Diversity

I was meeting with some sister missionaries tonight and one of them declined to give me her first name. I was just wondering, is this standard practice or part of the mission rules? For those who have served missions, have you ever heard of it?

I have an honest question I have not been able to find an answer to with a cursory google search. I am a latter-day saint. I believe in and love this gospel. But my question is this: If John was to exist in the flesh until the second coming of Christ, than why was it even necessary to have a restoration of the priesthood by james and peter? Is one insufficient? I thought the the Prophet, Seer and Revelator held all the keys of the Melchizedek priesthood. So wouldn't Peter or John OR james been sufficient depending on which of them was the prophet, seer, and revelator in the days after Christ was crucified? (leaving open the possibility that the catholic tradition of peter being the first "pope" is wrong.) Perhaps I don't remember something accurately. But could someone answer this? Thank you for your time.

Hi. I don't know how to start. Some of you are my brothers and sisters in the church. And this is taking a lot of strength for me to ask. But I need help. And you have all taken covenants to help me. So I figured I will trust you and put myself out there and give you the chance to exercise your faith in the Savior and keep your covenants to bear my burdens. My name is not important. Several years ago, it's not important how it started, I became enveloped under the darkness that is Satanism. Now when I say Satanism I don't mean fancy philosophies of self improvement full of metaphor. I mean devil worship. I began to worship the adversary. Even talking about this sometimes brings back a bit of that spirit. I won't go into detail of how I did. But my main problem is severing myself from wickedness. To put it short... I am a wicked man. I have already begun the process of repentance by sincerely pleading for help to my Heavenly Father, and I have formally renounced and forsaken Satanism. I no longer seek out to worship the devil. Yet.. what I am struggling with are the aftereffects. And occasional regression. The best I can describe it to someone inexperienced with such practices. I channel the spirit of darkness inside me, like a righteous man channels the holy ghost. This is intentional and is the main focus of my devil worship. I used to use music to bring it stronger into my life. If you feel a palpable atmosphere of darkness at this point I'm not surprised. The devilish part of me takes joy in that. That I can spread this evil. I am conflicted. I know that I am doomed if I continue this path of willful rebellion. And I have made significant strides and improvement in forsaking it. But at times I feel such a strong pull towards evil. For evil's sake. The wall that you enjoy, for me has disintegrated. Unrighteous dominion has become an end in and of itself. Power is all that matters to me at times.. whether real or imagined. I'm not always like this, in fact I'm like this significantly less than I used to be since forsaking it along with the music that'd take me there. I feel good about my prospects of repentance. To summarize, darkness remains a temptation. I have learned that it's all an illusion, yet at times I cannot see clearly enough. Only trusting in God's love and grace for me provides any light. LIGHT. WHAT IS IT? WHO AM I? WHY DO I YIELD MY AGENCY AND MY BODY TO FOREIGN SPIRITS? And how can I be free of doing so unintentionally through various medias? Music etc. I have gotten to a point, I can channel evil and familiar spirits within me at any time with a thought. And now for the truly disturbing. I feel violent. There are times that I desire to shed the blood of my fellow man. I desire to murder, and cause terror and fear, and revel in it. It's hard to explain. An utter rejoicing in wickedness. This was one reason I forsook the adversary. I didn't want to hurt anyone. I knew that was my Rubicon. My point of no return. I sought darkness. And I found it. Now how do I free myself of it? I've already confessed all these things to my bishop, and God. I've rid myself of the worst of the music. The only times I feel this luciferian pride coming into me is when I listen to aggressive music of any kind. Before I didn't feel that way. Techno now is spiritual poison to me where as before it was just music. I can't be around any kind of metal. The strange part is at times, it doesn't feel anathema to me any more to think of violence. Rejoicing in it for it's own sake. How do I change? I have self control I'd never act on these desires. But the fact they exist as a temptation within me disturbs me. Don't judge me. Help me.

Exercise can even help your mental aspects as well. Trust me, when I exercise during the week I always feel much better able to cope with stress and problems in life. Not to mention the endorphin high from working out is always nice. I'd say exercise along with healthy diet are good for all 3. But there's DEFINATELY a pronounced effect on number 1. I'd agree more or less with meeshka. Isolation, no matter what the case isn't a good thing when it comes to psychological stuff. Human beings are social creatures. They NEED to be around other people.

By the way, I've run the full gambit when it comes to psychological pain. Suicide and the common themes that run with it, are garden fare for me. If there's a person more qualified for this situation other than an actual professional, I doubt they exist on this board. Fact is, unless you've dealt with certain types of issues in general, you really can't understand it. And you can often do more harm than good. Psychological krap is not like physical medicine. You can't just read a textbook and think you get it. You have to experience it. That's one reason Our Father in heaven sent us to earth. To get experience and not just learn by observation. I know some of you are under-experienced when it comes to these kinds of issues. Sorry if it seems harsh, but this is a persons life we're talking about here. The way a lot of you have panicked and acted like this person is some kind of freak (I know it wasn't your intention, but all the same that's what it was) has probably just scared them away from the board. They're just a person. And I suggest you all look at your thoughts a little closer and see if your subconsciously distancing yourself from them. We have an opportunity to do something really great here. Let's make sure they know we accept them and feel loved, and do what works for them. I'm sorry if this is a rant, i'm just annoyed by the typical mormon response to psychological issues. "Distance yourself and claim you care." I.E. The panicked "get help!" replies.

One of the biggest problems with "manic-depression" of a family member is that family members, like you, don't understand the real issues of what's going on. All you see is the outside appearance of what looks like progress. While inside the person that's heavily medicated is really just a zombie going through motions. It's a sick world we live in, but that's the nature of the beast when it comes to psychotropic medications. What this person may need is a combination approach. But pills are NOT a miracle. I would suggest they see a doctor and maybe get an anti-depressant while at the SAME TIME, seeking out a positive support group of people who will accept them. The biggest problem is not what you said, but how you said it. Panicking is not something that helps anyone. Especially in this situation. All that does is make them feel like a freak. Source:Was misdiagnosed with "manic-depression" as a child. (Proves what you know, it's not even called that anymore, now it's called bipolar.)

He doesn't need pills. He needs to look at his life and find support from people. You've obviously never contemplated suicide or dealt with these kinds of issues. Pills aren't a panacea. Do us a favor, and unless you have personal experience, don't throw your two cents in on these sensitive subjects ok? I know you mean well, don't get me wrong. I do. And I appreciate that. But you'll just do more harm than good.

Thanks for all the great advice. I really appreciate it. :) And I have sought counsel from my bishop. And I'm following it. But again, my personal promptings keep changing. And it makes me suspicious. I think I will take you up on that invitation Sunday. I'll start reading the BOM an hour a day. I hope it sharpens my senses.

I haven't really explained how significant the relationship was. It spans 3 years. It's not just one of those "oh it didnt work so move on" kinda thing. Nor is it some childish long distance relationship with only one or two dimensions. I guess it's my fault for not explaining, but I was really hoping more for a detailed analysis of doctrine in getting answers to prayers not a summary and judgement of the relationship or what I need to do. Although I do appreciate the replies. Let me explain. 3 years ago she lied to me about how old she was. We had a sexual relationship long distance. When I found out about it, and that she had lied, I was going to cut off contact with her. When she found out about that, she cut herself and got instutitalized. This woman has been sexually abused by her stepdad since she was 5 until she was 15. I caught her at 16. We were sepearated for 2 years despite the fact that it wasn't purely sexual and we had a lot in common. We were in a real relationship. We'd even prayed about marriage and felt it was right. 2 years later... a week after her 18th birthday, one day out of the blue she sent me a text. Ironic because I was just about to change my phone number. We began talking, and a month later we met for the first time. She'd loved me faithfully for 9 months after we'd split up and even named her teddy bear after me. She mistakenly thought I'd loved someone else though and had moved on a year before. Things started amazing on that first date. However, her family was intent on screwing with our relationship and controlling her. Although I believe sincerely they meant only the best for their daughter, they're good intentioned, misguided choices caused significant stress in our relationship. To the point I was even accused of being a pedophile by her uncle and humilated and my car searched after being told to drive an hour out of my way to her house after a date we'd been on instead of her just being picked up by her mom like the plan was. It was all a ruse to get her away from me, but we held on. She didn't' talk to me for 5 days and that's when our trust fell apart. Here I was, talking to her again, taking a risk that I didn't have to take, i'd been humiliated and insulted with the worst kind of allegations, when she herself had caused them 2 years before by LYING to me, and she wasn't talking to me. We struggled with trust issues for the next 4 months as we fought on an increasing basis, to the point where every night was screaming and yelling til 2 or 3 AM. Only to have it resolved and then start up again the next day. I should have trusted her during that time, but I've had a life ALMOST as hard, and had become jaded as a result, to the point where I actually VALUED cynicism and NOT trusting people. I called it realism, although I finally learned to trust her 3 days before we broke up and have tried to reject these things and reform myself. Christmas came along, and we finally saw each other in person again after 4 months. If we'd had been in person the whole time, i don't feel we'd have lost it. Xmas as amazing and we really reconnected. Over the course of the next several months, we made slow and steady progress towards improving our relationship, although every once in a while i'd slip and fall and revert back to my bubble of cynicism and emotional isolation. But overall things were getting better. Until one night, we fell in a big hole, and she called it quits. The spirit was abundant when we lived the gospel, but because of our abusive childhoods we were both hooked on sex. Now after the breakup, I learned a LOT. I learned EVERYTHING I would need to have a healthy, positve amazing relationship with this woman. Most importantly, I learned how to trust unconditionally. But she wouldn't trust me to heal her wound and show her that I really cared. She was hurt at first, and it was obvious. She even told me so. But as time went on, and she still rejected my attempts to embrace her and just let me SHOW her I could love her (and make no mistake it wasn't because she didn't want me to, it was because she was afraid it would be like before and she didnt want to be hurt) those feelings cemented from pain, into bitterness, and from bitterness into hate. And that's where we are. I've prayed, I've fasted, I've done all I can. That should clarify for those who commented, and help them understand this isn't just a get over it kind of thing. Even our families, who are both very dysfunctional would have meshed together exceptionally, and she's very much like my step-mom. And that's a good thing, because my step mom is a good person and I think my ex was meant to be a help mate to her with her own testimony and my marriage to be a useful analogy contrasting with my Dads. I feel like I should have been married to her right now. Also, about a year ago, My dad told me I needed to get to the temple and get temple worthy ASAP. I would have been almost worthy right about now if I'd been able to kick my habit and get there. I know that God ordained us to be married. But I do not know what the future holds. What I can't grasp is how such an inestimable blessing could be squashed just from disobedience. EVEN AFTER sincere repentance. Sincere to the grave. It's my belief that God values mercy over justice. That his Love for us is so great, that if we repent He will restore all our blessings. So I have to wonder, what more can I do that I have not done? Why can I not garner a promise from his Spirit.. And again, the main question I want to have answered by you here, and why this is in advice forum rather than relationships, is Will Darkness ever come as an answer to prayers? Why would I feel Satan or a devils presence behind me praying for this thing I have prayed for for so long, with different results?

Hi, I'm here to ask a question that I've been having a very hard time answering on my own. Long story short, it involves me and a girl. Quite a long time ago, we met long distance and we had a promise from God it was meant to be if we were faithful. We were involved in some pretty bad stuff and as it turns out she'd lied to me about something very important and when we got separated for a couple years. And Life went on and I was unsure of what it meant. Although I knew what I had felt. A year ago we were reunited. And we began an ill-fated long distance relationship again although this time we actually met. Our first date was amazing and we felt we had the same promise, that we had an eternal marriage in our future if we were faithful. Well, we weren't. I tried to hold on, but without the Lord's help neither one of us were able to overcome our trust issues from our abusive childhoods and we failed. I didn't treat her right cause I didn't trust her, and she didn't communicate. Long story short, we failed. We broke up four months ago, and I've been praying intensely ever since that we'd make it back together. When I talk about her I even still feel that feeling I used to about how much we were made for each other. Although she hates me. And in her own words would rather kill herself than be with me again. (This brief synopsis doesn't do the relationship credit, but it's not the main point here, so it's fine. Suffice it to say, we had A LOT of potential and i know that we were meant to be together. Both of us have felt this, and we're both not jack mormons, OR culture mormons.) So here's the question. As I've prayed and fasted over the past 4 months I've felt a variety of things. One being I need to move on, other times that if I'm patient things will work out, other times the devil seems to be the main feeling I get praying about it. I'm not really sure what any of it means. I know that I've done all I can. I gave her space, I apologized for my mistakes, etc. etc. When it first happened, God told me to move on. And even though I bucked his advice a bit, I did eventually follow it. To an extent. Although I am not so much in pain over the loss of the relationship as the loss of potential and the fact we'll never be together again. I do miss her, and I just can't get over that it could be so final and devestating when we had so much potential and it was this big thing that's encompasses 3 years. I feel so many conflicting things when I pray. My heart is pure though. And as I've continued to pray i've developed more and more of a love for her I yearn to express. Yet she still hates me, and won't forgive me or let me prove to her I care for her. I believe in miracles though. And I know that the power of God can cause all things to come to pass. My heart is sincere, and I've always left the door open that "let thy will be done, if what i ask for is not in your will God." I suppose it's possible that I'm not listening to the answer God's given me. But the answer seems to change, and I'm unsure what that means. And also, I just can't accept it. There's been times I've prayed that God would bring her back, and I can tell that he would be happy if we worked things out, but for some reason it feels like His hands are tied?? I don't know. What's really weird is when I pray sometimes, I feel darkness. And I can't tell if it's because I'm not heeding specific counsel or if it's just satan trying to discourage me. Last time I checked, darkness wasn't in the Lord's playbook. When I prayed about it tonight, i felt as if a malevolent presence as standing behind me. So can you all tell me? Can you back it up with personal experience, doctrine and talks by general authorities. I know God doesn't work in darkness, but I also know that if I grieve the spirit by asking something too much... wouldn't it leave? yet that seems to go against the counsel of pray always and faint not. I don't understand what it is. I have felt both that she will come back, and also that she will not. And often this changes even in a single day. Prayer about this subject is very shifting. Can I get some help? What should I make of these changing answers to my prayers?

Hi, I'm here to ask a question that I've been having a very hard time answering on my own. Long story short, it involves me and a girl. Quite a long time ago, we met long distance and we had a promise from God it was meant to be if we were faithful. We were involved in some pretty bad stuff and as it turns out she'd lied to me about something very important and when we got separated for a couple years. And Life went on and I was unsure of what it meant. Although I knew what I had felt. A year ago we were reunited. And we began an ill-fated long distance relationship again although this time we actually met. Our first date was amazing and we felt we had the same promise, that we had an eternal marriage in our future if we were faithful. Well, we weren't. I tried to hold on, but without the Lord's help neither one of us were able to overcome our trust issues from our abusive childhoods and we failed. I didn't treat her right cause I didn't trust her, and she didn't communicate. Long story short, we failed. We broke up four months ago, and I've been praying intensely ever since that we'd make it back together. When I talk about her I even still feel that feeling I used to about how much we were made for each other. Although she hates me. And in her own words would rather kill herself than be with me again. (This brief synopsis doesn't do the relationship credit, but it's not the main point here, so it's fine. Suffice it to say, we had A LOT of potential and i know that we were meant to be together. Both of us have felt this, and we're both not jack mormons, OR culture mormons.) So here's the question. As I've prayed and fasted over the past 4 months I've felt a variety of things. One being I need to move on, other times that if I'm patient things will work out, other times the devil seems to be the main feeling I get praying about it. I'm not really sure what any of it means. I know that I've done all I can. I gave her space, I apologized for my mistakes, etc. etc. When it first happened, God told me to move on. And even though I bucked his advice a bit, I did eventually follow it. To an extent. Although I am not so much in pain over the loss of the relationship as the loss of potential and the fact we'll never be together again. I do miss her, and I just can't get over that it could be so final and devestating when we had so much potential and it was this big thing that's encompasses 3 years. What's really weird is when I pray sometimes, I feel darkness. And I can't tell if it's because I'm not heeding specific counsel or if it's just satan trying to discourage me. Last time I checked, darkness wasn't in the Lord's playbook. When I prayed about it tonight, i felt as if a malevolent presence as standing behind me. So can you all tell me? Can you back it up with personal experience, doctrine and talks by general authorities. I know God doesn't work in darkness, but I also know that if I grieve the spirit by asking something too much... wouldn't it leave? yet that seems to go against the counsel of pray always and faint not. I don't understand what it is. I have felt both that she will come back, and also that she will not. And often this changes even in a single day. Prayer about this subject is very shifting. Can I get some help?

Yes I am. And it really does a lot to strengthen my own testimony. You see the roots of the gospel in every religion.

Thank you. I do. :) I actually tried to go to a catholic mass today. But there's no mass at 6 in the summer. I also signed up to be a soup kitchen volunteer. I love learning about different faiths. I figure, I'm secure enough in my own, learning about others would only help me love them more. ANd plus, it's interesting. I think we should always strive to learn more and educate ourselves about all different kinds of things. Because ignorance to me is one of the worst evils that exist.

Nice to meet you.

Welcome. :)