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This sounds like a case of if you knew it was wrong, then you deal with the consequences. But if you did not have a moral compass, but gained one by accepting the Church and it's doctrines, the Church is willing to take that into consideration. But I have a problem with the marriage thing. If a reassignment surgery took place and a man became a woman, then that person married another man as a woman but was originally a man, wouldn't that be a homosexual relationship? I know one can be homosexual and still be a member in good standing, even attend the temple as long as they do not act out. But wouldn't that be considered acting out a homosexual desire? Or am I just showing my ignorance of the complexity of human sexuality?

A couple of things to remember about anti-depressants 1) Most of the time they are not forever drugs. They give you relief to deal with the issues at hand and clears up your mind to be able to learn to cope and develop skills to deal with the problems. 2) Small doses does wonders. Plus there are some meds out there that have few side effects. I am diagnosed with mild bipolar, mild anxiety and general depression. When I was first given medication, I was out of my mind depressed and acting out in very bad ways. My shrink put me on: 25 mg twice a day of Zoloft 100 mg once a day of Topomax 300 mg twice a day of Welbrutrin XL It took a few years for me to learn boundaries, relaxation skills, replacing acting out with other things skills, etc. But now I'm on: 150 mg twice a day of Welbrutrin SR .01 mg Xanax when needed for anxiety attacks (about once every couple of months) This will be my permanent dosage for the rest of my life. I'm not ashamed of it. Quite contrary, I'm tickled pink that there is this miracle of modern medicine that helps me, an individual, cope with life on the same level as everyone else. But then I'm not a mild case. What these meds do to me is take my huge mood swings and modulates them down so I can control them better. I still have bad moods, but their not "come over here and let me bludgeon you" bad moods anymore. I still have good days, but their not "let me paint your house because I love you" good days anymore. They also bring me up to the thought and decision making process of an adult, not a 10 year old like before. I would suggest you first try getting plenty of exercise and read good books. Go out and make sure you have time to do what you like (the good kind, not the sinful kind, unless it's chocolate). Make sure you go out and be with people. And talk to a professional. Doesn't have to be a psychiatrist (the one who dols out meds). Talk to a psychologist who can help you decide whether meds are in the cards for you or not. You will still be the same lovable self you are. Not some chemical Frankenstein. I still have the same obnoxious/teddy bear (depending on who you are) personality I was born with. It's just a more functional kind.

So I went back to the Midwest to visit with my 4 kids. Well, we went to SAMs Club to get the weeks groceries. After shopping, we all had Icee's. This is where my deviant self kicked in. I pull out the new "gold" dollar coin from my wallet and said "The first one to get a freeze-brain headache wins this dollar." They first looked at me like I was nuts, a look I'm used to. Then they saw the "gold" dollar coin. I then said "GO." I now had four kids (2-13yo and 2-9yo) sucking desperately at their straws then, all at the same time, they real back, heads spinning and start declaring victory while in a state of a cold headache. It was HILARIOUS! Even mom was laughing. The looks on their faces were priceless. My baby girl won, but I pulled out three more "gold" dollar coins and gave each one. Sad part, to them, it was fun. St. Peters is never going to let me in for this one.

Are you sure you are not cursed with a book full of misspelled words and a glossy cover which heavily shows water spots. Come on, will you stop opening yourself up like that?!?!

Oh gag!

:) Thanks! :)

I was excommunicated a bit over six years ago. I've been working over the past couple of years to regain my membership and returning of my blessings. And someone had the bright idea to make me the Assistant Stake Technology Specialist, overseeing all 40+ computers in the Stake in six different buildings with two Family History Centers. The Lord not only works in mysterious ways, sometimes it's just plain strange.

Not wasn't, am not. It's not common, but it is allowed (they looked it up). I think they felt comfortable with me because I'm not only active in the church, I meet with my Stake President and Bishop monthly, and I check in with my Bishop weekly. So I think they know where my heart is and what my testimony consists of. I truly view this as a gift from the Lord to help me along the path to re-baptism.

Story time: My mom was a counselor at a Central L.A. high school. She was walking down the hallway and was called over by a student, who was pregnant. This poor girl said "Ms, *******, I'm all wet and I don't know why?" Her water broke right there in the hallway and she was clueless. Poverty runs in many directions. This poor girl had parental poverty. I've seen more of that than I care to, and I'm talking about extreme. I remember a kid coming into my primary class full of bruises. I've spoken to kids who's father messed with them. I've spoken to kids who have been abandoned by their parents. I've spoken to parents who abandoned their families. I've spoken to spouses who have been abandoned. I've been in jail with rapists, kidnappers, torturers, addicts, diseased and the mentally out of it. Both in and out of the Church. And now I'm involved with parents who's addiction has them in a difficult situation with their families. And yes, I have seen kids dirty and barefoot. I've seen young teens hardened by living on the streets. I've seen young, dirty, unkempt children sitting next to their mother, who is incapable of taking care of them. So yes, I've seen what ignorance, addiction and poverty can bring. And yes, there are nights I have to medicate myself to sleep. But I only hope that I can add to the chorus of other people that try to lift these people up and share with them what we've learned is a better way.

My calling I have right now, went like this... Stake 1st Counselor: Steve, we discussed it as a Stake presidency and we put your name to the High Counsel and we all are in favor of extending this calling to you. Me: But I'm not just a non member, I'm an excommunicated member. 1st: Well, we discussed it as a Stake presidency and we put your name to the High Counsel and we all are in favor of extending this calling to you. Now what was I going to say to that. We all have to keep in mind that God can take anything away from us he wants except for one thing - Free Agency - The power to choose for ourselves. When Christ said that to enter into the Kingdom of God we have to give him a contrite spirit, I believe he means that we need to gladly give to him the one thing he cannot take, our free will. It is a matter of faith and trust that we will entrust to God the most precious thing we have all to ourselves. I believe that callings are like that. We are asked to give our free will and time over to God to strengthen ourselves spiritually and become closer to Him. In return, the blessings we get pale in comparison to what we gave to him. Please don't read into this that we need to accept blindly, we should think and pray about it. And when we get an answer, we are all the more ready to deal with the consequence of our decision. Because we will know that the decision we make is correct. The Lord knows you have a job and a family. He knows what you are able to accomplish. Ask and give him a chance. You will be blessed in more ways than you expect.

What it used to mean, who cares. Most anyone who wears it have no clue. They're into what it means today. Counter-culture, question authority, free love, LSD, flower power, etc.

Sorry, not unthinkable. More common than you think. I've seen/see them all over the place. However, those are some amazing photo's. Can't help but think how many of these people have descendants living now.

Wow, not sure how to interpit that

When I go frequent a business, I don't care to know whether they are LDS, Christian, Muslim, Catholic, Etc. I've been ripped off and/or treated badly by all. But I've also been treated very good and/or had good experiences by all. So while I can see the value in a Christian yellow book, that by no means guarantees a good experience. I go by word-of-mouth, reviews and personal experience. I can assure you that if I get better customer service by a non-Christian business person vs a Christian business person, even if it costs a bit more, I'm going with the better experience. Bottom line, its a matter of personal character, not affiliation that wins the day.

Ok, whenever I hear that, my first question is: "Do you think that you are so hated in heaven and have done so much sin, more than the next person that you would be specifically excluded from any prayers or blessings or answers?" I think not. Blessings and answers do not come to anyone except by a trial by faith. And it is within that trial that we need to learn to ... listen ... I can assure you that there are plenty of folks looking at you (and I'm not going to say from above because they are here with us) painfully aware of your circumstance and what you are going through. The comfort and answer will not come until we all get on our knees and give our Father In Heaven the ONE thing he cannot take from us, nor can he control. Our free will. Once we begin to pray and ask "what is it that you will want me to do today" and "thy will be done" and "to thee I turn my will over to" and, I think most important, "please take away the want to do sins" or" please take away this ache and hurt from my heart" and begin to listen we will never know what peace he can give to us. Yes, what happened to King Lamoni can happen to anyone on this earth, I promise, I guarantee. I worked with a lot of really messed up folks, including myself. I can assure you that yes, you are in pain and yes, he is more than waiting to take it away from you. In my mind he's like a wound up spring, waiting for the right time and situation and then BOOM, he pours it out on us. He LOVES you. I promise that you cannot do anything to change that. He is waiting for us to learn to love him back my giving him that precious gift of free will and trust. He will never do anything with it to hurt us. He only wants us back. Patience, prayer, scripture, church, listen, learn and ask. It is that simple. We just need to do it.

dorave's laugh-to-post ratio. Oh wait, you said best, not pointless... Let me think about that.

So, in other words, any support received from you is predicate on you being patted on the back? Any kind words from you are subject to you receiving flattery? Then take me off your list. A person who gives a kind gesture with the expectation of payment is a person only out for themselves, wanting their reward here on earth. I would rather not get involved with a person like that.

Kind-of what I was insinuating, with a question: Why does it matter?

Funny is in the ear of the deliverer.

So we're going to narrow our friendships down to a few and cut out all of those who have lived life and are full of experience and wisdom. Something here doesn't compute.

I had plenty of people telling me that. However, we (ex and I) didn't let it get out of hand. I knew she wanted out, I told her I wouldn't fight her. She cried with relief. She got the papers, we filled them out together and she filed them. Done deal. And we are the better for it because we discussed everything and were very adult about it. But I can see your point. Sex addicts are VERY manipulative. It's amazing how we (me & fellow addicts) can con our wife's into all kinds of stuff. That's why a separation and/or divorce is needed.

Well, well. First one to figure that one out. Although take out the lil bit.

Got Star Trek AND a cheeseburger. This is the ultimate of making my geekyness go all warm and fuzzy!

Almost and Not Quite.