jayanna

Those are really great suggestions above me...I just want you to know that when I first investigated, I didn't know how to pray either...the elders had to teach me, but they didn't laugh or make fun at all, they were very serious. I practiced at dinner with my kids, and with the elders, I told them to let people know not to ask me to pray quite yet at church, b/c I wasn't ready for a little while. Now, I can do it alright, I have even been learning how to do it in Spanish, since we have a few Spanish speaking members now! Being sincere is the most important part, the Lord is very patient.

You can go on a mission before or after you enlist. You can go on a mission after you retire, you can be a priesthood holder while you are in the military, there are general authorities in the church who have held very high positions in the military. There is info about this on Lds.org I'm trying to put in a link here: <em>So You Are Going into Military Service?</em> Military Relations Committee

Thanks, mordorbund, but that kinda freaks me out a little, not your opinion, I mean, but the fact that there is so much debate about the nature of God, and that there are 'sides' Now I want to make sure all of you know that I am not adressing one person on any 'side', but anyone who reads this...and I don't write this to point out anyone's flaws, or chastise, but in an attempt to bring comfort to questions and endless debate with no conclusion... When I was first investigating the church, there were a lot of people coming to my door and inviting me to their churches. I would ask each of them the same question, "Why should I come to your church?" Some would answer with various scripture references (I did not have a testimony of the Bible) some would say they have a really great _______ program, some would say what a great preacher they have, some would say what great facilities they had. Then the elders came, I knew they were coming, and that God had sent them because He told me He would. But to be fair I asked them the same question before they left. They glanced at each other, and then the senior of the two answered, "We can't tell you that, you have to pray to God and ask Him that." It had never occured to me to ask, and that if I asked He would answer. Once they taught me how to pray, I asked, and He answered. Scripture can be debated all day long, but it was not written to create divisions between us. Revelation has been returned to the earth to bring us unity, and greater understanding. If you really want to understand something about God, you should ask Him, knowing that He loves you and cares about you. Now remember, that Moses when He wanted to speak with God and needed to learn more from Him, he climbed a mountain to get with Him. Don't get me wrong, God can be anywhere, but sometimes we need to climb a mountain to speak with Him. If you have a mountain you need to climb, go for it. Maybe it is temple attendance, maybe it's overcoming an addiction, maybe it's overcoming preconceived beliefs and putting them aside to accept whatever answer He gives, but climb it. Ask Him. He wants you to. I know this because I've lived this. Best wishes:)

Well, he must have some testimony if he believes so much about his P. blessing! A testimony in that entails testimony of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the restoration of the church, the priesthood, the pre-existence, resurrection, and anything that P. blessing has written in it ...he has a testimony, I'm sure of it. Let him go, the Lord knows him, too.

Carlimac, do you think that maybe you and your hubby moved to that area b/c the Lord wanted him there for that service? Or maybe the Lord prompted your bishop to ask him, just to give him this very lesson! When my hubby recieved the M. priesthood, the counselor position in EQ had not been filled for over a year. The week he received the priesthood, he was called. Then EQ pres a year later, then ward mission leader 1 year later, and now bishopric 1 year later. I was kinda excited at first, then like, okay...whoa, stop there. Now I think that there is a very good reason I'm so independent. I'm just really glad that he isn't called away to a foreign country, like some priesthood holders had to go on missions when the church was just getting started. I try to remember that he doesn't really belong to me, and try to be grateful for what time I do get with him. Especially since he has 2 jobs and is enrolled in school full time. We've made things as simple as possible at home...we live across the street from the school, I work 10-2 mon-fri, so I can take them to all their activities, if they have any, and our oldest child does quite a bit of the yard work I can't do since I have heart problems. Prayer really is the most important thing to do when getting a new calling, so that you KNOW it is from the Lord. Temple attendance and fasting with the whole family is nice too. When you pray you should also pray for the bishop, and yourselves to know the right things to do. I'm sure everything will work out great :)

Okay, as for whether or not God experiences it the same way...I don't know. All I know for sure is that when I am there, seeing, it is such a profound moment that it changes my life forever. Am I actually there, I don't know. I don't feel temperature, or smell anything, I feel like I am safe and only observing. Does it evoke emotions? yes, just remembering it gets me all upset. Do I learn something? Yes Does He learn something or feel something? I don't know. It must not have a bad effect on His glory, or He wouldn't do it. Another example that I think might help explain the emotional part is... When I was a little girl there was the space shuttle that my school class were looking forward to launching. We studied all about past missions and the peole that would be on the shuttle, including the school teacher. The week finally came for the launch. In the morning I woke up and my radio came on, at least I thought it was the radio coming on. I heard a news report that said that the shuttle had exploded shortly after take off, killing everyone. I was devastated. I cried all morning, getting ready for school...I got to my classroom, and when the teacher mentioned the shuttle launch, and watching it in class, I told her it was too late. I told her that it had blown up and everyone was dead. She replied that the launch had not happened yet...and it hadn't, but it took some evidence to convince me of it. WHen it actually did happen, I was still really sad, I still cried for that teacher and her family. Everyone was kinda freaked out by me, but I did get a chance to notice some things and was more prepared to comfort my friends about it. That kind of thing I think of as a vision, not actually traveling anywhere...but I think that might help you understand what I'm trying to explain.

I think if you want to discuss glory, and the purpose of life that you should start another thread of your own.

Have I ever seen that scripture? wait a second, you took a thread about seeing what will happen and made it about me, and accusing me, and Adam, of being like Satan? is that what I'm thinking it is? I have tried to explain what the OP was asking about, I even shared my personal experience, and in response you are trying to rip me to peices? PLease tell me this isn't so. Are you wanting to discuss and learn and grow, without being angry and vindictive toward me? It is hard to understand without any tone. What are your motives here?

Okay, this is really important to me. For a while my hubby worked and was not ready to pay tithing. I spoke to my bishop at tithing settlement anyway, and found out about this. 2 bishops have explained this to me. You do not have to pay tithing on his income. You should talk to your bishop. Mine told me that since I don't work and bring in any income that my tithing amount is 0, and that if I were making money and I would give tithing of it, that I get to be considered a full tithepayer. You should talk to your bishop. I'm sorry about your RS pres. And, yeah, we do pay tithing even when we are in dire financial straights, but we also go to the bishop when we need help providing for the family. There is an entire church welfare system, that provides diapers for babies, that is available for our use, if we truly need it.

Is it possible to go to her and get baptized in the ward there? Don't feel bad if your mother can't come...it is much more important that she sees the difference in your life that the baptism brings, that is the most important part. She can get a testimony of baptism when she sees your light shine, and maybe wish one for herself. There are other ordinances she can see, like your confirmation, and ordinations, you blessing the sacrament, and you blessing your future children :), and baptizing them. :) :)

Okay,I can read from the words why you think that, but what is your experience? I think that when His glory is mentioned in the scriptures and principles you have mentioned, it is talking about credit, when good happens, God gets the credit ( or thanks), because He created everything that is good, and everything that is good comes from Him. But He did not create us so that He could get thanks, but that we might have joy. Our very existence is pure charity on His part. I think that his glory is without time, having no end, and that when another Earth is created it will have its own time...that each has its own time, some greater time, and some lesser time. But the OP did not ask about the definition of glory, but about seeing the future...so that's why I was not particulary trying to explain glory. I shared my experience with time movement, what is your experience with glory? I will not make fun of it. thanks,

Okay, so if they were repented and baptized, which I don't know where I would find that, then why were they baptized again? Could you maybe offer a scripture concerning their previous baptism? I don't mean to sound offensive, I'm just really surprised, and I can't think of any scripture that says they had already been baptized and it was repeated even though they were worthy to receive the sacrament, which in principle, would be repeating that previous baptism already. thanks,

I just think it is really important for investigators, or people that aren't sure if they want to develop a personal relationship with God, to question His motives for creating the plan of happiness. To bring to pass our progression, and to help us grow to receive eternal life, we need time...while He does not need time. What I am saying about God is that He does not do any of this for His benefit, while His works are unceasing...He did not create this world to expand anything about Himself. He already has a fulness of joy. He can't get any fuller. This work, it is purely to achieve our fulness of joy. The purpose of this work is most simply stated, "Men are that they might have joy." I do not recall seeing anywhere, in any scripture that God is doing any of this to gain anything for himself...maybe there is one that I am not aware of, if there is I would appreciate you letting me know. I have also never had the impression that any communication with me was to benefit Him, but rather to increase me. But maybe you have had different experiences, I don't know. This is very difficult for me to put into words, so bear with me. There is a distinct difference between dreams, visions, and seeing things happening in another time, or how it seems to me, actually going there. In dreams there are things that you see that represent other things. It's much like scripture in that each time you analyze that dream, you learn something new. Visions happen and you see things, but you know that your body has not moved. The third is feeling like you are traveling somewhere and seems like you are actually there. Like how Paul tries to explain, in 2 Cor. 12: ( "whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell. God knoweth" ) Right down to seeing the threads in people's clothing. There is not interaction while seeing what people are doing, but there is always someone there with you to help you understand what you are observing. There is no changing of anything in that time. While it I may not be in that time, because I don't feel any personal danger, and I don't recall smelling anything or feeling hot or cold. Although, It is so life changing that I really can't imagine that it is not happening while I am observing it. So, Yes, I guess I am disagreeing with you. On another note: Sometimes knowing that something will happen, and being prepared to look around while it is happening actually increases the learning in that experience. Instead of being caught up in surprise, and the emotions you might have, there is actually a moment to pay attention to much more around you, and act much much more thoughtfully. He changes venues like people shuffle cards on a table, it is so effortless, I feel that someday we will all be able to do this, but I don't know how He does it.

maybe some of Why he did it that way is explained later in Ch. 18 First he explains that as He had shared with them, that they should share with others...to shine a light, not condemning each other. 22-25 He speaks about if someone partakes unworthily, not to cast him out, but to continue to minister unto him, because...32: for unto such shall ye continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them. This does not refer to little children, for they are not necessarily unworthy, but it is interesting.

Yeah, I might think that too, if it weren't for the fact that when Jesus said that, he had just delivered the sacrament to an entire crowd of people that had not yet been baptized. 3 Ne. 18 they (including Nephi, and the disciples that had been chosen) were baptized in Ch. 19 and then they did the sacrament again, administered by the Savior as recorded in Ch. 20.

it can also be seen as two categories of people the first being 5 And when the multitude had eaten and were filled, he said unto the Disciples: Behold there shall one be ordained among you, and to him will I give power that he shall break bread and bless it and give it unto the people of my church, unto all those who shall believe and be baptized in my name. future tense. and the second being 11 And this shall ye always do to those who repent and are baptized in my name; and ye shall do it in aremembrance of my bblood, which I have shed for you, that ye may witness unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you. past tense.

In fact, a really good friend of mine was x'd and returned. He met with a gen. auth. to receive his priesthood again...he was told that the reason he was ex'd was as if it never happened. He was told that if anybody asked why he was ex'd, not to respond, because it did not matter, it no longer existed. As if it never happened...a completely clean slate. He goes to the temple all the time :) The atonement is a miracle every day, for every one.

Thanks, Moksha :) snoozer, 'stagnant'? 'made up ideas?' who is making fun of whom? That's okay, I know I sound weird sometimes. :) I think ' just seeing' can do quite a lot. Seeing caused Lehi to take his family into the wilderness. Seeing let Nephi know how important the work he was doing would be to his posterity. Read 1 Ne. Ch. 11. Where Nephi prays to the Lord, and he prayed to "behold the things which my father saw" It was important enough to him, to know that what his father saw that was yet to happen was not just "imaginings" that Laman and Lemuel accused him of. In verse 7 the angel tells him what to expect to see, and what is expected of him to do afterward...the angel says "thou shalt also behold a man descending out of heaven, and him shall ye witness; and after ye have witnessed him ye shall bear record that it is the Son of God" present tense. He is shown, as it is told in that chapter, the birth of Christ, along with many other things including the following several verses ...where he describes seeing the baptism of Jesus, His teaching the people, healing them, the twelve disciples, the atonement, and he said "I saw and I bear record" As for the idea of a changing god..Mormon Ch. 9 verses 9&10: 9: For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing? 10: And now, if ye have imagined up unto yourselves a god who doth vary, and in whom there is shadow of changing, then have ye imagined up unto yourselves a god who is not a God of miracles. I would encourage you to read it, pray about it, and gain a testimony for yourself as to whether or not his words are true. If you will pray like Nephi did, wanting to know the truth for yourself, the Lord will reveal things to you, too... 1 Ne 10: 18 For he is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him. 19: For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round. Nephi explains that right before he tells us of being taken by an angel to see events that are yet to happen six hundred years in the future. I, like Mormon and many other prophets, believe in an unchanging God, and that "men are, that they might have joy," 2 Ne 2:25. God already has a fulness of joy, as described in 3 Ne. 28:10. Jesus says that we shall have a fulness of joy, even as the Father hath given Him fulness of joy. And I believe that you shall receive this fulness of joy, too. :)

Keep the gun pointed at the ground, but not at your feet. My hubby goes hunting occasionally just to keep his skills honed, he sometimes will go out on his dad's land and shoot wild predators that attack their home/ livestock, but he certainly does not enjoy it.

Well, I just want a speedo contest between Pams' Gingerbread and John's stick man...let the games begin!

Wow, Funky, you move faster than a Lindsay Lohan rehab.

A prune a day keeps my hubby away!!! RRrunnn Forrestt RRuunnn!

Well, if it is for protection from burglars, always turn the lights on first, it might be someone getting a glass of milk. If it is to punish the house, Shooting holes in mine hasn't had any improvement yet.

It was 'I drew a skunk' check it out. I thought it would be a confession of a terrible event. or possibly an uplifting repentance instead it was art.

Since 1998 the lesson manuals for Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society classes have been volumes of Teachings of Presidents of the Church (hereafter Teachings). Each manual focused on the life and teachings of one of our beloved prophets. These wonderful books create an invaluable resource for members across the world to come to know and love these great men and the marvelous doctrines they taught. Their counsel is as inspiring and pertinent today as it was when those Brethren first delivered the addresses included in those books. We hope that you continue to use the inspired literature of these faithful servants of the Lord. Their teachings are timeless.Russell M. Nelson, “The New Gospel Principles Manual,” Liahona, Jan 2010, 22–25 The manuals contain doctrines. It is our hope that the new Gospel Principles manual will take a prominent place in the homes and lives of all Latter-day Saints. The new edition will inspire teaching and enhance personal study. Brothers and sisters, by reinforcing your study of the core doctrines of the gospel of Jesus Christ, your testimony will grow, your happiness will increase, and you will find a greater abundance of the blessings of the Lord in your life