classylady

Members
  • Posts

    2262
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    4

Reputation Activity

  1. Like
    classylady got a reaction from mirkwood in Relief Society Presidencies no longer sit with Bishopric   
    In my younger years as a parent, I remember thinking “why can’t those parents keep their children quiet, or keep them in their seats during Sacrament meeting? My children are able to sit still and be quiet.” I was definitely being judgmental. Then, when my daughter died in a car accident, her two-month old son survived but with a brain injury, (I wonder if it contributed to him being on the autism spectrum?), we pretty much raised him. We would be sitting in Sacrament meeting, and he would suddenly get up and dart up onto the stand. He was a handful. I simply wasn’t prepared as a parent, even though I had raised 7 other children before him, to know how to deal with his behavior, or how to discipline or incentivize him to behave. He’s 20 now, and I still flounder with knowing how to help him flourish. He’s very high functioning, brilliant in areas of language skills, but has an eating disorder and other quirks. I feel like I have failed him as a parent. Anyhow, I’m a little more understanding of children who misbehave. Though, I do admit I find it hard to condone parents who blatantly just sit there and let their children be disruptive. 
  2. Like
    classylady got a reaction from Vort in Relief Society Presidencies no longer sit with Bishopric   
    In my younger years as a parent, I remember thinking “why can’t those parents keep their children quiet, or keep them in their seats during Sacrament meeting? My children are able to sit still and be quiet.” I was definitely being judgmental. Then, when my daughter died in a car accident, her two-month old son survived but with a brain injury, (I wonder if it contributed to him being on the autism spectrum?), we pretty much raised him. We would be sitting in Sacrament meeting, and he would suddenly get up and dart up onto the stand. He was a handful. I simply wasn’t prepared as a parent, even though I had raised 7 other children before him, to know how to deal with his behavior, or how to discipline or incentivize him to behave. He’s 20 now, and I still flounder with knowing how to help him flourish. He’s very high functioning, brilliant in areas of language skills, but has an eating disorder and other quirks. I feel like I have failed him as a parent. Anyhow, I’m a little more understanding of children who misbehave. Though, I do admit I find it hard to condone parents who blatantly just sit there and let their children be disruptive. 
  3. Like
    classylady got a reaction from JohnsonJones in First Presidency Announces Uniform, Worldwide Standards for Ward and Stake Boundaries   
    We have lived in our same house in northern Utah County for 36 years and have been in 4 different wards and back and forth to a couple of those wards. Our street seems to be the dividing line when the wards get split or realigned. The small community we moved into has really grown. 
  4. Like
    classylady got a reaction from Grunt in First Presidency Announces Uniform, Worldwide Standards for Ward and Stake Boundaries   
    We have lived in our same house in northern Utah County for 36 years and have been in 4 different wards and back and forth to a couple of those wards. Our street seems to be the dividing line when the wards get split or realigned. The small community we moved into has really grown. 
  5. Like
    classylady got a reaction from zil2 in First Presidency Announces Uniform, Worldwide Standards for Ward and Stake Boundaries   
    We have lived in our same house in northern Utah County for 36 years and have been in 4 different wards and back and forth to a couple of those wards. Our street seems to be the dividing line when the wards get split or realigned. The small community we moved into has really grown. 
  6. Like
    classylady got a reaction from NeuroTypical in First Presidency Announces Uniform, Worldwide Standards for Ward and Stake Boundaries   
    We have lived in our same house in northern Utah County for 36 years and have been in 4 different wards and back and forth to a couple of those wards. Our street seems to be the dividing line when the wards get split or realigned. The small community we moved into has really grown. 
  7. Like
    classylady got a reaction from zil2 in The Hobby Thread   
    Some of my hobbies:
    Puzzles of all kinds—Crosswords, Cryptograms, Sudoku, Jigsaw, etc. I go through a lot of variety puzzle books.
    Music. Love to listen to most genres. Lately, I’ve been listening a lot to oldies, Nancy Sinatra, Joan Baez, Arlo Guthrie, Mamas & Papas, Doobies, Led Zepplin, ZZ Top. 

    Piano.  My arthritis is limiting my amount of play time.
    Crocheting. Again arthritis is limiting how much I can do.
    Travel. I’m a retired airline employee so have flight benefits the rest of my life.  I’m planning a trip to Germany/Austria/Liechtenstein for April. My younger sister asked me to be her tour guide for this trip.
    Reading. I belong to a neighborhood book club which gets me reading genres I typically don’t read.
    Other interests include sewing, baking, my grandchildren, camping, and digitizing family photos. I’m also writing a history of my dad for the family. I collect pens and pencils and other office supplies, nativities, snow globes, angels, nutcrackers (the German soldier kind), and souvenir spoons from everywhere I travel, 
    Edit: I have my Ham Radio license and monitor and listen daily to certain local repeaters. 
  8. Like
    classylady got a reaction from mikbone in The Hobby Thread   
    Some of my hobbies:
    Puzzles of all kinds—Crosswords, Cryptograms, Sudoku, Jigsaw, etc. I go through a lot of variety puzzle books.
    Music. Love to listen to most genres. Lately, I’ve been listening a lot to oldies, Nancy Sinatra, Joan Baez, Arlo Guthrie, Mamas & Papas, Doobies, Led Zepplin, ZZ Top. 

    Piano.  My arthritis is limiting my amount of play time.
    Crocheting. Again arthritis is limiting how much I can do.
    Travel. I’m a retired airline employee so have flight benefits the rest of my life.  I’m planning a trip to Germany/Austria/Liechtenstein for April. My younger sister asked me to be her tour guide for this trip.
    Reading. I belong to a neighborhood book club which gets me reading genres I typically don’t read.
    Other interests include sewing, baking, my grandchildren, camping, and digitizing family photos. I’m also writing a history of my dad for the family. I collect pens and pencils and other office supplies, nativities, snow globes, angels, nutcrackers (the German soldier kind), and souvenir spoons from everywhere I travel, 
    Edit: I have my Ham Radio license and monitor and listen daily to certain local repeaters. 
  9. Like
    classylady got a reaction from Vort in Female angels?   
    I agree with Vort’s understanding. Most scriptural references of angelic visitations are to the prophets or leaders, which in my mind would be a Priesthood assignment.
     
    However, when I read many of my family history events, or have talked to those who have had angelic visitors, many of the angelic visitors are female—usually a deceased family member.
  10. Like
    classylady got a reaction from zil2 in Female angels?   
    I agree with Vort’s understanding. Most scriptural references of angelic visitations are to the prophets or leaders, which in my mind would be a Priesthood assignment.
     
    However, when I read many of my family history events, or have talked to those who have had angelic visitors, many of the angelic visitors are female—usually a deceased family member.
  11. Like
    classylady got a reaction from Grunt in Female angels?   
    I agree with Vort’s understanding. Most scriptural references of angelic visitations are to the prophets or leaders, which in my mind would be a Priesthood assignment.
     
    However, when I read many of my family history events, or have talked to those who have had angelic visitors, many of the angelic visitors are female—usually a deceased family member.
  12. Like
    classylady got a reaction from laronius in Female angels?   
    I agree with Vort’s understanding. Most scriptural references of angelic visitations are to the prophets or leaders, which in my mind would be a Priesthood assignment.
     
    However, when I read many of my family history events, or have talked to those who have had angelic visitors, many of the angelic visitors are female—usually a deceased family member.
  13. Like
    classylady reacted to Vort in Female angels?   
    By definition, angels are messengers from God. Angelic visitations recorded in scripture are almost always to prophets and devout believers (with Paul, Alma, and the sons of Mosiah standing out as stark exceptions). These visitations seem to me to have the quality of a Priesthood assignment, which might therefore be considered a Priesthood responsibility. This would explain why the angels we read of in these visitations are male.
  14. Like
    classylady reacted to Carborendum in Adopting a BIC Child?   
    Thanks, I appreciate that.
    I hear you.  Some interesting things happening elsewhere.
    My wife has received some really interesting news from our extended family.  Big family -- she's 4th of 7 children.  A WHOLE BUNCH OF BAD STUFF is happening. 
    Some dysfunctionality that we were already aware of getting worse.  Some disfunction that we were NOT aware of.  Some trials that come to all.  And even righteous living is not a complete immunization from all "bad things."  They have their trials to teach and help them grow, just as all of us do.
    When my wife informed me of all this, I felt heartbroken.  Her family is one of those families that you have to wonder "why does all this crap keep happening to them?"  They do so many things right.  And in so many ways, they are simply model families.   They're all the types of homes that everyone trusts with their children going over to play with them.  But by the grace of God, they've been blessed with relief from some of it.  The rest of it... they're coping.
    Since most of the family lives in the same state, they tend to keep in contact.  But living a 16 hr drive away, we don't necessarily get filled in on all the details.  And we haven't visited physically in several years.  We're heading there the weekend before Christmas.
    When we spoke about this to a couple of our kids, I couldn't help but express to them "Be thankful for having a normal life with a normal family.  Maybe it's boring at times.  But looking at all this stuff that has happened to people so close to us, sometimes boring is good.  But be sure to include them in your prayers."
    One possible good thing to come of this is that her SIL is proposing that we could let her daughter (who is the same age as, and very close to, one of our daughters) come live with us.  There are various conditions that make this a decent idea for both our households.  Neither household is dead set on it. But we're discussing it.  If it is a go, she could be driving back with us from vacation.
    Our home will be completely full by then.  If we take any more, Empress will have to give up her sewing room... or I'll have to give up my office.
    BTW, I'm being courted by a couple of companies that are offering me a position that may entice me to give up my consulting business and go to work for them full-time.  I'll really need some divine guidance on that decision.
    If that happens, I could give up my office.  We'll see how that pans out. 
  15. Thanks
    classylady got a reaction from Carborendum in Adopting a BIC Child?   
    No matter what decisions will be made as towards adoption, I’m sure you and your family are a positive influence in her life. With your family, she is perhaps experiencing for the first time, what a functional family is like.
    Sometimes, doing the right thing, the Christ-like thing, isn’t the easiest way to go. There are times when we help others, it feels like it backfires on us. That is sort of what happened to my son when he and his wife took in the daughter of a friend of theirs. They fostered her for about a year. She was 14 at the time and really had some self-destructive issues. She influenced their own 15 year-old daughter to start some self-destructive habits, such as self-cutting, and put a lot of doubts in her head about the church, or any religion. Their daughter is now 19, and is now totally inactive. I don’t put all the blame on the foster daughter, but she didn’t help the situation. Anyway, I don’t mean to be a Debbie-downer, but just be prayerful in all your decisions and follow the spirit as it leads you, which knowing you, you are already doing. I hope this becomes a positive experience for you and your family. 
  16. Love
    classylady got a reaction from Beechwood7806 in Cancellation Vs Clearance   
    I understand your concerns because I have the same issues. My husband was sealed to his first wife and after she had several affairs and was excommunicated from the church he divorced her. He received custody of their two young children. We married civilly and were later sealed in the temple. Prior to our sealing my husband requested a sealing cancellation from his former wife. The answer he received was "It is not necessary". That was over 28 years ago. So, even though I went to our sealing with some misgivings I'm grateful that my husband and I were sealed together. I'm grateful that our five children that we've had together and my two step-children that I've raised have the blessings of the sealing covenant in their lives. This is truly a blessing in their lives and in mine.
    But, with that said, here are some of the concerns. First, I believe that I cannot judge his ex-wife. I have to assume that she will repent and will some day have her temple blessings restored. And whether if it's in this life or the next, I do not know. From my understanding of the gospel there is repentance in the next life. And we have been promised that those who have strayed, who have the sealing covenant in their lives, will some day hear the whisperings of the spirit and return. Also, along with not judging, I do not have a full understanding of what has happened in her life for her to make the decisions that she did--perhaps she was never taught correctly, or maybe she has a mental dysfunction, etc. It is not my place to judge. So I have to assume that she will inherit the highest degree of glory in the celestial kingdom. My step-children love their mother and are so concerned for her. And because I love my step-children as my own, their sorrows and joys are also my sorrows and joys. I will rejoice along with them when she has her temple blessings restored to her. I also know that when she asks my husband for forgiveness, that he will give it to her. That is only right, and I wouldn't expect anything else from him.
    So, where does that put me? Will I be placed in the position of being the second wife in the eternities? My husband and I have discussed this in depth. He claims that even though he has already forgiven his ex-wife, he has no desire to have her as a wife in the next life. And we have been promised that we will not be forced to be with anyone we don't want to be with. I just have to have the faith that this is what will happen. And I need to exercise faith that everything will work out for the best and we will have true joy and peace in the next life.
    There is no doubt in my mind that being sealed is one of the greatest blessings that our Father has for us. I am so grateful for the sealing covenant. Several years ago our nineteen year old daughter was killed in a car accident. I can't imagine the sorrow I'd feel if we hadn't been sealed. There is so much peace and comfort in knowing that we can be an eternal family. Isn't that what you want for yourself? Place your doubts and fears in the hands of the Lord. He will guide you. He will bless you. And sometimes, like me, we go ahead and do the right thing, even when there are a few misgivings. Bless you. I hope all goes well.
  17. Like
    classylady reacted to zil2 in Increase in LDS youth serving full time missions   
    Mormon?  See, for example, Helaman 6 (~30 years before the Lord came - I read this recently and wondered if we wouldn't have something similar before the Second Coming - converts having to teach life-long members who had fallen into wickedness).  See also 3 Nephi 1 - massive conversion followed by wickedness 2-3 years later (signs are not a good foundation for conversion).  I figure in the age of "smart" phones, where people have a 2-second attention span, it might take 2 hours to turn back to wickedness (if that)...  Whatever the case, these seem to me like types that will be repeated before the Second Coming.  The whole world in commotion (including conversions and falling away).
  18. Like
    classylady reacted to Traveler in Increase in LDS youth serving full time missions   
    https://www.deseret.com/faith/2023/6/28/23774517/number-of-lds-missionaries-going-up
     
    In addition convert baptisms are increasing.   Who would have thought?
     
    The Traveler
  19. Like
    classylady reacted to prisonchaplain in Update Prisonchaplain   
    Today was New Hire Orientation. My trainer was 29. To give perspective, my oldest daughter is 23. It's okay though, because this old dog is not afraid to learn new tricks. Also, it's kind of cool being in a protected category (WA asked me if I was over 40, and prohibits hiring discrimination of the elderly). 
  20. Like
    classylady reacted to prisonchaplain in Update Prisonchaplain   
    Apologies for having been away for a few months. I am back--and back to my original calling. Many of you know that I retired from federal prison chaplaincy in December 2022. For the past two years I've taught secondary Bible and US History at a local Christian school. Beginning a few months ago I sensed God drawing me back to chaplaincy. I checked with the state DOC (WA), and there was a position at the women's facility. God opened the door, and I start full-time, beginning tomorrow. So prisonchaplain is a prison chaplain again! 🙂  I figured that this was also a good time for me to return to thirdhour.org, say hello to old friends, and perhaps even make a few new ones. -- PC
  21. Love
    classylady got a reaction from Just_A_Guy in Temple Sealing Cancellations   
    Plural marriage can be a hard concept to emotionally understand. I believe that most of us, men and women, prefer exclusivity with their spouse. 
    I can understand the second wife’s hesitation. When I married my husband, who had been previously sealed to his ex-wife, I too had questions and doubts whether to be sealed to him. I had to push my pride aside and humble myself. I absolutely believe in the ordinance of marriage sealing. I wanted an eternal marriage, and I wanted my children to have the blessings of the sealing covenant. My testimony of this being the Lord’s church is what helped me with my decision to be sealed to my husband. He did try to have his sealing cancelled to his ex-wife, but it was denied at that time.  He was told it wasn’t necessary.  So, even though I chose to be sealed to him, I still had questions and insecurities that would surface from time to time.
    Fast forward about twenty-five years. We had heard that it was easier for men (and women) to receive sealing cancellations. In the past, sealing cancellations were almost never granted unless the ex-wife was getting remarried and wanted to be sealed to her new husband. But, because of the information we had received about it being easier, my husband went to our bishop to ask about a sealing cancellation and the bishop asked him, “Why have you waited so long?” Once the letter to the First Presidency was sent in, it took about two to three weeks to get the reply back. The sealing cancellation was approved. My husband’s ex-wife has remarried, but not in the temple. She is no longer in the church, so maybe, that was why it was approved? I’m actually surprised that the request from the man in the letter was not approved, for I have heard of many sealing cancellations being granted where the ex-wife has not remarried. We don’t know the complete circumstances in this instance.
  22. Like
    classylady got a reaction from Vort in Temple Sealing Cancellations   
    Plural marriage can be a hard concept to emotionally understand. I believe that most of us, men and women, prefer exclusivity with their spouse. 
    I can understand the second wife’s hesitation. When I married my husband, who had been previously sealed to his ex-wife, I too had questions and doubts whether to be sealed to him. I had to push my pride aside and humble myself. I absolutely believe in the ordinance of marriage sealing. I wanted an eternal marriage, and I wanted my children to have the blessings of the sealing covenant. My testimony of this being the Lord’s church is what helped me with my decision to be sealed to my husband. He did try to have his sealing cancelled to his ex-wife, but it was denied at that time.  He was told it wasn’t necessary.  So, even though I chose to be sealed to him, I still had questions and insecurities that would surface from time to time.
    Fast forward about twenty-five years. We had heard that it was easier for men (and women) to receive sealing cancellations. In the past, sealing cancellations were almost never granted unless the ex-wife was getting remarried and wanted to be sealed to her new husband. But, because of the information we had received about it being easier, my husband went to our bishop to ask about a sealing cancellation and the bishop asked him, “Why have you waited so long?” Once the letter to the First Presidency was sent in, it took about two to three weeks to get the reply back. The sealing cancellation was approved. My husband’s ex-wife has remarried, but not in the temple. She is no longer in the church, so maybe, that was why it was approved? I’m actually surprised that the request from the man in the letter was not approved, for I have heard of many sealing cancellations being granted where the ex-wife has not remarried. We don’t know the complete circumstances in this instance.
  23. Like
    classylady got a reaction from zil2 in Temple Sealing Cancellations   
    Plural marriage can be a hard concept to emotionally understand. I believe that most of us, men and women, prefer exclusivity with their spouse. 
    I can understand the second wife’s hesitation. When I married my husband, who had been previously sealed to his ex-wife, I too had questions and doubts whether to be sealed to him. I had to push my pride aside and humble myself. I absolutely believe in the ordinance of marriage sealing. I wanted an eternal marriage, and I wanted my children to have the blessings of the sealing covenant. My testimony of this being the Lord’s church is what helped me with my decision to be sealed to my husband. He did try to have his sealing cancelled to his ex-wife, but it was denied at that time.  He was told it wasn’t necessary.  So, even though I chose to be sealed to him, I still had questions and insecurities that would surface from time to time.
    Fast forward about twenty-five years. We had heard that it was easier for men (and women) to receive sealing cancellations. In the past, sealing cancellations were almost never granted unless the ex-wife was getting remarried and wanted to be sealed to her new husband. But, because of the information we had received about it being easier, my husband went to our bishop to ask about a sealing cancellation and the bishop asked him, “Why have you waited so long?” Once the letter to the First Presidency was sent in, it took about two to three weeks to get the reply back. The sealing cancellation was approved. My husband’s ex-wife has remarried, but not in the temple. She is no longer in the church, so maybe, that was why it was approved? I’m actually surprised that the request from the man in the letter was not approved, for I have heard of many sealing cancellations being granted where the ex-wife has not remarried. We don’t know the complete circumstances in this instance.
  24. Like
    classylady got a reaction from Vort in For Vort   
    42:  The answer to life, the universe and everything.  The computer when asked what 6 by 9 was, answered 42, in "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy".  Obviously incorrect.  But  613 × 913 = 4213 (using base 13.)  lol
  25. Like
    classylady reacted to Emmanuel Goldstein in The Parable of the Ten Young Girls   
    From Elder Bednar, 2012, October Conference:
    Testimony, Conversion, and the Parable of the Ten Virgins
    I now want to use one of many possible interpretations of the parable of the ten virgins to highlight the relationship between testimony and conversion. Ten virgins, five who were wise and five who were foolish, took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Please think of the lamps used by the virgins as the lamps of testimony. The foolish virgins took their lamps of testimony but took no oil with them. Consider the oil to be the oil of conversion.
    “But the wise took oil [of conversion] in their vessels with their lamps [of testimony].
    “While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
    “And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
    “Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps [of testimony].
    “And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil [even the oil of conversion]; for our lamps [of testimony are weak and] are gone out.
    “But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves” (Matthew 25:4–9).
    Were the five wise virgins selfish and unwilling to share, or were they indicating correctly that the oil of conversion cannot be borrowed? Can the spiritual strength that results from consistent obedience to the commandments be given to another person? Can the knowledge obtained through diligent study and pondering of the scriptures be conveyed to one who is in need? Can the peace the gospel brings to a faithful Latter-day Saint be transferred to an individual experiencing adversity or great challenge? The clear answer to each of these questions is no.
    As the wise virgins emphasized properly, each of us must “buy for ourselves.” These inspired women were not describing a business transaction; rather, they were emphasizing our individual responsibility to keep our lamp of testimony burning and to obtain an ample supply of the oil of conversion. This precious oil is acquired one drop at a time—“line upon line [and] precept upon precept” (2 Nephi 28:30), patiently and persistently. No shortcut is available; no last-minute flurry of preparation is possible.
    “Wherefore, be faithful, praying always, having your lamps trimmed and burning, and oil with you, that you may be ready at the coming of the Bridegroom” (D&C 33:17).
    Testimony
    I promise that as we come to a knowledge of the truth and are converted unto the Lord, we will remain firm and steadfast and never fall away. Eagerly we will set aside our weapons of rebellion. We will be blessed with bright light from our lamps of testimony and an ample supply of the oil of conversion. And as each of us becomes more fully converted, we will strengthen our families, our friends, and our associates. Of these truths I testify in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.