Backroads

I've known several people who had sex outside of wedlock. Some of them are currently sealed in the temple, some working towards it. None of them were excommunicated.

I have something of a hypocritical distaste for organized religion, so this strikes me as just fine!

Congratulations!

They have all sorts of little Eagle-related knickknacks on scoutstuff.org.

My bishop told me that he was required to write up a letter for the first presidency that included not only a report of my temple worthiness but my view on my fiance and his former marriage. He said he needed to put in that letter if I thought he was worthy of the clearance.

Yeah, it takes a while to come up with questions. Just explore and feel free to ask anything at any point.

ISFP Sounds pretty much like me. =D

I think it's ultimately up to you, though I can imagine the bishop maybe recommending you speak to your parents. As a teenager, I went through some repentance. Never told my parents, and my bishop never said I had to. In fact, he said I didn't have to tell anyone else if I didn't want to. Stuff like that can harm a relationship, yet I can also see it being very helpful to be upfront with them. It might feel better for you, if nothing else. Still, it's not necessary for repentance to be complete if it doesn't involve your parents.

Okay, so I met with the bishop today. Apparently my view of everything ALSO gets to go to the first presidency, which I think is wonderful.

Should the church go out of its way to teach stuff like this in place of doctrine, or should individual members who are interested be responsible for figuring it out itself? Or should there be a happy medium where the church is more open with its history? Both of my brothers had to explain about the plural wives to mission companions. I tend to find out that church members who are interested in the history know these things. And I also learned plenty of "horrible" stuff in seminary.

It is overwhelming to hear "tell me everything." Are there any specific questions you have? Love your avatar, by the way. Sailor Jupiter is awesome.

Tis true. If you really want people to learn, make it understandable for them. Don't just be high and mighty and vague and expect people to research your point. No one has the time or energy for it.

Okay, my dear fiance is now freaking out that his ex will say a whole bunch of nasty things in the letter (mind you all, I've heard both sides of the story, I've actually spoken with the ex's sister) and his temple clearance will be denied because of this. I don't think there's anything severe than can be said in the letter by any stretch of the imagination knowing as much information as I do, but are severe claims ever further investigated, or is it all on he said/she said? Can someone actually lie in a letter and prevent their ex-spouse from going through the temple again?

Not me... there's an incredible designer in my city who is LDS and happily caters to LDS customers. I'm not too worried about maintaining. I've maintained the same weight for nine years.

At this point, I would go to the bishop, at least for spiritual council and advise. Would you consider going to a counselor?

You have a good point, and I apologize. It shouldn't concern me, but honesty is really important to me. If people are doing something they don't like just to please others, that's not honest. If people are lying about things to please their family, holding grudges against their loved one's beliefs and not saying anything... well, that's going to explode out at some point. Also, do I want to be under the authority of a bishop who doesn't believe in the LDS church or in receiving revelation for me? That's where the lying comes in.

Rule of Red Tape: Always meet with the most immediate party first. More on that: Were I your spouse, I would be really hurt that you would go to the bishop before me.

I guess none of it bothers me because I've heard pretty much everything from church, seminary, parents, over the years. Nothing shocks me.

I very much get what you are saying here and I do agree with much of it and respect all of it. But I still see that if you disagree with most policies of the church, why bother with it? There are just so many better ways to spend your time. Yes, holding your tongue is a good thing and commendable, but if I found myself in a situation where I had to do it too much and I just didn't agree with the majority of things, why would I bother hanging around. I guess that's how I see religion. There are countless spiritual paths. If you don't like most of one, I think you should just find another. One can be respectful of a religion and still disagree with it. I just can't see the point of why people who really do not believe in something would remain attached to it and lie about their beliefs. Mind you, I doubt most Mormons believe everything about the church. If you believe a good majority of it, then I think that's fine. But if there is very little about it you believe, that's where I think comes the line of "why bother?" ANd that's fine, too. Just don't pretend otherwise. DOn't say "I believe this and this and this" when you don't. Does that make sense?

Weird. I am crazy about tofu!

I already have my wedding dress and I look great in it, so my goal is to simply maintain my weight.

I just don't like the ones that pretend otherwise, the point of all my ranting.

You'll just shake things up a bit. It'll be fun. Those controversial screen names.

I think I'm with Melissa. Christian churches may teach one thing, but that will not necessarily change what individual Christians believe. That being said, most Christians I've met said they do not believe in the eternal family the way Mormons believe. LDS beliefs are that we will literally be a family. Christians, even if they believe they will care for one another still, do not see families that same way, at least the ones I've met. Weirdly enough, many pagans believe very similarly to what we believe, that loved ones will always be connected.

Hola and welcome!