Generally_Me

According to another forum I used to frequent a lot, yes. It is apparently much harder to believe in no creator than it is to believe in one. Since they consider their atheism to be a faith, they consider themselves spiritual. When I pointed out how a certain person there (other forum) was just participating in a certain discussion to destroy people's faith, and was asked by someone else "what, your god can't take it?" was about the time I came here. Like Ram, I believe spiritual atheists exist; but I haven't met any yet.

Technically, slapping that young a child that many times could result in shaken baby syndrome.

I read about this elsewhere first. I'm still stunned.

Yes it was. The book was better; they crammed too much into the movie, hence the flashing forward.

Pam, may I? This is something I've been wondering about, as someone getting ready to go to the Temple in a few months.

That is wonderful. We will all want to know how it goes! The missionaries won't care if you're in the living room or dining room, so wherever you feel more comfortable (I personally like the dining room). They will probably have to tailor their discussions to meet your needs, as you have studied up on Mormonism already.

I know the ministering of angels is, but I don't know about visions...

Hello and welcome

May I ask why the title of this is "laugh at me?" Did you think we would all come over here and say "haha, he doesn't feel what we do"? It does sound like to need to meet God partway. Instead of saying, "Let the missionaries aproach me" you could have said "When I speak to those missionaries, let them answer the questions I have." People, even missionaries, have agency and are imperfect, and may not know a prompting of the spirit as a prompting.

Hang on...her birthday was two days BEFORE prom and they wouldn't let her go?

An excellent question and one I had wondered myself. Ben, how hard is the popcorn? I am concerned about grinding it and destroying my grinder.

Jake, I find it interesting this is THE VERY FIRST post you EVER posted on this website. Looking for help, or asking for us to all fall away too? Or are you just heckling?

Snow, at this point, what are you bringing to the conversation? I don't have a source, but as I was raised in the church, not only did my parents teach me what Believer said, so did 2 different Sunday school teachers and a seminary teacher. So if it is a fabrication, it is widespread, and you have no right statin that Believer made it up himself.

Hello!

I never got it either. I have a very nice crucifix that was given me a few years ago, and a turn-of-the-century cross I have for sentimental reasons. Although we prefer to remember Christ resurrected, the tructh is that He did die, and did suffer for us. IMO. Which is not mainstream LDS.

I was wondering that too...I mean, 2 men, one a RM and one not, both get married around 22, both get sealed in the temple...both marriages are going to last eternity, how can one last longer than the other? :) Seriously. A mission is a good thing to do, but a lot of men don't, for whatever reason.

We took ours camping once. It resulted in several changes (I extremely dislike the compact blankets; do you know how hard it is to have the baby FINALLY go to sleep, only to roll over and wake up because of the loud crackling those metallic things make??). Also, what was the point in bringing extra contacts and no mirror? Got some spare glasses instead. Whether I like them or not, the point is to be able to see. I suggest you take a day or two and practice what you would do if (in our case) a wildfire came through and you had to evacuate quickly.

Yes, 3 years seem like forever. But, you can't be baptised in the church without their permission (I think) until you are 18. I agree with Hordak, use the next 3 years to study the scriptures, and try to honor your parents. If you are truly uncomfortable in the mega church (don't blame you) see if they will be willing to let you go to a more conservative church. In the vast scheme of things, 3 years are nothing. You have the internet and the library, for study of the gospel. Your friends don't HAVE to be LDS, just stick with a good group of teens and keep out of trouble. You can live the gospel wihtout actually being baptised; pray, do good works, study, and be a good example. I don't know why your parents hate LDS, but odds are they won't be happy when you do turn 18 and get baptised. When the time comes, remember what it says in Matt 19:29

Just getting my word in, for the prize....

Wondering the same thing... Did you give in and volunteer?

Latte, I don't want you feeling sorry for me :) I don't think poorly of my non-LDS and non-white neighbors. I understand that, sometimes people just don't see anything in common with someone else and don't feel comfortable reaching out if they don't see the similarities immediately. And really what are they going to do to get to know you? Invite you to coffee? That's probably how my neighbors feel, ..."I'd invite them to dinner, but gringos can't handle the salsa." Just keep up with what you are doing. I remember growing up in a Mormon neighborhood in Utah, there was a Catholic family. I didn't know them at all. Then one day, the mother contacted me and spoke a little, and came to ask me if I would babysit the boys. Very nice family, very nice home, and she got to know my family in an attempt to verify I would be competent at sitting her children. I'm not going to say that she and my mother became friends or anything, but we all knew her and were friendly with the boys.

As someone who lives in an area where not only Mormons are a minority, but whites are as well, I feel what you are saying, lattelady. Not only do I not know the names of the next door neighbors, the only people I know in the area are through work or church...and nearly none of those are within walking distance. My thoughts: There are people like this everywhere. And I don't think it necessarily has to do with different religions or skin color. The neighbor probably thougt (when I moved in) "Oh, we need to go over and give them some bread." Then, "My gosh it's been a week, what will they think?" Now it's "Oh, it's a year later, what does it matter? They have already established we are quiet neighbors."

The only answer I have is, search the scriptures, pay attention in general conference, read the Ensign and books written by the general authorities (past and present)...THINK on what you read, pray about it...and have faith that personal revelation will tell you what you need to know. Then again, I don't give a rat's tail if someone wears a yellow shirt to church. AFter reading the back and forth I am not going to publicly declare what I have been taught and what I believe, because...well, I am not a prophet of the church, and I think the answer is available to anyone who studies and has faith. Lattelady, I must say I am impressed with your knowledge of the LDS scriptures. And I hope you don't judge ALL LDS for what goes on, on this site. Our meetings in person are usually very quiet, compared to this. There is something about being anonymous that makes people bold. Which may or may not be a good thing.

Been there, did that. Lived a telestial law with a scummy guy, he was living said law with others (I was a naive teen but was eventually able to figure it out). Moved on, but I felt I was lost; spoke to my bishop and no good came out of it. I lived telestially with someone else. Got married civilly, not because we HAD to but because we WANTED to, and together we've been married 5 years, and are almost ready for the temple. The telestial law I was living, was a telestial law with "the rest of our lives" in my starry mind. I didn't just jump into bed with someone; it was someone I actually loved and wanted to be with. I value the experience we've had, and the heartache. Alma 24:11 has been very valuable to me personally in the repentance process. Hubby was ordained an elder last month, it was one of the proudest moments of our married lives. To the OP, your intentions and reasoning are your own. I definitely don't suggest doing anything because someone else thinks you should. The bishop that married us said "Why are you doing this? You don't HAVE to, even though you have lived sexually together". And we said, no, but we want to spend the rest of our lives together. Now we want to spend eternity together. Honey, the temple is most likely not an option anymore. Like Ram said, get married civilly or break up, or keep sinning. (sorry this was so long, I was trying to pack in my experience, sans too many painful details, since that's what she was asking for).

I am a very new RS-2nd counselor; we just finished revamping the visiting teaching route. I have two sisters to visit with a companion, and another one for 1-on-1 that I don't have an address for (just a phone number). It is good to know we are not the only ones with spotty info! Seanette, how have the visits gone?