Madriglace

So what ... is this supposed to promote warm pink fuzzzies all around????? Next thing you know instead of news conferences they will be sitting around a camp fire singing kumbayah! What really hacks me off is that they think the public is so dang stupid and shallow we can't see what they are up to. Who are they kidding?

He learned line uppon line but He knew who He was ... like the time they founf Him in the temple as a child where he said he was about His fathers business.

Absolutely .. He knew who He was and what He was to do from the start. I always find it interesting when people say the Jews killed Him ... it was His choice to give up His life ... no one took it from Him. Such a gift!

I guess I am very simplistic in my view of the gospel. You either accept the divinity of Jesus Christ or you don't ... knowing the mechanics of how He was convceived is not going to get me any closer to being back where I belong. So while it is an interesting subject for speculation what good does it do anyones eternal progression? I have faith enough to know that Heavenly Father knew what he was doing .... and I am so glad He did. JMHO BTW the Savior wasn't 1/2 anything ... he was mortal while He was here and was and is all God all the time.

Missionaries have rules that they follow that protect them ... like not using first names helps keep relationships (or at least it should) where they need to be ... cerfew keeps them safe ... a past VT's son went to South Africa (many years ago), one night coming home they heard a big "party" up the street and one elder wanted to go check it out ... the other felt very strongly that they needed to follow the rules so they went in and did what they were to do and when they came out the next morning they found bodies in the street from a riot the night before. When missionaries are in the right spirit and following the rules they are safe. My folks were in Ecuador I think waiting to get on a bus and a man came out of the crowd and told them not to get on the bus because it was n ot safe and they would be robbed ... when they turned to tahnk him he was not there. A mission isn't an easy thing but when done in the proper light it is so worth it. I was prevented from going by ignorant people and I have missed it all my life.

Face there aren't that many bodies out there that should go uncovered ... even if it were within the church standards. When in Mexico last fall (2007) we came upon a whole bunch (100+) of people dancing in the street to protest something ... stark naked ... talk about culture shock! Bikinis would have been soooooo welcome!

Sometimes I think that married people aren't sure what to say to a single ... I don't know if it's the single life style or the two heads or what ... maybe they can't remember when they were single. What's really amazing is that we like to talk about the same things that they do ... well I can do without discussing changing diapers ... but basically it's the same. This is where the church (members) need to get a grip because this is not only happening to singles it's happening to new converts as well. Retention is not good in places .... if I didn't have the testimony I have and know the things I know I would have been down the road a long time ago. We are our brothers keeper. We cannot be so tied up in our lives that we forget those who need us. It hurts to be ignored or looked down on or worst of all pitied. That one really burns me. We need more singles in the church like you Debs who say what they think and mean it and don't really care whether they like it or not. There were alot of people sliding under the seat when I did my shame on you routine ... I bet HT & VT went way up that month!!

Way to go ... personally I believe a direct assault is the best course. Years ago I belonged to a ward that every Sunday someone asked me if I was new ... this went on for 3 years and I didn't have HT or VT ... so I got up in testimony meeting, introduced myself, said I had been there for 3 years and had not had HT or Vt and shame on them for not filling their stewardship and that I was going to find out who my HT & VT were and call THEM ... guess you know that got results. I am also single (no little ones) ... sometimes it can be hard when folks act like we are somehow less than fulfilled ... just remeber the church is perfect the people aren't and then to coin a phrase from my sweet mother ... consider the source ... to me it is a learning experience ... when I start falling into the mold I remembr how I felt and give myself a swift kick back in line.

My folks teach the temple classes for our ward and are retyurned missionaries them selves. Some of the things they tell those getting ready for a mission are start now. Don't wait until the papers come. Dress the part ... no necessarily suits but dress better than usual, polish your shoes, comb your hair shave every day. Stop dating ... the adversary will begin to work over time and this is one area that he uses. Begin scripture study and prayer like a missionary. Don't leave a relationship hanging ... the total focus should be the mission ... one cannot maintain a relationship and committ themselves totally to the work. One thing I would say ... they need to make the committment to be humble, loving and obedient. I know of a guy who came home early because he thought the mission rules where "crap". That will follow him forever. Not that anyone else will care but he will remember. From the very beginning they need to plan to fill a full and honorable mission. I remeber a missionary that was assigned to our ward saying that his father told him not to come home early because if he did he wouldn't have a place to live. Missions can also be a huge blessing if filled properly. Another missionary came out and was unable to read. The mission Pres promised him that if he would work for nothing but the Lord he would learn to read ... he did and he was a fabulous missionary. Mom and Dad have their job too. Total support. Write every week and make it positive. The missionary does not need negatives ... a mission isn't easy. Congratultion and good luck to your missionary and your family ... this will be a wonderful adventure for all of you.

LDS sisters do not hold the Priesthood but then ... being one ... who would want to? We have enough to do. The LDS church has the largest and oldest women's organization in the world. Our leaders and teachers are women. The Relief Society (the women's organization under the direction of the Priesthood) is a driving force within the church. Within our congregation where I live our focus is the humanitarian effort within the church. We believe that we as women are born with our priesthood and exercise it by being good mothers and teachers. Those unable to biologically be mothers can be mothers in other ways such as working with the children in primary or the the youth. The woman and the man are 2 halves of the whole ... kind of like peanut butter and jelly ... they are fine on their own but are fabulous together.

Looks like a Schutzund (sp?) class to me ... German ring sport is very cool ... the dogs get to do what they were bred for instead of just looking pretty ... this coming from someone who competes in conformation ... could be a protection class too.

Only the translated pages were stolen not the plates .. they went back to Heavenly Fathers library with the rest of the plates.

Pres McKay and his counselors published the following in the new (at that time) For the Strength of Youth; “Any bathing suit which immodestly exposes the body, such as bikinis or those with bare midriffs, etc., should not be worn. Swim suits are fashioned for a particular purpose and should not be worn as casual dress for summer, but should be worn only for swimming. While traveling to and from the beach or swimming pools, young men and women should be fully dressed, or at least their swimming suits should be covered with outer clothing.” The wording for the most recent version is not spelled out like this but having read both I think that they are now calling the youth to choose to live a higher standard. They have been taught and they know who they are and what is expected. I know from watching the girls come to church in their prom gowns when they have chosen a more worldy style they are VERY uncomfortable. And this is exactly what is addressed in the 2008 publication ... "How would you feel wearing this style in the presence of the Savior?" The only way a biniki would do a good job covering up is if the top and bottoms met in the middle!

Someone once said ... can't rmember who ... that if we could see the Telestial Kingdom we would do anything to get there.

Nope ... makes me want to smack them upside the head and tell them to stop acting like an Ugly American ..... One thing I never expected to hear was when I went to Australia ... I had several people tell me they liked my accent!

Years ago while in Peru after one of the folks missions we ran into a guy who was having a fit because Machu Pichu was so dirty and we had to sit on rocks to listen to the tour guides ... his wife was wearing expensive leather pants and tons of gold ... makes one shake their head when people think other countries should be just like home. I traveled with a gal once (not my choice) who yelled at a waiter in Germany because he didn't speak English .. she said he was stupid because he didn't speak the language ... a rather pointed "conversation" happened with ... if memory serves ... me telling her that she didn't speak the language etc. I love to travel and have loved the people everywhere I have been able to go. A little respect goes a long way. BTW McDonalds kind of lost somethingin the translation in Peru ....

That would mean most would wear black pointy topped cowboy hats!

Apples and oranges ... we know that the concern of the Lord was that the pages would be altered. To me this is kind of like reading anti Mormon stuff .... a tool for doubt to creep in.

But what's the pointof reading them? The content was already covered in the BofM.

Matt. 5: 48 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Where is "moderate" in this statement?

You have to be the best and brightest ... look at all the good ideas you had right out of the gate ... me ... I would have gone with the duct tape and stayed there! As it is my teens amake me work for every answer ... I go home on Sunday and take a nap!

I remember sticky stars from primary when I was a kid ... it was a big deal to come home with a BIG gold one on your forehead ... meant you were really good. BTW I am 55 so that was before electricity!

What has always amazed me is that the problem was addressed before it happened so we didn't loose any scripture and Mrs Harris was stopped in her tracks.

I resemble that remark!