Suzie

I was a VT supervisor for a couple of years and I learned that you cannot force people to do Visiting Teaching, you cannot and shouldn't not harass them or make them feel guilty in order to have the VT done and report whatever percentage you feel is acceptable. If you do it, I think it loses all purpose which for me it's about showing through actions and not merely words true and honest concern and love for others. What I did instead was to focus on Christ and his great example of love towards those in need.

About the OP, what else can you do? Continue doing your very best even if it means without support. I worked in primary in different countries and kids are the same everywhere: HYPER. Specially in Church, I would suggest lots of songs and fun activities rather than a formal type of lesson.

THAT and animal crackers (for ME) and I am set.

Swiper, I don't know you personally but based on your few posts on this thread I sense you care lots about your wife and you are not leaving the Church bitterly. What you are going to do is going to be hard for everyone involved and yes, your wife will go through a mourning period but I believe once you continue showing your deepest love towards her, she will be able to handle it a little easier. I wish you all the best and I hope you can be a great asset to whatever religious organization you choose. :)

I have absolutely nothing against beauty pageants or members being involved in beauty pageants. There are some like Miss World where they feature humanitarian efforts by the contestants so not everything is about "physical" beauty. Also, with regards to public prayers...I used to think like a lot of members...that people shouldn't pray in public but I have changed my mind over the years. Why? Simply because I am not in position to judge or know the intention of such individual. It's something between them and God.

I don't know if he will feel embarrassed about it Applepansy but I think it's amazing of you to care so much for your grandson and ensure he is happy and safe. :)

The wife of a good friend of mine wasn't able to get pregnant for the first 10 years of marriage. All of the sudden and without medical intervention, she became pregnant with twin boys. Two years later, thinking her chances of becoming pregnant again were slim, she got pregnant again...with twins! (boy and girl).

I am not sure. Even though it was illegal for Jews to stone someone to death, it didn't stop them from doing it (Stephen's death is just one example) and the Romans apparently ignoring it. It seems to have been a matter of who was the person going to be stoned and whether or not it would have caused a riot among the people.

Well, it depends. Is it one person misinterpreting or is it something that happens often and with different people? If it's often, then I would analyze what I'm doing that may be causing people to do that. If it's just one person, it depends on my mood and whether the topic is that important to me.

One of my favorite stories in the NT because it shows in such a magnificent way how wise Jesus was. He knew exactly why the pharisees brought this woman to him, he knew they were expecting him to say something and condemn him yet he threw the burden to them and it worked out perfectly. Most people focus on whether or not Jesus forgave the woman. I like to focus on the fact that he didn't condemn her, he didn't humiliate her, he didn't point out fingers at her, he didn't scorn her, or mocked her, he didn't embarrass her. He showed such a deep love and concern for this woman. I think that's the great message behind this story. A message about how WE should be with others. Sometimes we believe we have all the answers and try in a conscious or subconscious way to try to "fix" people and tell them how wrong they are, sometimes we condemn harshly those who do not believe in the same way as we do or they simply chose a different lifestyle than the one we think is the "right" one. Sometimes we believe we are better than others, more educated, more righteous, more experienced, more spiritual... just because we have the Gospel in our lives and attend Church every Sunday...but just like my signature reads: "Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car."

President Grant prohibited all forms of alcohol as a requirement for a temple recommend. Before that, even though many Saints stopped the consumption of strong drinks such as whiskey, they still drank beer and cider.

I don't believe in weight loss programs. I believe in changing your lifestyle and eating habits because you can still be slim and unhealthy. I'm sort of a health freak but I still enjoy pizza and tacos on occasion.

I don't know of any present Church policy that states that someone who has been divorced cannot serve as a Bishop. As a matter of fact, I met a couple of them and of course all of them remarried (because in order to serve as a Bishop, the person must be married). It really has nothing to do with the person being divorced but whether or not the person has remarried. Hope it helps.

Why can't someone repent and try again? (with regards to tithing). And how do we know for sure their heart is with the money, just because they don't pay it? I think there could be many other reasons why someone doesn't pay tithing.

If possible, do not read your talk, it makes me sleepy. Second, personal experiences about the topic (I find members in general love "story time")

If his family abandoned him, etc then they have issues but NOT every Mormon acts in the same way towards homosexuals or believes in the same way about homosexuality. You will see a big spectrum of opinions on the matter.

A "doer" not a "talker" . I don't associate being "active" with Church attendance per se because just like any other religion, many people just go to Church to warm a seat, use it as a social club or be present just in "body" during a meeting.

This whole thing has nothing to do with your weight. Your husband sounds like a jerk.

Children are very smart, I think a lot of people underestimate them. I don't see anything wrong with the doll and yes I would buy one.

I said it in another thread but I will say it again here: IMO, if someone is bothered in any way by a mother breastfeeding in public, he/she is probably staring too much.

Hidden: Fasting, repentance, prayer and everything else is all good in normal circumstances but I would strongly I repeat, strongly suggest that you take a psychological approach to this problem and get your son (and family) the help of a therapist right away. Based on the limited information you have provided, your little son exhibits a predatory behavior that could be the result of many factors from psychological issues to sexual abuse. Spanking him, yelling at him it's not going to "cure" him neither make him understand what he is doing wrong specially because he is repeating the behavior. PLEASE, get help for him and your family right away. All the best.

For what is worth: I was always skinny (genes thanks to mom) and after a few kids I put on probably 10 pounds maximum so I am around 115lbs at the moment. I'm quite health conscious (not fanatic so I still love my pizza, my pasta and my tacos). I think the problem sometimes of why some people may have a hard time losing weight is because they go on diets. Personally, I don't believe in diets. I think the easiest and healthiest way to lose way and keep it it's to make it a lifestyle change rather than a temporal fix (diets). Exercising is key. But because all this takes a lot of work AND long time commitment, few people end up losing the weight and maintain it.

One of my sons is sick and I couldn't go to Church today. Guess who sent me a text just a little while ago asking why I missed Church? :)

I moved to a new ward some time ago and I was looking forward meeting new people when I saw her for the first time. Tall, young, extremely quiet, with big brown eyes and a very serious face. I wanted to say hi and introduce myself but I was too afraid to do it because I thought she would literally bite me. I tried to make a comment about the weather to see how she would react and her eyes pierced mine with anger and frustration and she replied by shaking her head. No words were spoken. I didn’t even know at that point if she could speak. Next Sunday. There she was again. This time she looked like she was going to beat up someone at any moment. I decided to sit near her row. She saw me. Great, I thought. She gave me the serious look and I smiled back. She didn’t. She remained the same. No singing, no talking, going right after sacrament. I tried to make conversation but my sons were upset that the “magic word” we had for sacrament meeting which was “Holy Ghost” was mentioned only twice and gave them the right to only a couple of m&m’s. They argued I should have chosen “Jesus Christ” instead. She looked at me and left. I tried to get more information about her and I even described her to the Bishop and a few sisters I know. It was almost like if I was asking information about a recent convict because everyone knew who she was yet nobody wanted to talk or tell me anything about her. After a couple of Sundays, I was in the bathroom after sacrament meeting fixing my make up when she stormed in crying her eyes out. She was crying so much that the top part of her dress was soaking with tears. I asked what’s wrong? But she didn’t answer. I asked for a second time what’s wrong and she had nothing to say. I stood there looking at her red eyes full of tears….the total unhappiness on her face and I asked for a third time “what’s wrong”? And she shouted “Nothing, go!”. I didn’t move. I don't know why I didn't move. I looked at her. She looked at me. There was complete silence. I smiled and told her my name and she quietly told me hers. Then all came out. Her abuse as a child, the present verbal abuse from her priesthood holder husband, a child she abandoned, separation, chastity and substance abuse issues and the total feeling of despair, loneliness and deep sadness. And yes, the tears. I have never seen anyone crying like that in my entire life. I didn’t know we could produce so many tears. Well, she certainly can. We talked for the entire time of Sunday School and some part of Relief Society, well…she talked. I listened. A sister came in and without realizing what was going on, said “Sisters! Do you know you are suppose to be in Relief Society class now!?”. I smiled and said yes, I know. Her confused face couldn’t stop the questioning and asked “Then what are you guys doing in the bathroom”? I smiled at my new friend who smiled back at me for the first time, gave her a hug and said to this sister “Fellowshipping”. More confused than ever she replied “In the bathroom??!” I smiled and said, yes fellowshipping in the bathroom. It's amazing.You should try it.

Hahahaha!!! You know what? A few years ago, my best friend was at home and I played to her the same audio with President W. Woodruf speaking on the talking machine. She said almost exactly the same thing that Pam said and I replied almost exactly like you did! So I am laughing a lot at the moment...