Mute

I've lost two siblings but not because of suicide. In my personal opinion, it is completely normal to feel sad, angry etc. because of the loss of a loved one. You shouldn't repress your feelings simply because you are told your loved one is no longer in pain or because you believe they are in a better place. Venting is part of the healing process. It's not bad to vent in a healthy way. So long as you're not taking your anger out on others, I wouldn't find it bad. You need to do what helps you. If you feel something, don't repress it. I held it in when my sister died. That was not a good idea. Sadly, over time you do stop thinking about them so much. They're not on your mind as much like they may have been when living.

I would tend to disagree with most of what that quote says in the institute manual. It is a matter of opinion though. The way I interpret it definitely isn't the same as the instute manual. You can always find contradictions to just about everything in the Bible. The Bible says thou shall not kill but entire ethnic cleansings are ordered by God (NUMBERS CHAPTER 31). These are not seen as wrong according to the Bible. Being sad that you're never going to have children because you know you're going to die does not seem unreasonable to me by any means. You'll never be married. You'll never experience life like others. I have 9 nieces and I know a common thing they all dreamed about was getting married. That's a big thing to them. If Jephtah's daughter died, she wouldn't be able to do this. Of course this could also be something she would be sad about if she was to be made a "nun" or something similar for the rest of her life. I just don't believe that is the correct interpretation because Samuel was dedicated to the Lord and not made to be a virgin. Also only the Catholic faith believes in celibacy so to me it wouldn't make sense for anyone to hold that view unless they were Catholic and the Catholics are the only ones from what I can tell who don't believe it is celibacy but a physical sacrifice. I don't find it unlikely at all that if a person was going to die that they would want to walk around in the wilderness. When I'm upset or sad about something, I generally want to go on a walk. It gives me time to think and sort out my thoughts. I don't think it's unnatural or out of the ordinary for someone to be feeling sad about only having a short time to live. It's a matter of interpretation but different faiths seem to look at it differently. I find all their view points interesting. My personal view point is that she died and that Jephthah was a good man and that it was seen as right in the eyes of the Lord according to the Bible. That is my opinion. However the LDS view point (according to the institute manual) does sound very similar to the Jehovah Witness's take on it. It seems like they hold the exact same view point on it. Here is an email my Jehovah Witness friend sent me regarding the subject. But here is an interesting thing I thought about. Lets assume that Joseph Smith was a prophet. To me it would make sense that he would change this chapter (in Judges 11) if it was not intended to be taken the way it is. The reason I say this is because he changed the entire meaning in other chapters. An example is Genesis 19. Here is what Genesis chapter 19 reads according to the Old King James version GENESIS CHAPTER 19 4 ¶ But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: 5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. 6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, 7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. 8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof. 9 And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. 10 But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. 11 And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door. 12 ¶ And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: 13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it. 14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you bout of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. 15 ¶ And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. Now here is the Joseph Smith translation Joseph Smith Translation Genesis 19 9-15 9: And they said unto him, Stand back. And they were angry with him 10: And they said among themselves, This one man came in to sojourn among us, and he will needs now make himself to be a judge; now we will deal worse with him than with them. 11: Wherefore they said unto the man, We will have the men, and thy daughters also; and we will do with them as seemeth us good. 12: Now this was after the wickedness of Sodom. 13: And Lot said, Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, plead with my brethren that I may not bring them out unto you; and ye shall not do unto them as seemeth good in your eyes; 14: For God will not justify his servant in this thing; wherefore, let me plead with my brethren, this once only, that unto these men ye do nothing, that they may have peace in my house; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof. 15: And they were angry with Lot and came near to break the door, but the angels of God, which were holy men, put forth their hand and pulled Lot into the house unto them, and shut the door. In this, not only did he reword the chapter but he also renumbered the verses and took some of which was said out. So not only did Lot not offer his daughters in the Joseph Smith translation but he also says the angels were holy men which I would interpret as meaning not actually "angels from heaven" but just righteous men. Either way, it sounds like the LDS and the Jehovah Witness have the same opinion on Judges 11 and the Catholics hold a different view. I don't know the protestant view point yet though but I do find this topic very interesting.

When you say he was bad, are you going solely off the Catholic Bible? I'm not seeing where it says he committed any sins in chapter 11 or 12. I understand some of the Judges may not have been great people but it never mentions a sin Jephthah did in the old King James Version that I can see. It doesn't imply that him sacrificing his daughter was a means of repentance in chapter 11 or 12. In chapter 12 he dies. However, from what you've said the Catholic Bible reads, then I could understand why you would say that. The words appear to be different for different Bibles. I asked a Jehovah Witness friend of mine what the words say in their Bible and it changed everything entirely. Instead of saying the girls of Israel went 4 days a year to lament the daughter of Jephthah, it says Jephthah's daughter was visited "from year to year" by her companions to "give her commendation" This would appear to be a perfect example that all Bibles translate things differently. Whole meanings can change depending on the Bible one uses. It would seem that not only do some Bibles read that Jephthah's daughter did not die (the Jehovah Witness Bible) but that multiple faiths also interpret it as such. It does answer my question though. I will have to look at the institute manual as well for the lds faith. I was not aware the lds faith as a whole taught it was a spiritual death. I don't know what a spiritual death is though or what they mean by that. It's interesting that the Catholic faith teaches it is a physical death. So the lds faith teaches it was a spiritual sacrifice in the institute manual, the Catholic faith teachers it was a physical death for the sacrifice and the Jehovah Witness teach his daughter never died at all but was simply made to stay a virgin as a servant to God. I'm guessing they also think it was a spiritual sacrifice but I don't understand what a spiritual sacrifice is yet so I'm not sure. I wonder what the protestant faiths take on it is or if they all agree with each other on it. To me, it just wouldn't make sense unless she was physically sacrificed because Samuel was not a virgin after being dedicated to the Lord. So I can not understand why Jephthah's daughter would have to be if it was the same type of thing. Can you explain to me what a spiritual sacrifice is? The only time I've heard of a spiritual death brought up is mentioning the after life and a person being with out God. I see your point. It's not the way I would look at it but I can see what you mean. Always good to see different points of views. I'll have to think about it more.

Hmm. I can see your point and it's a interesting way of looking at it. It seems like it could be possible. In my personal opinion I would not have considered him a bad person in the eye's of the Lord according to the Bible. The reason is because all through the chapter he obviously cares about what the Lord thinks. He wasn't seeking to do wrong against the Amorites. I don't see why the spirit of the lord would come upon him if he wasn't trying to do what was right in the eyes of the lord and if what he was doing was not considered right in the eyes of the lord. When you say he lead a band of vain men, are you referring to verse 3? 3 Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went out with him. It does not say he lead a band but that vain men were gathered to him. Though it does not say he was vain himself. To me, if Jophthah was as close to the Lord as it seems, he would feel it was a bad idea to sacrifice someone as a burnt offering if it was not something God was ok with. It would not make sense to me that he would offer his daughter up if his plan was simply to kill a family member that he may have not liked (though it does not say he did not like them but only that he was cast out from them). I don't see why he would honor that vowe if he only meant to murder someone. I can see your point about it not saying God accepted the offering or that God told him to do it but I would tend to look at the victory as a form of a sign of acceptance/approval. I'm not sure I understand your point about God's plan going forward regardless of inequities. What was God's plan despite Joseph Smith's inequities? To bring about the Book of Mormon? This is only my opinion and I do value other peoples feed back. However, I do see your point you made and I think it is a well thought out one.

Hmm. Do you remember the commentary you looked at? I would find it interesting to look into. Correct me if I'm wrong but don't only the Catholics believe in celibacy? Was Samuel ever told that he couldn't get married? I honestly can't remember but I'll try to look it up. To me, I still think she was most likely sacrificed because it says the daughters of Israel lamented her 4 days of every year. To me that seems more like something people would do over the death of someone.

I don't know how many people are familiar with the old testament. I remember I had a lot of difficulty understanding it the first time through but there were also a lot of scriptures in the old testament that greatly bothered me. I recently learned of a chapter that talked about human sacrifice. I at first thought they were talking about Abraham being ready to sacrifice his son but they listed a different chapter. Here a young girl is offered up as a burnt offering to the Lord. I didn't remember reading this the first time through the old testament but I've only ever read the old testament one time all the way through from start to finish. JUDGES CHAPTER 11 29 ¶ Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon. 30 And Jephthah avowed a vow unto the Lord, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, 31 Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering. 32 ¶ So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the Lord delivered them into his hands. 33 And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel. 34 ¶ And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter. 35 And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and I cannot go back. 36 And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the Lord, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the Lord hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon. 37 And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my fellows. 38 And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains. 39 And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel, 40 That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year. Now I'm sure many of us would agree that the Mayan's offering humans as sacrifice to the Sun God would be appalling regardless of whether or not they did it to improve their crops or what ever their reasons may have been. So my question is, how do you see this as different? Is there a belief in any faith that says this is a mistranslation and that he did not offer his daughter up as a burnt offering? What is your view point on this?

I would disagree with this. What is true for some is not true for the majority. I highly doubt the majority of people who view pornography also view child pornography or are bound to start looking at it several years later. There are many people who view pornography and it doesn't affect their relationships but I also realize that many people find it makes them unhappy or feel it is wrong. If you are raised that it is wrong, then yes, I think you could feel guilty. A lot of people do not feel guilty though. To me, it doesn't seem wrong or unnatural. It doesn't make me feel bad. I don't feel guilt from it. I don't view child pornography. I don't have a desire to cheat on my girl friend. This isn't just me either but I'm being honest. I think it depends on the person. What's true for one person is not necessarily true for another. I've never personally been able to see anything wrong with pornography/masturbation and I know a lot men, women and even doctors who feel the same way regarding masturbation. This is my opinion and I understand others have different ones. I respect that. I think people should do what they believe is right and work it out between their partners on what they feel the best course of action is regarding this subject. Whether they avoid it or not is entirely ok with me.

I think it's a very complicated situation. I'm not saying she shouldn't shouldn't divorce her husband. I'm saying divorce or rather us recommending divorce shouldn't be the advice we give. That's a big thing for us to recommend. We don't know all the circumstances. She does. One of my sisters is the mother of 5 children. She left her husband for several reasons but pornography was the main one. She also suspected that he was cheating on her. On top of this, he wasn't able to hold a steady job and so he couldn't provide very well for them. As far as I can remember, she never found conclusive evidence that he was cheating on her. Yes, she was very suspicious and had good reasons to be but she never did know. About a month later, she married his best friend who was also their neighbor. Shortly after remarrying this guy, she found out he too looked at pornography. Within about a year of their marriage, he lost his job and she was right back where she started. Luckily she had been taking courses to become a dentist and now she provides a lot for their family. To me, it doesn't seem like the situation she is in now is any different than the one she tried to get away from. However, from talking with her children, they have expressed great unhappiness because of the divorce. They don't see their father very often. It tore their family a part. Would my sister have been happier if her new husband didn't look at porn? Ya, probably. I just think it's a very complicated thing and I would never tell her yes she should get a divorce and honestly I probably wouldn't tell her not to either. I didn't feel I should be saying that one way or the other. I think that's too big of a decision for me to say. It's kind of like me saying if a person should marry someone or not. To me, I shouldn't even be the one recommending that they marry or divorce someone. That just seems like a really big thing to say.

Are some of you seriously recommending that she leave her husband because he looks at porn? A lot of guys look at porn. You said you found him great other than that. Why on Earth would she divorce a man simply because he looks at porn? I'm not sure what advice to give you but I wouldn't leave your husband over it. I'll try to think about it more but this isn't something you should rush into a snap decision on without thinking more about it.

There are a lot of factors for why people may not offer support but just because you don't see it doesn't mean they are necessarily not doing this. Not everyone is able to give support as easily as the next person. Each person is different and their situations they are going through are also different. Try not to jump to conclusions about why people are acting the way they are. It's not as easy as it sounds to reach out to people. A lot of people have difficulty with this. Shyness, not wanting to possibly cause more harm than good and not knowing the person well enough to feel the person would be comfortable enough to talk to them about their problems are just a couple of the reasons people may not go out of their way to talk to others. Sometimes people are having difficulties of their own and it can be hard for someone to worry about the problems of others when they are having difficulties of their own. A lot of people may not know the answers to the questions that are bothering you or may be worried that it will cause them to doubt to hear what is troubling you. It could even be things so simple as the way you are looking. If you look angry, people are going to stay away from you. It doesn't mean that's how you feel but how you physically look can cause people to stay away from you. Try not to assume the worst. People are often not as bad as we might think. You can't always be sure people are going to come to your aid. You may wait a long time for people to do what you feel they should do or know what you feel they ought to know. Instead, look for ways you can help them to see this and do it for others. People learn the best by example. If you go out of your way to talk to others you feel are in need or if you try to act with others the way you wish people had acted with you, it may just give you someone to share your concerns with and allow you to acquire a friend in the process. Look at the people in this life. You see people who are happy and those who are unhappy. Those who are happy and content with their life have a positive influence on everyone around them. They lighten the mood for others and seem to always be able to see the bright side of any situation. They can help you to forget the sadness and worries in your life by instead helping you to focus on the good in life. They always seem to be able to always see the upside to any situation and many times I also find them to not only be very caring towards others but also wonderful listeners. Not everyone knows how to do this very well though. Sometimes people struggle to know what are the best words to say and they just come across as preaching or judgmental. When really I find the least advice is usually the best advice. You're not trying to solve the problem for them but rather help them solve their own problem. When a person is struggling with their faith, many times the best words are no words at all but instead a good listener. It doesn't hurt to tell them why you believe as you do but never tell them their wrong. It's important not to be forceful with our beliefs onto another person. I find a lot of times people want to give advice and then get upset because you don't accept what they say as "help". So there for to them, they rationalize it that you never really wanted help to begin with. That is why it is good to find people who you are close to talk to about this. People that are good listeners and try to understand how you feel. But this works both ways. You also have to make sure you're not trying to preach to them as well. No one wants to listen to someone just run down the church. You have to make sure that you're both not coming across as attacking each others personal beliefs or preaching to one another. Honestly, this post is making my head spin because this is a lot deeper of a subject than I wanted to think about right now lol. Given more time, I could word it better and add a lot more. Either way, I hope this helps you. I'm going to sleep!

If I had children, I'd do the exact same thing your parents are doing now. They're not saying you can't join in the future or that they won't support you in doing so. They just want to make sure you're old enough to be sure you join a religion for the right reasons.

Christlike? Depends what you think that is. There are a lot of Christians of other faiths that have used several verses as justification for their actions. However, they take the verses out of context to justify their actions. Here are a couple examples. ISAIAH CHAPTER 54 17 ¶ No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord. The verse is in reference to the saints who defend the church of God from those who seek to destroy it. Christ is talking about the church and those who have gathered against it. He's talking about the persecution that the church will face. Christians instead ignore this meaning and use it to justify their actions of going after other faiths. What they're doing to others is referenced in verse 15. ISAIAH CHAPTER 54 15 Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake. If anything, those verses would only condemn them and not support them. It's meant as defending yourself from people who gather against you to attack your faith not to justify you going after other faiths and attacking them. If anything, that scripture would be in support of those who are not attacking others. This is a perfect example of perverting the scriptures to justify their actions. Here is another one. ST LUKE CHAPTER 21 15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. Even this one doesn't help them. It's still meant for the saints defending God's church from those who wish to persecute it. It's not meant for those who attack other faiths. Lets look at the verse in it's entire context. ST LUKE CHAPTER 21 12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. 13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony. 14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: 15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. 16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. It's not fun to argue with people who look at one scripture and ignore the rest or take things out of context. I'd still say they're Christian. They can call themselves what ever they want and I'm not going to say otherwise. But street preachers get on my nerves more than just about anything. Not fun running into them on college campuses with signs telling everyone they're going to hell. These scriptures might make you feel better though. ST MATTHEW CHAPTER 5 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. ST JOHN CHAPTER 16 1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. 2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. ST JOHN CHAPTER 15 18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. Isa. 29: 13 13 ¶ Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Mark 7: 6 6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

That's a tough one. Trinity God is three in one but I also think he's suffering from multiple personality disorder. Then again, if you've been alive for that long, who wouldn't be? Prays to himself, knows but doesn't know, asks himself questions and wants us all to become one as he and his father is one, which isn't one in purpose as the lds believe but one literal being. So we would all become what? Is this accurate? So the real question is, would he break down in the middle of the fight and start asking his father what he should do, who is actually himself? Seems a little offensive doesn't it? But at least the lds don't go to outside your places of worship and say it with microphones on the street. Ya, I'd say those two ideas are pretty far different but they still believe in the same God. It's just different ideas about him. I don't see how that is so hard to understand in all honesty. You can both be talking about the exact same thing but still hold totally different beliefs. If we both look in a house window down a street and you believe you see a Sony 32 Inch Trinitron TV with a Mitsubishi VCR on their table and I believe the same object on the table is actually a Arc-shaped 48-inch curved Alienware monitor with 2880 x 900 pixels. You're still BOTH talking about the same thing that house has in it's living room. You just believe it's not the same physically and can do slightly different things or has slightly different things. One believes a tv can do more, less. One believes the tv has done more or less. It's still the same thing. WHAT?! YOU BELIEVE THAT? GOD CAN'T GET THOSE HIGH OF PIXELS! BLASPHEMY! YOU BELIEVE IN A DIFFERENT TV! No. It's the same bleeping tv as yours and we just believe different things about it. Honestly, I got tired of hearing that argument when I was lds. It's still the same God whether or not you think he is three in one, consisting outside of time and space, incomprehensible (but apparently not incomprehensible enough to know he doesn't have a body). People who believe in black Jesus still believe in the same Jesus as you or anyone else. They just believe he was black instead of the same skin color as others. If I went outside their places of worship to tell them they weren't Christian because of it, do you know what I'd be? A major **** and that's the impression I got from other Christians who were soo intolerant of my beliefs when I was lds. I didn't go out of my way to tell them they believe in a mutant God though.

Now we just have to blast his body into outer space and it will be finished. Lots more terrorists to kill though.

I had to go to in school suspension for weeks at a time. It's not the most fun in the world but it's ok. I wouldn't go just to see it though. If you want, just walk past the room it takes place in. For mine, it was a small room where every seat had black walls on both sides of our desk. You weren't allowed to talk at all.

I found that hitting another student in grade school or physically fighting with them was a way to usually get someone to stop messing with me. I'm not sure if that is the way you want to go though but it does seem to work. People need to know when to quit and sometimes it takes a little more "persuasion" to get them to stop. Even if your daughter is smaller than them, I would bet they would stop the moment she jabbed them every time they said something. You just have to hit them hard enough that they realize you're going to seriously hurt them if they do it again. Anyways, ya probably not the best solution.

Unless your son doesn't believe in what he's doing and is only going on a mission for you alone, I wouldn't bother calling him and asking him to come home. If he wants to go for him, why not let him? Do you honestly feel that he would quit his mission if you told him you no longer believe or are doubting? If he quit because of that, then his faith would be in you and not in the lds faith. You do what ever you think is right. Personally, I'd let him stay and do what he believes is right.

There are two main reasons I've heard for this. The first is because you have a different interpretation of the Bible and do not believe in the trinity. Because you believe God, Christ and the Holy Ghost are not one literal being, that is why they say you are not Christian. The second reason is because of the extra beliefs you hold such as those found in the Doctrine and Covenants etc. Most Christian faiths do not believe there is anything other than what is found in the Bible and that there can not be anything else other than what is found in the Bible. Anything that says extra to what is found in the Bible is there for not Christian according to them. The reasoning they claim is that the God, according to the lds, is "soooooooo different" from their interpretation of the Bible (which they refuse to call an interpretation). There for because you worship a God who is "sooo different" you worship another God because it is too different from their interpretation to be considered the same God.

I agree with you about not liking the sound of apostasy. I usually tend to associate apostasy with former members that make a habbit of going after the lds faith. However, the technical term on dictionary.com is "a person who forsakes his religion, cause, party, etc.". I'm sure it's very possible this could happen. I wouldn't judge someone even if that did happen but that's not the usual story I hear. I'm assuming you rely on the spirit to tell you if something is inspired? If someone is supposed to be inspired during a speech, should not the whole speech be inspired and not just the good parts? I had a bishop once give me a blessing and start talking about McDonalds. At first I thought wait a minute God said that? Then I realized it was fast sunday. How could I possibly think the rest of the blessing was inspired? If someone believes a talk, blessing etc. is inspired, I'm not going to tell them it's not. I might not believe as they do that it is inspired but I'm not going to go out of my way to tell them they're wrong simply because I don't believe as they do. I would agree. A lot of people come to lds with preconseptions that often are not true. No one likes hearing "You guys worship John Smith right?" So it is only right to treat former lds how you want to be treated.

Many of the people I have observed on this site, who have expressed discontent in the lds faith are usually just venting. Some of them have talked about wanting to give up because of a personal experience or expressing discontent in a church policy but a lot of people who simply express discontent go inactive or go to another ward. They don't usually leave the lds faith over it. I've talked with hundreds of former lds in the past. In talking with them, I found that they never listed just one reason for why they ultimately chose to leave the lds faith. It was almost always a variety of reasons including any reasons they may not have shared with me. Everyone's experiences were different but I did notice similarities. People often expressed experiences that caused them doubt or disbelief as well as experiences that simply made them unhappy in the lds faith. Usually, people described their lack of belief being the key factor leading to their ultimate decision to leave. For some of these people, it is possible that their discontent did originate from a past experience with a member but I do not believe that their discontent with a member is the ultimate reason for why the vast majority of people left the lds faith. I believe it is because they lost belief in it. In many of these situations, the person often did express hurt feelings or feelings of mistrust but ultimately they said they left because they didn't believe in it. Usually it wasn't that they had a problem with doctrine. That doesn't mean they didn't have problems with doctrine but that it usually was not the ultimate reason for leaving but rather a lack of belief. Unless a person joins another Christian faith or religion, I can't see doctrine often being the ultimate reason for leaving. I might not have a problem with a doctrine that said I will turn into a transformer when I die. It might even be appealing to me to believe that but ultimately a lack of belief is what would cause me to stray from that. How can I say this person left for reasons they don't state but instead state they left for other reasons? Is that not what those who seek to attack the lds faith do? They say things such as "the lds are not going to teach you what they really believe so let me tell you what they really believe". If you were to tell someone considering removing their name that they weren't leaving for the reasons they say, you would possibly ruin any chance of further relationship with them. I'm not saying anyone in this thread has said that those who left do not leave for the reasons they express but I have heard statements commonly used such as people really leave to sin or for various other reasons that I've never heard expressed by those who left. So I thought I'd answer that statement before it was brought up. I'm not ever going to judge these people's reasons for leaving the same as I wouldn't criticize someone's reasons for believing but I do know that very few had their name removed solely because they were unhappy with a member or had a bad experience in the church. Many people who simply have a bad experience in the church just go inactive. Most of the people I've met who had their name removed disbelieve in the doctrine. Some join other religions/faiths because they believe the lds doctrines are incorrect. Others simply lose belief in all religious books. Ultimately, they no longer believe in the doctrine. If someone still believed in the doctrine, why would they go through the trouble of leaving when they could just go inactive or go to another ward?

Your profile says you are 26 years old. Every family is different. For me personally, I'd rather be open with those I care about most than not be able to tell them how I really feel. I was worried if my parents would accept me after I told them I was no longer a part of their religion. In the end, they still accepted me. My mother showed me kindness and love regardless of my choice. She was very accepting in saying that I needed to do what I felt was right for me. My father still preached a lot but he was accepting of me not believing as he did. He was an atheist for 30 years of his life after all so he was able to sympathize. I think you should tell them. Not just because it will allow you to be more open with yourself but if you're parents can't accept you for what you really believe, that's a problem. It's better to risk having them not accept you for who you really are and what you believe than have them accept you for something you're not. Be open with them. If they end up accepting you regardless of your choice, it will really make you feel better to know that. You have to take a chance. I hope it works out for you. You could also try telling them why you believe as you do. That might make things easier. Then again it might not and could result in an argument but you don't know until you try. Good luck to you.

This is only my personal opinion regarding tithing. If you want to pay tithing and are having severe difficulty paying your tithing, you can do one of two things. You can pay it anyways and see if it works out for you. If it does, maybe God is helping you to get through this. I've heard a lot of stories of people saying they paid their tithing when they were having a difficult time financially and it worked out for them. In the stories I heard, people talked as though they were getting more than enough money to pay their bills. You could try that out and see if it works for you. If it doesn't work out for you after trying to pay, then I would say as long as you say in your heart that you would pay if you could then it will be well with you. You still have the intent to do what you believe is right. You would do it if you could. That is what is important right? I don't think many people will agree with me that these following verses from the Book of Mormon apply to your situation but take it as you will. I hope it helps you in your situation. THE BOOK OF MOSIAH CHAPTER 4 24 And again, I say unto the poor, ye who have not and yet have sufficient, that ye remain from day to day; I mean all you who deny the beggar, because ye have not; I would that ye say in your hearts that: I give not because I have not, but if I had I would give. 25 And now, if ye say this in your hearts ye remain guiltless, otherwise ye are condemned; and your condemnation is just for ye covet that which ye have not received.

Caffeine isn't forbidden in the lds faith. You can drink all the Red Bull, soda and Mega Jolt you want. It's just coffee that they are against drinking. The word of wisdom is all about being healthy and I'm sure the lds faith would prefer you not over do it on caffeine as that would not be healthy in any way. I don't know why the lds faith is against coffee. I just know it can't be simply because of caffeine.

All new recruits are required to go through a 6 month training period of strenuous physical and mental activities in order to prepare them for the horrors to come. You will be taught to wrestle a wild boar to the ground and kill it with your bare teeth. You will be made to withstand extreme temperature by standing in a wind tunnel. You will also be made to withstand large doses of gamma radiation. To test your battle coordination and strategic thinking, you will be placed in a series of war games against other opponents using live ammunition in order to ensure that only those with the stomach to endure what is to come are selected. I remember when I first had to learn that. One man from our squad captured a prisoner. I told him to shoot the man but instead he broke down and started crying. The guards killed them both before I had chance to say anything. It was a tough lesson to learn but one I've treasured ever since. We can't have cowards on our team if we're going to win this fight. After training, you be will be given your final test before you are fully iniated. You will be placed in an arena with a rabid dog. Here you will be made to lay down and allow the dog to maul you for three minutes. Crying out will result in immediate execution. After three minutes, you will then have to use one arm to break the dog's back with it still attacking you before you bleed to death. Only then will you be worthy for the real challenges ahead. Upon completion of this training, you will be given your equipment. You will be fitted with an MK23 MOD 0 45-caliber offensive handgun with a suppressor and laser-aiming module as well as a grenade launcher for those close encounters. Better to take the enemy out with you than be taken alive. Only the best of the best are fitted with Benelli M4 Super 90 Shotgun though other weapons are available. You will also be fitted with latest Combat Boots, Camoflauge, Kevalar vest and survival equipment money can buy. You might think all of this is extreme but with good purpose. The prophet recently woke up from a vision and the results were so shocking that he broke down and cried. He saw the end of the human race and mark of the beast as their destruction. But amongst the ruins of these dark days ahead, he still saw hope. He foretold the coming of a boy who would save man kind from annihilation. He wrote down his dream and I am fortunate enough to have the words to prepare myself. "In the future, all forms of dispute are settled through a new form of gladiatorial combat. All contests over land between nations, political disputes and even petty arguments are now decided by in the arena of laser dogs. Through centuries of advanced genetic engineering, a new breed of dog comes to the fighting line. No longer equipped with simply sharp teeth and a nasty growl. Now they are equipped with turbo lasers that can burn through a four inch plate of steel in seconds. Unfortunately, their creators could never have imagined the awful consequence. The dogs are now contemplating putting their human masters into the arena. Soon all nations may be ruled with an iron first by the laser dogs. Is mankind worthy of forgiveness? Now it's up to one fourteen year old boy name Raymond to decide if man's worth saving or man's best friend." Now the prophet has undertaken a personal quest in order to find Raymond before the dogs do. It's up to us to reach Raymond and save the world one dead laser dog at a time. We can only hope we find him before it's too late but God help us if Raymond chooses to save man's best friend before his own species. Do you have what it takes to join the priesthood? I hope so...for all our sakes. Of course this all could have just been a dream, but I'd rather not bet the fate of mankind on a chance. I'm going to go with my gut and I hope to see you there with me.

Women can go on missions at 30? What is the age limit for men and women? Men it's 19-27 right? Women is 21- what?