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MisterT

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  3. Do you feel that dreams have real meaning?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I experienced an intense hallucination just as you described in my late teens. I was in bed but still awake. I remember a shadowy figure appearing before me, leaning over me and its arms reaching for my throat. I felt nothing but I was so frightened I couldn't move or scream no matter how much I tried. I consulted my doctor about this and she concluded that it was likely an extreme manic episode (as I'm Bipolar), in addition to being a probable side-effect of the various medications I was on at that time and of course having insomnia. Still, that whole experience haunts me but I don't consider it a dream but it actually happening. Haven't had another one like it.

    I'm so heavily medicated to sleep that I have periods of sleep paralysis about twice a month. The worst part is having dreams while lucid, knowing they're dreams, knowing I can't move, and still trying to anyway.

    I had my shoulder and elbow repaired about 7 years ago, and to do that I had a spinal block done (never again!); I found the inability to move my arm, or even feel it, to be so disturbing that I had to be sedated. I just can't stand the feeling of trying to move or speak and not being able to.

    The worst part is the feeling of paranoia that goes along with sleep paralysis; I routinely feel as though someone is trying to open my bedroom window or is lifting my blankets off of me.

  4. help with destroyed marriage

    in Advice Board

    Posted

    Sounds like you've had a rough marriage and life; I'm very sorry.

    As has been said, you need to repent and confess. If it can be done in a way that prevents injury and embarrasment to your spouse, then by all means do it. If it can't, you'll need to pray for guidance and support.

    Confessing is a very hard thing to do; I know.

  8. Do you feel that dreams have real meaning?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Being semi-aware and unable to move with intense feelings of fear are typically known as sleep-paralysis; you're technically awake, but your neurons are still randomly firing so you have mini-hallucinations (usually intense feelings of fear or if someone else is in the room with you), and your body is still paralized from the chemicals the petuitary gland secrets; this generally causes a state of panic, feelings of being watched or having someone pressing down on you, auditory or visual hallucinations, etc.

    I experience sleep paralysis regularly; typically because of how heavily medicated I am to sleep, and the types of medications I take (non-benzodiazapine setative hypnotics).

  10. Do you feel that dreams have real meaning?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Dreams, primarily, are nothing more than the random firing of neurons while we sleep; the unconcious part of the brain has to cleans its self of emotions it can't deal with; fear, fright, lonliness, longing, etc. and it does this through dreaming.

    Dreams of a holy nature, in my opinion, aren't dreams, but visions in an altered state of conciousness.

    We know from brainscans of dreaming patients what's happening in their minds, electrically speaking, and modern medical psychology has a pretty good handle on defining what dream pattern relate to; usually angst and pain. I don't think that a brainscan has ever been done on someone having a legitimate vision, so nothing is known about brainwave activity during one.

    Its my opinion that there is little purpose in having a dream-vision when simply praying about an issue, with a determined heart and true purpose will get you the answer that Heavenly Father feels is appropriate.

    FWIW I'm always 100% aware of my dreams and always know when I'm dreaming. I haven't had a nightmare since I was a child as I know when I'm having one and can change the course of the dream; a not unusual ability amongst people who have severe sleep disturbances such as I.

  11. I'm divorced with kids...

    in Marriage and Relationship Advice

    Posted

    You'll find a number of divorced members within our ranks; me included. My wife divorced me after 14 years of marriage and 4 kids (she left after 12 of those years); I don't feel judged in the slightest, well, at least by the other members. I tend to judge myself quite harshly.

    If you're interested in learning of the church, I would recommend having an appointment with the missionaries; you can request a visit here: Have missionaries contact me

    You can also just find a meetinghouse and drop by for a visit. Every ward has full-time missionaries assigned to it; don't worry about finding them, they'll find you :) You can find a meetinghouse here: LDS Maps

    Also, feel free to ask any questions you may have here, but beware that you'll only get our opinion of things; for answers of doctrine without opinion you really need to speak with the missionaries or the Bishop in your area.

    -Ryan

  14. Hello from a convert

    in Introduce Yourself

    Posted

    Pickled tomatoes are really good; so are pickled celery, onions, and turnip greens.

    I sure miss sauerbraten and jagerschnitzel; there are some fine German restaurants here in Milwaukee (Maders and Carl Rausch), but I can't afford to go there more than once a year. Its not hard to drop $200 on a meal at those places.

  15. Hello from a convert

    in Introduce Yourself

    Posted

    Roasted pig... probably was Spanfeckle, one of my favorites.

    I eat a primarily vegeterian diet most of the year with a fair amount of seafood; practically the only time I eat red meat is during hunting season when I take a few Antelope and a deer or two.

    I'm really into south-east asian cuisine; primarily Vietnamese and northern Thai; I love the vegeterian curries and spicy vegetables; plus Vietnamese Pho soup is pretty awesome.

    I used to drink (a lot) and I'd get salted fish, pickeled tomatoes, Baltika #4, Youri Dolgoruki vodka, and a big plate of Plov and have myself quite a night..

  16. Hello from a convert

    in Introduce Yourself

    Posted

    Its nice to meet you as well.

    There's some really good Russian markets down by Chicago where I can get traditional raw salo and the boiled version; I prefer the raw stuff myself. I like the chewy fattyness of it.

    I also really like the dried carp and sturgeon I can get down there; its especially good when there's roe inside.

    I've gotten pretty darn good at making Borscht; I do it about once a month and I make enough to freeze a few extra bowls.. when I don't eat it all at once.

    Being in Milwaukee isn't so good when it comes to ethnic foods; there's a very small asian, russian, persian, and eastern european population, but very few stores. When I want something I can't get up here I have to drive the 2 hours to chitown.

    I was stationed in Germany way back when, then Korea, Japan, and Central America; I used to eat my way around the world; there are very few types of food I can't stand, I'll pretty much eat anything I can get into my mouth, alive, dead, raw, or cooked. I'm an equal opportunity gourmand.

  18. Middle Single Adult Wards

    in Single Adults

    Posted

    That was the instructions for that particular ward. The others in the area didn't have those instructions.

    Turns out my worry was for naught; I just got a phone call from the corporation I was negotiating with and was told they were filling the position internally; so I guess I'm stuck here in Milwaukee where there isn't any kind of singles activites for the over 30 crowd.

  20. PBS Documentary "The Mormons"

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    “Also, that there were two stones in silver bows—and these stones, fastened to a breastplate, constituted what is called the Urim and Thummim—deposited with the plates; and the possession and use of these stones were what constituted ‘seers’ in ancient or former times; and that God had prepared them for the purpose of translating the book.” (JS—H 1:34–35.)

    “Joseph Smith would put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, drawing it closely around his face to exclude the light; and in the darkness the spiritual light would shine. A piece of something resembling parchment would appear, and on that appeared the writing. One character at a time would appear, and under it was the interpretation in English. Brother Joseph would read off the English to Oliver Cowdery, who was his principal scribe, and when it was written down and repeated to Brother Joseph to see if it was correct, then it would disappear, and another character with the interpretation would appear. Thus the Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God, and not by any power of man.” (David Whitmer, An Address to All Believers in Christ, Richmond, Mo.: n.p., 1887, p. 12.)

    The PBS documentary specifically excluded the use of the Urim and Thummim and stated that a "seer stone," unrelated to the U&T was used.

    I simply gave my opinion of what I got out of the show; you don't have to like my opinion, its a free country.

  22. PBS Documentary "The Mormons"

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I'm not sure if anyone else caught this series when it first aired a few years ago, but I picked it up from the Library yesterday and watched all 4 hours last night.

    My impressions are mixed. Its obvious that PBS went out of their way to appear as though they were presenting an unbiased investigation, but it became clear throughout the documentary that they did have an underlying agenda to provide more contrary information (such as Joseph Smith not using the Urim and Thummin [sP] and instead using a "Seer stone" in the bottom of a hat to translate the Golden Plates) and interviews with excommunicated members.

    I was moved by their coverage of the Churchs humanitarian relief efforts and found the eye-witness accounts to be inspiring, and there were many times when one of the General Authorities such as Dallin H Oaks was being interviewed that I had the proverbial "Burning in the bosom."

    All in all, I thought it was a well put together piece, and as far as secular historians go, one of the more balanced pieces; but one that will polarize anti-LDS sentiment and the faith of members alike.

  23. Divorce Settlement Question -wedding rings

    in Advice Board

    Posted

    Why would you want to keep it? Certainly not for sentimental reasons. I imagine you're interested in the rings for their monetary value (I don't blame you - get what you can, within the realm of the law and what's just). Sell them and split the proceeds equally; that way you have to argue less and get things over more quickly. The last thing you want to do is drag this out over an extended period because you won't budge on this issue. Get your divorce done with and get on with your life. If this is what it costs to do that, you're getting off cheap.

    FWIW my ex-wife kept her rings (not that they were worth much - we lived a minimalistic life) and I kept mine. Mine wasn't worth anything monetarily, but sentimentally it was without value. I had machined my ring from a control valve from a Nuclear Reactor (non-radioactive water loop).