Morris789

Hello Maya! Thanks for your message. Yes I know quite alot about Finland and the church here, i've lived almost 10 years in Finland. I know the temple in Karakallio as I work in Leppävaara and I quite often cycle past it on my way to work, and I agree it is beautiful! Funnily enough every time I do pass it, the Beach Boys song "God only knows" from the HBO series Big Love starts playing in my head hehehe. Don't ask me why! There are a number of MAP-churches in the Helsinki area, i'm thinking to go along quite soon to one of them. Anyhow, nice to meet you!

I've watched it a few times and to be honest I don't think his smile was genuine. He just had to smile because that's the way it was set up. Not taking anything away from Susan because I think she's excellent, but i'm fairly sure it was set up. Come on.... they just had to know she could sing... after all, it is television!

Cola isn't out? Do you mean de-caffinated Cola?

Ok, since coffee, black tea, cola and alcohol are out, what do you all drink? In work, i've found myself drinking raspberry and rosehip tea alot lately and then water of course. Is that kind of tea acceptable? How about other carbonated drinks? is everything frowned upon? I found this really good carbonated apple drink recently but I can't help feeling it's on the black list. Not sure how it is in your countries/states but almost everyone in Finland has a sauna bath in their house. It's really necessary to drink something more than just water afterwards (preferbly carbonated) to quench your thirst! Any tips pro LDS?

Yes, I donated 10 € (euro).

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing!!!

Hello! I've already posted a couple of times but I thought i should introduce myself. I'm 29, male, married with 2 children, live in Finland but am British by birth. I'll be honest and say I have a crisis at the moment with my faith. I'm an Anglican by denomination but quite recently i've been reading more and more about the LDS church. Actually I think i've been interested in the church a long time. My first encounter with missionaries was at about the age of 12 when 2 young guys (older than me obviously at the time) came into our driveway and they gave the usual i'm a Mormon story. As a cocky young punk does, I gave them a hard time and after they left the other kids in the street and I exchanged a few sniggers and that was that. However, literally 30 minutes after the encounter I felt a sudden guilt and some strange feeling came over me that I should go and find them and apologise for my rudeness and perhaps even go to their church to see it for myself. Nevertheless after riding up and down the various streets for 15-20 minutes, they were gone. I've been thinking about the experience ever since. Now at the age of 29 i'm starting to question different aspects of my faith. I'm really searching for that place where I feel comfortable, a place that follows good principles and devoted to the Lord. Now, I can't say i'm without skepticism of various things the LDS church teaches, but that's one reason why i've joined this board. I feel it's always best to chat with people in the faith as well than the critics or the uniformed as it gives a balanced viewpoint. One thing I have noticed though about critics and adherents of other denominations, they always tell me Mormons are wrong. I've very seldom heard a Mormon tell somebody of a different denomination they are wrong. I personally feel there is too much bias in this world. What right does someone have to say another's faith is wrong? God will judge us when the day comes! So, anyhow i'm making a start to a more righteous life by firstly reading the BOM. Yes, I will pray and hope to feel the truth in my bosom! Secondly i'm starting to follow the principles set out in the Words of Wisdom. Tea and Coffee have gone (the former is quite a challenge for a Brit you know!), i've completed the first time fasting (the money has gone to a local charity that gives food to the needy), alcohol has definitely ceased (to be honest I only really drank beer and I never really liked the after effects). I'll try to reduce the consumption of meat (not that difficult as my wife is a vegetarian anyway)... ok I won't go on. Thirdly, I will try to get to a meeting at some point. That's actually the part I fear the most. I'm quite afraid of what family and friends might think. I'm sure this will have an affect on my social circles.... ah what the heck, they have to deal with it! Anyhow, that's me for now... pray for us (me and my family). God bless.

Ok, i've just completed my first time fasting. I've decided to donate the money I would have spent on meals to a local charity that provides food for the needy (the reason being is that i'm not a member of the church yet so I haven't got a community to donate too!). However, just wondering about how much people usually give? Lunch in my work costs 5,50 (which includes the meal, bread, salad and desert) but I usually take my own and I rekon I make it for around 2,50. Therefore is 5,00 enough? I didn't have breakfast either yesterday, so maybe 7,50? What's the going rate?

Ok, all very good and helpful replies. I was just a bit concerned because I heard it's difficult to get a temple recommend if you haven't paid full tithe.

I have a question about tithing... I'm thinking about joining the Church but need to clarify a few practical things first. Regarding tithing, I understand it's 10% of your salary or an increase. Therefore if you sold your house and made a profit, 10% of the profit would go to the church, right? For example, if you earned 3000 per month gross and took home lets say 2200, will you be paying 300/month title or 220/month? Similarly, if you sold your house and made a profit of 10 000, that's 1000 to the church - easy maths. But... what if your spouse was not a member of the church? and they owned 50% of the house, I assume the church only asks a tithe from the member? And how about the spouse's income? Does the church expect you to pay a tithe on the non-member spouse's income too?