InquisitiveSoul

I fear God. Honestly, it's a fear of the unknown and I don't feel I know him. I ask for his help, but a big part of me doesn't feel worthy to receive answers or the love some people talk about. I've been pondering my own relationship as of late and I'm about as far away as I can get without becoming agnostic/athiest. With the death of John Wooden, I've been seeing numerous quotes about how to live from John Wooden. Coach Wooden kind of makes me feel guilty because I haven't lived a life of faith and faith is a very difficult thing for me. I wish I had the same faith and commitment Coach Wooden had. John Wooden's quotes would make for a tremendous Conference talk. That said, I do know what I need to work on, but sometimes having enough faith to put in the work is a difficult task!

I'm looking through a few books on my shelf I haven't read yet and I have a book called Jesuse The Christ that someone gave me a while back. I'm sure many of you have read it, anyone care to give me a brief review before I give it a read?

From what I've read and understand, we are living in a time when prophecy continues to be fulfilled. The only difference between now and in the past if the rate is accelerated. People have forgotten their Creator. People have forgotten their Creator before, but it seems to be a much larger percentage of the population now. Traditional and long accepted values are seen as irrevelant in today's society. I also see (because of my employment) how ignorant people have become. They only see what's in front of them and miss the big picture. Society has become spoiled and weak in many ways. We are blessed to have the technology we have but it has made people lazy. If you post here and write in complete sentences and paragraphs, you are ahead of so many who can only speak "text" and unable to communicate in writing.

One of the purposes of taking the Sacrament is to renew your Baptismal Covenants. Does this mean after you take the Sacrament, if you have repented of your transgressions from the past week, you are again clean and forgiven? What if your sins are the same week in and week out? If you keep making the same mistakes, are you really forgiven? Most of my mistakes tend to repeat from week to week. If I'm not overcoming them however small they may be, I'm not really progressing am I? What do you do to correct your mistakes from week to week? Also, what should we be thinking about during the time the Sacrament is being passed? Should we be offering our own small prayer asking for forgiveness? Should our thoughts be on the Savior only and not on our sins?

Quality in Sunday Meetings helps a lot. It seems rather difficult to improve the speakers though. I don't like hearing one person speak every week, but some Sundays it's hard to sit through the talks. Since most people don't speak in front of others very often, their ability to speak or communicate is rather poor. Sacrament doesn't need to be entertaining, but I do appreciate it when the speakers are informative. Personal experience is fine, but please back it up with doctrine as well. Giving scripture references is espcially helpful. The key seems to be preparation. Are the speakers prepared? Are the instructors prepared? I sat through Elders Quorom a couple of weeks ago and the instructor had made copies of the lesson and marked the passages he was asking people to read. He asked good questions and was able to generate a lot of participation. The week after, a different instructor sat in a chair and read from his book. He asked a few questions but was unable to generate any real participation. He was trying but his preparation seemed rather weak.

I've been sitting down and trying to plan. There are so many responsibilities and so many duties I feel I should work on. I look at the Gospel and look at some members I've become friends with over the past couple of months. These people study everything you can imagine, scriptures, talks, you name it they have the book. I find myself disengaged at work as I'm thinking about various principles and teachings in the church. I've definetly lost my balance in life and am trying to find it again. Where do you start? How much studying is right? I know the answer is different for everyone, but I'm curious how you measure it. I've met some people at church who seem rather extreme in the Gospel views, as if those of us who don't have time to go to every activity and take notes in church aren't going to make it! It's not just fitting church into my life, it's fitting everything in and trying to balance. Any suggestions how to go about it? I'm feeling overwhelmed right now and for the first time since High School, completely unorganized and unprepared.

I've read a few posts and a number of quotes regarding personal revelation. Is revelation limited to you and your family? Or do you believe other information can be revealed? IE Sometimes you will see these true crime shows where they talk about police using psychics to find a break in the case... Is there any belief in psychic phenomena or is this seen as being on the opposite side of the spectrum from revelation and maybe even coming from the wrong source?

More fasting questions: #1 Water, are you supposed to go without water too? #2 Is there any kind of promise attached to fasting in terms of blessings/answers? #3 Is there any worthiness requirement? If you aren't living exactly the way you should, are you penalized by not receiving answers for your fasting? I have a big life altering decision to make and am planning on fasting for some help. I need to know what God wants me to do about this and am trying to determine the right way to fast and what to listen for. Any more ideas or help is appreciated.

Is there a suggested length of time one should fast? I work an odd schedule and I've heard people say 2 meals, but that can be longer or shorter depending on my work schedule for that day. If one starts their fast after dinner, is it really fasting if they are asleep?

I see the term thrown around a lot, but what exactly is a "LDS apologist?" I saw the show and thought it was well done. It showed both positives and negatives of Mormon history and gave the viewer a rather level field from which to judge the Church.

No? Really Maureen? I think it's probably ok, but it may not be the most...I don't know the word I want, maybe humble? There is a certain humility to bowing down to pray.

Yeah I was thinking it could make an interesting journal.

I find myself in a position where it's difficult to find sufficient time to kneel and say all the things I want to say during a prayer (mostly due to work schedules - I often fall asleep at night while praying!). I do have down time at one of my jobs each day where I spend some time writing between clients and I thought why not take some of that time to write a prayer letter? I would take a knee and pray during this time, but I'm in a office setting and a letter may also help me organize my thoughts better. I don't know that there is any doctrine either way on this, but what are your thoughts? Is this simply silly or is it ok? One of the benefits is later on I'd have a record of my prayer to look back on. Any thoughts?

What happens if a couple is sealed in the Temple late in life and their children are unable to make it to the Temple before the parents pass? Can the children be sealed to the parents after the parents pass or is it too late?

It's not Health Care Reform, it's Health Insurance AND MORE Reform. What does student loans have to do with Health Care? The key concept which many of the sheep don't understand, these folks aren't taking from the rich to give to the poor, they are taking from the middle class to buy votes from the free riders. Eventually their policies eliminate the middle class as the gap between the rich and the middle class widen. It would be nice if these elected "Representatives" had the best interest of the United States in mind. As for the Senate, I'd like to see the Senators chosen by the State Legislator again.

Sometimes it takes a while to make sense. Not too long ago I came to the conclusion it couldn't possibly be true because it wasn't coming together and I had put years into it. Then out of the blue one day around the time I had given up on it, everything clicked and came together for me. I had largely moved on but the new insights I was blessed with compelled me to start again with my studies. As I read the Book of Mormon and attended Church again things made sense. Do I understand everything? No. Do I expect to? No. What I do understand now tells me the rest will fall into place with faith and prayer. Focus on the light instead of the dark is what I've found. I've met my share of "interesting" people who are members or missionaries. When you think about it, the only diffference between them and you is their level of faith in the gospel. While they may have more faith, it doesn't mean they are perfect. Many of them do offend without trying to, you simply have to focus on yourself and try not to take offense (especially where none is intended). As odd as it may sound, sometimes I've felt I have to set an example as a non member for the member because they are coming across from a less than Christian position. They are trying to help, but some miss the mark with their attempt at "tough love."

Thanks Finrock. I've ordered both books this morning so I look forward to reading and learning from them.

Gospel Principles seems like a better place to begin. Thanks Connie!

You seem rather ignorant as to what the Constitution is and where it came from. I'd suggest you do some research into the document before you begin to trivialize it's Amendments and Inspiration. I suppose if someone tells you they believe in the 10 Commandments because they believe The Bible to be inspired of God you will see that as a feeble reason as well. If you do have an understanding of what the Consitution truly is then you are playing childish games when you truly fail to see the danger your own rights are in because of the current threats and attacks this great document is under. Your own foolishness is preventing you from being real, say what you mean and cease the silly games.

Someone at Church Sunday suggested a good manner in which to study/teach the gospel with family members who may not be familiar with much of the gospel is Preach My Gospel. I haven't read or looked through it though I see the Missionaries use it. Can someone expound on this book for me? What is in it? Do you see it as a strong tool to study and teach with in a family setting?

The distinction I've heard is Utah Mormons are active out of social pressures as all of their neighbors attend the same Ward and if they don't attend they become ostracized by their neighbors. Outside of Utah or strong LDS communities, attending church requires more dedication because the folks on your street are likely non LDS and don't care if you attend or not. Additionally as someone previously mentioned, the church is likely further away and in some cases much further away in comparison to Utah neighborhoods. Now if this is true or not is irrelevant. What is relevant is how you are using your time once you do attend church.

The Consitution of The United States protects States Rights under the 10th Amendment. Unfortunetly law makers tend to forget about this Amendment which is why many people believe the State Legislator, not the citizens, should once again select the Senators sent to Washington. As for issues with each State, the State Constitution defines how the State will be governed which should give the necessary guidlines for each City or Muncipality. Again, if you don't like the powers delegated locally in your State you are free to move to a State where things are done differently. You feel taxes are too high in your State? Find a better State. Each State is free to govern yet the US Constitution protects each citizen and their right to live free.

It's not! It's return fire satire! - Probably gets lost in translation on a message boad.

Another thing I'm bothered by is people who invoke Jesus in political discussions in order to manipulate those of us who are Christian. Jesus hasn't forced anything upon us. Let's keep in mind who tried to force us to comply with the plan, it was Lucifer. Now in the temporal life who is trying to force their will on us? Big Government.

This is why States Rights are so important. Then the people who want the help can go live in a State where the Government is more involved and those of us who don't, we can go live in a State where we can be left alone.