martybess

I think Samuel the Lamanite explains it in Helaman 14:17-19 Here's the key (repentance) 17 But behold, the resurrection of Christ redeemeth mankind, yea, even all mankind, and bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord. 18 Yea, and it bringeth to pass the condition of repentance, that whosoever repenteth the same is not hewn down and cast into the fire; but whosoever repenteth not is hewn down and cast into the fire; and there cometh upon them again a spiritual death, yea, a second death, for they are cut off again as to things pertaining to righteousness. 19 Therefore repent ye, repent ye, lest by knowing these things and not doing them ye shall suffer yourselves to come under condemnation, and ye are brought down unto this second death. -Marty

Wow we had a great testimony meeting Sunday!!!! Every testimony was awesome! Many tears were shed. The best testimonies came from a Elder preparing for his mission and a young sister attending byu. (Both young, interesting) I was the first up and there was a line until the end of the meeting. I remembered this topic while I was up there and it did help me get to the core of my beliefs. Thanks all for you comments it helped.

I really think you can get the help you need!!!!! Do not let the advisory convince you otherwise!!!! He will try constantly to drag you down mentally! Make you feel like giving up. Do not give up!!!!! Coming here shows you are looking for help from others. This is the key. If youre bishop hasn't been able to be there for you look for someone else. Do you dare tell your EQ pres? or even the Stake president? Keep looking do not beat up on yourself. Make it the biggest thing in your life. Put in the time and effort everyday! Are in a position to move? If not why? The pioneers would of walked on bloody stumps to get to this valley. Can you make this kind of sacrifice? Give up all you have to overcome? If it's pornography cancel your internet and change your job if you have it at work. If you don't think your to this point then maybe it's not as bad as you think and maybe you don't have to do these things but really if you need to why not? AT 21 you are in a good position to just drop all and completely change your life surroundings. I'm probably assuming things I don't not know and if so I'm sorry. Remember HF loves you. He has given us trials that we can overcome if not he would not of placed us in here unable to overcome. Dont give up, it might take years but hopefully not. If it does than it does. So what you will still overcome at one point. Can you talk to you father? Is he an active priesthood holder? Whats your relationship with him? How about your mother? Or a brother?

If it's fornication, adultery or murder absolutely if it's a habitual sin you can not brake free of it the absolutely. The bishop then becomes like a coach to help you overcome it in time. If it's a sin you only do once and completely forsake and confess to HF I think that's up to you.

Line upon line, precept upon precept and principle upon principle, here a little and there a little. We are all at different levels. Surely Halloween and Harry Potter are ok and as for rock and "that kind of stuff" it's up to you. It's up to all of us and what we do and how we live to help us draw closer to the spirit and hopefully as we grow we can mature in the gospel.

SS, Whats your doubts? Are you looking for a way out and to leave? Don't want to live it? Don't like the ppl? Are you looking at those who run the "church" instead of looking at the one and only one who runs the "gospel"? Do have problems with gosple beliefs or principles? What's up, talk to us. -Marty

Yes I feel the same way!

The basic: "I Love God,,I know the church is true, I love Jesus, I'm great full for the,atonement, I know Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God. Called to restore the true church, I know President Monson is a prophet today, InthenameofJesuschristamen." can be a breath of fresh air in some wards.

I think I need to work on my attitude some. Thanks

I would agree Misshalfway is far as members doing their best but one must be careful that the meeting doesn't digress to a point where it's in the wrong, it can happen. I remember a branch where the branch president thought he was doing the vary best he could under the circumstances and therefore had sisters blessing the sacrament because of the lack of worthy males. He was pretty upset when we told him this was not correct and we had to fix the mess.

For the most part we have the same problem in our ward. It drives me crazy and I have to keep reminding myself it’s not my place as I’m not a member of the bishopric. I know it bothers others in our ward because they get up and bore a great testimony with a comment about our testimony meetings going astray. My suggestions: -From my experience it’s a few people that always get way off track and from there it spreads and before long the whole ward is doing it. They don’t get it for some reason even though they are told. These are the people your dad needs to focus on. They need to be taught repeatedly and of course the challenge is how to do that. Maybe invited to attend a family relation class or something. Then with the teachers help lessons are adapted to include testimony bearing in every lesson, by the time the 12 week class is over they will have a good idea. -The bishopric member who in conducting has to know himself how to bare testimony and be prepared to do so. I’ve had bishops get up and give a great thank-ta-monies for the whole time they were bishops, so this is where it starts. -Ask those in the ward that know how to bare testimony to bare it. Tell them to keeping it short and to the point. I once got up after hearing nothing but travel logs and said something like “The heavens are once again open, the gospel of Jesus Christ is once again upon the earth. There is a prophet who has been called by G-d, set apart and sustained and is the voice piece for G-d just as in the time or Adam, Noah, Moses, Abraham and others. As well as those prophets that are can be found in the BOM. The BOM is holy scripture and has been given to us by G-d and translated by his power or in other words the priesthood which also has been restored by heavenly messengers even Peter, James and John. It is true and correct! The gospel is true and offers all things needed by way of ordinances as in times of old that will enable us to return to HF victorious and glorified” and sat down. Really I don’t even think it was that long. The stake president was attending and thanked me. If they do a great job then ask them again the next month. The more asked the better in my opinion. Side note: A few years ago our stake really focused on missionary farewells and after about 2 years we now have truly spiritual meetings with the missionary teaching gospel doctrine. Some take the entire time themselves. When they return they always take the entire time and it’s awesome!!!! Only preaching and teaching doctrine. Once we had a sister move in and left for a mission shortly thereafter. She said she could not take the entire time and wanted her parents to talk as well. The whole meeting was on her and the stuff she did throughout her life. All the funny, dumb and bad stuff she had done. More like a dedication meeting to her, the way I remember the farewells when I was a kid. There was no spirit and it was really an awkward meeting for me and others. So I guess there’s wards out there that are still giving farewells (or whatever they are called no days) the way they use to be years ago. If our ward changed the way farewells are done we can change “fast and testimony meetings” too. - Marty

D&C 56:14 Behold, thus saith the Lord unto my people—you have many things to do and to repent of; for behold, your sins have come up unto me, and are not pardoned, because you seek to counsel in your own ways. -Marty

Is that "Believing Christ - The Parable of the Bicycle and Other Good News" by, Stephen Edward Robinson? I'm going to order it. Can get it in paperback for 7 bucks. Thanks

I would like to see what would happen if someone striped the Pope of his robes threw them on the ground and started stomping on them. Our holy garments to us are just worn under our clothes not on top. It would be soooooo hard for me to see one of those guys waving holy G’s around and not deck him!!! Sorry I have just had to confess. I would of probably deck him too. Would of been the best night in jail I could ever spend. But to just rant about others beliefs, no way. Once we had a speaker who railed on the baptists and it just so happen we had a family in sacrament meeting that were baptist. Needless to say they never came back. -Marty

We can not know what will be the outcome of this, only God knows. Only HF knows his state of mind, his nature and why he did it. Temple work can be done for him in one year from now. At that time if you are the one going through for him you will have a better idea where he is and if he accepted it and is moving forward. Live worthy and close to the spirit and when you go and you will get your answer. So sorry to hear of your loss, God bless and may you receive comfort. -Marty

2NE 9:47 But behold, my brethren, is it expedient that I should awake you to an awful reality of these things? Would I harrow up your souls if your minds were pure? Would I be plain unto you according to the plainness of the truth if ye were freed from sin?

After gospel doctrine class last sunday an old timer in his 70's came up to me and said you know the gospel isn't complicated but vary simple. Not sure why he told me this I didn't even make a comment during class but I did appreciate it.

I love stuff my wife makes. I have never received a tie so that would be ok too.

The redemption after all we can do of course. :) Yes I need to put some thought into the fallen man. That explains why we have thoughts or what not on our own accord. Though we are pushed to the limits!!!

Oh man MarginOfError that would of been horrifying!! Once I was in an endowment session and the officiator in the front had his fly all the way down and was wide open!! Through the whole session too!!!! I was way in the back but I guess I should of still walked up and told him. Now else dared to do it, not even the other patron or witness.

Oh man I'm slow!!! Thanks Funkytown. LOL Great joke at my expense.

Hmmmmmm, good points. I guess it could all be generalized into Good = God / Bad = Satin or Lucifer. As he is the force for all evil and God the source for all Good.

A great hindrances to revelation is apathy. This is connected to the trusting of our leaders (not confirming ourselves). Thinking were doing everything when really were doing nothing (just going thru the motions). Is this not being under the influence a false spirit? -Marty

It occurred to me that I may not pay close enough attention to satin and I should. But maybe not. Were told not too I guess. Spending to much time thinking about him is unwise. Question: When I sin how much tempting from satin was evolved? Have you ever been in the temple (where Lucifer is not allowed to go) and had a bad thought come to your mind? Have you been startled by it? I have. So back to the question, how much tempting from satin is evolved in daily sins? Do we just choose to do wrong without any temping? If so how much of the time I wonder? Also a thought: The more righteous and obedient we become the more we become devils in lucifers eyes. Disrupting his plan and being an adversary unto him. Weird way to look at it I guess. -Marty

Oh how poetry has enlighten the mind and brought new understanding to much of life. You say "it's all poetry". Is that a bad thing? Psalms truly enlightens the mind.