Martain

In this matter, the shedding of your own blood for the cause of Christ has greater efficacy in saving your soul than testimony alone. Those who lay down their lives for the sake of the Lord and his gospel are promised that they will have eternal life. They are also rewarded a martyrs crown of which I'm convinced the glory is such that could we fully understand it, many more of us would pray to be allowed to prove our devotion to God in such a way. The shedding of a prophets or saint's blood also increases the effectiveness of their testimony in that the accountability of the nation, community and people involved are held to a much greater accountability than they otherwise would be. One of God's divine attributes is long-suffering. In his love and his mercy for us, he often waits until a people or nations cup of iniquity is full and running over before coming down in justice and anger against them. Though a people or nation may be in the gall of iniquity, scripture shows us time and time again that it is when they slay the Lord's servants and people that the sword of his justice is loosed against them in anger. While the blood of prophets and saints has been shed in the past and will yet be shed again in the future, it isn't necessary. Christ's suffering and bleeding was necessary in order for Him to work out and finish the atonement. The suffering and blood of the prophets and saints is not and thus incurs the vengeance of the Lord.

Love is good. What is not good is lusting or coveting after a married man. Such is called adultery of the heart and remains a serious sin in the sight of God. If this is in her heart, it is of greater significance and danger to her soul than the other events occurring in her life. Should such be the case then wisdom may be to follow Josephs example of fleeing Pottifer's wife. What if the relationship you have with this woman was between your wife and a man? What would you want your wife to do if the situation were reversed? Counsel with your wife, unburden your heart and get and honor her input. Perhaps instead of you alone, she could also befriend this woman. Instead of you visiting her by yourself you would go together to provide comfort and succor. Is she an active Latter-day Saint who is keeping the commandments and living worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost? The Holy ghost is also called the comforter for a very good reason. Far beyond any comfort or help you could give is the comfort of God. Such comfort has allowed me to live in happiness while enduring pains greater than I could have imagined. It truly makes all the difference. If she is LDS but not living worthy of such then my aim would be to help her become so. I would seek out her home teachers and make sure they were aware of her straights. I would seek out the Elders or High Priests Quorum presiding over her as well as the Relief Society Presidency and her visiting teachers too with the intent to gather them to her aid and succor. If she were not LDS then I would testify of the comforting power of God that enables men and women to endure pains and sufferings beyond what they could imagine in happiness and cheerfulness. I would testify of the happiness I am given and have found in following Christ and living His gospel. I would tell her that I sincerely wanted her to have these same wonderful things and invite her into my home where me and my wife could sit down with her and missionaries where we would teach her these wonderful truths that make all the difference in the world. A clear understanding of the law of Chastity and the covenants you've made coupled with eye-witness evidence of the love and trust between you and your wife would do much to quell any thoughts for romance she holds in her heart between the two of you while still allowing your friendship between her and your family to blossom. Counsel with your wife and counsel with the Lord. Hoping these few stray thoughts will be of use somehow, Sincerely, Brother M.

All of Adam's children will return to the presence of Jesus Christ and there stand before his glory and majesty to receive his Judgement assisted as that judgement will be by the Apostles and others before going forth to their respective glory and reward. For those who are of perdition, such an experience will in of itself be very painful. While our spirits can die, such a death is pertaining unto receiving and living in righteousness with God. Our spirits can not actually be destroyed in the sense of ceasing to exist though many will desire such rather than come before him. Any mortal individual who is not quickened by the Spirit to withstand the Glory of God, would be consumed by his Glory in that their mortal tabernacle would die on the spot should he visit them in the flesh. This is the consuming you have read and speak of and it different from what occurs when we either in spirit or as resurrected beings stand before the Lord in His Glory.

Hey Elect! Having once lived in fear regarding becoming a son of perdition to the point where it prevented me from receiving truth, I have studied in depth the topics regarding unpardonable sins and what it takes to actually become a son or daughter of perdition. Now maybe I missed something in which case you can do me the honor of correcting me but can you show me where you obtained the doctrine that breaking the covenant of the priesthood is an unpardonable sin? Even a man who commits adultery and being unrepentant is then excommunicated, who is thus stripped of his priesthood and blessings having thus broken his covenant in such a severe way, who is thus turned over to the buffeting of the Adversary... can still repent and be forgiven. I enjoyed the quote you gave =).

Then I'm doing something wrong because I've tried multiple times to get those html codes to work without success. =S

I'm hoping that the new version will have formatting options on user to user emails. So much context is lost in communication when what you send is a continual stream of words without any paragraph structure =P. Who here has never seen inspired answers to various questions? Who here has never regretted that such a wonderful response is for the most part lost to time and cyberspace? What about a topical guide where instead of scriptures, user responses are referenced? A separate LDS.Net section would be created where gospel topics or prevalent questions are designated in an indexed form managed solely by moderators. Moderators would create topics and questions and then reference individual user responses or threads that are deemed of referencing worth. Moderators would be assisted by users who would be able to submit proposals for topics and questions as well as individual user responses or threads for moderator private review. Perhaps a tiered structure could also be implemented where moderators could also be assisted by specific users granted reviewer authority. Such reviewers would review user submitted proposals and forward those that they consider worth moderator review. They would also be able to down vote a proposal with a set number of individual reviewers down votes moving the proposal to a deleted or rejected category. To ensure a mass of old threads are not suddenly resurrected and stay within a manageable response length, items referenced would have their original thread locked. To ensure accuracy and harmony, the same tool that would allow users to submit items for inclusion would also allow them to dispute a particular referenced item on scriptural grounds. It would take some time but eventually we would have a topical guide on reoccurring gospel questions or topics with links to those user responses that are considered accurate and in harmony with scripture and the words of the Prophets. Saves me time in writing a response. Allows me to respond to more threads. Eliminates what would otherwise perhaps be a labor intensive search for referenced responses. Increases the accuracy of what is being taught and shared. Increases member unity. Provides a centralized source I can refer the questioner to for further review and where I too may study topics of interest. Why recreate a whole new hand crafted answer if I can personalize a referenced answer given by another that is well suited to answer their question?

If you want to know more about it, why not read the Book of Mormon or invite the missionaries over? =) As a history of the ancient inhabitants of this continent and God's dealing with those people, the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and it invites all who read it to obey his commandments and follow him. I'll be bold in saying that anyone who truly believes in the Bible and seeks to follow the teachings there will also upon reading the Book of Mormon believe it too. "No wicked man could write such a book as this; and no good man would write it unless it were true and he were commanded of God to do so.”

Welcome =).

Does the Lord speak to his children via dreams? The answer to that is clearly a resounding yes! Yet although the scriptures above were of men clearly in tune with the Lord or prophets in his sight, what of others? In Genesis 20 we have God speaking to Abimelech king of Gerar in a dream. In Genesis 31 we have the God speaking to Laban the Syrian in a dream. In Genesis 41 we have the Pharaoh of Egypt being sent a dream by the Lord as well as King Nebuchadnezzar and King Darius in Daniel. Then there is the wife of Pontius Pilate in Matthew 27 as well. The Lord is God and he will send forth dreams and visions unto anyone he sees fit to send them to. That being said, not all dreams and visions come from the Lord our God. In Jeremiah we have false dreams being received by the people which were in opposition to the revelations through Jeremiah and not from the Lord. Even if the dream or dreamer gives a sign that comes to pass, if that dream/vision or dreamer entices you to disbelieve in Jesus Christ and follow after false Gods or break his revealed commandments, that dream was not of God but Satan. Of experience I will tell you this, the cunning of the devil is such that the individual who does not when awake take the course to ask the Lord their God in the name of Jesus Christ the source of a dream/vision they suppose to be from him, will sooner or later be deceived. For as Joseph Smith said, there must be certainty on the matter for lying spirits are going forth in the earth striving to deceive. The interpretations of dreams belong to God. If you want to know what a dream means, ask God in the name of Jesus Christ. If the dream was from the Lord and you ask in faith, then you will receive an answer from the Lord. So the question remains, "Lisa, are you coming back to the Church of Latter-day Saints?" Do you believe in Jesus Christ? That he truly is the Son of God and your Savior? Do you have faith in Christ? If you knew the Book of Mormon was true, would you accept the truths of the restoration and join yourself with the saints? Do you sincerely want to know? Would you then humble yourself and repent of all your sins? Would you then enter the water's of baptism and covenant to take his name upon you, keep his commandments and follow Christ? Is your intent real that if such were revealed you would follow? If so, the promise is clear. Read the book of Mormon and then test the promise given by God. I have and I know by the power of God that the book of Mormon is true. I likewise know that Joseph Smith truly was a prophet of God and that this Church is still lead by our Savior Jesus Christ and is his Church. "No wicked man could write such a book as this; and no good man would write it unless it were true and he were commanded of God to do so.”

Quoted from There are Save Two Churches Only (A book I recommend)

We know that there remains a great repository of other Nephite/Jaradite records that remain to come forward when the Lord sees fit to do so. Such are sacred and are hidden up to the Lord. I believe God does not want conclusive archeological evidence regarding the Book of Mormon to come forth to the world for then none would need walk by faith unto knowledge. Seeing as he can hide anything he wants behind a veil that our senses can not penetrate, why would we expect our technology to succeed contrary to his will. The Lord will bring forth the remaining records when he sees fit to do so but until then no amount of technology or searching by mankind will be able to find out something the Lord does not yet want to be found. We know this and so do not entertain any intent to search the hill in the manner you recommend. So as to answer your question, no such work is done because no conclusive evidence would come forward from doing so.

JaG's link is definitely a good one. The law of consecration and the united order are celestial laws/programs. One who wants to live in a celestial sphere must be willing to obey the laws of that sphere. While we are not yet called to live this law fully, each of us should still search their hearts and determine whether or not they would be able to and willing to obey this law in full were it renewed in their lifetimes.

I hope I am not offensive but I want to ask you a question. In looking back over your life, is there any repressed emotion that you have been unable to give up to the Savior? Have you ever been seriously emotionally wounded? Does anger or hatred for others poison your heart? Repressed grief or tremendous sorrow? There are those who exercise regularly and eat healthily yet still are bound to obesity. In my knowledge, this would be because obesity can be caused by multiple factors one of which is emotional. Once you are comfortable in the process of receiving personal revelation and being worthy to receive answers to your prayers know how to discern the touch of the Lord when he answers, perhaps you might bring such a topic up with him. What are the causes of your being over weight? Is it emotional? Lack of exercise? To much food or too much of certain foods? The wrong kinds of foods? Once you know the causes, you can then start working on a solution. It is hard to loose weight but perhaps we should ask ourselves whether or not we are trying to move a huge boulder with our shoulder or are we receiving divine aid from the Lord via a bulldozer. I want the bulldozer =).

A good measuring point for how fully you've forgive someone is whether you can sincerely pray for them and plead for mercy on their behalf. Recognize that the anger you hold is not of God and pray for his help to let it go. Pray for his help to freely forgive. I do not know whether your concerns are valid or not in whether him saying what you wanted him to say would have made a difference. That being said, perhaps the following will be of use. Picture your bishop standing in judgement before the Lord and being shown a future that would have come to pass where you remained together had he said what you wished him to say. Could you not picture your Bishop weeping in sorrow and feeling that he had failed the Lord in his stewardship and duty over you? Could you not picture him falling prostrate before the Lord and pleading for mercy? Picture the Lord then turning to you and saying, "Daughter, would you have me mete out justice? Or would you have me grant him mercy? Daughter, do you forgive him?". What would be your answer? Have you never fallen short in your calling? Failed to magnify it properly? Done less than your duty to the Lord would require? Do you want to be held accountable for such failings or would you not also plead for mercy forgiveness and patience. If so, would you deny the gift you seek so dearly from your Bishop and request justice be rained down upon his head instead? Or would you not with tears in your eyes reply, "I forgive him Lord, be merciful upon your servant". Sincerely, Brother M.

You're absolutely right! That was 5 cool things no one ever told me about breastfeeding. To be honest, it's also 5 cool things I expect no one ever would have told me about breastfeeding seeing as I'm male... but hey! Cool none the less =).

Truth is a knowledge of things as they are, as they have been, and as they will be. Truth is what is sorely missing from this sisters equation and it is truth that will set her free. From your words I ascertain that this sister believes that you and your family are breaking the law of chastity correct? Now where would she get that idea? From the Lord? No. Do you think an idea she came up with on her own would alone have sufficient power to motivate her to such lengths as these? Somehow she has obtained a very powerful motivator that has convinced her that such activity was happening and has lead her to seek proof. Isn't it possible that in her concern over you and your family, she sought for revelation outside of her stewardship and received revelation from the wrong source? When I read your words I remembered a section in a book I'm reading called "Hearing the Voice of the Lord: Principals and Patterns of Personal Revelation" by Gerald N. Lund which I feel would explain her motivations and the knowledge on which your leaders could combat them quite clearly. The underlined formatting is sections that I draw parallel to what may particularly apply to the sister in question with all other formatting drawn from the original. God's house is a house of order (D&C 132:8). This is not to suggest that priesthood leaders will never make mistakes or need correction. But there is an established order in the Church to correct such mistakes when they happen. A member can bring things to the attention of a stake president, for example, if it is believed a bishop is doing something wrong. But it is out of harmony with the order of the priesthood for an individual to command one who presides over him or her and demand that they change things in order to comply with what the individual believes is required. To allow that would be to sow such disharmony and contention in the Church as to drive out the Spirit completely. ... "HORIZONTAL" REVELATION AND PRIESTHOOD KEYS It is in the concept of keys that we see what is wrong with someone trying to "steady the ark." Someone who has not been given the right to preside and direct the affairs of the Church (which right can be directly traced to the Apostles), cannot properly correct presiding officers, reveal new doctrine, unveil a new interpretation of scripture, or command a priesthood leader to take certain action. It is contrary to the order of authority God has established. A further extension of this principle is found in what could be described as "horizontal revelation." Well-meaning but misled individuals see things in others that they feel are not right and so they receive "a revelation" that tells someone what they are doing is wrong, or what they need to do to put things right. However, that is outside the order of God, because the principle of priesthood authority and keys applies here as well. We will not receive revelation meant to direct (or correct) someone for whom we have no priesthood responsibility or who is not within our priesthood jurisdiction. (In this case, parental authority is included in the broader concept of priesthood authority because it is given by God.) Having had some experience with receiving and discerning false revelation, it is easy for me to imagine that perhaps this sister, with good intent, sought to "steady the ark" in reference to you outside of the lines of stewardship and has been deceived by revelation(s) that were not from God has thus become convinced that all she has said of you is truth instead of falsehood. To me it would so easily explain her motivation, her conviction and her diligence in trying to "help" you. If it were me, with someone else present as witness, I would ask her why it is that she is so convinced that I had done all these things. I would ask her how should could possibly know whether I had or had not done these things unless she had received revelation on the subject. My thoughts are that if such is the case, she would then come forward and indicate that she actually had. If she did not come forward I would then ask her point blank, have you received any revelation which backs up what you believe I and my family have done? If she says yes, you'd then know the root cause of this behavior and could advise the Bishop such and let him take it from there.

Welcome! I'm glad to hear that you collect and read such books of faith. Doing so allows one to drink deeply from the fountain of all truth and put down deep roots into the gospel. Such is especially important for a convert who has not had as much time to get roots as someone who has been raised and weaned on gospel milk all their life (I consider myself a convert after having left for 6 years). Being a collector of such books myself, I'm curious to compare what books you've obtained with mine in hopes that perhaps you might have some good ones I should seek to add to my collection and perhaps I yours =). To that end, I hope either here or in a private message you'll share with me a list of what you've obtained so far. Sincerely, Brother M.

D&C 42 88 And if thy brother or sister offend thee, thou shalt take him or her between him or her and thee alone; and if he or she confess thou shalt be reconciled. 89 And if he or she confess not thou shalt deliver him or her up unto the church, not to the members, but to the elders. And it shall be done in a meeting, and that not before the world. 90 And if thy brother or sister offend many, he or she shall be chastened before many. 91 And if any one offend openly, he or she shall be rebuked openly, that he or she may be ashamed. And if he or she confess not, he or she shall be delivered up unto the law of God. 92 If any shall offend in secret, he or she shall be rebuked in secret, that he or she may have opportunity to confess in secret to him or her whom he or she has offended, and to God, that the church may not speak reproachfully of him or her.

What if you decide it is best that they stay at your ward but they do not agree? Fortunately there is a third party involved which all parties can willingly defer to. Their Eternal Father. What if all of you came together in prayer and fasting and expressed your sincerity to each other and to the Lord regarding doing his will in the matter even if it was counter to your personal desires? Would it not soften their hearts? Would it not incline them to seek the same? If the answer was then to let them go full time to their ward, would her and her husbands love and trust for you and your husband not increase? To see you sacrifice and align your will with the Lord? If the answer was then to have them go full time to your ward, would not you and your husbands love and trust for her and her husband increase? To see them sacrifice and align their will with the Lord? All four of you have temple recommends and are worthy to hold them correct? I promise that if you all come together in the spirit of prayer and fasting with your chief concern being the welfare of the and obtaining the Lord's will, you will obtain it. That's what's really important isn't it? Given in the name of Christ, Amen. Sincerely, Brother M.

Is there a difference between the blessings of being born under the covenant or being sealed into it? Obtain a Celestial Glory riding on the coat tails of another? If the worthiness of your parents was all it took then the surest way to save all of God's children would be to seal EVERYONE to such an individual. Lucifer was God's spirit son but he won't obtain salvation. My original post is below but upon posting it I learned that something I wrote below was untrue. I'm not sure what yet and since I have work I don't have time right now to find out and correct it. - If all it took to ensure someone's eventual salvation in the celestial kingdom was being sealed to virtuous parents then perhaps we should all go out and be Having been one of those wayward children myself I can attest that there is indeed power and truth in that promise. Blessings are based on obedience. Certain blessings can only be found by obedience to temple covenants. The Lord never fails to uphold his side of the covenant. Even if parents keep there's that still leaves the child. Wayward children cut themselves off from a great many blessings from the Lord. Is it hard to believe that the blessings most likely to lead such wayward children back to the fountain from which they were raised are predicated upon obedience to temple covenants? Is it hard to believe that while the wayward shut the windows of heaven by sin, the parents may open them on their behalf by obedience? Is it hard to believe that such blessings as mentioned above are of such a nature that outside of procrastinating their repentance until it is everlastingly too late and sinning unto death the child will return? Not all will return but it won't be for lack of effort by the Lord. That's how I see it. Brother M.

Does God love those in previous dispensations more than those of the current one? Do we need revelation any less than they did? Where as the Lord blessed mankind with guidance via revelation then, has he stopped now? We know God is the same yesterday today and tomorrow. We know that the heavens are not silent and that God still speaks to mankind. Does God love those in the current dispensations more than those of a previous one? Did they need medicine any less than we do? If western medicine alone is the answer to today's illnesses, why would it then make sense to think that God would provide the means for us to receive healing but not them? Were all but us condemned to sickness death and despair upon becoming ill? Like you I have faced the foe called depression. Like you I saw significant improvement when I took myself off medication. Now while I hope you never have to experience the painful soul rending violations I've endured, lets be realistic here. Life isn't always pleasant and thing do occur which validly depress our spirits and our happiness. While the events that so pained me were validly depressing, I recently was taught that there was additional physical components to my suffering as well. Although you'd never know it, my mother has dealt with SAD or seasonal depression for years and has kept depression away without medication via full spectrum lighting and vitamin D supplementation. When I learned that I too face such I prayerfully pondered and researched full spectrum lighting and was lead to do the same. When my mother shared a link regarding the anti-depressant qualities of tumeric I likewise read the link and prayerfully pondered what I found there. In 2011 I was hospitalized for jaundice caused by gall stones. Though I opposed the professional counsel and refused to have my gall bladder removed I still underwent surgery to remove the stone that had left the gall bladder and had become stuck in the bile duct. Having successfully broken the remaining stones in my gall bladder through natural means (which the LDS doctor told me was impossible heh) I nevertheless sincerely do NOT want to endure such pain again. Lets just say I walked away with a much greater appreciation for the pain women endure during childbirth. So perhaps you can see why when I learned that tumeric not only has anti-depressant properties but is also wonderful aid in sustaining gall bladder health I started seeing tumeric as a good fit for me for multiple reasons. I put the matter to prayer and sought counsel whether the particular extract I was looking into was worth pursuing and received confirmation that yes purchasing and using the product would be a wise investment and an effective counter to additional bouts of gall stones and depression. My prayers were answered and I now have a product that allows me better results than anti-depressants ever did without the side effects and without the price tag. While these things were the Lord's answer to my prayers, that does not mean they are the answer to yours. It also doesn't mean that they are not. Outside of you being engaged and I sadly... not, we have much in common. The difference? Who we're seeing as our doctor =).

Do we look down on members with the flu, cancer or some other ailment who do not exercise faith sufficient to be healed miraculously by the laying on of hands? How different is the above to the individual with an addiction who does not exercise faith sufficient to be healed miraculously by the laying on of hands? I've heard and seen miracles where those with an addiction or illness are miraculously healed by the power of God. To where the addict no longer even desires the thing by which they were bound. To where the illness is just... gone. Jesus Christ truly lives and the power of the atonement is real. I've seen first hand that an addict can receive not only power to change behavior but through repentance a change in their very nature. What is the difference between each? Faith. We do not expect those without the faith to be healed to simply endure the illness without any aid do we? Why should the addict without enough faith to be healed believe they need or should endure the addiction without external aid either? Yet for some reason, the individual sick with an addiction often believes they can or that they need to 'handle it' on their own. If they don't think this way regarding medical illness but seek out help, then why view an addiction as any different? I know someone who was freed from the chains of their addictions. They reached a point where they could truly say in prayer with their whole heart that what ever it takes, how ever long it takes, no mater what they must give up, no matter what they must add in, what ever the pain and what ever the price, they will do it. They also sincerely sought to do the above. This too they did do. Why did they receive such a change in heart and not the others I've seen? In pondering such I was taught that it was their faith. Having forgiven all who had trespassed against them, having sought to provide restitution to all those they had trespassed against them, having exercised faith through repentance and having offered their whole heart as an offering, they were not turned away by the Lord but received a mighty change in heart to where even the desires was gone. Has your husband done such? Does he have faith sufficient to be healed in the manner he seeks? Faith precedes the miracle. If he does not have such faith, how can he obtain it? How often does he read and study the scriptures or read the writings of latter day prophets current and past? Coupled with the scriptures, "How Great Shall Be Your Joy" by Steven A Cramer is the book which the individual above indicated was pivotal in their gaining freedom. I feel to recommend it to you and your husband and that should you accept and read it, it will be a blessing. Have faith dear sister, all is not lost. Those promises are real and will yet be fulfilled conditional upon your faithfulness. I testify that Jesus Christ lives and is our loving Savior and Redeemer. I testify that the power of the atonement is real and has the power to change our very natures and do so in his name. The healing is real. God bless you. With Love, Brother M.

If you stole from your boss it would be your boss who would determine whether or not they will fire you or forgive you and allow you to continue to work at your place of employment. Likewise a Bishop and other church authorities determine whether or not there will be punishment for the sin in relation to the church. In this sense, such individuals can grant forgiveness on behalf of Church in relation to their Church standing and membership. The Priesthood is the authority and power to act in God's name for the welfare and salvation of his children. Any man holding the Priesthood can with authority and power declare the sins of one they have stewardship over forgiven if such is done in harmony with the will of the Lord. In essence it is still the Lord doing the remitting but when he chooses to do so he can still use and act through a worthy agent to do so and to convey it to the repentant sinner. Not exactly on topic with the OP but I thought it would be good clarification to add nonetheless. Sincerely, Brother M.

The above being said, I will still try. I reached a point in my life where it was a matter of life or death to know what truth was. Either this is a God or there is not. Either what I was taught as a child was true or it was not. Truth was somewhere but what it was I did not know. Originally I intended to search everywhere but the restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints first and then if I didn't find the truth I would return to my roots. Though I tried, I could not read the books on the other religions I had purchased. I realized that if what I had been taught was true, if I searched these other paths I would never return to test that door at all. I saved up a few thousand dollars, booked myself into a health retreat where I would have privacy and good food/nutrition etc, and tested the promise. I experimented upon the word of God by planting and nourishing it in my heart to see what would result. How do I know the church is true? I planted the seed, I tested the promise and I received a witness within my heart that this was true. It was a feeling I'd never really enjoyed before. It was a burning in my busom... not of heat, but of light and warmth and happiness and peace... The feeling which I now enjoy regularly as a gift from God is just as distinguishable as salt but can be just as difficult to explaining the taste of salt. Have I received any visual or verbal witnesses regarding the truth of this Church and His Gospel? Yes. Have I received or seen any miraculous miracles? Yes. Do I feel to share the specific examples? No. Why not? Some individuals want a grand witness to accept or believe. No one expects to learn calculus in a day do they? They don't require the teacher to prove that calculus works in one day do they? You start out basic and work way up. Likewise miracles and grand confirming witnesses come after the exercising of faith. Such greater witnesses as I have received are sacred and special and were given to me for my benefit. Why would my sacred experiences be any more believable than the witnesses of current and past prophets and other individuals who have seen and conversed with the Lord? Suppose I were to share such examples with you... I'll tell you this... the soft and gentle comforting touch of the Lord within my breast via the power of the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is far more often and has a far more powerful effect upon me. I can testify to you that I know that Jesus Christ lives and is my Redeemer and Savior. I can testify that I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is personally lead by Him and is the only true and living church on the earth and the only church that has the authority of the Priesthood to act in God's name for the salvation of his children. I can testify that Joseph Smith did indeed see what he said he saw and did indeed translate the Book of Mormon at the command and by the power of God. The book is true and the church is true and there is modern day revelation and prophets. God does still speak with mankind. I can tell anyone these things in perfect honesty but if they want to know how... how do I explain the taste of salt if you've never tasted it? If you want to know what salt tastes like, eat some salt. If you want to learn math then open the text book and study. If you want to know whether there is a God or not and whether the Book of Mormon and this church are true, read the scriptures and test the promise given above. Sincerely, Brother M.

What about asking them: If you're pulled over for speeding and the cop is a women are you going to say such stuff about her breasts? If you're in front of a female judge in court are you going to say such stuff about her breasts? If one of your bosses or supervisors at work is a women would you say such stuff about their breasts? Would you say such stuff about your female coworkers breasts while at work? It doesn't matter whether the setting is public private or professional. Such comments are rude and offensive to many individuals. There are two primary reasons why they would choose not to say what they say to you to those other individuals. One reason is that they fear the consequences for doing so. The other reason is because they respect and don't want to offend those other individuals. Ask them what their reason is for not saying such things in front of such individuals. Is it fear or is it respect. If it's respect, then why won't they respect you and your husband? If it's fear then they are openly admitting that they do not respect you or your husband and such an admission will prove useful. Is there more to this story than meets the eye? Is this a common topic in his family growing up? If not, then what are their motives in saying these things? Is it lust? How would I feel if I married a convert whose sisters made such comments about my sexual organs in front of my wife and children? How would I feel if they did so in front of a young daughter? How would I feel if they did so in front of a young son? What if they continue to do such when my children are old enough to understand their words? I wouldn't take my children into a brothel or a bar so why would I take them into a home where the communication may be similar? Also, would such comments be sexual advances in disguise? If so I would likely part with their company the same way Joseph fled from Pottifer's adulterous wife. Likewise, you and your husband may want to pray regarding their intent for saying such things. I hope some of this will prove useful to you and don't envy your situation. Sincerely, Brother M.