WmLee

You should have all the answers right there with your Branch President. He has the handbook with the guidlines. The handbook will spell out just what COULD be a timeline. If your Branc President finds you worthy and he submits your paperwork, you will be interviewed by the Mission President. Rarely does it get sent back and when it is it is normally because something is missing, not because one finds you worthy and another says your not. Allergies and medication, I know of two young men that are serving here in the states only because should they need medical attention they would recieve better care here. The church would never call you to serve in an area that MAY cause you physical difficulties.

Ditto with what Miss wrote. Let's keep in mind that we are all here with our agency. I personally do not believe that my loving Heavenly Father wishes or in any way makes bad things happen to me or anyone else. I believe the destroyer and master liar can influence or lead others to do things that can make our lives miserable. I also believe that the Spirit, sent by my Father in Heaven can soften hearts and open doorways for me, IF I hold to the rod and humble myself in prayer. Does He always give me what I want when I want it? Nop! Does he often send others to help when I need it most? Yep. Do I always recognize those people when they arrive? Nop! Be humble, pray and when you don’t think or feel you’ve been heard remember it’s not time to quit and get off your knees. It’s time to pray longer and give thanks for everything you have. Then, always remember it is the “still, small voice” that answers. So listen!

First and foremost, welcome back!! Only your bishop can tell you when it's time to go. Be open and honest and he will take good care of you!

Okay, Pansy, what you wrote about law #1 and #2, implies that multiplying is a sin, (or transgression) or not possible without us doing something wrong. Does this mean procreation is a sin (or transgression)? I agree, Adam and Eve did not sin and that it was a transgression, but a necessary transgression. I believe they had to partake of the fruit so they would be able to exercise their agency. I also believe that Satan was allowed to tempt them because he has his agency and the battle he started in the pre-mortal state continues today. The Great War in heaven we read about in the Book of Revelations was not “won” but continues on today. Satan hasn’t and won’t stop.

I've never personally experienced this, but have helped two that have. It is a blessing that you are all okay and were out of the house, or got out in time. The material you lost was just 'stuff" and can be replaced. The photo's the memorabilia, the personal "things' that can never be replaced, yes there is a great emotional loss here. But what will you take with you when you leave this phase of your eternal life . . . each other and the memories you have made. I am so sorry about what your family has been through. What a blessing everyone is safe.

My grandfather had a long talk with me after my wife and I were engaged. I too have a history and I am ashamed of some of the choices I've made. He told me there was no reason to burden her with my mistakes. Just before we were married my wife confided to me that there were some things in her past she felt terrible about. I told her that her past was, in the past. She was my future and that was all I cared about. I didn’t need to know the details of anything and we left it at that. I didn’t ask about her talking to the bishop or anything else. A “mistake” contacted her a few years ago. Seems he is married now and just wanted to strike up a friendship or something. She told me he had sent her email and asked what she should do. I told her she knows how much I love her and that I trusted her completely. A short while later she told me she wasn’t going to send anything back to him. She said it was a mistake from her past and she didn’t want to disrespect me. I think we all have baggage from the past. If it’s not going to make us look good or enhance our current relationship, leave it in the closet, way in the back, and never open it up. If it’s not going to help your relationship with your husband, why even consider it?

Also keep in mind that at the time of Christ education and formal training was not something everyone had. But they did have things they used every day. So, to take something like bread or water and use it symbolically was not uncommon. In a lot of ways we still do this. I think of traffic signals; the shape of the sign, the color, and even those who speak little or no English, if they understand the shape and color represent something, can have an idea of what to expect or do. "Gospel Symbolism" by Joseph Fielding McConkie is a great book on the many symbols use in worship.

This is a tough one. I do have a lady who is divorced and has been dated a man for over a year. She has never told him she is LDS until recenty. His rely . . . "When can I join". He liked what he saw in her, her standards, her family committment, and her loving character. She never pushed church on him, told him she had family things to do on Sunday, but converted him through her example. His baptism is in two weeks. Once he knew "her secret" and what made her so loveable, he wanted to be the same. I don't know if that helps you at all but I felt you might like to know how someone else handled it.

Some people are not 'people persons' and the best they can do, for now, is something like simply dropping something off. Some people have touble making 'little talk' and the best they can do, to make a personal contact, is a card or a candle or a littel gift of some sort. I have home taught people that are not the sit down and chat kind-a people. if there is something they need me to know they will tell me and then move on. I can try to chat at church or at the store, once tried to make a little conversation while we were waiting for the barbar. But he wasn't a talking kind-a guy. It was as if he didn't know me. One day he heard I was hurt at work. He showed up at the hospital and asked if he could do anything. I told him I was his home teacher and I was suppose to look after him, not him after me. he said, "Oh, I thought we were friends". He and his wife drove almost 90 miles to my work to get my car, then drove it to my house for me. He still doesn't talk much, but he taught me a lot!

Two of my kids have been in the same situation. They have explained they find the show or book offensive and in bad taste and they have requested an alternative assignment or group. One teacher excused my son but instructed him to pick another book and write the same report on his own. He chose the Book of Mormon, (he had been reading anyway) finished it and wrote his report. That opened another can or worms, but he made his point and the school administration backed him. Good luck and stick by your standards!

Old Testament times required sacrifice and that sacrifice to be unblemished. My Savior, unblemished and having committed no sin, came to be the final d=sacrifice for all of us. In the garden of Gethsemane he took upon Himself all of our sins. He experienced every sin we could ever commit and so great was the burden that he bleed form every pore of his body. Then he was mocked, beaten, and then He gave his life, (not a murder) and on the third day he was resurrected. All so we, if we repent, can live again. This was all part of the plan. I think the problem here, Chaplain, is you over look or minimize the atonement.

What a sad day!! We just don't have people that make us laugh like he did anymore. When you grow up on "slap-stick" comedy and see it's just not done anymore, news like this is sad!

You're "loving" a figure or an idea, not a person. The missionaries are wonderful, spiritual men, but you don't know "them". Your love is for the spirit they bring into your home. I hope you never lose that! But first, work on your end of your marriage. Like was said before, you married a non-member because he was (and is) Mr. Wonderful. You do have a love for him. Ignite it again and hold to it. You will better convert by your example than my word!

Let's look at it this way, (which may be wrong, but for fun anyway) Christ, under the direction of the Father, created this world and perhaps more like it. He set things up, under the direction of the Father, so we could continue in our Fathers plan of growing. The Savior, (being first born to me is not important) grew as He followed the Fathers instructions. When I first wanted my son to learn to build a fire, I didn't tell him, "There you will find wood, go build a fire". I instructed him on what he needed to do. I believe the Savior learned much the same way. He had to come here, receive a physical body, He had to do the atonement, so we could return after repending and so He could stand as mediator for us before our Father during judgement. Yes, the Savior knew what addiction was, he understood impulse behavior, he understood it all. But He didn't know, he hadn't lived through it. And for that He needed to be here, He had to experience it at the time of the atonement, so that we can be forgiven. The Savior, the atonement, and his addressing His Father show me that we have a Father in Heaven and He sent His Son, Jesus Christ so that I can return. Nothing stands out to me more, helps me understand the trinity more, of who I am and why I am here. So, I believe the Savior grew as He worked under the Fathers direction and as He lived with a physical body and at the atonement as He lived through our mistakes so He could be the final Lamb on the alter, for us. Just a thought I guess.

The comments you've received are great!! The Bishop of a Singles Ward has to ask questions that are just as uncomfortable for him to ask as they are for you to be asked. I always had trouble finding the right words, or the right way to ask and had to trust the spirit would direct me. Just to give you a view from the other side, once released I couldn't remember most of those interviews or what was said. A year or two later, at a wedding reception, the sister thanked me for all the help and they time I spent helping her get ready for that day. I couldn't remember a single thing we had discussed! Not because I am an old man!! Lol. But because "I" wasn't doing the interview or counseling, the spirit was.

How could you do that to me??? I have to leave in less than ten minutes and a hanky doesn't do it!! great story!!!

LoudMouth is correct. However, Joseph Smith was a Master Mason and had petitioned to open and hold a lodge in Nauvoo. That was one of his problems on the political side. Nauvoo was growing and the number of Saints became a threat to political leaders and an easy way to cut out the competition was to slander and eliminate Joseph Smith.

Could these "secrets" taught by the Savior perhaps be "sacred" and not so secret and "not uttered" because one unworthy, or unprepared, would not understand and only make a mockery of it?

One of the most moving testimonies I have ever heard from the pulpit durinf conference. I wanted to shout out, "Yes!!!" a number of times. What a prophet, what a leader.

I called her late one afternoon and told her I would pick her up at 4:30 am, we were going on a special date, (it was a hot air balloon ride and I had meant to call a day or so earlier but that just wasn't"me"). She said if I wanted a date I had to call and make a date, she had a life and it didn't center around me or my schedule. That's when I started to pay attention to "her" and not "me". Then one day it hit me, I was a better man just from being with her, just from knowing her. She made me want to be a better man. That's when the love hit me. I love her more now than ever, so much more now it is as if I didn't love her before now, but I know I did.

When and if the person can be moved to the foyer it is done. If the patron cannot be moved, emergency personnel can be taken to the site, using the shortest route and the nearest exit point. All other patrons are not left in the area and as far as temple clothing goes, anything not necessary is removed so that anything sacred does not become a display or distract from the purpose of the emergency personnel. As for temple clothing on the deceased, that is not done until after public viewing, as instructed in the church handbook.

Lost87 is soooo right! No success can make up for failure in the home. In Moses 7:32 you find, " The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency". Sometimes we forget we know what we need to do and all we need to do is ask for comformation and support to do, what we know is best. The economy is hard on so many. Perhaps while you have this income you should be looking for an alternative.

I have read all the posts so far and you have received some great advise! Now, for your safty, demand he see a physician and you do the same. I had a sister approach me in the temple one day wanting to talk, (I was serving there, she a patron). She said she didn't know me but felt she could confide in me. Seems her eternal husband had been seeing other women. She didn't find out until he got sick one day, and never got better. He refused to go to the doctor and just got worst. Long story short, she was left a widow, HIV positive and with a daughter to care for. Her problem, (after all of this) was the loneliness she felt because no one in the church would give her the time of day. It was as if sharing the air would infect them. This was back in the 80's and the public didn't kow a lot about AIDS. She spent most of her time in the temple, her mother watched her daughter. She felt certain she would be healed as she didn't do anything wrong, she was a victim and with faith, snaything could happen. This is not a matter of respect nor does it have anything to do with what you did, or won't do, or could have done. Protect yourself, your future and your child today!

Keep in mind the answers you receive here may be opinions and you are taking scriptures from the Book of Mormon and comparing them to scriptures from the Old and New Testament, then asking for clarification. Similar to what Joseph Smith found in the teachings of men and passages in the Bible. Now my question to you; have you prayed about it? Have you prayed about the contradictions in the Bible?

I thought she was talking about the singing group . . . well that was before her time I know!! I opening just to see what you were warning us abot!! lol