Wingnut

She = should is a typo. Referring to a stepson as a son (particularly in what sounds like a rocky relationship) would not be accidental. The husband may have said "it's not your problem" or he may have said "it's not my problem." That part is unclear. Anatess, you're great about speaking your mind and saying things how they are. You also have a history of rage and anger management issues. Not everyone is as assertive, agressive, or confrontational as you are. A timid and non-confrontational personality easily explains (without even having to think about it much) a mom who depends on the dad to deal with something like this. We also have no information about the history of this relationship, or if the mom has already spoken to the son about it. In my family, my six-year-old daughter often ignores and disregards things I tell her, because she simply is so accustomed to hearing them from me that they're rote and she figures they don't matter. There are times when I have to ask my husband to step in and speak with her about disciplinary issues (and other things) because I know she'll pay attention to it coming from him, as it's atypical of their relationship.

I seem to be the only person who read it the way you did (as evidenced by my comments earlier in this thread). But I agree with you...regardless of the Lord working through people or not, every.single.person.in.the.thread. commenting on the abortion issue (and, in many cases, only the abortion issue), is more than enough.

Why on earth would you assume that? The OP said "my son."

It's a week or two old. I was excited when I found it, though!!

I did a Google search yesterday while writing my post above, and I searched this: are midianites and ishmaelites the same The first hit to show up in the list was a short explanation that verified my personal supposition above, but I didn't link to it because it's a site that contains anti-Mormon information (not on this page or topic, but elsewhere on the site). If you're interested in reading it though, it's from CARM (Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry). I personally don't feel that the site's anti-Mormon leanings in general relate specifically to its treatment of this particular topic, which made sense to me. Still though, I won't link to it here because it does contain anti-Mormon information. (Mods, if you feel that even naming the website is in violation of site rules...obviously, I don't :) ...please feel free to edit this post.)

Same way anyone else without a pro-hockey team survives?

This question came up in Gospel Doctrine a few weeks ago in my ward. I too had never noticed it before, but as I read it carefully, it felt to me that it was just an overly complicated translation. Here is the text from the KJV, with the parts in question bolded by me: I think verse 28 could instead be rendered:

The OP has indicated that the baby's father would not allow her to place the baby for adoption.

I've always understood nerd to mean one who is highly intelligent, possessing book-smarts, and is sometimes socially awkward. I've understood geek to mean one who has specialized "cult-following" interests, such as all those described in the article (Harry Potter, LOTR, Star Wars, Star Trek, comics, cosplay, Doctor Who, etc.) Nerd and geek often cross over, but aren't interchangeable. The guys from The Big Bang Theory are both nerds (highly intelligent) and geeks (Dungeons & Dragons, ComiCon attendance, etc.). Is the ComiCon that just happened in SLC the ComiCon? Because a lot of places have their own smaller versions that still attract plenty of people, but the event du jour is the San Diego ComiCon.

I don't really know anything about Parkour, but the 45 seconds of reading I just did tell me that Parkour's foundations are in safety. It's not just "jumping around rooftops" -- it's trained jumping around rooftops. Doesn't mean that he won't get hurt, but that if he does, it's likely because he's not following his training correctly. But you know what? He'll get hurt in any sport he does.

I know that this was meant to be a cross-section of real-life, sobering post, and I took it as such, but the bolded part here made me laugh out loud, Quin. I love that you find humor in life, despite the horrors you have endured. :)

My parents are each the first (and only) members of their immediate families to be baptized into the LDS Church. My mom does have a couple of cousins who are LDS, though, whom I've never met.

What Quin meant, I think, was that an IVF procedure is unnatural, and requires synthetic hormones, medications, and other things that, if the LDS Church were hyper-conservative, would be against the rules. Fortunately for many families (yours included), the Church isn't that hyper-conservative or nit-picky. As such, IVF is acceptable. For some religions, however, it may not be.

My interpretation of the OP isn't that masturbation is a treatment for a condition, but rather that the treatment the OP is receiving for some unknown condition is something that hugely increases his hormones to the point of needing release. The masturbation would be a way to relieve side effects of treatment.

MormonMama, this thread is from before the new videos were released, and they are longer than they used to be.

Um, I totally read this as IBS. I thought "what an unfortunate name for a species!" Kaka

MOE may need to update his signature...

I agree with MOE's approach generally, and sympathize with you (even though I don't agree 100%) here as well--up to your last sentence. To say that no one can define the baptismal covenants or covenantal obligations like obedience, or chastity, or consecration; is to come awfully close to a) hamstringing the Church's ability to teach any kind of absolute morality--about anything; and b ) undermine the authority of those whose stewardship it is to evaluate our covenant-keeping (bishops and stake presidents, for example). I chose the wording of that last sentence very carefully. I'm not attempting or meaning to dismiss a bishop's stewardship (or other Priesthood leader) in matters of discipline, worthiness or counsel. My statement was that my covenants are between me and the Lord. Others can share their own experiences. Leaders can teach foundations. But my convenants, the ones I agree to, those are between me and my God. I am the best person to interpret how God communicates with me. Just as you are the best person to interpret how God communicates with you. A bishop may counsel me that I'm wrong, and I'll listen to him. He also reserves the right to revoke my temple recommend if they feel I'm not keeping my covenants. But I am comfortable in my obedience of those promises. So again I'll say that no one (but God) has the right to tell me what the covenants I've made mean to me. Interestingly, I've not indicated in this thread that I'm pro-masturbation, which I imagine more than a few are thinking. Simply that I don't feel that it's something about which I've made covenants. If I were in the OP's situation (assuming this is the situation), I would seriously consider both my doctor's and my bishop's counsel and advice. I'd recognize that my bishop isn't medically trained, and doesn't understand biology or human chemistry. I'd also acknowledge that my doctor is limited by human knowledge, and may not understand that all God's commandments are spiritual in nature.

Maybe it's just me, but the OP seemed pretty clear about not getting an abortion. The extent of her mention of it was that it makes her sick, despite what she's been taught. I don't think she's entertaining the idea at all. To the OP: I'm going to take a different tactic here. (1) Are you taking a prenatal vitamin yet? The early weeks are the most important for getting adequate folic acid (as well as iron and other vitamins). (2) Have you seen a doctor yet? You should see one for the first time around 7-9 weeks at the latest. The doctor can also help counsel you (non-spiritually) on your options, and will likely (hopefully) respect your wish not to abort. (3) Educate yourself. My favorite pregnancy book is Your Pregnancy Week by Week, by Glade Curtis and Judith Schuler. (4) Make sure you have an adequate support network. Family, friends, church leaders. Don't try to isolate yourself and be alone in your trouble. Do your penance in other ways...you will need support. When you see your doctor, ask about local groups affiliated with the hospital.

Emu

I have made baptismal covenants. I've made temple covenants. I don't personally feel that they specifically include (or exclude) masturbation. And it's no person's right but my own to tell me what those covenants mean for me.

Please don't be arrogant enough to tell me what I have covenanted.

Thank you, Finrock.

I agree with Neuro on that point. Personally, I've never made a covenant not to masturbate.

Once you click in the text field, the formatting options will all display. I've circled the "link" button in red.