MurphyGal

I am from New Mexico. Gary Johnson isn't even much of a Libertarian. Libertarians believe in small government and lots and lots of liberty. When Johnson was Governor, he increased the size of the state government by over 50% and increased budget spending by 240%!!!! For those of you who don't know, New Mexico is the second poorest state in the United States (poorest is Mississippi). Now, I realize that he is free to make the choice to have been a long-time pothead (he said he just recently stopped and would not smoke as President...now THERE'S a campaign promise, eh?) BUT, marijuana has been shown to be very debilitating to cognitive functioning and memory. I am dismayed (if it is true) that so many in Utah would support Johnson, who is a big spender, NOT a libertarian in deed and has many socialist beliefs and goals.

Yes, you can call it a conspiracy or call it history repeating itself - when Europe went to the Euro, getting rid of the British pound, Irish pound and all the other monies of individual countries. There is an effort to now complete the globalization, by making ONE currency, ONE banking authority, ONE defense authority, ONE law authority, etc. It began when the markets were globalized, a further step when our judicial system began using UN law or European law to influence some judges legislating from the bench, NATO and the UN influence our defense and military decisions too much. Anyone who doesn't see this globalization is not paying attention. Will there next be....ONE religion forced upon the U.S.? This is the war between good and evil, between free agency and government control of the individual. Much of the population has not been schooled in the constitutional constraints on the three branches of government and how they are now being breached. Kathleen

Reminds me of the time when I was the primary music leader and the primary 2nd counselor stood up and said "Let's bow our arms and fold our heads" LOL She caught herself right away and everybody had a good laugh. Of course, reverence was hopeless at that point, as every child in the room, junior AND senior primary, demonstrated efforts of folding their heads!! LOL

If we live righteously, no blessing will be denied us, whether we are male, female, single or married. We can have opportunity in the next life to find an eternal companion. In fact, I'm counting on that one myself! ;-> Kathy

We also are advised to listen to our leaders. They have been given the keys and the authority by Jesus Christ through His servants in the church to do all things in our good interest. The fact that you distrust your bishop and feel that the stake president is out to get you are clear manifestations of the paranoia that goes with your illness. And don't forget that Satan is well aware of our weaknesses and delights in using those weaknesses to turn us against our leaders and as a result, against Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. I hope you will find room to trust Heavenly Father's servants, whom he has called to serve. Kathy

Hi, Caleb32 Your post struck home with me because I felt the same way as you, not fitting in. I have been a member for 30 years! And just last Saturday at an event, I had a fleeting thought that I was an outsider. But I quickly realized who planted that thought in my head. The deceiver, Satan. I have no family in the church, except my son. Try to remember that no matter how strong the family, how many in the family, how righteous and perfect others seem, what level they hold in the church....it all comes down to this one, solitary thing: Each of us, INDIVIDUALLY, has to gain a testimony by ourselves and each of us INDIVIDUALLY has to work toward our own salvation. When we are in sacrament, we have to realize that each one is there on their own trying to repent, be forgiven and become better. The gosepl and the plan of salvation are up to us as individuals. God won't force us, Jesus won't force us, it is our choice. So remember, each one is there at church for only one real reason, their own salvation. Kathy

About two weeks before I even suspected I was pregnant, I had a dream. I was walking in a parking lot to an ice cream shop. A little blond boy, about four years old, came from another area of the parking lot, joined me and we both walked to the ice cream shop together. The next image in the dream showed him sitting across from me at a little round marble table. He looked at me and said, "I'm your son!" The dream ended right then. When I was four months along, the doctor asked me if I wanted to know the gender of my baby. I said YES! He said, it's a boy. My son's father left me when I was six months along in my pregnancy. I was devastated. Even though I was working full time, I was engulfed in a crippling depression. The father walked completely away and my anger grew so deep and permeated my entire being. Moments would come along where I would think "And his baby is inside of me." Of course, I knew it was MY baby, too. But the emotions were so bad. As bad as it got emotionally, financially, physically...I knew from the spirit that I had met my son in my dream. I completely believe that Heavenly Father knew that I needed this thread, this image, this voice, this sweet spirit to help carry me through mentally. When Sean became three or four, his face when he looked at me, was the exact face I saw in my dream. Others may scoff, but I know it was him. Murph

Tests and circumstances. Please correct me if I am wrong. There are several things I have been thinking of as I read the responses here. One is that we were sent here to perfect our spirits, right? I have thought of this very much in my life as I have wondered about my family. Very sweet people some days, horrific on other days. Much alcoholism, mental illness. Bad fortune among some of the most righteous. All of this has resulted in my having no other family except for my son. I have wondered why all my life I have craved to have a happy, safe family and could never have it. I wonder if in my pre-existence I had such a wonderful family, but didn't understand how wonderful they were and I am here to learn how it feels to be bereft of a loving family. I just don't know. If we are here to strengthen and perfect our spirits, then one can look at their circumstances and see exactly what they have needed to learn. We talked about this in Relief Society this past Sunday, foreordination. For some, they are great and noble and are called to be prophets and leaders. But we all have nobility and divine qualities and our measure of service may be as the widows mite: not as vast and great and seemingly important as a prophet's work, but vastly just as important in the realm that we work, what we affect. Our actions can be HUGE in the life of one person. Like the widow's mite, we may be giving a huge chunk of what we can do and it is sacred and worthy. Does this make sense? Murph

Hi, Jonathan I am the only member in my family. My family are/were all Irish Catholic. First of all, I don't think there really is something called the "Full Experience." Except at Disneyland, maybe! Each member of the church, whether a part of a big family, small family or an individual who is the only member in their family, is responsible for their own salvation. I often looked at big families, with the husband and all the kids and envied the closeness and "belonging" that they seemed to share. But my envy came from looking inward, to what was lacking, rather than what was there. I find when that sort of feeling rises, it is best to turn outward and serve someone. As a lone member in my family, I soon learned that Heavenly Father had a great work for me to do! To search for and find my Irish family, starting with my grandparents. That it was up to me alone to find and get the temple work done for my family. In Sacrament, I found that I was the only one responsible for my progression in the gospel. No family, large or small, could do it for me. Each of us is alone in our progress toward Heavenly Father. In Sunday School, I found that I had a lot to study and learn. In Relief Society, opportunities to serve others and to learn essential things for my family and myself. then with all of the activities, dinners, choir, etc. I realized that no matter what....it is a FULL experience!! I haven't even mentioned how I grew to love my brothers and sisters in the gospel and how they became another family to me, who love me and care for me and understand my spiritual beliefs. Anyway, too much said probably, but I'm Irish, so I can't help it! Murph

By the way. I just joined. I think I had signed up before as AquaEyes, but could not get my password again (old email address). Anyway, glad to be here. Murph

Hi, ferretrunner I once had asked about catching up on my tithing. I was told that tithe paying is a demonstration of faith. During the time that I didn't pay, I wasn't demonstrating faith in the Lord's promise. The leader I was speaking with told me it was not a matter of money, it was a matter of faith, of the leap of faith in giving back to the Lord FIRST. One cannot recapture the opportunity to demonstrate that faith, for long-ago days. It simply isn't about money. Period. So, I was counseled to begin fresh and demonstrate my faith by paying the Lord first. I hope this makes sense, the way I wrote it. And I hope it helps! Murph