lost123

So, how did it go?

I agree LDSJewess. It is shocking how so many details are revealed of personal transgressions on this site. I think it is probably because it is an anonymous posting and whereas people wouldn't tell people openly about such issues they feel like they can anonymously. I think you would find the same thing posted for those of religions who hold a high moral code. For those religions who don't, many will openly (and sometimes proudly) discuss such transgressions in parties or amongst peers. Sadly so. It is true that most every post of such a nature here shouldn't really be discussed here but with their ecclesiastic leader and the Lord. Those are the ones that have jurisdiction in the repentance process. Yet, every person's journey to become clean is different. The medication of the Lord's sacrifice and atonement is the same. To get to that point, some are confused, in the dark, afraid and need encouragement and/or clarification of how to proceed. The underlying theme seems to be the same - the desire to be in alignment with the Lord's commandments. Therefore...if this forum provides that encouragement to get there then it is one step in the right direction for these people. The truth is that in this world of sin, no matter what religion you are in there are going to be cases of transgression. This is no different in the LDS faith. Yet, the beauty of it all is that Christ paid the price for each one of us if we just turn to him, repent, and let his grace be sufficient to be made whole again. To the young woman from BYU-I....the message I hope you get from this is that as you take responsibility for your actions, turn to the Lord, and seek help to do this through your Bishop, you will be able to bear the consequences. The consequences are there to help you - not to hurt you. It may be a long hard road but the sooner you are on it.........the sooner the relief......and the faster the blessings of the gospel will be yours. Don't deceive yourself by waiting. Don't heap sin upon sin by deceiving those at the school when you know that your very character rests upon your integrity. Have courage.

Might I just add....go talk to your Bishop about your desires to be re-baptized. Seriously. It is within reach...even if your wife does not desire it. It will take repenting of those things that got you to that point BUT it is within reach. It sounds like you have the desire. KEEP THOSE DESIRES but a more tactile way to make it happen is by contacting the Bishop and letting him know. I don't see there is anything wrong with you keeping it as a reminder. It doesn't appear you are making a mockery of it. That's just my two cents worth.

Thanks all. I had a good laugh at some of them.

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. - Ralph Waldo Emerson When we realize that what lies within us is God's then, and only then, can you understand what you are talking about properly. I have come to find in life's journey that those people who get stuck on themselves and their talents as though they are gifts of self entitlement do a lot of self-stroking. It is a selfish and wicked pride. The truth of it is that when people start realising that all things whether they came in the spirit or not are gifts of God and belong to Him. To have the opinion that we are more than someone else or are entitled to more than someone else OR that our talents belong to us is ludicrous and dangerous. If anything, one should take into account that the Lord will hold us more accountable for what we do on Earth to serve him based on our opportunities to serve. We all came in spirit with different levels of intelligences. That matters not, What is important is that we fulfill the measure of our creation and put them in use for the glory of God. Think of the war in Heaven. Satan thought he was entitled. That was the reason Satan fell.

I apologize if you were offended by my statement. It wasn't intended as such. I was just light-heartedly expressing that I don't think it really matters whether or not gifts came with us or not. I believe it matters only that we do all we can with what we have to help serve the Lord's purposes. There is nothing wrong with discussions that make us think. You have done that successfully. But in thinking I think we must be careful "not to look beyond the mark." However, you have made me take personal stock about my own stewardship as a member of the church. If you look at the context of the scripture in section 82, it appears that Joseph Smith is referring to the blessings and responsibilities associated with the gospel...as he follows "Unto whom much is given much is required;" with "and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation." I think gifts of the priesthood can be applied here, as is gifts of the atonement, gift of charity, spiritual gifts. He is the giver. We magnify it. The glory is His...not ours. In the same section he shares with us about the law of consecration. So...I think that can be applied here: Where much is given much is required.

I just want to know what is protocol.

To counsel about personal matters.

Personal interview.

I have an appointment with the Bishop. It isn't on a Sunday. Do I wear church dress or is it okay to go in street clothes?

Talents was referring to money in this parable which is important to visualize the parable correctly. But in teaching how it relates to the gospel, the Lord was telling his apostles that the Talents are symbolic for "gifts" given of God. AGAIN...we might not be good at them but we are expected to develop and invest in them. Or we may be good at them and we are still required to develop them and magnify them for the Lord's purposes. To be clear, it does not matter if we came with them in our spirits or not. All of God's purposes are to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man". If we invest all our time and focus on things that do not bring about God's purposes then I guess it is safe to say those are not gifts but distractions. In the parable it refers to "gifts" and does not state whether or not we are good at it. Therefore I think that the wise steward takes all gifts (whether they are good at it or not) and magnifies it (invests it as you would money in the parable so that you can multiply it for the purposes of God). (Money is only symbolic). "This is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." "Adam fell that men might be and men are that they might have joy." "Lose yourself in the Lord's purposes and you will find yourself." (not directly quoted - look up scriptural references...but you get the gist). If we know some things come naturally to us and we do nothing with it I think it would be safe to say we are slothful servants. If we know that some things don't come easily or naturally to us and don't develop them then we are still slothful servants. In the parable the Lord gave different amounts to different people. I think the key is that we use all at our disposal (whether or not we are good at it) to magnify the Lord's purposes. This is fulfilling the measure of our creation. This is ultimate joy. This is being obedient. This is being a wise servant. The wise servant seeks out to invest their gifts so it benefits the Lord's purposes...not their own. Then if we are "faithful over a few things" he will "make us ruler over many things". In the gospel we are all given much so every member of the church has a HUGE responsibility: WHERE MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS REQUIRED. This again refers to all things (gifts) whether we are naturally good at them or not. It is our faithfulness in magnifying these "gifts" that matters. Remember ALL that we have (whether we were pre-disposed to them through our pre-earth life spirits or not) are given of God. We are to develop all gifts. Boy this is sounding trivial. LOL. I think it is safest to say that we just need to get out there and WORK. :)

Please allow yourself to have this experience. When I had this experience with my grandmother I remembered the job of those who wrapped Jesus's body for burial and what an honor and privilege it was to do something so sacred. I have been to many many funerals and have to say that I love what I learn from each one. I grew up in a country where the whole family sleeps in the same room as the deceased body and where it is common place to give a kiss on the forehead to the deceased out of love and respect. I guess for me, it is comfortable and common place. There is nothing scary, in my opinion about it. It is a new experience for you and so feeling uncomfortable is natural. But instead of thinking of your own comfort...think of the love of the person who is deceased and the love you have for the family in mourning. Besides, when you realize that the body is something sacred - it helps you appreciate the situation. My advice...think of not being self centered in this situation. Think of it as a privilege. What can you expect. The body is generally pale, has some makeup put on to give some color, is cold (at least I think it does). It will smell a little of fermaldahide (spelling?). Drown out your thoughts of all this and remember the life of the person and the love you have for them. IMO, I think it helps in the grieving process to be involved in the handling of the body or to be able to be part of viewing the body. It is paying your respects. I am happy you have this opportunity.

It is important to understand that in the parable of the Talents that Talents is not referring to talents (as far as what we are naturally blessed with). Talents in this parable refers to money. The one that had more Talents (money) went out and learned how to double it as did the next steward. The one that had 1 went and buried it and did not invest it to make more. What is the parable? Talents in this parable refer to "gifts" given from the Lord - things we are given that we may not be good at at all but we are required to learn them and to multiply them and to be wise stewards of it. This lesson was in a recent Gospel Doctrine lesson from this year. Gifts of the Spirit (as found in the Doctrine and Covenants) are some of them (i.e. Gift of Tongues, Gifts of the Spirit, Faith, etc.). Others, Bruce R. McConkie says, are listening, bearing one anothers burdens, Gift of the Holy Ghost, priesthood, etc. It is important to know that the gifts are not something we are necessarily good at BUT we are expected to develop those gifts and to multiply them. That is the wise steward. I hope this helps.

PLEASE talk to your Bishop.

OKAY - I am going to do some BIG REVISING of my post due in large part to reading your first post surrounding your situation and your child who was taken from you. Your situation is slightly different. What you will find here in this forum are opinions. I am sure you have gotten plenty of opinions from those around you of what to think or what to do. Mine is probably no different. But I hope that you take in consideration some advice I hope to offer. You MUST seek legal counsel. GET A LAWYER. The biggest mistake someone can make when dealing with the law is to go about it on their own. You would be wise to seek representation. It doesn't matter how right you are...when facing the law you want someone who knows the system. It is expensive. It is inconvenient. It is a process that often takes time BUT YOU CAN NOT AFFORD NOT TO. Try to find reputable representation (lawyer) who has experience and background in this type of thing. A lawyer will let you know what your rights are and will educate you about how the courts go about sorting this type of thing out. Child and Famiy Protective Services have laws to follow. You need to know what they are and the process so you can understand that they are obligated by law to do their job - even if they sometimes get it wrong. In my opinion, whatever you do DO NOT PLEAD GUILTY if you indeed are NOT GUILTY. Listen to your lawyer. Ask questions. If you feel you are not being represented properly, seek advice from another lawyer as to whether you should be troubled by this representation. Remember your lawyer is there to give you legal counsel and represent you according to the law. Keep a journal to help let your feelings come out. It is therapeutic and can be a good source of expression. It also helps to see things on paper. When we re-read it we sometimes think differently OR down the road we can read it again to see how far we've come, lessons learned or patterns of problems we need to break that we haven't overcome. I SUGGEST ALSO to take a piece of paper. At the heading write FACTS. Write all the facts (not opinions, feelings). This will help you see things more logically and for what they are. Here are some examples (change for accuracy) FACT (SITUATION) Baby (2 broken ribs, retinol damage, bleeding brain) Baby in custody There is a process in working to get child back I only have partial knowledge of the law. Husband claimed responsibility and recanted I do/don't have a criminal record I do/don't receive information from Child and Family Protection Services I do/don't have enough money to survive doing what I am doing I do/don't have a lawyer There is a court date July 8 I am pregnant I am/am not divorced My husband is estranged/not estranged I don't/do have (and can show) I have support for my child when I get her back etc....... I know/don't know all the resources available to me I have/have not kept a record of all the conversations/court filings involved I have/have not taken parenting classes I have/have not followed what the law or Child Protection services has asked of me FACT (SUPPORT) I do/don't have family support emotionally I do/don't have home teachers that visit I do/don't have visiting teachers that visit My bishop is aware of my situation The bishop has offered this type of support ___________________ I have/have not met with my Stake President I do/don't have a professional counselling services I do/don't have enough food to eat I do/don't have enough money to survive I am ___ years old FACT (EMOTIONAL) I have/don't have the symptoms of depression I do/don't exercise regularly etc. FACT (SPIRITUALLY) I have/have not sought spiritual guidance from Bishop He offered this support and counsel _____________________ I have/have not followed the counsel he gave I have/have not sought help from the Stake Pres. I have/have not followed that guidance I do/don't read my scriptures daily I do/don't pour out my sould to God I do/don't attend church I do/don't hold a valid temple recommend I do/don't have access to a temple I do/don't go to the temple regularly etc... I have a friend who helped me see things more clearly when I was able to compartmentalize the facts from my emotions. It made problem solving and a course of action much more effective and was able to help me not get lost in feeling sorry for myself but doing ALL I can within my power to do something practical and effective with the facts. Sometimes we get so lost in our emotions that we can't think clearly and often see things for much worse than they are OR not give attention to the things that need it most. My suggestion: WORK ON WHAT IS FACT AND NOT SPECULATION. The first effective step is to accept the situation you are in and do everything in your disposal to use the facts to help you effectively address the situation. It also helps you be pro-active about the situation which helps prevent the awful affects of harboring anger and resentment. I know I am not aware of everything in your situation. This is just a suggestion. Please remember that. I hope it helps. ONE THING YOU MUST MUST MUST address is your HUSBAND. Is he in your life or out of your life? If he is in your life, he could pose your biggest obstacle to getting your child back. Accept the things you do know and accept that you don't know everything. Accept that you are in this situation. Stick to the facts and I think you will find/see more results - see things more clearly. Try not to focus on your emotions. They can render you a complete wreck. BUT ... DO seek help in your ward. Keeping it secret is not always the best. Some people may not help you but there will be those who do. Don't worry about what people will think about you. SEEK THE LORD'S HELP and KEEP THE FAITH. A VERY GOOD BOOK THAT YOU SHOULD TRY TO ORDER ONLINE or CHECK OUT FROM THE LIBRARY WILL HELP TREMENDOUSLY. It was written well over 50 years ago but is a gem. "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living" by Dale Carnegie. I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend reading it. I wish I had years and years ago. It would have saved me a lot of hurt and wasted time. It addresses how to stop worrying about even the most difficult of circumstances. Do something for yourself every day: have a hot bath, read a good book, etc. - you need to take care of yourself somehow. It doesn't require money. TO WRAP UP: 1) KEEP TO THE FACTS 2) GET LEGAL COUNSEL 3) TALK TO STAKE PRES 4) PRAY PRAY PRAY 5) READ "HOW TO STOP WORRYING AND START LIVING" by Dale Carnegie 6) DO SOMETHING FOR YOURSELF EVERY DAY Whatever you do...remember that bad things can happen to good people. It is not a reflection on you as an individual. That's just the way life is. So begins the process of realizing that our allegiance is with the Savior no matter what. Keep the faith. REMEMBER all that is here is opinion and advice. Each circumstance is different. Hope it helps.