Madriglace

That was a great picture ... I remember hearing many many moons ago that in the last days one would be able to see from one temple to another ... hmmm .... this make one think.

It was pointed out that the Prophet had to be in tune with the spirit or he could not translate. We also need to remember that although he had the seer stone and the U&T the translation was not just handed to him either. He had to work it out and then present it to the Lord to make sure it was correct. My personal opinion ... this was a learning tool to help Joseph. He was a young farm boy with limited education ... but if you look at his speaking and writing in later years it is amazing how learned he became. The Lord uses what is available to accomplish His work.

So many factors led to the murder of the Prophet at Carthage ... Joseph knew going into the work that it wasn't going to be easy and he asked the Lord over and over how long he would live. His work was done, he was very calm on his final trip and he was called home, in the process he sealed his testimony with his blood ... a very powerful statement for anyone. His blood also sealed the fate of those who fought against him. A book called "The Fate of the Persecutors of the Prophet" details what happened to these people. Pretty gruesome stuff. The Lord used the actions of these men to bring His prophet home but he didn't allow them to escape. Brother Joseph is #1 on my list to meet after the savior.

God cannot be blamed for the choices of man. Our personal choices come with consequences both good and bad and we have to be ready to accept and live with them ... we can't get away from them. The consequences of the choices of others that affect us are the trials we have in life that prove who we are and where we stand. They make us better and stronger ... if we choose to learn from them. Our lot is to endure to the end but as a sister in our ward said ... it is not enought to just endure ... we need to endure and do it well. I have always admired Mary Feilding Smith for her faith and her our look on life ... she never considered what she endured a sacrifice or a trial but a blesning to help her and her family ... she raised a prophet. Tell your friend that no matter what, she needs to remember who she is and who loves her ... nothing else matters. It is all just so many stepping stones to where she wnats to go. I like the scripture that says that the savior desended below all ... are we greater than He? We need to live for the day we meet Him and He can take us in his arms and tell us ... well done.

I have never needed any other witness than the Spirit to know the truth we have today. However I think that some times the "proof" is delayed to give us hard headed humans a chance to bow to faith. Can one prove the existance of God??? Well maybe not physically but the proof of His work is all over the place. I have traveled in Peru and seen the proofs of the Book of Mormon. I have traveled in Mexico and seen and heard the proofs of the Saviors vist to this continent. I had a friend call me and tell me that scienctist thought that maybe some of the first people cam to the Americas in submarines .. to which I replied ... yeah I know!

I was able to see the Olmec heads in the archeological museum in mexico City ... to me they look more like some of the people from the south seas ... which from watching the program Journey of Faith on BYU Channel makes sense .... considering the route that the program suggest that they took.

Laugh alot, pray together always, be best friends, put Heavenly Father first then each other first. I have never been married but this is the example I grew u p with. My folks will be married 60 years this Dec and they still love each other but better yet they are still "in love". Good luck.

If a very direct statement to them doesn't get the job done talk to your RS President. They should be making appointments and working with your schedule. That's what they are there for to see to your needs not get the numbers. if that doesn't work go to the Bishop ... I am a great one fro going to the top. If all that doesn't work let me know and I'LL call them!

These lessons are so long that you will never ever get through everything in them ... start your preparation with prayer and then read the entire lesson ... then I found that if you leave it for awhile and then come back and reread it certain parts will sort of jump out at you, use those sections to build your lesson. Get the sisters talking (don't ask yes and no questions) and the lesson will take care of itself as long as you keep them on track. Sometimes you have to gently lead them back to where they need to be. One caution ... use only the lesson manual and the scriptures as the brethern have instructed. I taught in RS for 6 years ... I miss it but I do love my rowdy teens in Sunday School so much! You'll do great ... just listen to the spirit.

The only multiple missions are the senior couples. The youg missionaries need to come home and start their life mission ... family. One can ask to be part of the ward mission or they now have missions where you live at home and serve in a ward close by.

With all due respect a statement like this is the same as someone being condemed for taking medications that help the quality of their lives. We need to stop judging and start helping ... I have strughgled with weight all my life and believe me this kind of statement does not help at all. needing to use meds or being over weight makes us no less human. Nor does is make us less deserving or less productive. I have 4 church callings a full time job and I raise train and show dogs and in between all that I have a busy life. There is a saying ...don't judge someone until you have walked a mile in their mocassins. When you have been where I am or your firend is or where the brother on meds is don't judge.

Some one in our ward asked a person in church to sit else where becuaus of the smell of smoke on them ... some said that if the sins of the rest of us had an odor the room would be unusable. We are all at different places in our progress. We all have our problems. We are not expected to be perfect just working on it ... get rid of the smokes in the car ....too easy to back slide ... and work as if everything depends on you and pray as if everything depends on the Lord ... it will work. Wish my addiction was something I could live do without. We all have our addictions. We all also have the same help.

I raise show dogs ... it is a hard thing when your best friend is hurting. If you do decide to help her cross the bridge .. do not let her be alone or with strangers. She has given you the best years of your life ... hold her while she goes .. she deserves to feel the love of her best friend as she crossed the bridge. This is not easy nor does it get easier. Each of my babies is special and it hurts like crazy to let them go. I lost 3 last year ... one who had been my bed dog for nearly 12 years. Many many years ago I lost my entire first litter of puppies to Parvo ... this is when it first started. I was promised then in a blessing that I would have them back again. Everything will be reserected (sp?) I know we will be reunited with all of our loved ones, 2 and 4 footed. In the mean time I can just see my old girl Monkey (I didn't name her) bustling around heaven taking care of every baby she can find ... she loved babies and didn't care who they belonged to. remeber the good times ... it doesn't help the hurt but it will bring a smile to your face and a warm glow to your heart. God bless.

Heavenly Father is quick to forgive when we are truly repentant ... the harder part is forgiving ourselves. This is where this young sister is now. She has to forgiver herself. We are given the right to choose our path but we also have to accept the concequences of our choices, good and bad ... those we can't get away from like we can our sins. With all due respect ... make sure you are praying for the right thing. Sometimes changing what we pray for does wonders. Maybe instead of praying to understand why you didn't get the girl you expected. Maybe pray for compassion, Christ like love and to be an instrument in His hands to help her forgive herself. Good luck

If the ex wife has been excommunicated the sealing has been broken ... however it is wise to speak with your bishop who can go to the Handbook to get it straight from the GA. If the ex wife repents and is rebaptized the question would be does the temple work need to be redone or is it reinstated? Better safe than sorry. Congratulatons on finding your eternal companion.

A couple of weeks ago our Stake President showed up and spoke in Sacrement meeting and spoke on just this subject. What he said made perfect sense to me and made me decide then and there to do better. He said basically that members of the church not being veiwed as Christian is in large part on our shoulders. When some one asks you what church we belong to what do we say??? Most I'm Mormon. Less of a mouth full than the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. So when someone asks us what the church teaches or what we believe do we launch into families and Joseph Smith and Temples and Service or do we humbly and sweetly bear testimony of the Savior and His redeeming sacrifice for us and of our love for Him and His love for us? Hey I'm guilty ... many times I have come away from a you're not Christian contact wishing I had said all the stuff I should have and not what I said. Maybe being a Christian is as simple as being so centered in Him and His plan for us that we automatically speak of Him first and foremost when asked. JMHO

As I understand the gift of tongues it is manifest only to the edification of someone present at the time. And as I have seen it in my life and those of my family the gift of interpetation of tongues generally is a companion. My folks completed 5 missions ... on the first my mother ... in her 60's larned to speak Spanish ... she knew it wasn't good but she relied on the Lord and when ever she spoke in her broken Spanish it was very clear to all who were present. One sister had had the lessons numerous times but finally whn she was taught by my parents she said it had never been more clear. That wasn't my parents that was the Holy Ghost working through them. It is not an idle or firvolous thing it s is grant for a reason with a goal as are all the gifts of the spirit. I am not sure I can see the outcome of speaking in an unknown toungue when we pray ... prayer is for our benefit not the Lords ... IMHO He would want us to know what we were saying so that we could grow and gain from it. Howver ... whatever draws one closer to God whether I agree or not has value.

I just read the entire thread from start to finish and in doing so saw something that one wouldn't get by coming in in the middle. I saw a person crying out for help with a serious probelm and then suddenly "seeing the light" ... Satan will tell a 1000 truths to get us to believe one lie. I think this qualifies ... look at the contention and hard feelings this caused ... it drew everyone down ... and Satan is howling with glee ... he accomplished his goal. I know where my grace comes from and how I need to use it. The atonement is very very personal ... it is about me and what I caused my Elder Brother to suffer ... and if by doing and being the very best I can I can repay some that pain ... how thankful I am that I can do that. My prayers are with you Onetime ...

President Eyring said the Lord magnifies those who magnify their callings. Some times we as members of the church look at our callings as something we "have" to do ... not something we get to do. I was out of work for nearly a year ... the longest time in my life. I had one calling when I lost my job when I went back to work I had 2 and 1 volunteering situation within the church. The more I worked for the Lord the better it got. I now have a wonderful job with bennies ... maybe this was the blessing for the patience the Lord was trying to teach me. I have added a 2nd volunteer situation now that I can do more. The Lord will never give you anything that you can't handle and if you believe as I do that the leaders are called and inspired then your circumstances have already been taken into consideration. Go with your heart and the spirit not your head. If you accept jump in with both feet and serve like everything depends on you and let the Lord handle the rest. It works ... and you were called for a reason. Maybe there is someone in those records than needs to be found and working with the youth is so very important. they need good leaders if we expect to keep them where they need to be. I am the Relief Society Secretary and teach the 14-15 years olds in Sunday School. I adore those kids. I also do Family search indexing and volunteer at the temple each month in one of the non ordinace functions. For me this makes my life so very much better. Prayer is te answer but instead of asking if you should accept the calling sask the Lord to bless you and your family so that you can fill your calling faithfully. Amazing what a difference in wording makes.

Hi Everyone, My name is Janette and I live in Winlock Washington where it is currently snowing like crazy. We now have the most snow (15 inches and counting) we have had in over 60 years. I raise and show dogs, teach the 14-16 years olds in Sunday School (who I just adore) and am the secretary for Relief Society. I love the gospel and am so grateful for a strong testimony of tithing after returning to work after nearly a year of searching. I think there was some teaching of patience going on there as well.