WmLee

“Typically” I’ve seen 5 to 7 for a Bishop and 10 to 12 for a Stake Presidency. I have known one Bishop who served for 9, but only one. Bishops for Single Adult and Young Single Adult as well as Branch Presidents seem to go 2 to 3 years. I think these “numbers” are used as an outline and they seem to match about as much ‘service” as a person can give in these calling to be effective. Sort of like the Relief Society President or Young Women’s President. The amount of service they give, handling problems and crisis and caring for those they are there to serve, this time outline seems about right. I don’t know and I’ve not seen it written that callings are extended for a set amount of time. I have seen where men and woman are worn out before the “typical” release time!

Maya ~ Thank you. One of the things in my "bucket list" is to see and photograph the Northen Lights. One day . . . .

Right up front I'll tell ya, i don't wear a dress and have no desire to do so! But, my wife keeps her dress in a garment bag that hangs in the back of the car, (I put it behind my seat so it doesn't block my view driving). When we get to the temple I take it out, it folds in half for easy carrying, and we go in. Once in the locker room she unfolds it and gets changed. The only wrinkles I ever see are on her elbows and that's cause we are old people, not because of the dress! Hope that helps, (and I hope no one tells my wife about her elbows).

CC ~ you’ve done good! Sorry you are in this mess and sorry you have to go through the pain, but I’m glad you’re heading in the right direction. It’s not unusual for one or both parties to write a letter of apology to the other. In some cases I think this is a good call. This guy will be called to his Bishop and then to the Stake President. From there the Stake President will schedule a Disciplinary Council with the presidency ad the High Council. They may hear your name, but it is not necessary. I have been in council where we were told only that the man had an affair and we’ve been told that the guy had an affair with an endowed member. That makes a big difference. Also, any positions he might have held and if he had served a mission would be important. But your ID is not. Scheduling a council date can take a month or so. That is normal. He will be meeting with the SP up until that time. Often the wife is there as well. I only share this so you know that the administration of the church does not look lightly on this. I don’t see how his bishop could let this pass by or swept under the rug. Especially when it comes from another member who is going through the repentance step! Now, focus on you and your family and let it go! You’re not the first. I remember Joseph Smith writing about this problem back then!

My experience with an YSA Ward was when I served on the bishopric. I didn’t see it as a “meat-market” though I have heard that term used a number of times. Our YSA Ward seemed to simply want to ‘hang out” and commitments were hard to find. I did go to a Single Adult Ward on assignment and went to the regional dance. I found more men trying to get my wife to dance, more woman trying to talk to me and/or get me to dance; we were getting tired of explaining we were married and only there representing our stake. In our Stake SA Ward there are a lot of friendships and people that like to do things with someone with similar standards. It’s a very large social group! Dating isn’t the only reason.

Having taught seminary I see both sides. I have had students that simply don’t pay attention, pass notes or are doing homework, some come just to sleep; and I consider myself the failure for note preparing or presenting the material in a way that would make the students want to pay attention, want o participate. At the same time, I expect the students to try to follow mw and give me some insight as to what they find interesting with the subject matter. I think a teacher needs to do more than just teach what is written in the scriptures. A teacher needs to put the topic, the lesson, into practical application for you, the student, today. Don’t quit, but keep a written log as to when you are there, when you are not, when you are late and what the lesson was about. The next time there is a problem or you feel you are being treated wrong, show her what you have. If that doesn’t work, take it to your bishop. He should be able to help. I once had a student who was always late and just didn’t pay attention. One day I asked and question and no one seemed ready to answer. This young man was busy talking to a young lady. In a loud voice I asked, “Isn’t that right Bret”? And he quickly said, “Yes”. I thanked him and told him what I asked was for him to come to class the next day in a skirt and heels. I told him to try not to be late. The next day he was late but he had on a skirt and heels. He was always late and never paid attention. After serving a mission he went to BYU Idaho and now is an institute director in California. Don’t give up on the teacher, and the teacher shouldn’t give up on you!

I use to stop by on my way to Utah. Rick Thomas and his magic show is one you MUST see. He is at the Sahara and his show is 110% family. Rick is LDS and there are no shows on Sunday, Monday. I believe the show times are 4:00 and 7:00 pm. What I like most is his show is centered around family, the entertainment, the staging, he even includes audience participation! As for staying at the Sahara . . . We've chosen the New Orleans because it is cleaner and you don't have to walk through all the smoke filled gambling to get to your rooms. Though Vegas can seem like a bad place for a family stop-over, if you avoid the obvious areas it can be a nice place to see some great shows.

Saturn ~ NOTHING you did or didn’t do has made you feel this way or given you these desires. I’m going to share my “Gospel According to Wm” here; Before we agreed to this plan it was spelled out that we, perfect spiritual children of a loving Father in Heaven would receive mortal bodies developed from imperfect mortal bodies that would house our spirits. Some of us would get bodies that were not “wired” the same and we accepted that plan. Along with these imperfect bodies came agency. Your struggles will be great; more than mine I’m sure. But know that we all knew we might get a body that could be a little different. Nothing you have done, nothing your parents have done, we simply have mortal bodies. We also have a society that isn’t making how we deal with these problems any easier. We have living prophets who have addressed what you are feeling and going through. Your bishop can set you up with some of those things. Or, visit a church book store and ask about books that are out that deal with what you are feeling. Also, the church distribution center has material you might want to read. There is nothing “wrong” with you. What some people may say or what actions you chose to take could be wrong, but you and your feeling are not. That is the end; I hope it helps a little.

I have to say I am amazed! What does the atonement tell us about our own forgiveness? Can we be forgiven if we can’t forgive another? This woman made a mistake before you were in her life. She made a mistake when she was weak and emotional and she has dealt with that. She has gone through all the steps her bishop asked of her and she now has a temple recommend. You love her but can’t get over that she made a mistake? My question is, should she accept you?? I made a mistake or two along my path. I went to the bishop and I went through repentance and though I am ashamed of what I have done, of my wasted years and my mistakes, I know the joy of repentance and forgiveness from a loving Father in Heaven. After almost ten years into a temple marriage my companion said, “I’m so happy I waited for you. I wish you could have waited for me”. Do you know what kind of a slap that was in my face?? Her mistakes in her past are hers, not yours to worry about. If you can’t move on emotionally, then simply move on and let this sister find someone who will love her unbridled by her past mistakes. Our Father in Heaven has forgiven her, the temple recommend shows that. Don’t go into this holding a gray stamp you can slap her with ten years from now. She wasn’t with you then; are you worthy to be with her now? I am so amazed with the people who don’t understand the importance of the atonement, or their roll in it!

How about asking someone of interest if they would like to go with you to a YSA activity. That would be a low grade, non-threatening type date and if she doesn't want to go or can't, she has an easy out without hurting your feelings. If she can go, you have an easy date! Good luck.

Margin is right!

My grandmother smoked like a chimney. She also liked a little something in the evening before she went to bed. When she came to visit my wife was very worried primarily about the smoking. I reminded grandma and she understood that we, as a part of our religious practice, did not smoke or drink. In our house she was always more than welcome and we loved her more than anything, but we were asking her to understand and support our beliefs in our house. After dinner she would go outside for a “walk” (she took a lot of those) and joked about missing her “medicine” at night. But, she respected our religion as we always understood her life's choice when we went to her house. When she got really old and moved closer to us I took her to mass twice a month. I think it was a fair trade. If you father can’t make it more than a few hours without a drink, perhaps the problem isn’t with your beliefs but with his dependency.

Just after I received my patriarchal blessing I felt understood what I should do; I saw what was meant for me. A few mistakes were made things didn’t go the way I thought Heavenly Father had for me and I lost track of my direction. Almost ten years later, as a husband and father, I wrote to Church Headquarters and requested a copy of my patriarchal blessing. Funny how none of what I thought was there, really was. I read it often now and each time something else stands out to be. It’s as if I understand more now and I see what could have been, and what I can do now, if I follow the Spirit. Perhaps if you set it aside for a short period, pray for an broader understanding of its purpose you will know what you should do. Keep in mind that a patriarchal blessing is not a look into a crystal ball. It is a blessing given to you and now it is up to you to use those blessing to do the work or service our Father in Heaven needs from you.

Let me give you my look at it . . . . My daughter IS seeing someone I do not care for. Yep, it’s personal. I know of his history. He says he’s changed, his last mistake was less than three weeks ago! I haven’t seen the big change yet. Bottom line, if it gets serious and they want to go to the next level, (engagement, marriage plans) how is he going to be able to come to me and talk about it? Is he that important that she is willing to run away and forget about her family all because he is “Mr. Wonderful”? Work within the rules given by your/her parents. Focus on serving a mission, (if you’re willing to dedicate two years to the Lord I feel you are willing to dedicate eternity to my daughter) and together show some responsibility.

When we go to visit family in Utah we tend to make fun of the hair (some of the ladies have this "puffy" thing they do that is funny) and I'm told you can tell an act from an inactive member in Utah by how they take their caffine, hot or cold.

Father, husband and then on the dry council :)

welcome!! As for missing a word during the blessing . . . . I still do that every once in a while. I hear what I say and it's not what I meant to say and it's not what the words are right in front of me . . . . and I've given that prayer off and on for years!!

This is where you get MY IDEAS and only my ideas on this one. I am in no way expressing anything for the church. I believe that when we accepted this plan we also accepted the possibility that some of our physical/mental development would/could be “different”. Since our physical material would be a mixture of chromosomes, DNA, (you know, all that stuff) from two imperfect mortal people there was a possibility that the patterns of our “stuff” would/could be altered through genetics, we knew some may have attractions that were a little different. When you enter into an eternal marriage you are making celestial, eternal covenants. If you can’t, in full conscious and with full conviction, make that covenant, you shouldn’t. Would you be “punished, or given less because you can’t? I don’t see how should you keep and live by His commandments, I don’t see how. I had a sister in the ward who never married, never had the desire to marry, preferred the company of a “friend”. She was a strong, faithful member who often attended the temple and was always first in line to help anyone. I fully believe she answered each question for her temple recommend honestly. I feel she controlled her behavior and lived a life she felt her Father in Heaven expected her to life under her circumstances.

I married a lady that made me want to be a better man, a better priesthood holder. I married a woman who, at that time I knew could be my best friend. And, I married the woman I would never want to disappoint, because I respected her.

I think to exclude Weird Al is really being narrow minded here!

I think I see what you are asking. Look at the Relief Society. At a time that a woman had no right to vote, in Utah the church had a big push for that right. As towards prohibition, the Mormon Church was again, well ahead of the social movement. RS is also the largest and oldest woman’s organization that has a primary focus on strengthening the woman and assisting her on strengthening the family. As to the black issue, (and here I am weak). I know Joseph Smith ordained one if not more black men with the priesthood. I would suggest going to www. blacksinthescriptures.com. There is a page just on blacks in the LDS Church and one on blacks and the priesthood. I hope this helps

Okay, I took the bait and thought there must be something rather simple to this question. So I googled it and found: One of the first prominent religious thinkers to use the term "social justice" was the Jesuit Luigi Taparelli in the 1840s, but the term appeared before the 1800s, including in the Federalist Papers and Edward Gibbon's The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire‎. The idea was elaborated by the moral theologian John A. Ryan, who initiated the concept of a living wage. Father Coughlin used the term in his publications in the 1930s and 40s, and the concept was further expanded upon by John Rawls' writing in the 1990s. It is a part of Catholic social teaching and is one of the Four Pillars of the Green Party upheld by the worldwide green parties. Some tenets of social justice have been adopted by those on the left of the political spectrum. Social justice is also a concept that some use to describe the movement towards a socially just world. In this context, social justice is based on the concepts of human rights and equality and involves a greater degree of economic egalitarianism through progressive taxation, income redistribution, or even property redistribution, policies aimed toward achieving that which developmental economists refer to as more equality of opportunity and equality of outcome than may currently exist in some societies or are available to some classes in a given society. So now I ask you, can you be a little more specific in what you are looking for? :)

Each year your ward is given X number of dollars for operation. This is based on the count taken by the Ward Clerk during sacrament meeting during a designated period of the year. Each year the Stake President tells the Bishop how much money he has for his ward. The Bishop decides how much money goes to Relief Society, Elders and High Priest, YM, YW, Primary, Library, Ward Activities, Family History, Ward Missionaries, (he decides who gets what). It’s always fun to watch presidents and group leaders “work” the Bishop as he decides the Ward Budget each year!!

Willow ~ The Bishop is the father of the Ward. Do parents ever favor or show favor to one kid over the other?? Does one child ever have more privileges or receive preferential treatment? 1st, yes, you are wrong for feeling this way. What a few members do, or don’t do (and sadly this includes the Bishop, RS Pres, all of the Ward) doesn’t change the truthfulness of the gospel. This is the church and the gospel or our Savior. The actions or behavior of a few DOES NOT change that fact. However, how you deal with it needs to reflect your testimony of His church and the covenants you made with your Father in Heaven. It was the words and actions taken by two Bishops years and years ago that hurt my feeling so much that I stopped attending church. It was after the attitude taken towards my family by a few members as I was growing up that made me feel like this, (the church) wasn’t for me. I stopped trying, stopped attending. Then I made some mistakes, lost track of my direction and did a few things I will regret for the rest of my life. Years later I woke up and knew I had done something really wrong. Oh, I had heard something inside during my inactive years that told me I was walking the wrong path. But I stayed bitter and angry at those men, and at the people who thought my family wasn’t of the right caliper. And, I kept walking that path. You can go to another Ward if that is what you feel more comfortable doing. The Bishop of your “home ward” may not like it, but you can. But keep in mind that though the gospel will be just as true in another Ward, you may come across people similar to what you are leaving. If you decide to go to another Ward don’t be surprised if you find some who is rude or inconsiderate towards you or anyone else, (just don’t let yourself be that way). You weren’t wrong for contacting the Bishop and you’re not wrong for having your feeling hurt my any of this. You’re not wrong for wanting to attend another Ward. You would be wrong if you didn’t discuss this with the Bishop or if you labeled the actions of a few PEOPLE to be anything other than just that. Remember the Gospel is true; it was restored to us because of the actions of a young man who wanted to know. The actions or inactions of people cannot change what happened in that sacred grove. Before you decide how you want to handle things humble yourself and ask what He would have you do. Invite the Spirit to calm you and help you express what troubles your heart.

Happy Birthday Bugster!!!