harpangel

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  1. I agree with the 10 things stated. Unfortunately they are not all in practice here in my ward. I am often unable to attend church for health reasons and have not had a visiting teacher at my home in more than a year. The last ones brought toddlers which they spent the whole time keeping away from the things in my unchildproof house. The Relief Society President claims I live too far away. The Bishop forgets me when I am at church where I must sit in the foyer and if my husband is not there I do not get sacrament. I have been a member since 1993 and truly believe in the Mormon church and try to live my life as an example for others in that I read my scriptures and live righteously. But I am saddened by the lack of association with members from the Ward and am feeling quite disenfranchised because of my illness. The people in my ward use the excuse of being too busy to even call me when they are talking with my husband. It has been disheartening for both of us. We Mormons need to remember we are Christians and we need to live our lives in such a way that the Lord knows we are walking the path he would have us walk. Our neighbors are all Baptists and treat us with great kindness and respect and have been very receptive to learning about our church and thankful for the corrected information we have given them. Even if they never join the church they now respect us as Christians which they didn't even think we were at first!
  2. We ask ourselves often if the television programming that we allow in our house is something we would want on if the Jesus showed up at our door. The same thing with movies we watch from Netflix. We rarely go to the theaters because of health issues I have, but have found that we can often make a decision about a film just by the advertisements for it. I am pretty much conditioned to think about things as if Jesus is with me. It makes decision making much simpler.
  3. We must also remember that it is by the grace of God that we are saved. All the good works in the world will not guarantee anyone a place in the Celestial Kingdom if they have not faith in the Lord and realize that nothing they can do will get them back home with Him without His grace. Good works are are part of living a Christlike life, they are not the only or most important part. It is what is in our heart when we are doing those works that count. Many people do good works, not because it is a part of who they are but because it is something they feel they must do to look good in the eyes of both man and God. God looks more to our hearts than anything else. Those who get exhausted are most likely trying to do too much. How many people do good works but fail to study their scriptures for even 15 minutes a day (which amounts to about 1% of the day)? This too is a commandment that we are given in scripture. But no one sees us reading our scriptures so I believe that many find it convenient to be doing good works which are seen and be too busy to read the words of our Lord which give us a great many things we need to do if we are to live a Christlike life and return home to Heavenly Father.
  4. I like to think of Satan shuddering, great picture in my head of it.
  5. Just yesterday I told my therapist that I couldn't take a life with both physical and emotional challenges such as I am experiencing. I told her I probably needed to leave my husband, and she agreed with me. She pointed out that during the past few years he has been getting worse, she even sees it when we see her together. His behavior is taking me back to the feelings of my childhood when I lived with very abusive parents. I have never know what it is to be loved for who I am, only for what I provide. I know that I need to gather together the strength to live away from him. I have already told him that I don't know how much longer I can take living with his ugly and mean words and he basically says that he knows he probably needs to change but doesn't think that he can. So leaving is probably my only option. I am thankful for answers that confirm that which I already knew but didn't want to act on. My husband does have ADHD according to several therapists, but he refuses to acknowledge and accept that it is his reality. He says medication is okay for me, and therapy because of the hell of the first twenty years of my life. but he can handle everything with the Lord's help and no one else is really needed. The questions you asked, ryanh, are pretty much those which my therapist and I have discussed on numerous occasions. I have a really wonderful friend (a widow) with whom I spend a lot of time. She has offered me a room in her home and I think I will probably take her up on it. She was the first Mormon I met when I moved to Gainesville and our friendship has grown from casual to that of sisters who just didn't get to meet until later in life. Thanks for the support.
  6. I am in a sad and confusing situation. My husband doesn't realize that the words he speaks are often hurtful and demeaning, even though a marriage counsellor has told him that he needs to think before he speaks. I have been successful in putting these remarks in the background for 15 years but am unable to do so anymore, they just keep coming. I do not enjoy good health and am often in much pain and so the words seem to cut me even harder. I do have some friends here who are most supportive, and a therapist, but am uncomfortable speaking with my Bishop about this because no one seems to believe he can be so cruel, and they put it to my illness. I have not met my visiting teacher, she only writes, and the Relief Society President has been no help, she told me to just not pay attention. But the words keep coming and the pain in my heart grows. I am happier when he is away than when he is home and I feel I must be on guard in all I say and do for fear of a nasty, demeaning and hurtful comment. Any suggestions?
  7. these are the verses that converted me to a complete believer in the Book of Mormon at first reading, and prompted me to continue reading (I read the book in two days) and join the church. These verses said the things I had always known but had never heard in any book before.
  8. I found this site at the suggestion of a friend and am looking forward to some good discussions. I have been a Mormon since 1993 after a lifetime of looking for the right place for my beliefs.