lokilost

I've looked into my legal options in the state in which I live, and if you are over 18, there can't be an emancipation. As far as getting married now, I'm not against it, but my boyfriend thinks that 19 and 20 is "far too young" and prefers to wait.

Because a) I can't take care of myself b) there isn't another option and c) my boyfriend and I met with the president and both agreed that we would follow all the covenants I would make when baptized. Basically, the missionaries met with the president and told him of my situation, and so he came and met with us, and once we promised we understood and would respect the covenants and rules, he told the missionaries he felt I could be baptized. I was baptized on Sunday. We aren't living together so that we can engage in certain activities, we're living together because I have such severe emotional episodes, and I am so incapable of taking care of myself that it's dangerous for me to live alone.

We did sit down and discuss it, because originally I was afraid of being judged by him and didn't tell him. Then he found out, and we agreed that he would respect me, my friends, my choices, and be supportive, but he would still make fun of the religion itself. I found this to be acceptable, because I understand the issues he has with religion. We agree that many times organized religion can do more harm than good, and that when one tries to impose their morals on society, it often leads to trouble. However, we separate at I think these problems are mostly caused by the influence of humans and false religions, and that the LDS church is true. I believe that on an individual level, if one personally follows the teachings, and chooses a stance of loving everyone as the Lord would have us do, and avoiding judging others, then religion is much more positive than negative. My boyfriend disagrees, but respects that opinion and my choice. He doesn't however, respect the church or religion as a whole. Does this make more sense now?

@anatess: As I mentioned in my original post, the state I live in won't help anyone under age 21 without trying to make the parents provide the help first. That means I can't get any form of professional help until at least late 2012. In the mean time, I'm doing the best I can on my own, working on learning knew coping skills and building my independence in steps. For instance, using music, I can regulate my emotions well enough to go out grocery shopping alone, and I'm currently attempting to use google calendar to help create a routine so that I can practice taking care of certain things on my own. I can't work or attend school, but I still study on my own, and try to learn new skills that might help me have a better future. I've forgiven my parents for what they did, I know it wasn't their faults, my father had severe mental issues from the Vietnam war, and my mother was emotionally abused as a child. Any children wouldn't be until I was sure I wouldn't continue the cycle, but I feel the church would be an important part of me not repeating my parents mistakes.

You can tease someone and still respect their personal choice. For instance, you can make fun of someone for liking a certain food, but still buy it for them because you know they like it, or you can make fun of a religion in private, and tease someone about joining, but still show up to their baptism, and still accept that it is important to them, etc.

I am 19. I left home less than a week after turning 18 because I had mentally and physically abusive parents. I suffer from severe mental emotional trauma because of what I went through during my childhood. After trying and failing to live on my own and care for myself, I finally agreed that for my own safety, it was best to move in with my boyfriend, so that he could help make sure I was safe and taking care of myself. When I decided to join the LDS church, he met with the missionaries, and later the mission president to explain that he would be respecting my decision, and we would not violate any of the covenants I would make. After this meeting, the mission president decided that I could be baptized, and I was baptized this past Sunday. As I mentioned earlier, I have severe mental/emotional trauma. I can't hold down a job or attend school. The state I live in won't give health insurance/food/etc. help those under age 21 unless they provide their parents contact information, because the state has rules saying that the parents are financially responsible for me until I am age 21. I can't/won't give them my parents contact information because of my history with my parents and the danger it might put me in. My parents, for the record, live in another state. My boyfriend is wonderfully supportive, he provides me with a place to live, and does everything he can to make sure that I am safe and never alone during a meltdown or emotional episode. He takes care of my food, my clothing and personal needs etc. He respects my decision to join the church, and is supportive of 'anything that makes me this happy' We have plans to marry in late 2013, and are extremely happy together. Unfortunately, however, he's rather....um...anti-religious. He makes fun of the church, and religion in general. He doesn't understand why I would choose the LDS church, why I would want to follow the teachings of the church, or why they are important to me. He is dead set against raising any future children we might have in the church, thinking childhood indoctrination to be 'borderline criminal'. I don't know what to do. I love him very much, and I know he loves me. Besides that, I have nowhere else to go, no means to provide for myself, and can't really even do the basics of caring for myself. Any advice or comments would be appreciated.

Hey. I'm Loki. Yes, people actually do call me that, and yes, I am a human girl, not a Norse trickster spirit I'm a very recent LDS convert from a very tiny branch. I'm looking to make more friends who are also members of the church. I like to read, cook, and I'm a complete nerd. Anyway, DFTBA! (and if you get that reference, you are beyond awesome)