ryanh

Repentence is not solely a checklist of remorse, praying, etc. Repentance is a process of change - of turning away, of change of behavior, and losing desire to sin. So, if you keep doing it, its probably not accurate to say you have "repented". You are in the process. What do you want more? To avoid embarrassment, or serve an effective mission? Don't go on your mission without discussing this with your Bishop first. I knew several elders in the MTC that hadn't fully discussed their issues with their Bishop prior to entering the MTC, and it really impacted their ability to be effective, let alone enjoy their mission.

Lest this thread derail completely without directly answering the basic questions asked . . . Absolutely. Yes. Rarely is there a semi-annual general conference where the church leadership does not touch upon moral purity at least a couple times. It is included in standard Sunday school lesson plans, and an integral part of teachings for our youth.

One cannot take Elder Faust's quote (and other similar ones) to be applicable to post-judgment assignment of glory without ignoring other scripture and a multitude of contradictory quotes. In my mind, the most likely understanding is that Elder Faust is speaking of the space of time spoken of by Alma betwixt death and the resurrection.

I wholeheartedly beg to differ. This entire post would not have been made were it the case that you did not care. But it is clear from the post that you feel hurt. Rightly so. You are being compelled to be humble when it wasn't a self-made choice. But to assert that you don't care is not wholly honest, and one of the posting styles that gets you in trouble. Having weaknesses is not a mistake. This is one area you need to learn more about. Your extreme defensiveness and 'stick with the sinking ship' attitude is a litmus revealing the mistaken understandings. It is OK to not know everything, to not always be right, or to have physical issues. But it is not healthy to attempt to overcome those by pretending they don't exist. And here is where the breakdown routinely starts. I don't recall anyone saying you "don't know much". What has been said repeatedly is that you don't know as much as you purport. Misconstruing, either through comprehension difficulties, or emotional interpretation schema's is going to continually cause friction. Try not to spin other's words so violently. Wow. You know, I think many would say that is precisely the issue they have with you. I think slamjet would take exception to being called the first one to start slinging the mud in relation to your threads. Had you only said something 1/2 as honest and self-introspective as that early on, I dare say I think your interactions with everyone here would be far different.

And that is precisely my point. Most teens are smart enough, have enough common sense, or despite their cockiness still have enough humility to know there are better ways to fit in and prove oneself. It's one thing when a teen is obstinate with people they are physically in the presence of and want to impress. To me, there is something wholly different going on when the audience is virtually anonymous and a person still attempts to hold fast to sinking ships when the ramifications are solely virtual. The more I think about it, the more comfortable the armchair diagnosis of clinical narcissism seems to feel. Ahhhhh . . . I think I'll just sit back in this armchair for a while and take a break. Better you than me!!! If any of the five teens/pre-teens in my house right now were to act like this, I think I’d pull my hair out. Foolish obstinacy is one thing. Being apparently blind to it and unable to be self-introspective would be a whole different game.

Not sure I really agree with that. I see other teens on here that behave themselves much more maturely in the electronic world than I have seen from this purported 19 yo. In fact, I can't recall any other teens behaving so badly in the two years I've been here.Perhaps it's ODD? Or just narcissism? Simply a troll?

You mean we agree on something? Publically?

Noted, and quoted. Don't you mean you heed the advice of prophets when it suits your preferences in relation to dating? It's already been pointed out that you have rejected dating advice of prophets. wow. Really? While I may not frequently agree with LM, I for one would be glad to have him in my ward and have him as a friend to confer with.

Also, something that every new couple should read is Winning the Argument or Solving the Problem.

Some level of conflict is not unreasonable. I think it all depends on the degrees though. If I were you, I would be somewhat concerned, as you are still in a euphoria phase (even if a very stressed one), and there are much harder challenges to come. You might look at some of Dr. John Gottman's discussions on fighting styles. "Fighting", or heated discussions are not necessarily a sign of a bad relationship. What matters more than whether or not you have conflicts and disagreements is how you two fight. There are some conflict styles that are productive, and others that are toxic. Figure out where you two are in that conflict style spectrum, and evaluate if you two truly are compatible. Infatuation love of the courting/engagement phase is not enough. It takes compatibility and skills too.

The post wasn't for the benefit of the thread. Only for the self-benefit of the poster. It is a way of generating your own links to a site to improve search engine rankings. So, the bump was a spam, not any meaningful post.

Again, they could not be "sealed" in the true sense of the word, only in the colloquial sense used by LDS. They had a "promise", but could not have been sealed in the scenario presented. Of course I don't. Nor do I feel a need to attempt to doctrinally refute 'doctrine' that simply does not exist. If an understanding of these matters were important to our work here on earth, I feel confident there would be revealed doctrine regarding the matter. I personally feel that the lack of revealed doctrine in regards to these matters means they are tangential distractions to what the gospel is really about. They are interesting and fun, but ultimately useless to what we need to focus on. Perhaps you can answer your own question by answering the question I posed earlier, but that you did not address. How/why is it that a perfect loving Father in Heaven can sever relationships with countless numbers of His children - including the third part that followed lucifer? Additionally, why should we expect to not be subject to the same laws that our Father follows? (ministrations (section 76) seem to be an extraordinary category, and do not speak to cross-kingdom familial relations IMO.)

A priesthood ordinance, such as a marriage in the temple that we refer to as a "sealing", is not actually a sealing. It is a promise. The sealing comes at a later time by the Holy Spirit of Promise once we have proven ourselves worthy. That would not come upon someone that was not entering (going to enter) the Celestial Kingdom as I understand it. Thus, in the context of the OP, the term "sealing" between brothers must be the situation of Born in the Covenant of 'sealed' parents.

Still interested in a doctrinal basis, if such exists. I don't see any of those five points as addressing any part of cross-kingdom continuation of temporal familial relationships; except in interpolation and supposition.

Upon what do you base that statement? If those in lower kingdoms will never be with God the Father, (and as King Benjamin and Alma explained, wouldn't want to anyway - they would choose to go away for the fact of shame), why would they be with, or want to be with other exalted beings? And, if God the Father looses eternal familial relationships because of poor choices of some, why would we not loose temporal familial relationships because of the poor choices of a brother/sister?

Hey Cameron. Glad to see you around from time to time. I agree with Ram . . . it isn't abnormal to have doubts creep in from time to time. A "testimony", as used in the LDS vernacular, is not a firm and absolute knowledge of the truth and existence of a God. Rather, it is a spectrum upon which we progress and become more and more sure. But, the only way to gain that surety is to exercise faith in that which we don't yet know – to ‘experiment’ upon the word. See Alma 34. I would ask you: Why would you want the authority to act on behalf of God, which is what the Priesthood is, if you didn't at some level believe in His existence? Do you really feel within yourself that it is social pressures alone? Or do you know of (feel) His existence more than you realize you do?

No offense but I wouldn't want relationship advice from someone who's been married more than once if it's due to a divorce.It is rather useless to attempt to have any sort of a conversation with a person that won't actually answer a question or address a specific thought. So, here it is again, a little more simplified: Do you feel your negative experiences in life have contributed to your maturity and understanding? I'm thinking from your earlier posts that you do feel that way. Please confirm or deny. And, how is it you feel that other's negative experiences have not helped them mature and gain understanding? By using your logic, since you have been the object of bullying, I should wholly ignore any advice you have for others on avoiding bullying or dealing with the ramifications, no?

I don't understand. If you feel that it is experiences (especially bad ones) that gives wisdom and understanding, then why do you so summarily dismiss the understanding of others who have extensive experience? Shouldn't your assertion mean you ought to give more weight to the advice of those that have experienced far more in the realms of relationship than you have? Esp people that have actually experienced deaths of significant relationships - including one or more marriages?

You will find a wide spectrum of responses to your past from potential partners. Some might struggle with it (and perhaps even be judgmental). Others would completely understand. Not everyone you will meet has been a life-long member. There are other converts that understand and are not so naive as to the realities of life and past experiences. There are also divorced men who have been in relationships with cold and inexperienced women who could see your self-knowledge as reassuring. I'm a bit unsure what specifically you are looking for. You ask how you should start over immediately before discussing pressures to begin a new relationship. Yet then quickly point out that you are not ready/wanting a new relationship. If you are having such ambivalence about the potential for a relationship, then it probably is not a good time to be thinking of a relationship despite what social or "adult contact" desires may be present. (and neither of those really are good reasons to enter into a new relationship - it's a recipe for a 'rebound') Your son, your life, and your future relationships will benefit from a stable and strong you. If I were in your position (which I was in a similar one a year and a half ago), I'd say you start over your life by focusing on your and your son's personal growth for a while. Set the idea of dating aside for a while. It isn’t easy, but it’s healthy.

You will find a wide spectrum of responses to your past from potential partners. Some might struggle with it (and perhaps even be judgmental). Others would completely understand. Not everyone you will meet has been a life-long member. There are other converts that understand and are not so naive as to the realities of life and past experiences. There are also divorced men who have been in relationships with cold and inexperienced women who could see your self-knowledge as reassuring.

What I find most ironic and, quite frankly - sad, is a situation like this when one who professes so strongly that they absolutely will never cross a certain line, and that they would never consider marrying anyone who has slipped up, is so grossly cavalier in taking steps to ensure such a course of purity is maintained. Sad that one can be so cavalier as to disregard, and even outright reject, dating advice repeated for several decades by several recent prophets, and yet expect results different than forewarned of. If you have an issue with the nature of the advice given here, then you clearly have an issue with following the counsel of prophets. And that IMO, is very telling. Why are you so concerned with getting serious with a minor, and not preparing for a mission?

Yes . . . grow up kid. Your posts show a maturity level that is subpar for considering a serious relationship that may result in marriage. If a lot of "crap" is coming your way, perhaps you ought to pull your head out of it's dark spot and ask yourself if maybe it is deserved. Geesh. The level of disrespect for seasoned wisdom is appalling.

Too bad you aren't in Utah. The original of that painting (which is titled Christus Consolator, painted in 1884) is on display at BYU through May 7th. Carl Bloch: The Master's Hand

Since this thread was started, LDS.org has been revised to include greater functionality for annotation, linking, highlighting, etc. See the LDS published Gospel Libray app at: https://market.android.com/details?id=org.lds.ldssa&feature=more_from_developer I haven't used it much yet (new phone), but it seems to work great so far.

You should listen to some experts on the topic of mormon myths. http://radio.lds.org/eng/programs/legacy-episode-39