JThimm88

Is there any specific reason for the formality of addressing each other as Brother/Sister (insert last name here) in the Church, versus Brother/Sister (insert first name here)? Most often my last name is used... I think there may have been one time when my first name was used instead. When thinking about it, I'd prefer to go by my first name because it's a little less formal and seems more ... well, "friendly" is the only word I can think of right now, but that doesn't really describe what I'm trying to get at. Oh well! Any ideas?

If you don't mind me asking (and I really don't mean to go off on a tanget, but...) what do you mean by "Seventh Day Sabbath"? I'm not familiar with that term. :)

From my understanding, for a tea to really be classified as such, it must come from the the Camellia Sinensis. Black, green, and oolong teas do come from this plant, so I don't drink them. However, herbal tea (white tea) is something I do drink due to the fact it does not come from this plant and can't technically be classified as tea, but rather as an infusion of fruits, herbs, spices, parts of other plants. So chances are, if your friend is drinking herbal tea, he's not really breaking the Word of Wisdom...

My husband and I have been in our ward for maybe 6 months or so now. In that time frame, I've been visiting taught once by one sister -- her companion didn't come. Another 2 times, this same sister dropped by, but stood outside the door and apologized for not coming to teach, giving me baked goods. Well, that sister has moved out of the ward -- this actually happened a month or two ago, and I didn't even know who her companion was, but I do now. I'm wondering if it'd be a bad thing if I just mentioned to this other sister that she is supposed to be visiting teaching me? I'm not sure if she has a new companion or what, and I'm also not sure with the new year if our assignments will be changed, but... I'd really like a visit. My companion and I go see 2 sisters in our ward every month and I love it, but it's not the same as having someone come to see me, I suppose.

I guess this whole concept just kind of makes me sad. Personally after having a miscarriage, being able to have a child is such a blessing. Yet this lady has had three miscarriages, has a viable pregnancy, and isn't sure if she wants to keep the baby or abort it. To each their own, but I'm personally more for ADOPTION if you feel you're not ready versus killing a baby who's already at 17 weeks or so... What's even stranger to me though is the fact that they had one unplanned pregnancy, but also had two planned pregnancies that resulted in miscarriages, so clearly they're interested in being parents, which makes me wonder why they're not sure about this baby when the pregnancy is viable! After my miscarriage, I got pregnant 2 months after the occurrence, and all I could think about was getting to that "safe point" where the chances of miscarriage drop, and this woman has definitely reached that point successfully, yet she thinks she might want to end that precious life? Sheesh. It makes me want to cry. (Then again, that could be my hormones, I AM 24 weeks pregnant...)

I definitely think this is interesting. I'm not sure if I totally believe it or not, but if it is true... that's quite an awesome experience for that boy!

Snorting bath salt... that sounds like it'd really hurt. Can't say if I were addicted to meth that this would be the way I'd want to get my high. Yikes.

Definitely true. But I do appreciate that very exact and up-to-date as of now information! :)

I'm currently expecting my first kiddo, a girl, in about 3 months. I'm wondering when she's old enough and goes through Young Women's Personal Progress program if I'm allowed to go through it with her and also earn a medallion? I'm a convert and never had the chance to do so myself, so I just thought I'd ask!

Thanks everyone. So far I think the thing I'm most nervous for is when she's 16... teenagers are sassy. I know I was. My husband talked with my mom today and he said he's not letting our daughter date, haha. Oh geez.

But you'll be able to after Nov. 14th, right?

My husband and I just found out that we're having a girl in March. It feels cool to know the little kiddo I've been talking to in my tummy for a while is officially our little Ava Ruth. :) Anyone have pointers on raising little girls? I'm incredibly nervous (even though I grew up with 4 sisters, my twin and I are the youngest)!

True. Though for me it's most just a curiosity thing (my husband and I are currently expecting our own kiddo), I just wondered and perhaps there are others out there who wonder about this subject as well for one reason or another (and I didn't find too much about it here already in previous threads).

Oh, wow. I suppose I'd never thought of it that way.

I'm wondering what the Church's position is on surrogacy? From what I understand, it's frowned upon for a female of the Church to be a surrogate mother, but I'm rather wondering what the stance is on LDS couples who can't have children of their own using a surrogate mother to carry their child?

If I'm not mistaken, that point was also made in this book, so I do agree. One thing I wrote to my mother-in-law in regards to how this book has made me view communication: "I'm only about halfway through, but so far it's made me realize how important open lines of communication are for both individuals; obviously the book is geared toward how women can change themselves to better their marriages and thus it's important for us wives to listen to our husbands input and put it into practice, but I also think it's basically telling us to communicate with our husbands... in a way that maybe isn't as harsh as it can be. I know I'm waaaaay guilty of just complaining to Eli sometimes, and it can get even worse when he tells me I'm complaining (I get annoyed, you know?), but reading this book has me asking, "Well, why do I think it's always about me, me, me, me, me?" because it's really not. It's about both of us." I can definitely see my husband as being afraid of wanting to attempt to talk with me when all I'm doing is spewing negativity out of my mouth! So, I guess in my previous post I should have said we GENERALLY have open lines of communication. Sometimes I know he's holding back, and sometimes I simply have to wonder if he isn't really saying what he wants to?

I have to say, I'm about halfway through the book, and what I'm most enjoying about it is the input given by husbands. My husband and I have open lines of communication, but sometimes I wonder if he does feel like some of these other men and just doesn't tell me. While I'm not guilty of every single thing the women in this book do, I am guilty of some things, and so far it's been an eye opener. Thanks for your responses everyone!

Has anyone here read The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands by Dr. Laura Schlessinger? She's not LDS, but my mother-in-law has read this book, recommended it to me (and her daughter, and one of her son's girlfriends to whom he'll soon be engaged), and I'm really enjoying it. Just wondering if anyone has read it and therefore has any thoughts on it?

Love it! Never thought of it that way. Thanks!

I've never really thought about it until now, but I'm wondering why it is that we're not able to video tape or take photos of baptisms, confirmations, baby blessings, and so forth? I guess when thinking about baptisms, considering we do proxy baptisms in the temple and because everything we do in the temple is considered sacred, it might make sense as to why we don't record our own baptisms on film, but I'm wondering what the reasoning from the Church is? I've noticed other churches (well, in my experience, my Pentecostal friend's baptism) was by immersion, somewhat similar to our baptisms, and pictures were taken for her own keepsake. Any answers on this?

I was looking on LDS.org and wasn't having any luck. I'm particularly looking for talks that speak on both the importance of education and of being a wife/mother, but that focus on motherhood being a greater calling? I'm dealing with a bit of a situation with my husband's older brother. I have not finished getting my undergraduate degree. My husband and I were married a year ago, moved halfway across the country so he can finish school, and I have put my education on the back burner. Now that my husband and I are expecting, my plan is to be a stay-at-home mother while I can. One thing I've struggled with as far as education goes is, I've never known what I've wanted to do as a worldly career. From a young age, I've wanted to be a wife and mother, but my brother-in-law makes it seem like my desire to do so isn't worthy, and has made a point to tell me that without an education and degree, I'm basically useless. (Trust me, if I were like some women who know what they want to do, are able to get degrees, and still be mothers, (and all at the same time even!), I would do it... but as far as a degree choice goes, in the 3 years I was in college, I switched universities at one point, and majors 4 or 5 times . . . which obviously was a waste of time and money, but I kept pursuing it at the recommendation of others.) Also, I understand the importance of a degree in today's society; it's hard to get a job without one, but I am also content working minimum wage at a job simply because I enjoy it, if need be. However, my husband and I crossing our fingers (and working our butts off before the baby comes) that we'll be financially well-enough off that I can stay at home while he works. I also don't really mean to complain about my brother-in-law, and I know I shouldn't let him get to me so much, but in the two years I've known him, he has made comments to me that can be very hurtful, and I'm just looking for some talks that can get me uplifted instead of continuing to focus on the unkind words he's said to me recently. Thanks (and sorry this post is so long)!

I'm wondering then, particularly if our children will be our brothers/sisters beyond the veil, how it is that we'll still have the opportunity to have children in the celestial kingdom? I guess I'm confused -- it's like saying that I'll be bearing my brothers/sisters with my husband in the next life, versus our children???

I really like the new layout. The pictures are great. I'm a visual person, and personally with garments, love that I can see the fabric (though now it's not so much of an issue -- I eventually bought one of every kind of fabric to figure out which ones I liked most) just in case I need to. All in all, the store seems very organized.

Oh my... I remember the Christmas music!

In regards to the OPs question, I watched it last night and found it interesting. While polygamy is seen as wrong within the Church, and I'm not sure that I could ever, ever practice it personally (if our Church still practiced it or ever did again for one reason or another), I still commend this guy and his wives for being patient enough to practice something that they believe to be true, despite how hard it probably is at times, which I'm sure we'll see throughout the show. It's also somewhat inspiring how they do maintain a certain harmony at home that even some people in a monogamous marriage can't master throughout an entire lifetime. They seem like they've got a system that works for them. I'm also amazed at how this man is capable of loving all three women with his whole heart -- I do believe you can be in love with more than one person (though in my opinion, that doesn't necessarily mean you should be -- I'm perfectly content in being in love with one person only!), and don't think this guy just married these women just because he could. I do think he has to love them all each in different ways as they're 3 different women. As well, I also think it takes a lot for these women to be willing to open up their hearts to each other and their marriages to each other as well and maintain a different kind of relationship that we may never understand. They probably have to work harder at keeping jealousy out of reach, work harder at being positive and strong role models for their children (even if that does include polygamy, which we generally don't see as being a strong trait, but they clearly do), and work harder at maintaining love for their husband, as well as loving friendships for each other... We simply don't have to deal with sharing our spouses as members of this Church, so sometimes I think we've rather got it a little bit easier. Despite polygamy being normal for them, it's still got to be hard. In our Church, we're not still being told that polygamy is righteous and that we should participate in polygamous marriages if we can... we're being told to be with one person and one person forever, and sometimes we can't even get it right with just that one person... yet polygamous marriages sometimes get it more right than we do with multiple people. I don't know, I just think this show will give me a different perspective on different kinds of marriages. It'd be like watching a show on an arranged marriage... that too would give me a different perspective on something that I don't practice. I think in some way, shape, or form I'll personally be able to pull something valuable out of this show... (ex: maintaining a more harmonious marriage with my husband; I also think in watching the ups and downs of a polygamous marriage, I, and perhaps other people, will be able to truly appreciate just how great our monogamous marriages are...)