bytebear

I thought to respond to your tithing concerns.  Please hear a couple of stories.  I served some time ago as a missionary for 2 years in the Northwester States Mission (Washington, Oregon and Idaho).  To serve a mission I sacrificed a scholarship and all my saving – including my college funds.  Though college was difficult because I started from zero and paid for everything – I finished without any debt.  In fact, my first job offer was for less than what I was making from a couple of businesses I started to support my education. 
Second story.  On my mission I encountered a young boy in Bend Oregon.  This fellow has been on his own since about the age of 10.  His mother died when he was very young and his father was both an alcoholic and abusive.  He ran away from home at age 10 living homeless on the streets.  About the age of 12 a local businessman took pity on this boy and allowed him to work in his store and use a back room for a place to live.  This kid was 16 when I met him and he became interested in the LDS (Mormon) church.  He did not have much and was working to live and finish high school.  He was sure he could not pay tithing. 
As a missionary I told this young fellow that tithing is about faith – not economy.  I told him that if he had to faith to pay tithing he would reap blessing far beyond his lost economy.  I told him to think in this manner – If you had $100 to try to get by for the month; what would you prefer.  To spend the full $100 on your own with your own best efforts or spend $90 with the help and direction of the creator of the universe. 
As a follow-up – my young friend did not have a lot of money after his baptism to do a lot of things most teenagers do in high school but he was able to finish high school, save up enough to serve a mission and finish a college education without going into debt.
My recommendation to anyone concerned about the difficulty of living by covenant with G-d.  Regardless of how difficult such may seem – in the long scheme of things – living righteously by covenant is not just the better way through live – it is much more enjoyable and rewarding.
 
The Traveler

I think it's funny that every conference the news covers the "several hundred" sometimes even reported as a thousand protestors who march to Temple Square, and officially resign from the church.  I swear, they must have resigned 10 or 20 times by now.

I think it's funny that every conference the news covers the "several hundred" sometimes even reported as a thousand protestors who march to Temple Square, and officially resign from the church.  I swear, they must have resigned 10 or 20 times by now.

We don't distinguish sins into categories.  One must be sinless to stand before God.  But, some sins are harder to repent of than others, and some are impossible to bring restitution (murder, for example).  And, one's knowledge and covenants with God also make it harder, because you have outwardly (via baptism) committed to live the commandments, and then broke the covenant.  Same with the covenant of marriage, which is why adultery is considered more serious, and even more so if the covenant of marriage was done in a temple. 

But ultimately, our goal is to become perfected through Christ, which is a process of repentance, and making and keeping covenants (baptism, marriage, etc.).  So we do distinguish between "saving" ordinances and non-saving ordinances.  Saving ordinances (baptism) are required for salvation, and have promises that extend through the eternities.  Temple covenants and temple marriage also involve promises of rewards in the afterlife (eternal families).   Other ordinances are not considered saving ordinances.  These include baby blessings (christening), blessings of healings, last rites (which we really don't do, but you may have a blessing of comfort), dedication and blessings on homes, etc. These are not required for salvation. 

Here's additional information that explains it better than me.

https://www.lds.org/youth/topic/covenants-and-ordinances?lang=eng

Like...you know....the LDS church.

I am not a fan of the "It Gets Better" organization.  It was started and is run by Dan Savage, who is beyond vile, as in I can't even tell you the things he has said, as they would get me banned.  He is a rotten horrible bigot.  There are far better organizations out there to support.  Find one who does want to build bridges, and not burn them.  He pretty much wants all Christians to be killed.  And yes, he's that bad.

I am not a fan of the "It Gets Better" organization.  It was started and is run by Dan Savage, who is beyond vile, as in I can't even tell you the things he has said, as they would get me banned.  He is a rotten horrible bigot.  There are far better organizations out there to support.  Find one who does want to build bridges, and not burn them.  He pretty much wants all Christians to be killed.  And yes, he's that bad.

Thanks so much everyone I really appreciate everyone's input. I feel pretty good about this. I know the people in my ward very well and have a pretty good grasp on how things work but... I think a lot of my fear came from over exaggerations from those on the "ex" side of things, and I guess I just wanted to cover my bases and make sure I knew EXACTLY what I was getting into. My best friend is pretty upset about it and while that made me upset for a bit, I realized I cannot live for what others think. I know God is calling me to do this and I feel good about it.
I even worked up the courage to tell my older sister... She was very supportive and is excited for me I'm excited to talk to the missionaries again this week and let them know that I'm pretty sure I'm ready.
Thanks again everyone! 

I love that we have "other beliefs" sections and instead of telling them what they believe, and why they are wrong, we let them speak for themselves, with the real intent to learn from them.

Oh, and don't be afraid to bring up questions and concerns with the missionaries or other church members.  Nothing you say will shock us.  We've heard it all.  And hopefully you can get a better perspective on some things that you might not find from a critic of the church.  And you are, of course, welcome to ask questions here too.

Oh, and don't be afraid to bring up questions and concerns with the missionaries or other church members.  Nothing you say will shock us.  We've heard it all.  And hopefully you can get a better perspective on some things that you might not find from a critic of the church.  And you are, of course, welcome to ask questions here too.

I'm just going to give some advice, and let you do with it what you will.
Missionaries come and go.  The missionaries that are working with you now are special to you, and they always will be, but in a few months they will move to another ward, or go home.  And you'll see new missionaries, and assuming you've been baptized, will have no idea if you are a new convert or a lifelong member.  They won't know your story.  But your ward family members will.  Your friends in church will be there for the long haul, and will be your rock after you join.   Use them as such.  And it's wonderful to hear that you are already making friends at church.  Continue doing that.  They will be your rock when the missionaries go.
As to telling your family.  That's entirely up to you, but I think you should because secrets are never a good thing.  And if they are concerned, tell them that you understand, but that they should look at your life, at your disposition, because you will change outwardly in a way that those closest to you will notice. So, tell them why you wanted to be baptized, what you feel when you go to church, all the things you are telling us.  And I bet they will be happy that you are happy, and maybe they'll want to learn a bit too, just as you did.
And tithing.  I would say, if you aren't committed to it, don't be baptized, but I will also say, go in, with the full intent of paying tithing.   Even now, set aside the money in a drawer or an envelope, with the full understanding that that is the Lord's money, and not just a savings account for a new TV or something.   And see what happens.  If you end up short on your bills, adjust, and if you can't adjust, talk to the bishop.  The church has resources for people in need, both in terms of welfare and in job training and such.  Believe me, the Lord will not hang you out to dry.   In fact, He has promised you blessings beyond measure.  Trust Him, and see where it goes.

I love that we have "other beliefs" sections and instead of telling them what they believe, and why they are wrong, we let them speak for themselves, with the real intent to learn from them.

From my understanding, they wanted to establish a community there, and set aside land for a meeting house, but it never came to be.  This was long before they were CoC, but were still RLDS.  I served my mission there 30 years ago, so it was fun to take greenies there tracting and see if they picked up on the street names.

Lamen and Lemuel pretty much knew their dad was a prophet given all that happened.  Still, they didn't much care.

It's important to note that we believe that everyone is ultimately accountable for their acceptance of Christ.  Ultimately they will have a choice to accept Christ or not.  God is a just God.  But God is also merciful, and Christ's blood atones for sin.  For those younger or unable to understand the covenant of baptism, the blood of Christ is sufficient for salvation.  For those who are old enough and capable of understanding the covenants being made, baptism is required for salvation.  And it's still the blood of Christ that saves, but one must choose to accept Christ, and the outward act of that acceptance is baptism.

The guidelines on having two adults present is there as much to prevent false accusations as it is to protect against predators.  More so, in fact.

Only when it involves a president who is a Democrat.

Sometimes I forget what it's like to live in Utah.   I live in California, and have for about 20 years, but I grew up in Salt Lake City.   I have a ROKU instead of cable, and it allows me to watch pretty much any news broadcasts in the country, so last night after my local news ended, I switched over to KUTV (I think), and the headline was "first audio interview with the victim."   Here in California, this is a non-story, as in, no one at all would have heard of it, or even cared.  So, it was a bit shocking that the news was covering it so salaciously.  It came across as more gossip than news.

I think the concepts are very similar.  Sin is willfully going against God's commandments.  We are all born with the light of Christ, a conscience which tells us inherently right from wrong, but as we grow and learn, we gain more insight into what right and wrong mean.  And as we learn of Christ, and gain more spiritual insight, our accountability grows.  After baptism, we covenant with God, and that leads to more accountability.  As we grow in the church, we have higher covenants, as a priesthood holder for example, a bishop, and one who has been to the Temple (a higher covenant), and marriage.   So, for example, a church leader who commits adultery is under a higher level of condemnation than a teenager.  Both sins are grave, but because one was given more light, he is more accountable, and would probably be excommunicated, whereas the other may receive a lesser punishment from the church (called disfellowship) where one is not allowed to take sacrament, but doesn't lose church membership.   But ultimately we are working toward perfection, correcting our behavior, living more in tune with the Spirit, and leading a Christlike life.  And we believe there will be a final judgement, where rather than being weighed on our individual sins (like a scale comparing bad vs good), we are judged on our character, on who we have become, and whether we are worthy or really able to withstand the glory of God.  Our character, our very essence becomes like Christ.  And we hope to be One with Christ. 

"Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." John 3:2

Most people don't have a psychologist or therapist.  Going to an ecclesiastical leader (of any faith) is often their only option, so it's important that church leaders at the local level are trained and understand their role and responsibility to help the member find the right resources.  No different than a teacher, or even a boss.  Their primary role is not to give counseling in any professional manner, but they can and should counsel people whom they attend to, supervise, whatever.
 

Most people don't have a psychologist or therapist.  Going to an ecclesiastical leader (of any faith) is often their only option, so it's important that church leaders at the local level are trained and understand their role and responsibility to help the member find the right resources.  No different than a teacher, or even a boss.  Their primary role is not to give counseling in any professional manner, but they can and should counsel people whom they attend to, supervise, whatever.