jayanna

please, please, please get checked for STD's...protect your wife from that. Though this is not just between you and your wife. And you are already punishing your kids, every time they think you are using the priesthood when you're not, every time they think you are using revelation from the Holy Spirit to guide and preside in your family when your not...how can they have a testimony of the priesthood when it is a sham? You need to get it back. You need the Holy Ghost back, you need to get back to Him, you cannot lead your family down a path that you are not on. Start on your road to repentance, that's great, but don't leave them out. Don't waste any time at all. Time is of the utmost importance, because they need some experiences with you using the priesthood for their welfare backed by the power of the Holy Ghost before they get out in the world on their own. Get moving, get clean, get back to the path, you are needed.

There are a couple of things here that I think you should be aware of....you have learned a lot When it comes time for your to be that High Councilor, you will not do what he did, you will know what confidentiality is. This has made you stronger, in knowledge, in experience, in compassion for others that might experience this kind of situation Also, the adversary wants you to hate. He wants you to keep on hating...he wants you to stop attending...he does not want you to go to the temple and be sealed. The problem in the church is not the poeple, it is the influence that the adversary has over them, the divisions are his fault. Don't let him win. It is hard to attend a ward where such animosity resides. Attend anyway. I know how it feels, so does the Savior. He was betrayed, too. He went anyway. Some of the very people He saved threw things at him and spat on him, stripped him naked and whipped him, paraded him through town, and hung him on a cross. He did it anyway. What better way to be like the Savior than to forgive. Don't let anything, ANYTHING stand in between you and that temple. Don't let him or them or anyone get in the way of you and your wife being sealed in the temple. Do not let doubt, fear, pain or despair stop you. Whenever those angry thoughts come into your head, you tell them, "I don't have time for this, I'm going to the temple." Don't depend on the care and concern from others to get you there, you hold to the iron rod. You pray on your knees, be the husband that your wife needs, be the priesthood holder that gives her a reason to believe again. Let her look to you and say, "I know the priesthood is true, because this man lives it." No you didn't get to baptize her, or perform her confirmation, but you can go do baptisms in the temple with her. You can confirm her family members who are on the other side of the veil. You can be there with her when she gets her P. B. You can go with her to the House of the Lord and get endowments with her, and be sealed to her. You can go there with her time and again to do work for her family, baptizing each of the sisters with her standing as proxy, and standing as proxy for her male family members who have passed on. She will walk down into that water and stand next to you, look up at you and know that you are helping her to take her family with her to the Celestial kingdom. Think of her all dressed in white as you look into her face while the temple sealer is performing the sealing ordinance for you, and later for those in her family that have died. Just think about the wonderful future you two have together, maybe raising a missionary, maybe going on a mission together in your retirement. Don't let this moment ruin it all. You have wonderful experiences ahead of you! I am excited for you! You don't have time for this...you're going to the temple!

Yep, baby first then baptism, my hubby agrees :) Follow the advice of the doctor, bed rest. Heed the council of your doctor. Who knows? Maybe your hubby will be baptized before you, receive the Aaronic priesthood, and then baptize you after the baby is born :)!

ooohhh I know it is really hard to watch someone you love make a bad decision. You can fast for him, and put his name on the temple prayer roll. I have seen that work miracles, and so have my husband's nonmember family. In fact, when one of his siblings are going through something really terrible, they ask me to put their name on the temple prayer roll. You might not want to argue on behalf of your mom, maybe just suggest to your bro. that maybe there are two sides to every story and encourage him to have a heart to heart with her. She probably expects something like this is going to happen, and might just have to console herself by being relieved that he is getting sealed in the temple. After all being sealed isn't something you do one day, it's something you decide to be every day. Oddly, if he does still decide not to include her, you have to forgive him as well.

I think that you are thinking of it as 'family' is you, your wife, and kids, but really it is a long line of posterity...many generations that will be sealed together because of what you and your wife will do. Also think of your family in the past, you can't do their work and have them sealed to you until you are endowed and sealed to your wife. Get your PB out and look at the punctuation here, I think it's important. I think 'family' is past and future generations that are depending on you to get this work done.

girl, gotta be a girl, no adam's apple lol

In Chapter 8 of 1st Nephi, there is a vision that is described that you can read about, it explains a lot about the tests we face here in this world. One of the things in the vision that has helped me understand trials is the part that describes people holding onto the rod. They are clinging to it. They aren't just looking at it and considering it, they aren't lightly resting their hand on it, or even using it occasionally during the rough spots, they are clinging to it, as if their very lives depend on it, as if they know they will never make it without that rod. The rod represents the word of God. Sometimes God lets the winds blow and the rains come so that we will cling tighter to that rod. If these things overcome us, and we die, what is the worst thing that can happen? We aren't gone forever, we return to Him, or we return to a state where we learn and progress so that we can return to Him. These terrible things that go on, and yes I've experienced some crazy bad stuff, only last a blink of an eye compared to the eternity where we will be with God. and angels....they are us, we are the angels. When these tragedies happen, this is Him giving the rest of us a chance to be angels. oh, and p.s. Someone told me that touched by an angel was filmed in SLC, is that true?

oh, I wish I could come, is there any way there might be one for Oct Conf.?

Weren't there three priesthood holders in the BOM who requested to stay on earth to continue to preach the gospel that were changed in the twinkling of an eye, so they could stay and teach others? Maybe 3Ne. somewhere? This means they were changed, which would suggest that she will be changed, but not necessarily in the millenium.

too many 'I love you's from a date/boyfriend...yes from a hubby ...no from kids stretching out bedtime for half an hour..definitely A whole lot of it makes me suspicious, "Okay, what did you do?" or "what do you want, just say it." That's kinda depressing, huh? I love you's can be nice, but especially when combined with something, like making dinner, or a back rub, etc.

I converted before I met my husband. He joined the church about the same time we got married. I became temple worthy and went to the temple and got my endowments before he did. I like to think that the change he saw in me encouraged him to put aside worldly things and prepare to go to the temple. You will not be judged by your husband's choices. You can also go to the temple after you are baptized and do work in the baptistry there.

For one thing, we use the King James version of the Bible, any references and corrections to the translation of it are put into the footnotes, so that we can study them out for ourselves...so when you read the King James Bible, you are reading our Bible. Secondly, yes, all of the apostles are also prophets, just as they were in the New Testament. The head, or lead apostle, Peter, had all of the keys of the priesthood, which Jesus gave to him. In these days, all of the apostles are also prophets, including Pres. Thomas S. Monson, though the head or lead apostle is the only one to possess all of the keys of the priesthood, which were the same ones given to Peter, thus making him the person we refer to as 'the' Prophet' because the is the one prophet who has been given all of the keys of the priesthood on the earth at this time. Thirdly, your blood will never, ever, ever be on my hands, I don't know where you got that foul interpretation, I sincerely doubt it was on this website as you claim. If you want to read a good book,' A Marvelous Work and a Wonder' would be a good choice. And if you really do have family members in the church, aren't their actions, including their love for you, evidence enough that this is not the work of the destroyer? Didn't the Lord say, "By this shall men know ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another?" If we seem sensitive, perhaps it is because you seem accusatory rather than inquisitory.

Okay, isn't the entire New Testament actually testimonies of the Lord's servants? The entire thing is not written by Jesus...so to say that we can't receive the Lord's word through others discounts all scripture altogether. btw in Rev. 11 two prophets will be slain in Jerusalem, how can that happen if there aren't any more prophets?

congrats, Backroads! P. S. Slamjet, love the sparkes :)

My hubby had a really hard time going to the temple for the first time. Every time I brought it up, we would have an argument...he was scared. He didn't know what to expect, he felt like people would stare at him (which he hates). I took it personally and assumed that he didn't want to go with me to be sealed. So...we kind of eloped to be sealed. There were only about 4 members from our ward there, and 2 of them just happened to be at the temple that day. Also, we went during the day on a weekday, so there were less people. It was not anything like he was afraid it was going to be like. You can read a lot about the temple in the old testament, minus animal sacrifices of course, and I would suggest reading the Pearl of Great Price. Other than that, it sounds like you are ready to go. There isn't anything to be afraid of. Some of my friends were getting ready to go through and were worried about making new covenants without knowing beforehand what they were, and I told them (like I'm telling you) if you are temple worthy, you're already living them, you are already there...going to the temple is just making it official. As far as the sealing ordinance is concerned there is a brief description of it in the Gospel Principles manual Gospel Principles Chapter 38: Eternal Marriage The sealing part itself is short and sweet. The temple is amazing, beautiful, peaceful, and the people that work there are so kind and caring, it is easy to imagine what the world to come will be like. It reminds me of being at my grandma's house when I was little, quiet and calm, and safe, and cared for. It has always been my greatest desire to be a temple worker when I grow up. One time right after I was endowed, I was sitting in the celestial room, where people mostly just sit and pray, it's very quiet in there, and I sneezed, a big one, I put my hands on my face and closed my eyes, thinking "OH NO! where do they keep the tissues...?" I opened my eyes and there was the most grandmotheriest sister standing there in a white dress, smiling, and holding out a box of tissues for me to take. I have no idea what her name was, and I've never seen her since, but that is what I want to be someday. It is true, the adversary doesn't want you to go, he wants you to be afraid, and embarrassed and generally stubborn, etc. When you make your appointment to go, be really really prepared, because he will throw everything he's got at you...you'll argue, cars break down, temple clothing forgotten, financial issues, the works. Go anyway, just take the paperwork, and the temple has extra everything, just get there. Have a back up car, another couple going in a separate car and even a back up cell phone. He is real. I went and some time later (within the year) my hubby went. I think he kinda needed recon. Surely you have made one or two friends in your ward you can trust, ask them some descreet questions about the temple if you want, they can at least give you a general opinion. Also DON't read some weirdo stuff you can find on the internet about the ordinances...I have just for curiosity sake...and it's always way way off. There are no words on a page to describe how great it is to be there. You won't be stared at, and you will have someone right there with you to guide everything little thing and answer your questions. It's great. Go.

Another way to tell if it is true is by living by what is written in it, and see if it brings you closer to Christ. I'm really surprised that more people don't read the Book of Mormon. You can read it alongside the Bible, following the footnotes at the bottom of each page, seeing where things are mentioned in the Bible that pertain to the information given in the current verse or chapter. I learned a lot that way, but still prayed about whether it was true. Don't get me wrong, I don't judge those that don't have a testimony of it. Sometimes, though, you really have to dig on your own, really read it objectively and pray, sometimes pray repeatedly, being willing to recieve what ever answer to the "is it true?' question. It is very personal, and humbling, and intense. I'll never forget my answer. I had a lot riding on it. It meant changing my whole life, and my children who were depending on me. My whole family (mom, dad, siblings, extended family) were so against it. Some still are, but some are tolerating my choices, and some are intrigued about the changes that have come of it. I have found that not only does the Book of Mormon teach the same gospel as the Bible, it actually testifies of the truthfulness of the Bible. At first when I started reading it, I remember thinking, "Yeah, it is too good to be true. It will sound great at first, but when I dig deeper into it, it will prove a hoax like everything else." Well, it gets truer (is that a word?) and more profound every time I read it. When I run on something I don't understand, I read what comes before and what comes after, and then it clears up. I also usually pray before I read, and ponder what it means to me in my current situation. btw sister missionaries are the best ones :) even the Elders will say so.

Well, I don't know about where you guys are, but a malfunctioning stop light means, 'stop at the light and then go as if is were a stop sign' here. Though actually running a read light can mean death for somebody. There have been some people killed at the intersection about a 1/4 mile from me. Trucks on the highway run the light and someone gets creamed. I'm worried about when my daughter starts driving. It almost happened to me a few years ago. I was driving my daughters and a little girl that was a friend of theirs into the next town. I was coming up on the intersection and the light had been green for a while, so I knew that I'd better hurry or I'd miss it. There were also 3 or 4 cars behind me. The radio was playing the girls' favorite music, and they were talking and giggling as little girls do. Then the Holy Ghost says "Stop." He didn't say it loudly, but I heard it over the radio and the girls. So I stopped, immediately, right there. The girls were thrown forward into their seatbelts and stopped talking. I started looking around, trying to find out why He would tell me to do that. That's when a great big semi truck blew through the intersection, running the red light at full speed and then some. I'm so glad that He told me to stop, and I'm glad that I had heard Him before and new what his voice sounded like. I thought I would follow the driver, and possibly report the license plate, but by the time I made the turn he/she was so far ahead of me there was no chance of reading it. I really wish the highway patrol would camp there for a day or two and slow down the rate of speed there.

I'm not...I'm just sayin B)

Well, I gotta tell you, it will be hard, but it will be okay in the end. Wear a lot of deodorant, and well, to be honest, slamjet, it the ones that insist they didn't do anything wrong and declare they have a 'right' to have the priesthood that are really in trouble. Godly sorrow. They gotta know you've got it, and not just because you 'got caught' if you did get caught that is. Your bishop and stake pres, you already know they are looking forward to having you baptized, so you kinda already know what their letters will be like. Your ex, if she is one of them that will send a letter or be present, you also kinda know how she feels about it...it's the questions that are bugging you, but they have to know in order to make a fully informed decision, you don't want to look back at this years later and say, "Well, maybe they were mistaken in their decision because they didn't know about __________." You want to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that their decision is based on all of the facts. Once it's over, its' over, stricken from your record, Baptism! you're clean and pure again, summerish? I don't think it will take long to hear back from the 1st Pres.'y, then a restoration of blessings. You'll be in the temple again before you know it. Keep your chin up, slamjet, it will be worth it. Big hug from me :/

I am also thinking that you face the parents together. They do need to see that you are making this decision as a couple. As scary as it will seem, you will need to explain to her parents of how much she means to you and how you desire to care for her, even in the face of severe persecution (like an angry daddy). Lean on the Lord, let Him help you to be a great companion to her. Think and say positive things about her every day, even if you are annoyed with her, love her unconditionally like her Heavenly Father loves her. She must be scared, too. She might not be aware of how serious it is to break the law of chastity, not having been in the gospel for long (milk before meat and all that). She will need you to become a priesthood holder than she can look to preside in her home. Remember that when you are with God (on the path following Him) all things are possible. There is no sin on this earth that cannot be overcome by the atonement of the Savior. Remember that you are still a representative of the church to her and her parents. Be loving patient caring and kind to her in the long term, winning their trust again may take time, but they love her, and if you love her too, they can't be mad at you forever.

When I think about the 'once saved always saved' belief, I always here the following scripture ringing in my head: Matthew 7:21 (also found in 3 Nephi 14:21) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Here is something else I have found on this topic in the New Testament: please read along in your scriptures, so you know I'm reading what I say I'm reading: in Acts Chapter 8 There is a man named Simon, who had previously performed sorcery and fooled the poeple...in verse 13 we read that Simon believed the gospel and was baptized... Later he saw the Apostles giving someone the Holy Ghost and offered them money to buy this gift, in verse 18... And then Peter tells him to 1. repent in verse 22, and 2. ask for forgiveness After he had been baptized...this shows an example that one can sin, repent, and recieve forgiveness after having been baptized and confessing a belief in Christ.

You mean he made you chew it when he caught you saying bad words. Poor little guy Okay, so where do you find this stuff? You know, just in case my kid gets a fowl mouth.

Have you had your March 13 interview yet? That is an awfully quick turn around. Give it 'another try' by getting married? Give it another try by dating again, and not allowing yourselves to get into the same situation - alone and lacking self-discipline. First of all...you bought plane tickets anyway? You made plans before getting an answer from the STAKE PRESIDENT? Because what you did wasn't that bad anyway...does that sound like Godly sorry to you? PLans you should not have made, plane tickets you should not have purchased. Dude, it takes time to get a living ordinance recommend and set up a time with the temple. Do you really think you could set a date without calling the temple and making an appointment? YES If there is a possibility of another mistake, you haven't repented yet. Petting from 5 months ago is heinous enough for your Bishop and your Stake Pres. to say wait, as well as a warning from HF in the Bishop's prayer! You have already recieved both advice and counsel...and you aren't listening because you can't wait to have sex....what other reason do you have? That you 'know each other', what does that have to do with waiting for August? You aren't waiting for August so you can get to know each other, but to overcome this impulsive nature and sexual temptations. He's gonna hate it. Wait, let your precious bride know that you want to marry her whether you can have sex or not. Learn how to excercise self discipline. You know, you will still be tempted by pornography and women after you get married.

I just know that when I am going through something really, really, horrible I hate it when someone who has never experienced what I am going through gives me cliche advice. Maybe the best thing is to just listen. Someone in my ward lost a child, and at the funeral I was having this same struggle. She had been such a beautiful little girl. I just gave the sis. a big hug and told her, "If there is anything I can do, please let me know." Every situation is so different, that couple were almost relieved that she wasn't in pain anymore. Watching her die slowly in the hospital was the worst part.