Seanette

We have one. It's OK on things like shirt buttons, I don't recommend it for waistband buttons. (sigh) I may be one of a dozen people in the country who doesn't have a Foreman grill (limited counter/storage space is a problem). I do keep seeing them at DI, though.

I missed out on Mutual (baptized at 24), but currently co-ordinate a multi-ward youth service project. Three wards in my stake rotate having their YM/YW go to a local nursing home once a month to participate in activities with the residents. Everyone enjoys it, kids and seniors. Fun and games are great, but wouldn't service projects be good too?

Wish I could do more to help, besides offering a sisterly cyber-hug and praying for you.

I sympathize with the OP. I just bought a new quad a couple of months ago (two reasons: needed larger print to accommodate eyesight, and it was my fifteenth baptism anniversary), and spent over $60 for it. I reminded myself I had plenty of reason to lay out that money, and that I was investing in my spiritual growth. Of course, bookstores are dangerous territory for my wallet. DH cringes when I walk into a bookstore (especially Deseret Book) with anything negotiable (cash, checkbook, debit card...) in my possession. I always spend too much there. (sigh)

I'm sure you're right. [giggle]

I personally would carry such a child to term (might not be able to face raising him/her, but would at least bring the child into the world). To me, it would be unjust to the child to execute him/her for his/her father's crime against me. However, I do understand that not all women could feel that way, and I do not condemn a woman who makes the choice to abort under that circumstance. Casual abortion because you didn't bother with birth control or it didn't work (especially if you're sleeping with someone outside marriage), I consider absolutely unjustified (why should the child die for being an inconvenience?). The situations in which the Church considers it an option, I won't argue with the woman, and if it were a friend who wanted to have a driver, hand-holder, etc., I'd do so if she asked.

The theory is easy, the application is the hard part, at least for me.

My mother-in-law had the interesting experience of escorting her own mother, then years later her daughter-in-law (it was her or my VT, and MIL would have been hurt if I'd picked my VT).

No, I really meant Fry's Electronics. Seriously.

I think we're talking about the same thing. Involves two combs connected by beaded elastic. My hair's quite fine and these do well for me. You can also find them at places like Walgreens, Rite Aid, etc. and possibly at Wal-mart.

And I think He's somewhere in the middle. Loving as long as we let Him be, harsh when we're so full of ourselves that he has to use a figurative clue-by-four to get our attention. Also, what seems harsh to us in our limited mortal perspective may well be a loving Parent teaching us. The image popping into my head is a parent teaching a child to walk or ride a bike. The parent has to let go sometime, the child falls down. The child thinks it's a harsh way to learn, the parent (having greater experience) knows it's necessary to give that child the skills needed to succeed, which a loving parent wants. Another analogy would be having to correct a child who is doing something dangerous (sticking something metal into a power outlet) or morally wrong (stealing a candy bar from a store). The parent yells or physically removes the child from danger, or requires the child to confess the theft and return the stolen item (or make restitution). To the child, harsh and seemingly unfair, to the parent, a regrettable necessity to teach an essential lesson.

Glad to see you feeling better. My advice (assuming you haven't put me on Ignore ) is to not let Satan hassle you over the past. That's over with, the Church and most of the members have moved forward. Look forward to the future. Yes, there's been progressing to do as a Church as time goes on (the Word of Wisdom and tithing also fall into this). "Line upon line, precept upon precept" - the Church is given greater truth and knowledge as the membership is able to deal with it. There's a lot currently considered standard, I'm sure, that will change as time goes on and the Church as a body learns and grows in strength, faith, and righteousness. That's one of the good parts about a church led by a prophet - we get that new information when the Lord decides, "Oh, good, they're ready for what I want to give them".

My DH and I have speculated on this, with the idea that a universe occupies its own dimension of reality and each dimension might well have a different God in charge (it seems plausible that Heavenly Father had siblings, after all). Yes, we're geeks. Neither of us would represent that theory as in any way doctrinal, please note. Both of us realize this is simply us kicking around theory. Doesn't matter to our salvation whether we're right or not, it's just interesting intellectual exercise.

I don't usually do the "as seen on TV" aisle, but do own some EZCombs (hair accessories, for the men present ). They're easy to use, comfortable, and do the job. They're also nice-looking, IMO (several sisters have commented to me they like them too). Got those at Fry's, of all places. I also own a Steam Shark I bought at Sears. Love that thing. Does a great job (and I can even get DH to help clean by letting him use it ).

My stake patriarch and his wife came to our endowments and sealing. I think that was more as family friends, though, since they'd known DH and his parents for a long time. I was mildly surprised that the ward RS scheduled their Temple trip to be able to attend, but I certainly didn't object to the display of love and support, especially since the only family member I had there was a distant cousin (he and I had been friends and developed a brother/sister attachment (both being only children) before his mother figured out the probable family connection). Also, a lot of the sisters who were there had known the family I was marrying into for quite some time as well. I'd consider the motivation. Chances are your bishop is acting from affection and a desire to show support for your marriage. If he really wants to be there and there's room, what harm is there? If, OTOH, your sealing room is already full with family and closer friends, I'm sure he'll understand if you take a "I'm sorry, but the sealing room is at capacity" approach, rather than seeming as if you're feeling a territorial violation (no offense intended, but I kind of got that impression. Didn't sleep well last night, so if I misread you, I apologize).

I have cable (largely for the BYU channel), but don't watch huge amounts. DH and I enjoy "Mythbusters", and I have to confess that "The Smoking Gun Presents: The World's Dumbest ______" (different forms of amusing stupidity in different episodes) is a guilty pleasure (could be worse, could be Jerry Springer (barf), soap operas, or "reality" TV). I also like my cable package's digital music channels. DH and the cat are "24" fans. We've done without cable when our finances were too tight to justify the luxury. Giving up Internet would be another matter . I agree with MissKitty and Gab84. It's a tool, and the value or lack thereof is in how it's used. There's no inherent morality in watching TV or not, but in the shows that are chosen and whether the quantity is keeping you from more important priorities (Scripture study, service, spending actual interactive time with family, developing talents, etc.).

Sounds similar to a much-loved family in my present ward (although with fewer kids! They have 5, 2 still at home, and frequently bring grandkids to church). The wife is in the RS presidency, the son takes his turn with the Sacrament as frequently as any other boy, the daughter participates in youth service projects (I coordinate one such), and the husband is well-respected for his knowledge. I don't know anyone in the ward who doesn't love this family. We also have a range of other ethnicities: Asian (I'm guessing Japanese, but could be wrong, haven't had a chance to get to know that older brother and his son), Filipino, Polynesian, and probably a few others. In my ward, people are loved and respected for the character and talent they bring in, skin not relevant to anyone I've talked to. Another ward in my stake has a bad clique problem, but that has more to do with the student/non-student split, with some aspect of who lives where. Color not relevant there, either. I'd suggest letting go of the past and looking forward, unless you want to have reasons to be hurt and offended.

DH has considered getting one of those for our pets (cat and bird). I worry about it being noisy enough to scare them (and in the cat's case, that could get a human injured). More detail on your experience with it, pretty please?

I remember one time in kindergarten I brought one of our dogs in for show and tell. He was very well-behaved and popular with my classmates.

Or as small as the Church was back then, maybe those faithful and reliable enough to be called on were concentrated in certain families. Of course, with JGK (great man, and I wish I'd been around in his time), he very well may have been joking. Can be kind of hard to tell with him.

We have the same birthday (although I'm old enough to be your mother ). Happy birthday in advance, and best wishes for the mission!

I think we need to limit government to what the Constitution actually authorizes. We also need to find a way to break the dependency pattern and teach self-reliance, and let the private sector take care of charity (more efficient and voluntary).

I really have to agree here. When you start restricting someone's freedom of speech because you don't like what they're saying, where does it end?

I saw on another forum where this came up some discussion of the difficulties well-known members have serving proselyting missions because their personal fame interferes with the work. If Donny Osmond's son had this problem, an American Idol winner would probably have it even worse.

"No matter what they do"? Even if the spouse totally rejects the Gospel and that sealing? And what happens when one spouse qualifies for the Celestial Kingdom and the other chooses to live a telestial life? Well, there goes free agency. My husband could go off and do whatever, he could totally reject being with me even in this life, and he'd be forced to be stuck with me for eternity? My understanding of the doctrine is that both spouses must remain faithful for the sealing to remain in force.