classylady

Pam, thanks for inviting me. This was a wonderful movie! I do believe in miracles!

I have often thought about that "what if" as the years have slipped by. I think I'd still be "me"! I decided to read the Old Testament and New Testament as a teenager (I'd already read the BoM, D&C, and PoGP) because I was searching and wanted to be spiritual. It's who I am. None of my 6 siblings ever had that desire as a teen, though most of them are strong members of the church. I think I would have looked for spirituality in reading scriptures, good books, nature, and a church. If there was no WofW, I doubt I would be a smoker. I might drink coffee, (love the smell of it), and tea. Most likely, I'd be a social drinker. I doubt I would drink heavily. I probably would have searched for a church to belong to. Because of my desire to be spiritual, and wanting to believe in Jesus Christ as a young person, perhaps I would have been led to the gospel by the Spirit. I believe the Lord would have known of my desire to believe in him, and to do what was right, that the missionaries probably would have found me. I used to think that I would not have joined the church if I hadn't been born into it. But, as time has gone by, and understanding myself more over the years, I now believe I would have joined. I would have read the BoM that the missionaries gave me, and I would have put Moroni's promise to the test. I might not have gotten an answer right away (this is what happened in my real life), but I think I would have persevered and continued reading and searching, and eventually getting my spiritual answer. I believe I would have agreed to be baptized if I received that witness. My Spirit is who I truly am. The Gospel just makes sense to me. I believe I would have recognized the message as being true if I heard the missionaries. So, I would have been baptized and belong to the church. I'd be a convert instead of being born into the church. The Lord knows who I am. I believe I would have been given the opportunity to be a member of the church, whether by conversion, or being born into it.

I can't understand why anyone would find a simple hug or kiss offensive. If it was my child's teacher, I would be happy for her.

In the next life I hope all our questions about same sex attraction will be answered. I have no answers to any of this. But, I do wonder, and maybe because I'm a woman this is how I react, if/when I'm attracted to a man, that doesn't necessarily mean I want to have a physical relationship with them. Maybe for men it is different? If they are attracted to a female or male, do they just go to the physical desire aspect of it? Because, I don't always see attraction as a physical desire, I don't look at it as a sin. I look at it as an innocent feeling where no physical desire is necessarily involved. But, yet, it's definitely a heterosexual attraction. Is it just me? Women in general? I don't know. Maybe I'm naive.

From a talk by Elder Orson F. Whitney (1855-1931) of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles "...the great distinguishing feature that differentiates God’s Church from all other churches under the sun—in this, that while they are founded upon books and traditions and the precepts of men, this Church is built upon the rock of Christ, upon the principle of immediate and continuous revelation. The Latter-day Saints do not do things because they happen to be printed in a book [of scripture]. They do not do things because God told the Jews to do them; nor do they do or leave undone anything because of instructions that Christ gave to the Nephites….What the Lord said to the Jews and Nephites 2,000 years ago or what He said to the Latter-day Saints 50 or 60 years ago has no force whatever at this time unless it agrees with present-day revelation, with the Lord’s most recent instructions to His people through His chosen or appointed servants or servant;…" The entire article is very good and can be found here: https://www.lds.org/ensign/2015/03/built-upon-the-rock?lang=eng So, LDS believe Joseph Smith is a prophet, but he was the first prophet of this time/dispensation. His responsibility was to restore Christ's church here upon the earth. Other earlier prophets or present day prophets have had their own responsibilities and works to perform, according to what Christ wanted/needed from them.

Physical reasons why I like my garments: Heat and I don't do well together. I simply melt when it's over 85 degrees. With that said, I have no problem wearing my garments. I would still melt if my garments were off. My garments actually help my skin not to rub together so I don't get rashes like I'm prone to do. My skin is extremely sensitive, and my garments help shield me from the scratchy fabric next to my skin. Almost all fabric makes me itch. But, I can wear the garment fabrics Carinessa II and DriSilque without itching. I'm very grateful for those fabrics. They help shield my skin from my outer layer of clothing. With all that said, I do not wear my garments simply for the physical comfort. I wear them for the spiritual "comfort". I would not feel "comfortable" with my relationship with my Savior if I did not wear what I had covenanted to wear. Plus, I want the protection that has been promised me by wearing the garment. I hope you can come to terms with wearing the garment. It is a blessing.

I teach the 10/11 year old girls. We combine those two ages in our ward. I have 8 girls in my class and they all come regularly. They can be a handful. I love them and I see wonderful potential in them. I can see where it would be a whole different dynamic if the boys and girls were combined.

They separate them in my ward and all the wards I've been in. In fact, I thought all wards separated them until I visited my son's ward two weeks ago in the Seattle area and found out they kept the boys and girls together. I was surprised.

My understanding is that all proselyting assignments for senior sisters have been done away. It is in the general section of information for Senior Sisters. After the quote I listed above, there is then a big list of different assignments for the senior sisters. The list changes from time to time, just as it does for the Senior Couple opportunities. It has been that way for at least over a year. That's when my husband and I first started looking at the Senior opportunities.

Vort, this is what I found on LDS.org: Senior Missionary Opportunities. " Senior sisters are responsible for their own mission costs, which are roughly 65 percent of the amounts shown for couples. Senior sisters pay their rent and utilities directly to the landlord/utility. Senior sisters (age 40+) may serve full-time missions for 12, 18, or 23 months. The Church will pay travel costs to foreign mission assignments of 18 or 23 months. Six-month assignments are not available for senior sisters. There are no humanitarian or proselyting assignments available for senior sisters. " https://www.lds.org/bc/content/ldsorg/callings/missionary/senior-missionary/senior-missionary-opportunities.pdf My husband and I have been looking at Senior Missionary opportunities, so I had read this about senior sister missionaries several months ago. Perhaps, there is some leeway that Mission Presidents have in assigning the Senior Sister missionaries?

Do not lose faith. You never know what will happen. My cousin's husband, after more than 20 years of marriage, joined the church and he and his wife along with their 12 children (yes! 12) were finally all sealed together. Continue to be an example, and do your part by remaining active and helping your children to gain testimonies of the gospel. If your husband never becomes active, after death, your posterity, or you, will be able to have the temple work done by proxy.

Congratulations, David13!

I can't think of any baptisms where we have had refreshments at the church. Any get-together afterwards have been done at a home. It seems to be the responsibility of the family for refreshments, not the Relief Society. Just remembered that with my granddaughter's baptism, my son did have the refreshments in the Primary room as his home was too small to host all the family and friends. We used the kitchen, but this had nothing to do with Relief Society.

I love Facebook. It keeps me informed with my family and friends. I like the photos. I have learned to use the unfollow button for those who post too many political posts--both right and left wingers. Also, I have unfollowed a good high school friend who would post about 10 x a day about her favorite Christian band. Ugh. Got tired of it. I'll have to go back and take a look to see if she is still sharing so many posts about them. If she's calmed down somewhat, I'll refollow her.

Pam, because you traveled to St. George, here's a snippet of information of my 3rd Great Grandfather (maternal side) Joseph Ellis Johnson who was one of the early pioneers of St. George. He at one time was Secretary for Patriarch John Smith, uncle to Joseph Smith, Jr. Joseph Ellis Johnson was born April 28, 1817. In 1864 or 1865, Johnson moved to St. George. He was the original owner of the lot at 173 N. Main Street also described as Plat A, Block 30, Lot 6 on the old pioneer map of St. George. He built a garden and nursery supply store on that property. Johnson was a notary public, an auctioneer and commission merchant, and a fruit tree & grape vine by mail salesman. In 1868-1869 he published "Our Dixie Times", afterward "The Rio Virgen [sic] Times". In 1870 he published the "Utah Pomologist and Gardener" (a monthly) for several years. In 1876 he went to Silver Reef and put up a store and printing office, but sold part of the office before the paper was fairly started. In 1879 it was burned out, with others. He restored the store immediately, but on a larger scale. In 1882, Johnson once again moved at his church's call, this time to settle what would become Tempe, Arizona. However, his strenuous efforts all his life finally caught up with him, and he passed away on December 17, 1882.

Jacob Hamblin is also on my family tree. I'm not sure how, I'd have to look it up. So, we might be related. :)

Don't ask me to find my source because I'm going from memory, but, I remember reading somewhere that those who undergo gender changes are more susceptible to suicide. Apparently, if one is unhappy with their gender, getting it changed doesn't necessarily make them suddenly happy. That tells me that this is more about mental illness than a physical problem.

I was pretty much teary-eyed during her whole talk. I really appreciate the good men and boys in my life. I love the differences between males and females. I have resolved to make sure my husband, sons, and grandsons know that I love and appreciate them.

I find myself getting annoyed with my husband's singsongy voice when he prays. I've never said anything to him. And probably never will. I'm just grateful he's praying.

I think I had tears in my eyes during all of her talk. I appreciate the men in my life and I need to make sure my husband and my sons know how much I love and sustain them in their role of husbands, fathers, and sons.

Can't get this version out of my head! I absolutely love, love, love it!

Ours are done. My husband's brother does them for us. He's a CPA. He charges us a fee, but the fee is worth it. He has saved us so much money.

I am absolutely clueless about eating beans for breakfast. I have never heard of it, (until now) or tried it. How are the beans prepared? What kinds of beans? Tell me all you know about beans for breakfast.