Gemma

You obviously know a lot about herbal medicine and thats the main thing I wanted to emphasize, that people reading this should do their own research about their specific illnesses and not make a blanket decision.

This sounds like what I've been experiencing (with an entirely different question but the same feelings), so you might want to give the depression thing some serious thought. I spent a while blaming my feelings on outside factors before I realised I'd fixed them all and I still felt crazy! But then I can't tell you how I feel from a few internet posts Apart from that, have you ever read lectures on faith? It talks about the things neccessary for faith in God, the obvious one is a knowledge of his nature (which you probably have cos you've been studying), but also it also says a knowledge that you actions are pleasing to him is neccesary. You're doing great, he's pleased with your efforts, but do you feel that?

I'm not looking to get into a debate on this subject but I feel I need to state my views! 'Man-made' medicine can be just as much a gift of God as the herbal alternatives - after all we're all tools in his hands! And the major advantage of the man-made medicine prescribed by you doctor is that it has been tested in rigourous clinical trials and has been given to you by someone who has spent at least 5 years (in the UK at least) learning about medicine full time. This is very different to the gentile medicine of Joseph Smiths time which included things like arsenic! I absolutely believe that heavenly father provided herbs and plants for our health, but I have seen my grandmother treated for depression for over 15 years by a homeopath who the rest of my family are convinced is a quack. In 15 years he's made no perceptable difference, and has told her not to take anything her GP gives her! The same man told my grandfather to stop taking his heart medicine, which terrifies me! Basicly what I want to say is that every individual should look carefully at all the options and all the evidence with regards to treatment, and not have a gut reaction based on 'all man made medicine is evil' or 'herbal medicine is nonsense'

Try using a fork - a full size one not a hand one. The idea is to smash the earth up into little bits, then when you get down on your knees the weeds should just pull straight out! I'd use the hoe for the little weeds that grow between plants after you've done the initial hard work, they haven't had a chance to get established so you can just scrape at the top level to get rid of them. Good luck!

Hi libbets, Although the church believes that abortion isn't the right answer in the case of accidental pregnancy, neither do they believe that the mother should be left to raise the child alone. The 'ideal' solution is that the baby should be adopted - no one would pressure a mother to give up their baby if they didn't want to, but we do believe that to have both a father and a mother who are married to each other is the best upbringing for a child. I hope you get the answers you're looking for!

Ouch! I suggest you skip the comment above, its not likely to make you feel better! He made me cross enough to stop lurking and post! Try not to be too hard on yourself. Remember that your patriarchal blessing is for the rest of your life - no one expects you to become relief society president tomorrow, but who know what changes you and heavenly father will make together in the next 10 or 20 years! Sounds like you don't have a printed copy yet so i'd wait for that and then have a look and pick out some things that make you feel good. Its really hard to recognise the spirit - I've been a member all my life and theres only a handful of times when I can say yes, that was definately a prompting that came from outside me. Every body's different. What I try to do is follow any thought that tells me to do good - whether thats the spirit or my own thought at least I'm doing good! And it means I get practise, and tune myself in, and helps me to know when I am hearing the spirit. Get some help with the depression - I know when my grandmother comes out of depression she talks about being able to hear the spirit again. And when your feeling a bit better take some time for yourself - join a book club, do some gardening, take a class, just pick something you've always wanted to do and make time for it.