LadyZephyr

Zach, there is a group called the "Sons of Helaman" that is very helpful. Here is their link: Sons of Helaman: Eternal Warriors - Conquering Morality Challenges, Pre and Post Mission I applaud you for your honesty. Remember that God loves you and will never forsake you. God bless you Brother.

What about the people that might all ready be there?

Please seek counsel from you Bishop. God loves you and wants you to be happy.

Christ's body was entombed for 3 days. I have never heard why it was 3 days, or if there is any significance to it. "Being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the spirit by which He also went and preached unto the spirits in prision." Peter 3: 18-20 During the three days He was a spirit, He went to the Spirit world and taught the people there, by organizing a teaching force from among the righteous as shown in D&C 138: "...the Son of God preached unto the spirits in prison, who sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah—and how it was possible for him to preach to those spirits and perform the necessary labor among them in so short a time. 29 And as I wondered, my eyes were opened, and my understanding quickened, and I perceived that the Lord went not in person among the wicked and the disobedient who had rejected the truth, to teach them; 30 But behold, from among the righteous, he organized his forces and appointed messengers, clothed with power and authority, and commissioned them to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that were in darkness, even to all the spirits of men; and thus was the gospel preached to the dead." "Missionary labor among the dead was inagurated by the Christ... "Jesus the Christ," by James E. Talmage. "Many wonder why Jesus had forbidden Mary Magdeline to touch Him...we may assume that Mary's emotional approach may have been prompted more by a feeling of personal, yet holy, affection than by impulse of a devotional worship...There was about Him a divine dignity that forbade close personal familiarity...we have to infer that no human hand was to be permitted to touch the Lord's ressurected and immortalized body until after He had presented Himself to the Father. "Jesus the Christ," by James E. Talmage, page 477. He was completely ressurected when He saw Mary. Alma 41 is also a great chapter to learn of ressurection. I hope that helps a bit?

Kudos to you for owning up to mistakes. Many people lie and go on missions unworthily because of peer pressure and not wanting to let people down. It takes guts and a man of honor to admit mistakes and be willing to correct them. I very much respect a man of honor. Everyone makes mistake of some degree or another. It is how we deal with our mistakes that show our true colors. Let me say again, I very much respect a man of honor. I know a young man who is in a very similar situation as yours, and he also received a lot of pressure from a nosey ward, nosey friends, aquaintances and parents during his repentance process. He made a positive change in his life by moving out-of-state during his repentance and mission prep period. It made a big differance for him. Marriage is also an honorable choice. Counsel with your bishop and let him guide you. Stay close to the Lord and remember how much He loves you, even when you make mistakes. Realize that all of us make mistakes and that you are not alone. Perhaps you can get a Father's/Priesthood blessing from someone for comfort and strength? Take heart Brother. God loves you. I bet your parents do too. There is a way provided to turn your life around and become even stronger. With God's help, you are stronger than the weak side of you. Hold on. Get through the rough stuff, your burden will be lifted and you will see the sunlight shining on your face and feel peace.

God loves you and the church will welcome you. The church is true but sometimes the people in it are human and flawed, and make mistakes. I'm sorry that you were made to feel judged and unwelcome. My son was made to feel this way when he showed up in a blue dress shirt instead of a white one. We all face these types of people now and then, I just have to remember that the church is perfect and the people are still trying to be. They do have a point about respectful dress. There will be new things for you to learn and new ways. It will take a little while before you feel you understand them all. Perhaps you can just smile at the judgemental people and let them know that you are a new member and are happy to have the Gospel and are still learning the ropes. Maybe then they would be helpful instead of judgemental. If they keep looking at your shoes, maybe you could ask them what people usually wear to meetings, and get them talking about it. They will soon see your sweet spirit and welcome you. Sometimes we members are just stand-offish and shy with new people who look different than we do. We don't mean to be unwelcoming we just don't know who you are yet. I'm sorry this happened and if I met you at church I would hug you and ask you to sit by me. Please give church another chance. Having the Gospel is worth it. We are all brothers and sisters no matter how we dress.

I enjoyed viewing those, thank you.

I'm sorrry that you are dealing with this difficult situation. Please counsel with your Bishop ASAP.

Can you help me? When I try to edit my profile or view testimonies, it says I have to log on--I have logged on but am still not able to access all of the forum. Thanks.

Hi, I'm looking forward to getting to know you all. I'm an LDS non-fiction author and I live in the Rocky Mountain area of USA. I like the illustration from Mark Mabry at the top of the forum, btw. It's from a beautiful video: Reflections of Christ: See the Reflections of Christ Videos

Indeed. Mortality was not designed to be survived.

When I first heard the news of the bishop's murder I agonized for his family and ward. I prayed for them and empathized with their pain. As I have been puzzling over this issue, what comes to my mind is this: What is the purpose of a student pilot's solo flight? If the student encounters difficulty at a high altitude, they cannot turn to an instructor beside them to resolve the situation for them, they must handle it on their own and experience the consequences of nature, mechanics and flukes that go awry. Most solo flights go ok, but a few have difficult/disasterous circumstances. Mortal life seems often to be a solo flight, proving us qualified to handle whatever comes our way and to advance to the next level. We are alone in the cockpit, but like the student flyer, we have contact with the tower through radio/prayer, our own preperation and experince, gifts/abilities/talents (compass and other instruments) given to us by our Heavenly Father and the desire to suceed. Why then do some experince heavenly intervention in their lives that saves them from death and injury, while others suffer these things? Surely, the righteous would qualify for such protection? We must remember that we look at our lives through the lenses of mortals, while Heaven guides, aids and takes us, based on their critera, their plans, and our own individual mortal life missions. We do not know these criteria now, but we hope to understand them better when we reach the next life. Events in a person's life might arise that would set him off track to complete his mortal mission, and Heaven might intervine to set his path aright. Whereas, a person might be sent to Earth to learn, love, obtain experience, procreate and fulfill his mission and experience a death that would deeply touch many and cause them to reflect upon their own lives. This may have been part of the bishop's life's mission. We do not know. We do know that Heaven's critera includes the Eternal Plan; while we as mortals find priority in extending mortal life, Heaven understands that mortal life, like the solo flight of the student pilot, is brief and temporary, and but a stepping stone to greater things. If Heaven had our mortal priorities, every rightous person would receive divine intervention against all injury and death. That's just not how life goes. Therefore we can conclude that Heaven is working on greater criteria and in our best intrests. We can rest easier knowing that our life plan is in the control of supreme gods, and not mortal direction. Those left behind will be cared for and complete their own mortal missions to rejoin their loved ones who have preceeded them in death, which is after all, simply the doorway to a greater level in the eternal scheme of things. Though we will sorrow at the parting of loved ones, we rejoice in the happiness that awaits the righteous and in God's Eternal Plan for us.

One of the best meals brought to my family when I was ill was a sack of baked potaoes with all the toppings in baggies on the side. It was wonderful, the potatoes were still hot in a brown shopping bag. I would do that next chance I get to help out with a meal.