StrawberryFields

Be Safe Outshined. When you can give us a report on what it is like there from your perspective.

Visiting Teaching Message: Rejoice in the Book of Mormon “Rejoice in the Book of Mormon,” Ensign, Sept. 2005, 47 Prayerfully select and read from this message the scriptures and teachings that meet the needs of the sisters you visit. Share your experiences and testimony. Invite those you teach to do the same. D&C 17:6: “[Joseph Smith] has translated the book, … and as your Lord and your God liveth it is true.” How Can I Increase in Spiritual Capacity as I Rejoice in the Book of Mormon? President Gordon B. Hinckley: “If each of you will observe this simple program [of reading the Book of Mormon by the end of the year], regardless of how many times you previously may have read the Book of Mormon, there will come into your lives and into your homes an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God” (“A Testimony Vibrant and True,” Liahona and Ensign, Aug. 2005, 6). Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: “Each individual who prayerfully studies the Book of Mormon can also receive a testimony of its divinity. In addition, this book can help with personal problems in a very real way. Do you want to get rid of a bad habit? Do you want to improve relationships in your family? Do you want to increase your spiritual capacity? Read the Book of Mormon! It will bring you closer to the Lord and His loving power. He who fed a multitude with five loaves and two fishes—He who helped the blind to see and the lame to walk—can also bless you! He has promised that those who live by the precepts of this book ‘shall receive a crown of eternal life’ ” (“A Testimony of the Book of Mormon,” Liahona, Jan. 2000, 85; Ensign, Nov. 1999, 71). How Can I Share My Joy in the Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon? President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994): “We, the members of the Church, and particularly the missionaries, have to be the … tellers and testifiers, of the Book of Mormon unto the ends of the earth. The Book of Mormon is the great standard we are to use. It shows that Joseph Smith was a prophet. It contains the words of Christ, and its great mission is to bring men to Christ and all other things are secondary. The golden question of the Book of Mormon is ‘Do you want to learn more of Christ?’ ” (“The Book of Mormon Is the Word of God,” Ensign, May 1975, 65). Julie B. Beck, first counselor in the Young Women general presidency: “The Lord has told us that our time should ‘be devoted to the studying of the scriptures’ (D&C 26:1) and that ‘the Book of Mormon and the holy scriptures are given … for [our] instruction’ (D&C 33:16). Every woman can be a gospel doctrine instructor in her home, and every sister in the Church needs gospel knowledge as a leader and teacher. If you have not already developed the habit of daily scripture study, start now and keep studying in order to be prepared for your responsibilities in this life and in the eternities” (“My Soul Delighteth in the Scriptures,” Liahona and Ensign, May 2004, 107–8). Gospel topics: Book of Mormon, joy, scripture study [illustration] Joseph Smith, Prophet of the Lord, by David Lindsley [photo] Photograph by Matthew Reier, posed by model http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Mag...of%20mormon.htm

Very good eleigh1977 I really enjoyed your post. The above helps to explain some of the importance of attending church for me as well. Attending church also helps me to feel grounded in a world that keeps me spinning out of control at times. Another good reason to attend to to take the sacrament so that I can renew my covenants and make it through another week.

Oh, I so agree! I think back on several years ago when I made one of the biggest decisions of my life.....to stay in the podunk area I was in, instead of moving to an area that I loved, to keep the happiness I had found in my life. I had to do some major heavy duty praying about a decision that would affect my family as well as my own life. The answer was not to move. I was a bit unhappy (ok....more than a bit) with that answer, but I learned to deal with it. I knew I had to rely on the faith I had, and that God knew what was best for me at that time. But I became very bitter for a short time, hating everything about the area that I "couldn't leave", I hated the dry land, the heat, the tumbleweeds and the lack of pine trees and ferns...and I even found fault with the cattle grazing on the hillsides next to the highway that I had to travel on every day to work and back.....then I realized that I needed some Heavenly help to overcome the extreme hatred I had developed for the east side of the Cascades.....so I prayed again. The Spirit touched my heart one day as I was driving to work.....as I came up to a spot where the river could be seen from the car......I heard that small voice tell me that there is beauty in everything...all I needed to do was to open my eyes and see it ...and then I saw something that was so beautiful it could have been put on a postcard....the reflection of some of the trees' in the water, with clouds that looked like cotten balls dotting the sky, the fall leaves that were changing colors....and the blue of the sky ....all reflecting in the river... and then when I glanced to the west...I saw one of the snow covered mountains in the distance, with nothing but blue skies surrounding it........I guess you had to be there...it was just so pretty. It was like God telling me "I have given you so much good....stop trying to find the bad." I stopped looking for the bad. I like to keep that "open door policy" with the Spirit...to keep that communication line open. I actually rely on the feelings I get when I pray about something.....I don't know what I would do if I could not have the feeling of the Spirit in my life. ← Nice story Lindy, thanks for sharing it. :)

Well, since this thread is about self-promotion, I will put mine here too. I'm thinking of putting some things up for sale on ebay, anyone got any requests? I've got some old cameras, software, computer parts, or if someone is looking for something, maybe for a price I can find it for you. The request lines are now open. Oh, almost forgot, I have an old car for sale if someone needs something ugly but extremely reliable to drive, and it gets decent gas mileage too! 27-30 mpg. I accept Paypal if it makes it easier for you to pay me. ← Maybe it's just late but this made me laugh out loud.

Does anyone else see that post #49 and #52 ^^above don't load properly? I have refreshed three times and they still don't load right. :unsure.dontknow:

Something occurred to me... Is it wrong to tell your children that you are proud of them when they do something good. Somewhere probably here I read that it is better to say that you are PLEASED with them and not PROUD of them. It just doesn't seem to carry the same meaning to me.

Is that a problem? One day the school called me because my son wore shorts and a sweatshirt on a day that it snowed. I really didn't see it was a problem he made that choice from a closet full of long pants too. :unsure.dontknow:

I think it is about comfort. Currently, I would not personally feel comfortable wearing anything but something I would wear in the chapel on Sunday. :)

I like OWEN WILSON myself.

LT :unsure.dontknow: BTW Love the new emoticons!!!

I will assume that you meant after that young man showed repentance by going through a repentance process, because I’m sure you don’t believe the bishop would be ready to submit his name to the First Presidency immediately after discovering his sins.And btw, nice to have you aboard, seamusz. :) ← Hey Ray, my case scenario was after he had repented as well.

Welcome Seamusz I all my years in the church I have never seen a young person excommunicated for having sex before marriage. I have however seen it where these young people have been dis-fellowshipped where they need to abstain from taking the sacrament, holding church callings, praying at church and things like that. I will say that it could happen but probably not. My initial question was can they still go and now I think the answer is it depends on the things that seamusz mentioned above which is pretty much how it has been in the past to the best of my knowledge. I just wondered if when the Raised the Bar for missionaries if the rules had changed about this subject.

Heather, You put that very nicely and I agree. :)

Are you sure about that? Your post seems a bit harsh. I did look at lds.org and I didn't find the information that varifies the above statement. ← I still stand by this that his original reply was harsh but fortunately he has softened in his replies following the first. B) To say that a young man not be worthy of serving as an ambassador was not right after I had already stated that the potent ional missionary had already repented is the post above.

Does anyone know specifically what has been changed? If a potential missionary has had sex but then repented can they still go? I have heard several different interpretations to this. ← I believe that my question above is what sparked the question of worthiiness of a missionary serving a mission after committing the sin of sex before marriage.

Hi Paul It's Great to 'See You"!

Okay, it's out now. ← LOL And you were able to do that so quickly too.

About your BTW statement... If you were a member having already been baptized, held the priesthood, etc and been a man it weighs heavier then being a youth from what I recall. Being married and committing adultery is something that will pretty much get someone Excommunicated. Ray have you ever served as a bishop?

LOL Ya, it won't be long before I have it all figured out. I mean with the new hallways and the paint. Really Heather thanks for all that you do. :)

Are you sure about that? Your post seems a bit harsh. I did look at lds.org and I didn't find the information that varifies the above statement.

Disruptive1, really everyone else seems paired up in your singles ward? Maybe there are just others who are like you and also feel alone so they don't go. It might be a topic worth asking about to your bishop. BTW, I noticed that with the new site here came a spot to fill in where we are from. Where are you from Yorba Linda?

This discussion is not just about attending church it is also about why people don't attend. Sometimes people don't attend church because they feel that they are being judged by others like in the last thread about church attendance.

I have been at both ends of the spectrum and I will say that I defiantly feel more connected in most aspects of my life when I am going on a regular basis. I have given quite a bit of thought to many things that have been said on the "How Important is Regular Church Attendance?" Something that speaks to me loud and clear is that we show what is important to us by our actions and not our words. When we go to church on a regular basis we have callings where we are given the opportunity to serve others and by doing so we are very blessed. Never do I learn as much as when I am given the opportunity to teach someone else. By attending church we demonstrate by our actions that the gospel is important to us. I think that this is especially important to do for our children who may be confused at times when we occasionally make a mistake of some sort. Consistent service in the church and going for the right reasons will go far in our imperfections. One of the greatest things to remember is that the gospel is for perfecting the saints and not for perfect saints. I also feel that it is important for people not to judge the reasons why another chooses to stay away for a time. I believe that consistent love and understanding is the best way to aide in someone who chooses not to attend regularly for a time. It is not possible to walk in the shoes of another so it is best not to judge their situation. A friendly and sincere "It's so good to see you! Will you sit by me? ¡Èwill suffice most situations. Some people might enjoy having others ask them what is new in their lives but probing questions about why they have not been to church is just rude and meant to add guilt to their plate IMHO.

As far as women being encouraged to stay home, I have heard this at least for the last 23 years since I married.I have also heard that there are many young men who are choosing to stay home from missions since the church leaders came out with "The raising of the Bar" several years ago. I am not saying that the concept is wrong, they just had no easing in period where they would announce it and then a year or two make it affective. I believe that many boys who were preparing to go or considering going fell away from their goals for feeling inadequate. That coupled with the removal of lesson manuals or discussion books left potent ional missionaries feeling scared. Within few years church leaders came out with a manual for missionaries to help guide their discussions. Now that the Bar has been raised, and the manuals are out, I still think that some boys still might be clinging to the "Well so and so didn't go and he is just a few years older then I am so I will not go either. The standard was changed when the Bar was raised. Could that be a crutch that will keep boys home for many years to come? I don't know and only time will tell. I agree that years ago it was "Every worthy young man should fulfill a mission". I guess their have been some problems with young men going out into the mission field who have been pressured maybe by family or maybe even the standard itself. Some missionaries who have gone out end up coming home because they didn't go out prepared spiritually or who didn't belong there for one reason or another. I would imagine that this would cause problems in itself with boys who didn't want to be there. Does anyone know specifically what has been changed? If a potential missionary has had sex but then repented can they still go? I have heard several different interpretations to this.