applepansy

I'm so sorry.  Annewandering and her family will be in my prayers.

I'm so sorry.  Annewandering and her family will be in my prayers.

Update:  Brandon is home.  The plastic surgeon will repair the damage to the bones in Brandon's face this afternoon.  Brandon was in good spirits and walked off the plane.  He was happy to be with his brothers and cousins.
 
We are truly feeling everyone's prayers.  Thank you.

So sorry to hear this....everyone pray each day for the safety of all Missionaries....

Praying for a quick recovery, physically and emotionally.

I've been a baptized member for 48 years.  I've always considered myself "active" but I readily admit there were times when I was less than fully active.  What I mean is we didn't make it to church every Sunday.  When my kids were young, when I was sick or the kids were sick, or when family activities got in the way, or... well there have been a lot of "less than fully active" times in my life.  I wish there were less.
 
I've never felt forgotten. 
 
Thank you for sharing.

No justification intended.  Right now Marijuana is illegal.  If and when (sooner than we think) it becomes legal for medical use in every State then the legal barriers will be gone.  Personally I will still have a hard time if I'm ever prescribed it.
 
However, ALL herbs were put here on this earth for the use of man.  The problem becomes if we're wise enough to use them correctly.  Marijuana has not been used correctly.  There are correct uses . . .  medical uses.  
 
Its still not a complicated issue for me.  As long as its Illegal, then that's that.  As for the WoW and the OP if its legal where he lives and he has a prescription from his doctor then its perfectly ok and legal to use it.  It really is that simple.

I've been a baptized member for 48 years.  I've always considered myself "active" but I readily admit there were times when I was less than fully active.  What I mean is we didn't make it to church every Sunday.  When my kids were young, when I was sick or the kids were sick, or when family activities got in the way, or... well there have been a lot of "less than fully active" times in my life.  I wish there were less.
 
I've never felt forgotten. 
 
Thank you for sharing.

No justification intended.  Right now Marijuana is illegal.  If and when (sooner than we think) it becomes legal for medical use in every State then the legal barriers will be gone.  Personally I will still have a hard time if I'm ever prescribed it.
 
However, ALL herbs were put here on this earth for the use of man.  The problem becomes if we're wise enough to use them correctly.  Marijuana has not been used correctly.  There are correct uses . . .  medical uses.  
 
Its still not a complicated issue for me.  As long as its Illegal, then that's that.  As for the WoW and the OP if its legal where he lives and he has a prescription from his doctor then its perfectly ok and legal to use it.  It really is that simple.

Will keep them in my prayers

thanks for letting us know Apple. I am so sorry to hear this news. thank you for giving us the opportunity to pray for your nephew and the other is in this tragic accident. this is another example of how life is so precious and our time here on earth is precious you are in my prayers to Apple..

This is heartbreaking.  I will pray for your nephew.

Therapy may or may not be needed.  Perhaps adjusting the goals would be enough.  First, I'd suggest carrying out your proscribed consequences--with the "lightest" interpretation possible.  In other words, follow through with them so that it is clear that you meant what you said.  On the other hand, whenever a consequence can be made easier (especially for the rest of the family), go with that interpretation.  Why?  At this point, dd needs to know that you are the parent, and you will follow through with your promises.  That gives her consistency and stability.
 
BUT THEN, what to do with the strong-willed teen?  Perhaps it is time to begin the transition from director to coach?  She is smart, but inexperienced.  Ask her more questions, give her options, seek out her thoughts.  You still control the environment and over-all game plan, but let her have increasing say about the details.
 
Yours is a faith tradition that holds "agency" (what we call free will) in high regard.  It is obviously time for dd to start owning her own faith.  If that means not going to temple, it may be best for her not to do so for now.  If that means sometimes ask pointed, seemingly disrespectful questions, then help her explore, while guiding her towards more polite and intelligent approaches to her questions.
 
And console yourself.  In about 10 years, she'll wake up, look in the mirror, and ask, "How come dad was so smart about things????"  (Usually after dd has her own dd/s)

It would be so easy to start ranting.  This is so outrageous.  Those who take their religion seriously are barred from professional practice?  Really???  I've read two articles on this--both emphasizing that those participating in these decisions took the issue very seriously, spent a great amount of time, and took seriously the issues of equality vs. religion freedom.  In other words, this was no rash decision.
 
Paul tells us to pray for Caesar.  Pray we must!

D&C 89:11 ...all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving

Roller skate Key

Luxuries.... hmmm ... a dishwasher is a luxury.  But without it my hand would be raw.  They are almost raw just rinsing of the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.
 
A washer and dryer is a luxury.  But the alternative is unthinkable.  I can't imagine boiling clothes in a cauldron outside.  
 
Everything we have is a luxury except food and minimal clothing and bedding.  But... because we live in the place we do there are certain things that become necessities just to survive in society.  My cell phone is a luxury, but without it I wouldn't be paying bills the same way.  I wouldn't be in contact with my adult children.  I wouldn't be able to communicate with young mothers in our ward who have children my grandson's age.  I wouldn't be able to provide some of the service I am able to do without my phone.  My car is a luxury, but again, without it I couldn't go to the grocery store.  I couldn't pick volunteer at my grandson's school.  
 
Sometimes I am bothered when we compare an American lifestyle to Filipino or African.  We do have luxuries.  But to successfully provide for family in our society somethings that would be a luxury elsewhere are a necessity here.  In my opinion its sad that we have lost the simplicity of life, but there it is.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/quiz/2013/jun/05/check-your-privilege-quiz
 
I scored 100, and it was suggested I pay someone to check my privilege for me. 
 
 
Background:  A conservative student, who was Jewish, was debating about welfare benefits, during a class at Princeton University.  His opponent told him to check his privilege.  He responded in an editorial that he was tired of having presidential drones targeting him because he was a white male.  Just what privilege was he to apologize for?  Was it the handful of kin who were killed during the Holocuast?  Was it his grandparents who arrived in this land as penniless immigrants? . . .
 
http://sfcmac.wordpress.com/2014/05/03/princeton-student-responds-to-check-your-privilege/
 
He stirred quite a debate.  Of course, non-Princetonians found it amusing that Ivy Leaguers were debating who was and was not privileged.  :-)
 
Anyway...let us know how privileged you turned out to be.

Sacrament meeting in the evening.....Primary held during the week. On fast Sunday you never had to go back to church in the evening.

Shepard, I know you received a lot of feedback here and I hope you kindly allow me to give you my little two cents on this matter.
 
I do understand your concern about the Bishop and the kind of questions he asked during that interview but I would like to deal with your daughter's manipulation techniques and of course, I can only write from a very limited understanding.
 
I know everyone feels the need for you to "fix" your daughter, but the truth is that your daughter isn't broken. She is manipulating you emotionally and I have the impression she has been doing that for a very long time but let's make something very clear: No one can manipulate you without your permision.
 
What is needed? Well, a little instrospection where you will have to face and deal with your own feelings of insecurity, inadequency, guilt, feeling intimidated, bullied etc because in the end, if you do not deal with those feelings FIRST and realize who you are and where you are standing and what do you want to do from here, your daughter's manipulation techniques will continue working on you because she will NOT stop, I repeat, she will NOT stop until YOU decide to change some things and pronto. Children who manipulate know their parents more than the parents know them, it makes them feel powerful and that feeling gives them a quick ego boost.
 
Having said that, teenagers also need to be heard and less preached and if they express a particular point of view, they strongly need someone to believe them and validate their feelings (not necessarily agree with them) and if it doesn't happen around those who he/she trusts, they will do whatever is necessary to prove their point. It might not an appropiate course of action (but I believe we should also understand that their pre-frontal cortex isn't fully developed as yet and that's the part of the brain that deals with decision making and judgement between other things).
 
No matter what is the cause, you need to hold your teenager accountable and that's the number one reason she is manipulating everyone around her and that's why she doesn't seem to understand boundaries and is unrepentant.
 
You need to become more proficient than her in your ability to communicate, you need to ensure that when you are talking with her, YOU are the one in control of the conversation and no matter how much she tries to deviate the convo to fullfil her own agenda, you always need to bring it back to the negative impact her behavior is having to those around her.
 
All this, takes an enormous ammount of emotional strenght and you will have to learn a few techniques along the way therefore I suggest before even starting dealing with your daughter's issues, that you can seek professional help for yourself first, your wife and your entire family.
 
All the best.

One other thing.....at some point after this talk with youth about law of chasity....need to encourage them to involve their parents.

Roller skate Key

As much as I might hope that this story is fake.  I've lived with a teenager who was determined to destroy our family and any other adult who got in the way of what he wanted.
 
The story is entirely plausible to me.  

There wouldn't be a ward. To be declared a ward instead of a branch there has to be a certain number of people.  I highly doubt that a ward would be established if there were 0 men in it. Besides you can't have a ward without Priesthood leadership.

Yet we don't know if the OP is not legit so let's assume that it is and move on.