storehouse or Deseret Industries. We often help best when we help the poor get back on their own two feet, as best they can. Each person has a responsibility, as best he or she can, to work and provide for their own needs. I believe the old adage of "Give a man a fish....." applies.

If I read your profile correctly, you live in Mesa. Is that Mesa, Arizona? If so, check out the following website: https://egov.azdes.gov/CMSInternet/common.aspx?menu=108&menuc=162&id=2520

Who is Harry Potter? Just kidding. My granddaughter is 15 now, and during her growing up years I bought her all the Harry Potter books. I read each of them too. That way, though separated by many miles, we shared an experience. Kelsy, my granddaughter, loves the Potter series, as do I. My favorite character is Hermione. She is a strong girl, later a young woman, who knows her mind. My favorite scene, actually from one of the movies versions because it is visual, is when she hauls off and decks Draco Malfoy. (I am non-violent. No, really in real life I am.) Kelsy seems a lot like Hermione, though I've never seen her deck anyone.

Welcome, Alix Thank you for posting. Hope you like it here. Look around and let us know your thoughts. How did you find out about the Church and join? Conversion stories are a good place to start sharing. Enjoy your stay.

"...not currently...." Hmmm. Have to work on that. Someone get the baptismal font ready! :)

Hey, theJason - And maybe someday you'll learn to spell Canada. Canuck Mormon - Very happy for you. :)

PeeJee, Welcome! Africa is a mighty big place. Care to be more specific? I am interested in hearing more about the growth of the Gospel in your part of the world.

Welcome, Cody...and Rebecca. Being an eternal married couple is wonderful. I am sure our Father in Heaven will be pleased to send his spirit children into your home. Hope you enjoy the board. Stay safe!

Welcome. Enjoy.

Hi, DG Welcome to the board. Hope you like it here. Also went to "Ricks": 1967-1969

Though I am not a baptized member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I consider myself affiliated with the LDS Church. Therefore, I voted as LDS. I hope someday to be re-baptized and receive my blessings back in full, after I have completed my repentence.

I see this more and more in the Church. It bothers me. Even if members are scornful or abusive, stake and ward leaders should be more in tune with misbehaviors within their stakes and wards and stop them. Yes, people in the Church are not perfect, but that is no excuse for poor behaviors to be tolerated toward other people, whether members or visitors. I suspect many people have left the Church due to being mistreated. That is not how the Lord's Church should work.

Welcome, Mominzion Glad to have you here. Hope you enjoy your stay.

Hi, Sam Welcome. I too am working my way back. Hang in there. It only gets....harder, at times. Satan likes to set up roadblocks. But with faith, prayer, fasting, reading scriptures, the Lord will help us around the roadblocks...or through them...or over them. But with our Father's help, we can succeed.

Hemidakota, Thank you very much. Not only is the article informative (looking forward to reading the book), but I added Mormon Times and the Neal A. Maxwell Institute to my list of favorites, in the Church folder.

For two weeks now I have been waiting to get a reply to two e-mails, sent to staff here, regarding my post "You Would Hate Me If You Knew Me" on the Advice Board. I have been rudely ignored. My post has an arrow to the left of the title. What does that mean? If it means my post was moved, to where was it moved? I have asked that and get no response! To the right of my post there are dashes under "last post" "replies" and "views". What do the dashes mean? Again, I have asked and have gotten no response! Does this ignoring of my questions mean that I am truly hated? Among "good" Mormons! It angers me to be ignored and to be treated with disdain.

Winnie, I too live in a ward where people may, or may not, smile in my face during services, but then leave me alone in my misery to suffer alone. No visits. Even though I was told by the Bishop that I do have a home teacher. Nobody seems to care that I hurt every day. My son is inactive. Do you think anyone from his ward gives a hoot? Obviously not. No one calls or visits. He is shunned. I am ex-communicated, and it is hard for me to keep trying to live right. I need support, but I get very little. And I am tired of having people say, "People may not be perfect, but the Church is." Seems to me that the Church is, in large part at least, the people.

Congratulations to you and to your son. That is a precious memory. Welcome. Enjoy.

Welcome! I pray for your quick recovery from Utah Mormonism. I lived for two and a half years in Utah, and all my living family is still there. I do love the country and the people are mostly good. But the Church, though true everywhere, is much more interesting out here in the wilderness. There you can do your entire home teaching in an hour just by walking a few blocks in many places. Here where I live, members have to drive up to 30 miles to get to Ward meetings. Righteous Nephites are surrounded by treacherous Lamanites, so to speak. Outside of services I seldom run into a member of the Ward. The best to you on your mission call. You will have challenges, but keep faithful and serve well. You will be blessed.