JanSan

I am not sure if it is to late to respond to this question...... but I have a thought that I would like to share about it anyway. I also have a son who has gone astray and this has been a real heartbreak to me as he is my only Biological child. He went on a mission and was a great missionary and even got to extend his mission. This is very rarely done these days. Anyway, in a blessing my Bishop gave me he mentioned this and it kind of bothered me and seemed somewhat unfair that it would just be given to them no matter what they did. In reading all the replies here a thought accrued to me that maybe what it means is that the sealing work for them is already done. That they will have to go through the repentance stage for what they have done but that they will not have to wait for their work to done like so many others have to. When they are done with their individual repentance then the sealing will be in affect for them.

Pendragon I am not a scriptorium as some on here may be. But, I am old enough and wise enough to understand veiled put down, and sarcastic remarks when I hear or read them. I have truly enjoyed coming to this site because it is here that I have learned many things from people of other faiths weather they were Jewish, Catholic etc. One thing I have not found is criticism of my religion on sly put downs etc.. that is until you came on. I went on a mission.... that does not make me a horrible person! I wasn't out there to convert at all cost the whole world (or the area of my mission) but to help people understand my religion better if they had any questions and yes, to convert those that WANTED to be converted. In case you do not know we are NOT the only church that sends out missionaries. I would love to hear more from you - but have you ever heard of the saying - you get more with honey then with vinegar (or something like that). The second great commandment - is to love your neighbor as yourself. Please look at Prison chaplain and others (non LDS) on this board to see how this is done if you have any questions. Hope to hear from you again soon, but in a much nicer tone.

As I think back to my teenage years I remember a movie I saw "The Way We Were" in the movie, the girl go to bed with a man she has long adored when he is drunk. She cuddles up to him and they have sex. But yet, in many peoples mine this is not rape... because he enjoyed it, though he knew nothing of it and most likely thought he was just dreaming. When I was growing up I heard of this sort of think happening a lot. The girl wanted the guy so she got him drunk then had his child and so got him... or she got pregnant and got to leave home and get on welfare. I took a psychology class once and we talked about this and the professor said that it is believed that women to men rape is much more prevalent but is also much more under reported because of the stigma attached to it. So yeah, I agree that this also needs to be dealt with and not just swept into a convenient closet.

I had a problem with a bishop once. He was just newly called and had wanted me to do something just opposite of what my former bishop had wanted me to do. I did not know who to talk to about it because I didn't want to appear to be gossiping or putting him down. It ate at me untill it started to affect my testimony so I went to the visitor temple (not the one in SLC but a much smaller one), The couple missionaries there were so nice, but I looked at one of the sisters there and told her what was going on and asked if I could speak to the man in charge. He came and talked to me and gave me a blessing. He told me to talk to the Stake Pres, because the Bishop was definitely out of line and it was his responsibility to train him. It took awhile but I finally got the nerve to talk to him and he thanked me for coming in and put me back on track and said that he would talk to the Bishop. If I were you I would talk to the Stake RS Pres. Not to get the sisters in trouble but to make them aware that there is a problem.They cannot do anything about the problem if they do not know that there is one. Our church is having a hard time holding on to converts and we need to do all we can to help them want to stay. I think also that we are in a weeding out period. There are many who go to church because it is a social thing for them to do, or because it's what they have always done, and not because of testimony. My mission pres once told me that any scripture for praise can be turned around for or condemnation, such as the one... how great will be your joy if you bring but one soul into the kingdom of God (or something like that ) turn it around, how great will be your sorrow if your actions prevent one from coming to the kingdom. Many people are going to have a rude awaking come judgement day.

I also am a divorce women of 60. I am somewhat over weight but other then that am told that I am pretty. I am a returned missionary, worked in the Temple,taught gospel doctrine etc... but because I am not in my 20 and 30 and look like a Barbie Doll, men don't want anything to do with me, other then to be my friend. Especially men my own age. I get a BIG laugh when I get on the LDS single sites and read men comments about themselves and how MOST of them click that they are "good looking" and average weight, and how they all "work out" and how because they are working hard to stay in shape that is what they are looking for in a woman. And then I look at the pictures that they have posted and I think to myself you have got to be kidding me! It makes me wonder if they have any mirrors in there house. I think that when a man and woman grow together then their love for one another grows also and you see and know the emotional beauty along with the physical beauty. But, I think that one of the main reasons that there are so many divorces in the church is that when a man goes to remarry most of them go for the young slim trophy wife's (I know NOT ALL DO.. but most). It's like they have to prove to their ex's and buddies that they still have it. I know a good looking man who was married 7 times, and he just shrugs and can't figure out why... it's because he's more interested in looks and youth then he is loyalty, virtue, endurance, testimony etc. I think it is just part of the world that we now live in. It is really sad to go to single activities and see really neat wonderful women go ignored, just because or age and beauty.

Sorry, this was written after the discussion on pages 2 and 3 where they were talking about the fatherhood of God.

I respect your right to believe different then I, and I truly mean no disrespect - but this is VERY confusing to me. May I ask a question? Who do you think then was Jesus birth father?

I guess this is the end. Sad, I REALLY enjoyed most of these comments and wish that they had continued. I had a friend who was raised in the Jewish faith, we served in the same mission field. I was starting to read Jesus the Christ and we talked about it, I took a full sized paper full of notes and I write small, on just the first page! I would love to be able to talk things through like this with someone who has this kind of knowledge, there is SOOOOOOOOOO much that we can learn from them. Sorry that I came to late to get in on the action.. but still if anyone is reading this, thanks again for this thread.

Well, I got onto this discussion late in the game.. but have really enjoyed the comments that have been posted.