blackknight5k

I was in a similar situation as you, I felt the urge and I decided to look up my ward and call the number of the Bishop. It took about a week for them to get back to me (the number online was to the clerk's office or something, and they don't check the VM often). The Bishop called me back and we had a nice discussion about what I had done and what I was going to do to make things better. So yes, go talk to your bishop. There is nothing special you have to say to him other than "hey bishop, I'm ready to come back" and he'll help you get there. Thanks to 2 wonderful bishops, a good set of home teachers, and most importantly my wife's support, I am now a worthy Elder and waiting on my wife's 1 year to come up so we can get endowed and sealed in the temple.

David Ridges has a newer book out called 65 Signs of the times - it goes through 65 of the signs (it's not a list of all the signs, I don't think one exists) and it goes through if they have come to pass, are in process of being fulfilled, or yet to be fulfilled as well as "unknown". I highly recommend this book

I actually meant to say something about that, but I forgot as I was typing and watching a movie at the same time. I do know they got some things right, again I don't want to go into detail as I try not to think about it. I also know that the only people I know who have problems with spirits and haunting and whatnot all dabble in some sort of wicca/witchcraft. I have personally witnessed instances of supernatural things occurring at their homes such as items levitating or things flying around the kitchen (whatever it was hated the kitchen). I actually lived in the haunted local for a month while I was transitioning to a new city where I saw the majority of the weird stuff. I mostly was intrigued by this because of the dealmaking that the guy did - just like Cain became Master Mahan. I know people are still making deals with the devil, who knows what they are selling or getting, but no good can come of it.

This thread can be locked if the topics should be merged...doesn't hurt my feelings any

I couldn't tell you...maybe someone out there needs to see it?

Warning - Heavy smiley use because it's the only way I can easily communicate my feelings on this strange subject... I can't stand watching these types of shows, how fun is it watching a team of nerds spending their night walking around in the dark looking for something that probably isn't there? Never have I seen a show that I thought "huh, maybe that place IS haunted"...well, until yesterday. My family and I were visiting my Mom and brothers yesterday and they were watching some hard core extreme ghost hunting show on the chiller channel or syfy or something. We watched 2 episodes - each started with the typical interviews of the owners of the home saying "I see x at y times of the day" and they show pictures of what looks like lens flare off of some spec of dust or something So then they do their start of the "investigation" and set up cameras, pretty much wasting 10 minutes of our lives finding nothing. They finally bring in a "psychic" in some sort blindfold and walk her around the house. Again I'm all as she's saying "I'm getting flashes of a pentagram in this room, and in this room I see specifically an upside down pentagram with a goat in it". Now at this point I'm about to leave the room because I'm bored out of my mind and my eyes are hurting from rolling so much...well they take her into the basement and she starts talking about "seeing" rituals and there's something in this area that is linked to dark spirits and there is more going on...then they switch to the owner guy and ask him "did you ever do any sort of paganism or satan worship" and he says "yes, I use to be heavily into satan worship and I made a deal with the devil" :eek: "the deal was that he would give me 20 years of whatever I wanted and in turn I would give him 20 people converted to stanism" The interviewer asked him what he wanted and if he got it, his response was something along the lines of "you know money, women, protection" and yes, he got it. So I'm now all because this fool actually made a deal with the devil and now he's trying to get out of it and of course there is going to be trouble...anyway, the whole thing reminded me of Cain becoming Master Mahan just sans killing his brother. Long story short, they did some more waste of time "investigation" and one of the investigators said something like "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to show yourself" Which I promptly responded to the TV (I don't usually talk to the TV) "No, Jesus Christ would tell him to leave!" The second episode was very similar with the owners also practicing the "dark arts" and now they are in trouble. They went into more detail about the satan worship which, I'm sad to say I know a little bit of the details as I may have dabbled in some wicca at some point in my youth, as well as having a friend who is very heavily into stuff like that. They detailed a lot of stuff and it was mostly correct (from my little knowledge). So, as for the Gospel side of this thing. Evil stuff is out there, we're told to not talk about it and to pretty much "ignore it". I believe that if you turn your home into a temple as we are suppose to do then it will keep these evil spirits away. However, if you make your home a haven for evil spirits then it won't exactly be easy to get rid of them. I hope this post doesn't violate the "don't talk about it" rules... EDIT - I didn't see that there was a similar thread in the General Discussions sub-forum - I guess the mods can feel free to merge this post into that one if it should be

That's just...I have no words...

During one natural disaster, can't remember which one it was a few years ago, there was a prison who kept calling asking when their connection would be back up. Now, this is understandable because in a prison NO ONE can move when they can't connect to their system. Prisoners can't be let out to the yard or go to the lunchroom or anything because all of their movements are recorded. What's NOT understandable is that they kept arguing with us because we kept saying "there is no power to that entire section of the city" and they kept saying "we have power! we have power!" - come to find out they had a backup generator, but that doesn't mean their circuit will be up because the switches down the road in the telcom center didn't have power...they just couldn't wrap their heads around it.

We do the network security and transport (pretty much we're the internet service provider) for all of the Department of Justice, Department of Treasury, and US Courts (Just to name a few of the government customers in that area) - things got really crazy really fast after the quake, but looks like lots of the places are just going home which made call volumes die down. Hope things aren't as crazy for you, seeing as how power is more important than an internet connection.

I'm in NC, we felt it and lots of my customers are evacuating or evacuated. We're now taking calls from our sister-center in VA because they can't go back into the building (probably just until it's inspected).

Sure, let me have the self defense instructors create accounts on this site just to argue with you. I didn't say I would approach them, I would stay in an easily defensible area and shout out that 1) I have a firearm and 2) I will use it, also 3) the police are on their way. I was trying to stay generic. I am no longer going to argue with you only have deaf ears for this conversation.

My responses are based upon lots of research and suggestions made by self defense experts, lawyers versed in NC law, and law enforcement personnel. Your opinion means nothing to me, no offense, as I respect those above people's advice much more. If you don't feel like owning a firearm, then by all means don't own one.

That's a good question, despite the lack of information I am going to assume a few things in my answer: 1 - My children are in bed across the house from the kitchen 2 - I am between my children and the intruder My actions, in order: 1 - obtain phone and firearm 2 - call 911 to report a break in - informing the dispatcher that I am armed and am in fear for my families and my lives 3 - have my wife get the children and take them to a safe location 4 - cover the direction in which the intruder is, minding where my shots could go always following the 4 firearm rules 5 - inform the intruder that I know he is here, I am armed and ready to defend my life and my family's lives The events after this are dependent upon the intruder - if they flee, then I will let them go. They are no longer a threat to my family or me. If he attacks me, then I will shoot him until the threat is neutralized - at that point I will inform the dispatcher (I'm sure they would know after the gunshots). If the intruder stays put until the police arrive then I'll let them do their thing. I am not a bloodthirsty, delusional person with the hero syndrome, on the contrary I hope to never have to use my firearms in any manner against my fellow man. I am prepared to defend my family - that is all.

I have a carry permit, I don't carry into the church because I don't have a jacket (nor want one, really). However, I want those of you that claim that people carrying guns just escalates arguments to cite sources. In all honesty, you're all talking out of your rear ends. Just because someone chooses to carry a firearm doesn't make them quicker to anger nor does pulling your firearm result in them getting shot "more often than not". Here is a link to a PDF with more gunfacts than you'll probably read (honestly, I doubt you'll even click on the link) - all statistics are cited. It's honestly insulting to me that you would insinuate that I would, just because I am carrying a firearm, escalate a simple heated debate or argument to the point of violence and possible murder. I am a level headed human being, as most people are. We have been told to protect our families even unto bloodshed, it doesn't say "well just when they are in your home". Please stop the ignorance.

As a former Atheist with Atheist (ex)-friends I will tell you this - Arguing with a rabid Atheist or really anyone else with another extreme viewpoint than your own, it is not worth the time or the torment to argue with them endlessly. If they ask you a question, it's ok to answer, however if they are being rude and hardheaded, just walk away. Log off from the computer and go take some deep breaths, read a little bit, go for a walk, whatever but when you come back just leave them be. I have a cousin that has caused so much ruckus over religion and child-raising that I will flat out refuse to talk to her anymore - does this make me a bad person? I don't think so, I gave her plenty of chances to calm down and discuss things rationally rather than with the "holier than thou" attitude that the majority of the people my age have these days. tl;dr - just ignore them and don't argue