classylady

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  1. Like
    classylady reacted to JohnsonJones in Ezra Taft Benson was right.   
    Many Decades ago Ezra Taft Benson was our Prophet.  He pushed for us to read the Book of Mormon more.  We had multiple lessons on the importance of the Book of Mormon and how it was the keystone to our religion.  He told us that we need to make it a focus of our lives.
     
    The Book of Mormon Keystone of Our religion - Ezra Taft Benson Octo 1986 Conf
    I've noticed all sorts of commentary by those who have fallen away from the church pertaining to leaders, policies and church history that creates doubts and confusion with people.  However, when it comes to the Book of Mormon they normally attack the sources of translation (Joseph Smiths Character) or try to mock it in relation to history, but the eternal truths that are found within are normally not the targets (with one exception that they focus on the wording) of their derision. 
    It seems to me that those who have a sound testimony of the Book of Mormon and an unwavering faith that it is true are not going to be dissuaded by many of the other obstacles tossed at us today.  When people bring up (normally from questionable sources, though most ironically don't question sources these days) so called facts to tear down the church, it's history, or it's founding leaders (Joseph Smith, Brigham Young or other prophets and apostles in Church history), I find that a stout testimony of the Book of Mormon is a strong fortress against the winds of those who would tear one away from the gospel.
    This summer I travelled and did not bring a Book of Mormon with me.  It was a time when I had many discussions about the Church with those who were not members.  Some of them were a little antagonistic at times, and I truly missed the opportunity to read the Book of Mormon regularly.  From that I can say that the Book of Mormon is absolutely necessary for us today, and that even a little reading is something that can bolster us up against the storms far more than many other resources we may think of.  I can say I am very grateful to be able to read the Book of Mormon today and feel it truly helps out testimonies.  Even when we feel we are solid and strong with our testimonies, I feel the reading of the Book of Mormon bolsters it even more strongly than if we weren't.
    I think today there is a lack of emphasis of the Book of Mormon in the Church.  As members have gotten side tracked on other things in their lives, including many various things dealing with various items at church, that the Book of Mormon has been neglected in many instances.  I've found that many who fall away were not reading the Book of Mormon regularly, or when crisis came with their faith, they fell to reading other things rather than the Book of Mormon.  Perhaps not all, but many of them may have found the sweet whisperings of the Spirit if they had but turned more fervently to the Book of Mormon and prayed for a restoration of their testimony.  I think there is a lack among many of our young people today in studying the Book of Mormon and I think that could be hurting many of them in keeping those testimonies in the face of an ever increasing hostile world.
    The thing that sparked this post is in reference to this summer and now, I notice a difference in my life between when I am reading and studying the Book of Mormon and when I am not.  It has convinced me even more strongly of it's importance in our lives.  I think that in light of the many things being tossed at the church and it's members today, a reinvigorated focus on keeping the Book of Mormon in our daily lives could be an important step in trying to keep our younger members, those who are troubled, and those who are in the midst of confusion to retain their testimonies, or gain a testimony of the Gospel in the face of a very hostile world.
  2. Like
    classylady reacted to pam in Third Hour forum get together   
    Here ya go:

  3. Like
    classylady got a reaction from beefche in Third Hour forum get together   
    I’m glad you misread your itinerary. It was fun meeting you!
  4. Like
    classylady reacted to anatess2 in And they all found joy and peace   
    This was a good interview in my opinion.  I like that the interviewers asked the questions most people have but may not have the courage to.
     
  5. Like
    classylady reacted to Vort in Why Women Don’t Wear Pants to Church   
    In this and every other Christian church that has been around for more than a century or so, the tradition was that people come to communal Sunday worship services wearing what they called their "Sunday best". In a historical context, people living, say, 150 years ago typically owned several sets of clothing, including work clothing that got muddy and wet, warm clothing and a coat for cold weather, possibly lighter and more comfortable wear for relaxing at home or outdoors, and usually a set of "nice" clothes to wear to important social events (and to church). If you were wealthy and owned e.g. a ball gown or a smoking jacket, it would be considered ostentatious and in very poor taste to wear such an outfit to church. Similarly, if you could not be bothered to kick the pig manure off your boots before coming to church, that would be considered disrespectful. This was a basic societal convention understood by all: When you go to church, you wear your Sunday best.
    In a more modern context, textiles have become so amazingly inexpensive that even poor people usually own many sets of clothing, perhaps a closetful (or more). But along with this bounty has come, strangely enough, a coarsening of standards of dress, such that many (dare I say, most) churches today have few or no expectations for how their congregation dresses, except maybe that they DO dress. (I'm sure there are California congregations where even this is optional, perhaps frowned upon.) T-shirts and demin jeans with holes are de rigeur. You would not attend your sister's wedding reception dressed in rags, but apparently it's fine to attend a communal worship service of the Savior dressed like that.
    Women wearing pants is something that has come about largely in my lifetime. I'm sure women did wear pants before I was born—I've seen enough '50s movies to confirm that the idea was not utterly alien to them—but it seems like it was the '70s when the women's pantsuit carved out its niche. So at this point, it's hardly new, but also hardly traditional.
    I'm sure there are some people, probably mostly women, who insist that a woman wear a dress to church, and that anything else is unacceptable, even sacrilege. But I don't know any of them, or if I do, I don't know that I know any of them. In general, few people seem to care much what women wear to church; as others have pointed out, men are expected to follow a far stricter dress and grooming code (official or otherwise) than women
    So here's the complaint. It's not that a woman DARE to wear PANTS to Church—how awful! No. It's fundamentally that the women involved are doing their best to stick their metaphorical middle finger at Church conventions and those Saints who find them valuable. It's like a four-year-old's tantrums, but carried out by adults who are supposed to be helping carry the load and move the work along. And when, on top of that, they proclaim that this is all about letting women have their choice—they're lying (or incredibly foolish). No one believes them except for children who don't know any better and those who already share their beliefs.
    tl;dr—No one cares if women wear pants to Church, but the Purple Pants People are looking to sow discord. That's the problem.
  6. Like
    classylady reacted to Just_A_Guy in Why Women Don’t Wear Pants to Church   
    Sister Coppersmith was probably fifteen (or younger) when the whole “wear pants to church” thing was going on.  I’m not going to call her a brazen liar; but I don’t see how I can avoid describing this column as “staggeringly, stupendously ignorant; especially for a BYU English major and a published author”.  A simple Google search would have taken her to a New York Times article confirming that the stunt was not a general, innocuous call for inclusiveness; it was a premeditated protest against Church policy, practice, and doctrine.
    When you do the same crap that highly-visible rebels deliberately do as an outward token of their rebellion, you get associated with rebels.  It’s why men still can’t wear beards at BYU fifty years after Woodstock, for Pete’s sake.  
    I will also note that Sister Smith’s slap at the women of this Church who choose to wear dresses to Sunday services, is likely not the sort of thing she’d dare to say to any of their faces in a Relief Society meeting or any other real-life interpersonal encounter. 
    As far as MGF’s publishing slant goes:  I will merely note that AskGramps is still recruiting authors who actually love and understand (or sincerely want to understand) LDS teaching, practice, and culture and are willing to speak in the Church’s defense.  PM @pam if you’re interested in helping out.
  7. Like
    classylady reacted to pam in Third Hour forum get together   
    Reservation for the 23rd at 6:30 p.m. is confirmed.   This is at the Tucanos in Orem.   
  8. Like
    classylady reacted to beefche in Third Hour forum get together   
    @pam  I think my subconscious wanted to attend. I accidently booked my flight home on the 24th. So count me in for any dinner on the 23rd. Yay!
  9. Like
    classylady reacted to Vort in And they all found joy and peace   
    If Elizabeth Smart went through nine months of sheer hell, I think Ed Smart suffered through a different kind of hell during that period, perhaps one even more bitter than his daughter's. He was the one who hired his daughter's kidnapper and rapist and allowed him into his house, all in an apparent effort to be Christlike. How could Ed Smart not have blamed himself? What sort of twisting effect would such an experience have on his (or anyone else's) mind?
    I have great sympathy for Ed Smart. I do not condone his actions in any possible way; I think it's shameful that a man older than me would up and leave his wife in order to follow his gonadal urges. I suspect that his actions, if not quickly repented of, will have a deeper, longer-lasting negative effect on his family even than his daughter's horrific experience, both now and in succeeding generations. But I'll withhold personal condemnation. I wouldn't trade places with the guy for all the gold in Fort Knox.
  10. Haha
    classylady reacted to pam in Third Hour forum get together   
    Do your own. This one is all about me.  Me me me me me     
  11. Like
    classylady reacted to mikbone in SLC Cemetery   
    The girls in the family wanted to walk to the mall but I convinced the clan to go to the cemetery instead.  
    I assume this was commissioned by the church or a friend. 


    These are the headstones that President Monson ordered.  What humility. 
     





    My Porter Rockwell standing next to his namesake.

    This one got us choked up.  Notice the division of labor.  Both are equally important.
  12. Like
    classylady reacted to Anddenex in Jesus appearance to Joseph Smith and Lorenzo Snow   
    The Holy Ghost or God's lack of judgement against Bin Laden and Al-Bagdadi. 
    This doesn't provide any logical or faithful premise. This is what is called a "false dichotomy." Look it up so you can gather your thoughts and premise a little better.
    Both of them killed non-Muslims, which if you consider Christianity to be true, that makes Islam a false religion.
    If a person considers or believes in Christianity any other religion that is not Christian would be a false religion. The idea of killing a non-believer and being a false religion is moot, irrelevant to what make a religion false.
    So why would God allow pagans or infidels to kill Christians on September 11th with no action taken against their tribe, UNLESS what they are killing for is true. 
    Another false dichotomy. It wasn't only Christians who were killed on September 11th. You will once again want to think more thoroughly through your logic.
     If God said that He will fight our battles for us then failure to earthquake them out of existence for killing for a false religion would make His word invalid, or validate Muslim beliefs and killing for that belief.
    I would have thought you would have used something more dramatic than an earthquake.  What about a meteor shower, now that would be more epic! How God validates appears to be very different than what you are presenting.
    Now here is my take personally, I used to be LDS until a baptist question me about Brigham Young's statements about men on the moon. 
    OK, you let the opinion of a prophet (and we know prophets have their own thoughts and opinions). You might want to read one more time the Parable of the Sower.
    Upon asking the Sugar House branch president about this, he threatened me with abduction.  His exact words "We'll haul you in".   
    I doubt this very much. As of now, your thoughts and opinions haven't been very genuine. I would think this experience follows the same suit.
    Seems to me that the person he really should threaten is the baptist female who was getting me to reaffirm my belief system.  He did not, which makes me question the concept that all ministers in the LDS faith are called of God. 
    As I doubt this experience, the reality though is that he shouldn't threaten anyone. Reaffirm your belief system -- Parable of the Sower (excellent parable by the way).  How a person threatens someone is unrelated to being called of God. David was called of God, and did some horrible things. But I doubt once again you thought through this premise.
    I am an honorable discharged veteran of the military so I can say that I don't think he was threatening the right person. 
    Thank you for your service; although a person's service doesn't specify who should or should not be threatened.
    And given that freedom of religion is guaranteed I have a right to question doctrine and validate it.  If you consider that people in the Old Testament were killed for willfully following a false prophet, I not only have a right to reaffirm and validate a prophet's authenticity, I have a moral obligation which if I fail to fulfill would cost the lives of my family.
    Well, yes of course. No one here said otherwise. We all have the same moral obligation. We all also have the same moral obligation to recognize BS when we read it.
    Essentially what you guys are doing is undermining people's obligation to authenticate Smith to the point it could cost them their lives.
    This is clearly false. It is also my obligation to authenticate your words, and I have found them to be wanting.
    And worst of all you mislead your own families.  You are traitors to your own families in getting them to undermine God's Word.  But so do the Baptists and Methodists, as they teach doctrines which are in complete contradiction with the Bible.   So, you are no worse or no better than they.
    I think this emoticon correctly responds to these last statements --
  13. Like
    classylady reacted to mirkwood in New old calling   
    Not only should we be careful of the internet, we should be careful of strange white vans.
     

  14. Like
    classylady reacted to Just_A_Guy in Did you know?   
    I understand that “moisture” was traditionally used more by farmers and ranchers; “rain” and “snow” were more frequently used by city-dwellers.  Utah’s quirky preference for “moisture” reveals its agrarian roots—if you were born here, even if you aren’t a farmer, your parents or grandparents probably were. 
  15. Like
    classylady reacted to Anddenex in Living the Law of Consecration fully   
    Oh, and let me share a little bit of Zion that happened in my life. Many years ago, I was going through some difficult times financially. My wife and I have always had a garden. This year I fell on hard times, and wasn't going to be able to have a garden. My backyard neighbor and good friend (who we compete at times with our garden in jest), came over and said, "Anddenex, I am going to purchase some plants and this year I am purchasing your plants also. He didn't know I wasn't going to have a garden, but knew of the financial circumstance I found myself in. Due to love from a neighbor I was able to have a garden that year and that year I have not been able to duplicate how good of a crop we had. I am not sure if it was simply from my friends love, but I can't duplicate the same crop. We had over 50 cantalope that year, over 30 watermelon, over 800 tomatoes, and many other good things from the garden.
    So, again, we see aspects of Zion, a Zion mentality, more than we might think.
  16. Like
    classylady got a reaction from Pressing Forward in You no longer have to wait a year between civil marriage and temple marriage in the US   
    As I’ve been reading all the posts I am reminded of the wording in The Proclamation on the Family: “We the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve...solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God...”. Note, that the wording does not say that only eternal sealings are ordained of God, but that marriage is ordained of God. I take that to mean all civil marriages between a man and woman are ordained of God, which means they have merit. Most societies/cultures have some form of marriage. I believe it is a fundamental institution that comes from God. Perhaps it is wired into our DNA? I don’t know the answer to that, but it is interesting to me that marriage is a recognized institution across almost all cultures. I believe that our Father in Heaven has planned it this way.
  17. Like
    classylady reacted to Just_A_Guy in Please Don’t Ask Me When I’m Having Kids   
    I get that it’s a private matter, and that there can be individualized circumstances warranting a delay in child rearing or even not having children at all.  If the article had stayed there while reiterating the ideal promulgated repeatedly by Church leaders, I’d be copacetic.  
    Unfortunately, the article a) doesn’t really engage with LDS theology to reiterate that children are, in fact, desirable (and indeed, the fulfillment of temple blessings and the essence of exaltation); and b) takes quotes meant to console the subjects of extraordinary circumstances (infertility, health problems, etc) and seems to twist them to suggest that voluntary childlessness under ordinary circumstances is an appropriate Plan A given what we know about the Plan of Salvation.
    We don’t need to be privy to other people’s family plans; but we can and must encourage each other to do well.  And to have children *is* to do well.  I wonder whether married, physically-and-emotionally fit people who wait for spiritual confirmation before having children, would also wait for spiritual confirmation before paying their monthly tithing, or driving a vanload of MIA Maids up to Girls’ Camp, or helping an old lady to cross a street.  Whatever just happened to doing stuff because we knew, as a general principle, that it was the right thing to do?
  18. Like
    classylady got a reaction from dprh in Questions about Sealing Cancellation & Clearance   
    Welcome!
    I understand where you are coming from. I married a divorced man who was still sealed to his ex-wife. That was over 30 years ago. At that time it was difficult for men to get a sealing cancellation from an ex-wife unless she was going to be sealed to a new husband. When my husband and I decided to be sealed, my husband requested a sealing cancellation from his ex, but the First Presidency said it wasn’t necessary in order for us to be sealed. I swallowed my pride, and chose to be sealed. I wanted the blessings of the sealing for me and my children. That was far more important than whether my husband “might” still have a priesthood stewardship with his ex that would extend into the eternities. Also, at that time, sealing clearances for men had not been instituted.
    A sealing clearance means just as it sounds. The man is “cleared” to be sealed to another woman. The sealing is not cancelled. A sealing cancellation though, means the sealing is cancelled. Any children that are either born in the covenant or are sealed to their parents will not lose the blessing of being sealed to righteousness parents. That remains intact even if the parents are no longer sealed to each other.
    Now, fast forward about 25 years. My husband talked to our bishop about having his sealing cancelled to his ex-wife. Our bishop was very understanding and in fact asked my husband why he hadn’t tried to have the sealing cancelled earlier. My husband told him,  he had, but, “I didn’t think it was possible.”  Our bishop told him it is much easier for men to request a sealing cancellation from their ex-wife, even if she has never remarried, or has married a nonmember. So, our bishop started the paper work for the sealing cancellation. After the Stake President approved the paper work and sent it into church headquarters, my husband had his answer back within three weeks and the sealing cancellation was approved. (Sigh! That was such a huge burden taken from his shoulders and mine.)
    The Bishop will ask the ex-wife to write a letter telling her point-of-view of the divorce. It is not a letter “giving permission.” My husband also needed to write a letter stating his point-of-view about the divorce. Any child support or maintenance payments will need to be current.
    (Edit: some ex-spouses refuse to write a letter stating their views of the divorce. They are given about three weeks to reply. If they don’t reply the process goes on without the letter. Some ex-spouses may be vitriolic in their letter. From what I understand, unless there is proof of unrepentant misconduct it won’t have much bearing on the outcome.)
    Our Father in Heaven understands our feelings. He will never force anyone to be together eternally if they don’t want to. Your future husband and his ex most likely have already broken the sealing covenant by their divorce. But, it is nice to know that the sealing can actually be cancelled. Some bishops and stake presidents may not know that men may be allowed to request a sealing cancellation. It isn’t very clearly written in the handbook unless it’s been clarified since my husband requested his sealing cancellation.
    Even though it is hard to understand polygamy, especially from a woman’s point of view, and our current culture, it obviously was ordained of God at different points in time to help raise up a righteous generation. My family goes back at least five generations within the church, and I wouldn’t be here if polygamy wasn’t practiced. I’m very grateful to my ancestors for their sacrifice and dedication.
    Good luck! I hope this helps.
  19. Like
    classylady got a reaction from Anddenex in Questions about Sealing Cancellation & Clearance   
    Welcome!
    I understand where you are coming from. I married a divorced man who was still sealed to his ex-wife. That was over 30 years ago. At that time it was difficult for men to get a sealing cancellation from an ex-wife unless she was going to be sealed to a new husband. When my husband and I decided to be sealed, my husband requested a sealing cancellation from his ex, but the First Presidency said it wasn’t necessary in order for us to be sealed. I swallowed my pride, and chose to be sealed. I wanted the blessings of the sealing for me and my children. That was far more important than whether my husband “might” still have a priesthood stewardship with his ex that would extend into the eternities. Also, at that time, sealing clearances for men had not been instituted.
    A sealing clearance means just as it sounds. The man is “cleared” to be sealed to another woman. The sealing is not cancelled. A sealing cancellation though, means the sealing is cancelled. Any children that are either born in the covenant or are sealed to their parents will not lose the blessing of being sealed to righteousness parents. That remains intact even if the parents are no longer sealed to each other.
    Now, fast forward about 25 years. My husband talked to our bishop about having his sealing cancelled to his ex-wife. Our bishop was very understanding and in fact asked my husband why he hadn’t tried to have the sealing cancelled earlier. My husband told him,  he had, but, “I didn’t think it was possible.”  Our bishop told him it is much easier for men to request a sealing cancellation from their ex-wife, even if she has never remarried, or has married a nonmember. So, our bishop started the paper work for the sealing cancellation. After the Stake President approved the paper work and sent it into church headquarters, my husband had his answer back within three weeks and the sealing cancellation was approved. (Sigh! That was such a huge burden taken from his shoulders and mine.)
    The Bishop will ask the ex-wife to write a letter telling her point-of-view of the divorce. It is not a letter “giving permission.” My husband also needed to write a letter stating his point-of-view about the divorce. Any child support or maintenance payments will need to be current.
    (Edit: some ex-spouses refuse to write a letter stating their views of the divorce. They are given about three weeks to reply. If they don’t reply the process goes on without the letter. Some ex-spouses may be vitriolic in their letter. From what I understand, unless there is proof of unrepentant misconduct it won’t have much bearing on the outcome.)
    Our Father in Heaven understands our feelings. He will never force anyone to be together eternally if they don’t want to. Your future husband and his ex most likely have already broken the sealing covenant by their divorce. But, it is nice to know that the sealing can actually be cancelled. Some bishops and stake presidents may not know that men may be allowed to request a sealing cancellation. It isn’t very clearly written in the handbook unless it’s been clarified since my husband requested his sealing cancellation.
    Even though it is hard to understand polygamy, especially from a woman’s point of view, and our current culture, it obviously was ordained of God at different points in time to help raise up a righteous generation. My family goes back at least five generations within the church, and I wouldn’t be here if polygamy wasn’t practiced. I’m very grateful to my ancestors for their sacrifice and dedication.
    Good luck! I hope this helps.
  20. Like
    classylady got a reaction from Jane_Doe in Questions about Sealing Cancellation & Clearance   
    Welcome!
    I understand where you are coming from. I married a divorced man who was still sealed to his ex-wife. That was over 30 years ago. At that time it was difficult for men to get a sealing cancellation from an ex-wife unless she was going to be sealed to a new husband. When my husband and I decided to be sealed, my husband requested a sealing cancellation from his ex, but the First Presidency said it wasn’t necessary in order for us to be sealed. I swallowed my pride, and chose to be sealed. I wanted the blessings of the sealing for me and my children. That was far more important than whether my husband “might” still have a priesthood stewardship with his ex that would extend into the eternities. Also, at that time, sealing clearances for men had not been instituted.
    A sealing clearance means just as it sounds. The man is “cleared” to be sealed to another woman. The sealing is not cancelled. A sealing cancellation though, means the sealing is cancelled. Any children that are either born in the covenant or are sealed to their parents will not lose the blessing of being sealed to righteousness parents. That remains intact even if the parents are no longer sealed to each other.
    Now, fast forward about 25 years. My husband talked to our bishop about having his sealing cancelled to his ex-wife. Our bishop was very understanding and in fact asked my husband why he hadn’t tried to have the sealing cancelled earlier. My husband told him,  he had, but, “I didn’t think it was possible.”  Our bishop told him it is much easier for men to request a sealing cancellation from their ex-wife, even if she has never remarried, or has married a nonmember. So, our bishop started the paper work for the sealing cancellation. After the Stake President approved the paper work and sent it into church headquarters, my husband had his answer back within three weeks and the sealing cancellation was approved. (Sigh! That was such a huge burden taken from his shoulders and mine.)
    The Bishop will ask the ex-wife to write a letter telling her point-of-view of the divorce. It is not a letter “giving permission.” My husband also needed to write a letter stating his point-of-view about the divorce. Any child support or maintenance payments will need to be current.
    (Edit: some ex-spouses refuse to write a letter stating their views of the divorce. They are given about three weeks to reply. If they don’t reply the process goes on without the letter. Some ex-spouses may be vitriolic in their letter. From what I understand, unless there is proof of unrepentant misconduct it won’t have much bearing on the outcome.)
    Our Father in Heaven understands our feelings. He will never force anyone to be together eternally if they don’t want to. Your future husband and his ex most likely have already broken the sealing covenant by their divorce. But, it is nice to know that the sealing can actually be cancelled. Some bishops and stake presidents may not know that men may be allowed to request a sealing cancellation. It isn’t very clearly written in the handbook unless it’s been clarified since my husband requested his sealing cancellation.
    Even though it is hard to understand polygamy, especially from a woman’s point of view, and our current culture, it obviously was ordained of God at different points in time to help raise up a righteous generation. My family goes back at least five generations within the church, and I wouldn’t be here if polygamy wasn’t practiced. I’m very grateful to my ancestors for their sacrifice and dedication.
    Good luck! I hope this helps.
  21. Like
    classylady got a reaction from Just_A_Guy in Questions about Sealing Cancellation & Clearance   
    Welcome!
    I understand where you are coming from. I married a divorced man who was still sealed to his ex-wife. That was over 30 years ago. At that time it was difficult for men to get a sealing cancellation from an ex-wife unless she was going to be sealed to a new husband. When my husband and I decided to be sealed, my husband requested a sealing cancellation from his ex, but the First Presidency said it wasn’t necessary in order for us to be sealed. I swallowed my pride, and chose to be sealed. I wanted the blessings of the sealing for me and my children. That was far more important than whether my husband “might” still have a priesthood stewardship with his ex that would extend into the eternities. Also, at that time, sealing clearances for men had not been instituted.
    A sealing clearance means just as it sounds. The man is “cleared” to be sealed to another woman. The sealing is not cancelled. A sealing cancellation though, means the sealing is cancelled. Any children that are either born in the covenant or are sealed to their parents will not lose the blessing of being sealed to righteousness parents. That remains intact even if the parents are no longer sealed to each other.
    Now, fast forward about 25 years. My husband talked to our bishop about having his sealing cancelled to his ex-wife. Our bishop was very understanding and in fact asked my husband why he hadn’t tried to have the sealing cancelled earlier. My husband told him,  he had, but, “I didn’t think it was possible.”  Our bishop told him it is much easier for men to request a sealing cancellation from their ex-wife, even if she has never remarried, or has married a nonmember. So, our bishop started the paper work for the sealing cancellation. After the Stake President approved the paper work and sent it into church headquarters, my husband had his answer back within three weeks and the sealing cancellation was approved. (Sigh! That was such a huge burden taken from his shoulders and mine.)
    The Bishop will ask the ex-wife to write a letter telling her point-of-view of the divorce. It is not a letter “giving permission.” My husband also needed to write a letter stating his point-of-view about the divorce. Any child support or maintenance payments will need to be current.
    (Edit: some ex-spouses refuse to write a letter stating their views of the divorce. They are given about three weeks to reply. If they don’t reply the process goes on without the letter. Some ex-spouses may be vitriolic in their letter. From what I understand, unless there is proof of unrepentant misconduct it won’t have much bearing on the outcome.)
    Our Father in Heaven understands our feelings. He will never force anyone to be together eternally if they don’t want to. Your future husband and his ex most likely have already broken the sealing covenant by their divorce. But, it is nice to know that the sealing can actually be cancelled. Some bishops and stake presidents may not know that men may be allowed to request a sealing cancellation. It isn’t very clearly written in the handbook unless it’s been clarified since my husband requested his sealing cancellation.
    Even though it is hard to understand polygamy, especially from a woman’s point of view, and our current culture, it obviously was ordained of God at different points in time to help raise up a righteous generation. My family goes back at least five generations within the church, and I wouldn’t be here if polygamy wasn’t practiced. I’m very grateful to my ancestors for their sacrifice and dedication.
    Good luck! I hope this helps.
  22. Like
    classylady got a reaction from BeccaKirstyn in So um... I have an announcement.   
    Wonderful news! It is such a blessing to be sealed as a couple and family. It is my greatest comfort. As a child I found comfort in knowing we were an eternal family after my father died in a tragic accident. As a mother I find comfort in knowing our daughter is sealed to us, and we are an eternal family. She died in an accident at the age of 19. IMO, there is no greater blessing.
  23. Like
    classylady got a reaction from seashmore in Craziest situation ever   
    I would politely tell my family that “due to my illness I can no longer assist.” Or, “due to my illness I unfortunately will have to cut back. “ “Doctor’s orders.”
  24. Like
    classylady got a reaction from dprh in You no longer have to wait a year between civil marriage and temple marriage in the US   
    As I’ve been reading all the posts I am reminded of the wording in The Proclamation on the Family: “We the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve...solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God...”. Note, that the wording does not say that only eternal sealings are ordained of God, but that marriage is ordained of God. I take that to mean all civil marriages between a man and woman are ordained of God, which means they have merit. Most societies/cultures have some form of marriage. I believe it is a fundamental institution that comes from God. Perhaps it is wired into our DNA? I don’t know the answer to that, but it is interesting to me that marriage is a recognized institution across almost all cultures. I believe that our Father in Heaven has planned it this way.
  25. Love
    classylady got a reaction from SilentOne in You no longer have to wait a year between civil marriage and temple marriage in the US   
    As I’ve been reading all the posts I am reminded of the wording in The Proclamation on the Family: “We the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve...solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God...”. Note, that the wording does not say that only eternal sealings are ordained of God, but that marriage is ordained of God. I take that to mean all civil marriages between a man and woman are ordained of God, which means they have merit. Most societies/cultures have some form of marriage. I believe it is a fundamental institution that comes from God. Perhaps it is wired into our DNA? I don’t know the answer to that, but it is interesting to me that marriage is a recognized institution across almost all cultures. I believe that our Father in Heaven has planned it this way.